Hell....…"It was the only word that could describe the place where this young boy found himself."...…"The smell of charred bodies, the cries of agony and pleading, and the smoke burning his lungs."...…"He walked for what felt like an eternity, leaving countless lives behind him."...…"Finally, exhausted, he collapsed to the ground, his hope giving way to apparent defeat."...…Then, an apparition changed everything..."The man who would alter the destiny of this young boy, for better or for worse."...…"His face bore a smile filled with indescribable joy, tears streaming down his cheeks."...…"That smile became an image haunting the child his entire life, pushing him to fight for his selfish desires, manipulated by those who sought to exploit him."...…"He would be forced to make heartbreaking decisions in an attempt to save the greatest number."...…"Corrupted and betrayed by his ideals, his ultimate fate would be to sit atop a desolate hill, alone and misunderstood, in the middle of an endless field of swords."...…"But what would have happened if he had forgotten everything that happened that day?"...[Emergency protocol activated][To preserve the mental integrity of the host, the last twelve hours of his memory will be sealed.]
As this unknown voice echoed in the depths of his mind, the young boy felt his strength abandon him. A heavy torpor overcame him, and he collapsed, swallowed by darkness.
Two years laterIn the garden alley of the residence, Kiritsugu sat on the engawa, enjoying the cool evening air. His eyes scanned the darkness, almost absorbed by the silence of the garden.
A rustle behind him caught his attention. "So, Shirou… can't sleep?" he asked, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity.
Shirou appeared in the shadows, his face marked by fatigue. "Yeah… I had another nightmare… about my parents," he replied, his voice heavy with weariness.
Kiritsugu nodded gently. "I see…"
After a moment of silence, Shirou stepped forward timidly. "Hey, old man… the medicine you gave me this morning… can I take a little now?"
Kiritsugu furrowed his brows slightly, surprised. "Huh? It's still a bit early for that… but… alright. What's the occasion?" He added with a light smile, "You've always hated this medicine, haven't you?"
"Of course I don't like it!" Shirou exclaimed, a hint of frustration in his voice. "It's bitter, pasty, and… ugh. But… old man, you made this medicine with magic, right?"
"Well, it's magecraft, to be precise. But yes, somewhere along those lines."
Shirou sighed, holding the small vial in his hand. "Thinking of it that way… it calms me a bit… I get nervous on nights like this, even if I quickly forget the nightmares."
Kiritsugu looked at the boy with a trace of guilt. "I see… I can't really blame you for that."
Shirou swallowed the medicine with a small shiver, then looked up at him. "Old man… how much longer do I have to take this?"
"Well… until you're old enough to go to middle school, you won't need it anymore. Until then, bear with it, alright?"
Shirou blinked, surprised. "Ehhh?"
Kiritsugu sighed lightly, his gaze becoming more serious. "The healing spell I used on you two years ago… was a bit too strong for your body. The danger is still inside you. As long as your system hasn't developed enough antibodies, you'll have to rely on this medicine." His eyes drifted for a moment, his thoughts wandering to a certain sheath.
Shirou looked at Kiritsugu, his eyes burning with youthful determination. "Hey, old man… instead of this medicine… why don't you teach me real magic to protect myself? If I can take care of myself, old man, you could also ease your shoulders a bit, right?"
Kiritsugu shook his head gently, his features hardening slightly. "No. I can't allow that. Teaching magic… it's not as simple as preparing medicine."
"But I also want to be able to do everything like you, old man!" Shirou's exclamation echoed through the night, a mix of frustration and burning desire.
The mage cast a heavy gaze upon the boy, and a sigh escaped his lips. "I understand that feeling of admiration you had as a child… Even I still remember it. But… you don't need that anymore."
"Why!?" Shirou shouted, his fists clenching. "I need it! Because I still see those dreams… Even after two years… I can't get over them… Ever since you trained me, I don't lose to anyone, and I'm not even afraid of my seniors. But… when I have those dreams… even awake, everyone could disappear… I can't help but tremble… I'm really afraid of losing everything like before… Even if you saved me, it felt useless! That's why… I need this confidence to prepare myself and make sure everything goes well if it happens again! If I become a mage like you, old man… I… I won't be powerless anymore. I could do so much more!"
Kiritsugu remained silent for a moment, weighing each word before replying, his voice deep and measured. "To become a mage, the very first resolution you must make… is to accept the concept of death itself. It's not something that will help or support you…"
"Old man… you already told me that…" Shirou murmured, lowering his head slightly. "I don't fully understand, but…"
A slight smile passed over Kiritsugu's lips. "Heh… Alright. Let's see if you can fall back asleep… I know you're not completely calm yet, but your body needs rest."
Shirou looked up, ready to protest, but Kiritsugu cut him off in a softer tone: "But you still have school tomorrow, right? If you're late, Taiga will get angry, you know?"
A small, embarrassed laugh escaped Shirou. "Tch, that's true. Alright, I got it…"
The boy finally lay down, clutching the vial of medicine in his hand, while Kiritsugu remained seated on the engawa, silently watching over him. The night returned to its quietude, and Shirou's steady breathing eventually blended with the whisper of the wind in the garden.
The next day, Kiritsugu and Taiga trained in Kendo in the residence's dojo. Sunlight bathed the practice hall in a soft glow, and the air carried the scent of polished wood.
Taiga stretched lightly, a bright smile on her face. "Phew! Thank you!"
"Wow… you've really improved, Taiga. At this rate, we can't call your level that of just a high school girl anymore!"
"Oh, not at all!" she replied, shaking her head enthusiastically. "I still have a long way to go! I still have lots of flaws here and there, and that's why I train every day without rest!"
Kiritsugu observed the girl's swift movements, a mixture of admiration and curiosity in his gaze. "Really? Yet, you already seem to have reached such a high level that I no longer see the point of keeping me as a training partner. You wouldn't gain anything more training with someone like me, right?"
Taiga chuckled, her eyes sparkling. "Hmm… seems like you're always lost in thought, but I notice something you don't. That's why I asked for this session: you keep surprising me with new discoveries every second! I learn something new each time!"
Kiritsugu gave a small, almost embarrassed smile. "Heh… that scares me a bit when you put it like that. A man like me… left behind by life… would just be a bad example, right?"
"Oh no, no! Not at all!" Taiga exclaimed. Then, in a more serious tone, she added, "Well… that's what I'd like to say. But I understand… You're really aware of your decline in society's eyes, huh?"
"Heh…" Kiritsugu murmured. "You have everything I've always held dear. So, honestly, there's nothing you need to learn from me."
Taiga furrowed her brows, but a mischievous smile stretched across her lips. "Muuuuuh! Something Kiritsugu had…? Was it your childhood memories? If so, I wouldn't mind reliving those moments with you!"
Kiritsugu let out a light laugh. "Hahaha… first of all, it's your youth that shines the most."
"Huh?" Taiga was surprised. "You're letting that slide? That was supposed to be a joke!"
"What? A joke? Well… I know how old I've become. Even Shirou treats me like a grandfather."
"What?!" Taiga shouted, but her voice was full of enthusiasm. "I'm just a girl, but as a member of the Fujimura family, I take every word I say seriously! Ayyy, don't worry! This Taiga Fujimura is ready to help you in all experiments and the daily life of a lively high school girl! I can even tell you what the number one trending shampoo is on the Oricon chart, you know!"
Kiritsugu shook his head with amusement. "Hahaha… you really take care of people. Do you often give advice to your juniors?"
"Hmm… now that you mention it, yes. You could say it's my act of virtue here! I've even been nicknamed the 'Advisor of All Trades' in Homurahara." She bowed slightly, a mischievous smile on her lips. "Do you think I should start charging for my advice?"
"No, you don't put a price on an act of virtue, alright?" Kiritsugu replied with a light laugh.
Taiga stood up, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Do you want to have tea when you're free? Of course, only if you're really free for this middle-aged old man!"
"Ohohoho!" he replied, amused by her energy. "Of course, I won't refuse!"
They soon settled down for tea. Taiga took a deep breath. "Waaaah… this beautiful sunlight… this deep, bitter aroma… and this soothing water… PERFECT!"
Kiritsugu watched the boy prepare the tea with admiration. "This water… Shirou made it… I wonder how he became so skilled at cooking."
Taiga shrugged with a smile. "Isn't it great? Nowadays, high school girls have a soft spot for boys who can manage the household. Don't assume every girl likes cooking, but soon, the era of the 'King' will come, and Shirou won't have any trouble finding someone!"
The conversation then drifted to Kendo, and Taiga adopted her serious, instructive tone, explaining how she would handle a student motivated solely by brute strength. "I'll teach him only the essence of Kendo… BAM BAM!" she said, miming strikes energetically. "Let him fall with every hit, let him fall even when he's serious!"
Kiritsugu watched her, impressed. "If I understand correctly, you'd let him make mistakes so he learns the path on his own…"
"Exactly!" she replied with a wink. "Even if it breaks my heart, he must see the consequences of his choices. All that time spent on foolishness will ultimately become his learning."
Kiritsugu offered a quiet, admiring smile. Taiga, proud, gave a small theatrical bow. "Hehehe… stop it! At this rate, I could get a teaching degree! What would you do if that happened?"
At dinner time
"Nggghhh… this is so good!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining.
Shirou watched her, half-amused, half-impressed. "Fuji-nee… you really eat a lot… Aren't you worried about gaining weight?"
"Pffft!" she replied, shaking her head energetically. "My training is intense enough that I don't have to worry about that! If you really wanted me to gain weight, I'd need three more portions! And don't call me fat… someone could die here. Call me Miss Piggy instead, or something cute like that!"
Shirou sighed but smiled. "I knew this would happen… that's why I prepared extra today. If it were just you and me, we'd even have leftovers for tomorrow's breakfast."
Taiga stood up, her eyes full of ambition. "Oh, Shirou… once you enter your growth phase, you won't say that anymore. This immense impulsive appetite… it's only the prelude to my second phase of a perfectly dynamic body!"
"Very well…" murmured Shirou. "I'll try to make a less fatty menu so you don't consume so much fat. So eat whatever you want, alright?"
"Does that mean we'll have more Japanese meals in the future?" Taiga asked, her eyes sparkling with joy.
"Yep. And besides, old man, you've been eating a lot lately. So a smaller but more nutritious meal isn't better for you?"
Taiga shrugged with a small laugh. "But… don't you think it would be worth eating… hamburgers from time to time?"
Shirou looked at her, amused and slightly resigned. "Old man… you're already so old and you can't resist your childish tastes? What have you been eating all this time to become like this?"
Taiga burst out laughing. "Hehe… now, Kiritsugu-san, I'll be by your side for junk food, no problem! The next Bon Festival Dance will be full of people eating Doner Kebabs, you know!"
Shirou shook his head, but a smile formed on his lips. "Hey, Miss Piggy, stop spoiling my old man."
"Muuhhh… Shirou~" protested Taiga. "Onee-chan thinks there's something wrong with the hierarchy at this table!"
The clock chimed, and silence fell for a moment.
"Phew… that was a good meal. I'm satisfied," Taiga sighed. "I think the bath is ready. Do you want to go today as well?"
"Ohh~ Then I'll go!" she exclaimed, almost bouncing. "Phew… what a dream house… Bath, bath, bath!"
Later, under the starry sky, Kiritsugu approached Shirou. "Once Taiga is back home, can you come to the dojo for a moment? I need to talk to you."
"Eh? O-okay…" Shirou replied, intrigued.
The night wind gently slipped through the trees, carrying the calm and mystery of the night.
"Hey, old man… you're really going to teach me a little magecraft?" Shirou asked, impatient.
"Yep," Kiritsugu replied in a serious tone. "I'll teach you only what I can do. But the content might not match what you expect. If you get fed up, don't hesitate to stop. This exercise is really difficult and useless if you do it without seriousness."
Shirou nodded vigorously. "Alright! I just want to be able to do what you, the old man, can do too!"
Kiritsugu sighed, his gaze dark. "Listen. Learning magecraft is to step beyond common sense. We die when necessary. We kill when necessary. That is our true nature. Magecraft destroys the individual from the inside. There is no other way. What I'm going to teach you will create more conflicts than solutions. So… never use it in front of others, and take this exercise seriously."
Shirou nodded, resolute.
"Alright… even though I just told you that, it's not the most important part. If the situation demands it, you may break these rules."
"W-what do you mean by that?" Shirou asked, a little hesitant.
"The most important thing in magecraft… you must not use it for yourself. Only for others. With that… you can wield magecraft, but you will never become a true Magus."
Shirou paused for a moment, then nodded. "I understand… it's complicated, but I get the idea. I never wanted to become a Magus… I just wanted to learn magecraft from you, Old Man. So that's fine by me!"
Kiritsugu took a deep breath. "Good. Let's start with the basics: creating your Magic Circuit. First, we'll draw a line to allow mana to circulate through your body. This is different from your innate nervous system. Here, you project an image of your entire body, your organs, your fingers, down to your nails, even every single hair, and manipulate them. You must first learn to maintain this level of concentration."
Shirou frowned slightly. "The first step seems… pretty difficult."
"Of course," Kiritsugu replied. "You have to reshape your body to use it in magecraft. Imagine surpassing yourself, going beyond your limits. It's a battle to exceed yourself."
Shirou clenched his fists. "…If that's the case, I'll never lose. I'll do my best."
Kiritsugu nodded. "To Trace a precise image, you need a trigger word. Like pressing a button or flipping a switch, you need a strong word."
"It's like… a spell?" Shirou asked, somewhat doubtful.
"Not far off," Kiritsugu answered. "A spell that only makes sense to you. A phrase that motivates you deeply. A phrase that leaves a strong impression on you."
Shirou thought for a moment, then murmured, "Hmm… I see… but nothing comes to mind yet."
"No need to rush," Kiritsugu said calmly. "Project an image of your body and declare your virtual consciousness. Trace your double, and observe it around you."
"'Trace'?" Shirou asked. "Does that mean to copy something?"
"Like pressing a button… as if you were flipping a switch… to trace yourself."
Shirou took a deep breath. "Got it… 'Trace '… Trace , huh?"