The thought of having to explain myself to Rin Tohsaka was an inconsequential one. I felt less guilt for my actions than I'd been bracing for. No, it felt as if a sudden weight had been lifted from my shoulders the moment I took that weak and selfish step.
This was my second chance at a life on my own terms.
I refused to not take every opportunity presented to me just because someone was going to feel bad for it.
Long hours because I didn't have the guts to say no. Personal favours shoved onto me. People whose very being made me retch. People who kept bringing up small favours to guilt trip me into going along with their stupidity.
Giving my all for nothing in return.
I'd had enough of all that already.
Nue gave a loud cry and easily landed in the backyard, stretching out its great wings before retreating into my shadows. Archer came down a moment later. He was carrying a disgruntled Rin in his arms. She shoved herself off him the second they touched the ground and began fixing her skirt.
"She got to him," I lied straight through my teeth. "We were late."
Not only was I a selfish man, I was also a coward.
Her features paled. The breeze rustled her locks.
"Then-"
I shook my head, "He's alive. Barely. I had to close the distance with Medea."
Then, she was rushing past me, up the couple steps and right into the living room where Shirou had been. Archer did not deign to follow. The tall and muscular servant narrowed his eyes on my person, crossing his arms.
Shuwen stepped between us, hands behind his back.
"I don't hold it against you. He's better off that way." Archer started. He let his head fall to the side a bit, "My master is naive to have expected anything else."
My actions had not escaped his senses.
"Medea will have been weakened too. That level of regeneration can't possibly be cheap. I can't say I'd suggest chasing her though. She'll have retreated to her workshop by now."
A workshop was a magus' homeground, their ultimate advantage, where their magicks were woven into the very air and soil. To challenge even a modern magus in there would be highly cumbersome, let alone one of the most renowned witches in history.
I nodded.
"Now that she knows I'm after her, she won't leave either."
At least, the Witch of Colchis had been effectively neutralised for some time to come, even if she'd be a pain in my ass later down the line. She sounded exactly like the sort of person that would become a final villain.
That left only... six more servants to deal with. That was great. Well, at least I had a second servant to rely on, even if I had no real method of dealing with the actual problems hiding behind the scenes in Fuyuki.
"I'm off, Miss Tohsaka." I said, sighing.
Rin poked her head out of the torn shoji door, "Oh. Okay, right. Thanks. He won't be fighting, but at least he's alive."
...
-
"I did not think you would seize such an advantage."
Shuwen spoke out once we were far enough away. I was thankful that he at least had the discretion to not confront me on the spot, but his question was a difficult one to answer all the same.
The suburban homes all around us seemed so strangely haunting, all quiet and empty. A string of disappearances and slash murders had made the people apprehensive about wandering outside at night, or even opening their doors.
"I'll pay him back, somehow."
No matter how much I tried to convince myself, the reality of my actions washed over me as soon as the adrenaline had worn out.
I would not take it back though.
"In war, such decisions have to be made. I commend you for being able to go through with your intentions until the end." The old man let out a slight chuckle. "You might be a coward, master, but I have decided to watch over you all the same."
"You don't hold it against me?" I asked, surprised.
He definitely seemed like a good guy.
"If you knew what I did in my youth at my own discretion, you too would understand why it is not my place to judge a man simply worried about surviving."
I did not know what to say to that.
"...Thanks."
"Kaka! If you're so worried, let us retreat into the mountains. I shall make you the greatest of warriors yet."
"That sounds an awful lot like cultivation-"
My phone buzzed in my pocket, vibrating against my chest. I put it against my ear without much thought, but thankfully, it hit me before I hit the 'accept' button that I was yet to give anyone my contact information.
After a moment, I accepted the call anyway.
"Yahallo~!"
I jerked, raising a clenched fist.
"You must be wondering who it is, right? Right, Enji-kyun~?! It's your secret admirer! The ultimately adorable-"
That annoying voice could only belong to one person.
"Francesca. How'd you get this number?"
"Boo~! You ruined my surprise. What a drab. It's fine though. I LOVE guys who pretend to be serious while their heart is beating 200 times a minute."
...
"Ahn~! If only I were there! But, but, that stupid Makiri doesn't let me enter the city. Scarred Red even made me flee back to the States! They were kind enough to get me your number."
Hm, being brought under the notice of the United States government was always a good thing.
"They're very interested in working with your family! They say they'll even help you get your rightful place as the next head as long as-"
"No."
In the first place, I wasn't ever planning on involving myself with the Zen'in. Only, I did need my stupid ancestor's manuscripts if I wanted to make sense of the Ten Shadows.
"Well, you don't have to worry about that right now. Say, I'll help you out though. I know you're worried about what stupid Zouken will do too. Just call this number if he becomes too annoying. 'Kay~?"
That was an interesting offer... if only I knew what she was even capable of. General rule of thumb though, she probably was as powerful as she was mad. That was typically how it went. The issue was, was getting caught up with her really worth the risk?
...It didn't matter. I was in too deep to let go of an opportunity.
"I need a catalyst."
"Mm? Didn't you already summon a servant? Well, I guess it's fine. I'll spoil you since you're so adorable~"
The phone went silent with a loud beep, and I stuffed it back into my pockets. The tall skyscrapers of the Shinto District had become visible in the distance by then. I picked up the pace, eager to catch some sleep after tonight's events.
"Was that wise?" Shuwen inquired calmly.
"I don't know."
He huffed, and followed along quietly.
-
In the end, I couldn't even sleep. My body was too jittery. My fingers kept trembling and I had a hard time emptying out my mind for sleep. Giving up, I sat up on my bed and decided to focus on the Ten Shadows.
Functionally, the technique was the same as the one I was familiar with. The hereditary Cursed Technique of the Zen'in Clan, capable of calling forth a total of Ten Shikigami that could be utilised in numerous ways, with even a nuclear option in case all hope was lost.
Fate, however, had no such thing that I knew of.
My ancestor's memories told me that it was hereditary power granted to him by the Deities of Takamagahara. Tsukuyomi himself, if the moon present in every single dream held any significance.
But, he himself had requested that it be a part of the Crest, the Sukuna-like tattoos... just because he thought it would be cool. To complete itself such that it would not be a burden when it completed, the crest parasitized the magic circuits of every person who inherited it until the family became unable to even manifest it... until me.
What was so special about me?
"The heavens chose me..." I sucked in a sharp breath. "That sounded much better in my head."
A Crest, specialized to manifest a power granted by the Gods.
The ability to call forth ten mythical beings, tame them, and then command their power.
"Dammit..."
It did sound cool as hell.
What if I meshed the summoning mechanism of two? Three? More?
What if I reversed it?
Since they were from the Age of the Gods, did they carry the mystery from that time too? They did. Shuwen had confirmed it.
-
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