Pre-Romance Dawn

I see hell

Every part of this burning waste land is hell.

Every step I take or the ones I took was filled with pain.

Every dry scorching breath I take burns up my lungs.

Each piece of ember of fire I see, each cloud of smoke I breathe is a piece of hell.

Yet I keep on walking.

I don't know whether I am walking away from hell or walking towards it.

Yet I keep on walking.

I hear hell.

The screams of anguish of my fellow man wanting to be saved.

Screams and pleas.

Cries of help that goes unanswered.

I too was screaming like them in this hell but my voice like all of them has long died out in this hell.

Everywhere I looked people laid dead or dying beneath piles of rubble skewered or crushed from

debris or being cook alive while being pinned down.

A hand from a man pinned beneath a wooden beam of a collapse house tried to reach out to me.

"Help me, help me. Please help me." The voice begged

Yet I keep on walking.

As I keep on walking I saw a mother holding her child in tears, begging her child to open his eyes screaming for help.

"Shun open your eyes, God help us, please somebody, anybody please help my son."

Yet I keep on walking.

This is hell in here there is no God.

I smelled hell.

The burning flesh of men and women, children and elderly alike.

Charcoaled bodies of different shapes and sizes.

Melting skin, flesh, organs and bones.

A black piece of human remains holding a much smaller piece unidentifiable whether they were father and daughter or mother and son I did not know nor did I care to know.

This is hell.

Yet I keep on walking.

Walking towards salvation I know not where.

My legs losing strength every step I take.

My bones feel like their turning to heavy steel.

Blazing fire coursing through my blood burning me inside and out.

Muscles all but torn from anguish and fatigue asking me to stop.

Yet… the road to salvation never ends so I keep on walking.

Then I tripped over a corpse.

Then I saw it I saw death in the face of the lifeless man I stumbled over, I don't want to be like that.

I picked myself up with all the strength I could master and kept on walking.

NO…NO…NO..NO…

I don't want to die…

I keep on walking throwing everything I could to keep on walking.

My memories those happy times with my mother and father, the small house we lived in, my friend at school my grumpy old teacher their promise of comfort and rest weigh down on me so I threw them to the fire to keep on walking.

The weight of fear I threw them to the fire to keep on walking.

The weight of love I threw them to the fire to keep on walking.

The weight of compassion I threw them to the fire to keep on walking.

The weight of friendship I threw them to the fire to keep on walking.

The weight of logic I threw them to the fire to keep on walking.

The weight of greed I threw them to the fire to keep on walking.

The weight of pride I threw them to the fire to keep on walking.

The weight of dreams I threw them to the fire to keep on walking.

I kept on throwing everything I have and am to the fire just to keep on walking, I don't know what I threw in the fire anymore just for me to keep on walking.

Yet the fire keeps asking for more.

I wonder what there is left of me.

Yes there are two more.

I threw hope to the fire then I suddenly knelt down staring at the burning skies and the rising smoke.

What was it all for?

Why did he walk so far just to accomplish nothing?

Maybe, just maybe if he throws the last remaining piece of him he would know.

He then threw salvation to the fire.

He laid there using the last of his strength to reach out to what he has thrown away ever wondering what was it for, as he ever so slowly close his eyes.

I then saw it a light glorious and beautiful.

I then felt it an embrace warm and protective.

I then heard it word of thanks for me living.

I then felt it salvation given back to me in the form of a smile.

And in that moment I wondered will I be able to smile like he himself did.

That is how I came to be a boy who threw everything into the fire to be forged by it.

I see a dream

Kiritsugu Emiya the person who saved me that day, the assassin who found the forged blade from the fires of his own making, was sitting beneath the pale moon light.

I called to him asking him to get inside the house reasoning that the evening chill would be detrimental to his waning health, unknown to me at that time that the curse of Angra Mainyu has all but done its intended purpose.

"Hey old man what are you doing here this late at night? If you're gonna sleep do it in your own bed."

"Right… Nah I'm fine."

Even then in my young addled mine I knew he was not okay that even not today nor tomorrow he will be leaving me just another soul that I could not save but in the silence of that serene summer night sitting beside me I was content.

"When I was little, I wanted to be a hero of Justice."

In that moment my heart ache for the man that is my father, the man I knew to be all that is right in the world.

Call it ignorance or maybe just juvenile innocence but in the eyes of a young boy or maybe every young boys mind their father would always be the benchmark of what they want to be when they grow up, in their young eyes they are the equivalent of super men who can do anything they want to, so I asked him.

"What? You wanted to be one? Did you give up?"

"Yeah…"

I frowned at his answer why did he give up is it really that hard.

"It's unfortunate but being a hero is a limited-time thing. When you grow up, it gets hard to call yourself one. I should've realized that earlier"

So that's it he didn't truly give up he just run out of time.

"I see. That's just too bad, then."

"Indeed, you're absolutely right."

He took a long, deep, and dragging breath and said

"The moon really looks beautiful tonight"

I did not know it at that time but I felt it deep within my very soul that they were going to be his last words but I was not satisfied with that, no for the first time since the fire I was greedy I wanted something more I wanted to do something for him.

With all the steel and resolve my young self could muster I uttered the words that will haunt me till I meet her.

The chains of a dream that will drag me in all 9 circles of hell and grant me audience with Satan himself.

"Yeah since you couldn't do it, I'll do it for you. You're an adult now, so you can't do it but I can. Just leave it to me your dream"

After I said those words the look in his eyes were the most serene I have ever saw them. His body as if letting go of a vast heavy burden he carried for his whole life was gone, for the first time since I saw him he relaxed.

If you asked me knowing what I know now if making that promise was worth it, then even through all the pain the sacrifices, the hell that I've seen in the path to being a hero of justice the answer would still be ….YES.

Because in that moment I knew I saved him. I saved him with the results of my own action and just like him I could save others like he did mine.

"Right… I see… I am at peace now."

In the porch of our house overlooking the koi pond reflecting the full moon my saviour, my adoptive father, my teacher, and my hero slumbered.

I fell in Love

Years has passed since I took up the dream my father left me and every waking moment I have was spent making that dream a reality one day sooner than the last.

Every free time spent honing the pittance of instruction he was able to impart me on becoming a proper magus.

Every time some ask for help I respond without question or consideration hoping to do that dream proud. Day by day hour by hour minute by minute my life passed living in a mundane repetitive cycle till that fateful night when the cyclical mundane was shattered by a clash of red and blue.

In a night like many others after doing a favour for my classmate (like always) I stumbled upon a fight a battle like none I have ever seen, where a man clad in blue zipped across the school's athletic grounds in speeds my eyes and mind can barely register, thrusting and jabbing his red spear towards the man wearing a red cloak and black battle armor parrying it with twin Chinese falchion blades, one as white as snow the other as black as night.

Even then I knew these two creatures of war were not normal even by magus standard and looking back at my actions I cringe at my utter lack of survival instinct, where in any normal man would've run the first time they saw it I caught myself utterly gobsmacked with awe at the sight of two warriors duking it out no holds barred.

Where every clash of steel means either death or victory, every inch given by the enemy an opportunity, when life and death is being threaded with utmost precision, such was the sight I find myself totally and completely awestruck by.

Alas as great as it was all good things must come to an end, at the climax of the battle when the blue spearman was readying what I assume to be his secret technique the amount of bloodlust and sheer killing intent it erupted within him caught me wholly unprepared causing me to instinctively backpedal stepping on a twig breaking the serene silence of the battle while simultaneously revealing my existence and position to the two gods of war.

Thankfully though I am not as brain dead as I thought myself to be because the next thing I knew I was running like a bat out of hell, my instinct calling out to me saying 'Run faster you dumb mother fucker' you get caught you die', props to my instinct though he was right by the time I got caught I can barely register what happened and the next thing I know a 6 foot red spear was run straight through my heart.

Thankfully a kind but devious she devil, I mean Samaritan helped me with my wound or whatever you call getting speared in the heart is, allowing me to get home with my own two feet.

Upon going home I wandered about what just happened trying to piece together the memories I have with that particular encounter and quite frankly at that time I honestly believed I was hallucinating the whole thing, maybe I was just tired and overworking my body too much but the undeniable evidence that it really happened slapped me right in the face in the form of my clearly ripped school uniform soaked in blood.

While ruminating my unique situation of dying and being revived I noticed the wards installed by my father blaring a warning that someone with no good intention has just entered our compound and knowing how shitty this day has been my bet that the guy that gave me a new hole to breathe through is the one causing the ruckus.

The next few minutes was brutal to say the least but in the bright side I can honestly tell that I was able to experience what most man in this time and age have not had the displeasure of experiencing, the feeling of being a human ragdoll.

If I had a sense of humour during those minutes I would've made some snide comment on being double dead or how shitty a killer my attacker was on killing the same guy twice on the same day, well you know what they say about missed opportunity and spilled milk and all that jazz.

With that said on the same minutes of being a human equivalent of a punching bag I in all my brilliance decided that it was the proper and opportune moment to have an existential crisis, questioning where all my effort has gone all the years of training and of course the clincher of why I lived through that hell where everyone else around me died like flies.

What is it that among all those people I was the one that fate decided was worthy to be saved, to hell with this guy trying to kill me without having my question answered, so I with all the will I can muster I fought to the bitter end and thankfully I did for all my effort I did survive and was rewarded with the most glorious sight I have seen during that time in my life.

All my questions were answered by that singular moment, my whole fate in time.

I SAW HER.

My Saber

My King

My Servant

My Anchor

My Sheath

My Avalon

My Love

Under the baleful light of the gleaming moon I saw her.

Her beautiful blonde hair tied into a perfect bun akin to a crown upon her head.

Her piercing green eyes that spoke of gentle calm and raging storm.

Her regal demeanour that evoked countless men to kneel before her and pledge their allegiances.

Her proud standing that remains firm against all that life throws at her unbent and unbroken.

Her dazzling armor that hides her femininity but in no way diminishes her beauty.

All these and more I see in her

All these time that has passed, yet that fateful meeting remains unforgotten, unblemished by the passage of time.

And when her lips parted and uttered the word that I will never ever forget, with a voice akin to ringing church bells on an early Sunday morn with a tint of angelic trumpets heralding certain victory.

"I ask of thee… Are you my MASTER."

In hindsight it was most ironic of meetings, in a way that without my old man implanting Avalon in me we would not have met.

Beneath the moon's light that took my father the same light brought her here.

Thus began the most agonizing, most painful, and most fulfilling two weeks of my life.

We fought against heroes of legends and of yore.

We fought against the servant of madness. The greatest hero of Greece, Heracles, Son of Zeus, the behemoth whose strength was unmatched, the demi-god who accomplished the twelve labours and his reward God Hand.

We fought against the servant of the mount. A monster of Greek lore that spoke of her beauty and the tragedy it brought, along with her curse that all who gaze upon her eyes will be turned to stone, Medusa, the Gorgon and her mighty steed the Pegasus Ballerophon.

We fought against the servant of the spear. The hound of Cullan, Ireland's child of light, the Queen of the Land of Shadow's most prized student, Cu Chulainn and his red spear of barbed death that seeks out the heart whenever its name is invoked

We fought against the servant of the shadows. One of my countries greatest swordsmen, the Rival of Miyamoto Musashi, a man who devoted his life to the sword, Sasaki Kojiro and his greatest technique that all but breaks the laws of physic the Tsubame Gaeshi, the swallows return.

We fought against the servant of spells. The witch of betrayal, Medea of Colchis who in her time was cursed by love but upon this time she was blessed by it and in her desperation to not lose this blessing was willing to go to any and all measure.

We fought against and with the servant of the bow. The insufferable bastard whose name and legend are yet to be told, my future self in another timeline, a twisted version of my dream of justice, Alaya's guard dog that fell against the mad servant to buy us time for our escape and through his sacrifice we were able to cut down the greatest and most powerful foe at that time Heracles. Asshole as he might be he did save our lives and without him we wouldn't have the power nor preparation to kill Heracles.

And in a spectacular twist of fate we also fought against the servant of the bow from the last war. Humanities oldest hero, the king of heroes, the king that ruled when the land was one, the king who owns all the earths treasure, the legend from where legends were born, the one all and be all of all dickishness Gilgamesh along with the heaping pile of curses and abominations that represents all the worlds evil that tainted the Holy grail.

Yeah we also fought a fake priest

We fought them all and won.

Yet victory never tasted so bitter for victory signals the end of the war that lead to our inevitable parting.

Within the two weeks I learned more of myself than all the years I have lived.

I learned the truth about the fire that forged me.

I learned about the truth of my father.

I learned about the hypocrisy of my dream.

I learned about the truth about my sister.

I learned about the truth of my magecraft

I learned the truth about fighting.

I learned the truth of resolve.

But above all I learned about love.

I learned the truth about the joy it brings

I learned about the pain it inflicts

And I leaned about the strength needed to let go.

As I stared upon her fading visage along with the light of the coming dawn I heard her utter the words that filled my heart with boundless joy and breaks it in a single motion.

"Shirou… I love you."

Word said with nary a whisper, carried by the wind from you to me yet heard by my heart as the only sound in a vast dessert of silence, and it drowned me, drowned me in whirlpool of emotions that I did not know I have.

"I love you too Arturia"

Only to have the dawn as my witness for with the arrival of its light you departed.

Taken from me.

Taken to a place that I needed a life time to reach.

And reach it I will, the land of fair Avalon your final resting place.

I will live a life worthy of its splendour, in whatever manner or form it takes.

Not as a hypocritical hero of justice but a true hero, your hero, a hero whose name is Shirou Emiya.

Upon this day I swear, I will live a life worth living.

I saw a chance

After I was saying my farewells to Arturia I turned around to go pick up Illya and go down the mountain an old white haired red eyed man wearing what I assume to be 18th century cosplay is looking at me with a searching gaze

"Those are some nice eyes you have there boy….full of resolve with a tinge of unbending steel."

I readied myself in a combat stance allowing me to strike or run depending on how things go and in response the mysterious man just chuckled.

"What do you think that would do?"

"I assume nothing but you can't fault a man who is trying his hardest at the very least."

Yes whether I run, hide, or fight all will be rendered useless before this man.

I who has just gotten over my battle high against Kotomine and a tearful goodbye with the woman I love, whilst promising to live a full life and be a hero worthy of her might die in a single misstep

The scent of magic rolling of that man is damn near reaching ridiculous level's that dwarfed any being I have had the misfortune of meeting, far surpassing that of Gilgamesh by a huge margin.

"That I cannot. Hehehehe if it's any comfort I give you my word that I did not come here bearing any evil intention that may harm you or any of those under your protection."

I blinked owlishly towards the impossibly powerful man. To be honest his word did assuage me of the danger towards me and my friends.

What use would a dragon gain in lying towards an ant if he can just crush said ant with just an afterthought.

"Then good sir my name is Shirou Emiya may I have the honour of knowing yours?"

"A polite young man I see. Very well my name is Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg master of the Kaleidoscope and Wizard Marshal of the London Clocktower. Nice too meet you young magus."

Well shit, frankly I don't know how to react I assume the first part is his name, the other his title and position and organization he belongs in, but the one that unnerved me the most is the way he addressed me as a magus confirming my theory that the man before me is a very powerful magus, the very least I can do is remain respectful.

"Forgive me sir marshal for not addressing you with your proper title."

"Hmmm…. What a lacking reaction. Oh well I guess I cannot fault you for your lack of knowledge you are pretty ignorant of the moonlit world at this time. Well I am not one for grandstanding and hollow praises so you may just call me Zeltrech is that okay Shirou."

"As you wish Zeltrech-san I thank you for your generosity and understanding, but if you are truly from the Clocktower may I assume that you being here means you seek the Holy Grail, if it is so I am afraid you are too late, I am sorry for being a bearer of bad news but the cursed artefact has already been destroyed."

"Then you assume wrong young Shirou my business here does not concern the Holy Grail but considering that I was one of those responsible in its creation maybe it is."

This man is one of the people involved in the grails creation I thought that the three families made it almost 300 years ago. Well that answers the clothing question it's not cosplay just the usual 300 year old wardrobe

"Yes young man I am that old and more. Hahahaha just don't rub it in and were good."

Well at least he is a pleasant old man that doesn't go killing people unprovoked, I think.

"Well sir if it is not about the Holy Grail per se may I ask what brings you here? If it is within my power I may be able to help even if it is only a little, I may be ignorant in the ways of a magus but I was still a participant of the grail war, if your reason for being here is in anyway related to the grail I wish to offer my assistance so such tragedy may never occur again and besides having a local to assist you would undoubtedly be an asset."

"Heroic, helpful, and headstrong much like the others I see. I am glad to hear your offer of assistance to my endeavours young Shirou but I am afraid that your assistance is not wanted nor needed but required for my business here young magus… is you."

All of a sudden the light hearted tone of the atmosphere changed to a foreboding one the ones casual manner in which the old man spoke became taught and serious.

"Shirou Emiya, adopted son of Kiritsugu Emiya the magus killer, heir-apparent of the Emiya magus

family, and the Wrought-Iron magus, I came here to offer you a deal"

Shit what the hell is happening here is he one of dad's old enemies, did I do something wrong in destroying the grail, what do I do here. Going by the old man's words he came here for a transaction with me but I don't have anything of worth that a long lived and powerful magus like him would take any interest in, except maybe for Avalon that I gave back to Arthuria but I don't have it anymore. Shit if he finds out that I don't have what he wants it will endanger not only me but Illya too and Rin and Sakura and maybe even Taiga shit shit shit shit.

"Hahahahahahahahaha". The old man laughed at my distress. "Don't get so worked up young Shirou as I said I came here bearing no ill intent, you Emiya's really like to think about worst case scenario outcomes. I'll say it again I came here to make a deal, a trade, a transaction no need to be so tensed if you so wished you can refuse the deal after hearing me out, is that okay. "

"Sorry Zeltrech-san I just got freaked out with you releasing your Od like that I thought you were going to attack."

The old man just looked at me with an amused stare akin to a parent looking at a child when said child did something or say something stupid.

"Haah…" he took a long sombre sigh and look to me "My apologies young Shirou it seems that with my old age I keep forgetting that you are untrained and uninitiated in our ways, when I flared my od it was for you to confirm that I am a magus same as you, as I stated your name affiliation and title to assert that I too recognize you as a magus, it is a sign of respect when two magus will begin a discussion or negotiation."

What can I say to that but be embarrassed like hell and scratch the back of my head sheepishly as I silently complained to my father and Rin on why they didn't teach me these stuff to keep myself from looking like a fool.

Well sure the first one didn't really intend for me to be involved in things like this and Rin was more

inclined teaching me practical lessons since we were in the middle of a war but still it does not feel

good feeling like an idiot.

Back then I was so naïve and bought the drivel coming from the old blood sucking trolls mouth as gospel but knowing what I know now that asshole was spewing total and utter bullshit, standard

greeting my ass, that jerk just wanted to laugh at my reaction for his entertainment. The frustrating

part is nobody corrected me on it that led to many embarrassing, life threatening and infuriating circumstances.

"Well on to the matters at hand young Shirou, would you like to hear the contents of the deal?"

"Yes and thank you, for clearing up my misunderstanding Zeltrech-san."

"Don't mind it young Shirou. Now onto business first let's talk about the reasons that you would take up this deal which unfortunately involves your sister lying over there" My eyes widened in horror as I rushed in between him and Illya in a protective manner "worry not young Shirou I do not intend to harm her in whatever shape or form, the reason for her being involved with this deal will be made clear to you if you cast structural analysis on her, considering her unconscious and weakened state it should be possible for you. "

I did as Zeltrech-san told me and cast structural analysis on Illya and what I have found horrified me to no end, countless experiments and modification were made towards her to be the perfect master in the Grail war effectively reducing her lifespan, if what my analysis prove to be correct then she would only last a year two at most.

The other thing was that Illya is not my younger sister but my older one she is currently 19 years old while looking no more than 12 because said modifications also stunted her growth.

What's more is that the vile mud of the Holy Grail also somehow found its way to her system reducing her limited life span more to a mere 4 month this discovery enraged and saddened me to the core my sister is dying and I can do nothing about it.

The extent of the damage is too widespread and to permanent for me or even Rin to undo. Nothing can be done the sheer helplessness and my utter powerlessness in this situation was dragging me to the depths of despair.

Can this day be more hateful than it already is, first I lost the woman I love then I came to find out that my sister is dying, as I was about to lose all hope my eyes landed again on the old man Zeltrech and once again I was given hope, he spoke about Illya's condition because there is something he can do right.

If I beg him to help her maybe there's a chance that she can be saved so damn my non-existent pride, if it is to save my sister I'll grovel on my knees to a complete stranger if I have to.

"Hold your tongue young Shirou." Before I could even have to beg for his help he shuts me up and gave me a kind smile, playful but kind. "Need I remind you this is a negotiation, if another magus with ill intent were to see your expression they would undoubtedly prey on your feelings and use not only you but also your sister, let this be a lesson to you always keep a cool and collected attitude in any stressful situation lest you make it worse. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Zeltrech san."

"Good as you have deduced your sister is indeed in dire straits and I can indeed cure it and reverse any and all damage that your sister have suffered, along with having the natural state of her body as a 19 year old young woman but her intellectual maturity is up to her or would you rather she stayed young and innocent forever, as I recall there are some young man who preferred preadolescent girls calling them onii-chan forever." I cocked my head to the side in confusion and he just smirked at me "I think in your country's culture such young men of unique tastes are called lollicon neee?"

If I was drinking something at that time I would've done a marvellous spit take at the utter ridiculousness of the old man's question. What the hell is wrong with this old man thinking first he tells me that my sister is dying then he insinuates that I'm a lollicon? What the freaking hell?

"Zeltrech-san, can we just please stay on topic."

"Well if you insist but don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with such tastes… no wait let me amend that there maybe a little bit wrong…. No there is something totally wrong, well my point is I won't judge."

I just stared at him with a deadpan expression, I don't care if this old man is the best chance my older sister has in living a normal… I mean a long life, dealing with him is just giving me a head ache.

"Ahem. In lieu of this situation may I ask your permission young Shirou to wake the young Damsel up, as she is already a part of the negotiation?"

I nodded my head towards him as he calmly took measured steps towards us and put a hand directly over Illya as I watched intently looking for any signs that he may do anything untoward, which gladly did not come to pass and after a few seconds Illya stirred from her slumber blinkingly opened her eyes followed by a loud screeching yell.

"HHHhhiiiieeeeeee... Shi..shi..shii.. Rouuuu what are you doing in my room" as she clutched the makeshift blanket I draped over her to hide her naked body which, she then proceeded to look around and dawned to a realization that we were not in her room and we were not alone.

"That was a nice reaction young Illya, you could learn a thing or two from her young Shirou so why don't you and me turn our backs and head over there to give time for the young maiden to make herself decent"

To which I nodded my head eagerly and where Illya blushed as red as my hair. Me and Zeltrech-san walked a few steps into the forest and stood in contemplative silence until Illya voice called to us.

"You can come back now. I'm dressed."

We came back to the clearing where my little older sister was dressed with her usual purple overcoat and purple hat.

"Illyasviell von Einzbern of the Einzbern magus family greets Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg" which she then punctuated with releasing the miniscule amount of Od she has recovered "may I ask what business do you have with me and my brother."

Considering what I learned from Zeltrech-san I really thought that flaring your Od was a sign of respect but truthfully that was just my sister being protective of me and threatening someone above her weight class, which was very, very stupid but at that time in my ignorant mind I thought that the conversation was going along well and my little older sister didn't just pick a fight with a guy that bitch-slapped the moon back into space.

"It's actually about you Illya-nee" as I said those words Illya stiffened in shock and proceeded to look at me.

"Noo.. Shirou don't listen to him his lying!" she practically shouted at me as I walked closer to her and put my hands in her shoulder to calm her down and reassure her that nothing is wrong.

"Sorry Illya-nee but he didn't tell me anything"

She breathe out a tired sigh

"I see so you found out after all, well there's nothing I can do about that but I did enjoy getting pampered by you and calling you Shirou-nii as long as it lasted though" she said with a defeated look on her face. "Sorry for not telling you, I just wanted you to treat me normally and not like a glass doll that would break any moment at least I still have 2 years to enjoy your company."

Those words stop me dead in my tracks, what I was about to say was caught up in my throat. How could you tell someone that what little time they have left is actually quite shorter than they think, especially your own sister. I held my breath preparing to break the news to my sister however hard as it is for me I am sure it is a 100 times harder for her but luckily or unluckily it was Zeltrech that cut in to my intended action.

"I'm sorry to say this young Illya but it seems you are mistaken." Illya then looked at the old man in confusion as he continued. "After taking a dip in the curse of the Holy Grail your life span has been shortened some more, you were lucky that your brother rescued you in time and not an hour more because if he did you will no longer be with us but even so the curse of the grail affected you, being its vessel and all making your remaining time no more than 4 months."

Such a news would break any man but my little older sister is not just any man where I collapsed and despaired she stood strong she just stared impassively at Zeltrech for a few seconds and uttered

"If that is so then I'll just enjoy these 4 remaining month as I would a lifetime and having my brother here is enough. Truth be told I expected to die here in this war like those before me." She smiled a content smile and said "These 4 months is a blessing, I could not ask for more."

"What if I tell you I can heal you that I can help you live a full life?"

"Then I will ask you what the price is? No self-respecting magus would think such an offer will just literally drop from the sky without an equivalent price tag, so tell me Wizard Marshall what is it that you require as recompense for your services?"

Wow so this is what a negotiation between two magus feels like, no one is giving ground for the other to exploit so calm, so collected, and so measured every response well thought out and calculated, thinking back to my earlier actions makes me want to dig up a hole and die.

"The price for my service as you put it young magus is a mission for your brother."

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!... OUT OF THE QUESTION!!!!! YOU BASTARD THIS IS BETWEEN YOU AND ME DON'T INVOLVE SHIROU IN THIS."

Now there goes the civility I expected from Illya, magus or not she is still a child compared to this 300+ year old magus.

"Wait Illya-nee let's hear him out first on what this mission entails, it may not actually be that bad."

Illya gave me an incredulous stare as if questioning whether I am really talking out of my mouth or out of my ass.

"Shirou do you even know who this is?"

"Well actually no. he just told me his name that he is the master of Kaledos-something and that he is the Wizard Marshall of the London Clocktower that Rin wants to go to."

"Kaliedos-something Shirou" she gave me a smile that terrified me to no end, a smile that promised pain and suffering, a smile that I learned to fear "Did you just call the second true magic, the dream and goal of any magus, a sure and certain path to the Root such a disrespectful name"

"I'm sorry" I hurriedly said as my go to strategy in dealing with angry woman, apologize first then figure out what you did wrong , then suddenly the implication of what she said hit me like a truck loaded to the brim with bricks, driven by a raging Berserker.

"Wait you mean this old guy is a magician, a Root-damn magician that mastered a form of magecraft that no science can replicate."

"Yes Shirou, yes he is." She answered me while still sporting that wickedly terrifying smile "and you called that very same Root-damned magician an old guy to his face" her smile growing wider and a terrifying black aura starts to envelop her O Gaia, Alaya, or any of the gods out there please let me face Gilgamesh again, or even Berserker, or maybe Lancer, or I can take them all at once if you want to, just spare me from my little older sister's incoming wrath "so Shirou if you have nothing constructive to add please leave the talking to the adults okay."

To this day I don't know how and I don't know why but the sight of my sister sporting that wicked smile terrifies the living shit out of me.

"Yes ma'am."

"Where were we then Sir Zeltrech. Ah yes it's about my idiotic, suicidal, and inexperienced brother going on a mission for you is that right?"

"Why yes young Illya, yes it is,did I perhaps stutter or was it not understood correctly because I can clarify it if you want?"

"Many thanks sir Zeltrech, if you would please indulge me this very important question. Why him? You and I both know that compared too many magus out there he is untrained and considering his recklessness he is more likely to die not by outward threats but by his own stupidity."

"Oyy... I'm right here you know, yeah I know I go a bit overboard sometimes but I'm really not that stupid."

The both of them just looked at me with pity in their eyes and just as quickly ignored my comment and went back to discussing with each other.

"I agree with you on that one young Illya that he is untrained in his magecraft and can just be barely called a beginner magus but in my opinion he is the only one who can accomplish the mission I am about to give, for it is no mission that requires actual magecraft but of heart, resolve, and ideals. A quest so grand that it makes those completed and undertaken by mere magus of old look like child's play and a mission not even your dear departed father was able to receive much less complete…"

My sister and I waited with bated breath as old man Zeltrech described the details of the mission I was to undertake to heal my little older sister.

"… That mission is to entertain me."

Both of us sweat-dropped at the incredulousness of the (air quote) mission (air quote). What the actual living fuck, to save my root-be-damned sisters life I would be an entertainer. I pictured this day to be many things but not this, definitely not this.

Illya just stared impassively at the centuries old man "So what are the terms of this so called entertainment of your sir Zeltrech?"

"Well it kinda sorta involves me whisking your brother away in another reality."

"WHAT" both of us shouted at the same time.

"You Root-damned SON Of A ..."

"Illya-nee calm down, calm down, deep breaths, 1…2….3…., inhale …exhale …inhale… exhale okay you good."

"Yeah, thanks Shirou."

"So Illya-nee what did he mean by another reality"

"Let me explain my magic the kaleidoscope involve operation of parallel worlds you do know what parallel worlds are right?"

I just nodded my head.

"Good, well my magic allows me to travel to them as well as observe them but this is where it gets complicated, some realities are easier to travel to than others, for example the realities where I and different versions of me are easier to observe and go to, because a part of me or you know another me already exist there anchoring me and serving as a GPS or beacon for me to follow, cause nothing is easier to detect than your own magical signature, but there are other realities that have different ruling bodies of authority, like realities where neither Gaia or Alaya exist or where I don't exist, realities that are unlike our own where the evolutionary path differs, or the geological structure of the earth is different, or sometimes it is not even called earth at all, also in order for me to visit there I need someone to volunteer for me, to serve as my anchor and before you say anything on why don't I just remember it and visit it when I feel like it, well that's the reason why kaleidoscope is called the operation of parallel worlds not the control of it, because as powerful as I am I cannot for the life of me calculate and by pass the uncertainty principle of the ever expanding multiverse phenomena, in short a lot of alternate time lines and multiverses are being born every minute and if I don't concentrate and keep track of them I lose their position and they are lost to me without knowing to go back except with blind luck. So I need someone to go there and be my signal of sorts. "

Well that was a long ass exposition of his powers, which half of it are gibberish to me I wonder if Illya understood all that and what will her answer be.

"Well when you put it that way then NO. Absolutely and definitely, Not."

"Illya-nee if I don't do this then you'll die. I don't want to lose you just after I got to know you."

"Still No. You idiot don't you know what he's asking! He is asking you to go to an unknown world, without any friends or allies or resources or anything, you'll be there all alone. You… you… you'll be separated from me; he's going to take you away to a place I couldn't take you back. You're my only family left I can't allow him or anyone else to take you away from me, because you're my little brother and it's my job to protect you so it's okay for me to die as long as you're there beside me. I just don't want to be alone anymore. "

What the hell can I say to that? What could I do to dissuade her? Nothing at all, for here is my little older sister standing in the face of certain death with the resolve of a hero facing an army unshaken and unbowed.

I could do nothing but accept and make her remaining days the happiest she could have. In a moment of pure siblingship we hugged each other, lost in the warmth of each other's embrace, this is fine, this is alright, I may lose her but she will remain in my heart and soul for all eternity, but the beauty of the moment was ruined as we were reminded that we were not alone.

"Ahem…. If we could please get back on topic here watching you two is quite awkward for this old man, I half expected you to begin a full out make-out session if I wasn't here and in the middle of the forest no less. Oooohhhhh … …my…... how scandalous. "

The both of us quickly took hurried steps away from each other to hide our embarrassment and full on glaring at the perverted magician. How could this lowlife taint our beautiful fraternal love for each other by insinuating such lewd comments?

"Ahem. My apologies Sir Zeltrech as you have heard my brother and I have no intention of being separated now that we have found each other so I assume that you have your answer then?"

"Yes young Illya that I do." He then turned to me and asked "So when do you want to go today, tonight, or tomorrow make sure it is not later than tomorrow, the coordinates of that world would be long gone by then and I in good conscience can't throw you at in the vast space of the multiverse without a clear and concise destination, or in hindsight maybe I would, just to see if you end up going somewhere interesting, or if you're feeling adventurous you can just go right now"

"Have you gone senile Sir Zeltrech I thought that we made it clear that we don't want to be separated from each other?"

"Yes I got it that's why I am asking when young Shirou would like to go."

"We already said no, why are you forcing Shirou to go?"

"Why would you say no it's a win-win situation for both you?"

"You really are going senile Sir Zeltrech. I told you already because we don't want to be separated."

"What has that got to do with anything? I already told you that I would heal you didn't i? "

"Yes you would if Shirou would go to another reality."

"Yes, that's it."

"Then it is still No."

"WHY?"

"How many times should I say it? It is because we don't want to be separated."

"As many times as needed till we make this clear. If you really don't want to be separated from each other, then all the more reason that young Shirou should go."

"HUH???" both of us looked at the old man in confusion with question marks hanging over both me and Illya-nee's heads as we had an impromptu staring competition with the magician.

A few minutes of confused silence hang around us trying to figure out where in the supposedly straight up conversation reached an unprecedented tangled mess. The glaring contest was suddenly broken by the only magician in the lot sporting a "Eureka I got it" expression on his face followed by a magnificent palm-meet-face action, then looked at both, nay glared at us from between his fingers causing us to stiffen in nervousness.

"This is really a thing with you Emiya's isn't it?" the magician sighed in a tired weary voice full of derision, regret, and then forced acceptance.

"Damn you Kiritsugu and your pessimistic genes." Cursing the heavens with exasperation.

"Oy… Magician or not don't diss a man in front of his children" a statement the magician casually ignored.

"So to clarify to both of you I will heal young Illya if young Shirou goes to the other reality, you both got that right?"

The both of us firmly nodded our heads.

"Then answer me this? How would young Shirou ascertain whether I did or did not fulfil my end of the bargain? "

That got both of us to look at each other to see if the other one has the answer and considering Illya-nee's questioning look towards me I am guessing that the both of us is just as confused as the other.

"Well aren't you giving us more reason not to trust you then, are you really trying to get us to say yes because as it stands the answer is still no."

The expression of old man Zeltrech at that moment felt like he was trying really, really hard not to strangle… well anyone and failing at it hard.

"Okay... okay... calm down me. Let's see here if young Illya have you not thought about why I needed to talk to you and young Shirou at the same time? "

Both Illya-nee and I once again sported confused looks.

"Isn't it supposed to be because she would be healed when I accept your deal making her a part of the negotiation discussion?"

"No not necessarily" Illya-nee said in a thinking expression "If you really think about it my input in whether you want to rescue me or not is a decision belonging only to you and you alone because in the end it will be you who is traveling to another reality, so my presence shouldn't be needed in this discussion and knowing you, you would've accepted in a heartbeat, so why did you invite me knowing the chances of convincing Shirou would lower, that just doesn't make sense. Yes all of this just doesn't make sense, so that leads me to conclude that this is just an elaborate trap to set us up. Yes, that's it isn't it we have caught up to your plan vile magician hahahahaha." she accusingly pointed at the said magician who was sporting a rather comical jaw dropped face.

"WHERE THE HELL IN THE NEVER ENDING SWIRL OF THE ROOT DID YOU GET THAT CONCLUSION?" he shouted in frustration.

"But that's the only thing that makes sense, isn't that right Shirou?"

"Yeah, as far as I can tell Illya-nee hit it right in the head."

For the nth time that day we both saw the magician sigh in exasperation.

"I'll hit both of you right in head to smack the stupid out of both of you."

"Oy. Don't be mad just because we discovered your plans." Illya-nee smugly proclaims.

"Okay that does it! Let me spell it out for both of you. My plan is that both of you will go to the other world"

Both Illya-nee and I were dumbstruck by the unexpected, unprecedented and completely unseen twist of fate to which completely caught us off guard like a sudden lightning bolt striking us from the heavens as the realization dawn on us. The magician unaware and uncaring of our earth shattering world views just casually continued with his explanation.

"Shirou goes first to be the anchor and transmit me the coordinates by his mere existence, then after I heal you here we will then go to Shiro to confirm that I upheld my end of the deal. The reason I need you in this discussion is I need your consent to travel to another world too. So all in all I thought because you refuse to be separated you were willing to live and endure for just a bit of time just so you can be together longer and fuller, is that understood brats."

"Sir, yes, Sir" we both respond in unison

"Honestly you Emiya's and your pessimism, always expecting the worst out comes from any scenarios, no this is beyond pessimism you are not expecting bad thing to happen, what your doing is worse than that, its negative optimism isn't it, I didn't know they developed that kind of philosophical school, wow the Emiya magus family are such pioneers aren't they? Such an inglorious school of thought that they develop, hear it one and all this revolutionary thinking, rather than expecting bad thing to happen lets go beyond that, and what do you say that is, easy it's to think that nothing good ever happens to us. Really, just really, is that really how you go about day by day huuhhhh, huuuhhh, huuuhhh."

Both Illya-nee and I were really embarrassed and looking everywhere else other than the ranting magician in front of us.

"Now with that out of the way you both should understand the extent of the deal. Yes."

"Yes." We both responded

"Good then anything else?" to which Illya-nee raised her hand.

"Yes what is it young Illya"

"You still haven't answered my question, why Shirou?"

"The better question would be young Illya is, why not him?"

"Ehh??" I unintelligently questioned. Both of them looked at each other seriously.

"You saw what he became did you not and this is indeed an opportunity to prevent that."

"Why? Why are you going so far for him? I see no reason for you to help him?"

"I have no reason not to either and you forget young Illya is that I am old. Old enough that your bastard of a grandfather would call me ancient. Too old to feel anything towards anything so when I do feel something I hold onto it and see every and all reason to hold onto it even just a second longer and you young Shirou have done just that, for the longest time you made me feel something, you fascinated me with your ideals and hypocritical dream, and to reward you of that service I am giving you this chance the chance to be with her once more."

"Wha…wha..whaat do you mean?" I stuttered as I feel the weight of the words he uttered to me as the memories of our recent parting came surfacing back.

"I mean what I just said young Shirou what I offer next is the chance for you to accomplish your newly acquired dream, to be a hero worthy of your departed Arthuria."

"HOW?" I questioned, can I really see her again, even though I made a promise to do everything I can to be worthy of Avalon, the confirmation that it was doable is enough for me to break out into song accompanied by a cheesy dance routine.

"That I cannot tell you but what I can is thus, it is not impossible for you to be a hero in this world but it is highly improbable, your chances of becoming one here is as slim as you missing a stationary target with a bow 5 feet away from you at your peak physical and mental condition" well shit when you put it that way it does seem impossible.

"Do you know why that is young Shirou?"

"I am sorry Sir Zeltrech but I am afraid that I do not know the answer." Which quite frankly depresses me to no end.

"One aspect is the time we live in, we are at what you call an era of stability, this world has no longer need of heroes that do battle against great evil, it is an era where all of humanity stand up against evil, a hero has always been an individual that rises up among the crowds and for you to do so in our time is hard." That is true in our time there are no dragons to slay, no evil warlords to kill, no grand quest from kings or queens and no princesses to rescue from their towers what men fight against right now are corruption, pollution, global warming, poverty and hunger which undoubtedly my skill set is ill equip to handle.

"A second one is you yourself is lacking, not lacking in the ways of a hero, no you got that part in spades, you are lacking in ways of humanity, for you to truly be able to save others you must first understand them, one cannot give what one does not have, to give hope and salvation to others you must first have it, and then understand how to give it. To put it simply how can one expect to save others if they cannot save themselves, and in truth young Shirou you have not even began saving yourself."

"What do you mean sir Zeltrech, I don't understand?"

"Hopefully you would in time young Shirou but let me give you a hint. The thing that you seek is in the fire that birthed you."

I shuddered at the implication of what he is saying.

"Yes young Shirou, you need to face the fire once more in order to be whole again."

"Those are the two things are the greatest obstacle you have in being a hero, obstacles that you would hopefully clear in this journey of yours."

"Thank you, Sir Zeltrech for your guidance."

"Think nothing of it young Shirou. So how goes the status of our deal young ones. Is it a yes or a no?"

"Considering all that is at stake here isn't there any other answer except yes, for both my sake and Shirou's but before anything else we should iron out the finer details of the deal, if you so wish we can continue here or we can proceed to a more appropriate venue, the Emiya estate is in no way shape or form to welcome you Sir Zeltrech considering the aftermath of Kirei's attack to get to me, if I may suggest a hotel or café."

"No need to trouble yourself over little old me. I'm sure your estate no matter how in dire need of repair will in no way bring any discomfort to this old man, so shall we proceed to a more hospitable arrangements" he then proceed to wave his hands a low and behold a hole in reality appeared sporting within its edges are a myriad of colours that human eyes can't begin to make sense of and in the middle of said hole appears to be our living room. "So my two young friends shall we adjourn to your living room." As he walked to the said portal and we both siblings following closely behind him

As we walked out of the portal I felt a wave of nausea erupting out of nowhere and going by the same expression in Illya-nee's face then it was safe to assume that I am not the only one feeling it.

"Sorry my young friends it seems I forgot to warn you about the nasty side effects of the second magic, don't worry the nausea will only last a few moments. In another note you were not kidding about the damage on your abode perhaps the porch will be better suited for our discussion as well as provide you ample fresh air to breathe to ease the nausea"

"Thank you for your kind consideration sir Zeltrech and apologies again for receiving you in such an unpleasant manner."

"Think nothing of it come young ones show me the porch that we may relax that you may get your bearings once more."

A few minutes passed and as old man Zeltrech said the nausea is now completely gone. As soon as the annoying dizziness was gone I then proceeded to the kitchen to make some tea, thankfully the destruction was only limited to the living room making the my kitchen untouched, if Kotomine has somehow made even a single of any plate in here crack then damn salvation to hell, ill drag him back to the land of the living world through Satan's ass if need be just to exact my righteous fury upon his brainless cranium.

As I served the tea and some cookies I heard Old man Zeltrech clear his throat after drinking the tea I served.

"Ahem so shall we continue the discussion from earlier young ones?"

"Yes Sir Zeltrech there is an important detail I wish to ask you, will there be any kind of danger that Shirou will encounter in the reality where you'll send us."

"If you are asking if the reality is totally safe then no. In any or all worlds that I have seen and visited not a single one of them is free of any dangers but the worlds I'm sending you and Shirou to is in no way as dangerous as our reality"

I crunched my eyebrows in confusion about his statement, best to just listen and go along with the conversation.

"Is that so, then part of me is a little relieved at that, so how will Shirou and me adapt to the other reality concerning language, arithmetic , and physical appearance"

"Well regarding physical appearances I think you are both good, while regarding language and the like I may be able to incorporate the system they made for the Holy Grail so both of you can speak, write and read the local languages."

"Lastly sir Zeltrech how long do you think it will take for you to completely heal me?"

"Well that one is a little bit complicated for Shirou it will be 2 years and six months while for you it will just be 6 moths at most"

"I see, so I take it you will keep my body in stasis during the time you heal me. Is that right?"

"I'm sorry for that young Illya but to cure what ails you is no easy feat even for me, for you see it requires for me to reverse 13 years' worth of malignant damages and restoring your life span to acceptable levels, along with stabilizing your short telomeres, and those can't be done without the proper materials and preparation, if I don't keep your body in stasis then I am afraid the time I need for finding the ingredients for the first ritual will exceed your remaining time in the living world."

"Haaah it seems nothing comes easy when it comes to living is it."

"From someone who lived for a ridiculously long amount of time you have no idea. Well if that is all young Illya I suggest you pack for our trip to the clock tower and be a dear and take care of young Shirou's uhm, let's call it exit strategy "

"Don't worry about that sir Zeltrech I have that taken care off. I already wrote a letter stating that Saber got pregnant with Shirou's baby and they decided to elope, so Shirou, Sir Zeltrech I'm off to pack my things" my little older sister said with an impish grin as she walk towards her room, the implication of the things she said flew over my head as I was preparing myself to ask the magician in the room about the thing that bothered me in the conversation.

"How about you young Emiya is there anything you wish to ask?"

"Actually there is something bothering me when you said that you're sending us to a world that isn't as dangerous as the one we are in, you never really said that it was safer there, am I right?"

"Quite sharp of you young Emiya, quite sharp indeed, always keep that edge on you at all times especially in where you're going."

"You did not answer my question sir Zeltrech" the old man just ignored me and casually searching his inner coat pockets and when he finally found the thing he was apparently looking for he promptly and lazily tossed it towards me, with instinct kicking in I deftly caught the pack of cigarettes and preceded to look at the magician with a questioning gaze.

"That was your fathers favourite brand of smoke would you care to try?" Hmm I don't really know how to react to the sudden non-sequitur, but well anyway so dad used to smoke huh I never knew. I open the pack of cigarettes I took one stick and put it in my mouth Zeltrech-san offered me a light while he too lighted his cigar. The first mouthful of smoke that I inhaled promptly irritated my lung causing me to proceed into a coughing fit.

"Hahahaha the first few intakes are quite rough for someone who is inexperienced but give it a few more tries it gets smoother" after a few more coughing fits I think my lungs just grew more accustomed to it and it gets smoother and smoother. We just sat there in silence smocking our respective cancer sticks until mine run out and as if sensing my dilemma an ashtray was projected beside me where I promptly disposed of said stick.

"Your father was one of the few people I enjoy sharing a smoke with, too bad he stopped when your sister was about to be born, damn shame too I was hoping to give him that very pack of cigarettes, not to brag but I may be the only magus in living history that created a mystic code purely for smoking"

"What do you mean Zeltrech-san are you saying this box of cigarettes is a mystic code?"

"Yes it is the only one of its kind actually. Try channelling your od into it" I did as I was told and surprisingly the box did absorb my od then I took a peek inside and saw that the pack was full again."Yup, you got it the very first and only cigarette pack mystic code in existence, a self-refilling cigarette pack using the holders od as supply, complete with a water proof metal casing, downside though is it can only hold 20 at a time and once you take out a stick it only last about an hour, so make sure to light it up before it expires, unfortunately this is only the brand and flavour I have given that this was specifically made for your father"

"Were you and dad close?"

"As close as anyone can be towards Kiritsugu Emiya I suppose, your father was not really the outgoing type if you know what I mean, hell the only thing we shared besides me being his employer from time to time is our mutual love of smoking, which to this day is the only thing I know he indulges in besides work, before you or your sister came into his life"

"What can you tell me about his life as a Magus?"

"Shirou do you know what you're asking? Are you truly prepared to know?"

Truth be told I don't know what to think, nor why I would want to know and even if I did will it really change the way I feel about him. I heard stories about my dad from Saber of how ruthless and efficient of a killer he was but even then he was and always will be the kind father that saved me, my role model, and my hero and I know that he had a dark past but the Kiritsugu back then was not my father rather he was the magus killer, whatever that means, but maybe it was because he is my hero that I can't help but want to know his origin story.

"Yes I do Zeltrech-san."

"Very well then Shirou Emiya let me tell you the tale of the greatest assassin and operative of this current generation, a man who never lived for his dream but killed for it, the tale of the hero named Kiritsugu Emiya, the Magus Killer."

Thus began the story of my father a young boy that grew in a tropical island in the Philippines named Alimango Island, the story of his dream to become a hero, the story of his first love Shirley, the story of how his home was burned to the ground by the experiment of a mad magus, how said experiment resulted in his first loves death, the story of his first kill the mad magus that caused the experiment my grandfather his father Norikata Emiya, the story of how he was adopted and trained by my grandmother in all but blood Natalia Kaminski, the story on how he was forced to kill his mother in order to avoid a catastrophic disaster, the story when the name of the Magus Killer was spread far and wide and its meaning being synonymous to death, the story of his many different missions his tactics, his efficiency, his cunning, his predator instincts, his ruthlessness, his decisiveness, his wide array of skills, the employ of his magecraft in his missions, his most favoured weapon the Thompson Contender and his disappearance from the limelight.

The story was then continued on by my little older sister Illyasviel, who I didn't notice was beside me being too immersed in listening to the story she too has a cigarette in her hand, as do I which I don't remember lighting. The story then proceeded about my father's life in the Einzbern mansion, on how he fell in love with our mother Irisviel von Einzbern, the story on how he was hired by the family to compete in the Holy Grail, the story of the man who wished for peace more than anything in the world that he was willing to lose the little piece of happiness he has found, the story of a father that would day by day play with his young daughter the walnut game that where he apparently always cheats and his eventual goodbye and departure to the holy grail war.

I then continued his story from the boy who died in the fire and was saved by him with a smile that brought salvation, on how he adopted the boy and gave him a home, the story the boy begging him to teach the boy mage craft, the story of the man who lacks any and all skill in the kitchen to the point of burning said kitchen by boiling water, the story of what a shitty magecraft teacher he is to the boy, the story of the man who frequently leaves home trying any and all ways to free his daughter, the story of the man who was ravaged by the curse from All the Worlds Evil and the story of his end under the light of the moon and him passing his dream to another and so the story comes to its inevitable conclusion.

"Kiritsugu was many things but at his core he always strives to follow his dreams to become a hero of justice. A flawed kind of justice but justice none the less, he lived by his creed of heroism kill 1 to save 10, kill 10 to save 100, kill 100 to save 1,000 yet his justice was stopped by two young brats huh. You learn something new every day I suppose."

Illya and I looked at each other the asked the old man

"What do you mean sir Zeltrech?"

"Well you two were the one that stopped the Magus Killers creed of justice I suppose. Young Illya do you understand when he was faced with the holy grail you are the only one he couldn't kill, you became the exception to his creed and you young Shirou was the only life he could save without killing any one, you were saved not by the arms of a bloodied killer but by the hands of a man that is just willing to help. You two are without a doubt Kiritsugu's greatest treasures and his undying legacy so do him and me a favour and live a life worth living."

"Well if you put it that way me and Illya-nee has to right?"

"Yup, he was not a perfect or even a normal father but we are lucky and proud to call him our father."

"Yeah Illya-nee so its our job to make him proud right?"

"What do you mean Shirou?"

"Well for a magus family like ours doesn't it mean we need to surpass him, like if he needed to kill 1 to save ten then we just need to kill no one yet save the same number right or we just need to kill 1 to save 10,000 or something like that?"

"Well that's one way to look at it I suppose but Shirou I think you should have your own creed of justice and not just copy dad's, for us to surpass him we should walk our own path right. You may have inherited his dreams but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't make it your own. You should admire but not follow blindly, where he failed you should succeed and where he succeeded you should do better."

"That's a tall and tough orders you know Nee-san but I can do it for him and for Arthuria."

"Ahem, not to ruin this precious moment but when do you want to leave Shirou."

"Maybe after I pack my stuff."

"Oh don't worry about that you don't have to bring anything with you, I already prepared all that you need, so you're already set as far as I am concerned and it almost slipped my mind but you can't tell anyone you are from another world okay."

"Understood Zeltrech-san I won't tell anyone, should I also hide my magecraft too, no matter how little amount I have."

"Uhm. What I mean is you literally can't tell anyone your from another world or give leading hints that make them find out and if you do all they will hear is literal gibberish, consider it as a measure to prevent people from discovering or knowing something that they are not prepared to handle, or to simplify it it's a curse that prevents others from learning secret information. With regards to magecraft I leave it to your discretion because I don't know if that world even has a mage association or not?"

"So any other questions?"

"Yeah so can I bring that pack of cigarettes with me?"

"Of course, of course. hahahaha"

"Oy how about me? I want one too."

"Well Illya-nee I don't know if they even have cigarettes like this there so I should keep it and besides you will be asleep for at least two years, at least with me it will be put to good use"

"Well just be careful out there and don't do anything stupid okay. Haaah. Who am I kidding it's you the holder of the legendary E rank luck that gets dragged into the most troublesome situations, it will be a miracle if you can get through one day there without starting something unprecedentedly stupid. If you do... I mean When you do just make sure to kick some ass and survive until I come there, and watch your back okay and don't forget to make many friends okay."

Is it just me or does the last part of that sounds like you're dropping of a kid on a day-care, considering this is the last time I would see her in two years I'll let it slide. I run to her and gave her the biggest and tightest hug I could muster.

"Don't worry Illya-nee. I'll take care and tell you lots of great stories when we see each other."

"You better you big dummy."

"I'm ready Zeltrech-san "

He waved his hand and muttered something unrecognizable to me and the same hole in reality appeared but this time the myriad of colours are more vibrant and distinct

"So young Shirou are you truly ready? Are you sure that you haven't forgotten anything? "

I then started to remember if I really did forget anything so I checked my pockets to make sure everything is ready. It feels like I was forgetting something important but if I forgot it in the first place maybe it is not that important.

"Ah, Zeltrech-san about the thing that I requested if I could bring?"

"I've already arranged it young Shirou, worry not you will have the said item along with the starter pack I sent you, along with a surprise present"

"Surprise present for what exactly?"

"As a reward of course for destroying the Holy Grail, as I have said I was one of its creators and thus it is my responsibility and for sparing me the extra hustle and work I suppose an appropriate compensation is in order."

"Thank you again Zeltrech-san"

"It's nothing young Shirou you should get going now for it seems you are dilly-dallying"

I jumped into the portal and as I started to drift off to unconsciousness I suddenly remembered what the important thing I forgot.

"OH…. SHIT… I FORGOT TO TELL RIN"