C485

Artoria handed the black cup to Shirou, who nodded and accepted it, feeling a deep guilt toward her. She stood quietly behind him, leaving him at a loss for words.

In their last clash with the monstrous being, before the storm even had a chance to start, Scathach unleashed her most powerful technique, sacrificing everything. The aftermath was devastating; her body started to crumble away, dissipating like spiritual particles, growing fainter by the moment.

With a light laugh, Scathach remarked, "It seems I have to return first."

"You've done more than enough, Scathach."

"Just call me 'shisho' already!" she shot back with a hint of irritation.

He simply nodded. "Shisho."

She blinked in surprise. "Is that really you, Shirou?"

"It's me," he affirmed.

She looked incredulous. "I never thought I'd hear the day you'd call me 'shisho' so willingly. Is this some kind of dream?" She seemed to question her own senses.

Her eyes met his, noting the vivid flame burning brightly within. It was a flame similar to the one she saw ten years ago. Although it gave off a cold feeling, its brilliance was undeniably heartwarming.

She smiled softly, "It's good to have you back, Shirou."

He let out a small chuckle. "You talk like I've been away or something. It's just some stubborn fool reminding me of who I am. And hey, you've already died, so hurry and move on."

She pouted in dissatisfaction.

"Considering your age, you might as well be my great-great-great-great-great-grandmother. So quit with the cutesy act."

She gritted her teeth, "Your tongue hasn't lost its edge, I see!"

Karna glanced at the slowly disappearing woman, then at the young king, "Seems like there's something more than just mentorship between you two?"

Shirou waved him off, "You're reading too much into it. She's my teacher, that's all."

Scathach chimed in, her voice filled with nostalgia, "Our first meeting was the most unforgettable one."

Raising an eyebrow, Karna mused, "Sounds a lot like... a first love?"

Shirou felt a piercing gaze and turned to see Artoria behind him, her eyes visible through the slit of her helmet. Caught off guard by her intense stare, he couldn't help but feel a rush of curiosity. However, as quickly as he met her gaze, she averted her eyes in embarrassment.

He looked somewhat troubled, then turned back to Karna. "Choose your words carefully, Karna, or we might just have a problem."

Karna's brows knitted in confusion. "Did I say something wrong?"

He simply nodded in confirmation.

"But all I did was speak the truth," Karna protested, genuine bewilderment on his face.

Shirou pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just... shut up."

Karna closed his mouth.

Scathach glanced at Shirou and then at Artoria, smiling as she said. "Whatever went down between you two, seems you've patched things up. Whether it's as comrades, friends, or perhaps more, it puts me at ease."

"Scathach..." Artoria murmured, looking her way.

Scathach's eyes softened as she continued, "I've watched Shirou grow. He's dependable, loyal, quick-witted, and has a way with words. Actually, there was a time when I thought..."

She paused, looking distant for a moment. "Never mind... It's not important."

"Scathach?" Artoria's voice held a mix of confusion and curiosity. She wondered why Scathach was telling her all this.

Without another word, Scathach simply stated, "It's time for me to leave." Her form dissipated, leaving no trace behind.

As Artoria processed the whole thing, Emiya walked up to Shirou.

"Eternal King..."

Shirou looked at him, eyebrows raised. "What is it?"

Emiya inhaled deeply before locking eyes with him, "I presume you've already figured out that I'm another version of you."

Shirou responded with a nod, "I have. But you need to understand one thing. You are Emiya Shirou, and I'm Fujimaru Shirou!"

"I'm aware," Emiya acknowledged, nodding back. "That's why I'm here. I have questions that only you might have the answers to."

Shirou tilted his head, signaling him to proceed.

Emiya hesitated for a moment. "Throughout countless parallel worlds, Emiya Shirou's destiny seems almost set in stone: saved by Emiya Kiritsugu from a blazing inferno, robbed of everything—family, memories, even his name, and adopting Kiritsugu's dream of becoming a hero of justice, only to be consumed by it."

Shirou looked at him calmly.

Emiya's voice grew soft, but the intensity in his eyes grew even stronger. "So, how did you manage to escape that fate?"

Shirou remained silent for a moment and then said, "Do you remember being summoned by a younger 'you'?"

Emiya blinked. "Summoned by a younger version of myself?"

Shirou nodded. "A kid, barely six, dragged into the chaos of the Holy Grail War. You couldn't handle being summoned by 'yourself,' so you chose to end your life."

Realization dawned on Emiya's face. "Wait, I do remember that. I destroyed my own... You mean to say..." He stared at him, eyes wide in shock.

Shirou nodded and said with a calm expression, "Exactly. I was that kid. Because you ended your own life, I ended up as a demi-servant and became involved in the Holy Grail War."

Emiya's eyes widened. "But... I thought I had completely destroyed my Spiritual Core. How could that even be possible?"

Shirou shook his head. "You only shattered a piece of it, and I got the rest. So, in a twisted way, I owe you. You played a part in making me who I am."

Emiya stepped back, his face a mask of shock and sweat dotting his forehead.

This couldn't be true...

It just couldn't be this way!

Shirou's voice was gentle. "You don't need to worry about me holding any resentment or seeking revenge. Despite being pursued and forced into that war, I never harbored any grudges. Every person I met, every confrontation I had, it taught me something. I met heroes who shaped my entire life. I'm thankful for all of them."

Mention of the Fourth Holy Grail War caused Artoria to lower her gaze even more. The thought of drawing a sword with the intention to kill him... it was her dark history.

Meanwhile, Gilgamesh simply crossed his arms and scoffed. He didn't deny it. He was the one who had driven him into that corner during that war. And he was the one who faced ultimate defeat.

Shirou looked at Emiya. "Actually, I owe you one. Your decision to destroy your Spiritual Core allowed me to inherit part of it and step into the Holy Grail War. Had that not happened, and you truly emerged as a Servant in this world, I would've used three command spells to have you step down from the war, and then I would've run away from Japan. Without this journey, I wouldn't have realized my strength, faced Gilgamesh head-on, won the Holy Grail War, or survived the countless trials that seemed insurmountable. It's the challenges and hardships I faced that made me strong."

Emiya stared at the younger version of himself with a complex expression on his face. "You won the Holy Grail War at the age of six..." He paused, his mind blown away. 

He gathered his thoughts and asked. "Given your experiences and the fact that you know my story... what are your thoughts on the 'hero of justice'?"

It was vital for Emiya to know. He was the alternate self of the Eternal King. The concept of justice weighed heavily on him, and he needed to know his perspective.

Shirou silently drew the Caliburn and inscribed the character "ひと" onto the ground.

Emiya looked at it and couldn't help but be stunned.

Okita Souji, another Counter Guardian, approached them, her eyebrows raising slightly in surprise. "Isn't this the Japanese character for 'person'? What does it mean?"

Emiya sighed softly...

Okita turned her head towards him, puzzled. "What's wrong, Emiya?"

Shirou glanced at him and spoke in an even tone, "It seems you've already understood what I want to say."

Emiya gave a half-smile and sighed, "This seems... like something the Eternal King would say. It's a type of justice that I... that I've never really understood before. Constant self-sacrifice only leads to your own ruin in the end. One person can't shoulder everything; we need to support each other. Such a simple truth, and yet, I..."

Shirou placed a hand on his shoulder, "What's important is that you found what you were looking for."

Emiya's eyes clouded with regret. "But is there still a chance for me? I'm a Counter Guardian... I've become... a Counter Guardian..."

"Whoever said that Guardians have no chance?" He said. "Paths don't exist until someone carves them out. You just need to be willing to put in the effort, and there will always be opportunities. There's nothing in life that's strictly binary; it's dynamic and ever-changing. If you're willing to work for it, there'll always be a way."

After a brief pause, he added, "Emiya Kiritsugu in this world penned a novel about a hero of justice. If you have the chance, you should give it a read."

Emiya's curiosity peaked, "What's his pen name?"

Shirou smirked, "Urobuchi Gen." 

With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Emiya to mull over their conversation.

He stopped when he reached Artoria, and they both stood in silence. Artoria, head bowed, seemed to be wrestling with her thoughts as well.

Shirou always believed in being a man of his word, living by a code of responsibility. He was careful with his promises, and once given, he'd move mountains to keep them. This made him a rock, a steady presence for those around him.

Yet, standing before Artoria, he felt a wave of shame. He couldn't deny that he'd let his mind wander to places it shouldn't have about her. This lapse had given Crimson Moon the leverage to scheme against him, causing a mistake with repercussions reaching Artoria as well. He had, with a scolding tone, rebuked Artoria for her choices, and that made his current shame burn even hotter.

With everything laid bare, the weight of his guilt pressed down on him.

He couldn't look her in the eye.

For a guy who was usually so unflappable, he felt pretty low right now. But he knew he couldn't run from this. Shirou wasn't one to hide.

Bracing himself, with a heavy look, he began, "Artie..."

Just as he was about to speak, the black cup in his hand began emitting an eerie, otherworldly glow.

"Huh?" He looked down, eyebrows knitting together in confusion. "What's going on..."

Suddenly, a hauntingly sweet yet sinister female voice rang out from the cup.

"Arthur! Arthur! Two King Arthurs in one place... You betrayed me and it hurt, Arthur. But I don't hate you... I love you... I love you so much, Arthur... I'll come back, Arthur... Hehehe... Arthur..."

A strange, sinister light spilled from the cup, and the voice, like a whisper from some unseen abyss, cast a chilling dread upon everyone present.