Chapter 25

It was a tranquil sort of calm; where the thumping of his footsteps atop the grass, and the steadiness of Arturia's breath on the back of his neck made to take his mind off of the current circumstance. Strands of her long hair that were no longer tied up into a bun after the previous activities fell down to hang steadily just over his face. His left eye twitched as a few strands assailed it, but he disregarded them in favour of readjusting his grip on her as she lost herself more and more to the sweet embrace of sleep. She inadvertently let out a small jumble of garbled words of displeasure from the movement, yet he knew they were only because of her exhausted state. Her head soon found purchase lulling atop his shoulder as she once again began to let out soft breaths. He felt the way her arms subconsciously tightened around him, seeking heat from the cold night breeze.

He couldn't fault her though as it was just nearing the end of Summer at around late September; the days warm, but the evenings still chilling in the flat terrain surrounding Roan.

She wasn't wearing the armour he was used to seeing on Saber, and instead, she was wearing the green tunic and brown trousers that Merlin had gifted to her for use. They were embroidered, long lines of arching golden patterns and designs that spoke of the nobility of the era evident to see. Just from the feel of them alone on his back, he could tell that their material was not made of rough linen or wool. Rather, it felt more like silk, the kind where one could derive pleasure from running a hand down its surface. In any case, it was thin.

He didn't mind her actions though, even when her face soon burrowed itself at the nape of his neck. At that moment, he quickened his breathing and held his muscles taught to increase blood flow, letting his body emit more heat in exchange for a light sheen of sweat.

It was in this state, that he continued walking.

The magi he had faced before who had been after their own interests didn't dare approach carelessly.

If Efret still surveying from the sky wasn't enough, then the swords floating around him at a distance of ten meters surely would. They weren't Noble Phantasms, but they were Mystic Codes never before seen in Arturia's timeline. Each of them emitted a mystery that caused one's mind to momentarily blank. Such was the case when he had stumbled upon a Magi hidden within the foliage away from Efret's view. Clearly this Magi had been waiting for him as a Mystic Code of the Magi's own was present in a hand.

Yet clearly, the Magi didn't understand who he was dealing with.

A sharp glint appeared in Shirou's eyes, and the swords around him surrounded the Magi before the Magic could even release himself from his stupor.

He showed no mercy; even the regret that bubbled up from within his heart was snuffed out from the reminder of the girl he shouldered on his back. She shouldn't have been so exhausted or come so close to a life worse than death for the sake of another's greed. If she hadn't been able to utilize her Magic Core then…

He didn't want to think about it, and immediately, a sword descended.

Blood mixed into the dirt, showering the grass and the tall reeds with a heavy tint of crimson. The pungent smell of iron wafted into the air, smoking bits of flesh eroding away and becoming ash by a quiet flame.

"Y-You," the magi rasped, stumbling back from the hole that suddenly appeared on his chest. "W-Who are you?"

Though dying, the Magi didn't plead for mercy. It was below most magi anyway as to be a Magus is to walk with death.

He didn't answer.

As far as he was concerned, there may be other Magi nearby and away from Efret's sight who could listen to him with a type of magecraft.

What he had done and shown tonight had made the Magi question themselves. Should they risk going against him? After all, just relying on the fact that he had utilized a Noble Phantasm was enough to put him on the same level as the reclusive Fraga Family of the Moonlit World and that was because they too possessed a Noble Phantasm. Even in the future, the Fraga Family was well respected. In any case, his current appearance was young, and the fact that he carried a Noble Phantasm would mean one of two things to the other Magi. One he had been abandoned and left to his own, and two, he was highly valued to whatever family of Magi he belonged to.

Furthermore, there was Efret.

The Phantasmal Beast of the Ashton Family.

It was probably the first in history that a Phantasmal Beast would act as a familiar. Not only would attacking him mean that a Magi may have to face a supposed backing of another line of Magi, but Efret would have to be taken into account as well.

Speaking of which, the Ashton Magic Crest began to cease its supply of magical energy as Efret descended down to perch on a tree branch, its size diminishing to normal. It's eyes though were blood shot as it glared at the little lion that had moved from Arturia's head to rest on top of his own.

"Lord, I kill weasel?"

For some reason, when he heard Efret speak in his mind, he could tell that all he would need to do to get Efret to take action was a single careless affirmation.

He quickly turned down Efret's insistent ramblings as he could recall that the little lion cub was quite fond of Arturia. That, and the lion cub itself whimpered under Efret's glower. He quickly instructed for Efret to ease off its oppressive aura.

Noticing this, the lion cub seemed to believe that it itself had fended off Efret's ire; it glaring back at Efret goadingly, the young never fearing the unknown. Immediately, Efret began seething, yet it concealed its discontent as it recalled it being reprimanded.

He didn't notice this interaction though, as the lion cub was atop his head.

He resumed his walk back to his lodgings at Roan, Efret flying down to walk by his side.

The Ashtons and the mystery that surrounded that family. It was something that he knew he was going to have to deal with in the future. And everything started with that diary he had picked up. As soon as all the pressing events were over, he resolved himself to discover the mystery hidden within the 'Ashton Assassination.'

Ignorance was bliss, but sometimes not knowing doesn't mean you weren't involved.

LINE BREAK

When Merlin called to meet with him the next day, he didn't put much thought into it before the man asked him his opinion about the Magi's gathering.

More particularly, his thoughts about what a Mage's Association should function as and the authority it would have across the land.

Merlin had not given him such an opportunity before, so it was clear that Merlin had seen something about him that altered initial opinions. No longer was he just a young magus, but now he was a fully-fledged one, and that distinction was the difference between night and day.

The weather was a tad sweltering, the sun overhead pouring directly into the new meeting location of the Magi's gathering. This was where Merlin had brought him after their discussion in the morning. As Arturia was still exhausted from the previous night, she hadn't come, still asleep on her bed.

It was a secluded location this time held together in the forest by Merlin who had constructed a small room with magic to house the gathering. In which case, of the dozens of Magi that had shown up before, less than half appeared now. After all, the majority were either killed, or chose not to come after realizing who was now hosting the event.

Forty or so odd people were seated at this gathering, some of which he could recall were there from the previous night. Lord Archibald for example and Lusanna were present. Both of the families they represented after all were of importance in the Mage's Association of the future.

An association whose sole purpose was to control, conceal, and develop Magecraft after foreseeing the decline of Magecraft. Yet they had went about it in the wrong way.

There were many such practices in the future that he himself could hardly agree with. Of course, one of the biggest being the separation of thaumaturgy from society and its policies to keep the masses ignorant. In some cases, doing so had helped to preserve magic, but even in the future, magic was declining due to old traditions. Even the oldest of Magi didn't understand how to use a telephone.

In which case, he knew how the power of thaumaturgy decreased based on how many people could replicate the art. This was evident in the decrease of power of elemental based thaumaturgy as man learned to harness the power of the elements in the future. Still, that just meant that the magus should focus on a thaumaturgy that has never before been seen instead of clinging to an art already established. That in itself is the continuation of the pursuit of research until a wall is reached, and magic is found. But the thing was, no Magus was ever willing to give up their craft and pursue another. Part of the reason the Mage's Association was created in the first place was to consolidate the existing power of the Magi in the era. A selfish reason, but more than understandable.

He hoped that he could prevent this complete split from society and a few other things.

The meeting began with Merlin giving a small greeting to those that came, pausing slightly as Merlin greeted the Madam from the Vernier family before moving on.

"We'll now begin this meeting," Merlin spoke casually before taking a seat.

It would appear as if Merlin would sit most of this out as this matter was truly for the magi of the era.

Lord Archibald stepped forward to speak, but before he could talk, another woman stepped forward.

"My name Alizine Barthomeloi, of the Barthomeloi family of magi," the woman introduced. She was wearing a backless satin dress that stretched all the way down to her feet, and her hair was tied up into a neat bun. Her expression just screamed imperious, like she looked down upon the others. "I believe we are all here today to speak of an important matter. And that matter is the preservation of the power of our thaumaturgy and the pursuit of research. Agreed?"

A chorus of acknowledgment resounded throughout.

"Then do you have any propositions?" Lord Archibald asked calmly. He had been interrupted from speaking by Alizine, but he didn't appear too troubled by it.

Alizine frowned before gently raising a thumb to her lip. "We can create an association to aid in the sole advancement of research, with several branches, preferably no more than three main ones to help oversee the work. Resources can be pooled, and we as magi can research as we like," she proposed.

This system was exactly as Shirou remembered it. The three branches that made up the Mage's Association, the Clock Tower, Atlas Academy, and the Wandering Sea. Aside from that, the gathering of resources was the same.

Lord Archibald gave a nod of acknowledgment to Alizine Barthomoloi. What she proposed was agreeable to all magi present.

Yet not all. Some fidgeted nervously as a more pressing topic came from those already feeling the effects of their thaumaturgy weakening. Prevalently, those who dealt with fire, an element long since harnessed by man.

"W-What are we to do about the weakening of our thaumaturgy?"

A voice asked.

For the longest time, no one answered. And that was because the most common method of preservation till the present date of the gathering of magi, was silencing through killing. Even still, they couldn't possibly kill everyone who knew of magecraft in the current era. It would be a genocide.

"We simply separate thaumaturgy from society itself," a soft voice proposed. "Thereby limiting the weakening of our craft while increasing our strength through our research."

Shirou's ears perked up. This one sentence had been what he had been waiting for. This method had already tried and failed in the future. In fact, magecraft may very well decline completely if magecraft followed the same timeline as he had seen in the future.

"I object to that," he rebuked under the disapproving glares from the crowd.

Merlin looked up at Shirou, but didn't say anything. It was the Madam out of everyone else who appeared interested in what Shirou was going to say.

"If we do as is proposed and separate ourselves completely from society, then what will we do when society gets so far ahead of us that our magecraft could no longer be considered as extraordinary?" He said. He had used the word 'when' because he had already seen it happen. There weren't many mysteries able to match the shear destruction of a nuclear bomb.

"Preposterous!"

Shirou was immediately reproached, but he already expected that it wouldn't be so easy. It was just that in wake of the previous night, no one dared to actually attack him for his words. Instead, it was just a chorus of criticism.

He put up with it, and waited for it to die down.

"My proposition, is to not entirely separate from society, but to stick close to them while still limiting the number of individuals with knowledge to magecraft," Shirou said.

It was quiet again as the magi contemplated. That was when the madam spoke.

"For the time being, I second such a thing," the Madam said. "Thinking about it clearly, it's impossible for every magus to just disappear away from the common populace. Separating ourselves will take time and a lot of effort whereas not separating with them would allow us to continue what we are doing now and even learn from what is created. I'm sure that everyone can see this?"

A few of the magi in the meeting reluctantly nodded, but the majority kept silent.

The Madam continued.

"Good. What we should discuss on this matter, is just our interference in Society."

Shirou's eyes narrowed as he heard what the Madam just said, a suspicion growing inside him.

The Madam placed her hands on her lap and spoke out clearly. "As Magi, we should not interfere in the business of mortals, but we should be allowed to act in the case of interest."

Shirou's eyes widened. This woman, she really was doing what he thought. In the current era, the only known users of magic were Merlin the Wizard, and the Witch Morgan. If what the Madam had just proposed were to be taken at face value, then she was suggesting that it wouldn't be a problem for other magi to interfere on the world stage.

As was already known, most magi in the era tended to scorn interacting with the common populace and instead devoted most of their time to their craft, but what if there was a gain to interfering? Perhaps a reward to entice them into action?

This was too dubious for him to allow to pass. Immediately he raised an objection, earning a scathing gaze pointed in his direction.

He didn't care, and throughout the entirety of the meeting, he continued to oppose her despite the various topics that passed. Eventually she fell silent, irritation clear in the aura she exuded.

In the end, the Madam didn't get what she wanted when Merlin interfered in Shirou's favour. Of the magi present, most didn't care about what the Madam had proposed and had just nodded their head when Merlin stepped in to quickly end the meeting. This wouldn't have been the case though if this proposition were proposed on the previous day before a majority of the magi present were either killed or fled. Not all magi were traditionalists who preferred a constant life of research. Some may very well have had joined the Madam if given enough of an incentive.

"I will remember this," the Madam transmitted to Shirou through telepathy as she left.

Shirou paid it no mind.

As the gathering ended, another meeting was proposed in the coming years to finalize what had been discussed. Thus, was how the first meeting of the Mage's Association concluded.

LINE BREAK

Several days had passed since the gathering of Magi had concluded for the time being, and even the local Harvest Festival had gone by.

The results of gathering of Maig weren't exactly what he had hoped for, but they were at least more beneficial towards the future. The only concern was anything he could have missed from the Madam's propositions, yet he wasn't clear on such obscure matters.

He feared he may only be able to understand by the time it was too late, and that was unacceptable.

Still, he couldn't do anything about it at the moment and instead focused his attention on Arturia and Emily who were currently in front of him. The both of them had insisted he accompany them to run a few errands, and Emily because she seemed to have something she wanted to talk to him about.

Therefore, here he was walking down the town square of Roan.

Merlin had left sometime in the morning to deal with certain matters that he had informed Arturia of, but not him. Yet, from the excited expression on Arturia's face and the glee in her steps, what Merlin had set out to do in the morning probably had something to do with Arturia.

It was only when he asked her did he find out that Merlin was crafting her a set of magic armour after her involvement with magecraft during the Magi's gathering. Thinking about it, he realized that it was probably the armour he had gotten accustomed to seeing on Saber.

A nostalgia soon overtook him and he found himself staring transfixed at Arturia.

"Is it that entertaining to stare at Arthur?" Emily asked perplexed, but nonetheless a tad reserved. She was normally outgoing and had grown confident in her articulation, but whenever she talked to him, she would revert into a demure state.

Having been caught by surprise, Shirou didn't know what to say in response to Emily's question; especially when he realized that Arturia had heard what Emily had asked and had gradually slowed down her pace to be within hearing distance, her ears tinged with a slight red.

"T-That, that is, uhm," he scrambled for the correct words to say, yet instead, he detected something else at that moment, a frown soon forming over his face.

"Something wrong?" Emily asked, noticing his shift in expression.

He didn't answer her right away, but when he did, he spoke curtly. "I'm going to have to apologize in leaving you both here. Something urgent came up," he said.

This response caused both Emily and Arturia to pause in their steps, Arturia even turning around to face him.

"Then we'll just come with you," Arturia spoke, crossing her arms.

Emily nodded her head on the side to show her agreement.

Yet, he didn't budge a single bit on the matter. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Besides, weren't you excited about Merlin giving you magical armour? You know Merlin's personality better than I; you shouldn't keep a guy like that waiting," he said first to Arturia before turning to Emily and giving her a nod.

Emily had something she wanted to discuss with him today, but this wasn't the time. Emily understood what he was trying to say and respectfully adhered to his wishes.

"Then we'll be going," Emily said softly as she nudged Arturia to urge her onward.

Arturia grimaced, her brows furrowing, but eventually she left with Emily. "You better catch up soon then!" she called from the distance.

"Yeah, definitely…" he trailed off as his head glanced sideward at the approaching woman.

Efret, who was perched on his shoulder was also staring at the woman.

As she walked, it didn't even appear as if anyone else could see nor hear her. She was like a phantom, a ghost.

"And what is it that you want?" He spoke coldly.

"My my, I don't recall making such a bad impression on you," the Madam from the Vernier family spoke slowly. "In fact, this is probably our first time talking outside of matters regarding the Mage's Association."

The madam stopped just in front of him, her arms crossed beneath her chest, and a hand propped up to rest on her chin as she regarded him coolly. "I came to invite you over to the Vernier estate to deal with certain matters."

He raised his brow. This was obviously a trap. Although he could consider himself impulsive, he didn't think that he was stupid. If the Madam was who he thought she was, then she would be dangerous to deal with even for someone like himself.

"I refuse," he immediately answered. Efret on his shoulder began to release a scathing heat in preparation for battle, but was forced to tone it down when it realized that there were villagers nearby.

"As expected," the Madam laughed, sweet and soft; it was the sound of tinkling bells. "Well then, I suppose you leave me no choice." She pointed a hand in the direction where Arturia and Emily had walked off to. From where the madam was standing, she could still discern their positions. "You have two choices: One, come with me, or two, I attack them and take my leave."

His expression sunk hearing the Madam's words.

"As I'm sure you know, that wretched future king would probably survive such an attack due to the blood of dragons, but what about the other girl? But then again, as soon as I attack Merlin will probably arrive immediately as it's impossible for him not have placed a protective magic, yet by then I'll be gone and the damage done," the Madam continued.

He considered what the Madam said, and realized there was a flaw in all this.

"Then what if I stopped you now?" He spoke.

His question actually left the Madam momentarily stunned. Still, the Madam humored him.

"Did you think I'd underestimate someone in possession of a Noble Phantasm? Perhaps you may be able to stop me, and at best I would just retreat, but what about the others staying at that small inn? You don't think I wouldn't monitor the target before contact, would you? Only a fool wouldn't do so, and I have spent plenty of time to get a grasp on someone with your kind of personality. Trust me when I say I know far more than what you can believe."

The madam uncrossed her arms, her expression beneath her hood, gloating. "Now will you follow, or not?" She asked.

Shirou was left at a tough position. He definitely had confidence that he could intercept the Madam from attacking Arturia and Emily, but he couldn't say the same for whatever magic the Madam had aimed at the inn the others were staying at. If Merlin was currently at the inn, then he wouldn't have to worry, but he knew that Merlin had left to create Arturia's armour.

Efret, squawked in warning towards the Madam to not try anything as Shirou reluctantly followed behind.

Eventually, the Madam led him and Efret back towards the Vernier Estate where she escorted them to an inner chamber located beneath the ground of the Madam's lodging.

The room was small, square, and covered in nothing but strange markings that smelled of gooseberries and pine. A magic seal of some sort.

"Now then, I believe introductions are in order," the Madam spoke as she sat at the only table in the room, prompting Shirou to sit across from her. She then raised a hand to her hood and gradually pulled it down, revealing a face that was cold, alluring, and calculative.

"My name is Morgan Le Fay," she introduced. "And I would like to know what it would take to get you to abandon that foolish sister of mine."

LINE BREAK

A day passed, a night spent in restlessness that effected some more than others.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. Besides, weren't you excited about Merlin giving you magical armour? You know Merlin's personality better than I; you shouldn't keep a guy like that waiting."

Arturia pursed her lips, feeling regret for the first time in her life. So, what if she obtained magical armour from Merlin? The regality of it, the blues, the yellows, and the polished silver, it all meant nothing to her at the moment.

She had wanted to show it off to him first. In fact, dare she say, she looked 'pretty' in it.

And now, she would like nothing more than to discard the armour in exchange to return to that time before she parted with him.

A hand came to rest on her shoulder. It was Sir Ector.

At times like these, it was always Sir Ector who seemed to come to ease her mind, yet she knew that this time Sir Ector would be doomed to fail.

By the time the evening fell upon the second day, she had returned back to the lodgings, exhausted much like the others who scoured the entirety of Roan. Dirt covered her clothes, but that was because she had taken the extra effort to search the surrounding woodlands and plains around Roan. Emily was the only one similar to her, dirt covered and full of grass stains. Still, he wasn't there.

He just wasn't anywhere to be found.

When the third day came, Merlin had a sour expression on his face, the blaming eyes Arturia had been giving him, piercing in the destitution they contained within. If Merlin had come to them instead with the armour, wouldn't the situation never have had happened in the first place?

By the fourth day, Merlin had joined the rest and was actively searching. Out of everyone, only Merlin appeared to have an inkling of suspicion. And that suspicion led him to stand before the Vernier family's gates, Arturia and everyone else following beside him.

Arturia was feeling a sense of desperation at this point. At the end of the third day, she had even considered that Shirou was taken away by some monster; a goblin sort of thing that had used to haunt her nightmares as a young child, but she quickly dismissed the thought.

Standing in front of the Vernier family's gates, and being denied entry, for once in her life, rage and desperation were beginning to cloud her judgment.

After all,

Shirou had already been missing for four days.