Chapter 40

The Clock Tower.

After Voldy and his minions had left me, Zelretch contacted me, informing me that everything was ready. Well, he had just opened a portal beneath me, transporting me here.

After a short walk through the corridors, I was able to learn the structure of the Clock Tower.

As it turned out, he had kept the traditions, so to speak, and the Clock Tower was located in the same place as in the Nasuverse. More specifically, in the dungeons covering almost the entire center of London. The system of power is roughly the same, only there are orders of magnitude fewer arrogant snobs, though they consider themselves superior to other wizards due to their possession of magical chains, knowledge in science, and lack of need for a wand for magic.

Upon entering Zelretch's office, without knocking of course, in addition to the Magician himself, I found two other personalities I didn't expect to see here at all: Luna Lovegood and Daphne Greengrass.

Daphne, when she saw me, just looked at me with a scrutinizing and rather mature look for her age, but Luna... she was staring at me like some bizarre animal. Her eyes were filled with the intrigue and childish interest of a fourteen-year-old girl. Zelretch was looking at me with his arms crossed and resting on the table.

- Do you have a fetish for blondes or something? - I asked him, to which Daphne raised an eyebrow and Luna smiled.

- Oh? Why the question?

- I just don't have any other idea in my mind as to why they're here," I shrugged and sat down on the chair in front of his desk, "No, wait though. I understand Luna's presence, since you probably found her interesting, but what's Greengrass doing here?

- Are you embarrassed by their presence? - He grinned.

- Aren't they supposed to be Hogdwarts students?

- Why, Mr. Soul? - Luna asked.

- I'm interested in that question too," Daphne supported her, and then turned towards Luna, "And why did you call him 'Mr. Soul'?

- He's the 3rd Magician, Daphne," Zelretch said, and Daphne froze in shock, then quickly turned to me and gave an aristocratic bow, "And the 1st, too, by the way.

- How marvelous! - Polumna clapped her hands, and Daphne....

- Two True Magic at the same time! - she shrieked in exasperation, straightening up sharply - How the hell is that possible?!

- Ah... So she's the local version of Rin," I said and nodded - Also a tsundere?

- Uh-huh. - He smiled toothily.

- I'm not a tsundere, you decrepit old man! - she protested.

- Well, well, it's all right," Luna began to comfort her, giving her a little hug, "Even if you are a tsundere, we still love you.

- That was unnecessary, damn it!

I just shrugged and looked at Zelretch.

- You still haven't said why they're here.

- Luna has potential in Kaleidoscope," he started, which I wasn't really surprised at, considering her features, "Daphne has it too, but less pronounced. She's also more interested in learning curses, which makes her a frequent visitor to the faculty. I decided to take them both under my wing, since why not?

- And the fact that Polumna is quite interesting and Daphne looks like Rin didn't influence your decision? - I grinned.

- Absolutely. - He grinned back.

Hehe. Polumna is more of a fun and interesting animal to him. And Daphne does resemble Rin with her behavior. Though it's not canonical to the original story. Either way, he's definitely having fun at their expense.

- Well, that can be put aside for later. You said the area for my training is ready. And I'm genuinely curious as to what exactly you have in store for my sinful soul?

- Not exactly. Since each True Magic has its own subtleties, I can't help you master the ones you possess. But I can share the rules that I personally adhere to. And I've made an appointment with someone who can help you with 3.

Hmm. Ideally, I could talk to Justice and learn the details of 3rd magic from her, but then I'd have to go to the Nasuverse during the 4th or 5th Grail War. And either he didn't want me to go there, or he knew that's not where I wanted to go.

Also, digging up the instructions on how to use 1st magic is, I assume, impossible. The 1st Magician didn't shine anywhere at all. And since I'm the one currently in charge, it's impossible to find it, unless you ask Alaya or Gaia about it personally.

- Oh?

- Let's start with the rules. First, if I take something from other worlds, I must provide some equivalent to it. That is if that someone is already assigned to that world as a constant.

- Doesn't that mean you put some poor bastard in my world? And given my circumstances, you'd have to find a pretty strong replacement.

- Nope. Since a person named "Romani Archaman" shouldn't exist in principle in that world, it didn't cost me anything. You are a variable, not a constant. Besides, your presence is due to Alaya's own interference," he shrugged, "Secondly, if I interfere in the affairs of another world, then in cases where it faces annihilation due to my interference, I must assist. And, in fact, those are the only rules I adhere to.

- That makes sense. - I nodded and thought about it.

It turns out that the fanfics involving him are more or less canonical. He moves personalities around ostensibly for fun, but they're usually met with some sort of circumstance that they won't ignore. And if they do, they'll unknowingly become part of the story, leading to the same outcome.

Though I have no doubt that some moves were still meant to entertain the Magician. But such worlds are usually basically unbreakable under any circumstances.

If we take the idea of canonicity of fanfics featuring Archer as a basis, Emiya either fights someone and saves the world, which is the first situation, or has another harem and gets more or less normal everyday life, which is the second situation.

I wonder how many worlds the poor guy with Rank E Luck has been to.

- Anyway, you said you've arranged a meeting for me. Where is it supposed to take place and when?

- Tomorrow at noon. Black Lily Coffee House in the center of London, - he said, and I was about to ask who I should wait for, but he beat me to it, giving me the answer to that question - And don't worry. You'll recognize the right person right away.

- How mysterious. - I grinned.

- It's either that or nothing. - Zelretch shrugged, to which I rubbed my temples and sighed tiredly.

I guess I don't really have a choice, do I?

-0-

Black Lily.

Noon.

When I entered the coffee shop, I didn't find anyone even remotely resembling the person I was looking for, so I sat down at one of the tables and ordered a coffee and cheesecake and waited.

The room was decorated in British style: paintings on the walls, shelves of books and lamps on long fixtures. It looked quite atmospheric and somewhat rich, so it was a sin to complain. The place had quite a wide selection of coffee and pastries, which pleased me.

But the question remained as to who exactly I was waiting for. Zelretch had mentioned that this "someone" would be able to help me with 3rd magic. So he must know about the soul. An expert level of understanding. And I can't think of anyone in the world who would fit that role.

After about 15 minutes, I felt a strong aura, very similar to... the concept. Like The Office with Infinity. And looking up, my eyes noticed a woman walking straight towards my table. Extremely pale skin, the color of which was similar to white chalk, long loose black hair down to her waist, and the same color eyes, more like the abyss itself.

Those around her paid no attention to the woman, as if she didn't exist to them. She was attractive, hence the male contingent of visitors should be casting glances at her, but that wasn't happening. Which was very strange.

Upon reaching the table, she silently sat across from me and began to stare at me. And looking into her eyes, I could not read the look of a woman, and only a small smile on her face made it clear that she found the situation interesting.

The next moment it hit me, causing my eyebrow to twitch.

"Someone" versed in souls, and who Zelretch was "negotiating" with? Yeah, yeah, yeah. How could I not have guessed exactly who the damn vampire had arranged for me to meet, it was all too obvious.

- Romani Archaman? - the woman began the conversation in a rather flirtatious tone.

- That's right. And you, miss? - I asked, already knowing the answer to my question.

- You guessed it yourself, didn't you, Magician?

Yeah. As if she could be confused with anyone else.

- Is "Ms. Death" okay with you, or shall we drop the formalities and just go with "Death"? - I said and drank the entire contents of my cup in one gulp.

- Just "Death" is fine with me," she smiled, showing her white teeth, "So, shall we start our "date"?

Heh. It seems I'm dating too many embodied concepts....

- If that's okay with you.

I want to go home. Definitely.

-0-

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