Chapter 10: Shattering of a futile desire(2)

"First remember that "moonlight world" refers to the world of mysteries." said kiritsugu solemnly 

"I am a spell caster a so-called heretic within Magus. There are other types of supernatural powers but we will discuss them later."

drawing a circle on a notebook and writing earth inside it he continued

"The life force of the planet is called `Mana`, it is what we use to cast spells and it is almost present everywhere."

"Is the planet Earth alive then?" asked Shirou 

"Yes it is." replied kiritsugu then he continued 

" we will discuss the aim of magi and leylines, etc later but let me 1st tell you about the basic qualifications needed to become a magus."

Turning on his magic circuits and making himself glow he pointed at one of the glowing lines and said

"This is a magic circuit Shirou. Magic circuits are like additional organs that allow us to use the mana."

"Then how will I get them?" asked a Shirou looking at the circuits glowing on kiritsugu

"That is the point Shirou, You can't get them. A human isn't supposed to have magic circuits it is unnatural to have them,"

" hence they are an additional organ present on some people`s souls and the proof of them being unnatural is they generate heat when mana flows through them"

"I have ordered the needed materials, we will do a ritual to see if you have any magic circuits and if present then awaken them."

"So I can become a magus?" asked Shirou.

Looking at the excitement in his son`s expression kiritsugu smiled self-deprecatingly and explained more about magic circuits to Shirou. 

In conclusion, Shirou learnt that magic circuits are innate to everybody and can't be changed, they are like an organ in the body and shouldn't be messed around with. 

Then the magic circuits' numbers vary from person to person and it also determines the amount of mana they can handle. the magic circuits also have a quality and are roughly called inferior<average<good< superior but these are not absolute.< p>

In the analogy of kiritsugu, the magic circuits are like water pipes and the mana is water. The quality refers to the robustness of the pipe and the quantity is like the number of pipes.

By the time this discussion finished, it was already noon and Shirou went to prepare lunch.

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After having lunch a dejected Shirou went to do his schoolwork before he could have his next magecraft lesson in the evening.

Evening, emiya residence 

Shirou entered the dojo and sat across kiritsugu on the floor. Meanwhile, his father just looked and once he sat down kiritsugu began in a stern tone

"Now I will tell you some things, I think you need to know."

"1st is Shirou you are not safe, due to your uniqueness the clock tower will target you if they ever find out about you."

"Are they not afraid of the law? And how can they attack another person?." asked Shirou outraged.

"Shirou do you think Magus couldn't interfere with the police and for the 2nd question haven't you witnessed the cruelty of humans 1st hand in your visions?" told kiritsugu with a neutral tone.

Slowly the retorts and questions died down in Shirou's thoughts as he remembered the scene of the teen criminal torturing the child. He thought

Pulling him out from his pondering his dad continued 

" your dreams are not dreams but visions of the future and past. The people you saw in them were the people whom I fought against in a war and the woman with white hair you saw was my wife."

"Her name was Irisviel von Einzbern and we both set out with a dream but she is now dead."

With tears leaking from the corners of his eyes kiritsugu said 

" Shirou always remembers that the boys who make the girls depending on them cry will always end up in ruins." 

Kiritsugu declared the end of the day's lesson and told Shirou to go for dinner. As Shirou was leaving he said 

"I want you to watch the holy grail war through the visions and understand the moonlit world. I will not tell you about the war before you have watched it all."

"Now go."

After standing outside the door and contemplating Shirou left for the kitchen while thinking

<so that ritual with the circles is called holy grail war. I will have to understand world find answer my questions.>

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The next day while in class Shirou remembered the basics about the holy grail war that kiritsugu told.

<So the people coming out of circle were heroes legend summoned as familiars.>

<I might have acquired an ESP or Clairvoyance from the fuyuki fire according to kiritsugu. He confirmed that I don't mystic eyes by checking my last night.>

< I can't wait till my circuits are activated.>

The lunch bell interrupted him and he again went to the rooftop and found that the girl from before was there with a group of girls which he guessed were her friends. 

Ignoring them he went to the ledge and ate lunch. After class, he took kiritsugu to the bookstore and brought some books describing legends and myths.

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That night he learned about the magus association and the holy church. The Magus association is comprised of 3 groups the clock tower the Atlas Institute and the mysterious wandering sea. 

He also learnt about the burial agency of the church and how they hunt down magus. They call all magecraft as unnatural and hearsay but promote their magecraft while calling it the gift of god.

According to kiritsugu, the church is known for its healing magecraft, clock tower for the academy for mages and the Atlas Institute for Alchemy.

He also explained how he planned to send Shirou to Atlas if he lacked magic circuits as confinement is better than being caught by the sealing designation. 

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The days passed and 6 days went by and Shirou was given basic information about the moonlit world but wasn't taught any magecraft-related topic.

 which according to kiritsugu will be done after he opens his circuits and in his own words 

"I am a mediocre magus, Shiro, I don't have much theoretical knowledge so I can only show by example."

 When Shirou expressed the desire to be like him, kiritsugu strictly denied it and said 

"Shirou I will make sure you don't end up like me, I will be your combat teacher but you will need someone to teach you magecraft and I am not qualified for anything above the basics.>

The sad shirou with his downcast expression missed the melancholy in his father's eyes.

That day onwards Shirou was put through tough physical training and that exhausted him to the bones. Kiritsugu insisted that a robust body is the basic requirement for combat and Shirou would be trained for that by him.

This brought the slowly increasing recovery speed to Kiritsugu`s eyes who thought 

<avalon doesn't have the energy to heal Shirou but just presence of source mysteries ever-distant utopia is enough increase his recovery speed.>

< I will have to take advantage of this and test if it also affects Shirou's od recovery.>

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Shirou was preparing lunch and waiting for kiritsugu who went to Kyoto a day ago to collect the ordered materials.

While setting up the table the bell rang and on opening the door it revealed a kiritsugu carrying a large carry bag. They then went to eat and at the table kiritsugu said 

"Starting today the granddaughter of Mr. Fujinura will come to me for private tutoring, hence we will do your ritual at midnight today."

After dinner and helping Shirou clean the plates, his father sat on the sofa and asked him 

"Did you give the week-long leave application to your homeroom teacher as I told you?"

"yes " replied Shirou giddy with excitement 

So the father and son spent time in silence till evening and Shirou who took a half day from school went to take care of school work.

In the evening the doorbell of the emiya residence rang and kiritsugu opened it dressed in his black suit. Shirou standing beside him looked out the door and saw a black car moving out and there stood 3 people.

Mr. Raiga Fujimura and the man he later learnt from last time was Mr.Fujimura and a young girl who he assumed to be the old fuijimura`s granddaughter.

The girl was brown-eyed as well as had matching short brown hair. She had a youthful face and her hair was tied in a shirt pon tail with small bangs on both sides of her face. 

She bowed and told 

" good evening teacher" to kiritsugu.

Who replied 

" you are welcome." in English with a slight German accent.