Chapter 31 (Fate)

"I'm home…." I muttered, staring up at the sky, recognizing the familiar constellations and the singular moon in orbit.

As beautiful as the two Skyrim moons were, I much preferred my own.

Now, where exactly was I? My sword was already filling up with the required calculations, the ones I used previously were more so just to get myself to this world-line. Well, I just need to make one more jump, and its not even across realities.

As my sword finished up, I slashed the air again and walked through a new portal, turning up in a familiar area, the architecture a mix of modern and Victorian. There were many people, some who gave me looks of surprise or intrigue but I ignored it.

If they were normal people there might have been an issue, but the number of Bounded Fields surrounding us was a clear indication that I was in the correct place.

The Clock Tower.

I didn't particularly plan on keeping a low profile.

The area that composed of this branch of the Mages Association was massive, there were hundreds of buildings, thousands of acres of property and all manner of privately owned enterprises all in the surrounding area. It wouldn't be incorrect to say it was almost like a college town, but all owned by Mages.

At its core, the Clock Tower was essentially a college, albeit one where they teach magecraft and you can die if you walk down the wrong hallway.

[So this is it?] Ddraig spoke. [I can feel it from here.]

Oh, I had forgotten. The Clock Tower was built upon the Spirit Tomb of Albion, a dragon the size of a small mountain. It was obvious what he was speaking about, it must have been odd to know his 'rival' was dead below the ground they walked.

[All the gods are gone, creatures retreating to another aspect of the world, and the only remnants of our legacy are our pieces being used by humans.] Ddraig had a strange tone in his voice, I sensed no anger only…. resignation. [I suppose that is the way of the world].

I let him quietly contemplate as I walked, I wasn't in any hurry, I may as wall go for a nostalgic walk through the area. But something caught my attention, a small commotion in an open building to the north. If I had to put a word to it, I guess it would be a gymnasium? It was a bit too…. Exquisite though. The tiles on the floor looked extraordinarily expensive, yet people were breaking them apart like they were nothing. I mean, they can be repaired easily enough through magical means, but it just seems so....unnecessary.

I walked past a few at the doors to get a better look.

"Gorilla, Gorilla! Good, Miss Gorilla!" A blonde woman with impressive ring curls was wearing a leotard and she spared with a rather familiar face.

"Damn you, bitch!" Her opponent, a Japanese woman shouted back as they traded blows.

That should be Rin Tohsaka, I guess I'm not far off from where I wanted to enter the timeline. I could have sworn I recognized the blonde…..Luvia or something? Kind of lucky running into her here....you know now that I think about it I've had quite a few lucky encounters. Maybe I inherited that 'luck' from a certain side of my family?

[Oi, look over to the right.]

I blinked, hearing Ddraigs words and my eyes landed on another face I didn't think I would see here. She was also blonde, perhaps a bit short as well. She had her hair up in a bun and wore a white blouse and a blue skirt.

She was quite pretty.

Yeah, no wonder Ddraig pointed her out. "She give off a familiar presence to you?" I whispered to myself.

[Yeah, I didn't realize it until we got closer.]

It's to be expected, she carries 'your' core after all. Almost as if she could hear me, she turned to look at me in confusion.

Maybe she sensed Ddraig as well? I could theorize that her Dragon's Core was having some kind of reaction to the owner in my soul even if they were technically different dragons.

Well, now I'm a bit curious so I walked over. "May I sit here?" I asked, very politely, she was royalty and I did have manners.

There were bleachers set up, seemingly out of place when this building looked so extravagant, but I didn't dwell on it. What caught my attention was how almost everyone was avoiding her, she was sitting quietly in the corner here and the few dozen people were no less than probably 20 feet away.

"I do not own these seats." She replied curtly.

I sat down, not too close, but enough to make it obvious that I was in her presence. We sat in silence for a moment or two, watching the fight but I could see her glance at me a couple times. "It's a shame that Miss Tohsaka is going to lose." I said idly.

My new companion froze, but she didn't look upset, I could guess that she realized the outcome of this little spat as well. "How can you tell?" She asked, not as an accusation against me, but more in a curious way.

"Her martial arts aren't bad, Bajiquan if I'm not mistaken." I nodded to myself reaffirming some of the vague memories I had in my head. She was prominent, how many versions of my previous-self had a 'Tohsaka' as their student? "Maybe I would even call her good, but it's unfortunate that her opponent had mastered Reinforcement to a higher degree."

"Magecraft isn't always the definitive indicator in combat." She furrowed her brow slightly, before getting her expression neutral.

"That is true, especially in this case. If all was equal, I would say that Miss Tohsaka would win 9 out of 10 times. Her style of martial arts is a good counter to her opponent who focuses on grabs, throws and locks in wide movements. While Miss Tohsaka seems to favor such large attacks herself, she also was keen enough to mix in some subtle jabs, and smaller movements to grab the momentum."

My composed companion smiled ever so slightly. "If it's as you say, then shouldn't Ri—Tohsaka win this bout?"

"It comes back down to Reinforcement. Her opponent is on a higher level of mastery with that little spell, meaning her reaction speed is slightly higher, her body is sturdier, and her attacks hit just a little bit harder." I shared her small smile. "You should know better than most how much that little advantage can mean in a fight."

She pursed her lips, I think she was mulling over what I meant by that. I doubt with her nature, she would have revealed her true identity, especially in this place. "It is as you say, I do not believe Tohsaka can win this fight." She sighed.

"What are they even fighting about?" I asked.

"I believe Miss Edelfelt is still unhappy that Tohsaka had become the Wizard-Marshall's student when she had not."

Ah, that's her name. Luviagelita Edelfelt, member of the Edelfelt family.

Hmm, that means she's been here for a bit at least, she's probably around my age. "Ah, some scheme to maybe draw the Wizard-Marshall's attention? Or is Miss Edelfelt just venting her frustration?"

"Mayhaps it is both?" Her lips quirked upward slightly. "I do not partake in the politics that happen here, so I would not be able to comment on it anymore."

Not partaking in the politics, yet you are so easily able to navigate them. Years of practice don't just disappear it seems.

"Of course, I can only guess that the last thing you would want to do as a Servant would be to delve back into politics again." I smirked, eyeing her reaction.

It was small, but I could tell she was surprised at what I said. "Not many magi here are able to identify me as a servant on the first meeting." She said evenly. "Or maybe you sought me out specifically?" Her attention was me was more…focused than before.

Oh, it seems she maybe has a sort of reputation here? Perhaps that is why people were avoiding her. I guess if Rin was my 'Grandfather's student she would garner enough attention that having a servant around her would become something of common knowledge.

"It was by chance." I waived off her questioning. "I was on the way to see my grandfather and I just so happened to catch this little spat going on. When I saw Miss Tohsaka participating, I though it suitable to watch."

"And what is your intention with Rin?" She gazed sharpened considerably and her words like a sword at my neck. I wouldn't be surprised if she had to 'dissuade' quite a few people here in the past. As far as a Magus goes, Rin's talent was indeed monstrous, add on her lack of family backing and being Zelretch's student, she's probably been hounded by all types in this place.

"I was curious about the student my grandfather took in." I said simply, a smile creeping on my face as realization dawned on her. "Ah, I believe I forgot to introduce myself, how rude of me." I of course followed proper etiquette for someone of her status. "Wilhelm Henry Schweinorg, It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Pendragon."