Chapter 38: Chapter 37
I stepped out onto the roof of one of the tallest buildings in Fuyuki, staring up at the bright moon in the sky. What a beautiful night it was, breathing in the air of my home just made it all the better. I may have been born on that other Earth, but I would forever consider this place my one true home.
[You know, when I was still a whelp, I once tried to fly to the moon.]
A smile crossed my face. "How did that turn out?"
[I got pretty high, until I couldn't breathe anymore and passed out, falling back to the earth. Luckily, I was still durable enough to survive, even if I wasn't all that strong back then.]
Okay the thought was amusing, imaging a small Ddraig trying to fly up into space then crash back down. "Why did you even try to fly up?"
[A human told me a story about a rabbit living on the moon, and I was hungry.]
I paused as laughter escaped from my lips, I could even feel Ddraig laughing along with me. "What were you doing that far east?" I finally calmed myself. The story of the Jade rabbit, or moon rabbit, whatever, there are several stories concerning rabbits on the moon, but they all originated around here.
[I liked to fly around in my youth, visiting everywhere. I only became famous after settling down in the British Isles for a while]
Huh, you learn something new every day. With a smile on my face, I looked down towards the river that split the city in two. It didn't take much effort to open a portal down there, one moment I was high up in the sky and the next I was walking next to the riverbed.
It was surprisingly unpolluted for being a river in the middle of a city. If I had to guess, I think Rin may have had something to do with it. The cities' nature would become worse if the river became disgusting, effecting all other aspects, including the leylines. There were other aspects to consider as well, such as why this city had such a low unemployment and crime rate. Negative emotions festering can also be troubling for those who practice the magical crafts. So many little things that one must take into account when setting up a foundation for generations.
It was a miracle that the corruption of the grail was pretty much contained to only a small part of the city and was content to not spread out. Actually, there were so many little miracles that occurred here, I had to wonder if the old man, did something? My memories in general were blurred when it came to a lot of things around this particular period of time and I don't think this world-line is one I was too familiar with. I don't know if that was intentional or just cosmic chance, but I only could vaguely remember the general outline of things, or some unimportant details.
[Stop.] Ddraig spoke, as he practically stood up inside my soul. [Something strange is around here.]
Curious could it be what we're looking for?
[I don't know, but I can tell its...dangerous like it especially hates me. Can you feel it? Like a prickling feeling on your neck and your hairs standing up on your arms?]
I stopped and sat down cross-legged, letting my eyes shut and trying to filter out all the other sensations in the night.
I felt something, almost like a small thorn in my heart as I reached out towards it. "I see it." I finally spoke. I stood up, facing the direction the feeling was coming from, with a sigh I mentally prepared myself to dive in.
Well, I need some new clothes anyways.
***
I breached the surface of the river, swimming back over to land, tossing a couple objects onto the grass. [Water Breathing] I didn't think that spell would come in handy so soon, quite a unique little piece of magic. Really made you feel uneasy though, breathing in oxygen from the water through your skin.
"What a good haul" I admired the two weapons I managed to dredge up.
[Impressive, so these are Noble Phantasms.]
Yup, though only one of them has a legacy that remained over the years. The other is just a no-name spear.
Don't get me wrong, it is something that could be called a heavenly treasure, but it just falls completely short when compared to the sword that left its mark on human history.
The origin of these, is a bit winded to explain. Gilgamesh, the first hero, in his epic he had collected all the treasures of the world and that was conceptualized after his death into his Noble Phantasm – The Gate of Babylon. Basically, as a Heroic Spirit, his treasury houses every 'prototype' of Noble Phantasms.
The Spear never was handed down, obscured by history. The other weapon, the Sword was different. It was the reason Ddraig could detect it so easily, why we felt uneasy near it.
Ascalon, the sword that would later be wielded by Saint George to slay a dragon. It possessed impressive Anti-Dragon capabilities, meaning that dragons were its natural enemy. The reason we could feel it as it was technically our 'predator'....for now.
[You're going to make this sword yours?]
"Of course, I favor a sword over the spear any day."
And also, those were just its 'passive' abilities. It could be 'activated' by calling out its name. It held the title of 'Blessed Blade by which Force is Slain', it was almost an absolute defense, able to defend from all harm.
What an amazing find, this will serve me well.
[Can't wait to see the look on Albion's face] Ddraig was feeling pretty gleeful too. [You know, I've been cut by the Ascalon from my world, it isn't nearly this powerful. That one also contains what you call 'Anti-Dragon' properties, but it's.....different. It exists more 'physically' whereas this is a 'miracle' backed up by humanities belief.]
Noble Phantasms are crystallized legends, I would be surprised if your version could stand on equal footing. I mean, look at how the Excalibur there broke, I think Artoria would have a fit if I told her something like that.
"Ara Ara~" I heard a voice coo from nearby, I was surprised at having not noticed another presence. "What do we have here?"
I turned around to see a woman standing casually above me at ground level. Most of her figure was obscured by a large cloak, I was only able to see her blue hair flow out from under her hood. I knew who this was, I was just surprised she was still around. "Curious I thought Artoria was the only servant to survive the war."
The woman, the Magus, stared at me for a moment before sighing. "And here I thought I was going to have some fun. I guess you know that brat then if you can spout Saber's name so casually."
"Well, we can still have some fun." I smirked.
"Oh my~ saying something like that to a married woman, what would people think?" Her smile was filled with the promise of death if I pushed down this path.
"Hey now, I'm no home wrecker." I held my hands up in surrender. I wasn't one to destroy loving relationships.
"Booo." She deflated crossing her arms. "Can't you be more slimey, maybe threaten to 'capture' me or something? I haven't stretched my legs in months."
"I mean, if you want to spar or something? I wouldn't mind testing myself against such an illustrious magus." I offered.
"The moments ruined." She pouted, flipping off her hood. "So, who are you and why are you here? You obviously know the brat, but you looked surprised when you saw me." She stared at me for a moment. "She probably forgot to tell you anything.....not that I would expect anything different from that stupid girl." She sighed again.
"Oh, let me guess. You're looking over the leylines in her stead, protecting the territory and in return you get her 'protection' as the second owner, dissuading any other magical involvement while also pulling on the Leylines to sustain yourself."
"Got it in one, boyo"
"Hmm, you know I thought you would be more...defensive about me being here?"
"Eh" she waved her hand flippantly. "You knew saber's name, I don't think anyone outside of a select few know that, I suppose it's a possibility that you 'forced' the information from the brat about her servant somehow. In which case I would have reacted accordingly, but then there is the fact that you bypassed all of my defenses, my bounded fields and familiars that lay all over the city, and I only know of a few possibilities for that."
"Ah so you know she's apprenticed under Zelretch then." I just nodded along. She was a rather infamous figure in history, perhaps one of the greatest mages to ever exist, no doubt she could divine the reasons for how I was able to get through everything so easily without triggering her alarms. The Kaleidoscope can bypass most means of magical detection after all.
"Obviously." She said curtly. "So, who're you and why should I care?"
"Wilhelm Henry Schweinorg, Zelretch is my grandfather and I befriended Rin recent. I had the idea not long ago to check for discarded Noble Phantasms in the river from Archer." No use in hiding it, she already saw what I pulled up.
She also didn't seem the least bit interested in them.
"Whatever, don't cause trouble here and disturb my home life and we won't have issues." She turned around to walk away but I spoke up again.
"How about I walk you home?" I offered.
She turned her head eyeing me. "I wasn't kidding before, kid, I have a husband....well fiancé but same thing. I'm not going to abandon the man I love just because you flash that cute smile."
"I promise my intentions are entirely friendly without any intentions of romance" I actually want to have a conversation. She was a Magus that lived in the Age of Gods, when will an opportunity like this come again?
"...alright. If you were lying to me, I would have blasted you back into the river." She shrugged. "Actually, I am a bit curious about the Magic of this era, I wouldn't mind having a discussion while I walk back...it is a bit away."
Medea of Colchis, also known as the witch of betrayal. It might seem weird that I was being so 'friendly' to someone with that moniker, but I knew for a fact that she wasn't needlessly cruel. She found her own happiness she wasn't going to become some caricature of an evil witch for no reason.
***
"That's a shame, she would look quite good in a dress like that."
Our talks took a strange turn.
"I know! But she's so stubborn! If I could just get my hands on Saber one more time." Medea cackled evilly.
"How have the sales been otherwise?" A bit surprising that Medea has gotten into clothing design, but hey, if it makes her happy more power to her.
"Eh, I get a few orders every now and then, enough to pay a few bills but my Darling~ pays for mostly everything still. The modern identification systems are very inconvenient for me finding work somewhere." She frowned.
"You can always contact Rin, the Mages Association no doubt has ways to get you an identity that the country recognizes." I offered.
"And be forced to owe her a favor?" She looked at me like I was an idiot.
Ah, the price was probably expensive for a service like that.
I just shrugged. "Well, how's your talent with men's clothing?"
"Fair, I guess, why?"
"Well....I was going to start looking for a Tailor here and one who could work with exotic materials I bring back would be convenient. Gods know I need some new suites."
She raised an eyebrow. "I expect payment for something like that."
"Of course, what do you take me for?" Do I seem like a cheapskate?
"Hmm, well this night hasn't been a complete waste then. I'll start thinking up some designs and start working on sketches." We approached the stairs leading up to the temple she made her home/workshop. "Well, here we are, thank you for accompanying me home, your presence wasn't as revolting as I assumed it would have been. And I may even welcome you back if you return."
What a poisonous tongue she has, I'm a bit jealous of her fiancé right about now.
"Mistress you're back." A figure walked down a few stairs to greet us.
"Oh, if it isn't my drunk guard, did you scare away more birds today?" Medea said sarcastically.
"Your words cut deeper than any blade, mistress." He stated.
I knew who this was as well, I didn't expect Medea to exist, but him to be here also? "You guard the entrance?" I eyed the man dressed as a samurai. His presence practically screamed 'deadly' like a blade that would be drawn at any moment.
I felt my blood boil just being in his presence. I wanted to test myself against him.
"Of course, I keep out all who would intrude on my mistress's lair." Okay he was fucking with her, I could tell by his tone and the way Medea looked at him in annoyance.
"And what if I insist on intruding?" I took a step forward.
"Why, I would be forced to physically stop you." His eyes flashed; I could see the desire to fight as it mimicked my own.
Interesting.
"Boys." Medea rolled her eyes. "Whatever, don't destroy my yard." She said casually ascending the stairs.
"It's the temple's yard." The samurai spat back.
"Semantics" She flipped her hand, dismissing him.
We both watched her disappeared up above before turned back to one another.
"So.....want to fight?" I asked.
"Please, I've been dreadfully bored." He materialized a sword in his hand.
"Good." I pulled out Mirage from my ring. "I really wanted to fight you." I couldn't help but smirk as the air around him changed, ready for battle.
Sasaki Kojiro, the 'fake' Assassin servant summoned by Caster Medea during the War.
Maybe this I the person I was looking for?
***
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