In the Nasuverse, a world of bizarre magic and fantasy, awakening past life memories is not an unacceptable or incomprehensible supernatural event. At least in the Magecraft world, it's not uncommon. There's even a specialized project in the Clock Tower's Spiritual Evocation Department: summoning a past life to gain their abilities.
This was also the explanation Rin chose for her unusual behavior, and in fact, it was the truth, except that her past life came from another world. Otherwise, it was no different from awakening a past life.
Otherwise, a five-year-old child would not have such decisiveness and understanding, no matter how gifted she was.
"Sigh, let's not talk about this anymore. You must have something important to discuss, coming to see me," Rin said, looking at Touko.
Touko nodded, "How have you progressed with the puppet engineering techniques I gave you?"
"I've grasped the specific content, details, and key points, but without a Magecraft workshop or raw materials, I can't actually practice it. So, I can't say how much I've truly learned."
"Is that so? Well, that's still very good. This way, I can confidently entrust it to you." As Touko spoke, she picked up the briefcase at her feet, placed it on the table, and cautiously scanned the surroundings. She then said to Rin, "Set up a Boundary Field."
First task: Dispel Boundary Field for outsiders.
A small section of physical defense.
Second task: Spiritual Vision Isolation.
After the Boundary Field was set up, Touko opened the spiritual lock on the briefcase, turned the opening towards Rin, and opened the case. Rin's eyes widened instantly when she saw the contents!
"This is...!"
Unexpectedly, inside the case was an infant suspended in a transparent culture bottle!
A jolt of electricity went through Rin's mind, and she reacted, "This is a 'Perfectly Identical Human Body'! You completed it!?"
Touko nodded solemnly, then let out a soft sigh and said, "It's just the initial version. It's only a perfectly identical body of an ordinary person, and it can't preserve and continue all of the user's abilities. I hope you can help me contract this with Alice."
Rin immediately understood Touko's meaning, "You want to use this to preserve Alice's life?"
"Yes, but Alice's strength and aptitude cannot be transplanted. She would only be able to live as an ordinary person."
"If she had to abandon the Magecraft inherited from her mother, she might prefer to die."
"But it's still a choice, better than having no choice at all. This is the only thing I, as a friend, can do for her. Although as someone who sacrificed her without even a word, I have no right to talk about friendship, this is all I can do."
Rin and Touko, their bright eyes clear and resolute, gazed at each other. Their soul-piercing gaze was the best form of communication. Rin solemnly closed the briefcase and said, "I understand."
Touko nodded reassuringly. Although they hadn't interacted much, and had met no more than ten times, there was a sense of intimacy between them, like a shared destiny. They felt they could trust each other unconditionally. This feeling was inexplicable and hard to articulate.
"I recorded notes when I achieved the technological breakthrough. I believe with your talent, you'll quickly be able to further refine it. Oh, right, and there's this..." Touko handed Rin a notebook, then seemed to remember something else and rummaged through her bag, finally pulling out an old piece of parchment.
"What's bound to come, always comes. The Mage's Association's latest announcement from three days ago: Tohsaka Tokiomi has officially expelled you from the Tohsaka Family line. The name Tohsaka Rin has been formally removed from the Tohsaka Family register. Tohsaka Sakura has been officially registered as the next head of the Tohsaka Family, and the heir to its property and Magecraft. What do you plan to do? No one will recognize you if you say your name is Tohsaka Rin now."
Rin opened the faded parchment. This was a magical paper used by registered Maguss of the Mage's Association to transmit messages. As long as text was written on the main page in the Mage's Association with special ink, the exact same words would appear on the parchment held by Maguss worldwide.
The paper read: "Effective immediately, I formally declare to all fellow Maguss in the world that the name of my rebellious daughter, Tohsaka Rin, is hereby removed from the Tohsaka Family. Henceforth, the name Tohsaka Rin shall not exist in the Tohsaka Family register. All actions, words, and deeds of this child from now on shall have no connection whatsoever with the Tohsaka Family. Furthermore, I formally register with the Association that the next heir to the Tohsaka Family is my daughter: Tohsaka Sakura, who shall inherit. All other claims are false. This is to be witnessed by all fellow Maguss."
—Writer: Tohsaka Tokiomi.
The unfolded parchment covered Rin's face, preventing Touko from seeing her expression, but her visibly trembling hands indicated that Rin was definitely not as calm as she had previously believed herself to be.
"Yogatta..."
Aozaki Touko was momentarily stunned by Rin's reaction.
"This is great... Tohsaka Sakura has finally officially inherited the family... Can I finally rest easy...?" The paper fell, revealing a tear-stained face, yet with a smile playing on her lips. "My efforts... have finally yielded results... Tohsaka Sakura is safe..."
Tohsaka Sakura is saved, but why can't I stop these tears...? My tear ducts are flowing uncontrollably. Who am I crying for? For myself, for Rin, for the name of Tohsaka...? Perhaps I'm not as open-minded as I thought. In my heart, I still yearn for that family... "Stop smiling..." Touko lowered her head, her voice suppressed.
"What are you saying? Wasn't this outcome expected long ago...?"
"I told you to stop smiling! Can't you just lean on the table and have a good cry?!" Touko's voice subtly rose.
"Who, who wants to cry...? Didn't all my sacrifices lead to this outcome? Now..."
"Boom!"
Aozaki Touko slammed the table and stood up! "A six-year-old Little Girl should act like a child! Crying is the privilege of this age! If you hold back now, who will you cry to later?!"
Tohsaka Rin's tearful eyes met Touko's, which were also glistening behind her glasses. Her already out-of-control tear ducts seemed to completely collapse, and the forced smile could no longer stay on her face... Rin hunched in her chair, hugging her shins with her face buried behind her knees, shrinking into a ball. She cried silently, trembling like a small animal abandoned by the roadside in a cardboard box—pitiful and helpless...
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