Two years have passed since the start of my new life. Since the day I gained a new family in place of my old life, which burned in that cursed flame, leaving only ashes. Not much has changed in that time. Except that Father's condition is worsening due to the Grail's curse. But neither Russell nor I can help him with that.
At least not on a permanent basis.
About half a year ago, I projected Avalon for the first time. Russell had prepared me for it for a long time, and honestly, I thought I wouldn't succeed, but the Mentor insisted. And in the end, after a serious overload of my magical circuits and a severe headache, I got an almost perfect copy of the Noble Phantasm.
Though I passed out right after.
When I woke up, Russell said everything worked out, and all I had to do was give Avalon to Dad. According to him, the Noble Phantasm would last about a week, helping Father with his health the whole time. And it was true. Almost instantly, once the scabbard was "inside" Father, he looked noticeably healthier. His breathing evened out, his complexion took on a more lively tone. Even his movements lost the slowness caused by constant weakness.
But unfortunately, the curse still acts and continuously harms Father's body and spirit, but Avalon allows him to hold out much longer, as long as I periodically create Excalibur's scabbard. And that, in turn, gives the Mentor time to find a way to cure Kiritsugu.
Plus, it's good training for my circuits and spirit parameters...
Emiya Shirou:
Number of magical circuits: 27, quality — (F) (11 units of prana/circuit)
Total prana units — 329
Strength: 32 (F-)
Agility: 36 (F)
Endurance: 33 (F-)
Spirit: 40 (F)
When all my parameters "crawl" to the "F" mark, Russell will perform some ritual on me called "Formation." According to him, it's the first stage of becoming a soldier, mandatory for everyone heading to the front lines in his world. There are four such stages in total, and after this "operation," my potential should increase significantly, allowing us to move to the next level of torments that the Mentor habitually calls training...
No, I'm not complaining about my teacher, but sometimes it feels like he's... overdoing it.
Though maybe it's not just a feeling...
To start with, his training methods are becoming more and more elaborate. For some time now, Russell has been asking me to get him various things like game consoles, anime, and manga for his own entertainment. As a result, my workouts have just become more "varied." His "simulations" now take on a completely different form compared to before. Now, while I'm at school or doing other things, he prepares another, often quite peculiar, "training ground" where I'm required to perform ever new tricks and skills...
For example, I had to learn to be VERY observant when he threw me into a training ground filled with life-threatening traps. Even "Structural Analysis" didn't help then, as Russell turned out to be a master at weaving a network of traps, so avoiding some would trigger others, starting a chain reaction.
That day when the entire house literally collapsed on my head after I disarmed what seemed like a simple trap will stay in my memory for a long time...
The only consolation is that my efforts are truly paying off. All the "Parameters" grow like weeds after such training and perform as well as can be. I've long been much stronger than an adult trained human in raw strength, not to mention my peers. And all thanks to the Mentor, his "System," and intensive training.
My magical training is also progressing steadily at a good level. Body reinforcement no longer poses any particular problems, and lately, I can use this sacrament calmly, on an instinctive level, at a decent level for my age without verbal incantation. Though I'm still extremely cautious, as Russell made sure his student knows the consequences of failed "Reinforcement," using a pre-ordered pig carcass as an example...
If not for training instead of sleep, those images would definitely become part of a couple of my nightmares...
Also, now I can store ANY cold weapon in my Reality Marble at first sight without special mental effort, allowing me to project them from the "blueprints" in my inner world. Though the copies are far from perfect so far, and for the best results, I need to be personally familiar with the weapon.
Which brings me to creating my own mystic codes.
For a year now, Russell has been making me craft various items in the shed using transmutation and a small forge, be it simple knives or weak mystic tools. At the same time, the Mentor blocks my "Structural Analysis" on his own creations. The only thing he shows me is the creation process of some mystic codes, which I have to analyze and quickly learn everything necessary to create my own. According to the teacher, if I procure the material, I create the mystic code, and I use it, then the tool will be more effective.
Though the effect is minimal, I can't refuse any available advantages.
Specifically, now I'm working on creating my own defense. Russell never directly points out my mistakes. Only in simulations does the Mentor make me feel them on my own skin.
And recently, he clearly showed me that I'm defenseless when he sent old plush acquaintances against me, who immediately started shooting at me with machine guns loaded with rubber bullets...
I can dodge a bullet, as my accelerated mind allows me to predict where it will go by calculating from the barrel direction. But when I was "killed" again and again by weak attacks that, as Russell said, any soldier from his world would shrug off with simple magic or their body's strength... In short, since then, I've been trying to make something light that won't hinder movement and can withstand some damage. Maybe I can even imbue my armor with "self-restoration" like shape memory?.. Fortunately, Russell provided plenty of "material" for work, wherever the Mentor got it from.
Maybe he has a portable warehouse? And how big is it? And the materials themselves... Weren't they expensive?
Though, it's not that important. Russell looked as usual when handing me all that metal, so I saw no reason to worry. Though asking where he got them wouldn't hurt...
At school, everything is simply excellent for me. Near-perfect memory and the power of my "processor," which is my System-enhanced brain, allow me to handle the curriculum without issues. For some time now, my grades have been at the top among all parallels, never dropping from 100%, and rumors circulate among teachers that I could easily move up a grade. Sports pose no challenge for obvious reasons. In PE, on the contrary, I'm learning to control my strength so as not to seem stronger than a child like me should be. The latter, by the way, turned out to be surprisingly difficult.
Even my speech has changed. Fuji-nee once noted that I sometimes speak like an old man. Kiritsugu suggested it's a result of my... experience, combined with Russell's intervention, contributing to my maturity.
But that's not a problem either. Though Father occasionally asks if I've made any friends, to which I invariably answer... negatively. And no, my classmates are good people. I can call many good acquaintances. It's even pleasant to talk with them, but to call any of them my friend?.. That's a question I haven't answered yet. Even Russell didn't know how to help me with that. According to him, my life experience is simply too different from theirs, making it hard for me to connect on a personal level.
Not everyone can "boast" a mage in their head and an assassin father, combined with active preparation for a real war that could decide the fate of the whole world, which somewhat distances me from the concept of "normal."
Though, Russell assured me it's all temporary. Even if there's no one in my circle now who could take the place of a friend, that doesn't mean it will stay that way. He just advised me not to reject possible connections, and that was the end of that conversation.
And whether it was deliberate or not, Russell was much softer in my training that day...
Also, Kiritsugu has gone to Germany for the second time trying to reach his daughter and get through to the Einzberns again. But I don't think the result will differ from last time. They hate Dad too much for his "betrayal" and so desperately want to win the Holy Grail War that they're willing to sacrifice everyone without qualms, including their own "children." And unfortunately, that means Kiritsugu's daughter, Illya, risks becoming just another stepping stone for them in achieving True Magic...
And unfortunately, Father is too weak now to save Illya alone, and I'm simply too young and inexperienced to help him. But that will definitely change in the future. It will.
Well, that's future business. For now, all that's required of me is to do everything in my power to be ready for the coming war. And speaking of that...
While Dad was home, he tried to teach me to use firearms. At least he tried, until a bullet from the pistol ricocheted off the wall toward us... for the fourth time. In short, we didn't make any more attempts, but I studied firearm mechanics just in case.
At the same time, though I failed with firearms, things were going very well on another front. Explosives proved quite manageable in my hands, and now I often use them in various simulations...
As it turned out, explosives can solve a surprisingly large number of problems...
Father taught me to work with various types of explosives, and Russell showed me how to reinforce or transmute them to increase power or add effects. Also, Kiritsugu shared his experience as the Magus Killer. With Russell's help, we reviewed his memories on a big TV, where Dad acted as "teacher" and pointed out various points to consider in combat and enemy elimination.
Then I truly understood what the nickname "Magus Killer" means.
Over the past time, I've learned a lot about my father and his achievements as the "Magus Killer." About the reasons for his struggle and how much he sacrificed in his quest to simply save as many people as possible. And I must admit, that knowledge was like a bucket of cold water for me.
Though I admire my father, his path seems impossibly painful to me. The more I saw, the more contradictions arose in me.
Too many deaths. Too much suffering. Too much pain... My entire being writhed at the sight of what Kiritsugu endured, and the scariest part was that he did it of his own free will...
He wanted to be a hero, save everyone... But can this path lead to fulfilling his wishes?
Is it true that saving one necessarily means killing another?..
Shirou's Inner World: Simulation "Castle."
Right now, I'm on the castle's training ground, constructed by Russell based on one of the games I have to bring him from time to time.
"You're too tense, Shirou. Your movements are easy to read if you telegraph to the enemy what you're about to do." Russell said in an even tone, habitually sitting in his soft armchair nearby. Next to him stood a round table with dinner in the form of neatly arranged pelmeni on a wide plate and a player blasting rock music for "atmosphere."
I noticed all this out of the corner of my eye, trying not to take my gaze off my current opponent a few meters in front of me. This was an enchanted doll, but this time with a fully human appearance. My opponent was bald and wore only simple loose orange pants, reminding me of a Buddhist warrior-monk. Besides the baldness, I wore the same as him, but unlike my growing child's body, my sparring partner had a fully formed adult physique with impressive musculature, which the opponent used to knock the wind out of me.
And this has been going on for two hours already!!
"Kh-haA!..." The "monk" rapidly closed the distance between us, thrusting his right arm toward me. I tried to dodge and circle to the side of the extended limb for my own attack, but he twisted sharply and, on half-bent legs, struck my hastily raised block with his left elbow. The opponent was much heavier than me, and because of that, when blocking the attack, my child body immediately lifted off the ground and flew back a meter, completely losing footing. The "monk" didn't let up and, with one lunge closing the distance, unleashed a series of powerful hand and foot strikes that I simply couldn't dodge. Trying to impose my own tempo, I duck under a left hook, barely avoiding the chopping elbow from the same arm, and kick the "monk" in the knee. The opponent's leg bends at an unnatural angle, and seeing the opportunity, I try to end the fight by circling behind and striking his nape with my elbow. But my opponent wouldn't allow it, suddenly standing on the momentarily broken leg and swinging a military knife that appeared out of nowhere toward my throat.
I barely dodged, but from that moment, my fight became completely one-sided. The "monk" made quick and precise cuts on my skin, not letting me get close enough for a strike and not allowing me to back off far enough to use the environment against an armed opponent. Meanwhile, unable to effectively counter his weapon with bare hands alone, I simply bled from numerous small wounds, trying to hold out as long as possible, dodging the opponent's attacks while searching for a counterattack opportunity, which in turn only increased the flow of red liquid rapidly leaving my body.
Naturally, the result was my defeat. Though nothing surprising. The sparring was under conditions where I couldn't use projection against an opponent capable of rapid recovery and with enough skill to corner me even unarmed... My chances were slim from the start.
Especially since the opponent suddenly had a weapon...
"You said... Ha-ah... the fight would be without weapons..." I complain tiredly, lying on the ground, trying to regain my strength and heal my body covered in small wounds.
Another addition to my abnormal abilities. A few months ago, Russell did something to me, and since then, I regenerate on a constant basis. In addition to my already fast regeneration from Avalon, now my soul gradually restores the body via a "program" built into the "System," working thanks to their direct connection. In the future, I can improve it, but that requires greater understanding of the "System," as well as at least the first stage of formation.
"For you, yes. The bounded field here limits your projection ability. To beat the 'monk,' you had to overcome him under all restrictions, forcibly break the limits by summoning a weapon, or come up with some other way to overcome the difficulties. Simple."
"Simple?!.. Ha..."
"No need to get angry. After all, you did pretty well. There were many ways to beat the 'monk,' and you used one of them and nearly succeeded. You just needed to be a bit faster, and he wouldn't have drawn his weapon." Russell said, turning off the music. His plate, by the way, was empty by then.
Not answering him, I waited for recovery, trying to speed it up with available means. Fortunately, King Arthur's scabbard greatly accelerated the whole process, for which I couldn't help but be grateful. Though, this highlights my inability to make the Scabbard do anything else. So far, I've only managed to enhance the restoration effect, or as Russell put it—rejuvenation—by channeling prana into the scabbard, and now with my own regeneration and Avalon, even severe wounds, involuntarily tested, heal in hours.
The only downside to using Avalon is that I start glowing like a lantern. But that's a small price for using a genuine fairy Artifact.
"Rest enough?" Russell asked, approaching from his well-worn armchair, and I, checking for hindering wounds, nodded.
"Good, then we should practice with the bow." He adjusted his slightly grown chestnut hair and stood, heading toward the high castle wall where my training took place, and I followed right away.
The castle, by the way, was big. No, enormous. Its massive walls, made of huge neatly fitted carved stones, rose over ten meters, presenting an impressive sight. But even more awe-inspiring was the view rising beyond the fortress walls, one that would take the breath away of any casual observer seeing such a wonder for the first time.
Inside the castle, everything was even more incredible. Huge buildings aside, the people inhabiting them were far more astonishing than the castle itself. Yes, people lived here. Many people, along with the king managing them. Even now, as we walked, we could see guards and servants bustling about their business. And this still didn't fit in my head, as what I saw overturned all my notions and knowledge of the Reality Marble.
Russell just smirked at my agitation and simply said everything was fine and I shouldn't worry about "trifles."
Though he did promise some explanations in the future if I didn't figure it out myself by then.
I had to shake my head to stop extraneous thoughts from entering my mind, and soon Russell and I reached the right spot on top of the north wall. As soon as we stopped, the Mentor summoned two bows of different sizes from his "Pocket." One clearly made for an adult, the other for someone smaller—for me.
Our bow training started about half a year ago, when Russell realized firearms wouldn't work for me properly. In his opinion, it was vital for me to have a way to hit enemies at range. Accordingly, he conducted a considerable (very large!) number of tests on what I could use as ranged weapons. Long-range magic was out immediately due to my Origin and elemental affinity, due to sheer inefficiency, and the closest I could do as a caster was throw weapons at the enemy. Noting that idea, he continued sifting through my possible weapons and eventually settled on the bow and various thrown projectiles. Soon I was searching online for info on bow construction and usage methods to start our practice.
From bow usage methods, we train Kyūdō technique. It's the traditional Japanese art of archery. We chose it because I could practice it at school too. As it turned out later, after some practice with purchased gear, I was a very accurate shooter. Every arrow hit the target precisely without deviation, as if it couldn't be otherwise. Russell said then that I'm unusually calm during Kyūdō execution and easily "detach" from myself, leaving any worries outside the shot, leading to perfect accuracy.
I must admit, I barely understood how it works myself, but I don't need to. The main thing is I gained another useful skill that will undoubtedly serve me well in the future.
Russell also started training with me, and to be fair, his accuracy wasn't as perfect as mine; the teacher hits solely due to, as he put it, his calculations and vast experience. Though, the Mentor mentioned that for him it's just killing time, so he wasn't particularly concerned with his results. But his ability to assess my progress was useful.
Some time after starting shooting training, I got the task to create arrows and my own bow. As Russell said, since I can launch arrows with such efficiency, the created bow will become my second "personal" weapon, accompanying my entire training. I'll have to improve it too, like my first created sword, which I named, by the way... Ahem... Kirishiro. It seemed like the best idea then, but I won't change the name.
The created bow was named Saibon. It was made much sturdier than normal analogs, significantly increasing range. But naturally, that came at a cost. Each shot requires significant physical strength, and consistent shooting is still hard for me.
But arrows shot from it fly really far.
In the distance, from 200 to 500 meters away, targets occasionally appear in the form of good old stone slabs with bullseyes. No need to guess—they're the targets for our arrows.
In short, training is in full swing. Sometimes I even miss when targets disappear faster than I can react or they're simply too far. Anyway, over an hour passed in this tempo. My fingertips were slightly bleeding, but in minutes, the damaged skin healed under Avalon and my own System-granted regenerative abilities.
"Enough, Shirou. That's all for today. You should rest before the day starts." Russell said suddenly, then vanished... somewhere.
"Got it." I said to the emptiness and immediately plunged into darkness... To open my eyes in my own room a few unconscious moments later, staring at the familiar ceiling.
For a short while longer, I just lay on the futon, gathering my thoughts, then abruptly got to my feet to change for morning training.
I need to finish it quickly, or I might not feed one eternally hungry Tiger in time.
And angering the beast, as everyone knows, is a very bad idea...
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: patreon.com/Granulan