103This is my first story of Fate. This has been in my PC for a year or so now, but sooner or later I've got to release this or it'll forever remain unseen.
Chapter 1: Chaldea
"Shirou, hurry up. We're late." She grumbled, tense with her scowling, muttering about the surprise test called by that computerized voice but something she called trap. If not for their collective experiences, they would have fallen unconscious from the "Spiritron Drive Simulation" as the voice called it.
"Calm down, Rin," he said reaching her at the never-ending empty white hall of Chaldea. "That was probably a test by them. Right, Saber?"
She nodded sagely, replying, never mind the fact she was discreetly eating the leftover dish he cooked from last night. Whatever image Saber wanted to project was ruined by the rice bits and small stain on her face, which miraculously didn't drop on her white dress. "I concur. The illusory servant battles are a test. Remember what the man who recruited us said."
They only choose those who have proficiency of being a master and rayshifting－whatever that was, above all else. Civilian or magus didn't matter to them, which was why it came as a shock to him when they came to him looking surprised. What was more surprising was they also recruited Rin when he went and discussed this with her and Saber.
For a time, this set a panic in him－much to Rin's annoyance, for a time if they knew the truth about them. Don't get him wrong, he did some favors for some people in higher places, but he was always tight on his past during the years on the job going around the world as Saber and Rin suggested. So, they couldn't have known right?
Rin, on the other hand, is known throughout the Clocktower as the apprentice of the Wizard Marshall himself. A rare and incredible feat for anyone but her. Still known even after all these years of traveling and brief respite in the Clocktower.
As for Saber, they didn't exactly say it'd only be the two of them. Nor did anyone, aside from Lord El Melloi II who knew what she was since they rarely went out in the city, if they did, it was out of London. And that discovery was purely by accident.
"Fou. kyu!" A small white furry barked at them excitedly. Its blue eyes looked at them with more than excitement, something he couldn't discern. The thing jumped at Saber, hitting her head and then circling when it landed.
Rin froze when it jumped landing on her head before jumping once more to his shoulder and circling his neck－hair tickling him, and bounded away with a "fou!"
"Was that a dog?" he asked the two, scratching his cheek, a little more than unsure. Never had he in all his years of traveling seen a creature like it.
"Too tiny, I'm sure that wasn't a squirrel." He blinked at Rin fixing her hair, if she didn't know it, then chances are, he wouldn't too. It did look friendly and cute though, whatever that thing was.
"I do not know what manner of creature that was, but something about it seems familiar," Saber said crossing her arm, hand on her chin.
"Maybe you met it during one of your adventures before your kingship?" he supplied, unsure as he was about it too since he shared dream visions of Saber with Rin regarding her, and never had he seen something like that in her life.
"No," she said shaking her head. "But I just can't help but feel something familiar about it."
"Fou!" Cute footsteps echoed in the white halls. Following was a fair-skinned skin pink-haired younger girl in a white hoody underneath a black shirt with a red tie. Her eyes revealed her intention even if the glasses reflected the lights. He could see her intention from a mile away.
It was something he did daily during school and even until now.
Judging by the distance she walked briskly, Shirou didn't doubt that she had a great physique.
"Are you guys lost?" she asked shyly tilting her head a little. "I'm, I have a name, but it isn't noteworthy. A—"
The white creature jumped, landing on Saber's head, nuzzling the long strand of hair that stood erect. Rin ducked when the squirrel-dog thing jumped at her.
"I'm Shirou Emiya." He held out a hand, smiling at her.
"Rin Tohsaka, and this is my, our friend Altria," He noticed the minute glance by Rin and sighed when she didn't express anything commonly seen in others.
He hated lying, especially when they were out helping people in the world. Even if he found it prudent sometimes, it still left a bitter taste for him to lie. But this girl, he could feel that he could trust her regardless of their age differences. "Yeah, our friend. She doesn't like revealing her full name easily to others."
"Ah, I go by… I'm Mash. Are you guys lost, Emiya-senpai?"
"Senpai?" He blinked at her, oddly reminded by Sakura who even after all these years sometimes called him that. Warm nostalgic feelings fluttered in his chest at that. "We're new here, we should be the one calling you that," he said scratching his cheek, "Mash-senpai, since we'll be under your care in Chaldea."
The girl blushed, looking away. "I call everyone, senpai. It's unusual, Fou rarely approaches people."
"Maybe he likes the food." Saber put the food away when Fou glanced down at said food in her hands when he suggested it.
"Fou?" It tilted its head cutely. "Kyu!" The white creature held its head up high as if to say "no.", while Saber breathed in relief at her safe food. She picked one piece and gave it to Fou who snapped at the food with a satisfied, "Kyu!"
Giggling, Mash gestured for the creature with her hand and it jumped to her extended hand. "Congratulations. You three just became Fou's second attendant in Chaldea."
Looking back at them, he shivered when he saw the two standing next to each other, whispering something he couldn't hear unless he reinforced his hearing.
Rin smiled sweetly, her public persona, he knew, shivering from the glance she gave him but something the girl took in stride by her unguarded expression. "Anyways, it's as you said. We just got here and the recruiter didn't say much about what Chaldea is."
"Oh, you three are master candidates? I'm sorry for thinking you three were staff." She said eyes widening. "I thought the master potential quota was already full."
"Just Shirou and Rin," Saber replied. "I'm just their adviser on certain things."
By certain things, she meant swordsmanship and the very brand of Martial Arts they used back in her time. Something Rin was very ecstatic to learn. Lastly advising in tactics and strategy on some missions.
Leading them forward in this large facility, Mash told them the functions and specifics of Finis Chaldea, also known by the association and UN as "Chaldea Security Organization."
The organization was heavily supported by the Mages Association and UN, specifically made to handle time anomalies—whatever that entailed, and other threats to humanity. As long as he could help people, that's what mattered to him, and that was what attracted him to this place in the first place. A fortunate thing is that Rin was recruited, and they were allowed to bring one companion under NDA due to Rin's status as "Wizard Marshall's Apprentice."
Chaldea is a research organization gathering people from different backgrounds; from the mundane to magus. All for the continuing and preservation of Human History for as long possible as it could. Going as far as to make all the things that went beyond him; FATE, SHEBA, LAPLACE, CHALDEAS, and more than he could know and do in his lifetime.
Don't get him wrong, he understood the general idea, but the mechanics of it went beyond him, so he remained silent.
Judging from Rin's pensive gaze, she understood it all more than he and Arturia combined. He should ask her about it later, better to know some than be ignorant, he knew from experience.
Above all of that, Shirou didn't care much for it. The only thing that stuck out to him was the organization's goal that aligned with his need; saving humanity and in turn humans. People.
It reminded Shirou of him.
He didn't flinch from seeing blood and violence replace the immaculate halls of Chaldea. Dead bodies dead, their last expression one of shock, disbelief, and horror. All struck by arrows and swords, and their blood splattered everywhere. He looked at it without blinking, feeling the need in him rise up.
These images became memories. All moving, sounding, and feeling, all of it flashing faster, coalescing, and becoming one. Which was his, and which was his, he did not know now as they flashed too fast for him to keep up.
Fast as they came, fast as it faded leaving nothing but the silence broken by the clacking of their shoes and echoing voices in the empty hall.
Noticing Rin's worries, he smiled. "It's nothing," he whispered. But he knew the two didn't believe him in the slightest, and he was glad they didn't press for information.
For an Organization connected to the UN and Mage Association, he expected more employees from them.
"Do we have enough quarters for fifty plus one person?" she asked herself.
Shirou decided to reassure Mash. No sense for her to worry about them and put her in trouble for their sake. "It's okay. We can share a room."
"Sh—Idiot!" Rin looked away, hiding her flaming cheeks.
Saber remained stoic, but he could see her flushed expression barely being kept calm.
"What?" he said shrugging. "It's not like we're not used to it—"
"Don't make it worse than it already is!"
"Shirou!"
He looked at Rin and then Mash whose pace quickened before realizing his mistake. Blood going to his cheeks, he opened and closed his mouth like a gaping fish. "It's not like that!"
It really was, but he wasn't going to dig his grave deeper or unintentionally make Mash feel uncomfortable. So he laughed, awkward as it was.
"Uh… yes. How was the Spiritron Simulation, senpai?" she said, coughing into her hand and looking away.
"It took a bit of energy."
Survivor of Holy Grail War or not, the fact was that simulation was too close to servants to be a mere "simulation." He could remember it like it was yesterday.
As if on cue, Saber's stomach rumbled. "Hunger is the enemy," she said straight-faced, never mind the fact her blush doubled.
He didn't want to admit this, but despite their experiences in fighting from Dead Apostles, Rogue Magus, Sealing Designates, and even mundane enemies from terrorists, etc, he knew he still wasn't half the level of EMIYA was.
He knew that during his first stay on the Clocktower and traveling around the world.
The power to save the people.
Mash giggled, the cute type that was reminiscent of Sakura whenever she found something he did funny. "It's past lunch, Saber-senpai, and the chefs are already off duty, but would vending machines do?"
"Yes, please," she replied, all too happy to indulge in her gluttony.
Rin sighed and said nothing else, already used to Saber after all these years. He wished he could cook for them right now, his only pride; loving the enjoyment of Saber and Rin's reaction to his cooking.
"So, Mash, are you a master potential too?" Rin asked, obviously fishing for information.
Knowing her, not knowing too much about Chaldea as a whole aside from the provided information was probably killing her. "Information is power," she always loved to remind him on their journeys. A statement that has been proven too many times."
The girl looked at her food before shaking her head. "I'm not, but I can Rayshift with them at least."
"Have you ever done that?"
"Not yet," she replied. "We're supposed to be in the testing phase now. The Director will be debriefing the Masters in about—10 minutes!" Eyes widening she stood up, pulling him up and making him groan. "Come on, Tohsaka-san and Emiya-senpai. You do not want to be late."
"Mash, wait up. We still have to put our things in our room!"
The girl stopped, her face flushing even more when she gazed at the backpack on his back. "Sorry, I didn't think of it."
"Think nothing of it, Mash," Saber said. "Nothing wrong with being excitable. In fact, it reminds me when Shirou was still in High School."
"Mash Kyrielight. So this was where you are," an older man walking towards their way said. His disarming charming smile complemented his fine green suit and green-hatted combed curly reddish-brown hair which made him very approachable. "The director sent me to find you. The briefing is about to start in—"
"I'm terribly sorry, Professor Lev. I didn't watch the time."
"That's all right, Mash." He smiled. "And who are your companions, Mash?"
Despite his appearance, Shirou, didn't know why, but he shivered when his gaze turned to him, then Rin and Arturia. It wasn't hostile, but neither was it pleasant, a cold gaze that sent chills down his spine.
He walked to the man, blocking his gaze off them, and held out his hand. "Emiya Shirou. We just arrived. Sorry for being late."
"Rin Tohsaka."
"Altria."
Altria, Saber's pseudonym. While they may be okay being recognized, especially from Rin's reputation alone, Arturia can't afford such eyes on her.
"Hmm," the man hummed, checking on his wristband mystic code that projected images. "You three, no two, must be the new master candidates, Master Candidates 48 and 49. To think they recruited the apprentice of a Wizard Marshall himself and the freelancer student, how fitting. Even so, I'm afraid the A and B Teams are full, you two will have to be relegated to C Team. Mash, help them settle in and come to the briefing, am I clear?"
"Yes, Professor!"
"I'll report to the Director to hold the scheduled orientation for a few minutes as they acquaint themselves, I'm sure she'll understand." The man left, heading to the briefing they were late for, he thought. "And Mash, give them our field uniform. I expect you three within orientation in fifteen minutes."
"That's Professor Lev Lainur Flauros," Mash said leading them to the quarters. "He helped in making Chaldea possible, creating SHEBA and even in CHALDEAS itself. A close friend of former Director Marisbury Animusphere and now Olga Animusphere. Tohsaka-senpai, the professor recognized you."
"It's hard not to," he said lowly. She was, after all, the apprentice of the Kaleidoscope. "Being the apprentice of Zelretch has its downside."
Mash realized it and her eyes widened. Nearly gaping before regaining her composure.
"I knew of the Animusphere, one of the most influential mag families specializing in Astromancy. They rarely, if ever, show themselves in the Clock Tower, opting to communicate through their branch clans. But to think they had enough sway to be supported to create Chaldea," Rin said.
He had to agree, while Shirou may not be the most knowledgeable one, he still learned and eventually knew of the intrigue going on in the Clock Tower. He thought the Holy Grail War was cutthroat but it turned out the Clock Tower—and Mage politics in general, were a league of their own. And he had seen a lot of it in their journeys.
If not for Rin and Saber, he'd be lost or take longer to learn the intricacies of their politics. He didn't care for it, but if he wanted to help people better, he needed to learn it.
"I knew they were powerful," she said, "But not to this extent."
He wondered how the man managed to make Chaldea possible. Both the UN and Mage Association would require connection and dealings he could only imagine in his nine years of knowing the organization as a whole.
They arrived before the room, only to blink in disbelief. A sparse room with silver and gray painted walls a single bed, a TV facing the bed, and a small station with a coffee maker and cups. But no, that wasn't what he was staring at.
Seated on the bed was a salmon pink-haired man in a white coat and pants typing away on a laptop without a care.
"Excuse me," he finally said breaking the silence.
"Come in, come in." The man in the white suit pant pointed their fork at them frozen in time, swallowing heavily. "Eh! Mash what's the meaning of this!"
"What's the—," hands clenched, her pleasant smile turned to a scowl. "You're in our room, you old geezer!" Rin marched to the man, Gandr all but ready to be fired from her hands. "Slacking off too by the looks of it. Mash, are you sure everyone in Chaldea is selected professionally?"
The man gasped, aghast at Rin. "Eh! I am Romani Archaman, Head of the Medical Division. And I'm at my peak, excuse you, young lady."
"I'm sure I could apply to be your replacement eventually."
"I concur with Rin," Saber shook her head. "Dereliction of duty is a sign of incompetence. In the olden times, these types of people were usually kept in check by threat of punishment via hanging or in the dungeon."
"What?!" Dr. Romani Archaman replied, stuttering, unable to say something coherent. "Who're you to say that. I'll have you know I graduated with the highest honors at an earlier age."
"The one Chaldea badly wanted to recruit even going as far as asking my Master to convince me." Crossing her arms and holding her head high, she stood proud and unafraid of facing the taller man on the bed.
"Sorry about that Dr. Archaman." Shirou bowed, in the first place they entered without knocking and the man didn't know they were arriving. "We didn't think anyone would be in here."
"Shirou! Why—"
"It's okay," the man said palm held out in placation. "I didn't expect three master candidates to appear so late in this part of the project. Do you want somethin—"
Something rang. His wristband mystic code glowed. With a press of a button, a projected screen appeared. "Romani, orientation is about to start soon. We need you here to facilitate Rayshifting after the orientation, especially since Team B and C most of them are unused to magecraft. You're in the medical wing, right? You should be able to arrive here in two minutes."
"I'll be there, Lev."
With that, the man cut off the call.
"But Dr. Roman, you're not in your office," Mash said.
The doctor chuckled, then said, "you four go on ahead, I won't be in trouble for being late by a minute."
Judging by the exasperated sigh of Mash, she didn't believe his assurance.
After putting their packs in the cabinet, much to Rin's annoyance with the doctor still typing, they changed to the Chaldea Uniform; a mystic code of White and black long-sleeved clothes for both him and Rin. She twirled in place and winked at him, making his cheeks heat up.
"How do I look, Shirou?"
He swallowed heavily, knowing that she knew what he thought of her even after all these years when she leaned forward, an expectant smirk on her lips. Both her and Saber.
"Eh," he scratched his cheek unable to look at her directly knowing she's emphasizing one of the things he loved about her. "You look great," he murmured, knowing that to look at her would mean he'd lose himself if not for Mash and Dr. Romani.
Winking at him, she twirled once more and went for the door.
"Wait, only you two? I thought Ms. Altria would be one too."
He sighed when the pressure in him alleviated, his blood going back to normal even more so with the doctor's question.
"She's their adviser," Mash replied. "They agreed to be recruited under the condition they bring Ms. Altria with them."
"I'm a freelancer, every few months, Rin would sometimes accompany Altria and I in our journey. Altria has experience in politics and combat."
"Shirou," Rin called by the door. "Will you be okay here, Altria?"
She nodded. "I will be. I would not mind being kept in company by Dr. Archaman if he wants to say for a while. That and to make sure he does not snoop in on our things."
"Hey!" The man looked painfully incredulous. "Mash, you better hurry, you know how impatient the Director can be."
They left soon after, walking an unknown distance with Mash leading them. The girl gained a focus, she was a girl on a mission.
"I'm sorry for taking you away on your research, Rin," Shirou said in a hush. He apologized many times, he knew, but he didn't feel comfortable taking much more of her time. It was bad enough that he already brought her to his freelancing from killing Dead Apostles to Sealing Designates that killed innocent civilians.
Rin didn't answer but instead grabbed his hand with hers. A silent sigh came out of his lips followed by a small smile. For all of her fussing about her coldness, Rin was one of the warmest persons he knew along with Sakura. He loved Arturia, but sometimes her king's mentality showed up, making her cold and even distant, still, he loved her all the same for who she was.
"Mash," Rin finally said. "You told us what Rayshifting is, but never when we're going to go."
He still couldn't wrap his brain around it. He got the general idea, but to go back in time in technically a spirit form was nothing short of miraculous to him. Akin even to a magic.
"According to our observations, humanity becomes extinct in 2016."
"What?" he said, matching Mash's pace and hands going to clenching.
He froze, his very being unmoving. Humanity, extinct? How, why? It was impossible. It should be.
He knew so personally, thanks to his memory. As long as the world existed, beings like EMIYA would prevent that.
"The light in CHALDEAS dimmed, and all of this points to an abnormality we discovered upon closer look. In 2004 to 2016, that were was an unobservable area in Japan and did not exist in history. A designated Singularity F."
His breath stopped. In their country? Was his fears unfounded, because for them only one thing had happened in their country during the last decades. The very nights that shaped his person.
No, it has to be something else. The world didn't revolve around Fuyuki, his hometown, and the Grail War. He learned that on his first day in London. The world was a big place, even more so when it came to magic and the magical society. In that time gap, there were numerous Grail Wars before and after the Disassembly War for the Grail in 2008.
"This singularity, it alone causes the extinction?" Rin said coldly. He knew from experience Rin was piecing all this information together, and may even already concluded.
Mash nodded. "That's what we think, but data is still uncertain just that it's around 2004 to 2008 now. That's how Chaldea got most of its funding from the UN aside from the Mages Association. As I said, the light of CHALDEAS dimmed faster than usual a few hours ago. That's why the Director ordered the full team to Rayshift now."
Gathering the required resources for this must be massive to do it on short notice.
They took the lift down, only listening to the conversation between Rin and Mash. For someone younger than them to keep up with Rin was nothing short of impressive. When the white walls became dark, a giant natural cavern filled with smaller structures pointed at a central spire, he lost his breath.
He thought that the large building was all there was to it, but he stood in awe just when he thought he had seen everything in all his years of traveling. This was Chaldea?
"This is Chaldea?" he said. It brought about a sense of amazement that he rarely showed.
Looking back, Rin became silent. Likely in impression, but he knew it was hard to impress her when it came to anything magecraft-related, he doubted this would blow her away as he did.
The orientation room was a quick walk, almost a few minutes at most from where they were.
The room was already full when they arrived, with them seated at the back of the group. Rin didn't like it, crossing her arms but remaining silent when a younger woman stood out in front of them above the stairs, blocking the view of the massively dimmed CHALDEAS that Mash said.
With hands on her waist, a small flicker of white pristine hair, and a black with an orange middle dress that no normal person would wear. Atop of that, a prideful look that he had seen many times in Rin and other magus.
Yep, he instantly knew it, that's the director's daughter all right.
"Welcome to Chaldea Security Organization. I am Olga Marie Animusphere, Director of Chaldea." The younger woman stared at them all straight in the eye, which he met with all seriousness. "All of you have been summoned from around the world for the rare talent you possess. By rare talent, I meant the talent to Spiritron Dive and the required magic circuits to be a qualified master. That being said, it's a special talent, but you yourselves are not special."
Rin twitched beside him so much that he had to hold her hand, massaging the back of her hand. He knew that he possessed no pride in anything aside from his cooking, but Rin took pride in her status as the Average One. Of the fact that she, one of the last remaining Tohsaka in the eastern continents was widely recognized by the magical community.
"Make yourselves aware that you are no more than tools whose sole purpose is to protect humankind."
He frowned, not because it wasn't true—at least for him—, but because the same couldn't be said for others who weren't named Emiya Shirou. He would help people in a heartbeat, and only Rin and Saber can redirect this want, this need, to be the Hero of Justice that his dad tried to be. But others? He wasn't sure they could carry the burden of what it entailed.
Murmurs came about, disapproving and confused.
"Tools?"
"I didn't come here to be a slave."
So much more whispered and few even voiced it loud enough for the director to hear.
"What does she mean?"
"Silence!" She swept her arm to the side, glaring at each and every one of them. Most scowled and didn't return her gaze. But he and Rin met it, for him in respect for her doing her duty, hard as it may be on others. "If you don't like what I have to say, then leave Chaldea immediately."
When none stood up and left, a small smile flashed on her face. He blinked and it was gone, the same strict expression that she donned. "Never has Chaldea seen this many volunteers before, and I will be glad to work with you all. We Rayshift in five."
He greeted Mash who followed them to the lockers before splitting to the women's locker room.
After that, they continued to the center, below the central control room where CHALDEAS, a giant floating globe surrounded by multiple rings. He shivered so suddenly as they lined up.
The director was saying something but breathed deeply just to get his bearings. This malice, it choked him. Making him shiver. Where? He turned, looking for it to no avail. This feeling suffused everywhere.
"Shirou?" Rin called, frowning in concern. Trust in Rin to know something was wrong with him.
"It's…," he wanted to say nothing, but he couldn't deny it even just to assure her. They promised each other long ago to never lie. "Can you feel it? That hostility."
Archer once said that he had sensitive senses on hostility, and said sense saved his life many times from near death than he could count. This smell of bloody murder choked him.
"No," she replied. Her worry doubling.
"I can't explain it, but be careful, Rin."
"Idiot," she said scoffing. "You should listen to your advice."
"To your coffins." As she said this, the coffin located around CHALDEAS rose from the foot-level water.
If this was any other situation, he might have somehow found it funny, but the malice lingered everywhere. All more so when they walked to their designated coffins. Everyone went in but him, he stood there, eyes closed, and his ears listening to everything.
"Number 48," the director called, glaring at him. Daring him to do or say something. "Is there something wrong."
Clearing his throat, "just a headache ma'am."
Doubling her glare, she marched up to him, ignoring the snickers of others. "You—"
He lost his breath. "Rin take cover!" He ran towards the closest one—Olga. He never doubted his gut, his nose, and the experience he gained. Something, a whiff of something he can't comprehend right under her.
His od sprung to life, the tingle of heat, from a single whisper of, "I am the bone of my sword," towards the director before everything flashed red.