125The faint rustling of linen sheets and the occasional beep from the heart rate monitor were the only fragments of sound that disturbed the sterile silence of Aoi Tohsaka's hospital room. It was a miracle that your mother is still alive, the doctor had said. It would take an even greater miracle for her to recover.
Rin hated this room. She hated her mother's empty visage that never changed no matter how many times she visited, no matter how old she grew and no matter she hoped that things would be different someday. Every time she would regret coming, but like clockwork, she would always visit again, repeating the cycle all over, ignoring the rational voice in her head that warned her how futile it all was.
Mother still looks beautiful, Rin thought numbly. She looked the same as when Rin first visited the hospital, over nine years ago, only thinner, a gauntness that haunted her features.
Rin could still recall every detail of that day, when everything in her life went to pieces. Kirei had told her after their fate: her father, killed in the Holy Grail War. Her mother, who was never meant to get involved, who was supposed to be safe, away from the battleground, with brain damage so severe that she could barely recognize anything around her.
And Sakura was gone too. Rin tried to push that thought away.
Her mullings were interrupted by the sudden touch of a soft hand. Her eyes fell and found her mother's hand on her own.
"Why… do you look… so sad, Rin?" Her mother drawled, every word slurred yet serene. "Here, I'll get your father…" These were the words that hurt most of all, the transient moments when her mother teetered on the edge of lucidity, when she responded to the world around her, before plunging into echoes long past. She felt her eyes begin to water. Rin could barely watch as her mother gestured to someone who wasn't there, whispering to someone who died nearly a decade ago.
"Oh, Tokiomi… you can write later… Rin needs you! I'll take care of… your journal, dear," Aoi muttered. "Sakura…you should come too…"
Father had a journal? Rin had combed through her father's study, sifting through decades of research to try to find who might have attacked her parents, but had never noticed anything resembling a journal. That was something to explore. Something to distract herself with, she recognized in the back of her head.
Rin didn't know how long she stood there, watching over her mother. Minutes or hours, there was no difference. Eventually, when her tears had dried and her hands no longer shook, Rin steeled her heart and strode out her mother's room in silence.
Her father's Workshop was tinged with the bittersweet scent of aging books and dried ink. Rin had largely left it alone after his death. It was filled with yellowing papers, notes, and tomes, mostly centered around advancing his Jewel Magic, supplemented by other forms of research. A scant few gems were scattered across ornate tables, a remnant of whatever experiment he was conducting before his death.
Rin had just finished searching through his entire Workshop and had found nothing new. She wondered if her mother was mistaken about the journal. No, memories were one of the few parts that remained of Aoi Tohsaka. If the journal wasn't in the study, it was either missing, or in a place she hadn't checked.
Rin sighed, before making her way up to her parent's bedroom. For a few short breaths, she stared at the old oak door, hand laced around the doorknob. Resolving herself, she entered the room and was greeted with a heavy cloud of dust to the eyes, nose, and mouth. She coughed and wheezed before patting herself clean.
Her parent's bedroom was exactly how she remembered: luxurious, comfortable, and cultured. But now, it was tarred with a thick layer of dust coating every surface she could see. The canopy of her parent's bed draped long, jacquard curtains that carried an elaborate pattern along its lengths. Nightstands neighbored either side of the bed, with a Victorian-style lamp on top of both. To the right, a walk-in closet dominated the wall. Drawers and cabinets furnished the opposite side of the room. A sparse few portraits and framed photos were distributed on the walls.
The last time she was in this room was when she retrieved a suit to dress her father's corpse. It had been years since then. If his journal was anywhere, it had to be here.
And so, Rin began probing the room for any of her parent's secrets. Her mother was no magus. If she really put her husband's journal away, it had to be somewhere mundane, where even a normal person could reach.
The closet was first. Rin discovered nothing but her parent's old clothing. Somehow, all of her father's outfits were exactly the same, with silk-white dress shirts paired with crimson tuxedos on every hanger. Was it a magus tradition to wear the same outfit every day? Rin snorted. She was surprised her mother let him get away with that. Indeed, her mother's outfits were far more varied in color, material, and design, but they did share the same modesty, with high necklines and low skirts that hid everything from any outside eyes.
Rin considered her own attire. The skirt she was wearing now didn't even reach her knees. Sorry, mom. I could never dress like you. Though thanks to Kirei, her closet did hold a number of conservative outfits…
Next came the drawers. They were loaded with her parents' socks and underwear, so she abandoned the search there after a cursory rummage. She doubted her father would store his journal amidst boxers and briefs.
The cabinets had far more potential. They were locked, so Rin went to her father's office and brought back a ring of keys. Unlocking the first, she found an abundance of aging documents: financial records, the deed to the land, and other documentation. Turns out, even magi had to pay taxes. As a child, finances were the last thing on her mind, but in hindsight, letting Kirei handle the Tohsaka finances was a mistake. The priest was so inept with money that he practically lost the entire Tohsaka fortune.
In another locked cabinet, Rin found an old, leather album among a number of different books. Inside were dozens of pictures of a smiling, complete Tohsaka family. It was so unfamiliar, seeing a little Sakura with black hair, sporting a bright grin on her face, holding hands with her mother and a tiny version of Rin herself. Her father was on the other side of the photo, regal as ever. It was strange seeing him smile. The last time she had seen him, his face was grave, though he tried to hide it.
Rin quietly closed the album, a little less spirited than before. She hadn't reminisced this much about her family in years. She moved to put the album back in the cabinet, but when she did, her knuckles bumped into something hard and metallic. Extending her hand deeper into the cabinet, Rin pulled out a smooth black box covered in grime. It wasn't very large, but it had enough space to hold a few items. Like a journal.
A thin line marked where the lid met the walls of the box. Below it lay a row of numbered silver dials, eight in total. Rin placed a hand on the box and tried to open it. It didn't budge. And her keyring wouldn't be of any help this time.
Inspecting it closely, Rin saw that the box was Reinforced and enchanted with some type of magecraft. There was a pattern here, a series of interwoven spells that created a complex web of protections. If she tried to use brute force to pry open the box, the contents inside would be destroyed. She could manipulate it with magecraft, but that risked blowing it up in her face.
Knowing her father, he would have created a way to open the box with a finesse tailored to him. He would have made it look easy. Rin wasn't confident she could perfectly mimic her father's skill.
Shifting her focus, Rin scrutinized the silver dials. These also had a similar layer of enchantments, but they were far smaller in scope and potency. This must be how her mother opened the box. A password of eight digits.
There were two ways of opening the box. Use magecraft, or guess the password.
Rationally, she should have asked Kirei for help, or perhaps paid a specialist to crack open the magical safe. But as Rin contemplated the dials, she remembered her mother's soft, soothing whispers, and her hand touched the first dial.
Eight digits. Numbers her mother would never forget. A combination sprang to mind immediately. Zero-two-zero-three, zero-three-zero-two. The moment Rin entered the last digit, the box opened with an audible click.
The interior of the box was lined with felt. Sitting right in the middle was a journal, bound by black leather. Rin reverently lifted it up, unable to believe her eyes. Turning the front cover open, inscribed on the first page were four words in Latin: Verba volant, scripta manent.
Words fly away, written ones remain.
Underneath the inscription, written in elegant cursive, was T.T.
Rin smiled. She guessed the password right: February 3rd and March 2nd. Rin and Sakura's birthdays.
Thanks, mom. I love you.
Rin flipped through the journal, poring over every word her father had written. The journal covered a short span of her father's life, with the last entry recorded a decade past the first. Each page was punctuated with terse notes of varying length, labeled with the month, day, and year. Dates were separated by intervals of a day to a week.
His words were written with a clean, steady script. Rin envisioned him writing in his candlelit study, a tranquil expression on his face, a fountain pen in hand. Most of the entries were related to his research, or detailed communication with other families, but sometimes he spoke of more mundane things, like his wedding anniversaries, or his family's birthdays. Sadly, she hadn't any new revelations or insights, until she arrived at October 1994, right before the Fourth Holy Grail War.
October 24, 1994.
Preparations are complete. To our fortune, Kirei has been chosen as a master by the Grail. I have allied with him, securing the support of Risei Kotomine and the Church. We have obtained the fossilized shed skin of the first snake that has ever molted.
This was the first explicit entry regarding the Grail War, and it confirmed what Rin already knew. Her father had prepared meticulously. She could only imagine how expensive it would be to obtain such an ancient catalyst, yet he still died, even with Kirei at his side. Perhaps later entries would reveal the killer.
November 1, 1994.
Victory is assured. I have summoned Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, the first hero of history. Kirei has also summoned his Servant, Hassan of The Hundred Faces. From my understanding, Kirei did not use a catalyst, so this Assassin was the most well-suited for his demeanor. An interesting thought experiment.
Gilgamesh of Uruk, the hero of the first story that had ever been recorded. No wonder her father was so confident.
Kirei had summoned Assassin. He had never mentioned that to her. He never mentioned much about the Grail War at all, truth be told.
November 2, 1994.
Kirei's ruse appears successful.
She would have to ask Kirei what this meant.
November 3, 1994.
Five servants converged in a brief confrontation this past evening. I deemed it best to be cautious, but Archer proclaimed his superiority. I was compelled to use a Command Seal to order his withdrawal.
Irisviel von Einzbern is the Master of Saber. The esteemed Lord Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald is the Master of Lancer. Waver Velvet is the Master of Rider, Alexander the Great. Berserker has appeared as well, but his Master is still unknown.
I have compiled a list of known Masters at the end of this journal. I will continue to update it as more information is revealed.
To be confident of your abilities is one thing, but to fight four other Servants at once was suicidal. Archer's self-confidence was ridiculous. It bordered delusion.
She didn't recognize Irisviel, but Einzbern was a name she couldn't forget. Archibald and Velvet were unknowns.
November 5, 1994.
The objective has temporarily changed. We will eliminate Caster and his Master.
Rider has met with Saber and Archer at Einzbern Castle. At the cost of every remaining Assassin, we have discovered his Noble Phantasm. He is a larger threat than anticipated.
Alexander the Great was strong enough to kill Assassin. Rin wasn't surprised. Though the Rider class was known for having powerful Noble Phantasms. How extraordinary was he?
November 6, 1994.
Caster has summoned an enormous demon on the Mion River. To destroy it, Saber has revealed her Noble Phantasm. With it, she reveals her identity as King Arthur. I must admit, I was awed by the beauty of Excalibur's golden radiance. I cannot help but note how Archer refused to join the battle. It is clear now that his loyalty is fickle. Still, he has the power to triumph over any other Servant.
With a giant demon, Caster practically revealed the existence of the magical world, yet Rin never heard even a rumor about this. The Church was truly meticulous in their population hypnosis.
Saber was King Arthur, and King Arthur was a woman. Rin's brows furrowed. She read the entry again, confirming that truth was stranger than fiction.
Her father was not subtle. His praises of Saber contrasted his disappointment in Archer. He undoubtedly struggled with ordering his Servant. I need someone who would follow my commands.
Kariya Matou is the Master of Berserker. I must say I was surprised when he challenged me. His hair had turned stark white, and his pupils were faded. He walked as if he was dragging his body with every step. Grotesque veins were visible on the left-side of his body. Though his transformation was drastic, and his misguided determination was great, his familiars were unrefined and weak. I respected Kariya, but it's a shame he chose to die like this.
Rin's lips creased. Uncle Kariya was her father's enemy. It made no sense. They had always gotten along, and he protected her during the Grail War, even after his bodily changes. She didn't like picturing her father fighting Uncle Kariya, much less murdering him. But she never saw him after the Grail War…
She turned to the next page.
November 8, 1994.
Father Risei has died, may he rest in peace. He was found with a bullet to the chest. Another advantage lost. A new strategy is needed.
Kirei lost his father too. He had never mentioned it, nor had he shown any signs of grief. Rin supposed he hid it well. She would never trust the fake priest, but she could sympathize with his loss.
I have proposed a truce with Irisviel von Einzbern. Saber is the second strongest servant of this war, and together, we should be able to defeat any enemies that appear before us.
Einzbern has demanded I send Kirei outside the country. This price is unfortunate, but acceptable. Kirei's importance is greatly diminished without a Servant or Command Seals. However, he is my star apprentice and a loyal friend, someone I trust above all in this War. As his master, I shall bestow upon him an Azoth dagger. It will serve as a symbol that his apprenticeship is complete.
So her father commanded Kirei to leave. Maybe it was unfair to blame him for her father's death, but the emotional part of Rin couldn't accept that. Kirei should have stayed with him, even against his orders.
I visited Rin today. I begin to worry about my fate. Caster's Master has died, and it appears Lord El-Melloi has disappeared. Without Kirei, I am vulnerable. The Magus Killer is still unaccounted for. In preparation for the worst-case scenario, I plan to entrust Kirei as Rin's guardian. I have given him an encoded copy of my will. He is to give it to Rin upon the next Holy Grail War.
The last words were in disarray, not nearly as legible as the previous entries, as if written during an earthquake. Her father was anxious, afraid even. His strategies were failing, but had he really expected to die? If he had truly foreseen it, Rin wished he just retreated instead of fighting to an early grave. And who was the Magus Killer?
The next words made Rin catch her breath.
Rin's potential eclipses mine entirely. If I fall here, she is more than ready to be my successor, the next head of the Tohsaka family. I trust her to finish what I have started. I entrust her with my mission and my hope.
So that's why her father was prepared to die. Because I'm here, she realized. More than ever, she had to become the quintessential magus, the ideal heir. The winner of the next Holy Grail War. No matter what.
As a final test, I have arranged the clocks in the mansion to advance by an hour when Rin finds my pendant. However, If she fails to recognize this, I suppose she is not ready to become a Master of the Holy Grail. I smile as I write this, for such a trivial trick should be no challenge for my daughter.
Rin rolled her eyes. A prank beyond the grave. It was clear that her father never intended for her to see these words. At least she was aware of it now rather than later.
There were no more dated entries after this. He must have died before he could write another. Rin frowned. She had no concrete leads on his murderer. She flipped to the last few pages of the journal.
Known Servants and Masters.
Archer. Gilgamesh. The King of Heroes. Noble Phantasm: Gate of Babylon. Owns the original version of every single Noble Phantasm. A limitless amount. Powerful, but uninterested in the world around him. I have to all but beg for him to act according to my will.
Rin scowled. Her father had dignity; he never should have been made to beg. Even so, Archer's Noble Phantasm seemed well worth the loss of pride: most Servants had one or two Noble Phantasms. A rare few had three or four. Gilgamesh had all of them. A worthy power for the first hero of history.
Saber. King Arthur. The King of Knights. Honorable and loyal, Saber is a paragon of virtue. She is skilled in all areas of combat and has a powerful Noble Phantasm. Likely the second-strongest Servant. Irisviel von Einzbern is the Master of Saber. She has a selfless personality and a mastery in several areas of Magecraft, from healing to familiars. She is allied with the Magus Killer.
Lancer. Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. An extremely skilled and chivalrous spearman. Strong, but not nearly as large of a threat as compared to other Servants. Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald is his Master. An incredibly talented magus who has risen ranks at an astronomical pace. His inclination towards powerful Mystic Codes is well-known. In a battle between us, I am not confident in my victory. Neither Lancer or his Master have appeared in the past two days. Either biding their time or eliminated.
Rider. Alexander the Great. The King of Conquerors. A boisterous man of large stature. Weaponized the loyalty of his army into a Noble Phantasm. His Master, Waver Velvet, is nothing more than an unskilled student of the Clock Tower and has no control over his Servant.
Caster. Gilles de Rais. Summons demons in combat. Has no regard for human life. Clearly evil in alignment. I do not understand how he was selected by the Holy Grail. Killed by Saber. Extremely compatible with his Master, who was later found to be Ryuunosuke Uryuu. Uryuu appears to be a normal human who somehow summoned Caster. He was found dead after the death of Caster with a shot to the heart. Most likely killed by the Magus Killer.
Berserker. Identity unknown. A powerful warrior who fights with precise technique unbefitting of the Berserker class. Has not shown his Noble Phantasm. Was able to skirmish with Archer. Master — Kariya Matou, user of familiar magic. I have defeated him. Death not confirmed, but survival unlikely.
Rin forced herself to the next entry.
Assassin. Hassan of the Hundred Faces. One hundred different assassins summoned together. Though lacking a combative Noble Phantasm, they are versatile and useful for espionage. Killed by Rider. Master: Kirei Kotomine.
So Archer, Saber, Rider, were alive when her father was killed. Berserker and Lancer might have survived too, but that was unclear from his notes. Einzbern, Velvet, and Kirei were the surviving Masters, and Uncle Kariya and Archibald might have survived as well. Skimming through the entries again, it seemed unlikely that Velvet or Uncle Kariya were skilled enough to defeat him. Kirei had possession of the Azoth dagger, so he had to have met with her father before he was killed. He would have been ordered to leave the country, so it couldn't have been him. That left Einzbern and Archibald among the remaining Masters. There was also this Magus Killer too.
But it wasn't enough information to even garner any leads. Rin needed more.
There was another list on the next page, but this was shorter, with only three entries.
Other Figures.
Risei Kotomine. Father of Kirei. The envoy of the Church. Holder of Command Seals. An important ally. Killed with a gunshot to the chest. Likely the work of the Magus Killer.
Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri. Wife of Lord El-Melloi. The second child of the Nuada-Re family.
Sola-Ui was a new name, but she appeared irrelevant. If her or her husband were alive, Rin could have a potential lead to follow at the Clock Tower. Something to check in the future.
There was only one entry left.
Kiritsugu Emiya. The Magus Killer. Contracted hitman for a number of successful missions against magi. Does not appear to be a Master, but is far more lethal than any of the other magus in this war. An assassin who kills his target by any means necessary. Uses modern weaponry including guns and explosives. Unknown Magecraft. May have bombed the Hyatt Hotel in Fuyuki. Killer of Ryuunosuke Uryuu, and likely killer of Risei Kotomine.
Rin's eyes widened. So this was the Magus Killer. A mercenary who killed for the highest bidder. And there was no one richer than the Einzberns. No wonder her father was so troubled by this man. And his last name is Emiya. A certain red-haired classmate came to mind. There's no way, she told herself. There's just no way.
Rin read the entry again. An assassin who kills his target by any means necessary. The connection was obvious; she couldn't put her head in the sand. Out of Einzbern, Archibald, and Emiya, the only one who had killed another Master was Emiya. Out of Einzbern, Archibald, and Emiya, her father feared Emiya the most. The connection was unmistakable. If Rin had to bet, the Magus Killer murdered her father.
And the boy she liked might be his son.
The priest looked bemused when he opened the door of the church on the hill and was met with Rin's glare.
"I was not expecting you, Rin. You usually call before visiting."
"Enough chatter. I need to talk to you. In private. Right now." Rin's tone of voice brooked no argument, steady like stone. Without a word, Kirei Kotomine opened the door wider, beckoning her inside.
Somehow, in all of her infrequent visits, Fuyuki Church was always empty, save for Kirei himself. Rin wasn't sure why. The building was beautiful. Perfectly maintained, there wasn't a speck of dust visible anywhere. Stained glass windows shone radiant light along burnished wooden pews. Expensive portraits of the Lord and various saints hung around the wall.
And yet, it was only the sound of her footsteps that filled the open space. There were no sermons or chatter, and the grand organ built into the walls was always left unplayed. Maybe no one visited because the church was on the outskirts of town. Or maybe it's because of the priest himself. Rin always had a bad feeling inside the church. Instinctively, she was on alert, her body rigid with anticipation. Whether it was because the building itself, or some other lingering stress remained to be seen.
Kirei closed the door behind her. He moved with a casual grace, every movement followed by the faint swish of his clergy robes.
"It is a pleasure to see you. What would you like to talk about?" he asked.
"I need to know more about Father's death." Straight to the point. There was no reason to exchange pleasantries.
Kirei's expression tightened. "The Fourth Holy Grail War is one of my greatest regrets, Rin. I failed your father. But as I have told you before, I don't know who killed your fath–"
"Was it Kiritsugu Emiya?"
Kirei froze, his sentence dying in his throat. He took a second to peer at her, as if he was trying to decipher some hidden message in her physiognomy.
There was a fleeting silence. "How did you learn that name?" His voice was far graver than it was before.
"Answer my question first," she demanded.
"Very well." Kirei exhaled. He took a seat on a nearby pew. "Rin, I spoke only the truth when you asked about your father's passing. His death was a complete surprise, and I have not been able to catch his murderer."
Rin's shoulder slumped. So Kirei really didn't know. She always presumed he was lying to her about the topic.
"But," he intoned, interrupting her train of thought. "I have my suspicions." Rin perked up. "Do you know of the Masters in the War?"
"The only ones who could have killed him were Irisviel von Einzbern, Waver Velvet, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald…and Kariya Matou. Kiritsugu Emiya wasn't a Master."
"Interesting. That is almost perfectly correct." Of course it was. Rin memorized all the details over the last few hours.
"But there are a few things you missed," Kirei said. "We found that Archibald died before your father did. Kariya Matou barely survived fighting your father and could hardly move, let alone kill Tokiomi. Kiritsugu Emiya was the Master of Saber. He shared command over her with Irisviel von Einzbern."
So that left Einzbern, Velvet, and Emiya. Internally, Rin was glad Uncle Kariya was off the list.
"I'm not here for a lecture, Kirei. Who do you think killed my father?" She asked, prompting him to resume.
"Who do you think? You know your father died from a lethal wound to the chest." He trailed off, signaling for Rin to speak.
"Einzbern was a familiar user, not a melee combatant. Velvet was an inexperienced student. That leaves the Magus Killer," Rin said. It was logic, pure and simple. "But I thought he used guns and explosives. Father died from a blade wound. How can you conclude that it was Emiya?"
Kirei's countenance warped. "Because I fought him, Rin." His body began to tremble, as he recounted a story from long ago. "You are not the only one who sought the Magus Killer." Kirei took a deep breath. His eyes turned downcast. "I have never told you this, but my father was murdered in the War."
"A bullet to the chest," Rin whispered.
"So you've learned that too." Kirei nodded, deep in thought. "How do you suppose I felt when I saw my father's corpse? How do you suppose I felt when I saw my master's corpse?"
Rin grimaced. His feelings couldn't be far from her own. Shock. Horror. Fear. The distant awareness of everything going to hell.
"I will never forget that day," he continued. "Nor will I ever forget those wretched feelings I experienced."
"I'm sorry," she said softly. Her condolence felt inadequate. Internally, she felt herself shrink.
The church fell into silence.
"Are you aware of what your father's final instruction for me was?" he asked at last.
"He wanted to ally with the Einzberns," Rin answered. "He sent you away."
Kirei nodded again. "Indeed. But how could I obey his orders after what had happened? I simply could not. My principles would not allow it."
"So you came back to Fuyuki. For revenge."
Kirei stood up from his seat.
"I knew Kiritsugu Emiya had the answers I sought. On the last day of the War, I hunted him down. But he did not say a word, and so, we clashed." Kirei sighed, and he suddenly looked as weary as an oak tree, as if he aged ten years in just an instant. Kirei's gaze met hers. His eyes were dull and cold.
"I failed, Rin. Your father is gone. My father is gone. But the Magus Killer survived the Holy Grail War."
After what felt like an eternity, Kirei spoke once more.
"To answer your question, I will not confirm who killed your father. After all these years, I still have nothing but conjecture. But you have heard my tale."
Rin took a moment to process Kirei's words. Answers Rin yearned to know, revelations buried over nine long years had finally come to light. But she hardly felt any satisfaction.
"You said he survived." Rin's voice shook. She didn't like that. "Why didn't you do anything afterward?"
Kirei frowned. "After your father's funeral, I left Japan for other matters. You know this," he said. And she did. Nine years ago, Kirei was an active Executor. The Holy Church didn't care if his loved ones had died. He had other duties to attend to, other missions to complete, so he couldn't afford to stay with Rin and her mother immediately after the war.
"While I was abroad, I could not search for Kiritsugu Emiya. If he was in Europe, he had to be with the Einzberns, I determined. But there were no traces of him abroad. It was as if he had vanished from the magical world entirely. I concluded that he either died or went into hiding. And since I returned to Fuyuki, I felt there was no reason to investigate any further. After all, I needed to properly train you."
Rin nodded. Instead of pursuing revenge, Kirei raised her to be the next Tohsaka head. Just like her father intended. But his answers left one question hanging in her throat, one she dreaded asking.
"The Magus Killer might have a son. There's a boy named Shirou Emiya in my school. Do you know if he has any connection to Kiritsugu Emiya?"
Kirei's eyes widened as he took in her query, and a dark glint seemed to appear in his typically neutral stare. He almost seemed excited. Was he hoping for revenge? "No, I have never heard of this 'Shirou Emiya.' But Emiya is an uncommon surname. I can look into him for you. Perhaps there is a link to the Magus Killer."
Rin considered the thought for a moment. "He appears to be a normal student," she said, shaking her head. "Did the Magus Killer hide his magical energy?"
"No. His status as a magus was evident from the moment I saw him," Kirei responded.
"Then it's highly likely Shirou Emiya isn't a magus," Rin said. Magi could naturally sense other magi, and she never sensed a single bit of magical energy from him. A superior magus could suppress their energy, but if the Magus Killer didn't, then why would Emiya? "I don't think there's a need to investigate him."
Kirei frowned. "The Magus Killer does not take chances, and neither do I. To overlook a possible threat is a grave mistake, Rin. Your father learned that lesson far too late."
Rin curled her lip, irked by his words but unable to refute them. "Fine. I get it. I'll look into him. Just look into his family history for me." She didn't want the priest to come close to Emiya.
"Very well. I shall respect your wishes. But I must warn you. If he truly is the Magus Killer's son, then caution is of utmost importance."
"I know to be careful."
"Good. Now tell me, where did you learn about the Fourth Holy Grail War?"
Rin stepped out of the church and onto the tiled walkway. Kirei creaked the door shut behind her. She didn't plan on visiting the church for a long time. The weather was pleasant today, the cool warmth of a sunny autumn. Not hot enough to sweat, not cold enough to shiver. Not a single cloud roamed the sky, the exact opposite of her tumultuous mind.
In the end, she revealed the existence of her father's journal. She left out how she met her mother beforehand, or how she had found it. She suspected Kirei knew she wasn't telling the full story, but it didn't matter. She didn't want a snake like him to know all the details.
In turn, Kirei regaled her with everything he recollected of the Fourth Holy Grail War. He told her about the clandestine alliance between the Church and the Tohsakas. He explained her father's strategies, as well as the power of the King of Heroes. He told her about his Hundred-Faced Assassin, how he placed eyes and ears on every part of Fuyuki all at once, before they were eliminated by Rider's Reality Marble. He told her about Uncle Kariya, and the terrifying might of Berserker. He told her about Caster, and the horrors he committed, before being put down by the light of the knightly Saber. He told her about fighting the Magus Killer, filling her head with images of raging bullets and covert knives and time manipulation. He described every Master and every Servant, all the details he could remember, filling in the blanks in her father's notes.
After all was said and done, Kiritsugu Emiya was the victor. Kirei and Waver Velvet were the only other known survivors. Velvet was a lord of the Clock Tower now, a far cry from the green student her father wrote about. In the future, Rin planned to find him when she joined the Clock Tower. But this was not a priority at the moment.
Kiritsugu Emiya may still be alive. If Rin found him, she wasn't sure what she would do. She ran through the possibilities. Would she attack him immediately? No, she would probably enlist Kirei's help first. But there was no scenario where Rin pictured leaving her father's murderer unscathed.
There was also the question of who attacked her mother. It was unlikely that the Magus Killer had attacked Aoi, by the simple fact that she survived. The Magus Killer does not leave survivors, Kirei had claimed, and Rin was inclined to agree. Her injuries were trauma-based as well, which ruled out the guns, knives, and explosives that marked his other victims' corpses. Nevertheless, it was a possibility she couldn't discard. Kiritsugu Emiya was likely her father's killer. Perhaps he wanted to eliminate the rest of the Tohsakas as well.
Her mother and her father, both attacked by the Magus Killer. Was Rin supposed to be the next target?
The last wisps of fall were fading. Rin had school tomorrow.
It was time to investigate Shirou Emiya.
A/N: Happy 20th anniversary, F/SN! In celebration of the remaster, I've decided to start a new Fate fic.
This work was heavily inspired by Procratination's "Terrible, Yes, but Great" on QQ. If you liked this chapter, check it out! It's one of the best Fate fics I've ever read.
As a warning, there will be romance and smut in the (far) future.