23 Chapter 22 - Beneath the Moon

So after the huge fight in the Einzbern mansion, Illya and I decided to move to Shirou's villa. Shirou introduced us to Taiga and Saber and Rin decided to stay over for extra pre-caution. Honestly, the only reason I came over was to try Emiya's amazing cooking and to talk some things over.

"Shirou! Make a huge meal for us!" (Illya)

"I'm working on it!" (Shirou)

Shirou was working on some hamburgers, Kiritsugu's favorite meal and we all hanged out with some drinks. I drank some beer with Taiga while Illya, Shirou, Rin, and Saber drank tea.

"Illya, aren't you old enough to drink this?" I bring up my beer to her.

"..." (Illya)

"Wait, how old is Illya?" (Shirou)

"Oh, I want to hear this!" (Taiga)

"You didn't know? She's your adoptive older sister Shirou, just a slight bit older than you." (Zhong Yuan)

"Wait really! So she's older than us two?" (Rin)

"STOP IT! Can't we talk about other things?" (Illya)

"Illya, this might be a good moment to talk about it then..." (Zhong Yuan)

"Not yet, not until I confirm something." (Illya)

"What are you talking about?" (Shirou)

"It's nothing!" (Illya)

Everyone got the taste of Shirou's wonderful cooking and went to their rooms. I and Illya went to a guest room, but Illya didn't go to sleep yet and was looking for something.

"Being a servant is quite hard, especially when your master is a weird one..." (Zhong Yuan)

Knowing that Illya would't come back soon, I went out to the courtyard to see Shirou working on his magic.

"Yo! What'cha doing?" (Zhong Yuan)

"Oh, it was you Berserker. I was working on my magic." (Shirou)

"Magic? Why are you learning it?" (Zhong Yuan)

"...let's go to another spot to talk about it."

Shirou brought to me to the same place Kiritsugu and Shirou talked about their ideals.

"So... why are you trying so hard?"

"I want to fulfill a dream I made some years ago..." (Shirou)

"By doing what? Fighting with your magic?" (Zhong Yuan)

"In some sense. I just want to save people." (Shirou)

"...The trauma is too big, huh?" (Zhong Yuan)

"Trauma? Do you mean the great fire?" (Shirou)

"Yeah. You're trying to accomplish the impossible kid. Your father tried it before and it ended horribly." (Zhong Yuan)

"You might be right, but I'm still going to try it."

"You got guts kid, but you don't have the skill."

"That's why I'm practicing-." (Shirou)

"It's not enough. What you're practicing is a mess. Let me help." (Zhong Yuan)

The only reason why Archer EMIYA was so strong was because of his agreement with the Counter Force and experience in the battlefield. Shirou didn't have either of them, which is why I was going to teach him actual blacksmith.

"You know kid, I'm actually a master blacksmith. I made all my weapons you know? Want to learn?" (Zhong Yuan)

"It's not related to magic though?" (Shirou)

"Dumbass, everything can connect to magic. And your projectile magic is closely related to swords and I am pretty good at it." (Zhong Yuan)

"...How do I become stronger?" (Shirou)

"Your origin and Elemental Affinity is swords, so if your body and soul are swords, how do you strengthen it?" (Zhong Yuan)

"Tempering it?" (Shirou)

"Bingo! So the only problem left is, how will you temper it?" (Zhong Yuan)

"Temper...couldn't I just copy it from someone?" (Shirou)

"You could, but that's not very smart. If you want to be a hero of justice, you must reach the very end, and copying something has its limits. Temper it with creativity, make it yours, become yourself." (Zhong Yuan)

"Become... I'll try!" (Shirou)

Suddenly, Illya and Saber appeared out of nowhere.

"You guys were here? What were you doing?" Illya gave a suspicious look.

"Not a big deal, we we're talking about dreams and goals." I gave a cheeky smile.

"... I don't trust you at all..." (Illya)

"You don't have to. Are you going to ask him finally?" (Zhong Yuan)

"Yeah. Shirou, we're going to tell you the story of Kiritsugu." (Illya)

"Kiritsugu was a complicated man. He was the fourth Holy Grail champion who used to be my master. Of course, I didn't want him to be my master, but talking to Illya made me realize how different he was in work and at home." (Saber)

"Wait, Kiritsugu was in the previous war?" (Shirou)

"You couldn't tell? I thought there were so many clues." (Illya)

"No, I just couldn't believe it. Kiritsugu in his last moments with me was getting weaker every moment." (Shirou)

"I believe it was because he gave away Avalon inside his body to Shirou." (Saber)

"...Could that be why he couldn't go visit me?" (Illya)

"You know that your ancestor is pretty cruel right? Kiritsugu destroyed the grail for the better good, but the Einzbern thought he left the war meaning he betrayed them. So the entire reason why Kiritsugu couldn't see you was your ancestor's fault and his body deteriorating." (Zhong Yuan)

"I didn't know my father had a complicated history..." (Shirou)

"So congratulations! You guys were family all along that were separated in weird ways!" (Zhong Yuan)

"It's not funny Berserker." (Illya)

"Anyway, I want to know your background Berserker. Who are you and why are you so strong?" (Saber)

"It's not time yet, I'll tell you later... But as family, you guys should all sleep each together!" (Zhong Yuan)

I grabbed Shirou, Illya, and Saber under my arms and threw them into the main bedroom.

'Phew, they almost got me.'

I walked back to my own room and saw Rin waiting in my room.

"...Would you mind telling me your history?"

*****

In a world, a man dreamed and wished for a floating castle. It didn't make sense, he pursued a non-existent steel castle floating in the very top of the skies.

He didn't find it, so he made it. It was wonderful, but without anyone, it felt empty. Trapping 10 thousand people in it, no one could escape it. So people got used to it, while others rejected it. There was love, fighting, and especially despair.

I was a stranger to the world. I didn't fit in the new one and the old one, making me apathetic. However, a girl I met changed my view. She was wonderful and beautiful until she died. I hated the people who got her killed, but I also understood them.

There was turmoil in my head. I couldn't decide in helping or fighting them, so I became a bystander. And during that process, I became the strongest. I wasn't a hero nor a villian, I was just following my ideals. And finally, a friend of mine freed us all.

"You know, the reason why I was summoned was because of self-loathing. The fact I couldn't be better, protecting my loved ones. So I started discarding emotions, with objects to remind me of my goals, like this sword." (Zhong Yuan)

"...What's it called?" (Rin)

"Shigemura, my first and only love. I'm trying to find her." (Zhong Yuan)

"How?" (Rin)

"I'll get the Holy Grail and use it to find her. You don't have a purpose to win it, I can tell. Do me a favor and I'll do anything for you." (Zhong Yuan)

"This seems quite useful, I'll try my best. Our deal is on." (Rin)

Rin left the room and I was again by myself. I remember my past. Playing an instrument while Yuna sang next to my side.

'I miss you...' (Zhong Yuan)

I got out too and saw the moon. It was beautiful. During my entire life, I've met only two things that ever touched my heart.

'My emotions... I'm still lacking them...'