I walk, through a second-floor hallway with shining moonlight.
I hate my own young body a bit.
Even though I am often compared to, “a child who is very mature for her age of 10 years old,” I knew well enough that the narrowness of my own steps as I’m walking at a quick pace like this are unpleasant.
I want to grow up, quickly.
My body too.
My mind too.
Even as a human, even as a Magus.
I――――
I, wanted to become an adult as soon as possible.
I’m a bit, tired, of being a child who is said to be “amazing” just for walking in the darkness.
The gloomy hallway which is lined up bit by bit by just the lights of candlesticks which have been lit by magic, yes, I might describe it as creepy if I were a same-aged elementary student.
As far as looking at the state of my classmates, the kids who are the same age as I are all fraidy-cats.
The dog with the face of a human.
The slit-mouthed woman.
The violet coloured mirror.
The white thread.
The red and blue papers.
The 13 steps.
The human anatomical model who walks during the night.
The portrait with the moving eyes.
And at the end, whether there is a girl in the school toilet?
All of them are childish, a gossip that’s whispered between children. A scary story. Even if I could grasp a ghost story as logic, I can’t actually feel it.
Such things, what’s so scary about them?
There is nothing in the darkness unless a magus does something, so there shouldn’t be no way for a Phantasmal Species to appear downtown so easily, if there is a chance that a rumour will sublimate into a mystery, rather it’ll become a target of great interest for us, Magi.
That’s why, even as I walk alone through the gloomy hallway, I cannot feel anything.
In the normal and unchanging scenery, I especially mustn’t feel fear.
Besides, tonight’s sky is clear, and a huge moon is coming out.
I can say that it’s more than enough for a bright night.
There’s nothing to be scared of.
However, it’d would be a lie if I said that I wasn’t nervous.
Misaya: “………...”
I exhale some white breath――――
Casually, I, gaze at the front yard through the window.
At this distance and in this darkness, I can’t properly see the Hydrangea flowers, which I had planted together with my Mother. It appears there’s no change to it whatsoever. The same-old garden.
Even though it shouldn’t be like that.
It shouldn’t be the same, as usual.
Even the flower which I had planted while getting dirtied by the soil, should be filled with lethal curses.
However, I couldn’t think of anything besides it.
The magic workshop. It’s death to intruders.
That’s too, obvious.
After all, the Holy Grail War, has already begun.
Misaya: “You called for me, Father?”
I knock on the door of the living room.
I think it’s the first time, that I’ve entered here at such a late hour.
Although it’s a time where I should’ve already gotten into bed and be sleeping as usual, I walk through the hallway like this, and arrived at the living room where Father awaits me.
Because he told me to “come to the room” through a familiar.
Since I was hesitant about going there while still in my pjs, I instantly change my clothes, after I slip out of bed. Even though we are family, we must offer every courtesy to each other.
Especially so, if I am to meet directly with Father.
Ever since he was chosen to be a Holy Grail War participant and got his Master Degree which is proof of a Master, Father has been busy day and night. Since Mother and the servants moved to our Izu villa, I’ve been helping him somewhat too, though Father manages everything and protects the Reiroukan main mansion, by himself.
Despite fulfilling his duties as the Reiroukan Family Head, at the same time, they are overlapping with his Holy Grail War preparations.
He carries out intelligence gathering regarding the other Masters, and he even searches for general mobilizing Servant summoning catalysts with both a front and back connection――――
I bet, Father is active without distinguishing between day or night.
Saying that it’s because it’s night, I couldn’t possibly show myself in something, like pyjamas.
Lord Reiroukan: “Oh, Misaya? Please come in.”
A reply. Quietly, I open the heavy door.
Inside the wide room, was the figure of my father.
As he sits deeply down onto the sofa, he is looking at me with a gentle expression.
While, I’m half relived by Father’s expression, still, I feel half insecure.
Misaya: “Is the reinforcement of the workshop not necessary? Already, the Holy Grail War is….…”
Yes, so. The Holy Grail War.
About this magical ritual of unprecedented scale and the first historical that’s to be performed here in Tokyo, I already heard some things about it from Father.
It is a grand slaughter by seven Masters and Servants.
Heroic Spirits and Magic, offerings to the Holy Grail that bestows and consumes all the hidden secrets of the mysteries that it holds.
A battle that sacrifices lives to reach the “Root” which is the 1000-year old grand ambition for us Magi.
I, undoubtably believe in Father’s victory. In the land of the Far East which is said to be even a frontier in the Magical World, I hear that the Reiroukans are conveyed to be an exceptionally noted family to the Clocktower Magi. Even among them, Father is known to be particularly outstanding among the successive generations of family heads.
But.
Even so.
An uneasiness, inevitably lingers, in the corner of my mind.
The Holy Grail War. It is absolutely unprecedented, and even Heroic Spirits are treated to the level of a type of familiar, but before this unprecedented event which will probably be deeply engraved into magical history, there should be no way for him to get absolute peace of mind.
But even though I say that――――
For whatever kind of reason, Father is showing a smile on his face tonight.
Misaya: (Why? Why are you like that, Father?)
I tilt my neck.
Misaya: “Father.”
As I am about to speak――――
――――My time, suddenly stops, for just a moment.
I saw it.
I found it.
There was “something” next to Father.
Perhaps there was something which had been concealing itself through magic there.
Right away, I rammed my attention into my own vision. My magic circuits. My prana. My vision. As I connect everything simultaneously, I charge a formula to crush magic into my vision.
An intruder?
No, that shouldn’t be possible.
I begin to imagine a few reasons for what had changed Father’s appearance. Rather than the walk through the night-time hallways, rather than gazing at the uninhabited garden, and rather than the silent moon, my imagination at this moment was the most scariest thing above all else.
Consciously I stop my thoughts midway through it. It’s no good. I should’ve made sure of “something” by this point now!
Beside my Father.
No, to be more precise, standing beyond the sofa.
Is a thin――――
A “shadow” clad in black itself was there.
I can’t make out it clearly.
Even though, there is definitely something there, a clear image won’t transmit to my brain as visual information.
Misaya: “Who……?”
Shadow: “You’re a clever child indeed. Although you persisted in the basics, you tried to see through my concealment magic. There is your lineage too, but it’s a great thing to diligently study and hone yourself. I bet, you’re master’s instructions are excellent too. ”
A voice I haven’t heard before.
Is it terribly calm sounding, on the contrary, it’s scary.
I shift my gaze to Father. By the time of the Holy Grail War, I had never even heard one story where another magus receives someone as a comrade. Then, what is this “shadow” then? Father. If, if this shadow is an enemy then――――
Lord Reiroukan: “My apologies.”
As he says that.
Father smiles with his head bowed.
――――Eh?
What is he doing? Father.
No way, for a shadow that is unknown to everyone.
No good.
It’s hopeless. Father, it’s almost as if, you are an incompetent pupil who is begging to be taught by a great master.
Father is the greatest Magus in the Far East. Besides for Grandfather who had passed away much earlier, it’s weird for him to be acting that way.
And yet. Why?
How?
Lord Reiroukan: “The reinforcement of our magical workshop has already been done, Misaya. The magical workshop, no, now, I don’t even mind if it’s designated as a temple. Because he, has reconstructed our mansion into a fortress with unprecedented mysteries fluttering in it through the use of magnificent skilful magic.”
Misaya: “Temple…...”
Lord Reiroukan: “Greet him, Misaya. For he is the one who shall bring the Root, to us Reiroukans.”
I don’t understand the meaning of his words.
Father, what are you saying?
Temple?
The Root?
Him?
I had no choice but to look up at the shadow with unsightly embarrassment.
I can only express it as, “creepy.”
As the tall black shadow, gapingly shows his two eye-like luminous points on his head, he is looking down at me as if he is peering into me.
Shadow: “It’s a pleasure to meet you, little Miss.”
The shadow said.
It was ice.
His voice, it makes me feel something that’s terribly cold, in its clearness.
Which is why, I think of ice.
An ice demon. A ghastly thing who wears shadows. What should I do?
Do I need a fire? Though I don’t have much pride in my elemental conversion magic, but, if, if it keeps me in touch with this shadow then I shall fire at it. No. No. That’s not it. I properly recognise Father’s words. The workshop. A temple. A person who shall bring the Root.
Am I, confusing myself?
Finally, I realize that my lips are slightly trembling.
The “shadow” approaches such a me.
As Father calmly watches over me, it takes the long way around from the other side of the sofa, and expressly comes over to the place where I was standing.
And then.
Caster: “O’ scions of the many children who hath received my teachings. I am an ancient one who has manifested into the class of Caster. Same as yourselves, I too am one of the magi who seek the Root.”
Gently, the shadow ――――
Caster: “Together with your father, please, with me.”
Reaches out his hand to me――――
Caster: “Let’s be friends.”
Quietly, he whispered――――
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Originally Posted by Rafflesiac
