[Disclaimer]
I do not own Fate Stay Night nor Conception 2: Children of Seven Stars.
...
Oh wait, I do own Conception 2 game. I did buy it.
But I don't own the franchise.
I also don't own the soundtracks I'm using for the story.
However, I did buy the OST disks.
[Author's note]
Hello Conception series fans! I am called LDC. A writer with ridiculous passion to write.
To those who are new with me, I write in VN/LN formatting. Though, I won't say it's the best thing you can find here. There are many others who can write better than me.
Nevertheless, I wish to bring you into my imagination, an endless spiral of nonsense.
Here's the tips when reading any of my stories:
(Character's point of view) - Referring to the character we're currently possessing, I mean reading.
Normal Sentence - Mostly referring to the character internal thoughts, similar to visual novel.
"words" - Any sentences appearing like this is a speech
~words~ - Whenever this shows up, an event has transpire.
[Words] - I used this to include a sound effect.
Italic words - If any words or sentences are in italic, that means it's in a different language other than English.
? - If this shows up, that means the said character is confused, bewildered by the current event. Some action that represents confusion may occur without being mentioned such as tilting heads.
! - This represents the character's surprise. The said character is shocked by the event unfold.
... - These three dots represents the character train of thoughts whenever he or she is not thinking anything. We can assume that they are pausing blankly. If there are three lines of dots such as this:
that means, the character is speechless due to the absurdity of the situation.
Words or sentences in bold - Whenever these shows up, that means a unique reference to something important to the plot. Let's just say a keyword.
Or in some case, I use 'bold' to discern a unique voice. The said voice rarely speaks unless the situation warrants it.
Enough of my ranting. Here's the story:
Prologue: Disciples of Stars
[Background Music Suggested – In Sunlight ~ Fate Stay Night]
(? Point of view)
[Seagulls' squawking]
"So this is Fort City..." I mutter as I walk out from the ship.
[Indistinct chattering]
...
There are so many people around here.
It's completely different from Fuyuki.
I guess Fuyuki don't have any Star Children to help with development.
"Shirou, I'm over here!" A woman in her mid-twenties calls out to me.
"I'm coming, Fuji-nee!"
I jog a little towards her direction.
"What's the matter, Shirou? Does Fort City look scary?" The brunette woman asks.
I shake my head as an answer.
"Nah... It's just... felt so different from Fuyuki."
"Well, it's not the biggest city in Aterra for nothing. The Star God blessed this city with an Ether field, making this city the safest place to live." She nods to herself.
...
I glance at the back of my palm.
"So that's your Star Brand. Funny... I don't remember the shape being like that." Fuji-nee comments about the mark on my hand.
The marking on the back of my hand has a sword-like shape with a bit extra linings.
"It doesn't seem real... I mean, I'm selected to be a protector of humanity."
The woman beside me giggles.
"Come on, Shirou. Don't be like that. In fact, you should rejoice! Isn't your dream is to be an Ally of Justice just like Kiritsugu?"
I smile and nod.
"But Kiritsugu was just a fire fighter. I'm chosen as a Disciple. This is big..."
"What about me? I was a Disciple back in my teenage years. I wasn't as nervous as you." She comments nonchalantly.
...
"You're right, Fuji-nee. I shouldn't mull over it that much."
The woman smiles brilliantly.
"Well, there's still time before meeting Chief Ruby. How about doing a little sightseeing?" She suggests.
I nod.
[Phone ringing]
It was Fuji-nee's phone.
She picks it up.
"Hello...?"
"GET YOUR ASS HERE, FUJIMURA!"
A man's voice lashes out from her phone.
[Background Music Suggested – Everyday is calm ~ Fate Stay Night]
Luckily, Fuji-nee wasn't using the state-of-the-art phones where you can see people's face.
Otherwise, the man's face will pop out from the screen.
"Wha-what is it, Mr. Watts...?" The brunette woman says in shaky voice.
"You dare to skip a staff's meeting for a family visit? Come here in this instance! Or I'll write a report."
...
His voice is very loud to the point I can hear it.
"Ple-Please don't write a bad report about me! I'll be there in a jiffy!" Fuji-nee responds hastily.
...
I hear a snort from her phone.
"I'm sorry, Shirou... Looks like you'll be touring on your own." She says apologetically.
I smile at her.
"It's okay, Fuji-nee. I can handle myself. You shouldn't skip a meeting. That's bad for your job's performance."
She nods reluctantly.
"Nazuna sure have it good... Oh well... See you later, Shirou."
/***scene break***/
[[Background Music Suggested – Kajitsu ~ Rewrite]
(Shirou's point of view)
I walk aimlessly by the dock.
?
Isn't that...
I recognize those clothing.
Basically, it's the same set of clothing I wear.
It's a school uniform.
Does that mean he's a Disciple as well?
...
?
Oh, he noticed me.
The silver haired boy walks hurriedly towards me.
"Hello there." He greets me.
I nod.
"Hi, are you a Disciple as well?"
The blue-eyed boy nods.
"Yes, I am. I'm glad to find another Disciple when I arrived. Otherwise, I might get lost." He let out a chuckle.
I offer him my hand.
"My name is Emiya Shirou, or, by the place standard, Shirou Emiya."
The silver haired boy responds by shaking my hand.
"I'm Wake Archus."
...
"By the way, why are you carrying a sword?"
Even without looking at the content, I can guess a sword is being shrouded in that cover.
He's been carrying it ever since he walked out from the ship.
The boy gestures his sheathed weapon.
"Oh, this...? It's for safety measures. I don't feel safe without carrying it around." He says with solemn tone.
...
I sense something from the way he spoke.
But I won't pry into his personal matter.
"So, where should we go for initiation?" The boy suddenly asks.
?
"What are you talking about...?"
Wake raises his eyebrow.
"Aren't we going to the place where Disciples are trained?"
...
Fuji-nee didn't tell me where to head...
Wake and I exchange confused glances.
"I think we need to ask around."
/~several minutes later~/
[Background Music Suggested – The Opposite Bank of Heart ~ Conception 2]
We arrive in some kind of café…
"Magic Fusion Cuisine…?" Wake read aloud from the menu.
"Customers…?"
A short girl with green eyes shows up with confused expression.
…
I think she's around Illya's height.
"Welcome. Please take a seat." The blunette offers us seats courteously.
"Actually, we didn't come here to eat." Wake responds bluntly.
"Huh…?" The girl startles from his statement.
"Is your mother around? We're kinda lost." He asks with a smile.
?
For some reason, the girl's face turns red.
"Who are you calling a kid…!? Get out of here…!"
!
/~after being chased out~/
[Background Music Suggested – Kappanbyou ~ Rewrite]
"That didn't go well…"
I take a deep breath and exhale.
"Why is she so mad…?" Wake ponders about the girl.
"I don't know… Maybe she's mad because we didn't come to eat."
[Sigh]
The silver haired boy let out a sigh.
"I guess we should try somewhere else."
/~several minutes later~/
[Background Music Suggested – A Quirk of Fate ~ Conception 2]
"Let's try asking that girl."
The silver haired boy nods.
The two of us approach a girl with green hair.
…
"Hello."
"Eep…!"
The girl squeals when I greet her.
The bow on her head sways a little when she moves.
"Sorry for bothering you. But I was wondering if—"
…
I stop midsentence since the girl is clearly not paying attention.
In fact, she's staring at Wake with great intensity.
"Is there something wrong with my face?" The boy asks with confused tone.
"Eh…? No, no, no, no…! Your face looks great!" The starry eyed girl responds to his question.
?
Her face becomes redder than a tomato.
"I'm sorry…!"
She runs away from us.
…
"I think she's scared of me." Wake makes a conclusion.
…
"I don't think she's scared of you. Maybe she's just shy in general."
The silver haired boy nods.
"I hope so… Do I look mean?"
…
"You look very friendly to me."
/~an hour later~/
[Background Music Suggested – Kajitsu ~ Rewrite]
And so, we arrive in a forest.
…
Huh?
How does that work?
"I think we're lost…" Wake comments on our current situation.
"How did we get here in the first place?"
"Well, we were tailing a pair of students with similar uniform to ours. Somehow, we missed them." The blue eyed boy narrates our little venture.
…
"In other words, we got lost since we lost sight of them."
[Sigh]
"We should get out from the forest. It's not safe to wander around here." He remarks.
He pulls off the cover from his sword.
I guess he lives in a place where wild animals are a threat.
I don't know what kind of wild animals will show up here.
It's better if we take precaution.
[Girl's screaming]
!
I exchange glance with Wake.
He nods at me.
The two of us sprint towards the source of the scream.
[Background Music Suggested – ZONE TIME ~ Persona 4]
"Don't worry, Fuuko! I'll take care of it!"
A boy's voice is audible.
Wake and I arrive at the scene.
A red haired boy and a pink haired girl are being surrounded by monsters.
"Take this you bastard…!"
The boy attempts to punch a nearby monster.
!
"Crap…!"
He fell in his attempt.
A monster is about to attack him!
?
Wake draws his blade.
[Background Music Suggested – Dungeon Battle 1 ~ Conception 2]
In a blink of an eye, Wake cuts off the attacking monster.
…
While all of them being distracted, I should prepare a weapon.
'His' sword should be enough.
"Trace on…"
A katana identical to Wake's weapon appears in my grasp.
"IYAAAH…!"
[Swoosh]
I chop off a random monster.
"Shirou, I'll take on the monsters in the right. Can you handle the left flank?"
Our backs are against each other.
A smile appears on my face.
"Of course…"
Eight more monsters to go…
Flicking the sword in my hand, I surge forward.
[Roar]
I duck below its gaping mouth.
[Swoosh]
It was a simple slash to its open abdomen.
I didn't train under Fuji-nee for nothing.
These monsters are slow in comparison.
With both arm grasping the sword, I point it at the rest of the mob.
[Growl, swoosh]
Meanwhile, Wake already took down three monsters.
I don't want to lose.
I dash towards an inattentive monster.
[Swoosh]
I execute an overhead slash.
[ROAR]
!
I perform a side roll.
[Crash]
A monster was trying to ambush me.
"HAH…!"
I land a kick on it.
[Swoosh]
And Wake finishes it off.
I form a smile.
I already knew that he was nearby.
/~after finishing the last monster~/
[Background Music Suggested – Routine in 366 Days ~ Conception 2]
"That was awesome…!" The red haired boy claims.
Wake simply forms a tired smile at him.
…
No one is watching…
[Faint glass shattering]
I disperse the sword.
"You guys were totally rocking…! Those monsters didn't stand a chance." The boy cheerfully walks to us.
?
The girl…
"Hey, Fuuko… How long are you going to sit there? These guys are going to see your panties." The red haired boy snickers.
"Eep…!"
She quickly covers her skirt.
The silver haired boy quietly walks to the girl.
"Are you alright?" He offers his hand.
"Eh…? I-I'm fine…" The pink haired girl reluctantly accepts his help.
"Speaking of which…" The red haired boy approaches me.
"What happened to your sword? I didn't saw you put it away."
!
"It must be your imagination. The last monster broke my sword so I had to toss it away."
"Really…? Oh well… That's not important. Say, are you guys Disciples?"
I smile at him.
"Yes, we are. To be honest, we were kinda lost. That's how we ended up here."
The purple eyed boy snickers at my remark.
"Oh yeah…? That's good news for us. If you guys didn't get lost, who knows what will happen to us."
In some sense, he is right…
"I'm Chlotz Genus. Please to meet you guys." He introduces himself.
"Wake, Wake Archus." The silver haired boy replies to him.
"My name is Shirou Emiya."
The three of us turn towards the last individual.
"Eh…? I'm Fuuko. Fuuko Amicus…" The pink haired girl startles to introduce herself.
"Please to meet you, Fuuko." Wake smiles at her.
The said girl averts her face.
…
"By the way Chlotz, did you know where to go for initiation?"
"Huh…? Oh, the Church. It's just way up that hill."
He points toward a certain building.
"Since we're all Disciple, how about if we go together?" He suggests with toothy grin.
"That sounds good." Wake answers to his suggestion.
I nod as a response.
"Alright…! It's a party!" The red haired boy cheers.
The three of us begin walking.
?
"Fuuko-san, aren't you coming?"
"Eh…?"
She didn't realize that she was being left behind.
"I'm coming…!"
The girl with pigtail hairstyle runs toward us.
/~several minutes later~/
[Background Music Suggested – The map which leads to the future ~ Conception 2]
"Do you guys come from the same town?" Chlotz opens the conversation.
"Not really… We just met by the dock earlier." Wake answers the inquiry.
"Huh… But you guys made a great team back then. So, I thought you guys came from the same background." The red haired boy states his speculation.
The silver haired boy simply smiles at his remark.
"I was surprised as well." He adds his two cents.
…
"Fuuko-san, you've been awfully quiet."
"Eh…?" The girl startles from my sudden addressing.
"Fuuko doesn't talk to guys that often. So, she might feel a bit awkward around you guys." Chlotz explains to us.
?
"You sound like you know her for a long time."
The boy snickers.
"We came from the same town. Though, we weren't close. It was just a coincidence that we met on our cruise."
"I didn't expect to be granted a Star Brand in the middle of my high school. Oh… I'm so nervous." Fuuko finally decides to talk a bit.
"Don't worry, Fuuko. Everyone here is the same." Wake tells her.
"Not me…!" Chlotz suddenly interjects.
?
"I already knew I was going to be Disciple. It's in my blood. Though, I didn't expect the Star Brand to appear when I was taking my shower…"
[Sigh]
He let out a sigh.
"Is that so…" The silver haired boy ponders about it.
"Say, where did you guys learn how to fight?" The purple eyed boy asks.
…
"I trained under someone who I consider to be my big sister. She's not acting her age though…"
"Really…? Speaking of which, my sister is pretty awesome too. But she didn't teach me how to fight."
[Sigh]
He let out another sigh.
"What about you, Wake? Where did you learn how to fight?" He turns his attention to the blue eyed boy.
"Huh…? Well, mostly I train by myself." The boy answers his inquiry.
"That's amazing… He learnt how to fight by himself. I don't think I can do that." Fuuko mumbles to herself.
…
It seems like she has a little confidence issue…
"Oh look…! We're here!" Chlotz suddenly declares.
Oh, we have arrived.
Currently, we're standing in front of the church.
?
There's a girl loitering around in front of the entrance.
The four of us approaches the girl as we walk closer to the entrance.
"Damn that Kirei… Who does he think he is…? I'm not an errand girl." The black haired girl mutters loudly.
…
Judging from her outfit, she is probably a Disciple.
But her uniform is white in colour with a gold badge on the shoulder.
?
Chlotz seems a bit startled.
"Guys… That's an Elite S-rank Disciple." He suddenly says.
?
"An Elite…?" Fuuko tilts her head.
"The best of the best… Only a number of Disciples can be Elites. And only a handful of Elites can be an S-rank." He whispers to us.
…
That must means the girl before us is a very amazing person.
"Is that so…?" Wake ponders to himself.
All of a sudden, he strides faster.
"Hello there." He greets the girl.
The blue eyed girl was startled by his sudden greeting.
"Oh… Why, hello… Is there anything I can help you with?" The girl responds with a smile.
The silver haired boy nods.
"We're new around here. Where should we go for initiation?"
"That would be the ceremony hall. You four must be the new Disciples. Head Priest Mattero has been expecting you." She says fluently.
…
"I've been assigned to escort you. The church is a large building. Be sure to follow my lead if you don't want to get lost." The black haired girl with pig tailed hairstyle conveys to us.
Suddenly, Chlotz clears his throat.
"Do you mind if we ask for your name?"
"Oh… My name is Rin Tohsaka. Please to meet you."
/~several minutes later~/
[Background Music Suggested – Routine in 366 Days ~ Conception 2]
"So, how do you guys feel? Are you nervous…? Scared…?" The black haired girl starts the conversation.
"Not at all…!" Chlotz answers in a stride.
A big grin is apparent on his face.
"Oh… A confident one, eh…?" She starts to giggle.
Silent as a mouse, Fuuko raises her hand.
"I-I'm a bit nervous…"
Suddenly, Rin Tohsaka stops walking.
"It's okay. It's not a big deal. We're here to determine whether you have a Star Brand or not." She tries to comfort the pink haired girl.
"I-I see… Thanks Rin-san."
"No problem. Just, be careful around the Head Priest and another priest by the name Kotomine. Those two aren't real priests." The blue eyed girl warns us.
?
"Fake Priests, I call them! One is so lecherous…! The other one is… is… ANNOYING…!"
The four of us arch back from her sudden outburst.
"I-I see…" Wake responds to her eruption.
The girl recomposes herself.
"I'm sorry… It's been awhile since I let out my frustration. But, I wasn't kidding about them."
?
That's an odd way to put it...
What kind of people were they?
/~ceremony hall~/
[Background Music Suggested –Everyday is calm ~ Fate Stay Night]
"We're here. My job is done for now." The black haired girl declares.
"Thanks, Tohsaka."
"Come to think of it, I haven't heard your name." She tilts her head.
"Oh… I'm Shirou Emiya."
For some reason, she seems surprised.
"That naming style… Are you from Fuyuki?"
?
"Yes. How did you guess…?"
The blue eyed girl relaxes.
"I came from the same town. Though, my family moved away from Fuyuki for about ten years by now."
...
"So, by our hometown standard, you'll be Tohsaka Rin."
"That's right, Emiya-kun. I'm pleased to meet someone from my old home." She smiles softly.
Then, she turns toward Fuuko.
"Eh…?"
The pink haired girl was startled by Tohsaka's sudden interest towards her.
"Can I have your name?"
"My na-name is Fuuko Amicus."
The blue eyed girl places her hand on Fuuko's shoulder.
"Don't act so stiff with me. I wager we're around the same age. Maybe we'll end up being classmates."
"O-okay…!" The girl struggles to remain calm.
Meanwhile, Chlotz is snickering at Fuuko's distress.
"I'm Chlotz by the way. And this guy is Wake." He introduces himself and Wake.
"Hu-huh…?"
The silver haired boy, who was quiet during the whole trip, stammers from the sudden addressing.
"Aren't you an absentminded one?" Tohsaka comments on his stammering.
[Sigh]
She let out a sigh.
Then, she seems to recall something.
"Wait a sec… Chlotz…? That's a familiar name." She mutters to herself.
…
After that, she shrugs.
"Oh well… I'll recall it later. Good luck!"
She waves at us as she walks away.
…
"That's one friendly girl. I wonder if she's going to agree if I ask her out." Chlotz says with a wide smile.
?
"You were going to ask her out?"
"Why not…? She's pretty hot. I won't let her off my sight if I were you, Emiya-kun." He imitates the way Tohsaka called me.
?
"Man… You're totally dense, aren't you Shirou? Don't you think so, Wake?" The red haired boy directs his question to the silver haired boy.
"Hu-huh…?"
…
He's been absentminded again.
Chlotz stares blankly at him.
"You know what…? You guys are the same."
[Sigh]
He let out a sigh.
"What was he talking about…?" Wake whispers to me.
"I'm not quite sure…"
"Let's forget about this dense duo. Why the heck are you so nervous around her, Fuuko?" He turns his attention to the sole girl in the group.
"Eh…?"
"You know what I'm talking about. She's not a guy so it's kinda weird for you to get nervous with her." Chlotz claims.
The pink haired girl starts fidgeting.
"Well… She's an S-rank. I don't think I am eligible to be her friend."
…
"Don't look down on yourself, Fuuko."
Wake enters the spotlight.
The girl reluctantly faces him.
"Maybe she is a high rank Disciple. But I think she really wants to befriend you." The silver haired boy claims.
"You'd think so…?" The pink haired girl inquires while fidgeting.
"Certainly…!" He nods with a smile.
I end up smiling as well.
"I agree with Wake. Rankings shouldn't be a problem."
The girl beams radiantly.
"Thanks guys…"
/~ceremony hall, a few minutes later~/
[Background Music Suggested – Serenity ~ Resident Evil 4]
A man with long white beard is waiting for us.
His outfit is that of a clerical robe.
"Ah… You must be the new Disciples."
The four of us nod.
"I am Mattero, the High Priest of this church."
It's a given.
It was obvious that he was the High Priest.
He's been giving me the vibe.
…
So, what was it that Tohsaka warned us?
Something about a lecherous priest…
…
"Let us determine whether you are a true Disciple. Show us the Star Brands."
The four of us raise our right hand.
Our Star Brands are grafted on the back.
The markings glow as we do so.
"Indeed. Those are genuine Star Brands." The elderly man nods.
Suddenly, he stammers.
"Hmm…? You, the young man with red hair…"
"Who…? Me…?" Chlotz stammers as well.
The man shakes his head.
"The young man with amber eyes…" He points at me.
?
"The marking on your hand… It's different from the other three."
…
The old man smiles vividly.
"Ah… You're another natural born Nemesis Hunter."
?
The four of us exchange glances.
"It's not a strange sight. In fact, you're the third one in the past two years. It was an oddity when we first encounter such distinct markings. However, our two Disciples have proven to be quite promising."
Chlotz's eyes are brimming with awe.
…
"So, there were two others similar to me?"
The old man nods.
"I believe they are about your age."
…
"What's a Nemesis Hunter?"
The High Priest gives me a smile.
"It is the church's title to those of the Elite class. I pray to the Star God that you will be the prophesied God's Gift."
…
"What's a—"
"Don't waste any time…! Go to the lab in this instance. We must determine your status, O' God's Gift."
?
/~outside of the church~/
[Background Music Suggested – Routine in 366 Days ~ Conception 2]
"That's so awesome…! You're the God's Gift!" Chlotz is finally able to let out his compressed thought.
"Congratulation, Shirou." Wake congratulates me.
…
"Actually, I'm quite confused… What's a God's Gift in the first place?"
"Wait… You didn't know?" The red haired boy says in confused tone.
…
"I came from a town with a small number of believers. Not many of us believe in the Star God. Even my family is considered a heretic."
Chlotz scratches his head.
"This is the first time I heard such case…"
"To be honest, I'm quite curious about this God's Gift business. What is a 'God's Gift'…?" Wake interjects.
"Not you too… Where did you guys live before this?"
[Sigh]
The red haired boy let out a sigh.
"Um… I'm sorry if this offends you but… where exactly is Fuyuki in Aterra?" Fuuko joins the conversation.
I scratch my cheek.
"Well… It's somewhere to the east from Fort City. It's pretty far away from most big cities."
"I see…" The silver haired boy ponders.
Meanwhile, Chlotz seems prepared to give us a lecture.
"Okay, country bumpkins. I'll answer your questions. However, pay attention because I'm not going to repeat this. I'm not a primary school teacher."
Wake and I nod.
"First of all, do you guys understand what a Disciple is?"
…
"I see… You guys don't have a clue."
[Sigh]
"All I know is Disciples are the chosen few who can generate Star Energy to fight monsters."
The red haired boy nods.
"That's one point for Shirou Emiya. However, that's not all." He clears his throat.
"A Disciple is a teenager around age 16 to 18. Once you get older, you will lose the ability to generate Star Energy."
Wake and I nod.
"Furthermore, only male Disciples can produce Ether. Without Ether, Star Energy cannot be utilized. That's why Fort City is the safest place in Aterra. It has a natural Ether field that allows Disciples to employ Star Energy. We can fight against monsters in here."
…
I raise my hand.
"Yes, Shirou-kun…?"
"What's the difference between the Ether generated by male Disciples and the Ether field?"
The boy ponders.
"That's a good question. Though, to simplify it, a male Disciple can exploit Star Energy outside of Ether field. However, it's a different case when you're inside a Dusk Circle. Outside from the Ether field, female Disciples cannot use their Star Energy. A male Disciple, on the other hand, can easily fight a monster with their bare hands as long as he has sufficient Ether count."
…
"So that's why you tried to punch that monster from earlier…" Wake remarks.
"Please don't remind me of that… That was embarrassing." The red haired boy palms his face.
"Anyways, let's get back to the lecture. Since female Disciples can't generate Ether, they usually have high concentration of Star Energy. A Disciple rank is determined by their Star Energy level. This is why most S-rank Disciples were females."
Wake and I nod.
Then, the silver haired boy raises his hand.
"Go on, Wake-kun… Ask me a question."
"You still haven't explained about God's Gift."
Chlotz nods.
"I was getting to that. Now, we all know that only male Disciples can generate Ether."
The three of us nod.
Yes, Fuuko was listening to Chlotz's lecture as well.
"However, the standard Ether count for a male is around 50. A God's Gift, on the other hand, can generate more."
!
"It is not known how much Ether a God's Gift can generate. For twenty years, not a single God's Gift recorded. You know what that means? A God's Gift is extremely rare!"
?
"Wait a sec... How can we be sure that a God's Gift existed? I mean, there's no record."
Chlotz folds his arm.
"There's a prophecy telling about the existence of a God's Gift. That old man is pretty sure that you are the God's Gift."
...
That doesn't sound so assuring...
"Any other questions...?"
The silver haired boy besides me shrugs.
"I don't have any more questions." He says to the red haired boy.
Meanwhile, Fuuko seems a bit awed.
"Wow, Chlotz... You sure know a lot." She remarks.
"I told you I'm educated. Ask me anytime if you got questions." He declares haughtily.
...
I still have a lot of questions.
Maybe I'll ask him later.
"Well, what are we waiting for...? Let's see if Shirou is truly the God's Gift or not!"
/~unknown lab~/
I always knew that Fort City is an advanced place.
But this place is way over the top!
"This is AngelMarker's research lab. We will be having our Rank Check in here." Chlotz informs us.
?
Why that name sounds so familiar?
"AngelMarker...?" Wake says in confused tone.
The red haired boy seems a bit annoyed.
"Don't tell me you don't know AngelMarker."
The silver haired boy nods.
Chlotz palms his face.
"Oi...! AngelMarker is the leading company that provides Disciples with weapons and form anti-Dusk plans. How can you not know...!?"
!
"Oh, that AngelMarker... No wonder it sounds so familiar."
Kiritsugu used to talk about it with Irisviel.
It was something about Rhiod and his plans.
...
Who is Rhiod in the first place?
?
Suddenly, Chlotz places his hand on my shoulder.
"Luckily, we have a not-so ill-informed country bumpkin. Not knowing AngelMarker is like not knowing who your guardian is."
?
"Guys... Someone is coming here." Fuuko notifies us.
The newcomer is a young man with glasses.
"You must be the new trainees. I'm Mark Flask, a researcher."
We bow at him as sign of respect.
"I'm Chlotz Genus. It's great to be here!"
The boy declares with a beam.
"Wake Archus..." The silver haired boy simply says.
"My name is Fuuko Amicus. Please to meet you, Mark-san." The pink haired girl finally decides to be more assertive.
...
It's my turn.
"I'm Shirou Emiya."
"Emiya...?"
?
A female voice we don't recognize is audible.
A woman with similar outfit to Mark appears.
"This is Chief Ruby, the Head Researcher of Fort City's lab." The bespectacled man introduces her to us.
"Wow... She's a bombshell." Chlotz makes an absentminded remark.
The attractive woman giggles at his remark.
"Oh, what an honest young man... I might consider rewarding him."
"Really...!?" The red haired boy becomes excited.
"Chief Ruby, please don't tease the new Disciples..." Mark says with tired tone.
...
"So, you're Shirou Emiya. I heard a lot about you from Taiga. I wonder if you are as good as she claimed you to be." The woman says with a smirk.
...
Fuji-nee, you and your big mouth...
"Let us proceed with the Rank Check. Chlotz Genus, you're the first one to go."
"Yes, Chief Ruby...!" The boy salutes her.
The woman turns to the other researcher.
"Tell the men to activate the Redux."
"Yes ma'am." Mark nods and walks away.
...
"Oh... I'm so nervous..." I overheard Fuuko mumbles alone.
"Relax Fuuko. No matter what the results, no one is going to belittle you." Wake says to calm her.
"But, I'm still nervous... What if I'm not even a Disciple...?"
...
"That's impossible." I decide to interject.
The duo turns their attention toward me.
"That High Priest told us that we are genuine Disciples. I have little doubt that you can be a great Disciple, Fuuko-san."
The silver haired boy smiles at my remark.
"Shirou is right, Fuuko. You need to believe in yourself. Even if you don't, I will."
?
For some reason, her facial expression is not visible.
"You guys are really nice."
She states with teary eyes.
!
We-we made her cry...!
"Fuuko, what did us do...!? Did we say something wrong...!?" Wake asks with nervous tone.
The pink haired girl wipes her tears.
"Oh drop it, you silly! I'm not crying. Thanks for worrying about me though."
?
Her tone... it changes...
"Shirou-san, Wake, thanks... I always doubt myself ever since I got the Star Brand. Thanks to you guys, I can finally believe that I'm a Disciple."
The silver haired boy relaxes.
"Don't mention it." He replies with a smile.
...
"You're a bit more open now, Fuuko-san."
The pink haired girl smiles and nods at my remark.
"Yep...!"
...
So that's her true persona...
She's a cheerful girl with friendly personality.
"Hey guys, what did I miss...?"
Chlotz reappears.
?
"Where have you been?"
"Where have I been...? I'm doing a Rank Check. How the heck did you miss that?" He tilts his head.
...
The three of us were so absorbed with the conversation that we forgot about him.
"Alright Chlotz, your results are in."
Chief Ruby shows up with a file.
"So I'm an S-rank, right?" The boy asks eagerly.
The woman smiles at him.
"Congratulation, you are an Elite. Your current rank is B."
...
The boy falls into despair.
"Oh man... I was sure I'm an S-rank."
"Chin up, young man. Your Ether count is around 60 which are above average. You can say that you are better than most Disciples." The woman declares.
At her remark, the boy recovers from his short despair.
"I guess I'm not that bad, huh?"
"That's great, Chlotz! You're Elite." Wake congratulates him.
"Thanks man."
?
I notice that Chief Ruby is eyeing Fuuko.
"Fuuko Amicus, you're next."
"Yes ma'am...!"
/~after Fuuko's Redux session~/
"Phew... I'm glad that's over." The pink haired girl walks lifelessly towards us.
"Hey Fuuko, you seem a bit relaxed around these guys now." Chlotz comments on her casual action.
The girl nods.
"I shouldn't act so tense around them. It will make them feel uncomfortable."
"Fuuko..."
Chief Ruby shows up again.
"Congratulation, you're an S-rank."
...
...
?
"Eh...?" The girl responds to her result.
Chlotz and Wake were surprised as well.
"You possess an incredible amount of Star Energy. It wouldn't be exaggerating to label you as an S-rank."
...
Okay... that's a rather intriguing development.
"That's great Fuuko...!" Wake congratulates her.
...
However, the girl is still startled from the shock.
"I'm... an S-rank..."
"Wake Archus, you're up."
"Understood...!"
/~after Wake's Redux session~/
The silver haired boy shows up.
"How was it?" I ask him.
"I don't know... I think I did pretty well." He claims.
Chief Ruby approaches us again with the results.
"Congratulation Wake Archus, you're an A-rank."
"What...!?"
That was Chlotz.
"He's a rank above me...? I should have seen that coming." He snickers after that.
"At least I'm in Elite class." The boy smiles at him.
The head researcher gestures to attract our attention.
"We're still tabulating his Ether count. It should come out right after—"
[Siren blazing]
!
"What is going on...!?"
"Chief Ruby...!"
Mark shows up with panicky expression.
"His Ether Count... it's still rising...!"
?
"What...!? That can't be possible!" The woman says in disbelieve.
The four of us were startled by the commotion.
"Stabilize the Ether meter...! We still need it for one more session!" Chief Ruby commands the research team.
...
The siren is finally quiet.
"What was that all about...?" Chlotz breaks the tension.
...
Instead of Chief Ruby, it was Mark who approaches us.
"Wake Archus... You're the God's Gift."
...
""Huh...?""
/~after that~/
"Okay... that was totally unexpected." Chlotz is inspecting Wake and me.
...
"I thought Shirou was the God's Gift since he had that unique Star Brand. How the heck Wake ends up being the God's Gift?" He questions the logic.
...
I stare at my Star Brand.
It is indeed different from Chlotz's, Fuuko's and Wake's.
All three of them share the same Star Brand but with different colours.
As for me, my Star Brand is completely distinct.
"And how the heck is Shirou, a D-rank...!? I find that hard to believe. His Ether count is lower than standard! I think that machine is broken." He mutters.
...
"Nah... I think the machine was right. I don't think I'm that special."
"Emiya-kun, did you remember what the High Priest said...? You are a natural born Nemesis Hunter! There are only three of them and you're one of them!"
...
"Chlotz, please stop using that nickname. It sounds weird when you say it."
"You didn't like it? Or is it reserved for one particular person...?" He makes a cat smirk.
...
"Chlotz, stop teasing Shirou...! You are being annoying." Fuuko joins the fray.
"Okay, okay... I'll stop. But it's really weird. Shirou can handle those monsters like they were nothing. But he's a D-rank...?"
"A ranking is based on one's Star Energy level. Perhaps Shirou's Star Energy is lower than most of us. But that doesn't mean he is a weak guy." Wake adds his opinion.
[Sigh]
The red haired boy sighs.
"You're right, Wake..."
Then, he smirks.
"And WOW...! You're the God's Gift!"
The silver haired boy scratches his head sheepishly.
"I certainly didn't see that coming."
I smile at the sight.
We manage to enter the Elite class.
Among the four of us, I have the lowest ranking.
It seems fitting since I'm not a believer.
Star Energy is a gift from the Star God himself.
It's already a miracle that I can generate Star Energy.
I raise my hand towards the sky.
"A Disciple, huh...?"
From this day forward, we will be a part of the world's guardian.
We are the defender of humanity.
...
We are Allies of Justice.
"Oi, Shirou...! What are you doing dawdling over there? Let's check out the dormitories."
Chlotz calls out to me from far.
"I'm coming...!"
I'll keep my promise Kiritsugu.
I will be an Ally of Justice.
#Chapter End#
[Author's note]
And that's the prologue!
Criticisms and witty remarks are welcomed!
Thanks for reading! See you guys again next month!