Fate: Hammer Time

Chapter 30: A Royal Audience

In general, Magi were a rather solitary lot. They lived on their own, or perhaps with their immediate family, but it ended with that. Because of the need for secrecy, they couldn't allow anyone else into their lives. No friends, no distant family, not even teachers.

However, to pursue Magecraft, an education was still very important. One couldn't do research or strive to reach the Root without knowledge after all, and though it was possible to learn from one's parents, it wasn't ideal.

That was where the Clocktower came in, not just as a conglomeration of Magi from all over the world, but also as a university, where young Magi could learn the skills of the trade.

The Clocktower offered a variety of courses and classes on a plethora of subjects, ranging from Modern Magecraft Theory and Egyptian Lore to Curses and Enchanting. No matter the field a young Magus wanted to study, there was a large chance the Clocktower had information on it.

True, the harsh political climate might make it difficult to get the desired education and leave the place alive, but if one was skilled enough at political games or managed to stay under the radar for long enough, one could obtain all the desired knowledge and more.

Even someone like Shirou, who wasn't there for knowledge at all, had to admit the Clocktower really knew what it was doing when it came to education and research. Things were well organised, disciplined, and always clear.

It was a place of higher learning, entirely focused on having the experts impart their knowledge onto the ignorant masses for the purpose of countering the deterioration of Magecraft.

But if that were so...

...Then why had Shirou, a Magus who hadn't been at the Clocktower for much longer than a week and had no lineage or fame to speak of, been roped into teaching a Magus-noble?!

How, after being told for so long that he would go to the Clocktower as a student, had he ended up a teacher after barely a week?!

A teacher to Reines El-Melloi Archisorte of all people, the heir of Kayneth, the man his father had killed during the Fourth Grail War, and the little sister of Waver Velvet, the man his father had almost killed during that same War.

Was this poetic justice in some way? Punishment for his father's deeds?

If Fate existed, it surely was having a laugh right now at his expense.

Shirou let out a deep sigh. Today was the first lesson he had scheduled with Reines, and though he had rigorously prepared himself for it, he still felt utterly unqualified and ill-equipped to be teaching a Magus-noble about Magecraft.

Rationally, he knew that he had no reason to worry. Reines wanted his help with a lightning spell, and lightning happened to be his speciality. He didn't have to be concerned about her knowing more than he, because unless she'd researched lightning-based Magecraft for every single moment from her birth until today, there was no way she could possibly know more than him.

What also helped was that Lord El-Melloi had been kind enough to help him prepare his lessons, and after they'd finished, the man had told him he was more than ready to teach.

If such an accomplished teacher told him so with not a trace of hesitance, then surely, it had to be true.

Now if Shirou could just convince the anxious part of his brain of that, then he would be all set.

The redhead sighed for the nth time as he followed mister Ramirez, his temporary guide, up the stairs towards Reines' office.

"Are you paying attention to where we're going?!" Mister Ramirez barked angrily, seeing that Shirou had been sunken in thought. "I am not going to guide you again, no matter what that bossy girl says, so you better make sure to remember the route!"