₊ 𖦹﹕𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗦𝗬𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗦！(🩸)

⩩ ┊❝ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐈𝐛 ❞

第二章 . . . 000
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﹒  ◠  METEMPSYCHOSIS    ⊹    ﹒
— “ reincarnation ” !
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to min?
★ . Robert Burns » +

೯⠀⁺ ⠀ 𖥻 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐈𝐛 ⠀ᰋ

Fuyuki City
3rd of September 2004, 18:30 PM

          The late afternoon sun cast its warm golden light over Fuyuki City, casting long, elongated shadows on the ground as the small group walked quietly through the city’s streets. The air was crisp with the chill of autumn, the scent of fallen leaves mixing with the distant smoke of chimneys as twilight loomed. Romani walked at the front, his cloak sweeping across the ground behind him, the hood obscuring his face. In his arms, Galateya, the small albino girl, sat comfortably, clinging to his cloak as her bright blue eyes darted around, taking in the city as they moved.

           Rin and Shirou followed closely behind. The silence between them had been growing, but the brunette mage's curiosity about their mysterious companions was bubbling over, impossible to ignore any longer. The encounter they have had with the cloaked traveler had been unsettling, to say the least. He was not a typical bystander, that much was obvious. His ability to use Magecraft and sense Servants had proven that. And yet, he had not said much about himself.

          Rin broke the silence, her voice casual but clearly probing. "You seem oddly familiar with all this: the Holy Grail War, Magecraft, and whatnot. It is not something just anyone can know, let alone get involved with. You used magic back there. Are you a mage?"

           Shirou glanced at Rin, then at Romani. He did have the same question but had not wanted to push. Now, though, he found himself leaning in slightly, hoping for a clear answer from the enigmatic man who had somehow inserted himself into their war without explanation. The traveler did not turn to face them, his pace steady, his gaze fixed ahead. "I have lived long enough to learn many things," he replied, his voice quiet and smooth, almost dismissive. "Whether that makes me a mage is irrelevant."

           Rin’s brows furrowed. The answer was as cryptic as it was evasive, leaving her more frustrated than before. She shot a glance at Shirou, who shrugged slightly. They were clearly not going to get more out of the traveler without pressing harder, but they both sensed now was not the time for interrogation. Galateya, perched in Romani’s arms, looked up at him curiously. She had been quiet during the walk, her small form wrapped snugly in the cloak, but the strange words piqued her childlike curiosity once more.

         "Romani," she said, tugging at his cloak, her voice soft and innocent, "can you explain to me what is Magecraft again?"

          Romani’s gaze softened slightly as he looked down at her, his hand gently patting her back. "It is something used by people like Emiya and Tohsaka, little one," he explained softly. "It is powerful magic, but it can also be dangerous."

           Galateya’s eyes widened, though she did not seem frightened. Instead, she nodded slowly, as though she understood completely. The innocence in her acceptance made Shirou smile faintly. She was, after all, just a child, far too young to be burdened with the knowledge of the dangerous world she now found herself in. The conversation drifted into silence as the group continued their walk through the quiet streets, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly in the evening air. The sky was turning darker now, the sun dipping lower, casting everything in a soft, dusky glow. Soon, they found themselves standing at the gates of the Tohsaka manor.