4 months before the Holy Grail War starts
Right now I'm making plans before the start of the Fourth Holy Grail War. I've already decided that I'll put a bounded field around the orphanage, but I'll do it just a few days before the war begins. Any earlier and it might get noticed, and that's the last thing I want. The goal isn't to make it obvious, just enough to keep unwanted people away.
The other part isn't as simple. I've already made up my mind to kill Uryuu before he gets the chance to summon Caster. He's too dangerous and too unpredictable, not someone I can just ignore and hope things work out. If I leave him alone, people will die, kids will die, and I already know that's going to happen if I don't do anything.
The problem is, I don't know where or when he will appear in Fuyuki.
Tracking him down isn't as easy as it sounds. I could use familiars to scout the area, spread them out and search the city, but that would definitely get noticed. The magus families in Fuyuki aren't the type to ignore something like that, especially this close to the war. If I draw attention now, I might end up causing more problems than I solve.
So for now, I'll have to stay on standby.
Wait, watch, and move the moment I get even a hint of where he is.
It's not ideal, but it's the safest option.
Once I find him, I won't hesitate to kill.
...
The Tohsaka residence was quiet, not empty, but controlled, every detail in place as if the entire estate reflected its owner's way of thinking. Tokiomi Tohsaka stood near the window, looking out over Fuyuki, his expression calm as ever, though his thoughts were clearly elsewhere. To most people, the city below would look the same as always, but he knew better. The preparations were nearly complete, and the Holy Grail War was approaching.
"You've arrived." Tokiomi said without turning.
The door had already opened behind him, and Kotomine Kirei stepped inside without making unnecessary noise. "Yes." he replied simply.
Tokiomi turned slightly, acknowledging him before continuing. "The ritual is nearly ready. There are still minor adjustments to be made, but nothing that will interfere with the summoning. Everything is proceeding as planned." His tone remained composed, as if this outcome had always been expected.
Kirei listened in silence before asking, "And the other participants?"
"Some have already begun moving." Tokiomi answered, taking a few steps forward. "Others will reveal themselves in time. As always, it will be a matter of patience and observation."
He stopped and glanced at Kirei, his gaze sharpening just slightly. "Your role, however, is different. As both a participant and a representative of the Church, you are in a position to observe without drawing suspicion. Use that to our advantage."
Kirei gave a small nod. "Understood."
For a brief moment, the room fell quiet before Tokiomi spoke again, his tone lowering just a fraction. "There have been slight disturbances in the city recently. Nothing obvious, but enough to suggest that someone is acting ahead of the war."
Kirei's expression didn't change. "A Master?"
"Unlikely." Tokiomi replied. "Not yet. But it is something worth paying attention to."
He turned back toward the window, his gaze settling over the city once more. "Keep watch. If anything unusual arises, report it immediately."
"As you wish." Kirei responded.
...
The Matou residence was quiet in a heavier, more suffocating way, as if the air itself had settled and refused to move. The old building creaked faintly at times, but far below the surface, in a place no ordinary person would ever willingly go, Kariya Matou stood inside the pit, his breathing uneven as he endured the constant strain placed upon his body. The worms within him continued to consume and circulate his prana, maintaining the contract that bound him here, and every moment felt like it was dragging his body further past its limits.
"Sakura…"
The name left his lips quietly, more like a thought than a voice, carrying with it the reason he had chosen this path in the first place. He clenched his teeth, forcing himself to remain steady as the pain persisted, his body trembling slightly under the pressure. This wasn't something he could walk away from anymore. He had already accepted his role, already taken her place in this twisted arrangement, and backing out now would make everything meaningless.
Above him, Zouken Matou remained in control, unseen but fully aware of everything happening below. For him, Kariya's suffering was nothing more than a necessary condition, a means to an end rather than something worth acknowledging. The war was approaching, and the Matou household was already moving according to that long-standing plan.
Kariya took a slow breath, trying to steady himself despite the strain, his hands tightening slightly as he endured it all in silence. He couldn't afford to stop now. Not after coming this far.
...
The Clock Tower was as busy as ever, its halls filled with the quiet movement of magi going about their research, each of them absorbed in their own pursuits, isolated in intent even while sharing the same space. Among them, Waver Velvet sat at a desk surrounded by books, notes, and scattered pages filled with hastily written observations, his eyes moving back and forth as he cross-referenced what he had read with what he already understood.
His expression was focused, but there was a clear intensity behind it, the kind that came from someone trying to prove something—not just to others, but to himself. Modern magecraft, despite being looked down upon by traditionalists, had its own structure, its own logic, and Waver was determined to find a way to articulate that in a form that could stand alongside the established systems of the Clock Tower.
"If the principles are consistent across multiple applications." he muttered under his breath, flipping to another page, "then the difference isn't in capability, but in how efficiently the mage can adapt them…"
He paused, tapping his pen lightly against the paper as he considered the idea further, then quickly began writing again, refining the theory into something more structured, more presentable. His goal wasn't just understanding, it was recognition.
Particularly from one person.
Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald.
The thought alone made Waver straighten slightly, his grip tightening just a bit as he continued writing. He wasn't naïve enough to think that a single paper or theory would suddenly earn him respect, but if he could present something coherent, something that demonstrated real insight into modern magecraft, then it might at least force people to take him seriously.
"It has to be enough to make him look twice" he said quietly to himself.
Around him, other students continued their own work, some glancing briefly in his direction before returning to their tasks. Waver didn't notice. Or rather, he didn't let himself be distracted.
He turned another page, scanning through a reference before jotting down another set of notes, building his argument piece by piece. Each line was another attempt to refine his understanding, each conclusion another step toward something he hoped would eventually prove his worth.
He exhaled softly, leaning back just slightly in his chair.
"I'll show him." he muttered, more to himself than anyone else, before leaning forward again and continuing his work, the quiet determination in his expression not wavering as he pushed forward with his research.
...
The lecture hall was filled with attentive students, all seated in ordered rows as Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald stood at the front, his posture straight and his tone precise as he delivered his lesson. His voice carried easily across the room, each word measured and deliberate, as he explained the principles of modern magecraft with a clarity that left little room for misunderstanding.
For him, this was routine.
Magecraft, after all, was something that demanded structure and discipline, and his teaching reflected that same philosophy. The students listened, some taking notes quickly, others observing in silence, but Kayneth's attention never wavered from the content he was presenting. Everything had its place, and everything had its standard.
Once the lecture concluded, he dismissed the class without unnecessary words, his expression unchanged as the students began to leave one by one.
Only when the room had emptied did he allow himself a brief pause, turning slightly as he gathered his thoughts.
The Holy Grail War.
It was approaching.
For someone of his standing, participation was not just expected, it was a matter of proving the strength and prestige of his lineage. The El-Melloi name carried weight, and failure was not something that could be tolerated.
He adjusted his cuff slightly, his expression tightening just a fraction as his mind shifted from academia to the coming conflict. Preparations were already underway. Calculations, strategies, contingencies, everything needed to be accounted for before the war began.
"There is no room for error." he murmured quietly to himself.
Beyond the war, however, there was another matter that occupied his attention, one that he rarely allowed to interfere with his composure, though it lingered at the edges of his thoughts more often than he would admit.
Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri.
He exhaled lightly, his gaze turning toward the window as he recalled her presence, her demeanor, the subtle interactions that had taken place between them. Winning her affection was not simply a personal desire, it was something that aligned with his pride, his expectations of himself as a magus and as a man of standing.
Still, it was not something that could be forced.
Everything had to be done properly.
Deliberately.
Like everything else in his life.
He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, his expression returning to its usual composed state as he straightened his posture.
...
The Einzbern estate stood apart from the rest of the world, its cold, secluded atmosphere reinforcing the sense that everything within it existed for a single purpose. Inside, Kiritsugu Emiya moved quietly through the halls, his mind already occupied with the tasks ahead, his thoughts constantly returning to the coming Holy Grail War and the role he had been chosen to fulfill.
Preparations were already underway. Strategies, equipment, contingencies, each one carefully considered and refined. For Kiritsugu the goal was simple: win the war. Everything else was secondary to that outcome.
He adjusted the coat he wore, his expression distant as he recalled the conversation he had with the Einzbern elder, the moment Avalon had been entrusted to him. The sheath of the legendary sword was now in his possession, a tool that could serve as both protection and advantage in the battles to come. Its presence was reassuring in a practical sense, though it also carried the weight of expectation.
After spending time in his room going over plans, Kiritsugu eventually made his way to where Illyasviel was.
She was as energetic as ever, her presence bringing a brief shift in the otherwise quiet estate. For a moment, Kiritsugu allowed himself to step away from the calculations and simply be present, interacting with her in a more relaxed manner, responding to her movements and words with a gentler tone than he used elsewhere.
Moments like these were rare, but not unimportant.
Even now, with the war approaching, he didn't ignore them.
Still, beneath that calm exterior, the weight of what was to come never truly left his mind.
Later, when he found himself with Irisviel, the atmosphere became quieter again. She stood beside him, her presence steady and familiar, grounding him in a way that few things could.
"Are you worried?" she asked at one point, noticing the subtle tension he tried to keep under control.
Kiritsugu didn't respond immediately. Instead, he looked out toward the estate, his thoughts briefly aligning with everything that lay ahead, the war, the risks, the sacrifices that would inevitably be required.
"I am." he admitted after a moment.
Irisviel remained silent for a brief moment before offering a small, understanding expression, not pressing him further. She already knew the kind of man he was, the path he had chosen, and the burdens he carried.