Chapter Text
You see.
There’s an untold story in a book you've not read.
There’s an adventure laying await within the space yonder your horizon.
And, there’s a deep-seated secret in each of human's heart.
As far as Emma could see, the world was covered in white, an unblemished canvas that's pure and monochrome in essence.
It's mid-October 2023.
Outside the car window, crystalline prisms were pirouetting in the golden light, a choreographed ballet conducted by the lackadaisical zephyr of Winter scenic views. Emma's eyes widened ever so slightly. Beyond the thousands rows of conifers blanketed with snow, stood a majestic castle, and accompanying its everlasting hibernation, the frozen soil was akin to its fluffy bed.
The pristine panorama was like something out of fairytale. Seven years old Emma had to wonder whether a witch had been responsible for this spectacle.
Yes. Magic existed in this Universe. An unknown force ratified as 【Mystery】had been producing all kinds of phenomenon since time immemorial. Whether it's the big-bang, Jurassic's apocalyptic phase, or even the substance of every soul in the planet. However, with the decline of the Age of Gods, Mystery became an obscure knowledge and only some secular sects still practiced and dabbled in Sorcery in the modern era. These people were called as Magus.
Emma was one of them, and as her father was. Right now, she and her family was visiting their relative's home, the Einzbern's Castle in German to sort out certain inheritance problems.
It's one month since the passing of her aunt, Illyasviel von Einzbern.
Despite being young, Emma wasn’t ignorant enough of the circumstances behind her aunt's abrupt dead―Because, well, she’s the main reason.
The protection of 【Avalon】, an artifact which bestowed limited immortality, was transferred from her aunt to Emma since two years ago.
Illyasviel von Einzbern was a homunculus―An artificial lifeform concocted from alchemical formula. Their kin, while spiritually 'perfect', was more often than not had a short lifespan. For the past decade, Avalon had been sustaining her deteriorating health. Hence, stripped from its blessing, her doom was predetermined from that point onward.
If there’s an excruciating inducement why she's willing to let go of her own lifeline, it was none other because she cared greatly for her niece, who had complicated conditions as well.
From the time she's born until she’s five―she's seven now―Emma had never set her foot outside Avalon, the all-distant Utopia in Arthurian legend. Emma was an Elemental of foreign esoterica and nature. Her soul was tuned and tied to the Elysian Isle's body so as to not be rejected by this World' Counterforce.
As long as Emma remembered, at dawn's light, bright rays of spring and the tangs of summer would caress her senses.
By night’s fall, the sky was inundated by autumn winds and dotted by scintillating stars of winter.
On the land dwelt many colorful flowers and insects. The forests were abode of water and greenery and a plethora of beasts. Whereas upon the lake, the ethereal Fae lurked abound.
Compared to the harsh reality of the outside world, that place was equal to Arcadia. But, Emma was extremely grateful for the chance given to her, the chance to experience things impossible inside that quiescent and stagnated plane. Even though, she didn’t deserve it. Even though, she didn’t need it if it meant taking her aunt's life.
Yet, when she realized the truth, it's too late for her, anything and everything. At that juncture, Illyasviel was already crippled and bedridden. The only thing she could do was to accept it, faced the future and carried the weight of her life. Of course, Emma was keeping the fact she's aware of Illyasviel's sacrifice from her family. She couldn’t waste their kindness, not, when she failed to notice it earlier.
Emma admitted her mentality was stark a departure from children her age. She’d been through lots of tragic affair and nigh of all her laughter had been reduced to nothing but a mere facade. A masquerade she pulled off for the sake of her loved ones.
“Emma, put your gloves. We’ve arrived." Emiya Shirou, her father, said from his driver seat.
"Okay," Emma looked up at the looming castle. Her heart drummed inside her ribcage; it’s as though her intuition was warning her.
Stranded on an isolated mountain with a family of three and a castle made of ice, well, somehow these combinations had rung a bell. 『The Shining』An old book she once picked up at a derelict barrack in a post-Holocaust zone. She'd flipped through it in her boredom, but it being a horror-thriller fiction had contrariwise put a dampen in her spirit. Hence, she left it unfinished. Why she remembered this now of all times?
【Emma】 wasn't such a pessimistic one. She sighed, puffs of milky vapor swirled in front of her face.
"Emma, don’t forget about your belongings." Arthuria Pendragon, her mother, urged as she fetched all their luggage.
Emma hopped out the car, towing her bag with her. Her legs sank into the fluffy mattress beneath and the cold breeze immediately greeted her, sending her hair fluttering all over. She shivered.
'Oh! That’s fun!'
Emma squealed internally. Her dread quickly made a way for her excitement.
Again, she took a double take on the majestic fortress in front of her. Its somber walls stood high and oppressive, countless tall windows with magnificent arabesque glasses festooned their side. Above their jutting rims, exquisite flying buttress fenced and bridged their neighbor's stones. Several octagonal towers and turrets appended each of the castle's rectangular corners, creating an asymmetrical finesse with aesthetic quality. Their roofs of splendid blue glistened in the brilliance of the snowy landscape.
"Welcome sir, madam and milady. We'll be serving esteemed guests for the duration of your stay to our utmost abilities. " Standing ready in front of the perron, several rows of maids with identical appearance―red eyes and pale blonde hair: the characteristics of Einzbern's homunculus―bowed respectfully and carried their suitcases. "Let me guide you to your prepared rooms."
"T-thank you." Shirou plastered a convulsing semblance of a smile. Emma reckoned it must be an overwhelming reception for her commoner father―as his royalty-born wife was exuding her regal aura in full brunt whilst letting the servants catered to their needs, much to his embarrassment.
Whereas for Emma's part, these exchanges were neither here or there as she followed them dutifully while hiding her no little childish curiosity.
The three of them entered the castle's premise and were met with a grand, intricate entrance. Emma scanned the entirety of this spectacular property.
The lacunar ceiling was splashed with soft and calming palettes: seraphs and cherubs―holding either flowers, harp or trumpet―were painted over it in baroque style. Parts of them were bedecked with mosaic glasses―which filtered the sunlight into polychromatic hues. At the center of its vestibule, a stunning crystal chandelier hung with absolute grace.
Two massive ivory columns propped both vertical axis of the lobby and another set of homunculus maids were attending their path.
They traversed the soft red carpet placed on the sparkling gold marble floor, and ascended the circular stairs connecting the foyer to the second stories―its railings were enwreathed with metallic florets and ivy tendrils, and surprisingly enough, they had the luster of a first-class diamond. Emma reckoned these must be the byproducts of Einzbern's alchemy technique.
They're led through labyrinthine, vast hallways, decorated with artistic paintings, sculptures and bouquets. While at it, the head maid also sprinkled a few rudimentary knowledge of the castle's facilities and layout.
After countless turns and curves, they arrived at their chamber.
The inside was, as expected, furnished with luxurious things as well. They even prepared refreshments on top of the mahogany table.
"There're five rooms further inside and you may divide their usage as you please." The maid told them with her dim burgundy eyes. "Please inform us if there’s anything lacking and we'll provide for it."
Shirou stiffened again as they stood on ceremony beside him.
Taking pity of her husband mental state, Arthuria waved her hand. "You're dismissed. You can unpack all of our belongings later, for now you can put them in that wardrobe."
The maids arched their spines deeply. "Our apologies, but we cannot possibly leave our guests unattended."
"Then pour us some teas, and stand on guard outside. That'll be the barest minimum of hospitality, right?"
The maids silently abided to Arthuria's request this time.
*
As the door closed with a clicked, Shirou heaved a long sigh.
"They're certainly more welcoming than I thought they’d, however, just now were they admitting they’re keeping a watch on us?" Shirou started.
"No, that's pure integrity." Arthuria denoted. "They won’t make a bold move before we begin disputing over Einzbern’s wealth. What do you think, Emma?"
"Uhm... Preferably, I'd like to see 'it' first-hand before deciding anything else though."
Emma recalled the last will of Illyasviel von Einzbern.
《『Please put a seal to Grandfather’s new 'toy'. I'll leave the Einzbern's wealth to Shirou, and Emma respectively.』》
Einzbern clan was an independent magus lineage that sought after the Third Magic. They had no branch families or whatsoever, and thus having no heir apparent beside individuals Illyasviel had pointed.
For a millennium, Einzbern had endeavored themselves in a quest for retrieving their lost Miracle. It's their greatest wish and raison d’etre, but ultimately they acknowledged their inaptitude to realize it by ploughing one's own furrow. Hence, they solicited other magi families' help and built an alliance with them. The result was the establishment of the Heaven's Feel ritual 200 years ago in Fuyuki City. Alas, it fomented a fiasco which climaxed into a ludicrous crusade―The Holy Grail war. Five times it'd occurred, yet Einzbern kept losing consecutively even with their best trump cards and failed to acquire the Holy Grail.
Illyasviel thought this fact should’ve made her grandfather, Jubstacheit von Einzbern―or the previous head of Einzbern before her, and now the one who filled the position pro tem―despair and abandon Einzbern's hope for eternity.
Nonetheless, five months ago, Illyasviel had received an information that Jubstacheit had managed to recover a piquant article in Rome's ruin. Somehow or another, its discovery had rekindled his old flame and he began to dabble in his experiments again.
This had given Illyasviel an alarm. Jubstacheit was an unscrupulous one, if it were expedient to achieve his long life dream, he'd reinstate the Holy Grail war and its nightmares all over again.
Shirou was afraid of the possibility as well, while he had no care for Einzbern's assets, he couldn’t leave this immoral old man to his own device, thus, he's willing himself to go the extra mile visiting the Einzbern’s turf to inquire Jubstacheit's incentive in detail.
Just now, Emma was suggesting they ought to investigate first about this mysterious Greek 'relic' sparking Jubstacheit's enthusiasm and supposedly Jubstacheit's new method didn’t involve any sacrifices, they could just bequeath the entirety of Einzbern's matter to his hands.
"I concur." Arthuria spoke. "If we can solve this in a peaceful way, that'd be the best for us. Although..."
"That's the most unlikely thing, huh." Shirou chimed in.
With his words that sounded like an augury, the first night in Einzbern Castle descended upon them.