Fate in Denial c77

After the short trip to an alternative timeline, everyone returned to holiday excitement.

Next stop was India, where Ren, by ‘accident’, forgot to mention about spices and how potent they can be.

Not as spicy as Mexican peppers, but it was there. 

“M-Master! W-W-Water!!!” Saber, with tears in her eyes, exclaimed, looking around for something to drink.

“Here.” He summoned a big mug of water for her.

“T-Thank you.”

As she was drinking Saber Alter and Atalante looked at him. They had this feeling that something fishy was going on.

Their Master was far too excited to visit this specific restaurant in this huge city.

The same was true for Jeanne, who was eating the curry very slowly. After taking a bite, she would breathe heavily, taking in cold air. It was amusing for the Magician.

Only Melusine was eating without care in the world.

“I don’t understand your reactions. This food has flavour, you should enjoy it.” The Dragon girl commented as she ate without reservation.

Ren looked at her for a second. He shook his head before continuing to eat his mild curry.

Morgan followed his lead, she ordered the same dish as he did, and ignored his ‘suggestion’ for ‘tastier’ ones. 

She had this feeling that something like this would happen.

Ren was not the only one who knew; Ereshkigal followed a similar direction, she has Rin’s memories after all. The girl was aware of cultural differences and was prepared.

Gray, who had no idea about Indian dishes, followed Ren, Morgan and Ereshkigal's lead and ordered the same thing as they did.

That means the only ones who felt for this were the ‘naive’ Servants, such as the King of Knights and the Saint.

Atalante and Saber Alter felt that something was wrong.

So they waited… now they know what is going on!

“H-How is she functioning? My mouth is burning!” The blonde knight looked at the Lancer Dragon Girl.

“Being a literal dragon has its perks,” Jeanne commented after recovering a bit.

Melusine looked at them, not understanding what they were talking about.

After food, they explore the city for the rest of the day before returning to the cruise ship.

The next stop was Thailand…

Let’s just say that Morgan nearly blew up Bangkok for all the bugs that were getting fried on the grills. It was hard to focus on the shrines and temples when the Fairy Queen was on the edge like that.

Then the Philippines, followed by China…

In China, Melusine cried tears of joy as her Queen was getting married… again.

“It is a bit strange, I am used to white dresses,” Jeanne commented.

“Did you see a lot of weddings?” The King of Knights asked her, confused.

“Not really, a few. But they all had those white dresses.” The Saint replied, remembering the few that she was able to see.

“Indeed. It is similar to what I know.” Artoria nodded with a knowing look. She attended enough noble weddings to understand the differences.

“Even in Greece, we used to use white,” Atalante added her two pieces as they watched a traditional Chinese wedding.

The girls who were sitting on the benches were watching the Chinese version of this ritual.

It was way different from what they were used to.

Although what the majority of Servants were waiting for was the aftermath, they were also eager to enjoy the free food.

~~~~~~A Week Later in Japan~~~~~~

‘Gah! You clearly have no idea what you are doing!’ An obnoxious voice spoke directly into a young girl’s head.

‘Shut up! This is new magecraft to me! Summoning is not something my family’s forte!’ A twin-tailed girl replied as her eyebrows were twitching.

‘It will take years to finalise this! Your summoning was imperfect!’

‘I can see that!’

‘You do know that we can’t waste time, my useless other self is enjoying life as we speak!’

‘Your naging won’t fix anything!’

The girl gnashed her teeth in annoyance.

Her father told her that she should start practising taking over the family at a young age. Master summoning rituals for Servants.

While the Tohsaka family didn’t win the whole thing, they got ownership of the Greater Grail. That leaves a number of things that need to be done for the next war, if it ever happens.

Without the Lesser Grail, things could get out of control quickly.

So she practised, drawing the summoning circle, studying the command seals, all that stuff.

Then one day, a voice appeared in her head.

It was a Goddess… somehow… or some strange way, there is another Tohsaka Rin in the world, who has merged with the Goddess of the Underworld.

This phenomenon caused an echo, and so Ishtar ended up in younger Rin’s body.

Sadly, she is not a Pseudo Servant; she has no power to speak until the ritual is complete.

‘Maybe it’s for the best, I don’t want to be stuck in a little girl’s body, I will let you grow up for a bit. Then you can have my power.’

‘Gee, my thanks for letting me live.’ Rin snorted as he could finally focus on her studies.

She realised that the ritual would be a bit different. As there is no need to add a container, there is no need to summon a copy of a heroic soul; all she needs is a mystery.

“Rin! We have a guest, you can stop studying.”

Rin’s father’s voice caused the twintails girl to stop in her tracks. She looked like someone caught her red-handed in something she shouldn’t have been doing!

‘I can sense her, Rin! Ereshkigal is here!’

The girl turned stiff. A Goddess is visiting her!? What is going on!?

Regardless, she couldn’t simply ignore her father’s summoning, so she went upstairs to the living room, where she saw a group of people.

They all had this aura…

‘They all are Servants! That one is even a Fae!’ Ishtar whispered into her mind. Rin can tell that the Goddess is cautious, especially when she mentioned a legitimate Fae.

‘How is she even around? I thought all the mystical beings retreated to the other side, I never expected her to be a Fae when I met her last time.’

“Rin, Ren Ashwell has come to see how you are doing.”

‘This is official… the world is going crazy. I didn’t expect that he taught you something!’ Ishtar commented in Rin’s mind.

‘I thought you were a goddess? Why are you getting worried like this?’

‘Because Dofus! This is a legitimate fairy who has a physical body! In this day and age? Even we gods don’t have solid bodies!’

“It’s good to see you again, Teacher.” Rin respectfully bowed to the Wizard before her and his wife.

She wondered where her counterpart was. But all she saw was one cloaked individual. 

‘That’s her! I can feel it!’

‘Can’t she feel you, though?’

‘Not yet, I am a simple wisp at this moment, I don’t have my divinity at all!’ Ishtar proudly said that, as she was certain of it.

“Yes, I was in the area.” He replied before looking at her father.

“We were in Japan and decided to sit and make sure Greater Grail doesn’t get stolen or something worse. Not long ago, we were in an alternative timeline where the Greater Grail was stolen on the eve of World War 2 by a Rogue Magus who was working for the Germans.” 

“...That’s…” Her father looked concerned when he heard that!

“Indeed. I would suggest improving defences and placing strong boundary fields. You have 50 years until the Greater Grail will be ready for the next war.” The Magician said to Tokiomi Tohsaka.

“I-I see… but… even if we prepare security, I do not know if we could prepare for the war. The Einzberns are the ones who prepare the Lesser Grail; without it, the war couldn’t function.

“Hmm…” The magician looked at Rin for a second. There was a smile! A knowing smile on his lips.

“How about this? Once your Heir is ready, send her to me in Clock Tower, I shall teach her all she needs to know for the next step.”

“Of course. It would be an honour!” Her father didn’t notice anything amiss, but Rin… she can feel it! Even the wisp of Goddess she had was silent… as if trying to hide from him, as he knew what was going on!

“Good, then send her over once you finish your training.”

After finishing the conversation, the guests stayed a bit longer, discussing countermeasures the Tohsaka Head could install.

After a couple more hours, they left, making Rin sigh in relief that she was holding!

“Rin! This is a perfect opportunity for you to learn everything you can from a Magician who mastered two True Magics! It’s a great boon for the Tohsaka Family!”

The man was in a jovial state! In his eyes, he could see the light at the end of the tunnel! His family is close to reaching the root!

They have the Greater Grail, and his Heir is to be taught by a Sorcerer! It can’t be any better!

“...Yes…Father.”

~~~

“You could sense it, right?” Morgan asked as they were walking towards the city centre.

“I did. I can sense my abnoxious sister in that small Rin.” Erehkigal said as she removed her hood. It was her choice; she didn’t want to show her face. It would cause unnecessary confusion.

“Indeed. What a curious development. I would say this is related.” Morgan commented as one of her hands was holding her chin. It was a mystery she was curious to solve.

“It is, Ereshkigal and Ishtar basically the same individual, same with Rin. You two are Rins. I would call this side effect a paradox of some sort.” Ren explained as he looked at his wife beside him.

“It does make sense in a way. From all the reading I've done on the Gods of Mesopotamia, it is that at daytime it is Ishtar and at nighttime she is Ereshkigal.” The Fae Queen explained.

“You two… I am here, I can tell these things myself! And I don’t like being compared to my abnoxious and spoiled sister!” The blonde Goddess pouted with anger.

“Sure, then speak, I allow it,” Morgan replied with a raised eyebrow.

“Umm…” Ereshkigal tried to think of something.

In the meantime, the two ‘bodyguards’, the student, and the Servants in Spirit Form were looking around the familiar city.

“Didn’t expect to return to this place anytime soon,” Saber commented, and the Alter next to her grunted.

This place is particularly hard on her. It’s the same place where she became the fallen version. It’s not a different timeline like before, no, this is the same city!

Thankfully, they didn’t stay for long in the City, in Japan in general, as they returned to the cruise ship.

The next destination in their trip was crossing the Pacific Ocean and then arriving in the Americas.

Just like last time, Morgan didn’t like the ultra-big cities with a huge number of people.

Thankfully, she learned how to deal with it and ignore it. Most of the time just clings to her husband and shuts out all the surroundings.

The Queen believes this is a great technique, one she is quite proud of.

First, the place they went was the city of angels. Apart from watching a couple of movies, there was nothing to see for the ones who practise Magecraft.

“You know… this is boring, cities in Asia had those old foundations, this place is honestly young and boring,” Morgan complained as they were going back to the ship.

“How about we mix it up a bit? Next is Mexico, so why not visit Mexico City?”

“What about that place?” She asked curiously, and the rest of the Servants looked curiously at him as well.

“Beneath that city is the buried capital of the ancient civilisation of the Aztecs.” He reminded them.

“Oh… That could be interesting.” The Saber replied, she learned from the grail that they are dangerous people who offer people to their gods. Maybe she could get a fight or two from this.

“Indeed, I agree with my goody-two-shoes version.”

Ereshkigal nodded as well. Though she wonders if there is any connection… because she is forgetting something…