IBHJ 1332

Shirou stared at the radiant tower of light, eyes wide with amazement. The Star Anchor... That name drifted through his mind.

In front of the gleaming structure stood a throne, pure white and majestic in its stillness.

“Gaia,” a voice called out, calm but serious. “Someone claiming to be from the future has entered our core star system.”

The light flickered. A message pulsed from within the tower. "He must be a spy from the Golden Emperor. Eliminate him."

A wave of malice surged through the air, so intense Shirou instinctively tensed. Every hair on his body stood on edge.

But then, a voice broke through the tension. It sounded hesitant but clear.

“But... he has your blessing, Gaia.”

“My blessing?”

The light pulsed again. This time, it swirled around the throne, threads weaving together until a humanoid shape emerged. A woman formed from brilliance, ethereal and gentle, took her place on the throne.

She looked down at Shirou and extended her hand with a soft smile. “Come here.”

He stepped closer.

She tilted his chin up, examining him closely, her gaze drifting from one side of his face to the other.

“How strange,” she murmured. “Why do you carry my Star Sense? And not just mine… my siblings’ as well?”

The casual way she handled him made Shirou stiffen slightly. He didn’t appreciate being treated like a curiosity. But this wasn’t the time to complain. For now, he had to win her trust. Later, he’d make sure to have a ‘proper conversation’ with the Gaia of his era about this.

“I told you already, I’m from the future,” Shirou said, letting out a quiet sigh.

“No, you’re not,” Gaia replied without hesitation.

“Huh? Why not?” he asked, brows furrowing. He couldn’t understand her certainty.

"You dare ask me why?" Gaia narrowed her eyes. "That attitude of yours says everything. Is this really how you speak to Gaia?"

Before Shirou could respond, the information lifeforms buzzed around them like a chorus of judgment.

"That's right! That's right! He must be a spy sent by the Golden Emperor!"

Shirou held back a sigh, forcing a smile onto his face. "How could that be? I have nothing but respect and deep admiration for you, Lady Gaia."

Gaia’s expression shifted. She studied him with a faint hum, then leaned back slightly in her throne, her glow dimming just enough to seem thoughtful.

"I see now. You really are from the future. It’s strange, though. My star system’s quantum time is supposed to be constant, and you, a material lifeform, shouldn’t exist here. There's no resonance reaction from the spirit particles either…" Her voice drifted, puzzled, then landed with quiet certainty. "But your reverence for me… and the presence of my blessing… they make it clear. You’re human, and you’re from my star system."

Shirou "..."

His thoughts went blank for a second.

So it wasn’t that Gaia had been influenced by Arcueid’s personality and turned into a ditz. No—this was the source. Arcueid had inherited her personality from Gaia.

‘Good grief... even Crimson Moon seemed more reliable than her.’

Noticing the strange expressions flickering across his face, Gaia raised an eyebrow. “Are you thinking something rude about me in that little future brain of yours?”

He straightened up instantly. “No, no, no! How could I? I have nothing but the utmost admiration for you. Respect! Endless respect!”

Gaia narrowed her eyes slightly, then gave a small “hmph” and leaned back into the throne.

He sighed in relief. Okay, that was the key—sweet talk. That’s how you dealt with this Gaia.

With the mood lightened and the earlier suspicion brushed aside, he decided it was time to get serious.

He began explaining everything. Why he had come to this era. What was happening in his own time. The Gate of Truth. The Lord of Salvation. The Arrow of Akasha.

Gaia blinked. “Lord of Salvation? Gate of Truth? What even is that?”

Shirou stared at her, completely baffled. “…You don’t know?”

“You’re saying I sealed this so-called Evil of the Root?” she asked, tilting her head. “I’ve never heard of it.”

Shirou looked even more stunned.

Gaia turned toward the invisible information lifeforms surrounding them.“Children, do any of you remember sealing something from the Root?”

A chorus of voices answered at once.

“Nope.”

“Never heard of it.”

“That name’s way too dramatic.”

One added with a hint of humor, “And we’re going extinct? That’s the coldest joke I’ve heard in a century. Even the Golden Emperor couldn’t do that.”

“Exactly!” another chimed in.

Gaia turned back to Shirou. “So, tell me, future person—what’s the process of our extinction like?”

Shirou froze.

“Uh… well…” he scratched his head. He only knew the result, how would he know the process?

From the way they were talking, it didn’t sound like any of them even knew about the Lord of Salvation. Or the Gate of Truth. Or the Arrow of Akasha.

And now there was this Golden Emperor being thrown around.

Did something mess up the timeline? he wondered. Did the Lord of Salvation come after this era…?

Before he could sort it out, Gaia leaned forward and pointed at him. “Anyway, there’s something I need from you.”

Her voice turned oddly cheerful. “Be honored. Be moved. You’ve officially been requisitioned.”

He blinked. “…Huh???”

Gaia pointed straight at him with a glint in her eye. “Tethys, he’s all yours.”

A calm voice responded from nowhere and everywhere. “Understood. I’ll handle him.”

That voice—

Shirou’s eyes widened as realization struck. That’s why it had sounded familiar all along.

Tethys.

The original holder of his Vortex.

"Please come with me," the voice said.

And before he could even blink, another white hole bloomed beneath him.

“Wait—!”

Too late.

The light swallowed him whole, and the scenery twisted into something completely different.

He now stood in a strange, rainbow-hued space, light shifting like oil on water, each color flowing into the next without form or border.

Shirou groaned and rubbed his forehead.

“I swear, do you all just throw people into wormholes like it’s nothing?” he muttered. “Can’t you at least give a guy ten seconds to mentally prepare? What happened to basic human rights?”

“Human… rights?” Tethys repeated, her voice genuinely puzzled.

Shirou sighed. “I’m saying, can you not teleport me out of nowhere like that? Especially with wormholes. That stuff messes with my insides. Just a little warning next time, please?”

“Teleport?” she asked again. “You’re overcomplicating it. isn't this just a matter of thought?"

He gave her a long, deadpan look.

Tethys didn’t seem fazed. Instead, she changed the subject. “Also, by your own words, you’re a descendant of our civilization, correct?”

He nodded. “Yes. Is there some issue with that?”

A moment passed. Then he felt something invisible pat his head.

A very deliberate, senior-to-junior sort of pat.

“Future person, there’s a hierarchy between seniors and juniors,” Tethys said solemnly. “From now on, you’ll address me properly—call me Grandmother Tethys.”

Shirou: "..."