IBHJ 1136

"Have you learned Fairy Runes before?"

"No, I haven't."

"Then how did you master it?"

"I just watched you draw and copied it. I'm not stupid. Even if I don't understand it, can't I just copy what I see?"

"Even if you say that..."

Though it sounded simple, Merlin knew Fairy Runes weren't so straightforward. Like divine text, Fairy Runes existed beyond human understanding, impossible to grasp with ordinary perception.

And these weren't just any Fairy Runes. These were Primordial Fairy Runes.

Inherited from the Inner Sea of the Planet, from the ancient civilization that first kindled the flames of humanity.

No ordinary human could comprehend them.

Even most legendary heroes couldn't learn them.

Only demigods and Divine Spirits should be capable of understanding them.

Because the requirement for comprehending Primordial Fairy Runes was Divinity!

Shirou was an ordinary human.

At least, his physical body was that of an ordinary human.

No divine blood, no dragon blood, no trace of any supernatural being in his veins.

So how could he understand Primordial Fairy Runes?

Merlin couldn't make sense of it, no matter how he tried.

Wait...

Could it be!

Merlin looked at Shirou, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Could it be that the Vortex never truly disappeared?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm thinking... Eternal King's record, Formless Vortex, and your Evil... perhaps they never disappeared. They might just exist in a different form now."

Shirou shook his head. "Even if that's true, we can't do anything about it right now. I won't waste time on 'what ifs.' Just teach me the runes."

"If you say so..." Merlin reluctantly nodded and went back to teaching him the destructive Primordial Fairy Runes.

The destructive runes came easily to Shirou as he copied what he saw.

He learned unusually fast because these runes felt familiar, as if he had written them before.

Then he remembered: during those first ten years after he crossed over, when Tethys became a Barbie doll and stayed by his side through their struggles... she had written text just like this.

So that explained it. That's why these runes felt so familiar, yet also stirred an instinctive dislike. Shirou smiled. So you had prepared this path for me, Tethys.

You saw me as an important candidate, a vessel for the Vortex. You spent ten years with me with hidden plans, but changed your mind in the end. Then you fell to Manaka Sajyou's surprise attack, and were finally destroyed by the Lord of Salvation.

But even now, I'm grateful you laid this foundation for me.

…

After teaching Shirou some basic, practical Primordial Fairy Runes, Merlin left him to practice and walked quickly toward Ambrosius.

Meanwhile, after Ambrosius gave Primordial Fairy Arts to Kama, Mordred, and the others, Bedivere acted as their training target, helping them master their new abilities.

Seeing his work was finished, Ambrosius turned to leave, but Merlin stopped her.

"Ambrosius, wait!"

Ambrosius turned with a playful smile. "Oh? What's troubling you, little Merlin? Did you miss your father... or perhaps your mother?"

"This isn't the time for jokes." Merlin's face grew serious as he grabbed Ambrosius's wrist. "There's something I need to discuss with you." He pulled her behind the temple, away from the others.

Ambrosius pulled her hand free and laughed softly. "My, my... dragging me off to a secluded spot? How bold of you, little Merlin.” Her eyes lit up with mischief. “Though I suppose I can't blame you. After all, who could resist the perfection that is Dwynwen? And I, being one with her, am the very embodiment of that perfection."

"Sorry, I'm only interested in humans. Pure humans!" Merlin grimaced then gave her a serious look. "The Vortex... it's still inside Shirou, isn't it?"

Ambrosius merely smiled, saying nothing.

"Answer me!" Merlin's expression grew stern. "Don't play games. I know you were the first fairy Lady Tethys created! And that Holy Grail... Joseph never gave it to you. The Holy Spirit passed it to you through his hands!"

"You're wrong. The Holy Spirit left that Holy Grail for you," Ambrosius replied with a lazy smile.

"What?"

Merlin stood there bewildered.

"Have you forgotten your own legend? Though I don't know who was bold enough to write it, your birth was destined. Your selection by the Staff was also destined. Though I've sent that Staff to Avalon now."

Merlin's frown deepened. "What does any of this have to do with my question?"

"Can't you see? Yes, Eternal King's birth was destined, but it was pure chance that Fujimaru Shirou became Eternal King! The same is true for the Emperor. Want to know why? Because Eternal King is just a vessel, while the Emperor stands as the final test for whoever inherits the Vortex."

Ambrosius's smile faded as she gave Merlin a serious look. "To face the monster of the Root, whoever inherits the Vortex must first overcome the Emperor. This isn't coincidence or empty words. It's an ancient covenant. A trial set by the Holy Spirit!"

"And that's why the Blood of the Holy Spirit answered Mordred's wish!"

Merlin fell silent.

"If that's true, then why did you..."

"Why didn't I tell Fujimaru Shirou all this?" Ambrosius gestured toward Shirou, who was still practicing his runes. "Have you ever heard him complain about losing the Vortex? Never!"

Merlin was stunned.

He was completely stunned!

Ambrosius watched Shirou with a thoughtful look. "Lady Tethys chose well. And you didn't follow the wrong person. He truly is an excellent successor..."

…

After Ambrosius gave them Primordial Fairy Arts, everyone spent several days practicing and quickly learned to use them. Since they weren't truly studying fairy arts but rather using them through a skill, mastering them came naturally. Of course, Sir Bedivere deserved much credit for serving as their practice target.

Shirou's grasp of the Primordial Fairy Arts, however, barely reached a usable level. It was natural, since unlike Goetia and the others, he had to memorize the Fairy Runes before using them.

Thankfully, thanks to Tethys's prior guidance, Shirou had some familiarity with the runes and could begin learning.

…

The moon hung in the sky like a silver plate that night, with countless stars scattered across the skies, their light spilling onto the earth below. Near the temple grounds, a small bonfire flickered, casting warm light through the cold night.

Fairies danced and sang around the flames, filling the air with joy.

This wasn't just a passing celebration. The fairies naturally loved to play, and after spending several days with Shirou and the others, their initial caution had melted away into easy friendship.

The fairies were like children, forever innocent and playful. More outgoing people like Mordred and Abigail joined their dances, caught up in their infectious energy.

Others, like the more reserved Xuanzang, couldn't quite match this cheerful spirit. She could only sit cross-legged in meditation, quietly reciting her sutras.

Shirou smiled softly as he watched Mordred and the others who were having fun with the fairies by the fire.

"Hey Shirou, come play with us!" A wind fairy fluttered up to his face.

"No thanks."

"Aww, come on!" The fairy circled around him as more fairies joined in, giving him gentle pushes from behind.

"Really, it's fine," he said with a warm smile. "You all go have fun."

"You're no fun!" The fairies puffed their cheeks but quickly darted away, giggling and dancing through the air.

Fairies were social creatures who loved humans, which explained all those modern urban legends about fairies stealing human children.

But some people made even fairies keep their distance—the ones who gave off a scary vibe.

Like Kama with her gloomy expression.

Watching the fairies instinctively avoid Kama, Shirou couldn't make sense of it. Sakura was so cute, so why would the fairies keep their distance? Of course, Shirou had no idea that a certain famous golden cockroach lady would strongly disagree with his opinion!

"Speaking of which, I never thought Lord Goetia would be such a hit with the fairies."

Shirou turned at Bedivere's comment and spotted Goetia, who was indeed surrounded by playful fairies. "You're right, it's surprising." he said with a smile.

After a moment, he glanced at Bedivere's face and asked carefully, "You've been away for a while now. Won't the empire grow suspicious?"

"They won't. They..." Bedivere lowered his head, a shadow crossing his face. "...trust me completely."

"I see..." Shirou looked away, letting the words hang in the air.

He knew with Bedivere's nature, betraying those who trusted him the most had to be eating away at him.

"Even if they did grow suspicious, it wouldn't change anything. Hope has other agents besides me... Although this stain of betrayal—it will stay with me forever."

Shirou had nothing to say to that.