It's also unclear whether or not Archer was bluffing when he said that to Arturia. And if he wasn't bluffing, then it would be a suicide attack on his part.
It wasn't as if you could read Russian that well despite picking up a bit of it in your travels with Kiritsugu.
That language was pretty much essential since your father dealt with many Russian arms dealers all across the world.
Who knew there were so many stationed in Asian countries so blatantly?
At any rate, Medea begun reading through the book that looked centuries old that was preserved by magecraft.
Thankfully the grail provided Russian fluency.
She read it back in Japanese for the convenience of the two native Japanese people in this room.
"To myself from a few centuries later, if you are reading this, it has likely been a decade or so since you refreshed your memory and you had decided to add on to this journal or… that you completely forgotten about it and left it in the super secret compartment under your workshop until you found it. If it's the former… great! If it's the latter, turn to page 394."
Medea turned to page 394 where there were really big letters in red ink.
Her eyebrow furrowed as she carefully read the words before setting the book down, looked at you and tilted her head.
"The entire page is full of coarse language calling the reader, which I'm guessing should be Zouken, many mean things."
You nod and shrug. "Well, it's in Russian. That makes sense. The first Russian words I learnt were Cyka Blyat as a greeting."
Sakura slapped your shoulder for saying rude words at the dinner table with a stern disapproving look.
Medea continued reading, following the guidelines on the diary that directed her to different pages.
"Since you, and by extension, I myself have gone senile. It is best to start from the beginning. This journal had begun when I had noticed there were holes in my memory when I spoke with Nagato Tohsaka's descendant. I was a good actor, of course, and simply pretended I knew what he was talking about. I quickly went through my old notes back home afterwards to prepare for the second Holy Grail War. It was then, that I decided to make this a routine procedure to keep my memories up to date."
Sakura was pleasantly surprised to know her evil "grandfather" had a small sense of humour back then.
It then went on to the start of the Matou lineage. They used to be called the Makiri and were a Noble house until they were driven away from their homeland in Russia. Eventually he began talking about finding friends with the Tohsaka's in Fuyuki while also becoming friends with the Einzbern during business transactions in Germany.
He had also known Zelretch on an acquaintance level.
At this point, the language had swapped to Japanese in which case you took over from Medea in reading the journal.
Zouken was now reminding himself of his motives. You tried your best to translate it using more modern vocabulary so that everyone could understand it better just as Medea did.
"I have a dream. That one day every human in the world will be free from all suffering. A true utopia, dammit! A world of peace, not war, filled with happiness, not suffering! Where the world's laws of life and death are in the hands of the people, not the other way around. Where the power of miracles are back where they belong: in the hands of humans! Where every human is free from suffering, from hatred, from their own limitations! Fuck all the limp-dick clock tower magus's and-"
"Emiya-kun, I think you're getting way too into this." Sakura said sweetly, yet in a scary manner.
You nearly choked. "Right, uh, basically it looks like he believes his purpose of existence was to create a Utopia. But when it wasn't possible he wanted the Grail to go to a place where a Utopia could be made instead."
Zouken sought the Holy Grail to be reborn and reach the ideal utopia, the unimaginable land. With a miracle beyond human reach, he sought to eliminate all of the evils of the world, risking his life for an ideal that could not be fulfilled. Though his enemies died, he kept seeking it despite knowing it was meaningless. He believed it was his reason to exist, all while hoping that his existence would bring about a successor. In order to overthrow his youthful anguish, he came up with that answer even if his life should not be compensated.
Damn it world… why is it that Kiritsugu, Julian… everyone seems to aim for something so lofty?
Then again, your own goals of protecting your sister at all costs would make you an enemy of the world. In it's own way, protecting Miyu is a lofty goal as well.
A whole lot of it soon went on to talk about Zouken's love of his life. You were getting embarrassed reading it as it was like a series of love poems towards this Justeaze Lizrich Von Einzbern, the archmagus that developed the Holy Grail alongside Nagato and Zouken.
Justeaze and Zouken both shared the same vision for a Utopia, and Zouken was absolutely crushed when he saw her sacrifice. He had decided to ensure her sacrifice would not be in vain by keeping himself alive long enough to witness the moment the Grail becomes complete and reaches the gate.
He soon talked about the Fuyuki Grail and how they constructed it. With most of the details in the schematics that Medea and you had already looked through beforehand.
Their timeline was as such.
1794 - 1804: The Holy Grail War preparation
The Einzbern had settled into Japan to work with the Matou and Tohsaka to fulfill their plan.
1804: The First Holy Grail War
The first Holy Grail War. The rules were not laid out properly, and the Masters' sense of being "participants" was weak. Because there were no Command Spells as in the present, the Servants did not comply with orders, and so the rest of the ritual failed. The Descent of the Holy Grail was at Ryūdō temple.
1864: The Second Holy Grail War
In light of the failure of the First, the ritual was held only after detailed rules were developed. The "Command Spell System" was perfected/completed, so that it became possible for the Master to enslave the Servant, though the War was a failure. The Descent of the Holy Grail was at the Tohsaka Residence.
The true purpose of the grail is concerning, but not something that should affect you for now.
"I've even forgotten her face at times. It won't be long now, I can feel it in these old bones of mine. I had extended my life by using old souls as nourishment, but it is a procedure that cannot work for more than a few times. I can hesitate no longer, I will be using Bloodworms as my new body from now on. Just as the use of Displacement magecraft will always be incomplete in some manner, so too, shall my own identity. Oh, Justeaze… oh how far I have fallen…"
That was the last entry, he had only written another two entries since the Second Holy Grail War with a decade between each entry.
"The stains of time has muddied even a noble dream." Serenity said airily.
"To think that grandfather was completely different back then. I guess that's when the Matou started using Crest Worms." Sakura sounded as if she pitied the man Zouken eventually became, before that she had been giggling a bit at his flowery talk about Justeaze.
"Shortcuts in sorcery often result in consequences to one's soul...although I can see that he felt cornered, it was still a decision of his own." Medea nodded in response to Sakura's words.
There wasn't anything about a golden-haired Servant with red eyes specifically, although there were notes that confirmed that Servants with Divinity as a skill and heritage tend to give a more distinct presence.
The rest of it was more notes on Magecraft which you wouldn't have the time to learn considering your specialty. So naturally, that went to Medea to keep hold off along with Sakura if she so wished.
There was something about an auxiliary system in the Holy Grail War that can be activated under the circumstances that seven Servants began to co-operate with one another. But that would exhaust the ley lines in Fuyuki compared with say, the ley lines in Trifas which were much stronger.
Sakura helped in washing out tonight before deciding that she wanted to go pay this world's Shirou Emiya a visit as he was probably worried due to her not attending school today.
That, along with the fact that Shinji vocally made a big fuss about her health as a cover-up for her disappearance, she didn't want Shirou to be so worried that he'll go right ahead and pay a visit to the Matou mansion.
Serenity would be familiarizing herself with Medea's enchanted daggers while Medea suggesting that you just relax for the night due to your previous fight.
You… (Pick one)
[ ] Escort Sakura to the Emiya Residence, to a point of course.
[ ] Train with Serenity, maybe you could see what Noble Phantasm you could equip her with?
[ ] Do as Medea says, she said she'll go prepare the bath for you.
Adhoc vote count started by nicklzh on Aug 31, 2017 at 8:54 AM, finished with 25 posts and 23 votes.
[X] Do as Medea says, she said she'll go prepare the bath for you.
[X] Train with Serenity, maybe you could see what Noble Phantasm you could equip her with?
Sakura should be fine. There isn't anyone running around draining people of Mana after all, and since the War has yet to kick off in full swing so she should be fine getting home.
Though, this world's Shirou is sure to be in for quite the surprise....
Especially to our AU selves.
Though seducing other girlfriend is not NTR, especially if they are not yet in relationship. Still an asshole move, if one does on purpose.
[X] Do as Medea says, she said she'll go prepare the bath for you.
Sakura has no significance to the Grail War anymore and everyone currently out and about will be able to see that.
But we should definitely try to take some time later and see if we find some Noble Phantasm that Serenity can use to make her even more deadly.
And everyone who ships M!Shirou with either PI!Luvia or PI!Rin is a filthy heretic because those two belong into a mutually Tsundere relationship with each other!
