In 2026, humanity is obliterated
Incinerated
Annihilated
Eradicated
And so on and so forth-ed
Point is they dead and now Chaldea's all that is left
Now it seeks to fix everything and right the wrongs in the snarls of time
But the slight problem is that the last two Masters are semi-trained wizards, one more semi- than the other
And the only magus that can teach them, despite being the best teacher alive, is also exasperated
Irritated
Aggravated
Agitated
Exacerbated - wait no that one's wrong
A dictionary and more can probably be found in…
FATE/SUNNY ORDER
----
"...Should I even ask?"
"Nobu was going to blow Cu up with Robin's help. I decided to intervene."
Ritsuka Tohsaka, for once not wearing his Chaldean uniform but rather a t-shirt and pants over some long johns, plus glasses, frowns at his twin sister currently wearing a dunce cap. "Did he
really need the help, though?"
"Rider was with him," Kana replies, like that explains anything.
"You're just trying to get out of class."
"Well can you blame me?!"
There is a
crack and a yelp as Kana crumples off her chair, followed shortly by now-powdered chalk. Across from Ritsuka, Mashu grimaces as Ritsuka clicks his tongue. For all of Kana's academic talent - somehow making the top ten in Homurahara for their finals - she's never been great at classroom etiquette. And two rows behind them, D'Eon takes additional notes that they'll claim are for class but which Ritsuka knows are actually for his dossier. At least D'Eon is polite in being relentless.
"Class is finally in session, Miss Tohsaka, so settle down," says the former Lord El-Melloi II, "Or shall I render unto Kana that which is Kana's, like you rendered unto Nobunaga that which is Nobunaga's?"
Kana and Ritsuka both shudder. Their talents are not small, but pale in comparison to the originator of the Iron Claw Technique. "M-Mercy…"
Waver sighs and shakes his head. Troublesome students are a dime a dozen, but rarely has he had to deal with trouble due to a lack of motivation. "Your element is unusual but hardly a millstone around your neck, so it is only a matter of paradigms. And
that is the crux of today's lesson, Kana Tohsaka."
She clambers back onto her chair and grunts. "What, how to fix bad fundamentals?"
Waver affixes her with a significant look. "The fundamentals that matter to you are already solid enough for our purposes, and the rest are either matters of personal outlook or will require the work of years that we do not have - I doubt you will ever need to establish your own workshop, for instance, nor do you have the slightest inclination towards thaumaturgical development or ritual casting. No, today we shall tackle the matter of elements and how they shape one's understanding of natural forces and how to manipulate them."
Kana can parse that, but she does not bother to. "U-Uh," Mashu starts, before she can be rude, "Caster, could you elaborate?"
Waver nods. "In short, today I will be teaching Kana how to sword. Mindset is key when it comes to matters of magecraft, and today is no exception." He addresses each of the four students currently in the classroom. "Ritsuka, as an Average One, has access to all five of the classical elements and thus has great potential. Provided he applies five times the effort of any other magus, he may become one of the greats of the Clocktower like his mother before him."
Ritsuka blinks and frowns, while Kana groans and presses her face against her desk. "But mom told me she's a Brand," he says. "Professor, she only maybe gives a guest lecture once a year. What do you mean she's a great?"
"...I'll leave you to deal with your family's legacy after the Grand Order, but suffice to say your mother has been a Grand of the Clocktower for over a decade at this point."
"W-
What. Since when?!"
"Moving on," Waver states curtly, "Miss Kyrielight's element is currently unknown, but due to her current status likely aligns with the property of defense, protection,
possibly self-sacrifice. Likely Ether by my deduction, if not something more esoteric." He frowns. "But any magecraft she performs will by nature be inferior to her own abilities as a Demi-Servant, so this lesson is largely wasted on her until she masters her own powers, after which it may have marginal benefit in expanding her own abilities based on that foundation."
"But the theory is interesting either way!" Mashu chirps.
"Fou fou," the fluffy cat-puppy on her head yips lazily.
"And Saber Le Chevalier D'Eon at the back is a Heroic Spirit and does not actually
need this lesson," Waver adds wryly, to which the Servant merely shrugs in agreement, "Which brings us to the most relevant party in this room, who has up to this point avoided all her lessons as a matter of
teenage rebellion. Kana." He points at her with the knuckle of one hand, the other arm folded behind his back. "What is a sword?"
She blinks. She looks at him. "Huh? I thought
you were going to tell
me."
He flicks another piece of chalk at her and it zips past her head and explodes against the wall to the back of the classroom some forty meters away. She squeaks and covers her head with her hands. "I
just told you it was all a matter of paradigm. Mindset is key when it comes to matter of magecraft, whether it is dogged determination, actual talent, or the simple question of what something
means to you. So I ask again: What is a sword?"
An awkward silence settles over the room. Only the sounds of Fou snoring softly and the quiet hum of the air conditioning help break the monotony - but do nothing to alleviate the pressure.
"A weapon of nobility, likened as a tool of justice and a symbol of the peerage since time--" Ritsuka pauses, noticing Waver's look, and nods. "Right,
her answer." He frowns at his sister with concern. "Well, there's no such thing as a wrong answer here, Kana. You just need to think on it a bit."
Kana swallows. This will be a
very long lesson.
