The morning had barely broken. The sky remained wrapped in dark hues, and the cold breeze of Orario blew gently through the empty streets.
Alerted by the small magical stone alarm, Emiya Shirou slowly opened his eyes. The sound wasn't loud, but it carried a peculiar vibration, enough to pull him from deep sleep. He sighed deeply, stretching, before getting out of bed.
"It's been centuries since I've woken up this early…" he murmured to himself, washing his face with cold water to fully wake up.
Even with his body still weighed down by the previous night, there was no trace of sleep in his eyes. As an adventurer, he had already trained his endurance against exhaustion. Compared to the long sleepless nights of his previous life, this was nothing.
According to his arrangement with Bell, they would meet at four in the morning to train at the walls of Orario. A cruel hour for any ordinary person—but for adventurers, it was just another test of discipline.
Shirou finished getting dressed and went to the makeshift kitchen. At this hour, he couldn't leave his sisters without something nutritious. Lefiya, in particular, would have to endure both his and Ais' training. Just the thought weighed on his conscience.
"I can't let them suffer without some reward… at least I can cook something decent to motivate them." he said with a small smile. "After all, I am a good brother!"
With the table set and the pleasant smell of freshly prepared food filling the air, Shirou felt satisfied. Cooking gave him peace, as if each dish were a silent promise of care.
Shortly after, with his backpack on and his mood slightly refreshed, he headed to the meeting point. There, he found Ais and Lefiya already waiting.
"Hey, you arrived way too early," he commented, raising an eyebrow. "Are you anxious, or couldn't you sleep?"
Lefiya averted her gaze, mumbling some excuse, while Ais maintained her usual calm expression. Shirou just chuckled, rolling his eyes.
"All right, now that we're all here, let's get going."
Along the way, Lefiya couldn't contain her curiosity. Her eyes landed on Shirou's backpack.
"Brother… what are you carrying there?"
"Something good," he replied with a mysterious smile. "You'll find out soon enough."
Curiosity only grew. Even Ais cast a discreet glance at the backpack, but neither of them dared to press further.
Thanks to the natural speed of high-level adventurers, they soon arrived at the walls. There, they saw Bell already waiting. The white-haired boy was panting, as if he had run to avoid being late.
"Bell… you got here before us?" Shirou frowned. "You don't need to sacrifice sleep like this, you know?"
Bell smiled timidly, unable to explain that Hestia had practically forced him to sleep early just to avoid repeating the disaster of the previous day.
Noticing Ais beside Shirou, Bell's heart raced. Then, his eyes fell on Lefiya. Seeing the elf made him choke for a moment.
"Another sister!?" he murmured, stunned.
Shirou let out a short laugh. "This is Lefiya Viridis, my other sister."
Bell blinked several times, unsure how to react. It was obvious that the elf was not related to Shirou by blood, but… was it like Miss Ais? His mind raced, recalling the scene of Shirou feeding Ais the night before.
This man… he's surrounded by incredible women. Just like Grandpa said… meetings are the destiny of a hero!
Bell's eyes shone with admiration. To him, Shirou was not just an adventurer. He was living proof that dreams could come true.
Shirou, in turn, noticed Bell's intense gaze and felt a strange shiver. "What now?"
Shaking his head, he pushed away the confusing thoughts and turned to the group with seriousness:
"Since we're all together, I'll explain today's training. Bell, you'll receive my direct instructions in martial arts. Then Ais will practice combat with you. Lefiya will also participate, taking turns between me and Ais."
Bell nodded quickly, too excited to hide his enthusiasm.
"Understood! Thank you very much, Mr. Emiya, Miss Ais, Miss Lefiya!"
Shirou gave a satisfied smile and stepped back a few paces with Lefiya, making room for Ais and Bell.
The swordswoman slowly drew her blade, the Sword of Despair, and positioned herself in front of the boy.
"Come." she said firmly.
Bell swallowed hard but raised his weapon with determination. The cold wind cut his skin, and the silence of the early morning seemed to heighten the tension between them.
In a sudden burst, Bell lunged with a surprise attack, trying to catch Ais off guard.
Shirou, watching from a distance, crossed his arms and murmured to himself:
"So this is how he fights… completely impulsive."
The metallic sound echoed along the wall. Bell's blade was easily deflected, and the force of Ais' counterattack sent him flying backward. He rolled on the ground, kicking up dust.
Still, there was something new burning in his eyes.
Shirou followed every movement carefully, evaluating.
---
Ais' blade gleamed under the dim light of dawn as she drew it from its sheath.
Cold. Precise. Deadly.
Bell, heart racing, raised his sword in defense.
He tried to hide his nervousness, but his stiff shoulders and rapid breathing betrayed every weakness.
Shirou, arms crossed, observed attentively from a distance, eyes half-closed.
"Hm… his stance is awkward. He puts too much weight on his front leg. That's going to break his balance on the first impact."
"Come." said Ais calmly.
Bell shouted and launched his attack. The first strike was direct, a horizontal cut full of youthful force.
The blade sliced through the air, but Ais deflected it with a minimal twist of her wrist.
"Just as I thought."
Shirou touched his chin, following the movement.
"He attacks with everything he has, but doesn't set a foundation. It's like a castle without a base: one push and it collapses."
The impact reverberated through Bell's arms, and he almost fell. Still, he didn't retreat.
He advanced again, now launching a series of random strikes.
Ais didn't seem to fight, just dance.
Her feet glided lightly, the sword intercepting every blow from Bell as naturally as someone brushing away a piece of paper.
"Very predictable." she murmured.
"Hm. He confuses aggression with technique."
Shirou sighed quietly.
"This boy doesn't understand rhythm. He just strikes as if hoping luck will save him."
Bell, however, didn't give up. He tried to improvise: feigning a direct cut, then at the last moment, changing the trajectory downward to surprise her.
Shirou's eyes gleamed slightly.
"Finally, he tried something different."
But Ais had already read the move before it even happened.
With a precise spin, she blocked the blade and returned the impact with such force that Bell was sent flying backward, rolling until he hit the wall of the fortification.
The sound echoed sharply.
Bell coughed, his whole body aching… but he didn't drop the sword.
He staggered, and yet still got back up.
Shirou couldn't help but smile, almost ironically.
"This stubborn one… no skill, but he has something that can't be taught: the refusal to fall. That's rare."
Bell raised his sword again, still trembling.
Ais watched silently, and for the first time, there was a slight glint in her golden eyes.
"Good. Keep going."
Shirou closed his eyes for a moment, evaluating the scene.
"He's not just fighting Ais… he's fighting himself, against fear and weakness. That's what turns a beginner into a true adventurer."
The training had only just begun.
---
(End of chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."