Chapter 10: The First Step into a Hidden World
The air in Miyama was different from Shinto's. Quieter, older, as if time moved more slowly along the cobblestone streets and manicured gardens. Shirou walked with Kirei's note in his hand, the directions clear in his mind. The moon hung in the sky, softly illuminating the world.
When he finally saw the Tohsaka residence, he stopped dead.
It wasn't what he had expected.
In his mind, fed by classic fantasy stories and popular culture, he had imagined the dwelling of a magecrafter as something out of a gothic tale: a spiral tower crowned with crescent moons, a gloomy castle shrouded in perpetual mist, or at least a Victorian mansion with gargoyles and stained-glass windows of occult symbols.
What he saw was a two-story Western-style mansion, elegant but discreet, built in a style he recognized as European but adapted to the Japanese landscape. It was made of light stone and dark wood, with a roof of blue tiles that shone under the moonlight. The front gardens were impeccably maintained, but not with the exotic flowers or carnivorous plants his imagination had suggested; just precisely trimmed hedges in geometric patterns, a polished stone path, and a few cherry trees in full bloom.
It didn't look like a magus's house. It looked like the house of a wealthy family, perhaps a diplomat or a businessperson with refined taste. But the longer Shirou looked, the more details he noticed that didn't fit.
The windows reflected light in a strange way, as if the glass were thicker than normal. The arrangement of the trees and rocks in the garden didn't seem accidental; it followed a pattern that his mind, sharpened by years of practicing sword forms and analyzing attack angles, recognized as intentional, almost like a martial stance. And the air… the air around the property had a still quality, as if sound became muffered a few steps before reaching the wrought-iron gate.
'So this is the magical world' He thought, with a mix of disappointment and fascination 'No towers or castles. Just normal houses hiding secrets behind normal doors'
He crumpled Kirei's note in his hand and walked toward the gate. There was no visible doorbell, only a discreet intercom beside the gate. He pressed it.
The silence that followed was so absolute that Shirou began to wonder if the device worked. He was about to press it again when a female voice, clear and with a hint of irritation, came from the speaker.
— Yes? Who is it and what do you want at this hour?
— Uh… I'm Shirou Emiya. Father Kirei sent me.
A longer silence this time. Then, with an audible click, the gate opened slightly.
— Come in. And close the gate behind you.
The walk to the front door seemed longer than he had anticipated. Each step on the polished stones echoed in the garden's silence. Shirou had the strange sensation of being watched from every window, every shadowy corner.
The main door opened before he could knock. In the doorway stood a girl about his age, perhaps a year older, with jet-black hair tied in twin side tails and eyes the color of lapis lazuli. She was undeniably beautiful, but her beauty had a cold, calculated quality, like the blade of a perfectly forged sword. She wore the Homurahara Academy uniform, but with an elegance that made it seem like she wore it by choice, not obligation.
— You must be Shirou Emiya— She said, her eyes scrutinizing him from head to toe with an intensity that made Shirou feel like a specimen under a microscope.
— Yes. And you must be Rin Tohsaka.
— Obviously. Come in. And take off your shoes— She turned halfway and entered the house without waiting to see if he followed.
The interior of the mansion was as impeccable as the exterior. Polished wooden floors, Western furniture with clean lines, all in neutral tones and deep blues. There was no dust, no clutter, no sign that anyone actually lived there. It looked more like a décor magazine spread than a home.
Rin led him to a living room, where she sat on a sofa with the perfect posture of a hostess who had no interest in being a hostess.
— Show me that supposed priest's note— She said, extending a hand.
Shirou handed her Kirei's paper. Rin took it with two fingers, as if afraid of contamination, and read it with narrowed eyes. Her expression shifted from skepticism to irritation, then to bitter resignation.
— "A student with unique potential requiring your guidance". Right. Because Kirei Kotomine is so well-known for his selfless generosity— She snorted and dropped the paper on the coffee table— Tell me, Emiya. What exactly did he tell you?
— That I needed a teacher in modern magecraft. And that you were the best in Fuyuki.
— And you believed that— It wasn't a question. Rin looked at him with a mix of disbelief and curiosity— Do you know anything about the magical world?
— A few things. My father… told me some fragments.
Rin nodded slowly, as if confirming a suspicion.
— Kiritsugu Emiya. The Magus Killer. Yes, I've heard the name. Although he supposedly died years ago in the fire— Her eyes fixed on Shirou's— Curious that his son shows up now, recommended by the most sinister man in Fuyuki. And my condolences on being orphaned.
Shirou didn't respond. He knew enough about Kiritsugu to understand his past was a minefield, and stepping there without knowledge was dangerous.
— Look— Rin leaned forward, and for the first time, Shirou saw a glimmer of something that wasn't disdain or irritation: professional interest— Kirei is… complicated. He's my legal guardian since my father died, but "guardian" is a very generous term. He's more of a supervisor making sure I don't screw up enough to attract the Association's attention. And now he sends you to me. That means one of two things: either you're so troublesome he wants me to deal with you, or you're so interesting he wants to see me react.
— And which do you think it is?— Asked Shirou.
Rin studied him again, and this time her gaze was different. Less scrutiny, more evaluation.
— Your magical presence is… irregular. It's not weak, but it's not normal either. It's as if your circuits are tangled. And there's something else— Her eyes narrowed— A kind of… luminosity. I haven't seen it before.
Shirou remembered Gilgamesh's words. "Your soul is beautiful. It shines". He didn't know whether to mention it.
— So, will you teach me?— He asked, getting to the point.
Rin sighed, crossing her arms.
— If Kirei sent you, refusing would be… complicated, as before. Besides,— She added, and now there was a flash of ambition in her eyes— if you truly have potential, it would be stupid to leave it in the hands of someone less competent. But my conditions are clear. First: this is strictly confidential. No one at school, or in your normal life, should know. Second: I set the schedule, pace, and methods. You obey. Third: if at any point you decide this isn't for you, you quit. I won't waste time with someone who isn't committed.
Shirou nodded. The conditions were reasonable. More than reasonable, they were almost identical to Taiga's with kendo.
— Understood.
— Good.— Rin stood up.— Since you're here, I'll give you a basic introduction. But first, something fundamental.
She walked to the center of the room and turned to face him.
— The magical world exists in the shadow of the normal world for a reason. It's not out of elitism, or silly tradition. It's for survival. Every time humanity explains a mystery, every time science illuminates a dark corner of the world, that mystery dies. And with it, a bit of the strength that fuels magecraft dies.
She gestured with her hand, and a small blue light appeared in her palm, dancing like a firefly.
— This is thaumaturgy. The art of recreating through supernatural means what science and nature itself can do naturally. But every time we do it in plain sight, every time a phone catches a spell or a disbelieving witness sees something they can't explain, the "mystery" weakens. Magic is based on the unknown, and this world— she pointed towards the window, to the city beyond— is determined to know everything.
The light in her hand went out.
— That's why secrecy isn't just a rule. It's a commandment of life or death. For us, and for magic itself. If you ever break that secrecy,— her eyes hardened— I won't just expel you. I'll do what's necessary to make sure you can't do it again. Is that clear?
Shirou felt a chill. It wasn't an empty threat. Rin Tohsaka was the kind of person who kept her promises, no matter how uncomfortable.
— Clear.
— Good— Her expression softened a little— The next lesson will be Saturday morning. Here. Bring comfortable clothes and an open mind. And no stupid questions about wands or flying brooms.
Shirou couldn't help but smile.
— Aww, I wanted to play Quidditch.
A flicker of something resembling humor crossed Rin's face. But she immediately rolled her eyes in annoyance.
— Very funny, Mr. Comedian. Now get out. It's late, and I have things to do.
* * *
The walk back to the Emiya Residence felt shorter. Shirou's head spun with Rin's words, with the strange normality of the Tohsaka mansion, with the feeling of having crossed an invisible threshold.
When he arrived, it was almost midnight. The lights in the house were on, and on the front porch, two figures waited for him.
Taiga was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, a mischievous smile on her face. Kiritsugu stood a step behind, his expression inscrutable under the lantern light.
— Good evening, Shirou-chan!— Taiga sang.— Did you enjoy your first date?
Shirou blinked.
— Date?
— Oh, don't pretend— Taiga approached, giving him a playful nudge— When I noticed you didn't come back to school after running away, I decided to look for you. And guess my surprise when I found you and saw where you were headed, all dreamy-eyed. Straight to Miyama. And there's only one person in Miyama who would make a boy your age run so fast after school.
— Taiga, no— Kiritsugu's voice was calm, but it cut the air like a razor.
But Taiga was on a roll.
— It's Rin Tohsaka! The most popular, smart, and beautiful girl in the whole high school! Even I've heard of her! They say she's so perfect she makes teachers cry with joy— Her smile turned a bit malicious— Well? How was it? Did she let you in? Did she offer you tea? Did you talk about your future together?
— Taiga-nee, it's not… I didn't even know her before today…
— Ah, no need to be embarrassed! It's natural at your age. Although I hoped your first love would be someone a little less… intimidating. That girl has a look that could freeze the sun.
— Taiga.— This time, Kiritsugu's voice brooked no argument.— Inside. Now.
Taiga's smile faded a bit, but she obeyed, throwing Shirou a last wink before disappearing into the house.
The silence left behind was thick and charged. Kiritsugu approached, and in the dim light, his eyes seemed more sunken, more full of shadows than usual.
— You went to the Tohsaka house?
— Yes.
— Why?
Shirou took a deep breath. He knew this moment would come, but that didn't make it easier.
— I met someone. A man named Kirei Kotomine. At the church. He recommended Rin Tohsaka to me as a teacher.
Kiritsugu's reaction was so subtle that someone who didn't know him wouldn't have noticed. A slight tightening of the jaw muscles. A slower than normal blink. But for Shirou, who had learned to read his father's micro-expressions over the years, it was like a shout.
— Kirei— The word came out like a soft curse.— And you accepted.
— She agreed to teach me. The fundamentals of modern magecraft.
Kiritsugu turned and looked into the darkness beyond the garden. For a long moment, he said nothing. He just breathed, the vapor of his breath forming little clouds in the cold night air.
— Magi,— He said finally, and his voice was the sound of earth being moved from a grave— are not like normal people. Their pursuit of knowledge has no ethical limits. Their loyalty is to their art, not to people. And the Tohsaka… are one of the oldest and proudest families. Their magecraft is powerful, and their contempt for those who don't understand it is absolute.
— Rin doesn't seem…
— You don't know her— Kiritsugu turned again, and now his eyes were fixed on Shirou with an intensity that was almost physical.— And she must not know you. Never, under any circumstances, tell her you are my son. That your father is Kiritsugu Emiya. To the magical world, the Magus Killer died in the fire. If they discover I'm alive, and that you have a connection to me…— He didn't finish the sentence. It wasn't necessary.
'But she already deduced on her own that I was your son just by my last name… although she thinks you're dead. And probably the rest of the magus involved in the war four years ago, if they're still alive, will figure it out just as easily…' Shirou thought with irony, but didn't dare say it out loud. His father seemed very serious this time.
— Why?— Shirou asked, though he already suspected the answer.
— Because I killed many of their kind. Because I challenged their rules. Because I am a reminder that their power is not absolute— Kiritsugu came closer and placed a hand on Shirou's shoulder. It wasn't an affectionate gesture; it was an anchor, an attempt to keep him steady in a dangerous current— If you enter their world, Shirou, you do so at your own risk. And with your own identity. Emiya Shirou, Homurahara student, pupil of Rin Tohsaka. Nothing more.
Shirou nodded slowly. He didn't like the deception, but he understood the necessity. He had seen the scars on Kiritsugu's body, had felt the weight of his nightmares.
— Alright.
Kiritsugu studied him for a moment longer, and then, unexpectedly, his expression softened a degree.
— She is a good teacher— He admitted, almost reluctantly— One of the few in this city who could teach you without trying to take you apart to see how you work. But remember: every lesson, every fragment of knowledge, ties you a little more to that world. And once you're tied, it's hard to escape.
— I don't want to escape— Said Shirou, and his voice was firm— I want to understand. I want to be strong enough to protect what matters. And if this is the path, then I'll follow it.
Kiritsugu held his gaze, and in his eyes, Shirou saw something he rarely saw: genuine conflict. The desire to keep him safe clashing against the knowledge that he couldn't protect him forever.
— Then go— He said finally, withdrawing his hand.— Learn. But keep your eyes open. The Moonlit world is beautiful, but its beauty is treacherous. And its shadows are deeper than you imagine.
Shirou nodded one last time and entered the house, where Taiga waited for him with a smile and a dinner that, fortunately, wasn't burnt.
* * *
Later that night, Kiritsugu stayed in the garden, watching the stars beginning to appear among the clouds. In his hand, he held an old photo, faded by time: him, much younger, next to a woman with silver hair and kind eyes.
'Am I doing the right thing, Iri?' He murmured to the night wind. 'Letting him enter that world, after all I did to keep him away from it?'
There was no answer, only the whisper of the wind through the cherry tree branches.
For years, he had tried to give Shirou a normal life. A life with school, friends, kendo practice, and occasionally burnt meals that Shirou himself cooked, hoping to improve. A life far from secret rituals, wars over selfish wishes, and the terrible price of magical power.
But Shirou had never been normal. From the moment he found him among the flames, Kiritsugu had known this child was different. And now, that child had found his own path to power, guided by the man he trusted least and the daughter of an old adversary.
He lit a cigarette, the orange glow of the tip shining in the darkness like a tiny beacon.
'I can't stop you' He thought, exhaling a cloud of smoke. 'But I can prepare you. And I can watch. And if that priest or that Tohsaka girl try to harm you…'
He didn't finish the thought. It wasn't necessary.
The Magus Killer might be retired, but some lessons are never forgotten. And some tools, though rusted, remain deadly.
He threw the cigarette down and crushed it under the sole of his shoe. Then he turned and entered the house, where the warm light of the kitchen and the sound of Shirou's and Taiga's laughter filled the air like a promise.
A promise of normality that, he knew, was about to be broken forever.
* * *
Glossary of Terms
"Magecraft" = "Sorcery" (sometimes I might accidentally call it "mysticism" or similar terms)
"Association": Reference to the association of wizards located in England, in the Clock Tower
"Thaumaturgy": It is the ability and attitude to perform wonders, phenomena considered supernatural or beyond human capabilities, by an agent considered extraordinary, such as a wizard, a saint, or even a king
"Quidditch": Reference to the main sport of the famous Harry Potter book/movie saga
"Moonlit World": It is the name given to the hidden side of the world. The supernatural world that is hidden from the sight of normal people