Artoria stepped inside, passing through the corridor to the main hall.
Her gaze fell on the longsword propped in the corner. Memories stirred.
'Sensei, I found a real sword!'
'Where on earth did you find it?'
'By the river!'
Recalling the day Shirou had brought that blade to her, Artoria marveled at how "fate" truly worked in mysterious ways.
That sword was none other than Kusanagi -- the divine weapon once wielded by Assassin, Himura Kenshin.
She'd never expected to encounter it again in such a fashion.
Shirou. The sword he'd found. Everything spoke of "connections" weaving themselves together.
'This child has talent for magecraft.'
'With proper instruction, he might become a remarkable mage someday.'
Through the window, she watched him practice his swings and felt quiet satisfaction.
"Ah, Sensei! You're back!"
"Rin, have you finished your homework?"
"Obviously!"
The twin-tailed girl poked her head in with visible excitement.
"Then let's go out tonight. All of you."
"Yay! You're the best!"
Satisfaction secured, Tohsaka Rin bounced away, full of energy.
Away from her father's watchful eye, she was a remarkably spirited child.
"And Sakura?"
"She said she wants to keep studying."
"I have no idea why she's so obsessed."
Hearing Rin's answer, Artoria fell silent for a moment.
'It's all because I was too weak. I held Berserker back.'
'So I never want that to happen again!'
'I'm going to prove that he's the strongest!'
'For that, I'll work as hard as it takes. I'll become the strongest mage!'
'Please take me as your student!'
'Wait -- me?!'
The girl had apparently reached a certain conclusion, and was pursuing her goal with single-minded intensity.
Her chosen mentor, however, was not Artoria -- but Waver, Rider's Master.
When asked why, Sakura's answer had been characteristically straightforward.
'Because you won this war! Even Papa couldn't beat you, so you're the strongest mage!'
'If I study under you, I'm sure I can become strong too!'
The baffling logic had given Waver headaches for days.
After Waver departed for the Clock Tower, he'd left the villa vacant. It was subsequently given to Artoria, who had no residence of her own.
And with it came... three -- no, four small visitors who regularly descended on the place with enthusiastic chaos.
Artoria didn't mind. At least it was lively.
"His Majesty has departed. Our duty now is to support Master Waver's ascension to the highest echelon of magedom."
"Rest assured. I, Kotomine Risei, will devote my remaining years to this cause."
"Kirei, you will serve as Master Waver's disciple henceforth. There's a chance you'll gain access to the Clock Tower's knowledge -- an opportunity not to be squandered."
"Understood."
"As Sakura and Rin mature, I will petition Master Waver to take them as students as well."
"That gives us a foothold into the Clock Tower proper, strengthening his position."
Inside the church, Tohsaka Tokiomi, Kotomine Risei, and Kotomine Kirei convened to formalize their post-war directive.
Even with Lelouch gone, the Geass remained in effect.
Loyalty to "His Majesty" persisted. Following his "entrusted will," they would support Waver in every way possible.
While the arrangement seemed eccentric, their day-to-day behavior remained perfectly normal to outside eyes. Even Tokiomi's wife and daughters detected nothing unusual.
"Ugh..."
The Clock Tower. Waver had barely returned before the workload buried him.
A mountain of deferred coursework, academic obligations, and administrative tasks loomed over his desk.
Tap.
"Waver Velvet!"
Head down, sifting through materials, he jolted at the stern voice and looked up.
Kayneth.
"Professor..."
"Is there... something I can help you with?"
Cautiously probing, Waver had no idea what to expect.
"No longer so shallow, then?"
"That stagnant brain of yours finally grew from practical experience."
Looking down at his student, Kayneth's cutting words were delivered with clinical precision.
In the past, a provocation like this would have sent Waver into a rage.
But now, the young man's face showed only mild indifference. No anger. No bravado.
"Ha."
Meeting Kayneth's scrutinizing gaze, Waver held it without flinching.
"Here."
A sheaf of papers landed on his desk. Waver scrambled to catch them.
When he read the contents, he went still.
It was the thesis he'd submitted to Kayneth before the war.
"I'll pretend I never saw it."
"Handle it yourself."
"If you ever truly prove your thesis correct... it will mean the Mage's Association itself has changed."
Hands behind his back, Kayneth spoke with unexpected gravity.
Talent, lineage, aptitude -- those were the traditional markers of greatness in the mage world.
But perhaps what the world truly needed wasn't any of those.
His own death was the starkest proof.
"Also... I heard from Sola. You want to become an outstanding mage?"
"You may be a hopeless student, but guiding you so you don't take the wrong path -- that much, I can do."
"I hope you can endure it."
Long after Kayneth had left, the words finally sank in.
'Could it be...?'
Since returning to the Clock Tower, the crushing workload had felt oddly suspicious.
Overwhelming, yes. But every assignment addressed a genuine gap in his knowledge.
Looking at Kayneth's retreating figure, the picture became clear.
This was repayment. In its own way.
Back in his quarters, eyes drifting to the white imperial cloak hanging on the rack, Waver allowed himself a small smile.
The work was grueling. Exhausting. But for the first time, he didn't resent any of it.
"Rider... someday, I might just give you a surprise."
The Grand Time Temple.
Humanity's final Master, Fujimaru Ritsuka, waged battle against the ultimate enemy.
But when the Demon God King Goetia deployed his Third Noble Phantasm -- "The Time of Birth Has Come, He Is the One Who Masters All" -- the unexpected occurred.
"Impossible! The counter-summoning protocol should still be active. How could a Heroic Spirit--"
"And one powerful enough to block my Third Noble Phantasm?"
'This unease...'
'I'm sensing a threat from a mere Heroic Spirit?'
An adversary beyond all calculation. Goetia's composure fractured.
The knight who had appeared, shield raised against the beam of annihilation, turned to the half-kneeling Master behind him.
"Servant, Saver class. Summoned to answer the call."
"Tell me... are you my Master?"
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]