Frozen Fate

Finally! I caught sight of Irisviel and Saber leaving their plane, and I immediately opened a portal to touch the homunculus woman to use Soul Archive on her as she retrieved her luggage. Now I know where the Einzbern castle is, and I got Skadi's attention.

" Skadi, I am heading out to northern Germany, do me a favor and keep an eye on things for me."

" And why, pray tell, should I remain here while you are off galavanting to another country?"

I handed Caster enough Yen to order a month's worth of ice cream and sweets and answered.

" Because you have free rein to order whatever you want for the next couple of days."

" That is acceptable but do keep in mind that Germany also has some excellent treats as well, so I expect some upon your return."

" Sure, sure, your grace, I will keep that in mind."

After leaving my residence in Fuyuki, I used my Magic to fly west to reach the Einzbern family as soon as possible.

***

With a combination of Magic flight and my Semblance, it did not take me as long to reach Germany as I expected it to. I made a pit stop at a nearby town to get Skadi her souvenirs before trying my hand, well paws, at attacking a Mage's residence to how much of a challenge it would pose for me. After a quick visit to some local gangs, I got some Euros to pay for some late lunch and Caster's treats. If I hurry, I could see the second battle of the Holy Grail War with most of the Servants and Masters in one place.

I went to the mountain range where the Einzbern castle resided and stopped just outside of their wards and defenses. From what I have learned from Irisviel's memories, I got a general idea of the Einzbern family's defenses and decided to test something. I placed my paw on the ground and used Transmutation to alter the landscape. The entire forest surrounding the castle was turned into a barren, empty landscape, and my Semblance soon reached the castle itself was broken apart like a sliced cake that tore apart all the defensive Magecraft woven into the fortress.

That stunt of mine used up almost all of my Aura, but I was pleased to see that Magecraft had no real defense against my Semblance, and I waltzed right in with my guard up. I then saw Jubstacheit von Eimzbern at the center of the broken castle with a small army of female homunculi, and he demanded coldly.

" Who are you to attack the Einzbern family!?"

I did not waste any words on the humanoid golem and immediately tried to use Soul Archive on him by opening a portal behind him. I gripped his neck and lifted him. He struggled to escape, but unfortunately, he wasn't built for direct combat, so his efforts were futile. I used Dark Wrath to destroy him as he ordered the homunculus.

" What are you doing? Attack him!"

The homunculi attacked me but could not get past my Aura, and I soon ended everything with a single blast of dark energy. Leaving behind nothing but charred corpses, I went to get Illyasviel. I also wanted the material the Einzberns have collected over the years, especially the material from the Greater Grail, but that can wait for now. I found Illya's room with little difficulty and knocked on her door. After a short wait, the door opened to reveal the 8-year-old, and she looked up at me with wonder as she exclaimed.

"You're so big!"

She saw my paws and immediately went for them as she wanted to touch them. I couldn't help but smile at her fearlessness and ask.

" Mind if I come in?"

" Come in, come in!"

Seeing the little girl try to drag me into her room despite the size difference between us made me chuckle as she barely came up to my waist. I guess she had no resistance to strangers since she spent her entire life in this solitary castle with only homunculi, Jubstacheit, and her parents to keep her company. I decided to introduce myself first.

" My name is Silva Branwen, and you are?"

" Oh! I am Illyasviel von Einzbern of the Einzbern family!"

" Illyasviel, I am here today to talk to you about leaving the castle and going to see your mother."

She looked at me hopefully and asked.

" Can you really take me to mommy?"

" Yes, your grandfather is not opposed to the decision, which is why I am here to take you to your mother."

I gave a half-truth since dead men can't really say much of anything, and the little girl started packing immediately. As I waited, I reviewed the knowledge I gained from Jubstacheit. I got a clearer picture of how the Holy Grail worked and why Avenger corrupted it as he did when he died in the previous Holy Grail War, and why it never crossed any of Matou, Tohsaka, and Einzbern minds that the Grail could have been corrupted. It was simple. Avenger was a weakling, and in their mind, he could not possibly influence the Holy Grail.

Idiots, the whole lot of them! Avenger still represented All The World's Evil which was enough for the Grail to interpret it so that the Mystery around him was close enough to the original to be recorded in the Throne of Heroes. I suppressed the urge to sigh and felt more than a little annoyed at this misstep by the 3 Mage families and at the fact I had to clean up after them if I wanted to use it for my wish. Illyasviel finally finished packing her things in her little backpack and said to me, with excitement.

" I'm ready now, Silva!"

" Let's head to my place first before I hunt down your mother."

I opened a black portal and extended my paw to Illya, and she took it as we went through the dark doorway.