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The following day, Irisviel arrived to pick up her daughter.

"Illya, you've been quite a handful for Shirou," she said with a tender touch to her daughter's head.

Shirou waved it off, saying, "No worries, really."

As Gray stood nearby, she couldn't help but notice King Arthur, Artoria Pendragon, watching Irisviel with a soft and gentle gaze.

In a hushed tone, Gray asked, "Your Highness, do you know that person?"

She glanced at her and replied with a nod, "Yes, Irisviel was my Master during the Fourth Holy Grail War."

"I see..."

Gray's eyes shifted to Irisviel, and she couldn't help but think, "So, she was Her Highness's Master during the Fourth Holy Grail War..."

Artoria's eyes rested on Illya, who stood next to Irisviel. She whispered under her breath, "Irisviel's daughter, huh... This child has truly grown."

In that instant, Irisviel's gaze fell upon Gray standing beside her. She blinked in surprise, then asked in a soft voice, "Saber?"

"Huh...?" Confused and flustered, Gray stammered, "No, I'm not... I'm not Her Highness... I... I..."

He quickly intervened, saying, "She's Gray, not Saber."

After a brief pause, he added, "But you're not entirely mistaken. Due to certain circumstances, Saber is currently residing within her, though you cannot see her."

"I see..." Irisviel nodded, her smile becoming even warmer. She spoke affectionately, "Saber, even though I can't see you, I want to talk to you. I fulfilled our promise from the Fourth Holy Grail War. I survived. Also, your suggestion was quite good. Well done!"

Irisviel blinked her eyes, forming a scissor shape with her hands and placing them on her head, resembling a cute little white rabbit, playfully blinking her eyes.

Illya kept her head buried, feeling a sense of embarrassment looking at her mother in this moment.

Gray also lowered her head, feeling disheartened by her own lack of courage to respond fully to a stranger's question.

Why did she feel so timid?

Artoria noticed her distress and gently patted her shoulder, "Take all the time you need. There's no rush."

Feeling comforted by her words, Gray mustered the courage to ask, "Can someone like me really be saved, Your Highness?"

The king of knight's face turned serious,, "Of course!"

Witnessing her genuine concern, Gray felt a surge of encouragement.

But why did she care so much about Gray?

Apart from her personal nature and the fact that Gray's body served as the vessel that brought her back to life, there was one particularly meaningful reason - when she looked at Gray, Artoria saw her own reflection.

Previously bound by a strong sense of righteousness, her emotions had been tightly constrained, leaving her without a deep understanding of people's hearts or even herself.

It was her king who managed to unlock those suppressed emotions, and it was Arcueid's Mystic Eyes that finally untied the knots holding back her feelings.

"My king..." she gazed at her king's profile.

As Shirou and Irisviel exchanged a few more words, Irisviel decided it was time for her to take her leave.

However...

"Could you hand over Sapphire to me, Shirou?" Irisviel asked.

He couldn't help but be taken aback. His brows furrowed, and he led Irisviel to a separate room for a private conversation, while Illya and the others eavesdropped outside the door.

In the room, he was straightforward and asked, "Irisviel, you're aware of Sapphire and Illya, right?"

She nodded, "Yes, I know. I've known about it from the very start. I was aware of the contract between Sapphire and Illya."

"Does Kiritsugu also know?"

She nodded once again.

He looked puzzled and asked, "I don't get it. Why would you allow your child to get involved in such dangerous situations? Yesterday, if I hadn't arrived in time, they would have been in grave danger."

"Don't worry," she reassured, shaking her head gently. "That won't happen."

He furrowed his brows.

Her smile softened, "Kiritsugu and I never had the intention of forcing Illya into dangerous situations. We simply let her make her own choices."

"What do you mean?"

"This world can be incredibly dangerous, Shirou. You never know when unexpected events might shatter your peaceful life and take away everything you hold dear. Without strength, one can only feel helpless and weep."

"I don't think magi are that powerful, though."

"And what about Heroic Spirits? The Fourth Holy Grail War was a battle among Heroic Spirits. If it weren't for your final wish with the Holy Grail, how many lives in this city would have been lost? Nine years ago, when the Dead Apostle Ancestor attacked, your courageous actions prevented further casualties. And during the nine years you were away, do you have any idea how many incidents occurred in Fuyuki City?"

He shook his head.

"Quite a few, actually. There were many magi and even Dead Apostles lurking within Fuyuki City. Fortunately, they didn't inflict significant harm. But now, we face an invasion from parallel worlds."

"You know about this?" He was surprised.

"When Sapphire and Illya made their contract, she told me," Irisviel said softly. "With this invasion from parallel worlds, who's to say there won't be future enemies coming from beyond this world? Kiritsugu and I want to shield Illya from the dangerous world of magi, yet we also want her to possess the strength to defend herself."

He began to understand the couple's intentions.

Irisviel looked thoughtful as she continued, "Neither Kiritsugu nor I can be by that child's side forever. Life is fleeting, and one day, we'll have to part ways with her. The one who can truly accompany her through life's journey is none other than herself. She's the one who can protect herself from harm."

Pausing for a moment, she looked at him with a soft, knowing smile. "And Shirou, the same applies to you. You're already seventeen now, and soon enough, you'll be starting a family and a career. You may be able to protect them for a while, but you can't be their protector forever. Remember what happened nine years ago? If you ever face a formidable enemy that forces you to leave this city and your loved ones behind, who will be there to watch over and protect them in your absence?"

Shirou's eyes narrowed as he thought about her words.

She clapped her hands together, a warm smile on her face. "Alright, enough of the parental talk. Can you do me a favor, Shirou? Could you return the Sapphire to Illya?"

He paused briefly, then retrieved the black treasure chest and opened it. From inside, he took out Sapphire and handed it to her.

"Lady Irisviel!" Sapphire called out cheerfully as it caught sight of her.

"Hmm. Sapphire, you've been through a lot. But I've come to save you," she said with a warm smile.

Ruby couldn't contain its joy and shouted, "Finally! Finally, I'm saved!"

"No, you're not," He sneered and closed the treasure chest.

"Wait a minute! Why does it have to be only me? Why did you release only Sapphire? Eternal King?!" The Ruby protested from within the box. "Being alone is incredibly lonely! Please don't leave me here all by myself, ahhh—!"

"I'll grieve for you, big sister," Sapphire responded.

"Wait! Sapphire, what are you saying? Are you trying to betray me? I'll cry, really cry, 'wawawawa,' with loud sobbing sound!"

He paid no heed to Ruby's pleas and returned it to the imaginary space.

Irisviel held Sapphire in her hand and spoke, "Well then, I'll be on my way now, Shirou."

He nodded in acknowledgment.

Hand in hand with Illya, she left the Fujimaru residence.

As Irisviel departed, Shirou's head dipped in deep contemplation, reflecting on her words.

He wasn't worried about Sakura, as he knew she had the protection of Tiamat. The one he was worried about was Ritsuka.

She was still so young, innocent, and blissfully unaware of the harsh realities of the world. Everything she perceived through her eyes was painted with pure and untainted colors.

His heart ached at the thought of exposing her to the dangerous world of magi, or anything remotely connected to it. He wished to shield her from all the darkness and dangers that lurked within.

Yet, Irisviel's words had struck a chord with him. He knew deep down that he couldn't keep her sheltered forever. Life was unpredictable, and circumstances could change in the blink of an eye.

Moreover, he couldn't ignore the unsettling uncertainty caused by the invasion from parallel worlds. The situation might have evolved into something even more dangerous.

The reality weighed heavily on his mind. The whole situation, something he and Zelretch had created, had now spiraled into something far beyond the familiar world of "Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya." It had evolved into something more dangerous, with even gods making their presence known.

Shirou's "Clairvoyance EX" was a useful ability, but it had its limits. It couldn't provide him with insight into events beyond 2004.

In his contemplation, a notion crossed his mind - maybe he should consider empowering Ritsuka. If he couldn't protect her at all times, then perhaps giving her the strength to defend herself would be the best course of action.

As he continued to ponder, he eventually shook his head, deciding to set aside these thoughts for the time being. Instead, he shifted his focus and called out to Miyu.

"What's the matter, Fujimaru-nii?"

His expression softened as he spoke, "Come with me. I'll make arrangements for your enrollment."

Miyu seemed surprised by the offer, and she replied, "Enrollment? That's unnecessary. Actually, I've already self-taught all the subjects I need to learn."

He shook his head with a soft smile, reaching out to pat her head gently. "School isn't just about stuffing your head with facts and knowledge; it's so much more than that."

Miyu tilted her head, "Like what?"

"Friendship and youth."

Her gaze softened, and she lowered her head thoughtfully.

"Don't let the invasion from parallel worlds weigh on your mind, and don't blame yourself. The person standing here now is the new you, starting afresh. Your focus should be on enjoying your childhood, learning new things, and growing into a dependable adult over time. That's what adults do, they guide children to become better versions of themselves," He reassured Miyu, gently holding her hand as they stepped out of the house.

Miyu followed, trailing behind Shirou, and caught sight of his back illuminated by soft, golden sunlight—a figure that exuded reliability and strength.

In her heart, she realized, "Ah, I see... my brother has always been by my side."