King Crimson, Six Eyes and Circuits Unlocked

Kiritsugu and Shirou arrived at a grand, Japanese-style building, radiating an aura of classical elegance. The structure stood with timeless grace, its architectural details showcasing a rich cultural heritage. The surrounding yard, spacious and meticulously maintained, encompassed a serene dojo. Its presence added a touch of tranquility to the ambiance. Adjacent to the yard, an ancient storehouse stood, weathered by the passage of time.

"Well, this is going to be your new home, Shirou," Kiritsugu stated, his voice filled with a touch of pride. Shirou's eyes widened with amazement as he took in the grandeur of the building. "It's really so big," he remarked, still in awe of the size and elegance of their new residence.

"Indeed," Kiritsugu nodded, leading the way toward the entrance. "Let's head inside and discuss the question you asked me earlier." Shirou followed closely, his curiosity piqued. "What is a magus?" he inquired, seeking clarification.

Kiritsugu paused for a moment, his gaze steady. "Yes, however, it is important to remember that magecraft must be kept secret. We must maintain utmost discretion regarding our abilities, never revealing them to the public."

Shirou absorbed this information, recognizing the significance of secrecy in their new lives. With a nod, he expressed his understanding. "I will remember to keep magecraft hidden," he affirmed, determined to honor Kiritsugu's guidance.

As they reached the entrance, Shirou took a deep breath, ready to step into their new abode and delve further into the world of magecraft alongside his mentor and dad.

At the entrance, Shirou and Kiritsugu removed their shoes, placing them neatly on the shoe rack before stepping inside. They entered a spacious living room adorned with traditional Japanese aesthetics. To one side, a well-equipped kitchen stood, while a low table adorned with cushions occupied the center of the room, providing a comfortable space for them to sit and converse.

Before delving into their discussion, Kiritsugu expressed his intention to make tea for both of them. "Shirou, I will go make a cup of tea for us before we continue," he announced. Shirou nodded in agreement, watching as Kiritsugu made his way into the kitchen, preparing to boil water.

However, in a moment of clarity granted by his activated Epitaph ability, Shirou witnessed a future in which the kitchen erupted in flames. Alarmed, he urgently shouted, "Wait, don't turn on the stove! You're going to burn the house down!"

Kiritsugu, taken aback by Shirou's sudden outburst, had already turned on the stove. In the blink of an eye, his action resulted in the kitchen being engulfed in flames. Reacting swiftly, Kiritsugu rushed outside to retrieve a fire extinguisher, desperately fighting to extinguish the flames that threatened their home.

Once the fire was subdued, Kiritsugu returned, his expression a mix of surprise and concern. Shirou couldn't contain his curiosity, questioning, "How did you manage to set the kitchen on fire? It hasn't even been a second since you turned on the stove."

Kiritsugu, taken aback by Shirou's question, could only respond with bewilderment. "I... I don't know. How did you know before it happened?"

Shirou, his voice tinged with uncertainty, explained, "I saw it in my hair, it showed a vision of the future. It's an ability I possess called Epitaph, or at least that's what I believe it to be." Kiritsugu's mind raced, struggling to comprehend the implications of what Shirou had just revealed.

Before Kiritsugu could articulate a response, Shirou's words cut through the air. "That's impossible. Only users of Mystic Eyes or those who possess the Fifth True Magic can see the future," he declared, echoing the very thought that had been forming in Kiritsugu's mind.

Kiritsugu stood frozen, his mind reeling with the revelation of Shirou's extraordinary ability. It dawned on him that Shirou may hail from a powerful mage lineage, one that delved into the exclusive realm of time manipulation, much like his own studies in time magecraft. Fear gripped Kiritsugu's heart as he contemplated the consequences of Shirou's discovery by other magi or the notorious Clock Tower in England.

In that pivotal moment, Kiritsugu's perspective shifted. He now saw the potential in teaching Shirou magecraft, eager to protect him and keep him away from the other magi. Overwhelmed by curiosity, he asked, "What else can you do?"

Shirou was on the verge of revealing the existence of his system when a discreet message from the system reminded him to keep its existence a secret. Heeding this warning, Shirou carefully chose his words. "I possess another ability called Time Erasure. It allows me to remove the cause of events while preserving the effects, altering my own fate in the process, I....think..." he explained, still grappling with the full extent of his newfound powers.

Kiritsugu was astounded. The ability Shirou described was reminiscent of True Magic, the domain of extraordinary mages. Magecraft capable of manipulating conceptual forces. Intrigued, Kiritsugu ventured a request, "Can you demonstrate this ability for me?"

Shirou hesitated for a moment, uncertain if they could both access the power of Time Erasure simultaneously. However, willing to take the risk, he held Kiritsugu's hand tightly. In a blaze of crimson fiery aura, Shirou unleashed his power, shouting, "KING CRIMSON!"

Reality shattered, and time seemed to slow down. Kiritsugu gazed in awe as their surroundings faded away, leaving them standing amidst the vast expanse of space. Everything appeared surreal and otherworldly. Yet, as quickly as it had begun, the distortion ceased, and reality snapped back into place. Shirou collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath, his stamina depleted from the exertion of his ability.

Kiritsugu, still in a state of shock, knelt beside Shirou, his mind filled with both wonder and concern. He realized that Shirou's abilities surpassed anything he had encountered before, venturing into realms of power that were truly extraordinary. With unwavering resolve, Kiritsugu pledged to guide and protect Shirou, recognizing the immense danger that he possessed.

Kiritsugu, filled with concern, asked, "Are you okay?" Shirou replied with a breathless chuckle, "Yeah, hah... I'll be fine in a minute." Kiritsugu gently guided Shirou to the nearby table, helping him lie down. With a serious expression, Kiritsugu began to explain the intricacies of magecraft.

"Practicing magecraft is to walk with death," Kiritsugu began, his voice laced with gravity. "Utilizing magecraft requires the manipulation of mana from the surroundings and the od within a magus's body, converting it into prana, the essence used to perform mysteries. However, this process relies on unlocked circuits."

Before Kiritsugu could continue, Shirou interjected, "But I don't have my circuits unlocked." Kiritsugu's eyes widened in disbelief. How could Shirou have exhibited such abilities without unlocked circuits? Seeking confirmation, Kiritsugu checked Shirou's circuits by channeling his own prana through his adoptive son's body, only to find that Shirou's statement was true. Bewildered, Kiritsugu stammered, "H-how did you use that ability without prana? It's impossible!"

Shirou replied honestly, "I don't know. It just depletes all of my stamina and activates." Kiritsugu found himself in a state of utter shock, struggling to comprehend the extraordinary nature of Shirou's abilities. Before he could fully process the implications, Shirou interrupted his racing thoughts, asking, "Can you unlock my circuits, Dad?"

Kiritsugu took a deep breath, composing himself. "Alright, remove your shirt and turn your back to me," he instructed. Shirou followed his guidance, positioning himself accordingly. Kiritsugu continued, "To unlock your circuits, you need to envision a mental trigger. I will utilize my own prana to open your circuits. Are you ready?"

Shirou, confused yet willing, asked, "What's a mental trigger?" Kiritsugu explained, "It's an image that a magus uses to self-hypnotize and activate their circuits. Each magus has their own unique trigger. You just have to imagine something that resonates with you, allowing you to tap into the energy within. Are you ready?"

Shirou nodded, offering a resolute "Yes." With a gentle touch, Kiritsugu placed his hand on Shirou's back, channeling his energy through his son's body to forcefully unlock the dormant circuits. In that crucial moment, Shirou's mind raced, searching for a suitable trigger. Suddenly, it struck him—a trigger that would ignite his latent abilities. The image of a hammer of a gun firing played vividly in his mind's eye, accompanied by the appearance of vibrant green lines surrounding his body.

As the energy surged through him, Shirou could sense a transformation taking place within. The circuits.

As Shirou opened his eyes, he was greeted by a world transformed. Everything became remarkably clear, more vibrant, and more vivid than ever before. He could perceive shimmering colors dancing in the air, and time itself seemed to slow to a crawl. Overwhelmed by the influx of sensory information, he felt his head spinning.

Looking Outside the door, Shirou's heightened vision allowed him to absorb an extraordinary amount of detail about his surroundings. Every object, every texture, every speck of dust seemed to flood his consciousness with a flood of information. The strain on his mind became unbearable, causing blood to trickle from his ears as his brain struggled to process the overwhelming data.

Kiritsugu, witnessing Shirou's distress, urgently called out, "Shirou, what's wrong?!" His voice carried a mixture of concern and alarm as he took in the sight of Shirou's eyes. They had transformed into mystical orbs, resembling jewels that trapped swirling clouds within them. They held an enchanting allure, captivating Kiritsugu's attention.

Realizing the severity of the situation, Kiritsugu acted swiftly to protect Shirou. Concerned about the bleeding from Shirou's ears and his unresponsive state, he made a difficult decision. Gently but firmly, he knocked Shirou unconscious, hoping to alleviate the strain on his mind and give him the respite he desperately needed.

At that moment, Shirou's consciousness faded, temporarily escaping the overwhelming influx of information. Kiritsugu, now faced with the mystery of Shirou's newly awakened mystic eyes and their untapped potential, was left pondering the enigmatic path that lay ahead for his young adopted son.

As Shirou's unconscious form rested peacefully, Kiritsugu stood by his side, his mind racing with thoughts and concerns. He knew that Shirou possessed an extraordinary gift, his mystic eyes that granted him unparalleled perception. However, he also understood the dangers that came with such power.

Carefully, Kiritsugu examined Shirou's face, his gaze fixed on those mesmerizing eyes. They seemed to hold secrets and untapped potential but also harbored immense risks. He knew that controlling and harnessing these mystic eyes would require guidance and training. Kiritsugu was determined to provide Shirou with the support he needed to navigate this uncharted territory.

Hours passed as Kiritsugu sat vigilantly, contemplating the path ahead. He delved into his own knowledge of magecraft, searching for any information that could shed light on Shirou's unique abilities. He knew that the key lay in understanding the nature of the mystic eyes and finding a way to mitigate their overwhelming effects.

Eventually, a plan began to take shape in Kiritsugu's mind. A plan that under no circumstances would he go threw with. He would seek the assistance of fellow magus, those who specialized in mystic eyes or possessed similar talents. Together, they could guide Shirou, teaching him to control and master his extraordinary power. It would be a delicate and arduous process to find someone that won't kill him or sell him out to the clocktower, but Kiritsugu was willing to do whatever it took to protect Shirou and help him control and use his abilities without them killing him.

Kiritsugu had a pretty good idea of who he would ask to help and he didn't like meeting with them. "Touko Aozaki.." Kiritsugu whispered already dreading having to meet with her.