Sword of Fate | Chapter 1

Title: Trivial Changes: Summoning of Saber

An endless field of blades stretched out towards infinite horizons. Some were a monument to a past hero; a record of their feats. Others were trivial, nameless weapons that carried no epic tale. In this realm, there was no discrimination. Legend stood side by side with the mundane. Together, they served a single purpose, carried a unified existence: sword.

Flames wreathed the edge of this realm, heating and forging the steel contained within. Continually creating, continually reinforcing, these flames continued to burn. The blades were finished, but this land remained incomplete.

The original form was lost in the flames, erased and rewritten. Now, the mist over the terrain had cleared. The horizons were in sight and the world began to materialize. This was a familiar experience, something that was at the edge of the subconscious mind.

A dream. The one known as Emiya Shirou was dreaming. He knew this. Since that fateful day when he lost it all, he had only dreamed of fire and swords. This dream was expected. The flames he felt that day had imprinted themselves on his soul, his very being. He did not know why he also dreamed of swords, but knew it was a matter of course at this point.

They embodied him, represented his own life of being erased in the flames and forged anew. But something was different about this particular dream. A minor shift in the blades and their purpose. A revision in what had been hardened steel. It was-

"Senpai? Are you awake?"

Shirou woke with a start. The pipe in his hand fell to the floor, clattering against the concrete base of the shed. The red-head sat up and looked around the room. "Wha-?"

A small giggle sounded from in front of him and he turned his weary eyes towards it. A beautiful young woman with violet hair, accentuated by a pink ribbon tied on the left side, leaned over him with an amused smile. Her kind eyes matched the color that framed them, and right now seemed to sparkle with mirth. This was Matou Sakura, Shirou's underclassman that showed up in the mornings to help prepare and share breakfast in his household. She wore her school uniform, which meant that breakfast preparations were already done.

Shirou closed his eyes and gathered his bearings. He was in his shed, where he kept his projects and various broken appliances. Sakura was here to wake him up, so that meant that he had slept in later than he intended to. Geez, that's the second time this week.

He sighed. Last night, he had stayed up to practice his magecraft. It began as it usually did, with his slow and painstaking process of creating a magic circuit, but for some reason it had taken longer to form than usual.

"Ah." That was why he was so tired. He had done a successful Reinforcement for once, but the effort and pain to perform it had left him drained, and he fell asleep shortly after.

Shirou opened his eyes. Sakura smiled and leaned back, giving Shirou some space to move. He stood up and scratched the back of his head. "Sorry Sakura," he said. "I didn't think I would be this tired..."

Sakura shook her head. "No, don't worry about it. I know Senpai works hard all day, so it's fine if you sleep in every once in a while."

Shirou frowned. "But it's already been the second time you've had to wake me this week. Geez, and only a day apart too." He sighed. "I'm not a very good Senpai if I can't even get up in time to help you prepare breakfast, Sakura."

"That's not true at all!"

Shirou raised his eyebrows. Sakura wasn't the type that went for vehement denials.

The purple-haired girl flushed and continued. "I like having Senpai depend on me too. You're always trying to do everything by yourself, so I like times like these when I can help you." She finished with a radiant smile.

"...Eh?"

Sakura blushed and turned around. "U-um, don't forget to change before you come in. I'll... I'll set the table." She rushed off before Shirou could get in a reply.

The red-head ran his hand through his hair and let out an exasperated sigh. "Geez, today is going to be one of those days, isn't it?"

Shirou shook his head and changed into the spare uniform he had in the shed. With that done, he clasped his hands in a small prayer to the shed before heading to the house to start his day.

The table was already set by the time he arrived. The main course was simmered lotus root with chicken. A bit elaborate but the leftovers would probably be for Sakura's lunch later. The sides were rice and miso soup, a staple of their breakfast.

Sakura was already seated and smiled at Shirou from her place at the table. To her right was another person Shirou had grown accustomed to seeing in his home.

That person was completely contrary to Sakura. Where Sakura was lady-like and feminine, that person was boisterously loud and tomboyish. Her choice of clothing only accentuated that aspect of her personality, the black and yellow striped sweater giving her the appearance of a tiger. Of course, no one would dare to say that to her face.

Fujimaru Taiga, Shirou's guardian and self-appointed big sister.

Shirou nodded at her as he took his place at the table. "Ah, good morning Fuji-nee." He avoided her gaze as he sat down. Hopefully, she would be distracted by the food and wouldn't notice how late he was.

"Hey, Shirou. Why are you just coming in right now?" It seemed that the tiger wasn't as sleepy as it usually was today. Shirou gave her a sheepish grin and rubbed the back of his head. "Um, Fuji-nee, I can explain..."

Taiga narrowed her eyes and frowned.

Shirou gulped.

Though she was childish at times, Taiga had a serious side to her as well. It came with being the princess of the yakuza in Fuyuki city.

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