The One Above The Heavens Chapter 14 (Patreon)
Content
Sitting within my studies soft office chair I gave a slight hum as Rin Tohsaka came into the room and seeing her in her 'casual' outfit of a red tightly clinging long-sleeve shirt and rather short skirt I gave her a nod as I said more seriously. "Good, you are here. Now I have a couple of statements before we begin."
Rin seeing my serious expression took a seat in front of me with her folding a leg over the other as she held a small notepad and pen in her hands as she prepared to listen to my lesson on metallurgy and Gemology. "Now, I am going to be teaching you actual magic in the field of metallurgy and Gemology, so even if it feels like I am starting at a painfully beginning level... It is because I am, and its because magecraft has degraded from real magic by so far."
She for a split moment frowned before nodding in understanding as she said quietly. "I need to know the path of real magic in Gemology before delving further into it's power. I understand... Sir?" She finished with some embarrassment and confusion but I just chuckled and said easily.
"Just call me teacher or master during these times. It is what Illyasviel calls me when I am tutoring her in the school of alchemy." I cleared my throat and then began to speak. "First in the course of your lineage/Japanese heritage I will be discussing the methods of magical gems of Japan and to contrast in for example the Roman's and Greeks' use of magical gems."
First I laid out a small roll of gems visibly glowing with magical energy and enchanted with a number of effects as I began pointing out the gems and their uses. "Now Japan has a decent history with magical gems, especially with what are called 'Magatama' in being divinely blessed in some form or another. But these gyms made by myself follow the old path and for example, this piece of Jade is enchanted so that anyone who is wearing it for long periods of time will have better health and so long as they constantly wear it, a simple mortal could easily gain a good three or four decades of life living well past a hundred years of age while wearing it."
I then pointed at a reddish stone gem and said. "Jaspar for example when enchanted is best used offensively due to its bloody nature. Either made into a bell it could be used to ward off spirits and other spiritual entities or likewise be used to enhance a warrior's strength."
Taking a breath I smiled pointing at the Jaspar gem and said. "The very reason that Servants can't go through parts of Mt Etna and reach the grail so easily is that the mountain itself has great amounts of Jaspar within its soil and acts as a completely natural barrier which is heavily enhanced by the dozens of powerful leylines that converge on the mountain to fuel the Grail."
Moving on I pointed on to other materials and patiently explained their uses and answered any questions Rin had before I got to the meat of things as I spoke. "Now. The true matter of using magical gems are two fold. First if you are not a magical being like myself being a Campione, a youkai, or even a god. You need to use a ritual to channel the pure magic of the leylines to enchant your gems with the enchantment you desire."
Pulling at my divine power as a Campione, I watched Rin's eyes reflect the glow as a thumb-sized gem was enchanted before her very eyes. From there I pulled out a small booklet and put in on the table between us as I said.
"This booklet lists off all the major gems for this Japanese style of creating Magatama's or divine gems as they used to call it. Now while you can study that book on the stones and their assorted effects and affinities we will be spending the next while going over general rituals to infuse gems with true magical energy and not merely a magecraft project."
I then went on to explain the various rituals used in making enchanted gems and then I began explaining the major differences between Magecraft Gems and Magatama Gems.
"Now the first and most principal difference between a simple Magecraft gem and a true magic-enhanced gem is that the true magic gems normally do not break when being used for their purposes."
To show off that fact I handed off a piece of enchanted obsidian to her and she knowing what I wanted activated the gem with a flicker of her internal mana activating the enchantment within the obsidian.
And I couldn't help a small smile seeing Rin's studious and serious expression turn up in surprise as she hurriedly grabbed onto her chair that also began to float in the air as all things connected to her lost their ties to the world's gravity.
"Now as you can see... Although the gem is ever so slowly draining of mana while you hold it and are floating. Even should it run out of mana, the gem itself won't break and will only need to be refilled with mana."
I pointed at the gem and then said more seriously. "The second major difference compared to magecraft gem uses. Is that, this gem for example will refill itself due to a series of seals and runes that form pseudo-magical circuits within the gem. Which is made out of its own natural crystalline latticework within itself."
This meant that it could almost be called a living thing with how the rock was going to be breathing in the world's natural Odd to create mana within itself to be used at a future date.
Sure the gem had a limit to how much mana it could store, but that was a good bit of power it could store, and with it being a gem? Its status as an enchanted gem would last for literally millions of years even with constant use and recharging hence why the divine used gems to form the cores of power for their treasures.
Taking a drink I watched as Rin slowly learned how to control the enchanted gem, controlling its gravity-repelling effect and quickly learning how not to float aimlessly around my office even if she was smart enough to make sure that she didn't hit the walls of my office nor any of the stuffed cabinets of my future planned treasures and lesser treasures in pills and elixers.
"Any questions Rin?"
She slowly came down to a soft landing a bit to the side of where her chair originally belonged and then she carefully put the gem ever so softly down onto the velvet pad holding the rest of the gems I was teaching her about.
And after she did so. Rin met my gaze and asked curiously. "So... If you don't mind me asking where does the Second True Magician come into things with his abilities with the Kaleidoscope."
I smiled as that was a good question and I explained how Zeltretch's expression of the Kaleidoscope was based on his own study of Gem-based magic back during the old times in which magic was still common... As many people forgot that Zeltrech was literally more than two thousand years old at this point, he didn't just discover the Kaleidoscope during the Middle Ages or something.
No that crazy bastard even knew Solomon the Grand Caster, he had the benefit of living during the height of human-based magic before it began its decline until apparently Albion died trying to get to the Reverse Side of the World and caused a number of issues.
Either way, I explained how Zeltretch's expression of the Kaleidoscope was based on twisting a gem through light, and the reflecting light and differing light was his expression of parallel worlds with each parallel form of the same thing he saw through the gem being a different parallel world.
After a bit Rin looked at me... And with something akin to timidness in her voice, she asked me. "Master... Can I reach Zeltrech's level? Like is it even possible for a human like me to do that?"
I stilled and then after a moment of thought, I brushed a hand down my face and answered honestly. "Hmm... Yes and no, you yourself are not capable of surviving a trip through Akasha to gain wisdom and affirmation of being a True Magician. But what if I blessed you? What if I helped you become a Campione as you have high affinities with a couple of goddesses I could name."
Holding out my hands I said proudly. "Rin there are infinite paths you can take in life. Just as there are countless parallel worlds Zeltrech has seen in the Kaleidoscope, I am sure that in some of those worlds, you have found a way to become great... It's just a matter of finding the path you should take to reach that greatness."
And after a moment Rin bit her lower lip and she asked with utter confusion. "Why would you help me become a Campione though? That... Is crazy to say the least and wouldn't I become a rival to you?"
I raised an eyebrow and then I literally laughed. A healthy large belly jiggling deep laughter as Rin's eyebrow twitched and I finally calmed down and said honestly. "No no no Rin. Even if I helped you kill the goddesses Ishtar and Ereshkigal with whom you have very high affinity to. You still wouldn't be my equal as I would be basically beating said goddesses half to death to allow you to finish them off to begin with."
I continued as I spoke frankly. "I am a Campione, yes but I am not a mere devil king. My goal is to be an Emperor who rules above mere kingship." And then I looked at Rin and asked.
"Even if you had all the power of a Campione Rin Tohsaka... Would you actually even want to rule? No, no you wouldn't, you would use the longer lifespan to continue your families magecraft that will transcend into studying true magic."
After a moment Rin lowered her head and her voice came out with some humour-filled frustration. "I can't see it... A human isn't supposed to slay a god, and never before has another Campione just given a half-dead divine to someone else to make them a Campione... Hell, who are you to even think about offering that to me? I am just a student that you gave a single lesson to!?"
I couldn't help another series of laughter at how expressive and emotional Rin was But after I had my good laugh with humor clear across my face I leaned in and with a single hand picked up her chin so even as her flushed face met mine, I said calmly. "Even if you become a Campione... You will still be my good girl won't you Rin?"
She visibly shuddered under my gaze and I saw that submissive button rising up in her so I hammered it hard as I looked directly into her eyes and said deeply. "You are my student yes... But I think our relationship goes a bit further than that doesn't it Rin?"
She swallowed and her eyes lowered as she looked to my lips and I wondered if she wanted to kiss. But before I could make such a move she demurely nodded and I gently let go of her chin and I said more naturally. "Good. Then while you digest the lesson I already gave you, and read this booklet I made, I want you to consider the thought. Of becoming better than what you currently are."
With that, she hurriedly tucked the booklet against her chest as she quickly left the room and I gave a small smile seeing Rin's fantastic ass as her skirt flew up with how embarrassed she was in her movement to get some space to probably go scream into her pillow or whatever.
I then leaned back into my chair as I gave out a mental hum as I pinged out my sensory technique and I gave a wane smile at feeling a number of Familiar's hanging out on the edge of the Matou manor's powerful wards.
Marshaling my power I formed a connection with as many of the familiars as I could sense and I broadcasted a blunt message in my power. "One does not gawk at an Emperor, begone!"
And a number of the animals or monstrous familiars hiding outside the wards literally exploded into piles of gore as the divine power of a Campione wasn't something to ignore and I knew that a couple of mages would likely be dying as well from the power transferring to their mortal frames.
But I didn't care all that much as I knew they weren't just watching me out of curiosity and I refused to let some psycho mages take Rin, Sakura, or Illya hostage.
Besides, I was a Campione, I was a literal god-king. My lessers do not get the right to gawk at my subjects and forms without my permission.
With that done and feeling the inhabitants shifting at the display of power, I just sent off. I played with the stone disk of the Gorgoneion as I felt the divine power of the [Serpent] aspect of Athena.
'It's so odd how Heretic gods work... Athena needs the aspect of Medusa in the [Serpent] which allows her to devour [Steel] Heretic Gods to become whole. But in reality this aspect of Medusa could also be used to make my Servant Medusa all the more powerful.' I thought as I wondered when Athena was going to pop up here to challenge me for the Gorgoneion if I didn't just feed it to Medusa in the coming days.
Nothing was stopping me from using it as bait to force a confrontation with Athena in which I could go about the old ways and defeat Athena and make her into a Mother Earth Goddess who would be bound to me.
Which was my plan honestly.
But as though hearing my thoughts I heard a series of knocks at my door and I spoke out. "Come on in Medusa."
And low and behold was the Rider and shattered goddess herself. "Jake, and what did you do to get Sakura's adorable sister stomping out of here looking so embarrassed?" She asked slightly teasingly.
I let out a slight chuckle as I put the Gorgoneion back into my pocket and said. "Oh, I just bullied her a bit. Something all young adults need to give them some steel in their spine."
Shaking my head, I gave Medusa a look and I rested my face on one of my fists as I asked her curiously. "So what is on your mind? You wouldn't come to me for some simple small talk."
To which she gave a throaty chuckle as she gently sat on the edge of my desk with her raising up on of her fantastic legs to hold it against her chest as she stared at me through her metal visor that covered up her cursed eyes. "Oh? So sure of my personality are you Jake?"
To which I gave an enigmatic smile to her and after a moment her teasing smile disappeared as she looked at me more seriously and spoke. "Your plan to turn me into a goddess... Could you instead use the Gorgoneion to summon my sisters into the remaining Assassin slot in this Grail War."
I blinked hearing her request and I couldn't help but ask her. "I mean... Honestly, I don't mind, as it will help my goals in opening the grail for me to more easily deal with it. But... Aren't they super troublesome?" I asked wryly.
Medusa's face also twitched into a weak smile but she just shook her head and taking a breath she spoke with a grimace coming to her face. "I would normally agree... But I can feel in my core as Medusa, not just the Rider Servant Medusa but my core of Medusa that with Athena and the Gorgoneion here along with myself... My sisters in Euryale and Stheno will descend upon this world as a Heretic God soon with our combined legends pulling so much of our essence into this place."
The tallest sister of the Gorgons and their protector shifted as she said softly. "I don't want my siblings to descend to this world as Heretic Gods that you will need to slay to protect humanity or even just yourself as they will be driven to attempt to slay you themselves."
Chewing on my thoughts I realized that I would need to be the master of Stheno and Euryale if I summoned them within the Assassin class... As not only with them being actual divine spirits/gods they would be too hard a mana drain for simple mages... But I was the only one who could keep the two troublesome sisters from acting up too much.
But then a thought struck me as I realized that using the Gorgoneion as a catalyst wouldn't drain the divinity within it. But it would instead drag Athena out if she thought I was actually going to use it for my own plans.
So after a moment of considering the pro's and cons of such. I nodded and stood up with the Gorgoneion falling into my hand. "Alright then let's go summon your big sisters then. And then I will get Athena out of her hiding place."