IBHJ 1016 (Patreon)

"You're right. If it's your future self, there's a good chance he left some backup plan," Gilgamesh said with a nod.

Everyone agreed to trust Shirou.

Even Saber, Perseus, and Medea, who had never met Shirou, were convinced. They saw how highly Gilgamesh thought of him. And they'd heard from Ayaka how Shirou turned things around in that desperate future. They believed in him too.

Fujimaru and the others got moving. They weren't sure where Kiara was now, but they all had the same goal. They just hoped she was still okay.

...

Shirou, holding Tethys, ran through Manaka's chaotic mental space, dodging Dark Vortex's pursuit.

"Whew. That was close," Tethys said, patting her chest in relief.

Shirou used the black mud to check their surroundings. For some reason, the Dark Vortex had stopped chasing them. Once he was sure they were safe for now, he turned to Tethys. "Let me make sure - you're Tethys, right? The fairy Tiamat mentioned?"

"'Make sure'?" Tethys looked at him. Then she nodded. "Yes, that's me."

She floated around him a few times. "I didn't know you had such an interesting hobby."

Even as a doll, you could tell she was teasing him.

Shirou stayed calm. "It's not what you think. The Vortex's power changed my body, Lady Tethys."

"Oh, I can see that," she said. "But... doesn't it bother you?"

"Bother me?" he looked puzzled. "Why would I be bothered about using my woman's body?"

She circled him a few more times, surprised. "You've changed so much. It's hard to get used to."

"What's hard to get used to?" he asked, confused. He thought he was being polite. Was Tethys being picky?

"Of course it's hard. You used to respect me, but you always called me a Barbie doll. It made me mad. Now you're suddenly so polite... it's a bit much."

"Is that so?" he said with a smile. "Well, people do change."

"Yeah, but I'm not great with change," Tethys said. "Like, normally you'd probably tease me now, 'Mad? Does a doll even have a heart?'"

He just smiled, not saying yes or no. He and the young Fujimaru were the same person, but they had different experiences.

"By the way, Tethys, were you and my past self close?" he asked.

"Not calling me 'Lady' anymore?" she was puzzled.

He nodded, smiling. "It's not as polite, but you seem to like it better this way."

Tethys stared at him closely. She could see right into his soul - a burning flame.

"You're still you..." she murmured.

Fujimaru Shirou was still Fujimaru Shirou, with his sensitive, complex inner self. The difference was the flame in his heart, one the younger version hadn't ignited yet.

It was a flame of courage, determination, passion... and love.

"Your past self and I didn't get along," Tethys said. "He always called me 'Kyubey's incarnation,' said I was trying to trick him... Me, Tethys! As if I'd do that. Even if I wanted to trick him, if I really tried, how could he still be alive? He always called me a Barbie doll, and even ripped my arm off in front of normal people. So annoying!"

Shirou listened to Tethys's complaints with a smile. He tried hard to remember, but he couldn't bring back any memories.

Still, he knew his past talks with Tethys must have been fun and lively. Why else would Tethys sound so happy even while complaining?

But in his memories, this Barbie doll wasn't there. Now he understood why he couldn't find Tethys in the future. She had died, buried in the past with his younger self.

In the past, Manaka probably used Ayaka to ambush Tethys, throwing her into the Dark Vortex where the Lord of Salvation killed her.

The difference in this timeline was that Shirou had saved Tethys.

After venting about the younger Shirou, Tethys looked up at him. She saw no embarrassment or anger on his face after she'd badmouthed his past self. Just a gentle smile, like warm spring water.

She sighed inside. She knew Shirou and the young Fujimaru were the same person, but they'd become so different.

And what created "Shirou" wasn't just the young Fujimaru himself, but also her presence - or her absence.

Looking at Shirou's smile and his fiery eyes, she thought for a moment. "You've been through a lot, haven't you..."

"Past pain is just fertilizer for future joy," he said. "But more than that, I have many questions for you, Tethys."

"It's about the Lord of Salvation, isn't it?" she asked. "I felt his shadow in your vortex... I guess you've met him?"

He nodded. "So, what exactly is the Lord of Salvation?"

Tethys was quiet for a moment. "Your past self, Gilgamesh, and Arthur all asked me this before. I didn't answer because they weren't ready. But I can tell you. Just know that some answers, no matter how I try to explain, you probably won't be able to hear them."

"Like the Lord of Salvation's true name?" he asked.

He'd heard her call out some name to the Dark Vortex earlier, when she was cursing as it tried to absorb her. But he couldn't make out that name. It was like it had been censored.

She nodded. "Everything about the Lord of Salvation is rejected by reality. No one can say his true name until you recognize it yourself. That's why we use 'Lord of Salvation'."

He nodded. That made sense.

He was about to ask Tethys more about the Lord of Salvation when his face suddenly changed.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"It's Manaka Sajyou!"

"Is she coming for us?" she asked, worried. If Manaka caught her, she'd be thrown into the Dark Vortex. That would be a disaster!

He shook his head. "I let her catch me on purpose. She locked me in her mind chamber. I blocked her from sensing it and came here. But now she's back in the chamber."

"Did she figure out you escaped?" she asked quickly.

He shook his head again. "No. I left my clone there, connected to my senses. It's just..."

"Just what?"

"She's flirting with my clone!" he said, looking helpless.

"F-flirting?"

Tethys was completely confused.

...

After dealing with the annoying Tethys, Manaka felt much better. For a moment, even seeing Ayaka's annoying face didn't seem so bad.

"You came from the future, so eager to get close to me," Manaka said, gently touching Ayaka's face. Her voice was soft. "But don't rush. I'll give you the honor of being a magus, Ayaka."

If someone who didn't know better saw this, they might think it was just sisterly love. But Manaka wasn't playing the big sister role anymore. Her eyes were cold as she looked at Ayaka.

"Thank you, sister," Ayaka said, her eyes blank. "I'm honored to help you."

Manaka's smile grew warmer. She was jealous of Ayaka. Eight years ago, Ayaka had met her prince - Arthur - and woken up his human side. That made Arthur betray Manaka, stab her in the back, and throw her body in the Grail. But surprisingly, Ayaka had become a key part of beating Tethys.

Manaka turned to look at the huge dark cocoon behind her. The Greater Grail was feeding it, a growing seed of chaos holding the placenta of a Beast.

Eight years ago, she'd found her only sense of reality in Arthur. She poured everything into him, even giving up everything for his sake.

Arthur wanted to save Britain, so she worked hard for that wish. At first, she thought winning the Grail would make it easy. But when she saw the Greater Grail and understood what it really was, she realized it was impossible.

The Holy Grail War wasn't a wish-granting machine. It was about her easily achieving the Third Magic. But even with True Magic, even connected to the Root, she couldn't fulfill Arthur's wish.

Britain's fall had to happen for the current Human Order to exist. The [present] is built on the [past], and Britain's fall was part of the [past] that led to this [present]. It couldn't be changed. To bring Britain back, she'd have to destroy the [present], break down the Human Order, and rewrite everything.

So, she asked Father how to do this.

He told her she needed to summon a Beast - specifically, the sixth of the seven Beasts.

So, she did as instructed.

And the monster growing inside that cocoon was the sixth Beast.

"Go, Ayaka. This is your destiny," Manaka said, pointing at the Beast's cocoon.

"Yes, sister..."

Ayaka turned and walked towards the cocoon, her eyes blank.