IBHJ 1062 (Patreon)

Ayaka, even more bewildered, could only stare. "????"

What in the world was going on?

Fortunately, even though Altera was just a fragment of the White Titan, she still recognized Ayaka. With Ayaka mediating, the White Titan finally calmed down, releasing her grip on the giant's legs and getting off Shirou.

"Mr. Shirou, honestly, how could you tease Altera like that?" Ayaka put her hands on her hips, frowning at him.

Shirou nodded. "I know. I was wrong." He felt a pang of guilt. This whole thing with Altera and Artoria was theirs to deal with, not his. Now Altera was upset with him, and Artoria probably had some reservations as well, even if she wouldn't say it to his face.

"My, my. Eternal King actually apologized." Koyanskaya raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Is that really so strange?" Ayaka tilted her head.

"Mm, it's just...you don't expect a king to admit they're wrong and apologize."

"Really?"

"Most people can admit mistakes, but emperors usually don't. My king certainly never did. He was stubborn to the very end. That's why I'm surprised."

Ayaka's face softened in thought. "Maybe that's because..." she mused, tapping her finger against her chin, "before he's Eternal King, he's still just Fujimaru Shirou."

Koyanskaya glanced at Shirou, then smiled at Ayaka. "Enjoy this while it lasts, Master. It might not always be this way."

Ayaka looked at Koyanskaya. "You're also different from other Beasts, Koyanskaya."

"Am I?" Koyanskaya smiled, but something glinted in her eyes. "If you'd met me in the China connection point... well, let's just say we wouldn't be having this conversation now, Master."

Just then, Arcueid bounced over to Shirou, beaming. "We should do this again sometime, Shirou!"

"Stop fooling around." He rubbed his temples, already feeling a headache coming on. He turned to White Titan. "Lady Sephyr, I'm sorry about before. But you need to understand, things are about to get very dangerous for you."

She glared at him. "Are you trying to trick me again?"

"How am I—" Shirou sighed. He'd deceived others too many times and now no one believed him when he was telling the truth.

He looked up at the crystal on the White Titan's forehead. It glowed a calm blue. He took a deep breath and explained Archimedes' plan.

"Someone seeking Velber's power..." White Titan's voice was filled with disbelief. "That's...unthinkable." She had spent her existence running from Velber's influence, desperate to avoid becoming a weapon of destruction. The idea that someone would willingly embrace that power was baffling.

"Can't you feel her?" Shirou's frown deepened. "Altera is with Archimedes. Surely you must sense what's happening?"

"Altera was a projection, a figment of my dreams." White Titan's voice was soft. "When I woke up, she became an empty shell."

Like a player and their game avatar, Shirou realized. So, Altera was to her what a character in a game was to a player. White Titan was the player, and sleeping was like logging in. If she didn't sleep and dream, the Heroic Spirit Altera was just an empty shell with recorded memories, like the connection between Shirou and Eternal King.

"So, are you Altera or the White Titan?" Ayaka blurted out, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"It doesn't matter." White Titan looked at them sadly. "From the moment I was born, I've only ever been one thing - Umbral Star's Vanguard. Before its instincts take over, you need to leave. I don't want to hurt you."

Shirou was quite moved and was about to say something when she added, "Of course, I'd be very happy to crush Eternal King."

Shirou: "..."

He closed his mouth. Nevermind.

"How can this be...?" Ayaka looked distressed. "I don't know anything about this Umbral Star's Vanguard, but Altera, you're my Servant! Our contract hasn't ended. You can't just abandon me!"

"I'm not abandoning you, Ayaka." White Titan's voice was filled with sadness. "But once I leave this chamber, Velber's instincts will take over. I'll destroy everything, including you. I don't want to do that. I especially don't want to hurt you. It's better if I stay here alone. This is my fate, to live in this prison. It's the only way to keep everyone safe."

"No, this isn't right!" Ayaka cried, tears welling up in her eyes.

She had already lost so much. As a human, she had lost her old world. As a friend, she had seen her companions die. As a Master, she had watched Arthur become a zombie, forced to end his suffering with her own hands. Like Shirou, she couldn't bear the thought of losing anyone else, especially not Altera.

"This isn't salvation, it's just running away!" Ayaka said loudly, her voice shaking.

"I never expected salvation in the first place," White Titan said with a sad smile, "Salvation... that was never meant for someone like me."

Ayaka stared at the White Titan, her mouth opening and closing wordlessly.

White Titan's gentle nature meant she could never truly align with Velber's destructive instincts. Her fate was sealed the moment she showed compassion. Trapped by her nature, she would remain a monster, forever denied human salvation. And the most terrifying thing was, she didn't even seem to want it.

"But you can't just—" Ayaka felt a gentle pressure on her shoulder. She turned to find Shirou beside her. He met her confused, pleading look with a slight shake of his head.

Ayaka bit her lip hard enough to hurt, her head bowing under the weight of her frustration. When she managed to look up at the White Titan again, the words of protest rising once more—

"Ayaka." The elegant voice cut through the chamber like silk over steel. "Your sister never taught you to force your will on others."

Everyone froze. Ayaka whirled around to see Manaka Sajyou standing at the entrance to the chamber, a graceful smile on her face.

"Sis—Sister—" Ayaka's face drained of all color.

Shirou glared at Manaka Sajyou. Arcueid's hand tightened on the hilt of her demonic sword, and Koyanskaya quickly ducked behind Ayaka.

"That's right, sister's here." Manaka spread her arms wide, a chillingly sweet smile on her face. "Come here. Don't you want a hug?"

Ayaka stumbled backward, her face pale with terror.

"Honestly, you used to cling to me when you were little." Manaka sighed dramatically. "But now you won't even come close. Children grow up so fast."

Ayaka continued to back away, her face ashen. As a child, she had idolized her perfect older sister. Now, she was terrified of the woman who had become something beyond life, death, and even causality.

"Who are you?" White Titan asked.

Manaka smiled. "Just someone collecting a debt."

"A debt? Then this has nothing to do with me?"

Manaka's only response was that same smile, somehow more threatening than any words could be.

"Then please, take them and leave." White Titan said. "I don't want to hurt you."

"I can't do that." Manaka's smile widened. "This debt includes you." She looked at the White Titan with an appraising eye. "What a perfect structure, almost identical to Tiamat's starship. Truly worthy of the title Umbral Star's Vanguard. No wonder that human scholar is so obsessed with you."

Shirou tensed. "Are you working with Archimedes?"

Manaka nodded with a smile. "If you give me the core now, I'll leave immediately. I won't interfere with this connection point any further. I might even postpone collecting that Beast." She gestured towards Koyanskaya, who bristled.

Shirou's expression hardened. "The more you want something, the less likely I am to give it to you."

"Oh, Shirou, you're so difficult." Manaka pouted playfully. "I wish you would just disappear."

"But you can't make that happen." The challenge in his voice was clear.

"Not yet, but I will soon." Manaka's smile returned, sly and knowing. "Don't you feel like something's missing?"

Shirou's face tightened as the gnawing sense of wrongness he'd been fighting finally clicked into place. "Heaven's Corpse." His eyes narrowed dangerously. "What did you do to her?"

"I haven't done anything to her." Manaka's smile was innocent, but her eyes held a glint of malice. "After all, she's destined to become my sister soon. However, someone else wants her gone, so they've rushed off to hunt her down."

Shirou's eyes widened. "Venus?"

Just as he spoke, a deafening explosion roared from outside, shaking the entire chamber violently.