บท 27: Chapter 27: Geryon or Melvin

Kiritsugu and Raiga chatted as shirou prepared snacks for the guests. Sitting in the living room Raiga said

"Kiritsugu what do you think about going to another festival this weekend? The schools are closed so we should take the children to enjoy."

Kiritsugu smiled and said while nodding his head.

"Sure, let's go"

…

Shirou`s vacation passed by and he was promoted to 3rd grade. Walking to the school gate on the 1st day he saw Issei and Shinji waiting for him. Shinji said

"Let's go emiya, we have to find out about the class we are assigned to."

"Only you are in a hurry Shinji, the classroom is not running away. You should learn patience," said Issei.

Laughing along with his friends, shirou began the 1st day at school. During the lunch break, Shinji vanished into a crowd of archery club members and Issei was nowhere to be found.

Shirou was forced to eat alone as even Rin was absent, she had told him about seeing off her guardian who was going abroad during their last spar. The school days ended like this.

…

The month of April was nearing its end when kiritsugu received a letter and burnt it after reading. This sequence of action left shirou very confused but he didn't ask his father and gave him privacy.

Inside the room, the magus killer calculated the time and found the time mentioned in the letter was 9 pm according to JST. Deciding the time kiritsugu started carving a a magic circle on the bedroom floor using a brush.

Shirou went to school after they had breakfast together and the older emiya returned to the bedroom.

Shirou returned from an ordinary day at school without any noticeable events and began preparing snacks and prep ingredients for dinner. Kiritsugu sat in silence throughout the time except for greeting shirou when the boy returned home.

Taiga came on time and dragged shirou to practise swordsmanship. After changing clothes and bringing out their shinai they took a stance opposite to another.

The dojo was completely still and the light reflecting from the 4 blades hanging from the walls added a dangerous presence to the atmosphere. Taiga attacked 1st as she performed a vertical slash.

Shirou instead of dodging focused on the incoming blade as he angeled his sword at such an angle that the attacking momentum got deflected and the opposing shinai slid off his. This made Taiga more energetic as she said

"This was a good move shirou, now just hold on like this. I am increasing the pace."

The sword lesson continued and shirou ended up receiving a beating as always. The sword lessons ended when kiritsugu called Taiga for her tuition, giving a break to the tired boy.

Shirou walked up to a katana and then placed it on his lap as he mediated, he seamlessly opened his circuits as he started grasping the structure of the katana and making a hollow projection of it.

Shirou woke up an hour later and placing the blade in its place went to the kitchen to make dinner. After having dinner and washing the plates shirou went to his bedroom to practise magecraft till he fell asleep.

The other emiya also went to his bedroom after dinner, checked the ritual he had made on the floor, and waited for the clock to hit 9 pm.

At 9 pm, he activated the ritual and simultaneously brought out his satellite phone, and waited. After 30 minutes the phone rang, after the phone rang thrice only then did kiritsugu pick up the call.

From the opposite side of the call, the voice of Altair echoed.

"How are you, my friend? I know you are well if you were able to call me."

"Altair get to the point." said kiritsugu fed up with the eccentricity of the scholar.

"Fine, you told me to find tuners for your problem and I can only collect information about 2 of them that qualify your criteria."

"You asked to find a turner who doesn't play politics and conspire against his clients but most tuners are connected to families as the family tuner hence I couldn't find anyone trustworthy"

"And second you need someone who can deal with a crest that has lost its major portion and make the transfer process easy so that drunk the candidates further."

"The only 2 that I can contact are lord Geryon Ashborn the lord of the Ashborn family and one of the most skilled tuners and Melvin Weins"

"Lord Ashborn has enough political power himself to not be forced by others and he doesn't care about the background of his clients as long as he gets his dues. But with him being a lord he would be less inclined to meet you and might outright detest you."

"So that brings us to the second option Melvin Weins a member of the Weins family a branch of the Trambelios family. He is known for his eccentric character and for being very gifted in tuning.

With his personality, he might help you easily but you have to talk to him yourself."

Altair and kiritsugu discussed the options that Altair didn't mention. In the end, kiritsugu decided to go for Melvin Weins simply because he would be easier to meet than lord Ashborn who resides in Angra castle.

After deciding on the target kiritsugu and Altair chatted for a bit and the call was cut from the scholar`s side. After putting back the pieces of equipment and cleaning the ritual traces from the bedroom kiritsugu went to bed.

…

The next morning shirou woke up and went to the lawn after his morning routine, reaching the compound wall he opened his circuits and brought out a silver knife that he used to carve a simple magic circle on the wall.

After finishing his progress in the long-term task of creating wards for the emiya residence the red-headed boy started moving in the kitchen with practised ease. After setting up the table he sat down face to face with his after and they had a peaceful breakfast. Chewing a piece of potato kiritsugu said

"Shirou I am going to England. To meet a tuner and prepare for the beginning of the transfer of magic crest."

"Dad, what is a tuner?" asked shirou not understanding the meaning of the word.

"A tuner is a magus skilled in manipulation and understanding of magic circuits, they can repair crests as well as help in adjustment of crest as well as transplant. A tuner is essentially a doctor for magic circuit-related problems." answered the father.

Shirou`s eyes reflected understanding as he thought.

< I have to live up to the expectation of Dad after I receive the emiya crest. With the crest, I should be better capable of surviving and destroying the grand ritual that Dad failed to do.>

After this shirou went to school and kiritsugu packed his luggage to depart for Europe.

…

As shirou spent a calm day with his friends at school kiritsugu left emiya residence to head to the airport. Upon reaching the airport the memories of him passing through this same airport while guarding his wife and servant flashed through his mind.

He waited for his plane in melancholy and regret as his thoughts wandered. His train of thoughts was struck on his daughter Iliya and he thought.

…

Upon reaching England Kiritsugu Emiya booked a hotel room in Stratford and contacted Altair.

"So as I said, Melvin Weins is not in Clock Tower. Wherever he went is not known and it's not the 1st time he disappeared like this so people didn't keep track of him."

Hearing Altair the expression of the magus killer was contorted and he took an instant to calm down. After processing the information he began asking various questions to Altair to access the situation and track down the tuner if it was necessary.

In the end, kiritsugu said

"Send the things I asked for to the address I told you and I will do the rest myself."

Kiritsugu put down the phone after he calculated the broker fees to give to the scholar.