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Fate: The Prince of Magic

作者: ShadowDR

章節 1: Prologue 01

"Life gives nothing for free, and everything fate presents has its own hidden price."

© Stefan Zweig

Do you remember the most important and wonderful day in this world—the day of your birth? Some might say that it's impossible, but life is remarkable precisely because it is full of mysteries and true miracles!

[... Castle Einzbern, Germany — Night… 17XX year...]

The weather that night was exceptionally wild. The icy wind fiercely lifted pillars of fallen snow into the sky, the trees in the forest froze to their core, and the very earth turned into lifeless stone. Meanwhile, within the walls of the ancient castle lost in the mountains, it was warm and cozy—the flame of the hearth lovingly warmed the local inhabitants.

A pair of lovely maids watched with anxiety and fear as their mistress held a tiny bundle of new life to her chest. The infant was more fragile and sickly than the mother could have imagined.

A weak heart was beating diligently in his chest, and for some reason, it seemed that even this simple task required all the newborn's strength.

"Everything will be fine..." the exhausted woman murmured reassuringly. Pale as a sheet, her skin seemed to harbor the mystical light of the moon, while her cold eyes blankly examined the child.

Although simple human happiness was inaccessible to her, the movements of her hands conveyed maternal care and tenderness. Justizia Lizrich von Einzbern was not a creation of God. Homunculi like her were created by people for specific purposes—as tools, if not instruments.

"I'm so glad, my child," the lady involuntarily whispered with a look of serenity on her face. "You are destined to live in the world of humans. It won't be easy. Perhaps a day will come when you will hate me—just a semblance of a human, an artificial doll who gave you life. But I'm still happy... maybe this is what love is, the love you spoke of?" The last words were spoken almost in a whisper, immediately dissolving into the silence of the night's sounds.

At first glance, the child was indistinguishable from a human—a thin neck supported an oversized head, and chubby cheeks were slightly rosy in the room's dim light.

The maid named Lizritt, naturally foolish, abruptly cut through the established silence, "My lady, do you remember the meeting with Lords Tohsaka and Makiri?"

The woman silently lowered her head and sighed. She was not only the mother of this child but also the matriarch of an ancient magical clan. A family that carried a great mission placed upon their shoulders more than a thousand years ago...

The infant lay peacefully on his mother's chest, silently observing everything around him. He didn't know the language or understand the expressions on the faces; everything around seemed incredibly amusing and fascinating to him. And although his young mind was fully engaged in exploring the world around him, his body was irresistibly drawn to sleep.

The last thing he remembered was—Es tut mir leid, aber das ist nötig... Ich liebe dich! I'm very sorry, but it's necessary... I love you!

[180X year...]

In the middle of a white sea of flowers rested a large crystal coffin. Inside it, a boy slept, who looked no more than six years old. Soft fabrics and pillows were placed beneath him. The sleeper should feel warm and cozy in this tiny world created just for him.

From time to time, the maids would visit the boy, and he would constantly ask where the lady who smiled at him in the beginning was.

"The lady is busy," the maids would reply.

In that case, he would beg them to read him stories, to tell him new tales:

Once, he was told about "The Little Mermaid."

Once, he was told about "Peter Pan."

Once, he was told about "Beauty and the Beast."

Now, he was eagerly listening to the incredible adventures of the Little Prince, which sparked a flurry of questions in the boy's mind.

What do the blue sky and the blue sea look like?

What is wind?

What are stars like?

He was curious to learn everything that existed out there—in the outside world.

He imagined it to be a wonderful place, full of thrilling adventures, vibrant colors, and terrifying dangers.

Only later did the boy learn the truth about why he couldn't leave this boring prison of fragile crystal. His health, no stronger than the walls of the coffin in which he was forced to grow, would not allow him to do so. He was a flower grown in a greenhouse, and the moment he left it, he would wither away forever.

That boy was me.

One day, it all came to an end.

The maid who used to read me stories and talk to me for hours on end stopped coming. Upset, I began persistently calling for her and childishly threatening that I would stop talking to her.

But it was all in vain; that very day, I learned what it meant to wither and what it felt like to disappear…

[181X year...]

When Liz appeared the next time, she didn't look the same as before. Something had clearly changed. She couldn't remember the days we spent together, and she smiled foolishly in response to my questions.

That was the first time I had cried in a long while. I demanded explanations. The maid lowered her head guiltily and replied, "Perhaps the young master was referring to the previous model, but her service life ended, and she had to be disposed of. Now, I will take care of you. You may call me Lizritt."

That was the first time I truly felt hatred, not knowing why. Was it my own helplessness that enraged me, or the meaninglessness of everything happening?

After that, I remained silent for a long time, staring at the ceiling.

For the first time, I learned a new feeling that gnawed at me from the inside—perhaps it was called sadness.

Now I knew that the Lizritt I once knew had been discarded like a toy when she was no longer useful. Such was the sad fate of every homunculus created in this castle.

But back then, I did not yet understand the full sadness of these pathetic beings who called me "prince" and was just beginning to vaguely grasp a new concept... death.

And for the first time, I wanted to disappear from this world...

[194X year...]

Everyone has their own life.

For some, it is full of joy and happiness.

For others, it is dull and boring.

I was denied both, destined to slumber for an eternity in a prison that was only an illusion of life.

The cold white ceiling was the sky in my eyes, and silence and emptiness were my eternal companions. Afraid of experiencing pain, I closed my heart and stopped speaking to the new models, who passively watched me and withered like flowers when their season ended.

The lady never appeared; she never returned, because…

"She… your mother died long ago," someone once answered me. I only remember a blurry silhouette, shimmering with an azure glow in the darkness...

And my already bleak life completely lost all its color.

Not wanting to exist like this, I chose to sleep for eternity and fell into a deep slumber.

One day, I awoke. My consciousness began to fade, and I realized… that I would soon disappear, just like Liz long ago. I don't know exactly what I felt then, whether it was sticky terror or relief…

Perhaps… I truly died that day.

[194X year...]