Vita Magicis (HP SI-WC) (Patreon)

Chapter 30: Tohsaka vs. Einzbern: Round One

He hadn’t moved.

My eyes remained fixed on the red dot on my HUD labeled Jubstacheit. He hadn't budged from his position, even as the battle outside grew louder by the minute. I moved silently through the corridors, the echo of distant clashes serving as the background to my steady advance.

Then I stopped.

A pair of large, ornate double doors stood before me. I checked the HUD again.

Four white dots had now gathered around the red one.

‘I see… so he can track me,’ I thought.

No doubt he’d summoned the guards to intercept me. With his resources and knowledge of the castle’s internal structure, I wasn’t surprised.

I took a breath, steeling myself for an ambush.

Then I pushed the doors open.

The hinges creaked softly, revealing a lavish ceremonial chamber bathed in the cold glow of enchanted crystal lights. Silver trim decorated white marble pillars, and an ornate crest of the Einzbern family hung high on the far wall like a forgotten relic.

And yet… no ambush came.

My eyes swept the room until they landed on five figures near the end of the hall.

Four stood before the fifth—an old man with snow-white hair and dead, calculating eyes. He wore fine robes but bore the posture of a ruler long since hollowed by time and obsession. Jubstacheit von Einzbern.

He stood calmly behind the four others, one hand folded neatly atop the other.

But two of the figures flanking him instantly caught my attention—their names floated above their heads on my HUD.

Sella and Leysritt.

Before I could speak, before a single word could be exchanged, Jubstacheit twitched his finger.

That was all it took.

The four homunculi surged forward in unison, weapons drawn, movements crisp and lethal.

I fell into a defensive stance and silently released the internal shackles on my strength. I wasn’t worried about hurting them—not with their enhanced physiology. These were not ordinary humans. Leysritt alone had B-rank strength from what I remembered.

The formation split instantly: one from the left with a twin-bladed glaive, another from the right with a jagged shortsword. Sella and Leysritt charged straight at me—Sella with a rapier, Leysritt brandishing a massive halberd like it was a baton.

I moved.

The glaive swept in first—a wide, controlled arc. I ducked low beneath it, pivoted, and drove my palm into the attacker’s solar plexus. She flew backward, colliding with the wall and slumping unconscious to the ground.

I spun with the momentum, catching the shortsword user’s wrist mid-slash.

A sharp twist.

The blade clattered to the floor.

One clean elbow to the temple dropped her. I caught her before she hit the ground and laid her gently to the side.

Two down.

Sella was next—graceful, calculating. Her fencing form was sharp, her strikes aimed to pierce with deadly precision.

I deflected each thrust with the back of my knuckles, parrying with ease. Her frustration grew with every pass.

“You’re skilled,” I muttered, catching her wrist and stepping into her space. A swift strike to the solar plexus ended it. “But you’re not my enemy.”

She crumpled silently.

And then there was one.

Leysritt charged like a juggernaut, halberd swinging with bone-breaking force. I sidestepped the first swing—it gouged a crater into the marble floor—and caught her forearm on the return.

She was inhumanly strong.

But I was stronger.

Not wanting to hurt her too bad but knowing she would not go down so easily, I extended my free arm to her face and quickly cast sleeping magic. Leysritt immediately became sleepy so I took the opportunity and slammed her onto her back. The halberd flew from her grip, skidding across the room and burying itself in the far wall.

I stepped back, breathing calmly.

All four lay incapacitated but unharmed.

I turned my gaze toward the old man behind them, who still hadn’t moved an inch.

Jubstacheit stared at me, completely expressionless. Not a trace of concern on his withered face.

“You raised them well,” I said evenly. “But they have no sense for real combat.”

He blinked once. “I see. I’ll have to ensure the next batch is more suitable.”

My jaw tightened.

“Nothing else to say?” I asked, voice low, cold. “Considering these might be your last words?”

“There is nothing to say,” he replied calmly.

Then, with a flick of his fingers, magical constructs began to form at his sides—glowing shapes of arcane energy that rapidly solidified into the forms of animals: a lion, a serpent, a hawk, and a wolf, all sculpted from pure mana, each brimming with lethal intent.

I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

‘So that’s how it’s going to be?’

If this ancient golem wanted to play it that way, then fine. I’d show him a power that existed beyond anything his dusty mind could hope to comprehend.

Closing my eyes, I reached inward—calling upon the core of my being, the part of me born from death, shaped by something older than mortal understanding.

My Psychopomp Heritage.

And for the first time in this life, I let it fully take hold.

I transformed into my Harbinger form.

The change was immediate.

A pitch-black robe flowed into existence around me, born not of cloth, but of shadow—shifting, alive, as if woven from the void itself covering me from head to toe. From my back, a pair of vast, midnight-black wings unfurled—each feather seeming to consume the light around it, giving me the silhouette of a fallen angel descending upon the living.

The temperature in the chamber dropped instantly. Breath fogged in the air. The magical constructs faltered slightly, their outlines dimming.

Even the enchanted lights flickered.

Silence fell.

And for the first time since I entered the room, Jubstacheit’s expression changed.

His perfectly controlled mask cracked, just a little.

Unease.

Then wariness.

Then, unmistakably—

Fear.

“…You are no child. What are you?” he whispered, unconsciously stepping back.

“You already know the answer to that,” I replied.

My voice came out in a deep rasp, each breath chilling the air around me. Frost laced the stone floor beneath my boots as I took a step forward.

Jubstacheit stumbled back again, his voice cracking with the first signs of true fear.

“D-Death. How!? The Age of the Gods ended long ago! How can something like you exist in this era!?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

In the blink of an eye, I crossed the distance between us.

One step—and I stood before him.

His breath hitched. The gap that should’ve taken several paces had vanished in an instant, like the space between us had simply ceased to exist.

Without a word, a weapon materialized in my right hand—a blade forged of darkened steel, wreathed in living shadows. I raised it, gave a single effortless swing—

—and the constructs shattered into nothing.

Gone, like they had never existed.

I didn’t even spare them a glance.

‘I’ll need his knowledge of alchemy and homunculus construction if I want to build Sakura a proper body,’ I thought quietly, watching the old man continue to backpedal, eyes locked to my every move with terrified precision.

“I hope you enjoy a few thousand years in the torment that awaits you, old man,” I said coldly.

Then I vanished.

A heartbeat later, I reappeared behind him, my sword held loosely at my side, its blade slick with blood.

With a single flick, it was clean again.

Behind me, Jubstacheit’s body shuddered.

Then, without ceremony, it split neatly down the center—two halves collapsing in perfect silence to the pristine marble floor.

I sheathed the sword and stored it back into my inventory.

Then I turned. Hovering in place was his soul—pale, flickering, and visibly shaking.

I raised a hand.

The soul was drawn to me instantly. I gazed down at it—this fragile remnant of the once-proud head of the Einzbern family—and gave a nonchalant shrug.

Then I devoured it.

In a single moment, his essence was gone—absorbed and consumed. With it came all knowledge and skills the man had held.

Everything he knew—everything I could make use of—was now mine.

Coming out of my Harbinger form, I returned to my original self and took a quiet moment to look around the ceremonial hall.

“I bet Illya would feel more comfortable with some familiar faces around,” I whispered to myself, the words almost lost in the cold air.

Without wasting time, I moved to each of the unconscious homunculi—Sella, Leysritt, and the other two—gently applying my Company Stamp to them one by one. A faint glow pulsed on their skin, marking them as mine.

Then I turned and began the walk toward the eastern wing, where Illya’s room was located. The castle was nearly silent now, the echoes of battle gone.

As I passed one of the tall windows, something caught my eye.

I stopped.

Outside, the eternal snows that had blanketed the Einzbern estate for generations… were beginning to melt.

The clouds were breaking. Thin rays of sunlight pierced through, casting faint golden light across the courtyard stones.

“I see,” I murmured. “With Jubstacheit gone, the magic binding this place in eternal winter is unraveling.”

I stood there for a moment longer, watching the snow glisten as it melted.

Then I continued.

Before long, I reached the ornate double doors of the east wing.

Illya’s room.

I exhaled, steadying myself.

“Well… here’s to hoping everything goes smoothly,” I said quietly.

Then, placing one hand on the cold handle, I pushed the doors open.

=====

Illya’s POV

“The sounds have stopped,” Illya whispered to herself.

She still stood by the window, gaze sweeping the now-silent grounds below. There was no more movement. No intruders. No homunculus guards. No wolves or shadowy spirits that once prowled her home.

Just silence.

“I wonder if Sella and Leysritt survived…”

She said it softly, more to herself than anyone else. Of all the homunculi assigned to her, they were her favorite. They were her caretakers, yes—but more than that, they had been her only companions. Her only friends in this cold, forgotten castle.

She blinked suddenly and looked upward.

Something had changed.

Sunlight—real sunlight—broke through the oppressive clouds above the castle. Thin golden beams streamed down through gaps in the gray, touching the snow-covered grounds with warmth for the first time in her memory.

“Whoa~ So pretty~”

A small, involuntary smile tugged at her lips.

Illya had grown up in this castle—its walls her world, its frost her constant companion. She had only ever seen the sun in storybooks, the ones her mother used to read to her before everything changed.

And now, here it was again.

“Does this mean… grandfather is dead?” she murmured aloud.

But there was no grief in her voice. No joy, either.

Only emptiness.

After years of suffering under his cold, exacting control, she felt… nothing. If anything, she thought maybe she should feel happy. But even that emotion felt too distant to touch.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the door to her room opened with a soft creak.

She turned slowly, facing whoever it was. She felt no fear in her heart, just quiet acceptance.

Standing there was a boy—about her age, maybe a little older—with soft black hair and the most beautiful, piercing blue eyes she had ever seen in her short, confined life.

He said nothing.

Neither did she at first.

There was no reason to fight back. Everyone who could protect her had already fallen.

So she did what she was taught.

Illya dipped into a flawless curtsy, her white gown catching the light of the sun filtering in behind her.

And then, with a soft, bitter-sweet smile, she tilted her head and asked:

“Have you come to kill me next, Onii-chan~?”

=====

Aether’s POV

Hearing those words come out of her mouth, it took everything I had to keep any emotion from showing on my face.

‘Even if it’s not the same as Sakura’s expression back then… it still hurts to hear her say that so casually. Especially looking like this—like a girl no older than eleven or twelve, despite being a year older than me at sixteen.’

I frowned internally.

‘Good thing the effects of the Stamp will take care of that. Once it finishes adjusting her, she’ll no longer be bound by a shortened lifespan. She’ll finally be able to grow naturally into a body appropriate for her age and escape the curse of the loli.’

“Of course not,” I finally replied, my voice calm but firm.

Her eyes blinked once—surprised, maybe even confused. There was something quietly adorable in the way she tilted her head.

“I came for the exact opposite reason.”

I took a few steps forward, slow and deliberate, keeping my hands relaxed at my sides to show I meant no harm.

“Other than the wolves, evil spirits, and your grandfather… the homunculus maids were left unharmed.”

I stopped just a few paces in front of her.

Illya blinked again, the smallest trace of emotion flickering in her eyes, something fragile and unsure.

“What are you doing here then, Onii-chan?” she asked, her tone curious.

‘Still calling me that, huh?’

“First of all,” I said gently, “allow me to introduce myself.”

The manners drilled into me since childhood surfaced instinctively. I straightened and gave her a proper bow.

“My name is Aether Cordelia,” I said. “And I’ve come here to rescue you.”

I raised my eyes to meet hers fully, softening my tone further.

“I already know your name, of course. But would you do me the honor of hearing it from your own voice?”

Illya blinked at my outrageous answer, her ruby eyes studying me as if trying to determine whether I was joking or mad.

Then, slowly… she smiled.

“Such a strange Onii-chan,” she said with a tiny laugh. “But very well. My name is Illyasviel von Einzbern.”

She paused, then tilted her head again, curiosity dancing behind her expression.

“Now what exactly did you mean by that, Onii-chan?”

I chuckled softly. “Hmhmhm… let’s just say I’ve come to rescue the princess from the castle.”

“Princess?” Illya repeated, clearly startled.

It was probably the first time anyone had ever called her that other than her parents. It was also the first time she had spoken to a boy in her life, one who was the same age as her.

“That’s right,” I said, my smile widening just a bit.

“From this moment forward, I’ll protect you, Illyasviel. So come with me—out into the world. Let’s make memories. Let’s have fun. And let’s live as many adventures as we can.”

Illya stared at me for another long moment, clearly processing my words. Then, slowly, a faint blush spread across her almost snow-pale cheeks.

“Are you hitting on me, Onii-chan?” she asked, trying her best to sound accusatory—but the playful lilt in her voice gave her away. “Could you possibly be a pervert? You do realize I’m a child, right?”

Despite her teasing tone, she couldn’t quite disguise the redness coloring her cheeks.

I blinked at first… and then the pieces clicked into place.

‘That’s right. When her real personality surfaces, Illya’s actually quite mischievous and playful. Always teasing others and even becoming quite clingy with those close to her heart. You just have to look at Fate/Kaleid to get an idea.’

“Not at all,” I replied calmly, shaking my head before letting a teasing smile curl on own my lips. “But if I’m not mistaken, you are actually a year older than me. So wouldn’t that make you the one seducing someone younger, Illya-Onee-sama?”

Her blush deepened instantly.

“Hmph! Don’t you know it’s rude to mention a girl’s age?” she huffed, puffing her cheeks and looking away in mock indignation. “And don’t call me that!”

“Very well,” I said with a soft chuckle, nodding in acknowledgment. I could feel the shift in the atmosphere. The tension had eased.

Carefully, I took a step closer—and was pleased to see she didn’t flinch or retreat.

“By the way, Illyasviel,” I said, my tone turning gentler now. “I was being serious earlier.”

She tilted her head slightly, watching me.

“If you'd like… I can prove it to you. I can make it so you no longer have a limited lifespan.”

I didn’t mention the rest, wanting it to be a surprise for later.

‘I wonder what kind of face she’ll make when she suddenly matures literally overnight?’

Just as Illya opened her mouth—maybe to ask another question, maybe to say something more—there was a knock at the door behind me.

A moment later, it opened.

Ilulu, Rin, and Bella stepped inside, looking as fresh and composed as ever. Not a single sign of battle lingered on them—no dust, no blood, no frayed edges.

“Master, the castle is secured as ordered,” Bella announced without hesitation, immediately moving to kneel before me. Always eager to please.

“Asako-san is keeping watch over the unconscious at the moment, Master,” Ilulu added next with a graceful bow, ever the dutiful maid.

Rin, however, didn’t bother with formality.

Her eyes locked onto the scene in front of her—me standing close to Illya, the slight blush on Illya’s cheeks—and her own narrowed immediately, jealousy flaring without restraint.

“Hmph. So this is the Einzbern brat, huh?” she muttered, her eyes now reverted to their usual aqua with her divine power suppressed. She strode up to my side and crossed her arms, casting a very deliberate look down at Illya as if marking her territory.

Illya, of course, picked up on it instantly.

Her eyebrow twitched as she stared right back at Rin, matching her energy effortlessly.

“Hah?” she shot back, silently inspecting Rin for a moment before crossing her own arms and glaring back. “Ah, a Tohsaka, I see. That explains the attitude, barging into my home uninvited like a barbarian.”

The tension between them sparked like flint on steel. I could practically feel the lightning shooting between their eyes.

‘Haha, leave it to Rin to immediately smell a potential rival.’