"The thing is escalating." Momo pulls out her phone and shows a video. "There was a spar and the students were fighting to get those students in their club… Toriyama-kaichou is running hagged with that."
Since the actual president of the student council is a normal human, she couldn't just use hypnosis to settle the problem. Taking a deep breath Sona decides to go there herself. "Tsubaki, please make sure that no one that shouldn't see these finds them." She said pointing to the resumes.
"Of course." Tsubaki Shinra gives a small, decided nod.
Trusting her, Queen Sona starts to leave, the actual student council president is competent but he needs a magical touch on this situation. Passing through her peerage who came to join the council on her request she sees a black haired boy with glasses talking with Yura Tsubasa, a girl with blue short hair, blue eyes, tall, an athletic build, was a bit of a tomboy in reality and had the face of a pretty boy, and Kusaka Reya, who had two short braids formed by her long brown hair, brow eyes and a slim figure.
The two of them were trying to calm the boy who was telling them all about the brawl. "Don't worry." Sona approaches him and gives him a smile. "We will settle everything."
With that said she departed and Issei was shocked, his concerns melting away. Even the duo of devils were shocked by the change of posture while the young man just stood there for a second before following Sona.
'What is this feeling on my chest?' There was also a weird sensation on the back of his head but it was ignored. His heart was beating fast, he was short of breath and he couldn't see the rest of the world around him. He just wished to follow that woman.
…
Rias was amused. The number of magicians that came to ask for her to make a pact was considerable, she almost told them then and there that she already had a contract but Akeno, her sweet and cruel Queen, convinced her to let them try to impress her… with a talent show.
"My name is Kito Minomatsu! I am 16 years old and my main branch of research is the manifestation of familiars using earth!" Or in simpler terms, golens. Touching the ground the earth starts to move and small statues made of rock get up, three in total, a little taller than a mailbox or a trash can.
There wasn't a stage to avoid damage by magic, the candidates were all on benches watching each other with Rias and Akeno on the front sitting at a desk with notes for both of them. Kiba, the blonde devil who looked like a charming prince, was acting like the host and security, his sword at the side ready just in case.
The small building was once Kuoh but was then abandoned once the bigger building was ready. The aesthetics of it was more of an european design with two floors. Once Rias took it over as her base she had it reformed to be livable while improving the space and fixing any broken thing.
The end result is a huge house that the devils could use with complete freedom, was comfortable and away from school which allowed for such events.
The candidate bowed to her and his audience, prompting polite applause. The outside of the clubhouse, which was the old school building hidden in the woods, allowed the use of plenty of space and the trees for targets in the exhibition.
Akeno gave the magus a small smile and the young Kito blushed. He took a step to leave the center of the clearing and almost fell forward to the ground, exactly what the long haired woman wanted. Rias could only roll her eyes, her best friend was having too much fun with it.
She looked to the ones still to go and let out a breath of relief, it was almost over, considering they started with some sixties and had just five to go that was a relief. With so many magicians around she hesitated on calling Shirou, Rias wouldn't put past some of them to try and kill him out of spite. Still there were some promising candidates for contracts with Akeno or Kiba around… if they want it, that is.
Most are too prideful to leave with the 'second best thing' but she will love to be proved wrong in that case. "Rias-sama?" Kiba asks for her judgment on the performance of the last attempt to impress her, his smile, patience and everyone else waiting for her evaluation and judgement.
"A decent display of skill," by the change of posture and the stiff shoulders he knows what is going to happen, this was not the first tear down that Rias gives today, "but your golems are on the short size and while the speed of creation would good if you haven't used almost all your mana in their creation." The poor guy was trying to cover his exhaustion but it was clear to all that he was done for the day when it comes to magic.
The redhead devil was trying to be nice, she really was. But if she isn't honest there he won't improve or may even kill himself trying to impress someone else. "Rias-sama is right." Akeno says formanly, her tone full of benevolence. "You still showed promise," she gives reasurances, cheering the mood of the magus, "but I suggest that you practice more. A woman doesn't like those that finish too fast." To just take the carpet out his feet and deflate him completely.
The King of the peerage lets out a sigh as the magus drags himself to join the other spectators, Akeno is a reincarnated devil and yet, sometimes, she acts more like a classical devil than Rias herself. 'I really should look into that… nah, it will be fine.'
"You all should just give up!" Declared an approaching young man with messy blue hair and eyes, his student uniform was messed up and his whole demeanor screamed delinquent but in a 'bad boy' kind of way. His confidence and arrogance spoke of a playboy or a magician of old lineage, possibly both. It certainly explained why he was arriving late.
"You are late, sir." Kiba approaches with a small smile, the contrast between both is visible to all with the Knight of the devils playing his part being polite and understanding.
His counterpart didn't care. "I can assure you I'm right on schedule." Almost like a peacock he stood there full of confidence and looking directly at Rias. "I just wanted to get here when most of the losers had already quit to don't waste time."
Before Kiba could say any comment about the attitude of the magician, someone spoke from the crowd. "Have you lost your head Matou?" A young woman who steps forward walking out of the crowd full of confidence.
Her long wavy black hair was braided into two side-up holded by two black ribbons with the rest left loose, her figure was one entering her womanhood while her aqua eyes showed a fierceness that had other magicians opening the way.
If it wasn't obvious they knew each other it became apparent when the disposition of the blue haired male changed in seeing her. "Tohsaka-san!" Matou was still full of confidence and his smile grew to his acquaintance. "I didn't know you were coming to Kuoh, thought to be fair you may be here for the audition."
"I don't need to tell anything, Matou!" Tohsaka approaches the man and the two start a discussion.
While they were at it Akeno got closer to Rias and whispered. "Both the Matou and Tohsaka families are old blood in Japan, Matous coming from Russia had created roots here while the Tohsaka had a connection with the church at the beginning of the last century."
Rias hums at the intel, 'I heard about the Tohsaka family once. They supposedly had an in with a sorcerer at some point.' Then she decides to say. "And why are you late Matou-san? And if you repeat the excuse you gave before you won't have a chance to impress me!"
Far from being annoyed, the young man just looked more confident. "Please Rias-sama," he turns his full attention to her and gives a small bow, "I would hate for you to lose the chance of having the best magician of Japan on your side."
The comment may be arrogant and there were plenty in the audience who wanted to skin Matou alive at that but they said nothing with one exception. "I didn't know second place meant best!" Tohsaka challenged.
"Ah! But my dear Tohsaka-san, our paths in magic are different!" His confidence was unshaken. "You are a magus, while I am a spellcaster. And you can't be the best where you don't compete."
The tone was suave and the argument was solid, just not enough. "True, that still makes me the best magician." There was a story with those two but the Gremory King wasn't interested.
"While this banter is entertaining, you are interrupting us Matou-san." Rias said decisively, no criticism was made towards Tohsaka since she was waiting until her 'friend' showed up.
"Rias-sama, I can guarantee that I am the best option between all the magicians here present- No! In Fuyuki in general! If you truly are looking for a partner close to your age, look no further!" He raises his hands to the heavens and creates a purple magic circle that lets out a pulse.
For a second nothing happened. "That's it?" Asked one member of the audience but the Matou just smiled.
After a few more seconds there was a noise coming from the woods and everyone turned to look. A swarm of all kinds of insects were making their way, they were organized and marching by type; larvae, crickets, spiders were some of the exemples that came out of the woodwork together with bees, flies and butterflies.
The last ones come and various colors fly around the Matou who were moving to the table where the devils resided. He gives a charming smile and holds one of the most colorful butterflies Rias had ever seen. "For you my lady."
It was a show of power and skill, Rias accepted the butterfly with a smile, there was little reason for her to reject it. 'Did he planted insect familiars or he legitimately controlled the ones in the woods?' She knew that the butterflies are to distract her from the more… grotesque aesthetics of bugs but she didn't mind if it was useful. "Very impressive Matou-san." She gave credit where it was due.
"Please, call me Shinji." He was going for a suave approach and while the display of magic was impressive, depending on how he did it, that is, it was still not something inherently useful for her. "I can say for certain that no magician around here can do better than that."
A small explosion happened startling the blue haired man. Another two happened and then another and another and another. All the bugs that had approached were killed or were being burned and the one responsable was… "Allow me to disagree."
"TOHSAKA! WHAT YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?" Shinji's glares at the girl who was killing his familiars.
"What does it look like?" She moves a hand around shooting fire balls from her fingers. Once they were close enough to the swarm she detonated them, gaining a raised eyebrow from RIas.
'No magic circle and still such control…' The girl was using her small bombs and exterminating the insects. Shinji reacted by summoning more and sending them to attack the challenger.
Not missing a step, Tohsaka fishes something from her pocket and lets it fall on the ground. The green gem shone for a second and a barrier made of wind surrounded her, keeping the renewed swarm from reaching the magus.
Kiba moved to stop the fight but Rias raised her hand and the Knight stopped himself. Some of the other magicians were running away while others made barriers and protections for themselves, Akeno followed the example and made a barrier in front of the desk.
Shinji starts to use water to put out fires and to help his army. Suddenly the water he was summoned turns around and hits him on the face. "Sorry for that, Matou-san." With that last comment the woman throws a red jewel to the air and snaps her fingers.
It blows up and a shower of light falls to earth making the bugs flee or die. Even the one on Rias' hand simply combusted leaving nothing behind. Many of the magicians looked at the events that transpired and they realized that there was no competition to be had there, they were completely upstaged by Shinji and then Tohsaka came around and upstaged him.
Rias couldn't help herself but applaud the events which prompted Tohsaka to take a bow. "An impressive display, you managed to neutralise most of the familiars." Crossing her arms below her impressive bust the King then asks. "And how do you two know each other?" She just couldn't help her curiosity.
The two looked at each other, there was animosity there but at the moment the Tohsaka was smug while Matou was angry. "Our families know each other."
"Know each other? Bha! Hilarious Tohsaka!" Now it was the blue haired student who was smug. "I am her sister's fiance." He was looking at the Tohsaka with a smile of pure arrogance. There was a story there that the devils didn't know about, being human politics more than anything.
And now Rias could see the anger on the magus, it wasn't on her face but on her posture, which grew rigid, and her hands that twitched. A part of her sympathetic with the situation, since Shinji was young it was possibly a contract made indicated that it was a negotiation between Matou and Tohsaka Clans because she doubted that the sister of Tohsaka would be the elder since this one was the one present trying tor a pact.
"What is your name?" Rias asked the woman gently.
"Rin, Tohsaka Rin. 'The best magician in Japan'." Rin made a point to look at Shinji with a cheeky smile but Matou kept control of his emotions.
"Well!" With a small clap Rias got everyone's attention. "It was an-"
"IS EVERYONE ALRIGHT?" A familiar voice came from the woods and two people sprung out of them.
The first one nobody recognized, a woman with black hair, but the second some people did. "What is Homurahara's Brownie doing here?" Asked a confused Shinji, getting a chuckle from Akeno.
"'Brownie'? Have you heard of Buchou?" The fact she called Rias by the title she prefered made her beg for a distraction.
Fortunately for her Shirou tended to express his confusion. "Tohsaka? Matou? You guys are in Kuoh too?"
"Do you know then, Shirou-kun?" Rias' question was not what startled many of the present.
"What?" "They are in first name bases?" "Who the hell is this guy?"
Shirou's temporary companion decides to ask a question of her own. "Any reason why there was so much mana being thrown around here?" The demand came with a certain degree of anger. "If you are fighting or something similar it would be best to place a proper boundary field because there is a literal army of mundanes around."
"Calm down Setsuna-san." He places a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure there is a perfectly logical explanation for all this."
"Oh, it's nothing much! We were just holding a small talent show for magicians and things got out of hand because of these two." Akeno didn't hesitate to point at the two culprits.
"They are magicians too?" Color Shirou surprised, he had no idea.
"We are from respectable family lines!" Shinji said, pointing at himself. "It's you who is the odd one here!"
"While agreeing with him makes me sick," Rin decided to say, "he is right. Care to explain what you are Emiya-kun? Because I find it hard to believe that there was another family line in Homurahara."
Now Shirou hesitated, he still needed to talk with his father about his family situation. Technically speaking he and his sister were the only magicians, his mother could use magic but she didn't do research, Sella also could do basic stuff and Liz was just strong, really strong. And at the moment the state of his father on this was… complicated.
"Shirou-kun is a dear friend of mine." Rias said, getting up from the desk and stepping closer to the magicians and the unknown girl that showed up with her fellow redhead. The duo that was interrogating him got mute. "But I have a better question: Who was the one that tried to call me last term?" The red head devil was taking a good look at the two former Homurahara students.
"Call you?" Shinji questioned, confused while Rin's face could be found in a statue of how still it was. "While I would love to make contact with you previously Rias-sama-"
"Stop." Rias cuts him off. "Gremory."
"Huh?" Shinji didn't understand.
"You have no permission to use my given name. To you it is 'Gremory-sama'. Am I clear?" Everyone was quiet, this was the heiress of Gremory speaking and it didn't matter what Shinji wanted, the answer was obvious.
"Crystal, Gremory-sama." He said with a formal bow. 'She isn't a fool that I can charm my way with. The heiress has claws.' Thought an indignated Matou.
Then Rias turned to Rin. "You were the one who tried to call me." It wasn't a question.
"Gremory-sama, I didn't-" The King wasn't having any of that.
"Don't lie." The order was absolute. "Your next line is going to be: Yes I did and I made a mistake on the method to contact you." Rin stayed silent but Rias just glared at her. "Say it."
Rin couldn't challenge that, the Gremory Clan had too much strength to be challenged openly. "Yes I did and I made a mistake on the method to contact you."
"You thought Matou-san and you were the only magicians on Homurahara." Rias said, stepping away from the other two and getting close to Shirou. "But you didn't know that Shirou was one as well and had no way of knowing he had better detection skills." Once Rias was at Shirou's side she turned to the others. "Because of your actions I met him and we both fought and defeated a stray devil who hid beneath your school."
"There was a stray there?" Shinji was shocked by the news but Rin wasn't surprised and that just confirmed that it was Rin who tried to call for help and botched it.
"Why the roundabout way of contact?" Rias asks and RIn lets out a sigh.
"I… found the stray first and I thought that I could get it as a chance to get some favor…" She was fidgeting a little in place. "I fought the devil and used a lot of my gems and mana for it. I thought to myself, 'if I am going to meet the Heiress of Gremory I better have a plan and show myself useful."
In other words, she wanted to impress. Like every magician she wanted to be chosen and that was a chance. 'But it backfired.' Shirou deduced like many of the listeners.
"My final considerations for both of you!" Both Tohsaka and Matou waited for the verdict. "Your power was good and both of you have skills. HOWEVER!" She made a point of shouting so they couldn't miss hear the intent of the next line. "None of you here are useful… besides Shirou that is!" She made a point to close one of her eyes and gesture to the redhead.
"WHAT?" Shinji was the one who felt most insulted. "HE IS JUST A GLORIFIED JANITOR HE-" Rias points a finger at him and garthers the Power of Destruction, shutting the Matou's mouth.
"He is my contracted magician and you will not insult him in my presence." The revelation was shocking to everyone else there. "I wanted to see if there was anyone better but now I am sure that Shirou was the better choice. Thank you for your participation and you may leave now."
"Gremory-sama?" One of the magicians calls her attention, afraid since Rias was still holding a considerable amount of power on her finger tip. "You said he is your contracted magician already… do you two already have a pact?"
"Yes." She said with no shame of the fact. "I let you all show me your talents to see if there was anyone else here worth the effort. Even if you wanted a pact I could guarantee one with another heir if anyone here proved themselves. None of you did!"
"And he did?" Shinji couldn't help but ask. To his and everyone's shock Rias let the power go and turned to Shirou.
"Could you please make an EM?" Rias was all smiles when asking Shirou that, it was jarring for many but he did as asked.
"Projection?" Rin watched the events happening, she and every single magician there were frustrated by the events but curiosity kept them rooted to see 'why' Shirou was worthy.
"Kiba. Come here for a bit." The Knight approaches and Rias points at his sword. "Can I borrow that?" Kiba gave her his Holy Eraser. "Thank you." She looks around to all present. "I need a volunteer."
"Rias!" Shirou did not like what she was planning.
"Stay calm Shirou-kun. This is just a demonstration and I need someone impartial to show your innovation." Her smile could be called angelic at that moment.
No one steps forward, there is not a magician or sane person on the planet who would risk themselves in a demonstration involving two blades. Shirou didn't blame them and was ready to put an end to the whole thing.
"I will do it."
"Setsuna-san?" Shirou questions but the woman steps forward.
"You came with him." Rin said. "That hardly counts as 'impartial'"
"I lost a spar to him earlier, before a real fight I would like to know some of his abilities." The logic made sense to the devils and magicians but not to Shirou.
"Wati! You didn't lose! You hit me first!." By the rules of their improvised bout that meant she had the point while his would be invalid.
"By a second of difference, your attack would have been lethal." Rias really wanted to hear that story. "What do you need?"
"It's simple really, I'm going to cut you with this sword," she says, raising Holy Eraser, "then I will heal you with this one." Showing the scalpel.
"Are you going to cut a limb?" Setsuna asked.
"No, just a cut big enough for everyone to see." With a nod Setsuna starts to take out the jacket of the uniform.
"Rias, there is no need for that." He didn't like the idea of someone getting hurt for a demonstration.
"Actually we kinda do now." She points to the magicians behind her. "They are probably pissed off with you for getting 'their' pact out of nowhere and to avoid issues it's better to show why I did it in the first place."
The reason why Rias needs to do this is to avoid someone trying to kill Shirou, there wasn't a single doubt in her mind someone would try anyway but if she demonstrates why he was chosen then that will at least get him some respect leaving only the truly malicious to try and harm him. There was also the problem she was letting the information of his research loose but that she can deal with later.
"Can I have the sword?" Setsuna asked, without the jacket she had only the short sleeved buttoned up shirt of the uniform and her figure was even more exposed, her bust was show to be smaller than Rias', many of the males and even some females were staring at her..
"Sure." Once Rias gave Setsuna the swords she felt its weight and was interested in its sharpness. Approaching a random tree she gave a one armed swing which cutted the tree in the side, having it fall easily.
"It is a good sword." Kiba just smiled at the comment.
'The sword may be good but…' He looks at the downed tree. 'Her strength is no joke.'
Raising the blade to her arm, Setsuna presses her limb until blood starts to flow. "Will this suffice?"
"Indeed." Rias approaches and holds the girl's other arm. "You are going to feel a small bite." With that she stabs the arm but feels some resistance, if it doesn't hold for long since Rias just kept pressing and soon enough she had an incision. "Please hold your other arm for all to see."
While doing it Setsuna felt the mana entering her body but didn't fight it since she could tell it was benign. Something curious since the user was a devil, a devil with the Power of Destruction at that.
The wound starts to close without issues. Many of the audience were impressed, even Rias' peerage who she told about Shirou's invention couldn't even comment.
"That- that-" Shinji was fighting to find words, he wanted to say something but didn't know what.
He was not the only one, to a magician that didn't make any sense. Projection was not supposed to do that, it was supposed to do a frail copy, an empty shell of the thing and then break with barely any effort with little to no ability. The only explanation that some could find was a sacred gear but nobody could remember a single one with that appearance and even then sacred gears couldn't leave the hands of their owners that easily unless it was a creation type.
The other hypotheses no one wanted to admit since it would imply that there was a sorcerer with the strongest true magic alive and that was a nightmare for everyone else. The only reason why nobody was jumping to that conclusion was the fact that there was a small trail of mana going into the scalpel to keep it stable.
Once the arm was fully healed Setsuna made a point to move it around, she felt no side effects. "Impressive." She turns to Shirou. "And you made that with magic?"
"No I-"
"Shhhhhhh!" Rias stops him by placing a finger on his lips, she felt amused how his face got red. "No telling Shirou, at least not with so many around." He couldn't disagree with her and then she said to the rest of them. "Some of you are powerful, have decent spells and knowledge but compared to him and this," she raises EM for all to see, "with these, anyone with enough mana can close even a lethal wound. With this, the medicine of my world can grow more. With this I can make a revolution in the Underworld."
She looked around all present, daring anyone to challenge her claim. That healing speed was compared to a high level spell or a sacred gear or even Phoenix Tears. In face of these facts there was no argument.
"So… can anyone do better?" It was a known fact that the devil's healing was slow. It can save people from fatal wounds but slow to the point it takes a whole night to heal someone unless the person using it was specially skilled. That was why Phoenix Tears were praised, even if Shirou's method wasn't perfect it was already fast enough to compete with the Phenex Family speciality. "Now, if any of you aren't going to disagree, I suggest you all leave and try to get a pact with the Heiress of Sitri." 'Considering her personality and the skill set of most of those then it is going to be pretty much impossible.' Rias didn't bother saying the last part, let them try and fail if they want.
One by one the magicians started to leave the premises, there was nothing to be gained from staying since they lacked any means to compete against Shirou at the moment. Some were just frustrated while others looked at both redheads with envy or hatred.
Rias didn't care for their opinions, even if some had decent skill it was not enough to warrant a pact even if Shirou wasn't a factor because it was more of the same when it came to the modern magicians, picking up where their parents left off and going from there doing the same thing. To more than one magician the symptoms were worse since they tried to reach the theoretical 'Root' and tended to ignore any avenue that wasn't expedient to it.
Matou Shinji glared at Shirou, he was furious but he wasn't going to act against him in front of the devils, another thing he planned to do was interrogating Rin about her attempt of contact.
Tohsaka was biting her lip when she thought about it since it was her carelessness that led the devil to Emiya. She had some research to do too because she couldn't believe what Shirou did was projection, it had all the signs of being it but it was still unbelievable.
Once there were just devils, Shirou and Setsuna present Rias moved to introduce herself properly. "I apologize we had to meet like this but a friend of Shirou is my own too. I'm Rias Gremory."
"Higurashi Setsuna, you can call me just Setsuna."
"Then please call me Rias." After everyone presented themselves, Rias offered their guests tea.
…
Inside the Occult Research Club was dark, not to the point Shirou was blind but he had the feeling that they didn't receive many guests. Kiba stayed close to him and helped him navigate until the main office.
There was a certain gothic aesthetic to it, there were three coaches of different colors, a table between the couches, a huge table with some papers in it and a comfortable chair behind with a closed door behind the desk.
Once everyone was seated and Akeno offered to serve some tea, Rias said. "Sorry for not calling earlier but as you can see I was busy."
"Why wasn't there a boundary field around the property?" Setsuna goes directly to the point and Shirou couldn't help but agree with the question.
"From here to the school itself is a good distance and everyone is distracted with the club hunting." Rias explained but Akeno complemented.
"There is also the fact that you can't have too many fields into other fields without destabilizing the whole thing. If Buchou got one on her base the other heirs would want some too."
"Not forgetting how much we already annoy them by having some space just our own." Kiba mused.
'Why is Rias' group getting its own space?' Shirou refrain from asking, instead he said. "Sorry for dropping in like that." Rias shook her head.
"It's fine. I was going to send for you earlier but the number of magicians was bigger than I expected." She shuffles through some drawers from her desk and pulls out a small notebook. "But that doesn't matter right now, here. Take a look at these and tell me what you want to try first."
Opening the book Shirou was legitimately impressed, every page was a kind of rare material with statistics, previous utilities, methods of foraging and suggestions. "You made this?" It was too much work for one person alone.
"We had some help but most of the work was from us and the others." Rias bragged.
"Others?"
"Not every member of our little group is old enough for highschool." Akeno said with a smile.
"While all that is all and good," Setsuna let herself be known, "I think you forgot why we come here, Shirou."
'Why we came here…' He slaps himself in the face before saying. "Rias, there is a brawl happening on campus-"
"It is already solved." Rias said definitively.
"What?" Shirou was confused.
"If there really was a brawl happening, believe me when I say there was something really strict there that already solved the problem."
…
"I can't BELIEVE THIS!" The one known as Shitori Souna stood before over forty people, all bowing their heads in seiza position. "THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A DAY TO HELP THE NEW STUDENTS ADJUST! HOW ANY OF YOU DARE TO FIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT!"
That was the moment that the witnesses of the event understood the saying 'it is not about the size of a person in a fight but the size of the fight in the person.'
…
"Trust me, she is probably lecturing everyone there at this point." The certainty in her voice had Shirou resign himself and just sit on the couch again. Akeno gives him more tea and he just accepts it.
"Good to know." Setsuna says motioning for Akeno for a bit more tea.
"But that is not important right now. Did you find a club of your own Shirou?" Rias asked. "If you didn't, you can join us here, since any practice that you make with your weapons is already part of the 'occult' you can use the free time however you want."
"Our club is also a cover for our operations." Kiba offers with a smile. "Since you are contracted to Buchou, it wouldn't be a problem for us to have you here."
"Maybe we could even give you a spot if you want Setsuna-san." Akeno offered.
Shirou stayed quiet for a minute, thinking about it. Under one hand he could work more on his projects, figuring out how to make an independent EM or finding a way to make magic swords with less effort would go faster with the extra time. Even if he didn't know where to start on the damn thing it would still be way faster if he spilled his time.
Yet… "How fast do you need the EMs?" He couldn't help but ask.
Rias hesitated in giving an answer, it was just a few seconds but Akeno noticed. "There is no rush but I would like to progress in your lifetime at least." For Shirou it was still weird speaking of his lifetime as if it was nothing. "I would love it if you could get something in two years if possible, at least some proof the process could be replicable by someone else or that you can make more in a… safer way."
He could already have made more if he was willing to risk his mother's life again but her heart almost stopped because she didn't tell him how much mana she was using.
"I don't get it." Setsuna pointed out. "Can't you make more of that with just your magic?"
"This is a copy of the original." Rias explained to Shirou who looked lost in thought. "It is draining him mana even now and that won't do. We need more of the legitimate articles, viable and permanent."
"Imagine that, a tool that can stop bleeding mid-fight or used for emergencies." Even Kiba has to admit he was impressed, once his King told him how Shirou forged that tool he tried to make a similar sword but he failed.
"So, Setsuna, tell me how you and Shirou met." Akeno sits and gets ready for the story while Shirou is still thinking about the offer.
Every tally that Shirou made on his head said that it would be better to take the offer. The only unsettling thing about the whole thing was Rias' attitude in relation to time but she was a devil, for a being that lived for milenia a few years was nothing.
But Shirou wanted to progress on his research, the development of his blade. He didn't care about the Root or anything like that but he wanted to make stuff that helped people, a more selfish man wouldn't think of streaming lining the process to make it impossible for others to reproduce and make a profit but Shirou didn't care about that either, he wanted to know that the tools he created were saving lives.
There was absolutely no reason for him to deny the offer and use his time effectively but he was dealing. 'Why do I feel like that is a mistake?' A part of him wanted to step back for a bit and work in other stuff, there was also the promise he made to Issei to try and be a normal student. 'There is no rush.' A part of him seemed to say. 'I can make progress in less than two years, I'm sure of it.'
Two years is a long time for a human and Shirou could work on it in the house, while enjoying his time in school, if anything that was a logic his mother would approve of. There was that small part of him that knew if his mother discovered he was working like mad and not resting properly she would throw a fit.
It was not the first time such a thing happened, he became divided on what he wanted to do for others and what his family wanted him to do for himself. The most healthy choice would be to spare some time for normal activities if only to relax. His sister insisted on that, his mother loved to go around with the whole family when she was around and even his father got caught in her hurricane. But now he only had Liz and she would say something on the lines of 'do what you think is best' and just leave it to him.
"So you owe Shirou a date?" Akeno had a teasing air around her but Setsuna didn't care or didn't notice.
"It was the deal that I made at the beginning. By the conditions that I established' the one who beat me gets a date' and that one was Shirou, even though he says I won, I disagree."
"But what if a girl had won?" Akeno was trying to fish for something.
"Then I would go on a date with her." Unfortunately for Akeno, Setsuna had nothing that she could tease, Rias was enjoying her Queen's attempts but decided to ask a question of her own.
"Is that why you are here? To set up a date with Shirou?"
"It is only fair… but a part of me wants a rematch more. With both of us using our real skills." Setsuna was determined to have a real spar with Shirou and that reminded Rias of two things.
The first is that she never saw him fighting for real and the second was that she needed to get him to spar with Kiba one of these days. It will be easier if she could get him- "I will join the club." Her fellow redhead finally says interrupting her thoughts, not that she minded.
"Excellent Shirou!" Rias almost jumped with joy. "We are going to get a forge ready around here, hidden of course, but that won't take long, meanwhile you can use one of the rooms around here as a lab, don't worry, we have plenty- Ah! There is only one place you can't enter but there is a boundary field and lots of warnings there, don't worry about it."
A growl was heard and everyone turned to Setsuna, her face was like stone but everyone could tell the sound came from her stomach. "I believe I shall return to the school grounds. It is lunch time and I am hungry."
It was impressive for all present how she could say it with a straight face, unperturbed by the noise of her stomach. "You don't need to leave Setsuna. We can eat lunch here." The devils left the room for a few minutes and came back with different kinds of foods and drinks. "We always eat here, we have a fully stocked kitchen and we keep the place well maintained."
'Fully stocked kitchen!' Shirou now felt he made the right decision, he didn't need a culinary club, he would have his own kitchen here. "Can I use it?" The excitement was unmistakable on his voice.
"Another day maybe." Akeno smiled while putting some dishes on the table. "Today was my day to cook and I hope we all can enjoy it."
"Akeno is good with japanese dishes," Rias distributes the plates with Kiba leaving Shirou and Setsuna to move and organize the cups of tea, "Kiba here can make some nice british meals."
"And what about you?" The younger raven haired woman asked, already getting her plate ready.
"Oh, I love japanese food too but also dabble in some italian."
Shirou remembered something, so after getting his bag he pulled out one of the bentos he prepared in the morning and decided to place it on the table as well. "It's not much but I hope you guys can taste some food I made today."
"Ara, ara. If you don't mind Emiya-kun." The vice-president of the club says while her and the rest take some bites of the meat and vegetables in it.
While Shirou started eating Akeno's food, the rest of the room was stunned. 'This is way too good!' Rias thinks of enjoying all the mixtures of spices with the food.
'This is delicious!.' Setsuna can't help herself and moves fast enough to get another mouthful.
'This flavor!' Akeno felt herself in a cloud placing a hand on her mouth while her face got red.
'The best thing I ever ate in my life!' Kiba was almost crying from joy.
'Hum~ Himejima-san is a great cook.' Shirou complimented on his mind while trying the rest of the food while the person he was complementing and the rest of the group devoured his bento.
It was fast and it was silent, none wanting to talk or miss the chance of eating if another would eat it. All of them were enjoying the food until the bento was finished. Once they realized it was done they all turned to Shirou, who was enjoying the rest of the food peacefully.
"Yes, you are undoubtedly using the kitchen." Rias decided and everyone except Shirou was nodding in affirmation, even Setsuna was on it.
"Cool." Shirou notices that the bento was empty. "You guys liked it that much, hum?"
"How did you get so good at cooking?" Akeno remembered Iri bragging about her son's skill but the woman hadn't gone in depth about it. "This was the best stuff I ate in my life." Followed by another set of nods.
"I have eaten food from some of the best chefs," Setsuna was admiring the now empty bento box, "yet none of them had ever gotten so close to this." She then looks at RIas. "Can I join? Until I find a club of my own… I still may visit for parties or lunch."
Now there was a part of Rias that wanted to refuse the woman or at the very least demand compensation since Shirou was her magician, fortunately that part was buried under the bliss of good food and that same bliss didn't allow her to refuse more people on the table. "Sure, I can't wait to introduce Koneko to the two of you."
"Koneko?" Shirou asked while Setsuna twitched a bit.
"She is in middle school right now." Kiba explains. "They have no club day like us and their timetables are different."
"How did you get so good at cooking Shirou-kun?" Rias couldn't hide her curiosity.
"Sella helped me learn." Shirou smiled at the memories. "She could be strict in the kitchen and a bit demanding but it was just because she knew I could do better." At the mention of the maid who left he remembered the one who stayed. "Did you guys give Liz a job? As a teacher?"
"Yes we did." Both King and Queen were smiling at the question and he knew why, they were waiting for him to keep asking questions, questions that he was sure he knew the answers to.
"Who is Liz? The new teacher, Leysritt?" Setsuna had seen her at the opening ceremony.
"Yes. That is the one." Akeno chuckles, still waiting for him to ask the question.
"An acquaintance of yours Shirou?" His raven haired colleague asked.
"She is the maid of my house…" Shirou takes a deep breath and decides to get it over with. "Why?"
He didn't need to elaborate more while the smile on Akeno's face grew, Rias had one as well but hers was calm and serene while the Queen's is the one of someone pulling a prank. ""Your mother!"" They say in unison and he just lets out a sigh.
The lunch proceeds peacefully with minor conversations and some discussion of the details on where Shirou was going to work and the idea of having a forge there so the devils could transport the materials in an easy manner, the Emiya house had too much protection for it to be convenient while the club had a magic circle that allowed for supply transportation between the dimensions.
He is going to make another boundary field made around the forge and Rias offers to help which Shirou appreciates, he can do the field by himself but not one overly complex. When asked if the new field was going to perturb the one around the school Kiba explained. "We can make specific barriers, don't worry about it. They are just limited and hard. Better to make for something permanent like this."
What followed was Rias complaining about the paperwork that it would bring. The fact she was complaining was enough for Shirou to realise that making a boundary field in Kuoh was a hassle if anything else.
Once the sun got ready to set it was time for the non devils to go home, they would have normal classes the next day and Rias said that in Kuoh things would be a bit different than other schools, especially for people like them while pointing at her own pin.
Rias watches as Shirou and Setsuna leave, the young woman is welcomed into the club until she finds one of her own but once she sees if she is capable Rias may just invite her to the peerage. "I am happy that everything ended well."
Akeno's voice snapped Rias out of her thoughts. "Kiba, could you please follow them discreetly? I don't want anything to happen."
"Yes, Buchou." Kiba leaves with his typical smile that practically lives plastered on his face. The blonde had no problem keeping an eye on Shirou for the rest of the day just in case a hothead magician tried anything.
The two women wait for Kiba's departure and only once the Knight is gone Akeno goes and gets more tea while Rias sits on her arm chair. "You got lucky." The Queen says easily prompting Rias to give her a small smile.
"That is me, lucky." There was no sarcasm, they both knew that Rias had astronomical luck when it counted.
"You really didn't realize how close you were to him refusing, do you?" Akeno sighs and Rias pouts.
"He didn't refuse." The Queen shook her head.
"But he was close, his mother told me how he always is more considerate for others than himself and he was this close," Akeno holds her fingers just about to touch each other, "to saying no to the offer to join the club and focus on the EM."
"But the EM would help other people."
"They would but the fact is that he doesn't know how to start." Akeno sits on the couch and drinks her own tea before continuing. "From what I heard about this will be his first foray on actively researching by himself and that is a daunting task."
"He is not alone. We will help him." Rias was determined to make Shirou's project work. She needs it to work. Once again Akeno just shook her head.
"He will still go at his own pace, he will try other things and work on other stuff. You have no way of knowing if he will make progress in time." The fact is that Rias is not trusting Shirou with all the facts.
The red haired devil just waved it off. "It will be fine. I only will have troubles once highschool ends and until then I have other options."
"Options that don't give anyone any guarantees and even them can fail." Akeno was insistent, she wasn't staring or anything at Rias but the other girl knew what her Queen was implying.
"Shirou is competent enough, he will succeed." After a short sip of her tea Rias then says. "Even if he doesn't I will have something else prepared."
"Planning to recruit?" The who was implied.
"Setsuna-san is not human and from the story of their fight I can tell that she was the more experienced of the two." Rias smiles. "If she is interested in becoming a devil we can cultivate her potential too."
Akeno lets out a sigh. 'She is trusting her luck too much. Again!' Instead she says. "You are still risking too much. Talk to Shirou."
"I barely know him."
"True. But you need this to work Rias, the time is almost up." Akeno insists but Rias waves it off.
"I still have enough time, everything is going great; I managed to find a rare magician with good ideas, the deals are coming along nicely, this year a lot of new people entered in the school and there is a high chance they will have good abilities." All this excited the King but not the Queen.
'She is taking too much for granted.' Trying to bring her friend back to Earth, she says. "There is also the chance we don't find anyone special in the most recent batch."
"I have a good feeling about this one Akeno." There was absolutely no reason for such a good feeling other than her gut but Rias was positive that good things would happen.
'It's either her good mood or her head finally got too big.' Akeno sighs again, there is no talking with Rias when she is like this. The redhead was riding on a high having managed to secure the full cooperation of her contracted magician for a goal she needed him to work towards… but she is not telling HIM that and it was frustrating to the raven haired woman.
Akeno spent quite a bit of time talking with Irisviel, Iri for friends and family, about her children and the older woman loved to talk about her family.
If she was asked about it, Akeno wouldn't hesitate to tell her friend what she needs to know, at least in her opinion. But she wouldn't ask, not because Rias didn't care about her opinion but because the King was too focused on the superficial things.
In her conversations with Iri, either by phone or the computer once the woman left the country, the white haired woman described her son as single minded and focused when it comes to doing a task doing everything on his power to see it through properly.
If Rias tells Shirou her problem he won't see weakness or a chance to get something out of it, the boy raised by a person like Irisviel wasn't like that. But Rias didn't know that or wasn't worried about it, happy to let Shirou do his own thing, confident that she had time.
As her Queen, Akeno had the duty to support her King, that was a fact but all that Iri told her, the teasing and the concerns, were told in confidence, a deal made between friends of different ages and species. Just telling anyone about their conversations was intrusive and unprofessional.
Iri wouldn't care if she had a good reason, Akeno knows that but there was another little tidbit that stopped her from just telling Rias' stuff. The pureblood devil is prideful, most of them were in their own ways and Rias proved the rule. It could be different if Shirou was a member of the peerage but he wasn't and while the pact ment a long lasting relationship it could still be broken.
But that's besides the point and a very bad reason to the girl that just refused to ask for help. More than once Akeno wanted to hit her head into a wall from the fact that Rias could just ask her brother for advice or other things. Now she has a chance but instead of focusing on it or at least telling her 'partner' of the situation she is counting that Shirou will be able to deliver with no reason to rush.
'To be fair, her luck hasn't failed yet.' Maybe she was overthinking this, maybe she should just relax and trust her friend knew what she was doing. 'Rias has the Luck of the Devil after all.'
What both forgot is that luck is about opportunities and others can get around it with effort.
…..
It was now the first official day of classes and Shirou was excited for a change. He and the others members of the Occult Research Club were going to work on setting his forge/workshop and it can be done in a week, it would be less if they used a official construction crew but Shirou believed in doing it himself so it was going to take some time for him to set a room for himself, outfit it enough to be safe and then ask Rias for the boundary field.
Since he had a building with quite a number of rooms it was just a matter of position and a few changes but the materials were to start to arrive tomorrow and he can't deny that he is excited to get started.
Shirou was by no means a traditional magus but the idea of doing something new or finishing a job was enough to get his blood pumping, the only person happier than him was Liz who was proud of having a job as a gym teacher. The smile she wore the night before at the dinner was full of joy and she insisted on being called 'sensei', he would do it for her because he found her disposition cute.
After a call to his mother he found her working in a Parisian hotel. For a second he thought about asking why getting Liz the job but the maid was so happy he instead just talked with her. Shirou couldn't call his sister, electronics were banned in the Clocktower to avoid an accident and the only contact he could have with her was by letters. She explained on the last one that it was a recent change and also wrote the address he should direct his letters to so they reached her faster.
'First I need to complete the spark sword, then I still need to make sure the needle is safe to use, after that I will focus on EM production completely. The problem is still some healing spell to be placed on it but if I can use the original to-'
"Shirou-san." The redhead sees Setsuna approach him, now carrying a small bag in her hand. "Good morning."
"Good morning Setsuna-san." They move past other students who made way for them with eyes of admiration. "I really feel uncomfortable with that." Shirou said while scratching the back of his head.
"The fight was recorded, there is nothing we can do." The raven haired one didn't care about the stares or the attention. "I still want a rematch." That was what mattered to her about this discussion.
"I will be working with the club for at least a week setting my forge up but after that, sure." He did enjoy the spar and wanted to do it again but went all out.
"Good." Setsuna didn't show it but she also wanted that fight to happen soon, to go all out against him in combat. She was going to work on his forge as well to make sure it gets done as fast as possible.
"What number is your classroom?" They were approaching him already.
"Same as your Emiya-kun." Standing next to the wall was Kiba, he had his usual smile and his uniform was impeccable, there were some girls who were staring at him but that wasn't Shirou's focus.
"How do you know that?"
"Let's just say that the classes were divided following some criteria. If both of you would follow me." They were just a few steps away from the door but once it was open, Shirou recognized some of the faces already present.
Sitting at one desk at the superior corner closest to the window was Tohsaka Rin reading a book, in the middle of the classroom was Matou Shinji talking with a group that he remembered being in the club the day before.
The class had fifty chairs for what they could count, half of them were full and counting himself there were at least ten magicians in this class. 'This cannot be a coincidence.'
"Don't worry." Kiba tries to reassure him. "If they try anything they won't have time to regret it." The blonde gives Shirou a smile and moves to sit on a chair in the middle of the room.
Setsuna places a hand on his shoulder. "They won't do anything in broad daylight." Setsuna moves to sit on one of the chairs at the back and Shirou follows.
Shinji notices him but promptly turns back to his conversation. Rin was still reading her book and now he could see it closer. He was sure it was written in german, the title read 'Circles for the Elements.' It was a grymore or a book of magic, which could even be magic itself. Most japanese couldn't read german but even then she shouldn't be reading that in the open.
Shirou ended up sitting in between Setsuna and Kiba, behind him there was the end of the classroom. In front of him there was a girl with white hair talking with a girl with braids and then she turned and started to chat with the Knight while her friend also tried to get into the conversation. He could smell brimstone coming from them and was almost sure one of them was a devil at least.
Soon the class starts to fill and if Shirou notices that everyone in the class has a pin somewhere in their clothes, he turns to Setsuna and she also looks at him and gives him a nod and then goes to read a book of her own.
'Did everyone know that there were this many magical beings on Fuyuki except me?' Shirou really wanted to be more than devils and magicians in the classroom as well and he can't claim to know everything about the supernatural.
Shirou was nervous, he tried to calm down but he could feel quite a few eyes on him and that was making him twitchy. Now he wished he had taken his time to go to school or that he also had a book or something similar.
All Emiya could do was focus on his swords, placing his bag below his desk he closed his eyes and started to meditate. Once upon a time he tried to picture his forge in his meditation but that always left him out of focus, he got better results when he imagined himself sitting around surrounded by blades, he doesn't know why but it was easy to clear his mind of the surroundings like this.
Isolating himself first on his 'inner world' as he liked to call him is in a dark space, all he could see were his many works around him. The swords were closer and the more distant the weapon was of a blade the farther they were in the darkness but he could still see them with his mind's eye.
This was a place Shirou could relax and feel comfortable in while at the same time working on his projects without needing to use anything other than his knowledge and imagination. In there modifying the swords and testing designs was no trouble to determine what was best for what.
At the moment he was working on the rock breaking… earth moving… maybe he should just name the sword already but he felt that it wasn't complete yet, there was something missing.
"Shirou-san." He snapped back to the real world to see Setsuna looking at him. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
"You were still for almost half an hour." It was an observation that surprised Shirou.
"Was it really that long?" He asked while looking around and noticed that there were definitivale more people in the room and with them a lot of smells, smells of magic and power.
"You shouldn't let your guard down around here like that." The warning distracted him of his own musings. Setsuna continues. "Even Yuuto-san noticed but refrained from commenting."
"Sorry, I just found myself with nothing to do and started to meditate."
"And that wouldn't be a problem except that we weren't the only ones to notice." Shirou turned to where she was looking and he could see Shinji's group. They looked to just be talking but both noticed their eyes moving in their direction from time to time.
It was weird to feel that much animosity, he barely spoke with Shinji in his old school. For what he could recall, Matou was a bit of an unrule when they were growing up but started to turn into a bit of a womanizer once he started to notice girls.
"Thanks for the heads up." The woman gives him a nod, accepting his thanks.
After a few more minutes the door of the classroom closed once a man walked in, he was tall with long black hair, glasses and a face that spoke of stress and overwork. Dressed in a black suit with a red tie his posture told anyone who could see 'I am a teacher and you are the students'.
Once he reached the teacher's table and placed some books into it he picked up the chalk and started to write on the blackboard. Once he was done he turned to the students. "I suppose the first thing I should do is welcome you all to this class. As some of you have noticed, every one of this class is a citizen of the moonlit world."
That was undeniable. Every single one of them had a pin on their uniform, some looked around and sized each other up. Much like Shirou there were others that showed signs of not knowing that the moonlit world had such a presence in Fuyuki.
"Don't get too comfortable with each other." It may sound like a suggestion but it had more the tone of a warning. "This is the only class of its kind in the school, all the others are mixed with normal folk. To those that don't know why it is simple; here you are surrounded by peers and similars which allow more liberty to discuss, research and develop your own craft of any kind or species. The classroom is surrounded by a boundary field and unless you exert considerable strength there is no way for someone outside for anyone to notice the more… exoteric things that will happen here."
That got many of the students excited and Shirou could see why. Even if there was still a desire to keep many of the aspects of their magic a secret, the opening to dialogue and testing can allow for one to make great strides on their research and would let them be themselves without the risk of exposure.
"Don't think this is a right any of you have. This is a privilege." The deadpan stare the man gave the class sobered them up. "And like any other privilege it can be easily removed without prompt or ceremony. If any of you paid attention to the opening ceremony or the day before you will realise that there were less people here than it should if these were all of us in the school."
That was an understatement if Shirou had heard any, just magicians alone he saw enough to fill the room outside or the Occult Research Club.
"That is because they are splitted and mixed with the other normal classes." The teacher proceeded while walking the class. "They don't have the same privileges as you do, the same advantages. But they can get it. If any of you makes a mistake, you will be demoted from this class, and yes it is a demotion."
The tall man was looking every student in their eyes, some refused to look back, others glared or showed indifference.
"While in this class you will receive special education, besides being your homeroom teacher I also teach math. However, that is not the only thing I will be teaching. Together with the basic curriculum, which will be minimized, we will have lessons on the manipulation of mana and the theory of magecraft." Someone raises her hand. "Yes?"
"Sensei, most of us aren't magicians, we don't need to learn magecraft." The girl had pink hair but the teacher moved back to the blackboard.
"While that is correct there are aspects of magecraft that can help in other types of magic since it was said that the first studied magic was magicraft." When he starts to make a circle on the board, Shirou recognizes it as a summoning one. "This one for instance can be used to call a spirit, summon a devil or communicate with an elemental. Don't underestimate the basics."
Another student raises their hand. "But how are we going to make time for that and normal lessons? Are we going to have extra days?" It was one of Shinji's friends, a guy with really short green grass colored hair.
The man just gave an amused look to the student. "You all inhabit both worlds, the fantastic and the mundane, to adapt to both you must find balance. You will have the same number of days and time as any other student with a bigger workload and I expect a lot of you to fail… Or alternatively you can ask for a transfer now. The door is open." The teacher was gesturing for said door and waiting for anyone to get up and leave. "Of course once you leave the privileges of this class will be lost for you. There are plenty of normal classes in Kuoh and I can guarantee that there are plenty who want your place."
"That … sounds harsh. Don't you think so?" The white haired girl in front of Shirou raised her hand and asked.
"Harsh?" The teacher just shakes his head. "In the moonlit world harshness is the norm. If you want to survive you need to adapt and as a teacher it is my duty to see you all reach the best people you can be. Or to watch you fail here and learn something so you don't do it out there." Fixing his glasses the man sighs. "Unless you are from a rich family you need to be smart with your finances and for that you need to mix yourself with the mundane. Maybe you all won't need that but either way it is going to be a good experience."
The class chatted for a bit, debating the merits of such a system. There were plenty who disagreed but others just accepted it, even if just to not leave this class for a more normal one.
"Sensei." Tohsaka Rin raises her hand. "I already have plenty of study in the fields of formal magecraft. In my case I can use this class however I want, right?"
'That… is a good question.' Shirou thought and the teacher gave her a nod.
"So long as you get good grades, make your projects and don't expose our world you can do anything in this class if it doesn't bother the others." Then the demeanor of the teacher changed completely. "But be warned that if any of you do anything stupid, I will make sure you regret it regardless of your sponsor." Mana surrounded the man in great quantities. "Have I made myself clear?"
No one dared to deny or challenge the man, there were already a couple of nods going around until Shinji opened his mouth. "And who are you to threaten us?"
The teacher chuckled. "Careful with that spine. If we were on the Clocktower and you insured the wrong lord there was a chance you would be dead by the hour." The man then points to the name on the blackboard. "As for who I am. Are you blind? I wrote my name at the beginning. My name is Waver Velvet, this is the ocidental way of saying it and I prefer it."
"You- you are a teacher from the Clocktower?" Rin asked, every magician in the room was shocked by the reveal.
"I was but the pay here is better. Less backstabbing too." Waver Velvet looked to all his new students. "Now, if we haven't any more questions: shall we begin?"
…..
Yoruichi is originally from Bleach, those that know the manga will be happy to know her personality is close to the original. About the manga… I can't recommend it, the author did a great job in the beginning and created great characters but the story… falls apart, HARD. Too much focus on the protagonist and little for everyone else to do. Yoruichi is one of my favorite characters from Bleach and she did get something… the rest got the short end of the stick. A bit happy that the mobile game apparently corrected that but I already play Fate Grand Order and have no time to invest in another.
Setsuna and Jaken are both from the same universe, Inuyasha was one of the manga that I grew up with and this one I can recommend if you like fights and romance, focus on romance and drama really but it gives an excellent exposition on the japanese culture, legends and other stuff. If anyone will start it I recommend they find a guide to avoid fillers, or watch them some are good. Setsuna is a character from the sequel that was launched last year(this is being written in 2021) and while the censorship changed the kind of fights it can have, or is just more tammer, it is also good in my opinion. Their stories here are similar but also extremely different because of the setting.
Some clarification for for magicians since someone sent a PM asking for a more specific structure(also please want something write a comment not PMs), they are the ones who use magic, their classes are magus who doesn't use seals of power and are focused on research in their majority, spellcasters who use seals and can use magics from other races and sorcerers who can use magic close to true miracles called True Magics.
PS; Jaken is disguised in a human form.