The year was 1999, five years after the Fourth Holy Grail War.
London, Clock Tower.
"I heard you t Touko?"
In the reception room of the Departnt of Creation, a woman in her seventies, her hands lined with wrinkles, held a teacup and posed the question to Tenkei Shiomi, seated across from her on the sofa.
"Not exactly," Shiomi replied with a nonchalant tone.
Last year, he had visited Tokyo for so matter and briefly t with Touko Aozaki. Whether the one he t was the real Touko or a doll acting as her substitute was sothing even Shiomi couldn't confirm.
In fact, as far back as the late '80s, Touko had already sought Shiomi out. After all, parading around under the guise of being her disciple for so long was bound to draw the attention of the real person sooner or later.
After a bit of friction, they beca acquainted.
Shiomi not only refused to take part in any missions to designate Touko for sealing, but also used his position to pass information to her. Of course, Touko was notoriously elusive—more often than not, she simply borrowed money from him.
"What, did she stand you up?" the old woman asked.
"No, she just didn't give
the money I asked for. We went back and forth a bit, then parted ways." Shiomi rested his chin in his hand. "And don't start lecturing
about dereliction of duty. I resigned from the Sealing Designation Executor list a long ti ago, Lord Valualeta."
The woman speaking with Shiomi was none other than Inorai Valualeta Atroholm, head of the Departnt of Creation at the Clock Tower, also referred to as the departnt chair—and the ntor of the aforentioned Touko Aozaki.
Despite being her teacher, Inorai was a quintessential Magus. She had once trained Touko, but also strongly endorsed her sealing designation.
She never allowed personal feelings to interfere, executing political maneuvering as naturally as breathing.
So when it ca to Shiomi, she did what she could to court him, aiming to elevate him as one of the leading representatives of the Democratic Faction among Magi.
"Hehehe..." Inorai chuckled lightly.
Shiomi didn't care whether she believed him or not. The truth was, he had asked for money and hadn't gotten it. If anything, he'd only gotten himself entangled in further complications.
Besides, Touko had already left Tokyo. Even Shiomi didn't know where she had gone.
"So you called
here just to ask about Touko. That's all I can tell you," Shiomi said with a shrug, though he didn't leave right away.
Inorai would never summon soone without a deeper purpose. If she had invited Shiomi here, it ant there was more she wanted to ask.
"I hear your daughters are nearly junior high age?" Inorai asked.
"The older one will start next year. The younger still has another year to go," Shiomi replied, seeing no reason to hide it.
In recent years, Sakura had grown rapidly as a Magus, and Shiomi had already begun discussing her future with her.
Should she begin formal Magecraft training at the Clock Tower next year, or continue her regular schooling and decide on the path of a Magus later?
With Sakura's current talent, even if she didn't join the Mage's Association, she wouldn't be passively drawn into Magecraft-related affairs just because of her potential.
And just as expected, Sakura expressed her desire to delve deeper into the world of Magi. Shiomi had no reason to stop her.
"No wonder I recently saw a file about a girl with the sa surna as yours being sent to the Clock Tower," Inorai said with a soft chuckle. Her aged face deepened with more lines, making her look even more wrinkled.
"Yes, I was the one who sent it," Shiomi replied.
The Clock Tower had no shortage of young students entering to study Magecraft, so Sakura didn't particularly stand out. At most, only the more curious students might discover that she was adopted.
"Well then, that works out," Inorai suddenly said, though her aning was unclear.
Shiomi didn't press for an explanation.
Then, almost as if it had been rehearsed, just as their brief exchange wrapped up, soone knocked on the door to the Lord's reception room.
A blonde girl walked in, appearing about the sa age as Caren. Her skin was porcelain-smooth, and she moved with a graceful poise as she adjusted her skirt. But what stood out the most was the determined look in her fiery red eyes.
She couldn't have been much older than ten, yet the resolve in her expression made it hard to imagine what she might have gone through in her short life.
Her crimson eyes swept over Shiomi briefly, then shifted to a deep azure.
Mystic Eyes.
Shiomi instantly understood—this girl possessed Mystic Eyes and had just used them to examine him.
Trailing behind her was a tall man with long hair, towering more than half a head above her.
"Waver Velvet..." Shiomi spoke his na, then corrected himself, "No, I should call you Lord El-lloi II now. It's been a few years—you've really changed."
"On the contrary, you haven't changed at all." El-lloi II exchanged pleasantries with Shiomi, a faint smile breaking through his typically stern deanor.
Five years ago, Shiomi looked only a few years older than Waver. Now, he appeared even younger than the current El-lloi II.
Of course, it might simply be that El-lloi II had been overworking himself, aging prematurely as a result.
"A Magus needs to know how to take care of themselves," Shiomi said with a light tone, then shifted his gaze to the young girl standing in front of El-lloi II. "And this must be—"
"I'm Reines El-lloi Archisorte," she said with a mischievous smile. "Foster sister to Kayneth El-lloi Archibald—the man you killed during the Fourth Holy Grail War. Puts things into perspective, doesn't it, Mr. Shiomi? Though technically, I'm his niece by blood."
"I see." Shiomi gave a small smile and glanced toward Inorai. "So, Lord Valualeta sold
out to the El-lloi faction for revenge? Wouldn't fighting here be a bit inappropriate?"
Reines strolled over gracefully and sat beside Shiomi, acting like a child seeking attention from an adult—but the presence she carried was not to be underestimated.
"Of course not. If a fight broke out now, I'm afraid the Departnt of Creation and the Departnt of Modern Magecraft would be switching hands by tomorrow," Reines said, locking eyes with Shiomi. "Besides, even before my brother entered the Holy Grail War, many within El-lloi warned him that it would an certain death. But he went anyway—and, just as predicted, was killed by you. Even if El-lloi seeks revenge, it won't co so easily."
"Is that so? Then what brings you to ?" Shiomi took a playful tone, treating Reines like a child. "Young lady of the El-lloi family?"
He reached out to pat her head. Reines didn't shy away, playing along like an innocent little girl.
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