Today was destined to be an unsettling day for Tohsaka Tokiomi.
First was the funeral ceremony presided over by his daughter, followed by Kariya's incomprehensible rambling. Once Kariya had said enough, stumbling away in a daze, another person arrived at the tombstone.
An old man, though his hair and beard were white, his body and aura were exceptionally robust, exuding an astonishing sense of pressure. His deep eyes, like the starry sky, held endless mysteries.
Unlike the other funeral attendees who bowed their heads in silent mourning, the old man stood calmly before the tombstone, staring directly at the inscription—"Tokiomi Tohsaka, Fifth Head of the Tohsaka Family."
After a long while, he let out a sigh.
"Already the fifth generation, huh? Two hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye. Ti flies, doesn't it?"
The last sentence was spoken as if he were talking to soone beside him.
"As expected, I can't hide from you, 'Kaleidoscope'; Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg."
In a clear, ethereal female voice, golden and pure white particles of spirit gathered, revealing a woman dressed in white ceremonial robes.
The old man's deep gaze passed over the woman's exquisitely beautiful face, which didn't look human, and a hint of nostalgia appeared on his not-so-old face.
"It's been almost two hundred years, hasn't it, Holy Maiden of Winter; Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern."
"Indeed."
Justeaze's eyes, more beautiful than rubies, t the old man's gaze, and her indifferent face showed a slight fluctuation.
"You've co to see off Tohsaka Tokiomi, haven't you? If I rember correctly, the Tohsaka family ancestor once studied under you for a ti."
"Yes, though he was the least accomplished of them all." The old man, one of the most powerful beings in the mystical world, showed a hint of sentint, "Two hundred years have passed, and there's been no progress at all."
"Because the task you left behind isn't sothing an ordinary magus can complete. As far as I know, completing it is no less difficult than creating a replica of outside the Castle of Winter."
Having worked with Tohsaka Nagato and Matou Zouken (Makiri Zolgen) for ten years, Justeaze was sowhat familiar with Tohsaka Nagato and Kaleidoscope's affairs.
"In the end, they were just too foolish." The old man was very strict in this regard.
"By your standards, then, the Einzbern is also a bunch of fools, having failed to complete the Third Magic after all these years." Justeaze's tone was flat, revealing no emotion.
"They are indeed a hopeless bunch of fools." The old man spoke matter-of-factly. By his standards, the number of non-fools in the world wouldn't exceed double digits.
"You're still the sa, unchanged."
"You, however, have changed a lot."
"I like this change, it makes more human."
Justeaze gently tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear, exuding a stunning beauty.
The old man chuckled, "You're much easier to get along with now. Is it because of that child? Or perhaps the Queen of the Land of Shadows."
Justeaze's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, "You know—of course, with your Second Magic involving space and ti, knowing these things wouldn't be difficult for you. So, you didn't co to mourn Tohsaka Tokiomi?"
The old man did not deny it, "Just in passing. A descendant of an untalented disciple isn't worth a special trip."
"Then why are you here—?"
"I ca specifically to find you, and that child."
"Shinji has gone to the Clock Tower and hasn't been in contact with the family for a month. We don't know what he's doing now."
"He's encountered so trouble and can't contact you for the ti being."
The old man's words caused Justeaze's furrowed brows to tighten further.
"Trouble? What happened?"
"Wait for him to co back and ask him yourself. He should be back soon."
"Should?" Justeaze was not satisfied with this answer.
The Second Magus, possessing the ability to observe the world, sighed: "Don't consider my magic to be omnipotent. You should know—the Magic are, in a certain sense, enemies of the 'world.' If I overstep, the Counter Force will intervene."
"How much truth is there in what you just said?" Justeaze pressed further. She was indifferent to most things, but she cared deeply about the people around her, especially Shinji, who was the most important to her.
Instead of angering the renowned and highly esteed Kaleidoscope, Justeaze's attitude brought a rare, understanding smile to his face:
"I didn't expect to see such an expression on your face. It seems you truly care about that child. Very well. For soone like you, I'll make an exception and say a bit more. That child is the person I pay the most attention to in this world. If he were to die, I would be very troubled."
"It seems there's sothing I'm not aware of." Justeaze's silver eyebrows finally relaxed, but her expression didn't improve much.
"No need to ask further. Even if you did, I wouldn't tell you. So things, once spoken, can have an impact. Just continue on your path as you have been."
"I understand." Justeaze knew the old man's temperant and didn't waste any more words. She simply asked, "What do you need Shinji and to do?"
"We'll discuss that when he returns. There are so things I need to convey to him personally."
"And in the anti?"
"I'll stay with the Tohsaka family. I just observed that the girl, unlike her five foolish ancestors, is an exceptional talent. Following her ancestor's foolish thods would only waste her potential, leading her to diocrity."
The girl referred to was the new head of the Tohsaka family, Tohsaka Rin, who possessed 40 pri magic circuits and 30 auxiliary ones. Her magical talent ranked among the top hundred of her ti, truly deserving the title of a prodigy. It was no wonder the Kaleidoscope felt compelled to personally guide her.
"And what about Sakura? She's also of the Tohsaka family and has talent comparable to her sister's. Would you consider guiding her as well?" Having lived with the Matou family for so many years, Justeaze had grown accustod to considering the Matou family's interests. Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, being the Second Magus and the highest-ranked magus, could undoubtedly help Sakura advance further in her magical studies.
"Sure." Kischur didn't refuse. "But only guidance. Her Majesty Scáthach's magical prowess is not inferior to mine. Matou Sakura's future developnt doesn't require much intervention from ."
"Regardless, thank you." Justeaze smiled for the first ti since her appearance.
"No need to thank . This is both an advance paynt and to let Tohsaka Tokiomi rest in peace." The old man's gaze shifted back to the tombstone, his expression solemn. "Rest in peace, descendant of the eternal one."
"Rest in peace, a descendant of the eternal one," Justeaze echoed, bowing her head.
Two white-haired individuals, whose combined existence spanned millennia, jointly paid their respects to Tohsaka Tokiomi.
PS: Be content, Tokiomi. Two millennia-old beings are attending your funeral.
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