Fate/Magus Path

Accompanied by a BGM etched deep into his blood, Arcueid transformed right before Roy's eyes...

Yes, a genuine transformation.

A white, flowing light emanated from a gemstone, enveloping her. Under the moonlight, Arcueid leaped gracefully, mimicking the transformation sequences she had seen in anime, and landed smoothly.

Now a magical girl, thanks to Ruby, Arcueid landed on the ground, raised her left hand to flash a peace sign at Roy, and then pointed her magical wand at him.

She chanted the iconic phrase.

"In the name of the moon, I'll punish you!!"

The scene fell into complete silence...

Roy stared at Arcueid, now clad in a white magical girl outfit, holding a wand. He opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.

Was she beautiful? Absolutely.

Was she happy? Arcueid seemed quite pleased with herself.

Representing the moon? Well, she was the Princess of the Moon, so she certainly had the right.

But still, how should he respond?

After a moment of contemplation, he decided to say nothing.

This kind of spectacle could only be the work of one person... Zelretch obsessed with magical girls. No one else in the entire moonlit world would go to such lengths, nor would anyone bother to create something as whimsical as a magical girl transformation device.

However, as Roy glanced at the red gem hanging from Arcueid's chest, it struck him as familiar. Zelretch, in his efforts to recruit Roy, had once explained the magical girl transformation system he was developing.

There were two gems.

Ruby and Sapphire.

The one Arcueid was wearing was clearly Ruby.

But as far as Roy remembered, in the timeline of Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya, this Ruby was supposed to be Illya's transformation device. How had it ended up with Arcueid?

Though, judging by the way Arcueid was beaming, she was clearly delighted with her new toy.

"How do I look, Roy? Does this outfit suit me?"

"And this wand... it doesn't require much magic. Just point it at something, and whoosh! It shoots out an aurora!"

Arcueid moved closer, pulling Roy's hand as she demonstrated her new toy.

"Shiki said this outfit looks good on me too, but I feel a bit... strange. The skirt feels too short."

It wasn't that she felt embarrassed... Arcueid simply wasn't used to wearing such short skirts. But since Shiki had complimented her and the new toy was so much fun, she couldn't help but eagerly show it off to Roy.

Ruby on her chest suddenly spoke up, "Hahaha... don't say that, Miss Arcueid! This magical girl outfit suits you perfectly. If the old man chose you, it means you have the potential to be a true magical girl!"

"In my opinion, there's nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, you look absolutely adorable! For magical girls, cuteness is justice!!"

Hearing this, Arcueid's eyes sparkled, and she turned to Roy with an expectant gaze.

"Really, Roy? Do I look cute in this outfit?"

"Uh..."

Roy hesitated for a moment, but under Arcueid's hopeful stare, he nodded against his better judgment. "Yes, very cute. It suits you well."

"See, Arcueid? Even this guy agrees! So what are you waiting for? Make a contract with me and become a magical girl!"

"Hehe, that's great! If Roy likes it, I'll wear this outfit all the time!"

Arcueid declared happily.

All the time?

Roy's heart sank. Knowing Arcueid, she might actually wear this outfit in public without a second thought. While she might lack a sense of shame, Roy certainly didn't. The thought of walking alongside a magical-girl-clad Arcueid, enduring the stares of passersby, was enough to make him cringe.

"Wait, Arcueid. While I do think the outfit is cute, it might not be the most suitable for you."

Roy quickly backtracked, his tone shifting.

"Huh? But you just said..."

"I said it suits you, but not perfectly. After all, you're so cute that anything would look good on you."

"Really?"

Arcueid seemed surprised but pleased by the compliment.

"Of course. If you want new clothes, I can take you shopping. We can pick out something even better."

Bombarded with such sweet words, Arcueid couldn't resist. The idea of shopping with Roy instantly overshadowed her new toy.

"Yay! Let's go shopping! And let's bring Shiki too!"

She exclaimed joyfully.

"Miss Arcueid, wait! Don't listen to him! He's just too embarrassed to admit he likes magical... "

Before Ruby could finish, Roy's hand shot out, grabbing the gem from Arcueid's chest and silencing it mid-sentence.

"You talk too much, Ruby."

"Ahhhh!! Let go, let go! It hurts! You're going to crush me! I won't say another word, I promise!"

After giving Ruby a brief lesson in manners, Roy released it. But he wasn't done yet. As the gem tried to fly away, he swiftly conjured a blue energy cage, trapping it inside. Ruby could only weakly call out to Arcueid for help.

"Save me, Miss Arcueid!"

But Arcueid didn't seem particularly concerned. To her, Ruby was just a toy or a piece of clothing. If it was gone, so be it. She was far more interested in the shopping trip Roy had mentioned.

"Roy, when are we going shopping? I want to buy lots of new clothes!" She asked excitedly.

"After I get back. I have to leave tomorrow for a bit. I came back specifically to say goodbye to you and Shiki."

"Huh? You're leaving?"

"Yes, a friend of mine is in trouble. I need to go help him."

"Can I come with you? I'm fully recovered now. I can help!"

Arcueid's enthusiasm dimmed slightly at the news, but she quickly suggested tagging along.

"Sorry, but I can't take anyone with me this time. The place I'm going is... special. I can only bring myself."

Having just read the instructions for the bracelet given to him by Zelretch, Roy realized it only allowed for one person to travel. Bringing Arcueid along would have been helpful... her Marble Phantasm combined with Gilgamesh's Noble Phantasm would have been a sight to behold... but it wasn't possible.

"I see..."

Arcueid's mood visibly dropped.

"But don't worry. With your abilities, I'm sure you'll solve the problem quickly. Shiki and I will wait for you here."

"Thank you, Arcueid."

"No need to thank me. I'm the one who should be apologizing."

Arcueid shook her head, her understanding nature shining through.

"Let's go find Shiki and tell her you're leaving. If you sneak off without telling her, she'll be furious."

"Alright, I'll go... "

"No need. I'm already here."

Before Roy could finish, a familiar voice interrupted him.

Turning around, he saw Shiki approaching from a distance. Dressed in her signature kimono, she held something strange in her hand.

"Shiki, you're here!"

Arcueid smiled and immediately rushed over to hug her.

"Arcueid, don't hug me like that. It's embarrassing."

Shiki tried to dodge, but Arcueid was too quick. She struggled to break free, but the blonde's strength was overwhelming. She could only endure the affectionate embrace.

"You two seem close..."

Roy remarked with a smile.

"Yeah, I really like Shiki. She helped me overcome my 800-year-old bloodlust, and she has such a comforting presence."

Arcueid spoke without hesitation.

"This is too much..."

Shiki, still trapped in Arcueid's embrace, felt increasingly uncomfortable. The blue object she had been holding slipped from her hand unnoticed.

What's this?

"Sapphire!"

Seeing the floating gem, Ruby in the cage cried out excitedly.

"Sister! Why are you in a cage?"

Sapphire sounded shocked. She had been knocked out by Shiki earlier and had just woken up, only to find her sister imprisoned.

"Are you two sisters?"

Roy asked the floating Sapphire.

He was genuinely curious about these two magical girl systems created by Zelretch. To think he could create such highly intelligent magical tools...

"Yes, please release my sister."

"Though she can be a pervert and sometimes plays cruel pranks, she means no harm. Please let her go... Ahhh!!"

Before she could finish, Roy grabbed her and tossed her into the cage alongside Ruby.

If they were sisters, they should stay together. Family should stick together, after all.

While Shiki and Arcueid were busy, Roy took the opportunity to interrogate the two gems about their origins.

He already knew about Ruby, but Sapphire's story was more complicated.

Earlier, Arcueid and Shiki had been out shopping when they encountered a tall, strange old man at a street stall.

The man wore a black Western-style robe and exuded an aura of danger. Shiki, sensing the threat, immediately activated her Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. But Arcueid, familiar with Dead Apostle energy, didn't react as strongly. She felt no hostility from the old man... in fact, he seemed oddly familiar.

The old man didn't say much. After observing the two for a moment, he handed them each a box.

"Would you like to become magical girls and fight for justice?"

He asked cryptically before vanishing, leaving the two women bewildered.

Inside the boxes were Ruby and Sapphire. Ruby chose Arcueid, who happily accepted and transformed into a magical girl.

Sapphire, however, made the mistake of choosing Shiki, attempting to recruit her as a magical girl as well.

The result? After relentless pestering, Shiki knocked Sapphire out and decided to hand it over to Arcueid as a plaything.

"..."

Hearing the story, Roy's expression shifted slightly.

Turning Shiki into a magical girl? That old man really had some nerve. And Sapphire was lucky Shiki hadn't sliced it into pieces.

Magical girls? What a disaster.

Well, he might as well mail these two back to the Clock Tower as gifts for Reines and Gray. Though he wasn't sure how they'd react.

Reines probably wouldn't mind, but Gray would definitely be embarrassed.

No matter. Even if they didn't want the gems, they could always fly back to the old man's office in the Clock Tower.

After some thought, Roy decided on a plan for the two gems.

Meanwhile, Shiki and Arcueid, having finished their little scuffle, walked over to him.

"Arcueid told me you're leaving again?" Shiki asked.

"Yes, it's about that friend I mentioned earlier... Merlin. He's in trouble, and I need to go help him."

"That court mage of King Arthur's?"

"The very same. And the place I need to go is... special. It's not in this time or even this world. I can only get there using a tool given to me by a certain old man."

Roy showed Shiki the bracelet on his wrist.

"But this tool can only take one person, so... I'm sorry, Shiki." He said apologetically.

"...Idiot. There's no need to apologize."

"If your friend needs help, it's only right that you go. I won't stop you or hold you back. That would only slow you down."

Shiki shook her head. Though she felt a pang of sadness at Roy's departure, she didn't show it.

She wasn't the type to be unreasonable, and their relationship was... complicated.

After the events in Misaki City, she had found herself thinking more and more about Roy. She had even consulted her other self, SHIKI, about what to do.

But to her surprise, SHIKI had fully supported her feelings, even encouraging her to take the initiative and "claim" Roy before someone else did.

This left Shiki baffled. She had expected SHIKI to offer advice, not outright push her into action. Weren't they supposed to be the same person? Shouldn't SHIKI have been more cautious?

But SHIKI had simply replied, "Hesitating isn't like you. Make your own decision, Shiki."

And then he had vanished.

Shiki had thought that by staying close to Roy, she would have more opportunities to fight alongside him and explore her feelings. But now, hearing that he was leaving again, she felt a sense of urgency.

The last time he had left, he had been gone for six months. This time, he was traveling to another world. How long would he be away?

She realized she might actually have feelings for him. If she could continue traveling with him, she might find the right moment to confess.

But now he was leaving. What should she do? Wait until he returned?

No, what if he came back with a girlfriend? That would be...

But how could she bring it up?

Shiki glanced at Arcueid, feeling exasperated.

With the blonde around, there was no way she could broach the subject.

The mood was completely ruined.

After much internal struggle, all she managed to say was a soft, "Take care on your journey."

"..."

"Are you serious? Just go for it! If you keep hesitating, that blonde is going to beat you to it. Do you want to be the bridesmaid at their wedding?!"

SHIKI, now able to observe the situation through their shared consciousness thanks to a special spell, was furious at Shiki's indecision and ready to take matters into his own hands.

But...

Shiki simply replied, "Shut up, SHIKI."

And with that, she silenced him.

"Fine! Do what you want. Don't come crying to me when it all falls apart."

"I will."

Unaware of Shiki's inner turmoil, Roy handed her the cage containing Ruby and Sapphire.

He explained that someone from the Clock Tower would come to collect them soon and instructed her to hand them over when they arrived.

Then, while Shiki was distracted, he gave her a quick hug.

"Huh? What are you... "

He gently pressed two fingers to her forehead and whispered, "Forgive me, Shiki. Next time."

With that, the bracelet activated.

In a flash of light, Roy vanished before their eyes, leaving Shiki and Arcueid behind.

[Time: Age of Gods.]

[Location: Mesopotamia.]

[World Shift Initiated.]

___

If you're interested in reading more, feel free to visit my pat reon, 

https , // www .pat reon. com /XElenea