Fate: Edmund

The decision had already been made. Edmund left the city of Fuyuki that very night, moving with the determination of someone who no longer considered the consequences. He didn't know exactly where Rin had gone with her mother, but that wouldn't stop him. He let himself be guided by logic and intuition, traveling to the nearest city.

His first strategy was simple: search the elementary schools. While the world of magi operated in secrecy, the daily life of a girl her age had to follow a recognizable pattern.

Edmund went through each institution one by one, infiltrating effortlessly. He used suggestion magic to hypnotize the necessary individuals, temporarily altering their memories and manipulating school records without raising suspicion. He searched patiently, reviewing attendance lists and residential addresses.

It was easier than expected. In less than a couple of hours, his search bore fruit. He found her name.

"Rin Tohsaka... So, here you are."

A smile spread across his face as he read the details in the record. He knew there was no turning back. Now came the next decision: should he go directly to her house or wait until the next day?.

He thought about it for a moment.

On one hand, he could observe her from a distance, study her routine, and assess the best moment to act. But on the other hand, time was crucial. In Fuyuki, the war was still ongoing, Servants clashed in the night, and any event could shift the balance at any moment.

Finally, he decided to act immediately.

Thanks to the school records, he had also obtained the address of her residence. A careless oversight by ordinary humans that he didn't hesitate to exploit.

"It's better to do it now... before things get more complicated."

Without wasting any more time, he left the school and headed toward the Tohsaka residence in this city. It wasn't too far, so the journey was quick.

How would she react? Could he convince her with words, or would he have to resort to force? Was he doing the right thing?

But the answer was irrelevant now.

When he finally arrived at the residence, Edmund stopped in front of the door, took a deep breath, and smiled.

"Well... Let's see how this goes."

Edmund stopped in front of the door of the house where Rin Tohsaka and her mother, Aoi, were temporarily residing. He took a deep breath and exhaled calmly, making sure to maintain a serene expression. Then, he raised his hand and knocked gently on the door. It didn't take long before the door slowly opened.

Aoi Tohsaka appeared at the threshold, her characteristic elegance and poise on full display, though her face showed a hint of surprise at seeing a stranger before her. Her eyes scanned him up and down with a touch of courtesy, but also wariness.

"May I help you with something?" she asked kindly, though maintaining a cautious stance.

Edmund smiled, tilting his head slightly in a respectful gesture.

"Good evening, Mrs. Tohsaka. I apologize for showing up unannounced, but I come with an important matter concerning your daughter. May I come in?"

Aoi frowned. "My daughter? Who are you?"

Without waiting for an invitation, Edmund took a step forward and crossed the threshold naturally, as if the house belonged to him. Aoi stood still for a moment, bewildered by the confidence with which the young man moved inside her home. Just as she was about to stop him and demand that he leave, he turned to her with a soft smile, but with a gaze that made her hold her breath.

"Please, Mrs. Tohsaka, there's no need to be alarmed. I'm not here to cause trouble. I simply wish to speak with your daughter."

Aoi felt a shiver run down her spine. There was something in his voice, in his tone, that made her uneasy. It wasn't an outright threat, but it wasn't a simple request either.

"What do you want to talk to her about?" she asked, trying to maintain her composure.

Edmund raised his eyebrows, feigning surprise. "Hasn't Tokiomi mentioned me to you?"

Aoi blinked, confused. "My husband...?"

"I'm a mage, like him. Let's just say I have certain interests in your daughter's education. I know Rin has great potential, and it's a shame for her to remain here without receiving the proper training."

Aoi felt her heart race. If this young man truly knew her husband and belonged to the world of mages, it meant he could wield more power than he let on. And if he had come all this way, he must have a clear purpose.

"If her father hasn't mentioned anything about this, I can understand your confusion. But I assure you, I mean no harm." Edmund gave her a calculated look. "I just want to speak with her."

Aoi swallowed hard. There was something about his presence that made her feel cornered. If she refused, what would this young man do? She didn't have a mage to protect her, nor command seals to summon a Servant. She was alone.

After a brief moment of tension, Aoi nodded stiffly. "Wait here. I'll call her."

Edmund smiled charmingly. "Of course."

Aoi turned and walked toward her daughter's room, her mind filled with uncertainty and dread.

Who was this young man really, and what did he want with Rin?

Aoi returned with measured steps, trying to maintain her composure. She gently knocked on Rin's bedroom door before opening it.

"Rin, dear, there's someone here who wants to speak with you."

Rin Tohsaka, a girl with jet-black hair and bright blue eyes, looked up curiously from her desk. She had been studying on her own, reviewing the little her father had taught her before he left. She stood up energetically and followed her mother to the living room, where Edmund waited with a calm smile.

"Nice to meet you, Rin Tohsaka." Edmund inclined his head slightly. "My name is Edmund, and I've come here for an important reason."

Rin eyed him with suspicion, crossing her arms. "If you're not a friend of my father's, I have nothing to say to you!"

Edmund let out a soft chuckle. "Oh, but of course I am. At the very least, I belong to the same world as he does."

The mention of the world of mages immediately caught her interest. Rin, though still a child, understood the weight of her lineage and the responsibility that came with it. She knew her father was fighting in the Holy Grail War and that someday it would be her duty to carry on the Tohsaka legacy.

"Rin, your family is one of mages. But tell me, what have you done to strengthen that lineage?"

Rin frowned. "I've been studying! Dad has taught me things, and I train every day."

Edmund nodded, but then clicked his tongue.

"It's not enough. If you truly want to protect your legacy and your family, you need more than that. You need real training, to learn from a mage who understands the potential you hold."

Rin's eyes sparkled with interest. "Could you teach me?"

"Of course. I'm not just any mage. I'm a genius. Someone who has achieved in a few years what others take generations to accomplish." Edmund leaned slightly toward her, his gaze fixed on her.

"If you come with me, I'll make you strong enough so that no one can question your place as the heir of the Tohsaka. You won't have to rely on anyone else. You'll be the one to protect your mother, your family, and your legacy."

Rin felt her heart pounding fiercely. This was what she had always wanted—to be recognized, to be strong, to prove that she could be her father's successor without depending on him. Her hands clenched into fists with excitement.

"When do we start?"

"Tonight," Edmund replied with a calculated smile.

"The Holy Grail War is a dangerous event. Not just for those in Fuyuki, but for all nearby mage families. If something unpredictable happens, you need to be ready."

Without hesitation, Rin turned to her mother with a big smile.

"Mom, don't worry. I'm going to train and come back much stronger! When I return, I'll be the one protecting you."

Aoi watched the scene in complete astonishment. She didn't know what to say. Her daughter was so excited that any objection she tried to raise would seem selfish. And besides... if Tokiomi had truly sent Edmund to train her, didn't that mean it was what was best for her?

"If this is what's best for you, Rin..." she murmured with some hesitation.

"It is!" the girl exclaimed before running to her room to get ready.

Aoi stood in silence, watching Edmund with a mix of disbelief and wariness.

"It's hard to believe... but if this will make her happy, I can't stop her."

Edmund smiled calmly. "Exactly."

He crossed his arms and waited. It wouldn't be long before Rin returned, ready to set off into a completely unknown future.

........

A few more days... I can't write without being interrupted by my mom... hahaha, this will be the last chapter of this week, maybe I'll upload another one on Monday or Tuesday.