It had been a while since their last meeting, but a shared meal had thawed some of the frost between Alex and Touko Aozaki.
He wasn't naive, he knew she was likely just playing along for the paycheck. Still, that didn't bother him. As long as she completed the task he'd given her, her reasons were her own. Watching her figure disappear into the distance, Alex slipped a hefty yen note under the tray, well beyond the meal's cost, before rising from the table. He stepped out of the fast-food joint and began roaming Misaki City, hunting for a certain elusive presence.
By the unwritten laws of the magical world, an outsider magus like him should've checked in with the local magical family upon entering their domain, just as he'd done with Tohsaka in Fuyuki. But here, the Ryogi family, custodians of Misaki's ley lines were a shadow of their former selves. With mystery fading and no heirs to carry on, the once-proud demon-hunting lineage was slipping into obscurity, teetering on the edge of becoming just another mundane household. They had no sway over him.
As for Misaki City itself…
It was an odd place, steeped in secrets. It might not have Fuyuki's reputation for "gas leaks," but its hidden depths ran just as deep, if not deeper. In the sprawling Type-Moon universe, this city was a vital stage, the setting of Kara no Kyoukai.
Unlike the widely celebrated Holy Grail War, Kara no Kyoukai flew under the radar for many. Even seasoned FGO players often overlooked its tale. Yet its heroine, Shiki Ryogi, had carved out her own legend. Armed with the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, among the most formidable in Type-Moon lore and her unforgettable declaration, "If it's alive, I can kill it, even if it's a god," she'd won over countless fans, Alex included, back in his past life.
By his calculations, Shiki was probably still in middle school at this point. Her ties to the Root made her a wildcard, and Alex had no plans to tangle with her. His sights were set elsewhere.
'Better to track down the Mother of Misaki City first…'
A seer with absolute future sight could prove far more useful to him now. Something told him meeting her might uncover surprises he hadn't anticipated.
"The Mother of Misaki City—an old woman posing as a fortune-teller, but really a recluse with absolute future sight. She lingers in the alleys, offering free readings on fate, work, and love, steering people away from disaster. She's practically an urban legend."
Most fortune-tellers bragged about their skills, but she was no charlatan or half-baked magus. Her eyes held true future sight—a rarity even in the Age of Gods, where such gifts marked prophets and priestesses. That it existed in the modern era was nothing short of a marvel.
How could Alex resist meeting someone so intriguing?
.........
Hewalked alone through snow-dusted alleys, dodging murky puddles from melted drifts and scattered debris.
'New Year's, and these alleys still churn out punks like clockwork. What is this, an RPG with trash mobs dropping loot?'
The thought amused him. It was a tired trope, but it fit.
"Noticed us, huh?!" one of the punks snarled, realizing their ambush had flopped. The rest spilled out from their hiding spots, knives glinting as they boxed him in.
"Hand over your cash if you want to keep all your limbs!"
Alex sized them up, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. But he had no patience for their game. Ignoring their threats, he turned to walk away.
"Hey! Are you ignoring me? I said—"
Before the leader could finish, a sharp whine cut through the air. An unseen force slammed into him, hurling him into a heap of trash.
"Shh. Didn't anyone teach you it's rude to interrupt someone's thoughts?" Alex raised a finger, his gaze icy as it swept over the others. "I'm short on time, so let's wrap this up."
Without waiting for their stammered replies, he reached into his coat and drew out a sealed vial of shimmering, mercury-like liquid. With a flick, he crushed it in his hand.
Crack!!
"Boil, my blood."
[Fervor, mel sanguis.]
The silver liquid spilled onto the ground, then rose, coiling around his hand like a living thing. With a soft chant, it swelled and reshaped itself to his will.
This was Volumen Hydrargyrum—a masterpiece crafted by Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, Lord of the Clock Tower's Mineralogy Department. Hailed as the El-Melloi family's crowning artifact, it boasted automatic attack, defense, and enemy-tracking capabilities. Beyond combat, it doubled as a top-tier computational tool for magecraft. Few relics in the Clock Tower rivaled its versatility, and its worth was staggering. Only the elite of the El-Melloi faction could claim one. Alex had earned his upon reaching the rank of [Fes], a gift from his mentor. As an alchemist, the mercury-based artifact felt tailor-made for him.
"What is that?!" one punk choked out.
"A monster! He's a freak!"
The liquid metal loomed, its presence unnerving. Seeing their leader down and this uncanny power at play, the thugs' nerves shattered. They scrambled for the alley's exit.
"Running?" Alex's smirk widened as he lifted his hand. The liquid quivered, then burst into a volley of silver spikes, streaking toward the fleeing group.
Boom!!
Screams rang out as the spikes struck, pinning them to the walls by their limbs. Blood stained the snow as they crumpled, gasping in agony.
They were lowlifes, sure, but Alex wasn't a butcher. He'd spare their lives unless their crimes demanded otherwise. That didn't mean he'd go easy, though.
'Even if you're kind to the wicked, their nature won't change. The only way to stop them is to strip away their means to hurt others.'
He'd take a limb from each—let them live out their days crippled, tasting the vulnerability they'd forced on their victims. With a subtle gesture, the liquid metal reformed into a blade. A flash of silver later, shrieks filled the air as severed arms and legs hit the snow, blood pooling beneath.
"Much better," Alex murmured, his mind sharper now. "As for you lot, try being decent for what's left of your lives."
Stepping over the crimson-stained snow, he ignored their groans and pressed deeper into the alley.
"I've come this far, don't tell me I've wasted my time. You've kept me waiting long enough, old one," he called into the empty air, as if speaking to someone unseen.
"…"
After a pause, a slow, weary sigh drifted from the shadows ahead.