Vivian couldn't have imagined it in her wildest dreams. The sight that greeted her was utterly unexpected.
At the very moment Sakura Tohsaka managed to open her magic circuits, Vivian had seen his figure. The man who had completely disappeared over a thousand years ago had reappeared before her eyes.
There he was, crouching beside Sakura Tohsaka, whispering something softly into the little girl's ear, looking incredibly gentle. The image was both heartwarming and heartbreaking for Vivian.
Vivian felt an uncontrollable surge of jealousy. A sharp pang went through her heart.
But at the same time, she found herself feeling so incredibly happy. A sense of elation washed over her.
After all—this was the first time in a millennium that she had seen him outside of her dreams. It was a moment she had longed for.
[You and Sakura Tohsaka were unaware of this situation.]
[You also didn't realize that you had briefly revealed your true form because Sakura Tohsaka's magic circuits had been opened.] The bond felt significant.
[However, this state didn't last for too long.]
[Because the young Sakura Tohsaka couldn't handle it anymore.] The strain was too much for her young body.
In reality, although Sakura Tohsaka had opened her magic circuits under Vivian's guidance, her current body couldn't support the continuous generation of mana for a long time. Her physical limitations were a factor.
Therefore—from the moment Ghost showed his true form to the moment Ghost disappeared, it was only a matter of seconds. The fleeting glimpse was over quickly.
As Sakura Tohsaka opened her eyes, she could no longer maintain Ghost's form. The vision faded.
The him that Vivian had been longing for with all her heart vanished from her sight just like that. The brief reunion was over.
"No—!"
Vivian, who was usually mature and composed, actually shouted like a child whose beloved toy had been snatched away. Her voice was filled with despair.
This immediately made Sakura Tohsaka nervous—she wondered if she had done something wrong again. Her heart pounded in her chest.
"W-what's wrong?" The little girl asked, her hand trembling and her voice becoming increasingly panicked. She was worried she had failed her teacher.
"Vivian-Sensei… should I not have stopped?" Sakura asked, fearing she had interrupted something important.
"..."
Realizing that she seemed to have lost her composure a little, Vivian quickly regained control of her emotions and forced a smile, pretending that nothing had happened. She tried to appear calm.
"Nothing's wrong." Vivian said, her voice trying to sound normal.
"You did very well… you're the first person I've ever seen who could open their magic circuits so easily." Vivian praised her student, hoping to deflect attention from her outburst.
"Really?" Sakura Tohsaka's expression looked quite happy. Her worries seemed to dissipate.
"Of course it's true. There's no need for me to lie to you, is there?" Vivian reassured her with a gentle smile.
"..."
Sakura Tohsaka looked at Vivian, remained silent for a long time, and finally spoke as if she had mustered all her courage. Her innocent curiosity persisted.
"Then—Vivian-Sensei, why were you crying?" Sakura asked, her question direct and heartfelt.
"..."
[Vivian's expression froze for a moment.]
[That kind of expression was as if Sakura Tohsaka had exposed some secret of hers on the spot.]
[You realized that something was a little off—something seemed to have happened at the moment Sakura Tohsaka opened her magic circuits.] The air felt charged with unspoken emotion.
[To be more precise, it should have been something very serious, after all, Vivian didn't seem like someone who would be troubled by ordinary situations.] Her usual composure had completely shattered.
[Was it because Sakura Tohsaka's aptitude was too poor? Or was it because the magical techniques she displayed were too terrible?] You considered the possibilities.
[Neither of those seemed very likely.]
[You should know that Vivian had just praised her not long ago.] Her earlier praise contradicted any notion of failure.
[You fell into deep thought.] You tried to piece together the events and understand Vivian's reaction.
"I-is that so?" Vivian quickly took out a tissue and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. She tried to regain her composure.
"Sakura, it's nothing." Vivian said, attempting to sound lighthearted.
"I was just a little bit excited—I've never seen a student as talented as you before." Vivian's explanation was partially true, masking her deeper emotions.
Vivian's words were half-truth and half-lie, but for Sakura Tohsaka at that moment, she would take them all as true. She trusted her teacher implicitly.
"Really? That's great!" Sakura exclaimed, her earlier worry completely gone.
"Yeah." Seeing that she had managed to gloss over the situation, Vivian breathed a sigh of relief. She had successfully diverted Sakura's attention.
However, she also knew that her emotions were in disarray, so she continued: Vivian needed to end the lesson for now.
"Sakura, let's stop here for today." Vivian suggested, her voice a little strained.
"I still have some things I need to take care of." Vivian offered an excuse.
"Let's continue tomorrow." Vivian concluded, wanting some time alone to process what had happened.
Although they had only just come in not long ago, Sakura Tohsaka didn't doubt what her teacher Vivian had said at all. She accepted it without question.
"Okay, ma'am! I understand~" Sakura replied obediently.
[You and Sakura Tohsaka left the mysterious room arranged by Vivian.]
[You returned to the place that Luvia had rented at a high price.]
[It was a residential area quite close to the Clock Tower—it was originally intended for people working inside the Clock Tower.]
[However, under the influence of Luvia's financial power, this residential area "became" the Edelfelt's London "branch family" within three days.] Luvia's wealth had expedited the process.
[During the time Sakura Tohsaka was studying with Vivian, this young lady from Finland stayed here with her.] Luvia was protective of her adopted sister.
[Of course, all of this was just an excuse that Luvia told Sakura Tohsaka.]
[She didn't want her silly little sister to feel bad about the money spent.] Luvia shielded Sakura from financial concerns.
"How was it, how was it!"
Seeing her adopted sister Sakura Tohsaka return, Luvia looked very happy. Her face lit up with excitement.
"Sakura, did you learn a lot of things?" Luvia inquired eagerly.
"Eh—?"
Looking at her adopted sister's excited expression, Sakura Tohsaka knew this was her way of showing she cared. Luvia's concern was evident.
So the little girl didn't think much about it and directly told her the actual situation without holding anything back. She shared her day's learning.
"Onee-san, I didn't learn that many things today." Sakura explained honestly.
"Vivian-Sensei just taught me how to touch the 'Root'." Sakura summarized the main lesson.
Completely different from Sakura Tohsaka, who had never been exposed to formal magic knowledge from childhood, Luvia had been designated by her family as the future successor from the moment she was born. Her upbringing was steeped in magic.
This led to her being exposed to a very systematic knowledge of magecraft from a very early age—this was also why she had doubted Vivian's qualifications to teach Sakura Tohsaka. Luvia's standards were high.
And upon hearing her adopted sister's "report," Luvia immediately realized what had happened. Vivian's methods were clear.
Vivian was helping Sakura Tohsaka open her magic circuits! Luvia understood the significance of this.
"Heavens!" Luvia gasped, taking a deep breath. She was surprised and impressed.
"Vivian is even more amazing than I thought… she actually had you learn something like this on the first day?!" Luvia's respect for Vivian grew.
"You know, it took me a full month of preparation before I was qualified to do something like this!" Luvia shared her own experience, highlighting Vivian's skill.
"R-really?"
After her adopted sister's explanation, Sakura Tohsaka felt even more admiration for her teacher Vivian. She was starting to understand the magnitude of what she had learned.
"So this kind of thing is that amazing?" Sakura asked, her voice filled with awe.
"Let's not talk about that for now." Luvia tightly grasped her adopted sister's hand. "So what was the result?" Luvia was eager to know the outcome.
"What was the result? Did you learn it?" Luvia pressed.
"I don't know…"
Sakura Tohsaka very honestly confessed her feelings. She wasn't entirely sure of her progress.
"But Vivian-Sensei told me that my performance today was very good, and we'll continue tomorrow." Sakura shared her teacher's positive feedback.
"Is that so?"
Luvia's face was already full of unconcealed joy. Her happiness was radiating.
Although it seemed a little embarrassing for her as the older sister to be surpassed by her younger sister, she didn't feel any jealousy towards her adopted sister at all. Luvia's love for Sakura was genuine.
"That means you did it!" Luvia exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over.
"It seems Japan doesn't only produce idiots; occasionally, there are geniuses as amazing as Sakura!" Luvia teased affectionately.
"Ehehe, is that so?"
Sakura Tohsaka, who had been praised so much by Luvia, felt a little embarrassed. She blushed slightly.
From childhood to adulthood, she had never imagined that she would be a genius, but now, during her studies at the Clock Tower, she had received such high praise for the first time. It was a new and pleasant feeling.
Of course, she wouldn't become arrogant because of this—after all, this was just the beginning. She remained humble.
[Luvia and Sakura Tohsaka's sisterly affection moved you.]
[But more than happiness, you were more concerned about Vivian's reaction at that time—she had clearly witnessed something unacceptable.] Her distress was palpable.
[In addition, the constant feeling of familiarity emanating from her also made you very concerned.] You couldn't shake the feeling that you knew her from somewhere.
[After careful consideration, you decided to slightly remind Sakura Tohsaka to avoid unnecessary harm.] You felt a sense of responsibility to protect her.
"..."
Listening to the words spoken by Ghost-San in her ear, Sakura Tohsaka's originally very happy expression gradually disappeared. Worry clouded her features.
Replaced by a worried look. Her earlier joy was gone.
This reaction naturally couldn't escape the eyes of her adopted sister, Luvia. Luvia was perceptive.
The Finnish heiress quickly asked: Luvia noticed the change in Sakura's demeanor.
"Sakura, what's wrong?" Luvia's voice was filled with concern.
"Why did you suddenly make such an expression? Don't scare me!" Luvia urged, wanting to know what was troubling her sister.
Knowing there was nothing to hide, Sakura Tohsaka directly told Luvia everything that Ghost-San had mentioned and what she had seen earlier, without holding back. She trusted her sister completely.
And the latter also showed a surprised expression after listening. Luvia was taken aback by the revelation.
"This…"
"You said Vivian seemed a little unhappy?" Luvia repeated, seeking clarification.
"Y-yes." Sakura Tohsaka nodded. "So I'm a little worried if Vivian-Sensei has encountered some kind of trouble." Sakura expressed her concern for her teacher.
"Like not having money to spend or not having anything to eat." Sakura offered simple, childlike explanations.
"..."
Luvia shook her head, denying the possibility that Sakura Tohsaka had suggested. Vivian's situation seemed more complex.
"Sakura, don't forget." Luvia reminded her gently.
"When she agreed to teach you, she didn't ask for any compensation at all." Luvia pointed out Vivian's selfless act.
"How could she possibly be short of money?" Luvia reasoned.
"Then—"
Sakura Tohsaka looked at Luvia with a worried expression. She was eager to understand what was happening.
"What exactly is going on?" Sakura asked, her voice filled with anxiety.
"I'm not sure either." Luvia confessed her own lack of understanding. "And we can't ask her." She knew the rules of their world.
"Because magi absolutely cannot actively probe each other's intentions." Luvia explained the unspoken code.
"Otherwise, it would be equivalent to provoking the other party." Luvia emphasized the potential danger.
"Then what should we do?" Sakura asked, feeling helpless.
"How about this?" Luvia said calmly, trying to come up with a solution. "I'll buy some gifts later, how about you bring them to her tomorrow?" Luvia suggested a thoughtful gesture.
"Okay~"
[Under your reminder, Sakura Tohsaka and Luvia made a plan to send a gift.]
[After all, for them, or rather for the Edelfelt family, Vivian at this moment was a very important existence.] Her knowledge and abilities were highly valued.
[However, you didn't know that the truth was far from what you thought.]
[Vivian, whose real name was Morgan, didn't care about these things at all.] Her mind was occupied by something far more significant.
Late at night, inside the Clock Tower, in a certain room.
Vivian was standing in front of a mirror. Her reflection stared back at her.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she recalled countless past nights. Memories flooded her mind.
At that time—as long as she stood in front of the mirror like this, he would understand her unspoken desires and come up behind her, then gently offer a question: The memory was vivid.
"Princess, would you like a special pleasure tonight?" His voice echoed in her mind.
And after that, it would be a time of passionate intimacy. The memories were bittersweet.
But now—Vivian's eyes flashed with an image of her student Sakura Tohsaka and him being intimately close. A jolt of pain went through her.
Of course, this was a situation that would be considered quite strange if one thought about it carefully. The image was disturbing.
But Vivian couldn't think calmly at all—even though the other person was just a little girl! Her jealousy clouded her judgment.
She had accepted losing to her actual sister, Artoria, in the past. She had come to terms with that.
After all, in these thousand years, Vivian had long understood how foolish and ridiculous the things she had done back then were. Regret gnawed at her.
She had clearly been unwilling from the bottom of her heart to see him interact with Artoria, yet she had always chosen the wrong way to express herself when she had the chance to make things right. Her past actions haunted her.
She had been wrong. Terribly wrong. The realization was painful.
If she had the chance, she would definitely not do that again… She vowed to change if given the opportunity.
Unconsciously, Vivian's eyes began to water, and two clear tears slid down her fair cheeks and fell to the ground. Her sorrow was profound.
No. Now was not the time to be sad about such things. She needed to focus.
Vivian wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, took a deep breath, and adjusted her emotions. She tried to compose herself.
She should be happy now. There was a glimmer of hope.
After all, she had calculated so many formulas before, but she hadn't even seen his shadow once. Her efforts had been fruitless.
And with Sakura Tohsaka's visit, she had actually been able to see him. A breakthrough had occurred.
No matter how you looked at it, this was definitely her efforts being answered by fate. It felt like a sign.
That's right. It must be like this. She clung to this belief.
As long as she leaned towards this aspect, there must be a way. Vivian tried to convince herself.
Vivian repeated the same reasons, constantly persuading herself. Her determination grew.
In this state, she left the room and headed towards the magic workshop that was previously hidden in the Clock Tower. Her purpose was clear.
That was a place that no one could enter unless she allowed it. It was her sanctuary.
At the same time, it was actually a replica of the magic workshop in Camelot, a highly complete forgery. It held a connection to her past.
Now only Sakura Tohsaka had been here. Vivian considered the significance of this.
Vivian's gaze swept across the bookshelves, her expression looking very heavy. She was searching for answers.
She hadn't told Sakura Tohsaka one thing—and that was that the things lying on these bookshelves were actually almost original texts. The knowledge contained within was immense.
This was the collection she had accumulated over the past thousand years. A testament to her long life.
Vivian firmly believed that she could definitely find the answer to any magical problem here—including the situation she was facing at this moment. Her confidence in her collection was unwavering.
And in fact, that was indeed the case.
In this vast library spanning a thousand years, Vivian found what she was looking for. Her search was successful.
"So it's possible that it's a contract of some kind?" Vivian murmured to herself.
The former queen of Britain gently flipped through the book in her hand. She was studying the ancient texts.
"Then how can I break it…" Vivian pondered, her brow furrowed in thought.
Vivian said these words, then continued her search. She delved deeper into the ancient knowledge.
Finally, she froze there. She had found something significant.
Because she saw an astonishing answer—but one that was definitely effective. The solution was both surprising and viable.
"Through the Holy Grail War, let the intangible contract, along with the summoning, become a relationship that actually exists, and then, at the right time, kill the person who made this contract." The ancient text revealed a dark path.
"Before the contracted party disappears, provide a new supply of mana." Vivian read further, understanding the implications.
"In this way, the factual transfer of the relationship can be completed." The method was complex and dangerous.
Words shouldn't have any temperature at all. They were just ink on parchment.
But at this moment, Vivian felt the coldness emanating from them. A chill ran down her spine.
She had a terrifying idea. A dangerous thought took root in her mind.
How about… finding a way to let her student participate in a Holy Grail War? The idea was drastic and potentially devastating.