It is said that humans possess desires. Once a compelling thought is born, it is destined to never truly vanish from the mind.
Vivian was no exception to this. The moment she realized she could potentially kill Sakura Tohsaka through the Holy Grail War and bring him back to her side, Vivian found herself unable to ignore that voice any longer. The idea took root and began to consume her thoughts.
Kill her! The insidious thought echoed in her mind.
Kill her! It grew stronger with each passing moment.
Kill her!!! The desire became a relentless obsession.
Fortunately, having endured a millennium of existence, Vivian had developed an exceptionally strong capacity for self-control. The more agitated she became, the easier it was for her to regain her composure. Her long life had taught her the importance of caution.
After all—in her thousand-year life, if she hadn't handled things with such care and prudence, she would likely have been embroiled in meaningless conflicts long ago. Such endeavors were a waste of precious time.
But—was allowing Sakura Tohsaka to participate in the Holy Grail War truly the only way to resolve this? Vivian found herself questioning this conclusion.
Before her lay a library spanning a thousand years. Surely, she thought, there must be more than one answer to this problem! Her hope for an alternative solution persisted.
However—this time, Vivian's judgment was flawed. Despite her vast knowledge and experience, she had overlooked a crucial aspect.
She searched through all the books that could possibly be related to this matter, but in the end, she found nothing. Her efforts yielded no alternative solutions.
Yes. This was the only solution. The grim reality settled upon her.
If she wanted to keep him by her side, she had to use Sakura Tohsaka as a medium, allowing her to participate in the Holy Grail War, thereby achieving the fulfillment of the contract in reality. The path ahead was dark and unavoidable.
After that, she would have to kill her with her own hands and, before he disappeared, complete the transfer of the mana supply. The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
Objectively speaking, the process of transferring the mana supply wouldn't be difficult at all—after all, Vivian was a top-tier magus. Her skill in such matters was undeniable.
But the problem lay in how to get Sakura Tohsaka to participate in the Holy Grail War. This was the most challenging aspect to figure out. The ethical implications weighed heavily on her.
Vivian sat on a chair in the workshop, pondering for an entire night. The silence of the night was her only companion.
In the end, she found that the method didn't seem as difficult as she had imagined. A plan began to form in her mind.
[This was the clash of thoughts echoing in the late night.]
[You and Sakura Tohsaka were unaware of these events.]
[According to the plan, Luvia handed over the things she had bought to Sakura Tohsaka, asking her to personally give them to Vivian.]
[However, this young lady from Finland seemed to have some minor issues with her perception.] Luvia's understanding of the situation was slightly skewed.
At the Edelfelt "branch family" residence in the Clock Tower.
Luvia was earnestly instructing her adopted sister, Sakura Tohsaka. Her expression was serious.
"Sakura!" Luvia began, her voice firm.
"You must deliver all these things to Vivian-San, understand?" Luvia emphasized the importance of the task.
"Y-yes, ma'am!" Sakura replied obediently.
"What's with that look? Are you very dissatisfied with Onee-san's arrangement?" Luvia asked, noticing Sakura's slightly hesitant expression.
"No, ma'am!" Sakura quickly denied. She didn't want to upset her sister.
"I…"
The little girl looked at the pile of gifts in front of her, which was almost as tall as she was, and her throat moved slightly. The sheer volume was a little overwhelming.
"I'm just worried I won't be able to carry all of them at once." Sakura confessed her concern.
"Silly!" Luvia lightly tapped Sakura Tohsaka's head. "Who told you to carry all of them at once?" Luvia chuckled at her sister's literal interpretation.
"Take them in batches, take as much as you can carry each time, as long as you give them all to Vivian-San in the end!" Luvia provided a more practical approach.
"After all, we don't know what she wants—so let's give her as much as we can!" Luvia reasoned, her generosity shining through.
"Understood!"
[After learning what she should do from Luvia, Sakura Tohsaka began to take action.]
[She carried a portion of the gifts for Vivian and headed towards the Clock Tower's office.]
[But to her surprise, her teacher wasn't in the office.] The room was empty.
"Eh—?!"
Sakura Tohsaka looked at the doorknob that wouldn't turn, feeling a little nervous. She wondered where Vivian could be.
"Why can't I open it?" Sakura muttered to herself, trying the handle again.
"Don't worry." Mr. Ghost's voice came from beside her, offering reassurance. "Maybe Vivian-San just hasn't arrived yet." Your calm presence was always comforting.
Sakura Tohsaka already had a considerable amount of trust in Ghost, so upon hearing his words, she naturally felt relieved. Her anxiety subsided.
Then, taking advantage of this rare moment of free time, she chatted with him by her side. She appreciated his companionship.
"Um… Ghost-San." Sakura began hesitantly.
"What is it?" You replied gently, turning your attention to her.
"Thank you!" Sakura said sincerely, her voice filled with gratitude.
"Ah, thank me?" You asked, a little surprised by her sudden expression of thanks.
"Yes!" Sakura Tohsaka nodded happily. "Ghost-San was helping me yesterday, right?" Her eyes sparkled with appreciation.
"I… I could feel it~" Sakura added softly, a hint of a smile on her face.
"Is that so?" A hint of a smile entered Ghost-San's voice. "What I did wasn't really helping you… I was just simply telling you what I knew." You downplayed your assistance.
"Eh?" Sakura Tohsaka blinked her eyes, a little confused.
"'What you knew'?" Sakura repeated, seeking clarification.
"Yes." Ghost-San further affirmed his statement. "To be honest, those things Vivian-San showed you yesterday looked somewhat familiar to me." You revealed a surprising connection.
"Somewhat familiar?!"
Sakura Tohsaka completely didn't expect to hear such an answer. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Ghost-San, have you seen them before?" Sakura asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Perhaps… otherwise, I wouldn't have said so many things by your side." You offered a vague but suggestive answer.
"Oh… I see."
Sakura Tohsaka lowered her head and thought for a moment, suddenly remembering something. An idea sparked in her mind.
She looked up with a happy expression and continued to ask: Her curiosity was insatiable.
"Then—since that's the case, should we ask Vivian-Sensei what to do about Ghost's situation?" Sakura suggested, hoping for a solution.
"..."
"No." Ghost-San's reply came. "It's best not to mention it now." Your tone was firm.
"Sakura, have you forgotten what Luvia said? Your main purpose in following Vivian-San is to learn powerful magecraft from her, right?" You reminded her of her sister's expectations.
"If the learning of magecraft is delayed because of me…" You continued, emphasizing the potential negative consequences.
"Then it would be a loss—I don't want to be blamed by Luvia, and I don't want your opportunity to be wasted because of me." You expressed your concern for Sakura's well-being and her chance to learn.
"Eh… you're right."
Sakura Tohsaka pondered for a moment, and then another idea came to her. Her mind was quick.
"Then—!"
"I'll ask her after I've learned it, Ghost-San, what do you think?!" Sakura proposed a compromise.
"...Thank you."
"Eh?"
Ghost-San's expression of gratitude made Sakura Tohsaka feel a little embarrassed. She blushed slightly.
She actually wanted to ask what he would choose to do if he could manifest in the world. Her curiosity about his past and desires was strong.
But at this moment, a figure appeared at the corner of the corridor. The moment was interrupted.
Then, she slowly walked up to Sakura Tohsaka and said in a voice tinged with resentment: Her tone carried a hint of suspicion.
"Sakura, who were you talking to?" Vivian's question was direct.
"Huh?!"
Suddenly being called by her name like that, Sakura Tohsaka was startled and quickly turned her head back, then saw her teacher Vivian. Her surprise was genuine.
But—didn't she look a little too haggard? Vivian's appearance was concerning.
[Just like Sakura Tohsaka had sensed.]
[The state of Vivian in front of her did indeed look a little off.]
[With dark circles under her eyes, it seemed like she hadn't slept all night.] Her exhaustion was evident.
[You realized that this was definitely not just a simple case of insomnia—she must have become like this because of yesterday's events.] The previous day's encounter had clearly taken a toll.
[You increasingly felt that things were not as simple as they seemed on the surface.] A sense of unease settled upon you.
[But everything seemed to be hidden behind a veil, making it impossible to discern.] The truth remained elusive.
Sakura Tohsaka also noticed this situation. She was perceptive for her age.
However, what she cared about was something more direct—and that was Vivian's condition. Her concern for her teacher was paramount.
The little girl asked worriedly: "Vivian-Sensei, what's wrong?"
"You seem… very unwell?" Sakura added, her voice filled with concern.
"..."
A barely perceptible emotion flashed across Vivian's brow. Her inner turmoil was briefly visible.
But she quickly concealed it and then responded to her student Sakura Tohsaka with a smile. She tried to appear normal.
"It's nothing, I just saw something that bothered me a little." Vivian offered a vague explanation.
"By the time I came back to my senses, it was already morning." Vivian continued, trying to sound casual.
Sakura Tohsaka didn't question her teacher Vivian's words at all. She trusted her implicitly.
Instead, she became even more worried: Her concern for Vivian grew.
"Then in that case—Vivian-Sensei, shouldn't you go and rest for a while first?" Sakura suggested thoughtfully.
"I can come back later to learn magecraft!" Sakura offered to postpone their lesson.
"..."
Vivian looked at Sakura Tohsaka, her expression looking very complicated—she seemed to be in some kind of extremely contradictory state. Her inner conflict was evident.
But in the end, she just shook her head.
"No." Vivian replied firmly.
"There's no need for that." Vivian insisted.
"Although I didn't sleep well, this state won't affect my teaching." Vivian assured her student.
"Sakura, you can rest assured." Vivian tried to sound convincing.
"However—"
Vivian looked at the things Sakura Tohsaka was holding tightly, her expression looking very puzzled. She noticed the gifts.
"What is this?" Vivian inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"Oh!" Remembering her task for today, Sakura Tohsaka quickly explained to Vivian, "Sensei, this is something Onee-san asked me to bring to you!" Sakura presented the gifts.
"Something to bring to me?" Vivian became even more confused. "Why would she bring me something for no reason?" Vivian wondered about Luvia's intentions.
"It's just that Sensei looked very unhappy yesterday… I was worried if I had been too slow and made Sensei angry." Sakura Tohsaka's voice grew softer as she spoke, filled with apprehension.
"And after telling Onee-san about it, she asked me to bring these things over." Sakura finished her explanation.
"..."
Vivian looked at Sakura Tohsaka in front of her, at a loss for words for a moment. She was touched by their concern.
She realized that the little girl in front of her had indeed noticed something yesterday. Sakura's sensitivity was surprising.
But—shouldn't she have directly said that her sister asked her to bring these things? Vivian mused internally.
This kid is really pure to a certain extent. Vivian couldn't help but think.
However, although she thought so in her heart, Vivian didn't express it in her words or actions. She maintained her composure.
She bent down and took all the gifts provided by Luvia into her arms. Vivian accepted the thoughtful gesture.
"Sakura, let's go inside first. We can talk about anything else later." Vivian suggested, wanting to discuss this privately.
"Okay~"
[And so, Sakura Tohsaka followed Vivian into the room.]
[You noticed that Vivian's reaction was a little different from usual.] Her behavior seemed unusual.
[She seemed to be in a rather conflicted state.] Her inner turmoil was evident.
[You couldn't tell for a moment if this was good or bad for Sakura Tohsaka.] The implications were unclear.
Inside the office.
Vivian and Sakura Tohsaka sat down on the sofa. The atmosphere was a little tense.
On the table were two cups of steaming barley tea—this was something Vivian had specially prepared after their first meeting. She offered a comforting drink.
She took a sip of the tea, then said with a smile: "I appreciate your kind intentions… but let's stop with the gift-giving from now on." Vivian expressed her gratitude but also set a boundary.
"I don't need these things, they'll just end up being wasted." Vivian explained gently.
"I-is that so…"
Feeling that her teacher really didn't like it, Sakura Tohsaka quickly nodded. She understood Vivian's preference.
"Understood, I definitely won't do this kind of thing again in the future." Sakura promised sincerely.
"That's good then."
Vivian put down her teacup and looked at Sakura Tohsaka. Her expression became a little more serious.
"By the way—have you heard if anyone in your family is going to participate in the Holy Grail War?" Vivian asked casually, probing for information.
"Holy Grail War?" Sakura Tohsaka blinked her eyes, looking confused. "What is that?" She had never heard of it before.
"Hmm… it's a way for magi to make a wish, I suppose." Vivian offered a simplified explanation.
"People who come to the Clock Tower more or less have some thoughts in that direction—of course, whether or not they actually do it is another matter." Vivian tried to sound nonchalant.
Vivian didn't want to directly reveal her intentions. She was being cautious.
The witch didn't directly tell Sakura Tohsaka that she wanted her to participate in the Holy Grail War. Instead, she approached the topic indirectly.
Instead, she used another angle—namely the Edelfelt family—to observe the little girl's attitude. She was testing the waters.
Sure enough, Sakura Tohsaka was completely unprepared. She didn't suspect a thing.
"I don't know." Sakura replied honestly.
"Because Luvia-san hasn't told me anything about that." Sakura explained her lack of knowledge.
Hearing Sakura Tohsaka's answer, Vivian knew that she hadn't suspected her words, so she took this opportunity to throw out another hypothetical question. Vivian pressed further.
"Sakura, if it's said that every magus might eventually walk this path…" Vivian began, her tone thoughtful.
"Then—would you resist participating in the Holy Grail War?" Vivian asked directly.
"Eh?"
This was a question that Sakura Tohsaka had never considered before. It was completely new to her.
However, she didn't hesitate for too long before directly giving her answer. Her response was immediate.
"Um…" Sakura began, considering her words carefully.
"If it's something I need to do, then I'll accept it." Sakura stated resolutely.
"But what if it's very dangerous?" Vivian continued to press, wanting to gauge her limits.
"This…"
Sakura Tohsaka pondered for a moment before answering her teacher's question. She took her time to consider the implications.
"Then I guess I'd still do it." Sakura replied, her voice a little hesitant but determined.
"After all, if everyone else is doing it, then I don't want to avoid it." Sakura explained her reasoning, showing a sense of responsibility.
Hearing these words, Vivian realized that Sakura Tohsaka might be a very easy person to control. A dangerous realization dawned upon her.
With just a little bit of reasoning, she could make her obey her thoughts and participate in the dangerous Holy Grail War. The possibility was tempting.
The thought that the witch had just managed to suppress not long ago rekindled once again. The desire to see him returned with force.
See him! The longing was almost unbearable.
She must see him! Her determination solidified.
And then she must definitely keep him by her side! The thought became an unwavering resolve.
Hadn't she left Camelot precisely to find a way to the land of fairies through spells and bring him back? Her original plan had failed.
Although that method had failed, the memory of her past efforts remained.
But wasn't Sakura Tohsaka in front of her the perfect substitute?! A chilling thought crossed her mind.
Of course, it definitely wouldn't work now—it would be too outrageous to have a child of only a few years old participate in the Holy Grail War. Vivian knew she had to be patient.
So before the right time came, she had to continue to nurture her. Vivian began to formulate a long-term plan.
Vivian completely didn't realize that she had become a little obsessed. Her desire had blinded her.
"Sensei, what's wrong?" Sakura Tohsaka looked at Vivian's expression, feeling a little worried. She sensed a change in her teacher.
"Oh… it's nothing." Vivian replied, quickly masking her inner thoughts.
The corners of Vivian's lips curved up slightly into a smile. She tried to appear normal.
"Sakura, let's continue learning magecraft today." Vivian suggested, steering the conversation back to their lessons.
"Okay~"
The old witch had been completely bound by the pain of the past, with only instinct driving her actions. Her desire for reunion overshadowed everything else.
She would intervene in a Holy Grail War at the right time. Her plan was set in motion.
[You didn't know any of this.]
[You only felt that Vivian seemed a little strange.] You sensed that something was amiss with her.
[But seeing how earnestly she was teaching Sakura Tohsaka, you decided to ignore this strangeness.] You chose to trust Vivian's guidance for now.
[And at the same time, the undercurrents of the Fourth Holy Grail War continued to surge.] The stage was being set for a major conflict.
Inside the northern forest of the Zugspitze mountain in Germany.
A huge castle stood deep within it. Its imposing structure dominated the landscape.
A man named Kiritsugu Emiya arrived here. He had come seeking something specific.
"To actually find King Arthur's armor…" The man muttered to himself, his voice low and contemplative.
The man muttered these words as he walked into the castle. He stepped across the threshold, unaware of the events that would soon unfold.