Ever since reuniting with her younger sister, Sakura had been surprising Rin one step after another.
While Rin only knew that two Masters from the Mage's Association were participating and could name them, Sakura had detailed knowledge of their individual capabilities.
Bazett, a Sealing Designation Executor, was skilled in Magecraft and exceptionally adept at close combat—rumored to be capable of going toe-to-toe with a Servant in a physical fight.
Marisbury, the Lord of the Department of Astromancy, was even more enigmatic.
"Actually, I have a decent grasp of the Department of Astromancy too, but Animusphere's Magecraft is a bit different," Sakura went on. "Back on the Mystic Eyes Collection Train, I once saw Miss Olga Marie demonstrate a portion of that Magecraft."
She had drawn mana from both the heavens and the earth, using herself as the focal point, and summoned dozens of mana-based light spears to attack.
That kind of Grand Magecraft normally required a full ritual site and several days to execute within the Department of Astromancy. The only reason it had manifested instantly was due to the presence of The Tuner, Melvin, who helped stabilize it on the train.
Even if its power didn't match the full version, it was still nothing to take lightly.
"Using magic through the sky… sounds like a hassle," Saber remarked from behind. "So, we should probably prioritize indoor battles or at least find covered terrain."
"That's a fair point," Sakura said seriously, "but I doubt that's the only kind of Magecraft the Department of Astromancy has. And since Mr. Marisbury is the head of the Animusphere family, he likely has access to even more unique techniques."
As they continued to exchange information, the school gates came into view.
Uncertain whether other Masters might be present at school, Sakura had Saber move into an isolated area and spirit form herself, so she could follow discreetly and potentially catch an enemy Master off guard if necessary.
"Masters at school..." Rin muttered, counting on her fingers.
Besides Sakura, there were the two from the Mage's Association.
Then there was Einzbern and herself.
And finally, the Matou family's Master—leaving only one Master of unknown origin.
"You think I misjudged something?" Sakura asked.
"There is a Matou student at school," Rin said, frowning. "But I recall he didn't have the qualifications to be a Magus."
Sakura nodded in realization. "I remember now. He's Uncle Kariya's nephew, right?"
"Yeah, that's him. Shinji Matou. I heard his father—Uncle Kariya's older brother—died of illness three years ago." Rin rubbed her chin in thought. "The Matou family's Magic Circuits should've ended with Uncle Kariya."
At that, she looked up at Sakura. "It's been ages since I've seen Uncle Kariya. Have you spoken to him recently?"
"I had tea with him back in London before I left—around New Year's," Sakura nodded. "Right up until I departed, he was still working in London as a foreign correspondent..."
"Then Shinji being the Master is even less likely." Rin immediately dismissed the idea.
In fact, she found it more plausible that Kariya himself had been dragged back to the Matou family to serve as their Master.
"Let's leave it there for now," Sakura said.
In truth, Kariya had only recently stayed in London. After deciding to return to Fuyuki for the Holy Grail War, Sakura had naturally considered her uncle, who had looked out for her for years.
Keeping someone with Magecraft aptitude away from the War was ideal. Even if, technically, Kariya had been formally expelled from the Matou family after the last war ten years ago.
But as she stepped through the school gate with her sister, Sakura suddenly felt something subtly off.
She came to a halt, her gaze shifting as she looked around with a puzzled expression.
"What's wrong, Sakura?" Rin stopped.
"Can't you feel it?" Sakura asked.
"Feel what?"
"...Something like a barrier." Sakura looked around.
Although the sensation was fleeting, she could still sense a slight distortion in the flow of mana in the air. It wasn't exactly chaotic, but it definitely seemed to be converging toward a specific point.
"You're right. The mana flow is off. It feels like a tangled mess of threads—no clear beginning or end."
Saber, still in spirit form, shared her observation from the side.
"You can feel that?" Rin activated her own mana, but she still didn't sense anything unusual.
"It's probably a surveillance-type barrier," Sakura guessed. "If it wasn't set up by you, then that means there's another Master somewhere in the school."
That made Rin uneasy. "How could that be... For someone to set up a barrier without getting noticed..."
"It's still unclear if it's a full barrier, but there's definitely something similar affecting the school," Sakura continued.
Truthfully, she was leaning more toward it being a barrier. If she hadn't been trained by someone who was practically unmatched in this area of Magecraft, she might never have noticed it at all.
"Got it. I'll keep an eye out." Rin nodded to her.
With that, the two resumed walking into the school.
...
Up on the rooftop, someone was watching the school grounds through the chain-link fence.
"Tohsaka and Shiomi, huh... So they're the ones Uncle's been looking after all these years? Looks like they noticed your field, Rider."
The speaker was Shinji Matou, Kariya's nephew.
"It was only meant to be a protective measure for you, Master."
Behind him stood a handsome young man with dark red hair, dressed in a smart, school-style outfit—Rider.
"If it can't be used offensively, it's useless," Shinji said with irritation.
"It can be used that way. Just wait until they're separated from their Servants—then we trap them inside," Rider replied calmly.
"No need to rush. The other Masters haven't shown themselves yet. Let's see if we can win them over. If they won't cooperate, then we get rid of them." Shinji smirked.
"But aren't they people your uncle knows—"
"Exactly why we should show some courtesy. If we can avoid a fight, that's ideal." Shinji's grin turned cold. "I'm the one who inherited the Matou family's Magecraft. Even if they're uncles, people expelled from the family don't get to question what I do."
As he spoke, insects crawling over the fence and concrete began to take flight one after another, vanishing from sight.
"Let the bugs do the watching for now. We'll figure out the next step later." Shinji turned away with a sneer, brushing past Rider.
"But if you keep using Magecraft like this, Master, your body won't—"
"Shut up! I'm the Master here! You're just a Servant, so do as you're told!"
Snapping, Shinji cut Rider off and stormed away from the rooftop.
Rider could only sigh quietly, powerless to stop this Master—one already spiraling into self-destruction through his obsession with Magecraft.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake