A half-baked choice
A black liquid overflowed from the box, turning the Tohsaka Family's Basement into a chaotic void.
The Mask floated up, rising to the same height as Jizi's face. Through the openings in its empty eyes, Jizi seemed to be able to see some kind of information.
"Who are you?"
The despair and rage that filled the Tohsaka Residence when it was a ruin had unknowingly dissipated. Although Magecraft must be vigilant about the Unknown, she still reached out and gently touched the Mask.
"Hmm~"
When her hand touched the rough wooden surface, Jizi couldn't help but gasp, because she felt as if another hand was caressing her body.
"Who are you..."
Jizi asked the question again, but this time without using a questioning tone. She already had a premonition that this Mask —or rather, the consciousness residing within Mask —was inevitably connected to the novel W. EU.
"Are you really not going, or do you just not want to?"
The familiar voice was like the one Rin used to call out to in school—but it wasn't just that. Besides that, Jizi had heard that voice many times before, every single day.
That was her voice.
"I don't..."
Jizi murmured, not answering the previous question, but stating that she wasn't sure whether she "didn't" or "didn't want to."
"But you can't just keep 'not' like this forever."
"But there's no rush..."
"So resolving this in the short term isn't a complicated matter, is it?" (The novel website doesn't skip words.)
"I have more important things to do now."
"In your current state, even if you force yourself to participate in the Holy Grail War, it won't help Rin, but if you accept—"
"The original plan was for me, as Magecraft, to help Rin. Rin's skills as Magecraft are impeccable, and Arhr is no ordinary person either. I just need to provide some support."
"..."
"..."
Two identical voices were arguing with each other, one sounding flat to the point of indifference, the other sounding energetic with a hint of weariness. One was not trying to force anything, while the other was deliberately trying to avoid the issue.
"Let me out," Jizi said to the consciousness behind the Mask in a slightly detached tone after a moment of silence. "Rin will worry, and you don't want her to be upset, right?"
"Could you really do that? Continue to shield her from the knife with your body?" (The novel website doesn't skip words.)
"..."
Jizi hesitated for a moment, then shook her head, deciding not to argue about it anymore. "Let me out, whatever the final outcome, it's my choice."
"No," two dark crimson lights shone from the Mask's eye sockets, "It's my choice!"
Jizi sensed a sudden surge of magical energy from the other party and tried to dodge, but it was too late. A woman's upper body emerged from the Mask, with long silver hair hanging down and crimson eyes staring into black eyes. She placed her hands on Jizi's shoulders and pulled her hard, bringing the two identical faces together.
"You don't understand the true nature of the Holy Grail War at all, nor do you understand the darkness hidden behind it. The Cauldron of All-Purpose that grants all wishes is merely the simplest manifestation!"
Just like before she fainted in the Emiya Residence's living room, a barrage of information was forcibly fed into Jizi's mind. Images flashed by rapidly like slides: the darkness inside the Holy Grail, the purpose of Seraph's summoning, the Matou Family's Basement, the black hole—
"Aaaaaaah, don't show me this!"
Jizi shook her head violently, trying to escape from the other person's hold.
"Stand still! Remember this well, this information is—"
"I don't want to hear it!!"
Jizi's hands emitted a fierce light—since she and the consciousness behind the Mask were one entity, the two of them could manipulate the same power. It was just that Jizi was not yet familiar with how to use it, which was why she was suppressed by the other party.
Even if she doesn't know how to use it, that power still belongs to her soul; if she were to force it without considering the consequences—
"Stop it! Are you crazy?! If you cut the connection now, your original memories will also be affected!"
"I don't care, I don't care! I just want to be Kiko Emiya, don't impose your will on me!"
"My will is your will—ten years ago Jizi wanted to separate our souls, and you—"
"She's dead! You're nothing but a lingering obsession. The one who lives now is me, not Jizi, but Kiko Emiya!"
"Kiko Emiya, but you are still Jizi after all—you can't escape it, you must, and can only accept it, this is your fate, and ours, that we have decided!"
"I will make a choice, but not now! So—let me out!"
The link between [Jizi] and Jizi's consciousness was torn apart by the latter with Brute Force. The memories circulating between the two were partially preserved by each of them, but some were completely scattered due to this violent operation.
"You will eventually come begging to me—those memories, those powers. If you want to protect those you cherish, you must accept them; otherwise, you cannot!"
"Not today."
"But it's definitely not far off—don't be hostile towards me. I never intended to harm you or take your place. I also want to protect Rin, you..."
Jizi didn't hear the last sentence clearly. After she broke the connection, her body began to float upwards—although there was no such thing as up or down in this chaos, she still had that feeling—while the Mask sank downwards, enveloped in the pitch black.
Jizi's consciousness kept rising higher and higher, and she heard a voice calling in her ear, the voice she had always longed for.
"Jizi, Jizi!"
Rin, Rin, I'm here!
She tried to answer but couldn't make a sound, so she continued to struggle upwards, trying to touch some interface above.
"Jizi!"
Immediately--
"Jizi!"
Rin, I want to--
"Jizi!"
We're getting closer--
"Jizi!"
--
A beam of light shone into the darkness, Jizi, as if she had been holding her breath underwater for a long time, finally managed to raise her head. Guided by the light, she opened her eyes and saw the familiar red coat and pigtails.
"Jizi, you're awake!"
"Hmm," Jizi forced a beautiful smile, "I'm sorry to have worried you, Rin."
-----------------------------No poetry updates, by Director Luo ---------------------------
The north wind blows in January, its chill as sharp as ice.
Having returned to my humble abode, I intended to steal a moment of peace.
Suddenly, my computer broke down.
Blue screen and system crash, can't open at all.
Sony is great, all the stores are closed.
Repair costs are outrageous; it's better to buy a new machine.
Alas, how painful! Turned into bricks.
I wanted to update it, but fate wouldn't allow it.
Even though there are internet cafes, they are quite far from home.
I've already got a membership card, but haven't used it many times.
The sun rises in the early morning, but there is no warmth at all.
The light bulb in the refrigerator is the same as the one in the refrigerator.
In the afternoon, when people are sleepy, they play under the covers.
Several hours passed in the blink of an eye, and the Jade Rabbit replaced the Golden Crow.
The north has central heating, but alas, my home is poor.
You can't drive a high-end car; you have to throw on a cotton quilt indoors.
After the sun sets in the west, the cold night feels like being stabbed with needles.
It pierces the skin and bones, making one afraid to wander the streets.
My mother suffers from joint pain; how can she withstand the cold wind?
I was sent to run an errand, and on the way I came across an internet cafe.
Tokiomi's still early, we might as well wait inside.
I turned on the computer to start typing, but my fingers were frozen and my hands were stiff.
I struggled to produce this piece, and I am ashamed to upload it.
Don't ask me when the next update will be; ask God.
This was typed by a member of [*][Novel. net]
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