The Tohsaka Family of Fuyuki City

Fuyuki is a rather peaceful small town in the Far East, at least, it is now.

Indeed, sixty and fifty years ago, a series of terrifying events occurred in Fuyuki, such as the mysterious great fire at the Citizens' Hall, the mysterious serial killer, the giant sea monster that emerged from the Miyama River, and the mass coma of students at a certain school...

However, as time passed, the terrifying incidents disappeared cleanly. It was as if there was a strict standard, and from a certain day fifty years ago, these terrifying things all vanished. But for the citizens of the small town, these were all insignificant matters.

The wealthy had long since moved away, and those who remained in Fuyuki could only attribute those events to the inadequate judicial supervision brought about by Japan's rapid development. With technological advancements, the increasingly tall buildings seemed to indirectly reflect the increasing safety factor, and people gradually forgot these things:

They were downgraded from [tragedies caused by judicial inadequacy] to [urban legends unique to Fuyuki City].

Even the elderly were gradually forgetting what exactly happened back then. When children unintentionally asked, they could only stammer out evasive answers, using long sighs to exhaust the children's curiosity. When they shifted their attention, they would then lament how truly old they had become.

However, clashing with the increasingly modernized Fuyuki was a luxurious Western-style mansion. In Japan, with its limited land, being able to own such a private estate was an absolute testament to one's financial power.

The lawn's vegetation was neatly trimmed, and the mansion, primarily in a crimson hue, stood out vibrantly and conspicuously in Fuyuki City.

"Hey! Grandma! I'm amazing, right!"

On the second-floor balcony, a beautiful woman draped in a red velvet gown was reclining on a rattan chair, lost in thought. She appeared to be around thirty years old, no older than thirty-five, with slender, well-defined features and an elegant appearance. Her crimson dress exuded a solemn and composed aura, and her dignified appearance was completely at odds with the age-associated title of "Grandma."

The sky today was exceptionally beautiful, involuntarily reminding her of moments from fifty years ago. Back then, she was still a student, and under such weather, she had countless times cheerfully stepped onto the asphalt road.

Beside her, the voice of a vibrant young girl rang out triumphantly, the pride in her words causing the beautiful woman to involuntarily wear a bitter yet doting smile.

The young girl held a beautiful glass horse in her hands. Its transparent luster and powerful limbs fully demonstrated the technical skill involved. A faint flow of magic pulsed in her soft, fair palm, converging into the horse's base, making it appear spirited.

"You still have a long way to go."

The beautiful woman raised her hand, and crimson-black magic rapidly condensed on her slender, fair fingers. It held no intent to attack, merely spreading its presence calmly as if she were beckoning butterflies.

Under its interference, the magic operation between the young girl's fingers suddenly became chaotic, and the glass horse shattered with a crash. Its semi-transparent fragments scattered like fireworks.

"Ah!!"

The girl's proud expression also seemed to be disrupted by this peculiar black magic, shattering with a snap. Her clean brows furrowed into a deep frown.

This wasn't some movie special effect; it was genuine "magic."

Another direction of human development, diametrically opposed to "science."

"The magic is completely unstable."

Ignoring the girl's rapid change in expression, the beautiful woman offered her evaluation in a stern tone.

The young girl's face, full of youthful vitality, immediately contorted into one of displeasure, her forehead clearly displaying "I'm unhappy." Her unconvinced attitude was evident as she pouted, resembling a hamster sulking.

Perhaps sensing she had been too harsh? The beautiful woman's affection for her granddaughter ultimately prevailed, and her expression softened slightly. She carefully chose her words and continued, "For the Tohsaka Family, even the slightest mistake is unacceptable. Do you remember the Tohsaka Family's motto?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes! I remember! Always maintain elegance!"

"Tsk, you child... Where is your elegance right now..."

Furrows appeared on the beautiful woman's forehead. Her granddaughter's three drawn-out "Yes"s, spoken with a pained expression, were far from elegant. Such an obvious display of impatience was practically rude behavior!

However, rather than "anger," "helplessness" was the best word to describe the beautiful woman's current state.

The girl quickly noticed this and, with a speed that rivaled a changing sky, adopted the demeanor of a well-behaved young lady. She pinched the hem of her skirt and performed an ancient noble's curtsy to her grandmother. Her posture was commendable, but the timing was rather awkward...

For this, the beautiful woman could only sigh: Could it be that her father had taught her with such a conflicted heart in the past?

This truly was...

The beautiful woman once again fell into reminiscence. Elderly people were always like this, prone to melancholy at the slightest provocation. Seizing this opportunity, the girl beside her quietly moved her black-stocking-clad feet towards the door. After a few small steps... she turned, called out, "Today's lesson is over, bye Grandma!" and swiftly escaped.

"Mina! Hey... this child! I'll definitely have a stern talk with her next time!"

The sole remaining resident in the room declared stubbornly.

However, this wasn't the first time she had said this.

Every time she said it, she would be charmed by her lively attitude and her appearance, which was so similar to her own in her youth, and forget about giving her a lecture.

The beautiful woman was the owner of this house. Both in the real world and in the world of magic, she was from a renowned lineage.

Tohsaka.

The administrator of Fuyuki City's Leyline. A magus family passed down through generations, renowned for developing countless excellent magical arts.

Simultaneously, they were one of the "Three Families" of the Holy Grail War, and the previous five Holy Grail Wars had all taken place in Fuyuki, managed by the Tohsaka Family.

The beautiful woman was the current head of the Tohsaka Family, Tohsaka Rin.

Having personally participated in the Fifth Holy Grail War, she should have been an old woman over sixty. However, looking at her appearance, she was at most thirty-four or thirty-five, with no trace of "old age" whatsoever.

Skilled in maintenance and aided by magic, Tohsaka Rin's aging process was far slower than that of her peers. Only the composure and dignity revealed in her every move proved that this beauty had indeed experienced the passage of time, a dignity that could only be cultivated through long accumulation.

However, even the head of the Tohsaka Family had things she couldn't handle.

That was her granddaughter, Tohsaka Mina.

Tohsaka Rin had only one daughter. Theoretically, she should have taken in a son-in-law to continue the Tohsaka Family's bloodline... However, Tohsaka Rin's daughter fell in love with a German exchange student from the same year. After graduation, they eloped for love!

This greatly angered Tohsaka Rin. If her husband hadn't repeatedly calmed and persuaded her, Tohsaka Mina might not exist today.

Through her husband's mediation, Tohsaka Rin's relationship with her daughter finally eased slightly. However, her daughter was unwilling to inherit the magical arts. Compared to the mysterious magical path, she seemed more inclined to be a traditional woman, raising a family. After a long discussion, the outcome was that Tohsaka Rin's granddaughter would return to Fuyuki, Japan, as the heir to the Tohsaka Family, and be renamed Tohsaka Mina.

Fortunately, Tohsaka Mina did not disappoint Tohsaka Rin. Firstly, as a magus, she possessed the dual elemental affinity of fire and earth, which, while not exceptionally rare, was still a very excellent quality.

Secondly, unlike her mother, Tohsaka Mina greatly enjoyed the world of magic.

Unfortunately…

Before Tohsaka Rin could even form her assessment, she felt a warm sensation spread through her mind. It was as if a slow, gentle stream was gradually soaking her brain.

This is a greeting. She understood immediately.

The Tohsaka Family was a lineage of mages, and the house they inhabited naturally possessed powerful magical defenses comparable to a fortress. As the head of the Tohsaka Family, who managed this fortress-like Magic Workshop, she naturally had her own sensory system.

Judging by the sensation, someone was using their magic to transmit a message through the defensive enchantments to the Family Head. In essence, it was a polite method of requesting a meeting.

And…

Tohsaka Rin's eyes narrowed slightly.

Among the mages she knew, there was probably only one person who could execute such a subtle "greeting."

"Abner? What is he doing here?"

Muttering this, Tohsaka Rin flicked her finger. Her magic quickly fed back into the defensive enchantments, causing them to ignore Abner. The great doors creaked open, as if welcoming a dust-covered guest.