Red Tears

The great red sun hung high in the sky, its warm rays illuminating the grasslands and mountains of the land.

White clouds drifted around the sun, and a comfortable breeze blew across the azure sky.

On this beautiful grassland, a clear stream flowed, its destination unknown.

Beside the stream grew many beautiful flowers, which appeared delicate and vibrant under the sunlight.

At this moment, two or three small white rabbits hopped by, playing and enjoying themselves by the stream. After a while... two or three beautiful butterflies joined them.

The beautiful butterflies fluttered their stunning wings, dancing up and down, as if they were animating the entire azure sky.

Crunch.

The Servants and Masters, brought into this world by a golden light, stared blankly at everything before them.

An azure sky, a clear stream, fresh air, green grass, a beautiful garden.

A quiet, comfortable, peaceful, tranquil world, devoid of hostility or ill will.

"...Avalon, the land of ultimate retreat from everything...?" Kiritsugu's cold expression softened as he took in the scene, experiencing the peace and serenity of this world.

Alice, too, opened her curious eyes wide, observing her surroundings with great interest. This was a paradise Alice had never seen since her creation as an artificial Holy Grail.

The Heroic Spirits present, setting aside their status as opposing sides, closed their eyes to savor this rare moment of peace.

The air here was so refreshing, the world so clean. The tranquility and sense of security here were so alluring~

Horses galloped joyfully across the vast grassland~

Birds sang happily on the treetops~

Small animals played leisurely in this world~

Happiness. So happy.

Joy. So joyful.

Anyone who came here, anyone who saw this scenery, would surely say: "It's so beautiful... I wish I could stay here forever."

This was a utopia that did not exist in "reality."

This was the ultimate paradise, detached from the sea of worldly suffering.

This was...

"This is... the place that imprisons my soul, binds my spirit, and prevents me from ever attaining freedom. Its name is Eternal Avalon!" A sorrowful voice echoed from behind the Heroic Spirits. Who would be so insensitive as to utter such a jarring statement amidst such breathtaking scenery?!

Thinking this, the Heroic Spirits turned around to look.

"Huh?!" Upon turning, the Heroic Spirits looked utterly aghast, as if they had seen a ghost.

What was this scene before their eyes?!

Nearly a hundred volcanoes roared, spewing lava! Burning red flames scorched the entire sky~!

Dark smoke blotted out the sun! A sky devoid of light and hope!

Rivers formed entirely of blood flowed, emitting a pungent, bloody stench~

Piles of bones, a devastated land, everywhere permeated by stench and a fishy/bloody smell.

This was hell!

This was a land of despair, isolated from the world!

This was a place of disgust, forgotten by all!

Black mud, rivers of blood!

A stark contrast to the world behind them, which resembled paradise!

The paradise-like world was surrounded by this hellish world. This paradise was the very center of the entire hellish realm. It was the only pure land in this world composed of bloodshed and malice.

Heaven and hell were merely half a step apart, yet this half-step was an absolute barrier that no one could cross.

And the Heroic Spirits all stopped at the periphery, half a step away from that piece of paradise, unable to move forward.

"A world in every step, a glance passing by." A low chant drew everyone's attention.

Then... a flash of crimson light streaked before their eyes!

"Kill without mercy!"

Still the warm sunlight, still that azure, clear sky.

A flock of chirping little birds squabbled outside the wooden window of a log cabin.

Inside the cabin...

Fresh wooden fragrance wafted through the air. A golden-haired girl lay fast asleep on the wooden bed...

Beside the girl, a black-haired youth in simple clothing quietly stood guard. He looked at the sleeping girl on the bed, a doting smile gracing his lips.

Outside the cabin lay a vast forest.

This forest was almost boundless... Anyone who ventured into it was bound to lose their way and wander there forever.

This is a sacred land forbidden to humans.

This is a sacred land that only the kind-hearted and righteous may enter.

This is... the "Fairy Forest."

"Mmm..." The girl on the bed let out a soft groan.

The boy, who heard the sound, quickly sat up and tiptoed to the girl's side. Seeing that the girl had only whimpered a few times before falling back into a deep sleep, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief...

"Chirp chirp~ Tweet tweet~" The birds that witnessed this scene began to chirp noisily, as if mocking the boy's caution.

Hearing the sound, the boy looked over. When he saw the little birds chirping incessantly by the wooden window, he scratched his head sheepishly, revealing a bashful smile...

"Shhh~~~~" The boy put his index finger to his lips and gently shushed the birds. He was telling the birds to be quiet, so as not to wake the person who was finally getting some peaceful sleep.

"Tweet~~~~" Seeing this, the birds imitated the boy's action, extending a feather and gently shushing.

"Pfft!" Seeing the birds mimicking him so well, the boy almost burst out laughing! Fortunately, his body reacted faster than his mind, and he managed to cover his mouth in time.

The boy glared at the little birds by the window with displeasure, then turned away, no longer paying attention to the group rolling on the ground, holding their bellies. He turned his head and quietly looked at the girl lying on the bed. Her enchanting face and the aura that had deeply captivated him remained unchanged.

She was still as persistent and stubborn, still as strong and lonely.

That smile, like salvation, always made me stare blankly, foolishly.

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My soul.

The meaning of my existence.

My light...

But...

Why...

Why, even though you are lying here, can I still not feel your presence?!

Even though everything about you is still here, even though nothing about you has changed..!

"Artoria..." Xia's muffled voice, tinged with a hint of bitterness and unwillingness, echoed.

He reached out his hand, wanting to caress the face he dreamed of every night.

Crack! Just as the boy's hand was about to touch the girl's face, a spark of electricity suddenly jumped out, repelling his entire palm!

Zap!

The boy stared blankly at the electricity still dancing on his palm, then turned his head to look again at the golden-haired girl lying quietly on the wooden bed.

"It's... a Self-Imposed Memory Seal." The boy murmured the words, and his body seemed to lose its support, causing him to fall to his knees. His wide-open eyes were fixed on the girl before him, his dark pupils filled with disbelief and impossibility.

"Artoria... you actually... you actually imposed a memory seal on yourself with your own will and hands?!" Xia exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief.

(The Self-Imposed Memory Seal is a forbidden memory magic... It involves sacrificing a part of oneself, be it an emotion or a feeling, in exchange for absolute self-imposed memory sealing. The more intense the trigger, the stronger the cage becomes, and the more one tries to break free, the tighter the chains bind.

Generally, those who use this magic on themselves do so when they harbor intense hatred or unresolved grievances towards something, in order to escape the daily torment and pain of their memories. This is a magic that has existed since the age of myths, and it is considered a self-seal that only "fools" would use...)

"Artoria... do you hate my existence that much?" Xia's voice, hoarse from an unknown time, echoed in the wooden house. His question received no reply. The wooden house, which had been quiet moments ago, was now plunged into a dead silence.

"I understand...! But please, allow me to live a few more days. When I present the perfect Holy Grail to you, I will personally kill all the selves within the 'dots'! Thus, I will atone for my mistakes and actions!" Xia slowly lowered his head, performed a knight's salute as if receiving a royal decree, and then slowly stood up.

"Artoria's will is my destination, Drake D. Xia! Even if my soul shatters, I will strive to reach it! Artoria... I have truly received your resolve and determination!" Xia's gaze, fixed on the sleeping girl on the bed, seemed to traverse time and space, crossing countless mountains and forests.

He arrived in the true "Fairy Forest" deep within his memories, at an ancient castle not far from the Life Tree where he and Artoria once lived.

Artoria, clad in a royal cloak and wearing a king's crown, walked with her small body held straight before the castle's great hall.

"Have you decided...?" An ancient voice echoed in the empty hall. Hearing this, Artoria, standing in the center of the hall, gently nodded. Her slightly nervous expression was tinged with a trace of determination and decisiveness.

"That man is indeed the most important person in your life. He is also the one you most trust..."

"That man!! He is the one who betrayed my trust! He appeared in my life without my permission, and then disappeared without my permission when I needed him most! I've had enough of being tormented by this damned longing every day! I don't want to dream of everything between me and that man every night when I lie in bed anymore! That longing! That sense of security! That feeling of complete reliance and dependence on that man!!" As the ancient voice was halfway through speaking, Artoria interrupted it excitedly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"That is an obstruction to my path as a king! It is a stumbling block for me as the King of Britannia! An obstacle that must be removed!" No matter how much she denied it with her words, her body's reactions were the most honest.

Tears flowed from her reddened eyes, seemingly ready to fall at any moment, but she stubbornly held them back.

With each word she spoke, her heart ached more intensely, causing Artoria to instinctively clutch her chest.

"So... so. Please let me forget him forever! Erase his existence completely!" Artoria, suppressing the throbbing pain in her chest and the tears welling up in her eyes, shouted her plea into the empty hall.

"..." A brief silence followed in the hall. Then, in an instant, the hall erupted in a magnificent song, emitting a divine multicolored light!

"Hereby, in the name of the fairy's melody! I bestow upon the King of Britannia an eternal memory cage!" The voice that rang out again was no longer old, but replaced by a full-bodied, magnetic tone!

The high-pitched song grew louder and louder, and the multicolored light became more dazzling.

Artoria relaxed her entire body, allowing the multicolored light to enter her.

As each piece of light entered, it exited from behind Artoria, transforming into a black ribbon. Upon closer inspection, each ribbon was found to be filled with fragments of Artoria's memories of Xia.

As an ever-brighter light entered, and more and more ribbons pierced through from behind.

The originally clear song of praise had gradually calmed down...

Artoria felt the memories of Xia in her mind growing increasingly blurry...

First, she forgot his name.

Then, his appearance, voice, touch, deeds, and memories all began to fade, bit by bit.

Drip...

A crisp sound echoed clearly in the great hall. Crystal-clear tears slowly flowed from her eyes. Then, more and more, uncontrollably, tears streamed down her face, falling onto the stone floor of the hall with a drip sound.

Artoria's expression, which had been calm and placid, had somehow transformed into one of suppressed heartache and pain. Her lips were tightly pressed together, her brows furrowed, and her expression was one of unwilling resignation, as if she were trying to hold back her tears once more.

Seeing all this, Xia merely watched with a cold, expressionless gaze...

But no matter how much Artoria cried, she couldn't bring back the memories she had lost. No matter how heartbroken she was, this would only last for a short while.

Thousands of ribbons, carrying Artoria's memories of Xia, flew towards the ceiling of the great hall. They were then confined within a massive iron cage that suddenly formed.

Scraaaape...

A grating sound of iron chains echoed. Looking up, eight thick iron chains tightly secured the cage. The intricate runes etched onto the chains made it clear that these were no ordinary restraints.

"Three thousand three hundred and thirty-nine 'Threads of Memory,' I grant you eternal imprisonment." The words that echoed through the hall faded, and the giant cage that had appeared in the air instantly vanished from the hall, taken to an unknown destination.

Looking at the steel cage that had disappeared, Artoria's expression of pain and endurance was gone, replaced by a strange look, as if she didn't know where she was or what she was doing.

She turned her head and looked around. Seeing nothing she recognized, Artoria turned to leave.

Drip...!

Another crisp sound rang out. Artoria felt something wet slowly trickling down her face.

She reached out her left hand and gently wiped away the liquid flowing down her cheek.

Then, she raised her hand to her eyes and looked at it strangely...

"Red... tears?"