dmims Chapter 86 The Real Weight
Chapter 86 The Real Weight
The morning in Fuyuki City was shrouded in a thin, cold mist.
Arthur moved nimbly through the Tohsaka mansion without alerting anyone else.
This mansion blends Japanese tranquility with Western extravagance, and the shadows in every corridor seem to carry an ancient, magical aura.
He observed the defensive formations here; though not as grand as Camelot's magical barrier, they exuded a unique rigor.
"You got up very early."
The crisp sound of heels striking the floor came from behind me; Tokiomi Tohsaka had appeared at the end of the corridor without me noticing.
He was wearing a burgundy suit, and the morning light cast a cool hue on his temples.
"Good morning, Mr. Tohsaka." Arthur stopped and nodded slightly.
"Are you comfortable in the guest room? Please let me know if there is anything inconvenient."
Tokiomi stepped forward, his tone perfectly polite and courteous.
"Although this is probably too cramped compared to your former bedchamber."
"Peace and tranquility are enough."
"In that case, please have breakfast with us." Tokiomi gestured for them to have breakfast, lowering his voice as he spoke, a hint of concern flashing in his eyes.
"How is Sakura doing?"
"She's still asleep. Perhaps she was too exhausted last night. At times like this, deep sleep is the best way for her to recover."
The atmosphere in the restaurant was so quiet it was almost solemn.
Aoi Tohsaka gave a slight bow to Arthur. She had just visited Sakura and, after confirming that the child was sleeping soundly, her tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly.
She didn't say much, but quietly prepared English black tea for Arthur, her every move exuding the gentleness and thoughtfulness of a hostess.
Tokiomi pushed a thick file bag in front of Arthur.
"This is the identity document that was urgently prepared last night."
From this moment forward, your public identity will be that of a distant relative of the Tohsaka family's branch in Northern Europe. Neither the Holy Church nor the Clock Tower will detect any discrepancies.
Arthur ran his fingertips over the paper document without commenting.
"However." Tokiomi put down his knife, his eyes suddenly becoming deep, and the imposing presence that belonged to Fuyuki's administrators returned.
"Fuyuki City has its own rules, and so does the world of magicians."
Since you are temporarily residing at the Tohsaka residence, I need to confirm one thing... Do you intend to abide by these rules?
The air seemed to freeze for a second as Arthur stared at the tea leaves bobbing in his teacup, an inexplicable aura silently permeating the small restaurant.
"I will respect the rules here," Arthur said slowly, his voice carrying an undeniable authority.
"As long as these rules don't require me to stand idly by and do nothing about people who shouldn't be hurt."
This answer was extremely un-"magician-like," and Tokiomi did not refute it, because that was enough.
Step, step, step.
The rhythmic sound of footsteps broke the atmosphere at the dining table.
Rin Tohsaka appeared at the doorway. Like a commander surveying a battlefield, she subtly walked around the corner of the table and deliberately chose a position that would allow her to see Arthur face-to-face.
"Good morning." She greeted her parents first, then her bright eyes quickly locked onto Arthur, trying to regain the manners she had lost.
"Did you sleep well last night, Mr. Arthur?"
"Very good," Arthur replied calmly. "Thank you for your concern, Ms. Rin."
"Where's Sakura?" Rin turned to look at her mother.
"Still sleeping," Aoi replied softly.
Rin gave a nonchalant "hmm" and lowered her head to start eating.
But Arthur keenly noticed that after hearing Mrs. Tohsaka say "still sleeping," the child's tense shoulders visibly relaxed.
"Mr. Arthur."
Halfway through breakfast, Rin suddenly put down her spoon, adopting a posture as if she were formally entering an assessment phase: "From now on, you'll be Sakura and my mentor, right?"
"Yes."
"So what can you teach?" Rin raised his chin, with the sharp edge of a newborn calf.
Arthur thought for a moment, then asked in return, "What do you and Miss Sakura need to learn?"
Rin was stunned. She was obviously used to Tokiomi's cramming-style education, where "I teach you what you learn."
She rolled her eyes and immediately puffed out her chest: "Magic, history, languages, swordsmanship... Father said that a true magician needs to be proficient in both literature and martial arts."
"I can teach you all of these." Arthur nodded, his tone calm, not as if he were boasting, but simply stating a fact.
"But where to start depends on your current foundation."
Rin stared at Arthur, noticing the seriousness in his voice.
"Hmph." She lowered her head and continued eating, her voice slightly muffled. "Then this afternoon, I'll come and test your skills."
When Sakura woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.
She walked out along the corridor and heard a sound at the corner of the courtyard.
It was Rin's voice.
"...I've practiced this move twenty times every day!"
Then it was Arthur's turn. "I know, but you habitually hold back at the last step."
Sakura stopped at the corner. She peeked out and saw Rin waving a wooden stick, sweating profusely, while Arthur stood opposite her with his hands behind his back.
"No, you held back again in the last step." Arthur's voice was gentle, without any dogmatic rigidity.
"I didn't! This is what Father meant by elegance!" Rin retorted defiantly, her face flushed red.
"Do it again, and watch your feet."
Rin held her breath and suddenly unleashed a powerful strike.
"Feet," Arthur uttered softly.
Rin froze, looked down at her crooked toes, and let out a snort of embarrassment and annoyance.
As Sakura turned the corner, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a slight smile.
"Sakura." Arthur didn't turn around, but he still accurately caught the gaze coming from around the corner. "Come here."
Sakura slowly walked into the courtyard, looking somewhat lost and with her head down. "Arthur...brother, sister."
"Did you sleep well last night?" Arthur asked, not teasing Sakura for sleeping in, but turning to Rin and saying, "Miss Rin, please get some rest."
"Who wants to rest? I'm still..." Before Rin could finish speaking, Arthur had already pulled Sakura over.
"Sakura, you try it. You don't need to learn anything else, just stand there."
Arthur knelt down in front of Sakura, his gaze level with hers, and gently touched her left ankle with two fingers. "Turn it out a little."
Sakura obediently did as she was told.
"Now, feel it."
Sakura sensed it closely and opened her eyes wide in surprise. "It seems... I can stand a little more steadily? It's like a piece of wood has grown under my feet and stuck into the ground."
"Yes." Arthur stood up, sunlight streaming down his body.
"This is your current center of gravity. With a center of gravity, you won't be easily knocked down when facing the enemy."
Rin, standing to the side, felt a pang of jealousy and muttered, resting her chin on her hand, "Then why didn't you tell me this before?"
"I've told you three times, but each time you just say 'I know' and then continue to stand there with your 'grace'."
Rin opened her mouth, momentarily speechless, then turned her head to the side, stubbornly insisting, "...Hmph, I was just getting used to it!"
In the courtyard, Sakura looked at Arthur, then at her resentful older sister, and suddenly let out a very soft laugh.
That was the first genuine laugh since last night, one that no longer seemed heavy.
Rin turned her head, saw Sakura's smile, and was stunned for a moment.
Then she abruptly gripped the stick tightly again and shouted, "Okay, okay, keep going! Don't think we're playing around!"
Arthur turned back to her. "Feet."
"I know!"
Inside the study, the window was half-closed.
Tokiomi Tohsaka stood in the shadows, holding a cup of cold black tea, watching the blond youth in the courtyard.
He mentally re-evaluated the variable Arthur.
This person is not the kind of piece that can be inserted into a game of chess; he himself is a rule.
His teachings lacked the rigidity of a magician's approach; instead, they carried an extremely simple "authenticity."
"The center of gravity...?"
Tokiomi closed the curtains, a very faint smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.
In Fuyuki City, a place filled with lies, rituals, and deceitful magic...
This kind of straightforward "truth" is perhaps the miracle he won for the Tohsaka family, a miracle that cannot be valued by any bargaining chip.