Fate: Question And Answer System of Traversing Heroic Spirits

[Soon after class ended, El-Melloi II returned to his office, visibly irritated, and began venting his frustrations.]

["I'm just the acting Lord, but I don't have the power to match the title. Instead of worrying about power struggles, I'd rather focus on my own research."]

["That pack of demons and monsters, magus who've completely abandoned the pursuit of the Root deserve nothing less than to be cursed to hell."]

[The little girl named Gray sat quietly nearby, listening intently to his complaints.]

[Unlike the other students, Gray addressed El-Melloi II as "Master," a mark of their closer bond. She was his disciple, not merely a student.]

[As the video shifted, Gray's full appearance was revealed. Her face bore an uncanny resemblance to Artoria Pendragon.]

Artoria: "This… this is!"

Lancelot: "They look exactly like the king. If they stood side by side, I doubt anyone could tell them apart."

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Could this just be a coincidence?"

Sisigou Kairi: "Maybe she's a descendant of King Arthur?"

Rebellious Knight: "What nonsense! I'm the only legitimate child of my father!"

"Could it be…?"

Artoria stared at Gray's white hair and familiar features, a thought forming in her mind. But she quickly dismissed it. That woman had long since passed away—this couldn't be connected.

Darnic: "It does seem as if El-Melloi II resents the politics of the Clock Tower."

Kayneth: "Hmph, stop trying to stir up discord."

[After his complaints, El-Melloi II took Gray along to handle some errands. As they turned a corner, they accidentally bumped into Flat Escardos and Svin Glascheit, who were carrying a box. The contents crystals spilled onto the floor.]

["Great, just my luck," Waver muttered, picking himself up. "Looks like the curse struck back."]

[For most people, it would've seemed like an innocent mishap, but Waver touched his head, his expression darkening.]

["Even if it was just an unintentional curse, those narrow-minded magi still seized the opportunity."]

Darnic: "Ah, the Clock Tower truly is as toxic as ever. Not even freedom of speech is safe there."

Iskandar: "That's ridiculous. To think curses would fly over trivial complaints!"

Tohsaka Rin: "I suddenly feel like studying at the Clock Tower isn't as glamorous as it seems."

Waver said nothing, staring at the video with a stiff expression.

Kayneth: "…"

Kayneth's silence spoke volumes. Had the once-great Clock Tower truly fallen this far, becoming a haven for petty grudges?

["Damn it, my clothes! I've only worn them a few times, and now they're ruined," Waver grumbled.]

[Gray, ever the dutiful disciple, offered quietly, "I'll clean them for you later, Master."]

["Thanks. I'll leave it to you," Waver said, walking away in frustration. But as he stepped on one of the scattered crystals, he slipped and fell with a pained cry, landing awkwardly on the ground.]

["Are you alright, oh sacred and inviolable professor of magecraft?" Flat asked, his voice filled with concern but also teasing.]

["I'm fine," Waver replied, wincing. "And don't call me by that pretentious title—it's embarrassing."]

["But it's a respectful honorific," Flat insisted.]

["No, it's worse," Waver said flatly.]

[Svin chimed in with a grin, "Would you rather I mention how you ranked fourth on the Clock Tower's 'Fantasy Objects Most Desired by Girls' list?"]

[Flat: "See, no ill intent, but it still makes people mad!"]

[With Gray's help, Waver stumbled away, clearly annoyed. Whatever errands they had planned for the day were now canceled.]

Sola-ui: "There's a voting list like that? The 'Fantasy Objects' list?"

Tohsaka Rin: "Of course there is. It's clearly something magus obsessed with appearances would invent."

Tohsaka Rin: "But seriously, how did he even make it onto the list?"

Illya: "Uncle Waver seems super popular with girls!"

Iskandar: "Hahaha! Boy, it looks like your future is filled with admirers!"

El-Melloi II: "There's nothing to celebrate about this."

Iskandar: "Why not? Don't you enjoy being surrounded by beautiful women?"

Illya: "Wait, do you dislike women, Uncle Waver?"

Irisviel: "Illya!"

Waver: "My preferences are perfectly normal!!!"

[Back in his office, Waver collapsed onto the sofa as Gray fetched medicine for him.]

["Ah, of all the Clock Tower Lord, I'm the only one who gets tripped up by curses," he muttered bitterly.]

[At that moment, a sharp voice echoed from nowhere. "Add!"]

[Gray immediately opened her cloak, revealing a strange magical artifact, a Rubik's Cube-like object contained in a small birdcage.]

[The voice belonged to this sentient Mystic Code, named Add.]

Kayneth: "A talking Mystic Code? Interesting. It seems to possess self-awareness."

Darnic: "A fascinating creation. Its consciousness must be the result of advanced magecraft."

Artoria: "That thing feels… unsettling, somehow."

Rebellious Knight: "It's disgusting. Just looking at it irritates me."

["Enough out of you," Gray said, giving the birdcage a firm shake to silence Add, causing it to faint inside.]

[Moments later, Waver's shoes were stolen by his adopted black cat, who darted off with them. As Waver chased after it, he tripped and fell again, further dirtying his clothes.]

["Great, my first pair of shoes bought with Clock Tower money, ruined!" he lamented dramatically.]

[Gray, as always, comforted him. "I'll clean them too, Master."]

[But Waver, in a moment of rare frustration, muttered about devising a spell to get back at the mischievous cat.]

[The next day, Waver overslept due to staying up late, and Gray had to drag him out of bed and help him wash his face.]

[By the time they reached class, it began to rain. Waver seized the opportunity to cancel the lesson entirely.]

Iskandar: "Hahaha! Boy, you're shaping up to be a rather unique teacher!"

Kayneth: "…How embarrassing. Being cursed and undone by a cat. Unbelievable."

Waver stared blankly at the screen, his face burning with embarrassment.

[The video transitioned to a darker scene. Waver had taken the injured black cat back to his office to care for it. He stayed up all night tending to it, despite its worsening condition.]

["You really don't seem like a magus," Reines teased upon hearing about the situation. "This is why you can't get ahead, Waver."]

[Despite Waver's best efforts, the cat didn't survive. He buried it in the garden outside and silently stared at the grave.]

["If I were a proper magus, I could've healed it," he muttered bitterly. "I'm always missing opportunities. I just don't have the strength."]

[As he stood there, he suddenly recalled Iskandar's defeat to Gilgamesh in the Fourth Holy Grail War.]

Iskandar: "Boy, your compassion is one of your greatest strengths. Don't lose it."

Kayneth: "Caring for a cat like this… you truly don't act like a proper magus."

Kiritsugu Emiya: "Something about this feels… wrong."

Irisviel: "What do you mean?"

Kiritsugu Emiya: "I can't pinpoint it yet, but I have a bad feeling."

[Gray approached Waver to console him, but he turned away abruptly.]

["Gray, don't let me see that face of yours," he said, his tone sharp but not cruel.]

[Gray lowered her hood, her face momentarily hidden. Yet, as she walked away, there was a faint smile of relief.]

["I'm sorry, Master, but… I'm glad my face bothers you," Gray murmured quietly.]

["Really…"] Waver sighed.]

[Suddenly, a faint meow echoed nearby. Gray's head snapped up. "Did you hear that, Master?"]

["You must be imagining things," Waver replied, shaking his head.]

[But Gray insisted, "No, I heard it clearly."]

[Moments later, Waver caught sight of his own reflection. His shadow… had transformed into the shape of a cat.]

[The video paused abruptly.]

---

[Question: What is the story behind the cat's meow and the reflected cat form that Gray saw?]

---

Chihiro: "It's a curse! Waver's been cursed!"

[Ding! Chihiro answered part of the question correctly. Reward: 1 Saint Quartz.]

Waver: "Of course it's a curse! It's always a curse!"

Kayneth: "Hmph. Do you want me to explain the details of this curse?"

Kayneth: "This is a malicious curse designed to bind the life of the pet to its owner. Through this link, any harm inflicted on the pet reflects back onto the owner. If the pet dies, the same fate befalls the owner."

Kayneth: "Waver is an idiot. He assumed it was retribution for his minor squabbles, but in reality, someone deliberately placed this curse on him to kill him."

[Ding! Kayneth answered the question correctly. Reward: 5 Saint Quartz.]

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