My Own Personal Throne

The world around Haru seemed endless, an expanse of nothingness stretching far and wide. Yet, there was an underlying feeling of something immense looming in the background—something that both drew him in and made him feel insignificant at the same time.

As his vision cleared, he could see nothing. Not the sky, not the ground—just an eternal, empty space that felt like a dream, a disembodied state between life and death. The Void, he realized.

The last thing he remembered was touching the Grail, the energy surging through him like a tidal wave. And now… here he was. Alone. Yet, strangely, not entirely alone. The feeling of another presence nearby stirred his senses. He wasn't sure why, but he felt like he knew this presence.

And then, she appeared.

A gentle yet powerful presence, radiating warmth and an aura that made Haru feel both calm and… strangely vulnerable. The figure materialized from the very air itself, her form clothed in a flowing white dress that shimmered like light through mist. Her long silver hair framed her face, softening the sharpness of her gaze. There was a maternal tenderness about her, but also a sharp awareness in her eyes.

"Irisviel?" Haru found himself murmuring the name before he could stop himself. He wasn't sure how he knew it, but it felt right.

She smiled softly, her expression understanding but slightly wistful.

"You… remember my name?" she asked. Her voice was gentle, but there was an underlying strength to it that echoed through the space.

"That's more than I expected. The Grail's power can do strange things to the mind."

"I don't… I don't understand," Haru replied, his voice betraying his confusion. "I was just touching the Grail, and then… this."

"You've entered the realm of the Grail, a place between the worlds," Irisviel explained, her expression softening further. "It is not a place for the living, but those who have been touched by the Grail's power must come here to confront their purpose."

Haru's heart began to race. Purpose? The words echoed through his mind like an omen. "What do you mean by that?" He took a hesitant step forward, his gaze meeting hers.

She looked at him for a long moment, her eyes gentle but intense. "You were chosen by the Grail. The power you now possess is not freely given. It requires a balance—a cost, Haru. But before we speak of that, there is one thing you must understand…"

Irisviel's hand rose slightly, and a sensation passed through the air—a pulse of energy that felt as though it came from deep within the core of the Void. Haru felt it wash over him, strange but familiar. Like power but also something older, a will of sorts.

"You must first learn the truth of what the Grail has granted you," she said, voice still warm but laced with a gentle warning. "But this knowledge… it cannot be given freely. You must be prepared."

Haru furrowed his brow. Knowledge?

Before he could speak, she continued, "The Grail has granted you the ability to transform into Heroic Spirits—a unique and powerful ability. But this gift is not without its condition."

His eyes widened in confusion. "Then… What is it that the grail want's from me?"

Irisviel smiled again, though this time it was more knowing. "You must face the beasts of fate, Haru. Seven will stand before you, each one more dangerous than the last. Only by defeating them can you secure your place and your power. If you fail, the Grail's blessing will be taken from you."

"Seven beasts?" Haru asked, his voice faltering. "But… who are they?"

Irisviel paused, her eyes softening. "The first beast... I cannot reveal its name just yet. but what I can tell you is this—it is the first trial you must face. Beyond that, you will discover the others, but only by walking your path will you understand."

The air felt heavy around him, and a strange unease settled in his chest. He wanted answers, but Irisviel had just given him more questions.

"But what do I do?" Haru asked again, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

Irisviel stepped closer, placing a soft hand on his shoulder. There was a tenderness in her touch, like that of a mother guiding her child, yet a seriousness in her eyes that made him shiver slightly.

"The path will not be easy," she said softly, her voice warm but firm. "But you must walk it, Haru. For the power you now hold can shape the world around you. However, it is not given for free. The Grail has chosen you, and now you must decide whether to continue its path or lose it."

Her words echoed in the empty space. Before Haru could respond, she stepped back, her figure becoming less defined, fading into the background as if she were returning to the depths of the Void.

"I will be watching, Haru," she whispered, her voice barely audible now. "When the time comes, I will be here."

The silence that followed felt deafening. Haru stood frozen in place, trying to absorb everything she had said, but a gnawing confusion took root in his chest. Beasts of fate? Seven trials? And what was this first beast? Why couldn't Irisviel tell him more?

His head swam with questions as the world around him began to fade into darkness once more.

The sharp sting of light flooded Haru's senses, and he groaned, his eyes fluttering open. He was no longer in the Void. Instead, the sterile white walls of a hospital room greeted him. Beeping machines, a soft, rhythmic sound that should have been comforting, instead felt oddly distant.

Haru blinked several times, trying to gather his bearings, but a wave of dizziness hit him. His hand instinctively went to his forehead, and he felt a lingering heat there.

"Where am I…?" he muttered under his breath, his voice hoarse and unfamiliar.

He pushed himself up slowly, the bed beneath him feeling strangely comforting, as though it were a grounding presence that connected him to something real. But his mind was still tangled with the images of the Void, the presence of Irisviel, and the strange sense of power that had pulsed through him.

Had it all been a dream?

He rubbed his temples, trying to clear his mind, but the memory of her voice lingered, distant but undeniable.

And then, the door to the room opened, and a figure stepped inside—a woman dressed in black, with long blonde hair and sharp, confident eyes. Her presence felt ominous but not immediately threatening.

"Well, well. It looks like you're finally awake."

The woman's voice was smooth, like velvet, but with an edge to it. "Name's Canary. Black Canary, to be precise. I've got a few questions for you."

Haru sat up a little straighter, his heart suddenly racing. Questions? About what? What had happened? Was he in trouble?

His mind raced to catch up with everything.