Inside the room, only Illya and Morpheus remained... a Servant belonging to another and a Master of another Servant. Their identities, in a way, were peculiarly intertwined.
Illya studied the unusual man before her. His attire didn't suggest an ancient existence; rather, it was strikingly modern, or at least from a recent era.
Moreover, his mastery of magecraft was formidable. The magic circle earlier had neutralized the power of a Command Spell, completely trapping her Berserker, unable to break free.
This made Illya even more curious about him.
Possessing such impressive magecraft prowess, yet she had never heard of such a person in history... it was truly remarkable.
While curiosity stirred within her, Illya asked, "So, what do you want to talk about privately, Unc?"
"First, stop calling me Unc. I'm still young," Morpheus said, casually sitting down and gesturing to the seat opposite him. "Have a seat. It'll be more relaxed this way."
"Relaxed? You expect me to relax in the enemy's stronghold? That's almost laughable," Illya replied, though she still took a seat.
Illya was proud. She had confidence in her abilities, resentment toward her circumstances, and her own goals for this Holy Grail War.
Even if the opponent before her was stronger, Illya was still scheming, searching for any way to defeat him.
But the next sentence caused her scheming mind to freeze in shock.
"The enemy's stronghold? Isn't this your father's home? Or, well, your brother's home now."
His tone was as casual as if he were chatting about mundane matters, but Illya felt a chill run down her spine. She took a deep breath, prompting a smile from Morpheus.
"You're nervous, Miss Einzbern. There's no need for that. Since I've brought up these things, it means I'm showing my sincerity."
"I don't understand what you mean. What do you mean this is my father's home? And that guy is my brother? Look at how young I am! If anything, he'd be the older sibling, and I'd be the younger sister!"
Illya retorted, forcing herself to stay composed. She wasn't sure why she responded this way... whether to avoid admitting anything or simply out of fear.
But clearly, Morpheus was unfazed by her response.
"No matter what you say, whether you admit it or not, Miss Einzbern, I'm stating these things because what I'm about to say is built on these facts.
"And facts, no matter how much you deny them, remain facts."
Morpheus' words cut straight to the point, addressing Illya's current situation:
"Your physical condition is dire. Even if this Holy Grail War hadn't started, you wouldn't live long. With this war underway, you might have about a year left... at best. The moment the war ends, you'll likely face death."
Illya no longer dared underestimate the man before her. Many of these were secrets, yet he spoke as if he knew everything.
"When you met Rin last time, I already sensed something was wrong with your body. Today's encounter confirmed my suspicions. You're the Holy Grail, aren't you? Or rather, you're its core... its heart. For the Grail, you're an essential component."
Illya remained silent, offering no response.
"The Einzberns have their own goals, like the Third Magic. But I believe that's not your goal. Compared to that, you must have something you desire far more."
Morpheus said, closely observing Illya's demeanor. The girl's expression wavered, but a flash of hatred in her eyes quickly suppressed that hesitation.
Though Morpheus was only casually familiar with the lore, he had seen parts of the Fifth Holy Grail War's story long ago. He continued:
"I've heard some things. They say a man once went to a certain castle multiple times to see his daughter but was never allowed inside. Because of his betrayal, the castle kept him separated from his daughter.
"It was his own doing, in a way, but still a pitiful man. Until his death, he couldn't let go of his daughter and passed away in despair."
Illya's expression shifted subtly. Listening to the story, she had some guesses, but she stubbornly replied, "Nice story, but what does it have to do with me, Unc?"
"I'm not an Unc… Fine, call me what you want." Morpheus gave up correcting her and decided to get to the point. "That man was Emiya Kiritsugu, and the girl was Illya. So, do you know this girl?"
His final question was almost teasing. Illya's composure broke, and she glared at Morpheus, clinging to her last shred of defiance. "Where's your proof?!"
"Your mother's death, and then some entity inside the Grail intimidated you. That entity would know these things clearly. Maybe you should ask it."
Morpheus paused, thinking. "Besides, destroying the Holy Grail is for your safety. If the Grail manifests, all of Fuyuki City will face a crisis.
"But unfortunately, for homunculi obsessed with the Third Magic, such an act is betrayal, no questions asked."
"Homunculi…"
"I'm not insulting anyone. Even a robot with a heart is human. But a being with a human body, yet no sense of self, is just a puppet. Aren't there plenty of puppets in your family?"
Morpheus said, glancing outside.
"Your brother out there almost became one too... a puppet controlled by your father's will. But fortunately, he has a mind of his own and can think for himself."
Morpheus' words finally drew a look of disgust from Illya. "Kiritsugu wouldn't do something like that."
"It's not about what Kiritsugu did. Because of his salvation, your brother has been living within Kiritsugu's ideals. He believes surviving alone is a sin. It's the perfect self-destructive persona."
Morpheus finished, looking at the now pensive Illya with a smile. "So, you finally admit it, don't you, Miss Illya?"
***
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