Morpheus looked at Emiya Shirou, unsure if he'd heard correctly. "What did you say? Say it again."
"I said, can I learn your magic?"
Shirou repeated himself, a bit embarrassed but steadying his resolve as he explained, "I think your magic is unique, and learning more can only be a good thing, no matter how you look at it."
"Aren't you afraid I might refuse to teach you?" Morpheus asked with a smile.
"Not really. I figured there might be some criteria for choosing students, so I thought I'd ask. If you say no, it's just a rejection... no harm done," Shirou said, shaking his head. "Even if it doesn't work out, I can still practice basic magecraft theory."
"Fair point. If I refuse, you lose nothing. If I agree, it's a win for you," Morpheus nodded, watching the boy handle ingredients in the kitchen.
Morpheus knew what kind of person Shirou was. In any world, Emiya Shirou was a good person... always on a path to save the world or those close to him.
So, when Shirou made this request, Morpheus was more than willing to accept.
He smiled. "My answer is yes. But first, I want to ask... why do you want to learn magic?"
"Why? Curiosity, I guess?"
"Curiosity has many roots, but it boils down to a thirst for knowledge," Morpheus said. "I'm different from magus like Rin, or rather, from most mages. When learning magic, I want you to clarify your goal."
"Clarify my goal?"
"Many magus in this world aim to reach the Root to seek truth. Their goal can be called Veritas... Latin for truth, or 'truth-seeker,' if you will. This is their magic name.
"A magic name is a title a magician chooses based on their goal, their deepest obsession. Once you declare your magic name, it means you're fully committed to your goal... no holding back. In battle, invoking your magic name signals you're ready to fight with everything you've got."
Shirou frowned, processing Morpheus' words, but soon responded, "Rather than fighting, isn't declaring a magic name more about proclaiming, 'I won't back down from my path in magic'?"
"Smart. Exactly. Fighting is just a means to clear obstacles in pursuit of your goal. It doesn't always mean killing... just having the resolve to do so, or at least to incapacitate your opponent so they can't stop you."
"Incapacitating sounds better than killing…"
"In most cases, yes. Killing can stir up big trouble, especially when people are tied to powerful groups," Morpheus nodded approvingly. "Some are backed by royalty, others by the Church. Though, for those reckless enough to summon evil gods, it's better to take them out directly."
"Evil gods?"
"Beings that, if summoned, could devastate an entire city or turn a region into a dangerous wasteland, triggering massive catastrophes. Magicians who summon them aren't usually after wishes... they're often researching…"
"Research?! You mean studying gods?!" Shirou's eyes widened, and in his distraction, the knife he was using nicked his finger.
"Careful. Learn to multitask," Morpheus said, lightly touching Shirou's finger. The wound healed instantly.
Shirou stared in awe. "That's magic too, right?"
"Of course. I borrowed a bit of angelic power to heal the wound and restore lost vitality."
"A-Angelic power?!"
"Yup. The human body can't handle too much vitality beyond its limits, but it can replenish what's lost due to injury... think of it as restoring mana," Morpheus explained, causing Shirou to pause, then listen intently.
This was knowledge... magical knowledge!
"You can extend a body's lifespan with certain methods, but it's ultimately artificial. You can't escape the final judgment... or rather, the concept of physical death.
"So, if you want to use magic for longevity, there are ways, but true immortality is impossible unless you cross the abyss."
Cross the abyss? That made sense... only by overcoming such a monumental challenge could one achieve true immortality. It felt natural.
Shirou nodded. "The abyss is a good metaphor. It really captures the difficulty of the magic path."
Morpheus smiled but didn't elaborate.
The abyss wasn't a metaphor... it was a literal description. On the Tree of Life, there was a hidden sephirah within Knowledge, harboring a terrifying demon. Without crossing the abyss, one could never reach the upper three crowns.
The abyss was the dividing line between human and inhuman... or rather, between human and divine.
But for Shirou, who hadn't yet begun studying magic, this knowledge wasn't necessary.
Perhaps he'd never need to know it.
Shirou found Morpheus' magical insights fascinating. After finishing the dish and plating it, he suddenly thought of something. "By the way, Morpheus, do you have a magic name?"
"I do. I mentioned Veritas earlier... that's mine. But to avoid overlap, since many share the same goal, mine is Veritas000, with three digits."
"Digits, like a code," Shirou nodded, understanding. Then he pondered, "Are the numbers just for identification, or do they have meaning?"
"Depends on what you want. If you want them to mean something, choose carefully. If it's just to avoid duplicates, pick ones you like."
Morpheus answered earnestly. "I must say, asking that shows you have talent."
"So, do your numbers mean something?"
"Of course. I'm very serious about it... they have to mean something!"
"I see. Then I need to think carefully about my magic name too," Shirou said, glancing at the girls in the living room.
"Rin's learning from you, and so is Illya. Do they have magic names?"
"Not yet. It's not time for them."
Shirou blinked. "But it's time for me?"
"They come from magus families, but you don't. You're an ordinary person, even if you've practiced some magecraft. You're stepping into the unknown... purely unknown. So, you need to define your goal first."
Seeing Morpheus' serious response, Shirou nodded, committing the words to memory.
"I know what magic name I'd choose."
Following his heart, after years haunted by nightmares, he felt he'd found a solution.
"I want it to be about saving, about protecting!"
He chose it without hesitation? As expected of Emiya Shirou, so influenced by Kiritsugu. But a magic name isn't fixed... goals can change, and so can the name.
The word could stay, but its deeper meaning could shift. It was up to him.
Morpheus wasn't too surprised, only a bit wistful, and offered advice. "Salvus? Or maybe Salvare. Pick numbers you like."
After all, Shirou clearly didn't know Latin.
***
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