The sky gradually darkened over a secluded area on the outskirts of London.
Nestled there was a grand, European-style manor, enveloped by dense forests and rolling hills.
This was Roy's home, the stronghold of the Crowley family.
Within the Clock Tower, the Crowley family held a notable reputation. However, in terms of wealth and prestige, they paled in comparison to the great noble families like the Archisortes, Eulyphises, or Barthomerois. While they could establish a foothold in London, they lacked the vast spiritual leylines and expansive estates that supported those ancient lineages.
Instead, they had settled on a plot far from the Clock Tower, constructing their family estate and securing one standard-quality leyline and a smaller branch leyline. These, alongside their alchemical expertise, were the foundation of their standing.
A single leyline in London—whether in nature, location, or quality—was far superior to those found elsewhere, such as in Japan. No ordinary magical family could establish itself in London without exceptional high-ranking magi or distinguished magical traditions.
Even the Crowley family, unable to fully decipher the contents of The Book of the Law across generations, had produced several Fes-ranked magi through accumulated knowledge. Roy's parents, for instance, were renowned Fes-ranked magi, celebrated as some of the world's foremost alchemists outside the Atlas Institute.
The death of two such high-ranking magi would typically weaken a family, leaving it vulnerable to having its resources carved up by others and driven from London. Some had even set their sights on Roy's family crest, aiming to erase the Crowley lineage entirely and claim it for themselves.
However, the Crowley family's unique alchemical system created a barrier between their magecraft and traditional magic, making it difficult to seize or utilize their secrets. This complexity deterred immediate aggression.
The loss of two Fes-ranked magi was a severe blow, but not fatal. The Crowley family's close ties with the Department of Mineralogy and the El-Melloi faction, coupled with Lord Kayneth's favorable stance, ensured their survival. When Kayneth openly declared his protection, few magi dared challenge a Lord for alchemy they couldn't even inherit. At most, rivals stripped the Crowley family of some British assets, leaving them financially strained.
This gap was gradually filled as Roy frequently visited Kayneth's estate, "borrowing" resources and using Kayneth's credit for purchases.
The turmoil persisted until Roy advanced from Kai-rank to Fes-rank and was named Kayneth's direct disciple. Only then did the vultures circling the Crowley family relent, though their greed never fully dissipated.
Roy owed Kayneth immensely. As his professor, Kayneth shielded him from most threats, preserving the family's foundation and allowing Roy to thrive. This gratitude drove Roy to save Kayneth, risking everything to prevent his death in the Holy Grail War and ensure his survival.
Now, with Kayneth's fate altered, Roy was confident he'd stay safely in London, avoiding reckless magical rituals. This brought Roy peace of mind.
As for the Sanctuary Formula, Roy planned to compile it into a grimoire for Kayneth as thanks for his long-standing support.
The Crowley estate itself, the family's legacy, felt less vital after these events. Roy was even willing to gift it to Kayneth.
…
Riding in Kayneth's stretch limousine, Roy returned to his family estate with Reines.
Ignoring a greeting from an unfamiliar maid at the entrance, Roy led Reines to his room, study, and magical workshop for a tour to familiarize her with the layout.
He summoned a trusted butler, instructing him to help Reines choose a room to settle into. After securing certain sensitive or dangerous grimoires, Roy casually handed her the workshop keys, granting her access to his notes and magical texts. She was free to conduct experiments using the workshop's resources. The Sanctuary Formula was too advanced for a beginner, so he advised her to focus on foundational magecraft she enjoyed.
As a scion of the nine-generation Archisorte family, Reines had already mastered the basics at home. After Roy secured dangerous texts like Solomon's grimoires, demonology, the Silver Star, the Necronomicon, and The Book of the Law, the remaining materials—basic Mineralogy, alchemical magecraft, spiritual evocation, Tarot, and texts on Arthurian legend, Gilgamesh, Alexander the Great, and Christian mythology—were safe for her to explore.
Reines was stunned to be granted unrestricted access to Roy's study and workshop. Her eyes widened in disbelief. A magus's workshop was their sanctum, housing their research and secrets, accessible only to trusted allies, family, or lovers. To think Roy, whom she'd just met, entrusted her with such access!
This could only mean—
He trusted her, cared for her, and already considered her important!
Her face flushed at the thought. The sight of rare grimoires, forbidden to her at home, captivated her attention.
As the saying goes, kindred spirits find each other.
Encouraged by Roy, Reines bravely chose a handwritten grimoire on fluid control, focusing on wind and water manipulation. It was an El-Melloi text penned by Kayneth to help his favored student master the Moon Spirit Marrow. Roy had barely glanced at it, leaving it to gather dust, using the Moon Spirit Marrow only as a backup Mystic Code to conceal his true spells or for emergencies.
Her choice didn't surprise Roy. It was natural for an El-Melloi to be drawn to the Moon Spirit Marrow, a remarkable Mystic Code. He approved of her selection.
"…Roy."
Under Reines's eager gaze, Roy handed her the book and several vials of Moon Spirit Marrow Kayneth had given him, instructing her to study in her room. If hungry, she could call the butler; if tired, she could sleep in his spacious, rarely used room. He had matters to attend to and would be away briefly.
Overwhelmed by receiving such coveted items, Reines was deeply touched and remarkably well-behaved. Instead of clinging to Roy, she chose to stay in his room, quietly reading.
"See you tonight, Reines."
"Yes, Roy."
Though she remained slightly reserved, Roy didn't correct her. She'd grow comfortable with time.
With everything arranged, Roy waved goodbye and left quickly. He had pressing matters to attend to.
The butler had delivered a letter upon his return, left by his partner. Its contents were clear: "If that damned Crowley is back, tell him to get his ass over here immediately. Running off to some Holy Grail War, leaving me alone to research rituals underground—what kind of nonsense is that? When he returns, he'd better show up!"
Even through text, Roy could sense his partner's fury. Admitting his fault, he didn't delay. After settling Reines, he headed to the Crowley family's forbidden zone to meet his long-absent partner.
"Heh heh… Roy, Roy… Roy…"
Watching Roy's figure disappear, Reines, seated on his bed, let out a sigh. Her earlier elegance vanished, replaced by a genuine, almost unrefined smile.
"This is just too perfect, Roy…"
She flopped onto the bed, burying her face in a pillow to hide her grin, struggling to maintain the poise Kayneth had urged. Despite her efforts, her smile was uncontainable.
Pinching her cheek until tears welled up, she confirmed this wasn't a dream and sighed in relief.
'As long as it's not a dream…'
She couldn't have imagined this even in her wildest dreams.
'If this is a dream, please never let me wake up. It's too wonderful…'
After giggling for a while, Reines realized, 'This won't do. I must be elegant and proper, not embarrass Roy—no, my future husband.' Calming herself, she regained her dignified demeanor.
But…
"Heh heh heh… I can't help it!"
Despite her efforts, joy overwhelmed her, and she burst into laughter. Rolling on Roy's bed, she gazed at the chandelier styled after the Silver Star, clutching her new grimoire while extending a delicate hand.
"It's Roy's scent… mysterious, comforting, warm…" Reines murmured softly. (In truth, Roy rarely stayed in this room, spending most nights in the forbidden zone with his partner.)
"I'm so grateful to have met you… Thank you, Uncle, and whatever gods may still exist in this world for letting me encounter you…"
"I'll work hard to become a worthy wife in the future."
Cheering herself on, Reines sat up, gazing out the window. The setting sun's rays bathed her face, making her glow like a princess of a golden city, radiant and precious.
"Heh, I can't stop daydreaming…"
"We just met, yet my mind's full of Roy! Argh, doesn't that make me seem frivolous?"
Her brief composure shattered, and the golden-haired imp shed her facade, rolling on the bed with a pillow over her head, smiling uncontrollably.
…
…
Unaware of the scene in his room, Roy arrived at a familiar area.
This was the Crowley family's forbidden zone, concealed by scattered stones and specialized magecraft, serving as the entrance to their leyline. Hidden within a rocky crevice was an immense subterranean space.
Even the most skilled architects would be stunned by its staggering scale and intricate design, marveling, "Is this a labyrinth?"
As one of its creators, Roy now stood in this vast maze, the true heart of his magical workshop.
The upstairs workshop was merely a study for notes and appeasing Kayneth. This underground complex was his real secret base.
Tap, tap, tap…
Navigating the labyrinth's shifting paths and traps with ease, Roy descended to its deepest chamber.
This was a profoundly mystical area.
The ceiling wasn't the endless dark of the underground but a golden expanse, resembling an inverted gold vein.
The walls were adorned with intricate oil paintings depicting occult symbols and Christian imagery from the Bible—angels, the Garden of Eden, the Tree of Knowledge, and the divine itself.
The floor was covered in countless deep blue runes, each as thick as a barrel, isolated by an invisible barrier. Stepping on them felt like walking on smooth glass, but within pulsed a strange "power," flowing like blood in veins.
This wasn't human blood, but dragon's blood.
Not a literal dragon, but a dragon vein—the magi's term for a leyline.
The "dragon's blood" was, of course, magical energy.
For magi, building a workshop closer to the underground maximized leyline energy absorption.
Most magi avoided damaging their leylines, opting for elevated workshops with arrays to draw ether from the air or amplify leyline energy.
Roy, however, had no such qualms. He aggressively reshaped and utilized his leyline.
His workshop, buried a hundred meters below ground—deeper than Fuyuki City's parking structures—was built directly atop the leyline.
To boost its output, he diverted impure, low-quality leylines from London's unclaimed areas, reinforcing his own leyline to withstand his experiments.
Other magi would curse his recklessness, as impure leylines could taint a high-quality one, sacrificing quality for quantity. Who would dare risk their family's leyline like this?
Roy didn't care.
To him, magical energy was mere fuel—sufficient if it worked. Quality was secondary.
His Golden System and modern Western magecraft prioritized utility over purity.
Moreover, he didn't gather impure leylines just for volume but for a far more audacious purpose.
From a high vantage point, one could see the leyline veins weren't randomly arranged.
Their paths were meticulously planned.
Indeed, these vein-like leylines formed a colossal magical array, inspired by geomantic principles and The Book of the Law's national alchemy array.
He lacked the power to alchemize all of London's leylines, so he used impure ones to envelop his workshop.
This was enough.
Modeled after Aleister Crowley's magecraft, this was where Roy deciphered The Book of the Law, birthing the prototype of angelic magecraft.
Though only partially decoded, his modifications created a womb for magic, a soil for miracles—the Sanctuary of angels.
Four anchor points: Earth, Fire, Water, Wind.
The center: the Holy Sanctuary.
Above: the Silver Star.
This workshop was his divine domain, where he was God, omniscient and omnipotent.
"Mystery, magic, The Book of the Law… It's exhilarating…"
Returning to his domain, Roy surveyed his creation, his excitement undimmed by familiarity.
Years ago, he was a hapless interloper, struggling to survive.
Now, he stood at the forefront of the magical world, rivaled only by true miracles.
The thrill was uncontainable!
Reflecting on his intricate setup and his journey, Roy felt a mix of melancholy and wonder.
Yet, his steps didn't falter. Someone awaited him deeper within.
Passing four massive pillars—brown, red, blue, and green, pulsing with distinct magical energies—Roy pressed on.
Their rhythmic glow, like beating hearts, radiated immense power.
Other magi would be mesmerized, drawn to investigate.
This was the reappearance of mystery—
A knowledgeable cleric would condemn Roy's blasphemy, drawing weapons to fight.
This was defiance of God and angels—
He sought to recreate myth.
Mere Christianity…
Aleister Crowley's words echoed in Roy's mind.
Both walked similar paths, devoid of reverence for religion.
If it was useful, they used it, heedless of external judgment.
Roy's fourfold angelic formula, if displayed before the Holy Church, would provoke accusations of heresy from countless clerics.
Only the Holy Spirit was guarded by the four archangels.
Using alchemy to taint divine truth and claim godhood was heresy!
Roy didn't care. The Holy Spirit had left this world. After the Age of Gods ended, the world's four elements shifted from Gabriel, Michael, Uriel, and Raphael to the alchemical spirits: Gnome, Undine, Sylph, and Salamander.
He wasn't God, nor was Aleister. Creating four divine archangels was impossible, so, inspired by a unique class from Fate/Grand Order, he devised a solution.
Using alchemical spirits cloaked in divine guise—Pretenders—he recreated modern alchemical angels without divinity.
It was audacious, even mad, but he succeeded.
He forged the prototype and theory of angels.
…
Tap, tap, tap…
As he approached the deepest gate, a tall figure emerged, alerted by his footsteps.
"Hmph, I knew someone was intruding. Had to check—turns out it's you, back at last."
A robust voice echoed from the darkness.
The man, as if expecting Roy, stepped into view.
"Why didn't you turn on the lights?"
Frowning at the dark surroundings, the man asked.
"It sets the mood," Roy replied.
"…"
"Pointless theatrics."
Snorting at Roy's flippancy, the man snapped his fingers.
Snap!
A crisp sound, and white light flooded the space, illuminating the underground.
The man's youthful features and distinctive attire were revealed. Despite the warmth underground, he wore a green coat, trousers, boots, and a tall green hat.
His hair was neatly styled, like a medieval artist's.
Perhaps due to his agitation, his expression was stern, his gaze accusing, as if saying, "You'd better have a good explanation, or we're done."
His name was Lev Lainor Flauros.
Roy's Best Match, the ideal partner for deciphering The Book of the Law and perfecting angelic summoning.
***
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