Finland.
Peace was an abstract thing for a magus.
A calm day would entail maybe some progress in research or perhaps an advantageous leap in their day-to-day lives, but it was never without concern. That was due to the fact that a magus' life was never a quiet one unless they failed to produce any actual results or progress whatsoever. That even extended to their more… mundane face to the public world.
Yes, many a magi clan actually have a public face. Prestigious and self-sustaining clans like the Einzberns never cared to leave much of a trace for public records in the normal human world, but other families like the Tohsakas never shied away from the limelight. It was why, despite being formerly regarded as a big deal in the Clock Tower, they were pretty much still a big name in the modern era as a wealthy family of jewellers. It was of course to covertly sponsor their jewellery-based magecraft. But what self-serving magus family wouldn't have a legitimate business or two serving as a front?
It was because of such circumstances that both heiresses grew up knowing the ins and outs, the necessities and importance of maintaining a thriving company so distant to magecraft as business and marketing. Such expertise wouldn't go unused even as they kept studying as apprentices within the Clock Tower, leading to the prime reason as to why the Edelfelt heiress' assistant's nose was almost buried several feet deep in paper towers as she went over the numbers of both her and her boss' overseas businesses.
No joke, a couple of times in the past, Rin had almost been buried for real. The piles of paper documents towering so high that the slightest breeze would have them tumbling over the twin-tails head was a far too common occurrence. Luvia couldn't be blamed for such hazardous working conditions, though. Rin brought it upon herself as she refused to even attempt learning how to use electronics to make her life easier.
While many magi abhorred the use of modern technology, the Edelfelts were of the mind to swiftly do away with typewriters and similar magecraft-based instruments. They went even further as well, going so far as to put some of their own wealth as investments for the continued development of modern tech within their home country. In return, they were granted special access to some of the more recent prototypes yet to hit the market.
Luvia found the bulky boxes of machinery called personal home computers quite convenient, no matter how much whining her longtime friend would pout about. Collating data was fast; filtering and organizing them was even faster. The work of ten could be handled by a mere one. Truly, an advantage over the hardcore traditionalist that spent far too much of their brain power on the mundane effort of doing things by hand.
Yet, despite all of that, Rin was the first to come to a clear conclusion as she sighed from behind the pile of papers. "Seems like one of your family's central stores will have to shut down sooner than we expected. The one in London isn't doing so hot."
"Odd." Luvia frowned, pulling up the numbers of the specific area Rin mentioned on her device. "I don't believe the drop in sales would mean they've hit a wall they can't overcome."
"That's just it. This is the reason for the drop."
Catching a rolled-up newspaper the brunette lazily chucked her way, Luvia quickly flipped the sheets to a folded page corner. Upon seeing the headline of the article, the tabloid nearly crumpled under the lady's ill-composed grip. "That damned company bought out the entire shopping mall?! When was this?!"
"Last week. The letter arrived a couple of hours ago." Rin yawned as she leaned back, balancing her wait on the rear legs of her chair as she stretched her feet under the desk. Before picking up an unsealed letter and throwing that as well to her boss. "Supposedly, they didn't change squat for other tenants. But apparently, your family's chain got shafted by the new offer."
Said offer was snatched out of the air before it even landed on Luvia's desk. Giving it a quick go-over, the blonde's eyes narrowed. "Triple?! The gall of those vultures!"
"As expected, no way you'd even consider it." Rin shrugged as she stared up at the ceiling. "They're being pretty obvious that they don't want your business around anymore."
"Absurd! We've had relations with the owner there for years! And while I refused to entertain the idea, their second son was considered a marriage candidate for me just last year! What could they possibly be thinking, selling us out without any prior warning?!"
"Oh, they actually had some parting words. More apologies than anything. But there's a hint as to who's involved." Another letter was given, this time handed over to Luvia as Rin hovered behind her. "Here's the old man's seal. And here's who apparently convinced them to sell."
Pointing out the seal at the bottom, they both verified the sender's legitimacy. As well as who was involved in their being backstabbed.
"The Ashfords have struck again?!" Luvia winced, fury mounting. "And here I thought they were just starting to get off their rears. Come to think of it, they have been popping up often over the months recently." She confirmed it when she propped open one of her devices' report comparison software. The simple chart revealed the drop in profits coincided with notes regarding the new appearance of rival stores in the area. "Hmph… Father will not be pleased."
"What's the matter? Not getting intimidated by a mere upstart rival now, are you?"
Luvia rolled her eyes. It was because Rin was so out of the technological loop that she didn't get a clear picture of the situation. Taking up some reading glasses (not real, just props), the blonde whipped up her ringlets deciding it was time to give her friend some lessons on recent technological developments.
"They are no mere upstarts, Rin." Pulling out a yardstick, the young lady-turned-busty teacher slapped the desk near her fellow girl's hand, startling her. "Despite being barely a couple of years old, they've been the buzzing bee of the new century and have been the talk of many in various circles, both in the public and private sectors."
"A-are they really that big of a deal? Wait a minute, why the hell are you cosplaying as a teacher—When did you change your—?!"
"Ahem! Be quiet unless spoken to!" Slapping the yardstick, she silenced her ignorant student. "And never mind the costume right now. What concerns me more is your obliviousness to our apparent foes here, Rin!" The girl looked at her like she was the madwoman but opted to remain silent, allowing Luvia the chance to speak. "Good. I worry about your future if this is as far as your know-how goes in the world of economics, considering your plans to succeed on your own in the near future. But you must understand, the Ashfords are by no means a mere upstart company."
Tapping a few buttons on the prototype machine, Luvia directed her dear maid-dressed friend's attention to the screen.
"Listen. Even though there are no magi families that hold ties to them, some members of the local British clans have been quite an on edge as of late. Notably, those based within London. But that's not all. Take a look at what this company has been involved with as of late." The screen shifted as she pulled up scanned copies of files compiled and sent to them by their spies abroad. "Not only in jewelry, but they also have their hands in fashion, machinery, electronics, and even education. Though not named directly, multiple companies with various different names have cropped up all over and invested in the aforementioned industries, yet they all share one thing in common."
"… they're all covertly owned by the Ashford Renaissance Group…" Rin muttered, seeing the bigger picture now. "They've yet to corner a monopoly of any market… but with this many hands in so many different pies… They might as well have taken the high ground overall."
"Correct." Luvia stepped back and allowed Rin to sift through the files. She didn't even flinch when her friend jolted up from her seat to run back into the pile of documents at her own desk. Such in a rush was she that a stack fell to the wayside, sending papers everywhere. Not even bothering to complain about the mess, Luvia waited until Rin came up with a file she would've been perusing through hours later had she not thought to look through it now. The look on Rin's face meant she struck metaphorical gold. Or a methane vein. "Found something?"
"I thought it was something unimportant and could be addressed at a later date, but when you mentioned the Ashford company was using other names to weave their way through the markets, I remembered a recent letter that came addressed to me. Here it is!" Luvia accepted the papers Rin handed over. "Specifically, it was addressed to my father's company. The one I stand to inherit soon."
True enough, there it was. A very direct introduction letter that, at the very bottom, amidst the platitudes and greetings to the upcoming new owner, there was an offer to buy out or incorporate the business into a new company named 'Sumeragi Industries'. It didn't take Luvia two guesses what Rin was now biting her nails over.
"Here I thought it was just a passing fancy of maybe father's other business rivals in the normal world…" Rin's gaze at the documents shifted with suspicion to the back of Luvia's computer machine. "But if that's the case, the timing of this letter is… very suspect. Dammit, they're trying to get ahead of me too!"
"They seem to know you're to inherit it soon and have decided to acquire it, or you, before such even comes to pass." Luvia could instantly tell what was on Rin's mind as the girl paced the room. "You know I can't allow you to go back early, right?"
"Of course, I know! Rather, I know your father wouldn't allow it even if you would!" The girl said it with a hiss, frustration finally surfacing after the sudden realization took hold. "But staying here isn't helping! For all I know, my father's old contacts and partners would've likely moved on to them before I turn eighteen and am allowed back! When I finally do go home, there might be nothing left, Luvia! I can't… I can't accept that!"
Luvia didn't bother telling her off. It was the truth, one disliked and knew her dearest friend would snap at being reminded of it. Her dearest father was quite the fiend. Charming and noble when he wanted to appear so, but also quite despicable at times.
He may have invested heavily in assets within the moonlit world, but outside of it, those were just for appearance's sake.
While he had connections, wealth, and power as a rich tycoon, his primary focus had always been the Edelfelt Household's research and progressing the magecraft-related agenda. Something as distant to him as the business front of a subordinate… that was negligible. Keeping the Tohsaka under his control and Rin's contribution to their power within the Clock Tower would be prioritized over the Tohsaka family's own self-sufficiency and research funding.
If Rin and her mother fell further into their debt, then that was actually a good thing. Dependency enforced loyalty.
Luvia despised that.
There wasn't anything wrong with his plans to install Tohsaka Rin as the Edelfelt's defacto vassal in Fuyuki City. In all likelihood, Luvia would be expected to carry it out herself should she become the head unexpectedly. Having an incredibly special asset under their thumb would be a missed opportunity. But…
But… this was the well-being of her dearest and only friend to whom she was talking about. Disregarding all that her family had taken from Rin, this was the last of her father's property left to Rin and her mother in his will. Or rather the bits and pieces the Edelfelts hadn't subtly seized from Rin yet.
"You will not be able to return," Luvia said. "Try it, and father may resort to abandoning your deal with us."
"Then are you telling me I should just ignore it?" Rin didn't shout, she didn't snap. But she glared at Luvia hard. "Are you going to tell me to grow and let it go, let all my father worked so hard for scatter in the wind?"
"I have not suggested you do." She met the glare with a resolute gaze of her own, deigning to smile back knowingly too.
"Why are you smiling like that?" Rin was quick to raise an eyebrow. "You don't smile like that unless you have a really, really bad idea."
"Or a really, really good one!" Luvia waited for Rin to agree, but when the girl looked at her with that disgusted 'I would agree with you but I also abhor the thought of agreeing with you' expression, the noble girl huffed. "Come now! Such little faith! Had I ever suggested anything and not taken the plunge alongside you, regardless of the consequences being rewarding or punishment to us both?"
"…Go on." Rin sighed and motioned for her to continue with a reluctant sigh.
"You cannot simply leave because it would be seen as an attempt at escape and reneging our agreement. But if we were to leave under the pretext of 'training', to experience a life without depending on father's good graces at all times, then perhaps we may have a chance to use that time and allow you to reassert ourselves as the new owner of the Fuyuki ley lines. We would have until I turn eighteen myself and would be recalled to fully enroll into the Mineralogy Department. That's more than enough time to get your bearings and come up with a recovery plan, no?"
Rin pondered the suggestion for a good minute, facial expression morphing from realization to consideration to skepticism to slight confidence. It didn't take long for her to mutter 'It could work.'
"Of course, it would." Luvia haughtily proclaimed. "I am the one to have thought it up, remember?"
Her parents would see the appeal of her angle. Personal independence was seen as a rite of passage for all of the heirs of their clan, proof that one could weather the storm that was the vicious world of magi. If one couldn't live responsibly and nobly amidst the common folk, how were they expected to endure the harshness of Clock Tower politics?
Rin would get some limited independence to act as the new Tohsaka head under the watchful eye of Edelfelt's heiress. Luvia would get the chance to expand her horizons by living by herself.
…
..
.
Well, by herself plus Rin…
…
..
.
Okay, maybe just the two of them wouldn't work out so smoothly. They got into fights so often, the maids and butlers already had a hard time keeping up to clean the mess after their shenanigans. Maybe them plus a little help from a caretaker or several dozen.
Maybe…
Talk of manpower aside, if it was only until she and Rin were recalled to move into the Clock Tower, they'd have about a year or so to do what they needed to. That was plenty.
Even if it included a minor rebellion against her family's intent, Luvia was confident she could convince them it was a part of her future plans for the prosperity of her clan.
"Then, when do we kick things off?" Rin crossed her arms, tension and nervousness apparent in posture but obvious reliance on her friend clear through the aqua orbs expectantly staring into Luvia's own.
"I will talk to my father about it tonight." She was confident her father would bend to her will sooner if she implied enthusiasm for taking his role as the clan leader. Maybe if she threw in some concessions like giving his marriage candidates a chance, not that she'd ever accepted any of them, he'd bend over faster. "Best to strike while the iron's hot, as they say! We'll likely be leaving as soon as the sun rises tomorrow!"
"That's… that's great! But…" Rin shifted nervously. A lonely silence overtook her momentary excitement. "C-can… can I ask for a favor… apart from this one too?"
"What is it, dear Rin?"
"Can… can you ask if… we could let mother come with us?" It was rare to see Rin genuinely asking Luvia without any hostility the ringleted blonde eyed her kindly. "You can tell them that we might need help taking care of the house… It's just… I feel like my mother's grown nostalgic for Japan. For our home…"
"Mrs Aoi has said so?"
Rin shook her head. "No. She'd never admit to it. But… sometimes I see her staring out the window with a sorrowful expression… I'm worried that she's just… putting up with it for my sake. It's… kind of depressing." Another couple of seconds in silence passed before Rin started to shake her head. "You know what, forget it. I'm already asking too much in making you come with me for—"
"She'll come with us." Clasping Rin's hands in her own, Luvia hushed the girl with a polite and honest smile.
"Are… are you sure? They… Your family will likely resist this… even if we don't plan on running away."
"Those old fools can overthink it all they want. It matters little when father and I both know you wouldn't." Luvia wouldn't allow retaliation even if Rin knew she could and succeeded. Servant employment deal or not, she would never stoop so low as to backstab a friend, despite their many disagreements with one another. "A daughter who thinks of her parent like you deserves all the support I can give. It's only expected of a noble like myself, is it not?"
"Th-thank you, Luvia…" Rin smiled. She nearly broke down into tears, only stopping because of her still-intact pride. "I—I know we often get into fights, but—"
"I do have one condition, however."
"…" Rin's smile didn't disappear, but upon meeting the mischievous glint in the corner of Luvia's eye, the twin-tailed maid girl had to resist pulling away. Luvia's clutches tightening around her wrists consequently made the smile a little more forced. "S-sure, Luvia! A-a-a-a-anything for… you?"
No friend would when you were doing something as a friendly favor. It was just not fair to demand so much from someone in need of your generous charity. Although, that didn't mean she couldn't have a little fun. The vicious smile she let slip was meant to convey that, albeit it was unintentionally fiendish.
"Relax, dear Rin! I won't ask for too much."
"The wrinkles on your cheek say otherwise! I'm not gonna enjoy it, am I?!"
She cottoned on. A shame. "But of course, it's mine to enjoy, no? After all, I'm doing you such a big favor as a genuine friend, yes? OHOHOHO! I'm looking forward to it-desu wa!"
For the second time today, all the color drained from Rin's face as another silent scream left her lips.
***
Author's note:
Yeah, I watch Salome and many others :3
I can sense that some readers won't be pleased that neither Lulu nor Nobu made an appearance in this chapter, but as ReavesTheReader put it nicely "We get a sense as to how far their shadowy hands have reached throughout the world."
This chapter focused entirely on some of the future masters in the next war. Rin and Luvia, are well, Rin and Luvia. Nothing really changed with them beyond their background standing. This will play a bigger role when Matou siblings will meet them and Sakura…Well, now that the old worm is dead, Shinji has no terrible influence to turn him into a monster and Sakura can more freely. Also, Kiritsugu isn't dying and Shirou already knows quite a lot about his capabilities, but not everything. I did it because spending time on making Shirou actually competent during the Fifth War would have taken too much focus. Plus, it will weird out a certain satanic archer, even more, when he will be summoned :3
Thanks to ReavesTheReader as always