Chapter 11

Sitonai, after a brief rest on the bed she had conjured, glanced out the window.

The sunlight filtered through the cracks in the buildings, casting warm rays on the cool morning air. She sighed, a mix of nerves and determination in her chest.

Today was the day she would visit the Guild for advice, seek out a Familia, play the part of a helpless newcomer, and then... get herself a Falna.

Alfia had once explained that while gods couldn't directly use their arcanum on the surface, they still retained their innate authority.

And every god had the ability to sense lies. That, Sitonai knew, would require her to be cautious when speaking with any deity.

Aside from that, gods were essentially as strong as an average human.

The Guild Headquarters, Alfia had told her, was located near the towering Babel, at the heart of Orario, so the easiest course of action is to go to Babel and then ask for directions.

Summoning a piece of bread to nibble on, Sitonai left the abandoned church, stepping into the main road, her senses on high alert.

Though it was still early and the streets had a morning chill, there weren't many people. Those few who walked by glanced her way, but seemed hesitant to do anything more.

The city was alive with races she had never seen before—elves, beastmen, and dwarves, all walking like they belonged in a fantastical world.

Thankfully, she could understand the signs and written words, which made things a little easier.

Ignoring the curious and sometimes lecherous stares, Sitonai approached Babel, her lips curving in a wry smile at the irony of the name.

Suddenly, a chill crept up her spine, as if something—or someone—was watching her. She shivered, her senses tingling with the strange feeling.

She looked around for any suspicious people, and after giving up, ignored it.

She could constantly feel a gaze on her, but since she couldn't find anything, she just decided to quicken the pace instead.

Arriving at the base of Babel, she looked around for anything that screamed "Fantasy Guild Headquarters."

A group of adventurers entered a building that seemed unassuming, so she followed them inside.

The moment she stepped through the doors, she felt the weight of multiple curious gazes, but she pushed it out of her mind and walked up to the counter.

Behind the counter stood a young woman with long auburn hair cascading down her back and bronze amber eyes. Her presence felt oddly familiar.

Sitonai blinked, doing a double-take.

If she didn't know better, she would have sworn the woman was a female version of Shirou Emiya!

She was dressed in a standard Guild uniform, her slender, athletic frame projecting professionalism.

The woman greeted her with a smile. "My name is Blanche Emi. How may I assist you today?"

Blanche smiled at the girl in front of her. She looked young, but with different races such as the Pallum race, it was wrong to assume age just from appearance.

Blanche took a moment to admire her beauty. Sitonai's appearance was ethereal, almost otherworldly. She had a delicate yet refined air to her, one that was impossible to ignore.

"I've just arrived in Orario and was hoping you could recommend a Familia for me," Sitonai explained.

Blanche nodded, a thoughtful look on her face. "What kind of Familia are you looking for?"

Sitonai hesitated for a moment before answering, "I don't mind the type, as long as the god or goddess is kind. A good reputation would be preferable."

Blanche gave a soft smile, understanding the reasoning behind Sitonai's words. "I assume you'd be more comfortable with a goddess."

Sitonai nodded slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed at how easily she was understood.

"Please make sure to register with the Guild if you join a Familia," Blanche continued. "It's part of the process."

Sitonai nodded absentmindedly, still distracted by the uncanny resemblance to Shirou Emiya.

"Please wait while I get the registered Familias!"

Sitonai nodded as Blanche turned around and picked out a thick book.

Blanche smiled warmly before turning to a nearby shelf. She retrieved a thick book and flipped through it, her eyes scanning the pages.

"The four Familias I'd recommend are the Artemis Familia, Hephaestus Familia, Astraea Familia, and Demeter Familia."

Sitonai's eyes narrowed at the mention of Astraea. She quickly crossed it off her list.

As for Hephaestus—she had always thought of the god as a man, but now hearing it was a woman was... unexpected.

"The Artemis Familia doesn't stay in Orario for long periods of time, so if you are willing..."

Sitonai shook her head. She wanted to fight in the Dungeon, and if Artemis left Orario for long periods of time, when would she even update her?

"What's the personality of Hephaestus?"

Sitonai was curious. What would the differences be because how in the world is Hephaestus a woman?

Blanche thought for a few seconds.

"Hephaestus is known for being strict and hardworking. Her Familia focuses primarily on smithing."

Sitonai grimaced. It didn't sound like the kind of Familia she was looking for.

"What about the Demeter Familia?"

"Well Demeter is considered one of the most benevolent goddesses in Orario, and their Familia has the most members if you count non-combatants, and they primarily focus on farming."

That sounded... much better.

And if they have some combatants and some non-combatants, she probably wouldn't care about me that much...

"Could I know the way to their base?"

Sitonai asked Blanche.

Blanche smiled. Personally, she was also hoping that Sitonai would go to the Demeter Familia.

Blanche smiled and nodded. She tore a page from a notebook, scribbling the directions. "Here you go. Can you read?"

Sitonai nodded and took the paper.

Blanche handed over the directions.

"Good luck! I'll be rooting for you!"

Blanche waved as Sitonai made her way out the Guild Headquarters.

It was much easier than Sitonai imagined.

The directions seemed simple enough. Sitonai briefly wondered if she'd made the right choice. Demeter was the goddess of agriculture, harvest, and fertility—goddesses who shared domains with Freyja.

It might work out, especially considering that her abilities weren't quite arcanum-based but tied more to Mana.

The unsettling feeling of being watched returned, but Sitonai forced herself to push through, quickening her pace.

Well, she was so short that her speed walking was the same pace as a normal person's but it was the intent that mattered.

Arriving at the Wheat Manor, Sitonai paused.

What was she supposed to do now?

Just knock on the door?

Did she need a resume or something?

Hmm...

Maybe she should have asked before she left.

She had the physical endurance of a Level 1, so she was a little tired.

Her stomach fluttered nervously. Her luck may have been A-rank, but there was always that jittery feeling when applying for something... even if she wasn't sure exactly how this would play out.

"Hmm..."

Sitonai paused in front of the entrance.

There wasn't any guards or receptionists either.

Sitonai hesitated in front of the manor's door, unsure of whether to disturb anyone so early in the morning.

Sitonai was conflicted.

Maybe she should wait until noon?

She was just about to give in to indecision when a voice, warm and languid, called out to her.

"Cutie~ What are you waiting for?"

Sitonai whipped around, startled.

There stood a mature woman with long, wavy honey-golden hair and orange eyes.

Her figure was... something else, and from the basket of clothes she carried, it seemed she'd just returned from a bath.

'Wait... there are baths in a fantasy world?'

"Cutie?"

"Oh-uhh..."

Sitonai blinked, a little thrown off by the unexpected attention.

The woman's aura felt overwhelming, almost akin to that of Alfia's—calm, composed, and yet, there was an undeniable warmth about her.

That was something Sitonai had to admit.

"I just arrived in Orario and wanted to apply for a Familia. I heard Demeter's Familia is one of the nicer ones," Sitonai said, her voice a bit more timid than usual.

None of that was a lie.

She did arrive at Orario around 4 days ago if Alfia was to be trusted, and she did want to apply for a Familia, and she heard from Blanche that Demeter was one of the more nicer ones.

The woman's smile widened, and she gently patted Sitonai on the head.

"Thank you for the compliment~ Let's talk inside, shall we?"

Sitonai's heart skipped a beat. Is this... Demeter?!

Sitonai thought inwardly.

Outwardly, Sitonai shyly nodded.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Demeter grabbed her hand and led her into the manor, the door opening effortlessly.

Sitonai followed, still trying to wrap her head around everything.

Sitonai was more used to being the more talkative and teasing person, but this person's older sister power was through the roof!

It felt wrong to try and tease in her presence.

Demeter slyly took Sitonai's hand before opening the door, which wasn't locked for some reason, and entered the Manor.

--+--

"Why did you decide to join us, Sitonai?"

Demeter's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable curiosity.

"I... wanted to get stronger?"

Sitonai replied, her gaze unwavering. It was a simple truth, so there was no reason to hide it.

But Demeter's eyes narrowed ever so slightly at Sitonai's answer, a faint frown tugging at her lips.

For someone so young, yearning to get stronger.

"Isn't it better to wait a few more years? The Evilus faction is still wreaking havoc, after all..."

Demeter's concern was evident, her tone laced with worry.

"I'm 21!"

 Sitonai shot back, her voice sharp.

The words were firm, and Demeter blinked in surprise. The girl before her, with the face of a child, was telling the truth. She really was 21.

"Are you a Pallum?" Demeter asked, clearly puzzled.

Sitonai shook her head, her long hair swaying gently.

A human girl who looked no older than twelve but was actually 21? The incongruity left Demeter even more confused.

"So, you want to grow stronger?" Demeter asked again, her eyes studying Sitonai carefully.

Sitonai nodded.

"However... we aren't an exploration Familia," Demeter replied, a slight sigh escaping her lips. "So I can't promise much in terms of support..."

Even as she spoke, Demeter's heart softened.

In Demeter's mind, she had already accepted Sitonai. Despite knowing that Sitonai was 21, she could tell from Sitonai's anxious expression that she was somewhat naïve, unsure of the world she had stepped into.

But Demeter wasn't worried that Sitonai was seeking death—she just wanted to grow stronger. And that, Demeter understood.

Demeter just wanted to be Sitonai's home, the place that always had a spot for her.

"I want to get stronger, but what I really wanted is a place that felt like home," Sitonai murmured, her voice quieter now.

Her true inner thoughts, the words that came from her soul were no longer hidden.

While Sitonai had initially sought out a Familia for the Falna, looking at Demeter, she found herself speaking from the heart.

This wasn't a lie.

Her soul, fragmented and formed by four distinct personalities—her own courage, Freyja's compassion, Louhi's ruthlessness, and her past life's pragmatism—was born from the vessel known as Illyasviel von Einzburn.

The "Illya" who had longed for something simple—a family.

Something that Illya had always wanted was a warm home, instead of the cold castle she grew up in, a fate of being the Lesser Grail and dying soon after.

Her only experience being the fleeting memories of parents who had abandoned her for the Holy Grail.

Even in her past life, where she had no family, she had watched others with envious eyes—families who loved each other. She had wanted that too.

'I wanted a loving family,' she thought silently, her heart aching with a longing she could never express.

Demeter, sensing the quiet sadness in Sitonai, couldn't help but approach. Before she knew it, she had pulled the girl into her embrace.

"It's okay... It's all okay," Demeter calmly whispered, her arms wrapped around Sitonai in a gentle hug.

The sight of Sitonai, so fragile and ethereal, despite the cold, aloof air she projected, touched something deep inside Demeter.

There was a humanness to her, a raw vulnerability that called to Demeter's maternal instincts.

For a few seconds, they stood there in silence, Demeter softly patting Sitonai's back.

It wasn't long before the younger girl realized where she was and pulled back, wiping at her eyes.

"S-Sorry about that..." Sitonai's face flushed with embarrassment, her voice barely above a whisper as Demeter released her.

Sitonai blushed in embarrassment when Demeter released the hug.

She had come to get stronger... and yet, here she was, crying like a child in front of a goddess!

"It's fine. We all need to let it out sometimes," Demeter said with a smile, her eyes warm and understanding. "Don't worry about it."

Demeter gave a warm smile, finding Sitonai's embarrassment endearing.

Her smile softened Sitonai's embarrassment, and despite her best efforts, Demeter couldn't quite see the 21-year-old woman in front of her.

All she saw was a lost soul, seeking solace.

"I accept your application, Sitonai," Demeter continued, her voice gentle. "I look forward to seeing you grow."

"Th-Thank you," Sitonai stammered, her heart pounding in her chest.

Damn it! What is it with this woman's presence? Her warmth is messing with my head...

"I'll introduce you to everyone at lunch. But for now, let me show you to your room. And I can bestow your Falna as well."

With that, Demeter stood up and took Sitonai's hand in her own, leading her gently out of the room.

Her hand was warm.

--+--

A/N: Was it weird that I teared up while writing this chapter?

I used to be the type of person who like didn't much about emotions, and I still am in real life, like I'm a doll.

But when I read stuff like this, tears be automatically coming out, like when I read watching him die again and again, I was lowkey tearing up every chapter.

But YES! We got the Demeter Familia. This is because it felt similar to the situation with Lunoire Faust where she was kind of in it kind of not.

Also, while her vessel is indeed the lesser grail Illyasviel von Einzburn, the name of the Heroic Spirit is Sitonai, so having her name being Sitonai isn't an asspull.

I do like Demeter a whole lot, and I feel her vibe contrasts with Illya's past of snow and loneliness, and the dynamic is vastly different than Sitonai with Alfia.

But who cares.

We get to see her stats next chapter, and I'll have to start keeping track of stats, damn it.