Its narrative takes place eight months after the original and exists in a world that makes use of multiple timelines in order to reunite characters in a way that circumvents the need to designate a single route as the absolute canon. In the sequel visual novel, Fate/hollow ataraxia, the majority of the cast returns. Instead, the conclusions of each route can be considered canon in their own way, as the overarching Fate universe is filled with alternate universes and parallel worlds. Though it is common for a visual novel’s main route to be considered the canon outcome, this isn’t necessarily the case for the Fate franchise. With each route comes different endings specific to each heroine and the events surrounding them. RELATED: Fate/Grand Order: Things To Do When Starting Out Going through each route allows players to better understand each heroine while also revealing more about the world’s lore and the various characters involved in the conflict. The premise of the visual novel is always the same with each route Shirou, having summoned a Heroic Spirit is forced to participate in the Fifth Holy Grail War.
The Fate route focuses on Saber, while Rin and Sakura are more prevalent throughout the Unlimited Blade Works and Heaven’s Feel routes respectively. The original visual novel’s narrative splits off into three separate paths, each with a different heroine at the forefront of the events at hand.