Fate/Last Order
++Chapter 2++
"To ease another's heartache, is to accept one's own."

I couldn't eat another bite. I now saw the light of truth.

Renfried's cooking was actually terrible. I had just been deprived of proper homemade nourishment for far too long. Though, when Tsumiki said she was making casserole, that last thing I expected was a feast before my eyes. According to Haru, this was pretty much normal for this quaint family of two siblings... the leftovers would go to the local orphanage. How charitable. I boldly stated that kids would be going hungry today when I had tucked in... I overestimated my stomach and underestimated this gorgeous banquet. In the end, it was a pyrrhic victory for me, in the sense that... well, I prevailed over hunger, but I looked like a fool who talks big.

I could see that dumb idiot stifling his smugness. Go on, have a little chuckle. If I didn't feel so immobilized by being packed to capacity, I'd give you a reason to experience some traumatic flashbacks if you dared feel smug ever again in your long, nitwit life.

"It's okay, Miss Endou. As I said, anything left over shan't be wasted."

The way she smiled at me as she said that, I feel a bit bad for claiming I was going to leave those children hungry. In retrospect... that really was low of me. Then again, I hadn't eaten in five days. Hunger drives us to say and do some crazy things. I've seen those survival stories, where people say everything is fine and then you find them nibbling on your hand in their sleep. So then you eat them instead. Nature is cruel like that. Though, if I did eat someone, I might turn into an one of the Dead.

The one bedtime story my mother ever told me wasn't one meant for a child's ears. Hell, I don't think an adult would want to hear it either. I'm no storyteller though, I can't remember the entirety of a tale she iterated to me when I was a child. What I could recall, though, was that people who were driven to the brink of death and ate other people, they would become part of the Dead. I didn't understand back then, though now I kinda get it. There are beings in this world capable of making people into the Dead. If there was anything in the world I feared... it would be one of those very beings. I like to think they are just some myth, though the higher-ups of Clock Tower always seemed so serious about matters regarding their supposed endeavors.

...Regardless. Eating people is probably a bad thing, so don't go hungry. That's a lesson I can abide by. I make a better teacher for myself than Renfried did.

"So... Endou. You said you wanted to go home?"

Haru spoke to me only after clearing his plate and swallowing his food. Up till now, he hadn't spoken a word. I guess that's some form of personal etiquette of his. I can dig that, him shutting up while he eats. If all guys were like that, I would've become a cook!

"That's right."

"Your best... no, your only bet is the freighter."

A... freighter? That sounds pretty grotty. Is he insinuating that I need to hitch-hike? Or... potentially smuggle myself onboard a transport vessel of sorts? What does he take me for, a commoner scamp?

"A freighter? Like... a big boat?"

"That's right. A large ship. We get manufactured goods from the mainland via that freighter."

That makes sense. Tsumiki mentioned that almost all produce here was grown on the island, which is understandable. I just didn't understand about the other things, like batteries, soda, processed foods... well, there could have been factories on this island too. I honestly didn't know how big this place was, though I couldn't imagine it being vast at all. Maybe a few kilometers in length or something. I'll look for a map or something at some point.

"Problem is... that freighter only comes once every few months."

"Oh... When was it's last visit? Don't tell me..."

"Last week."

My forehead was met with a stiff palm as I sighed. Just my luck, to have missed something so crucial to the plot... though it was unavoidable, I suppose. It's not like it left after I'd arrived here, at least. It still sucked. That meant I was stuck here for the next few months, at least. Unless I found another way to leave this place... that being said, I felt very secure here. Tsumiki offered me to use the spare room I woke up in during my time here. A generous offer I could not refuse, even if I wished to. The trade-off was having to do some chores here and there... and y'know. Sharing a roof with the Renfried lookalike.

"I suppose I'm going to be stuck here for a while. Well, I'll be in your care then... Tsumiki. Haru."

I wasn't usually this polite, though they have treated me well, so they deserve it. Hm... on second thought, it would probably be best to do my best to leave here as soon as possible. I am a magus, I simply cannot settle into some unknown environment that is conveniently so comfortable. If I grow to accustomed here, I might even lose a bit of my edge...

I stood up slowly, still feeling the fullness of my stuffed belly. It was less intense than before, however, so I could at least move without feeling the need to cover my mouth.

"Ah, you're intending to go out and have a wander around, correct? Could you do us a favor?"

Favors... I was in no position to reject it, so I simply nodded.

"Wonderful! Just let me pack up the leftovers. I'd like you to deliver it to the orphanage. It's just on the outskirts of town. Ryuka will show you the way there."

She looked over at him expectantly. I expected some form of reluctant groan, though he seemed up for it as he stood up with a nod of affirmation. Truth be told, I'd be able to find my own way there... though I am not good with so many new strangers. Haru will likely be a valuable asset in acquiring the trust of the townsfolk here. I'd expect this sole town to have various specialists... if I can get them in my pockets, I shouldn't have too much of a bad time here.

"Alright! You'll be my guide, Haru. Don't lead me into some dirty alleyway, okay?"

I winked at him. He knew full well what I meant by that. I saw him visually flustered by that statement.

"I-I... I'm going to go get my coat."

He left. He just loves running away from awkwardness, eh? I felt myself grin a little, since teasing him seemed so fun. I might even grow fond of him at this rate... how laughable that would be. Tsumiki seemed to find it amusing too, judging from her giggling. Though, I'm sure she sees it as such for other, more innocent reasons. I'm pretty brazen with those kind of things, after all.

"He hasn't worn his emotions so openly ever since our parents disappeared. I think you're doing him good by being here, Miss Endou. Thank you."

I blinked, unsure how to react to that. I didn't really think my presence could benefit someone in that way... so his way of acting currently was, in a way, unusual? Maybe puberty is striking late for him and just now he's coming to terms with the fact that he's attracted to me, despite what he calls "my flaws". It's kind of adorable in a way, such foolish innocence. Not that I would fall for such a farce... no, I'm serious. There's no way I can fall for someone like that, especially when they look like Mr Stick-in-his-ass.

I helped Tsumiki pack away all the food into plastic containers. It was amazing how much you could compress into one of these things, it became a bundle neatly wrapped in an ornate cloth that I could hold in my arms. If all my chores were going to be like this, living here should be easy sailing. After some time, Haru returned to us, wrapped in a coat. Tsumiki had lent me her own dark, thick coat. It wasn't particularly fashionable, but it was damn snug.

"Yosh. Let's go."

I eagerly set out the door. I could hear Haru trying to stop me from rushing, instead forcing him to trail after me. Who even said I was going to let him lead the way, eh?

...

Afternoon.

Turns out, this town is pretty big. We had a wander around most of it, however. I was initially concerned that the food would grow too cold for them, though Haru assured me that they usually reheated it anyway. Microwaves, I'm guessing. Having scoured the town, I was pleasantly surprised at the level of technology here. It's... not stellar, by any stretch of the imagination, though it was impressive for a lone colony such as this. I had thought to use a payphone or something, though Haru said they had very limited functionality. This island apparently had a localized network, completely unconnected from the world. Kind of pointless, I thought, though I suppose it's all you need when all you gotta worry about is your local community.

Aside from that, the town has everything you need. A few grocery stores, a pharmacy, a couple medical professionals, a locksmith, a library, even local law enforcement. I questioned how crime could arise in such a commune, though I suppose having one is better than having none, to stave off potential troublemakers. An interesting thing Haru mentioned was that the town was led by a council rather than a mayor of sorts, and that his sister was one of the councilors. That was very easy to believe and understand.

Nevertheless, we arrived at the very edge of town... I'd in fact call it a bit away from the town. A lone orphanage on a hill, after a slightly winding trail. Took the wind out of me to wander up here. Haru kept nagging me about how unfit I was... a lady of my status shouldn't need to exert herself like this, though undoubtedly I'd grow used to this kind of physical duress in no time.

The orphanage itself... if it were night time, I'd mistaken it for the set of some horror movie. This place did not look like an establishment for taking care of children at all. It was composed entirely out of withered grey wood, the wear and tear visible in the strained cracks and creases along the woodwork, firm dark splits in the somewhat light hue of the structure. A wide rickety stairwell sat at the base of the front, leading up to a set of double doors that made the house look young. On either side of the doorway were walkways, that ended in low balconies that winged either side of the stairwell. Old-fashioned lanterns lined the worn wooden barriers along the balconies that looked like a mere breath would set them toppling over.

"Say, Haru. Just why is there an orphanage for such a small community anyway?"

He turned to me, looking deep in thought, before answering like he figured out a suitable way to tell me.

"Well... The orphanage is actually a very recent addition."

I found that difficult to believe. This house looked older than the island probably was.

"Yeah, I know. The building looks ancient, and it is. This was the plantation household of the original settler of Kaseikibo. It had become derelict decades ago, though recently it was re-purposed into an orphanage."

"Why move a bunch of lonesome children into such a dreadful place? Ghosts might live here!"

He simply chuckled at that.

"You believe in that nonsense? You're more childish than I thought, Endou. No ghosts dwell here, cause no one died here. The original settlers abandoned this place. Besides, the council is trying to acquire rights to renovate... The inside isn't near as bad as the exterior, though."

"Hmm. Fair enough... Though, my original curiosity was... why are there so many orphans?"

I didn't know how many there were, truth be told. However, it seemed odd. In such a small town, to have so many orphaned children to warrant such a facility, it was more than a little bit strange. Haru was reading my thoughtful expression again... though seems he could tell that I was getting a little suspicious about something.

"Don't worry. It's nothing-... well, it's kinda serious I guess. A mysterious disease spread among the previous generation of folks... including my parents. You can probably figure out the rest."

Now I recall, when we passed the pharmacy, it had a handwritten poster pertaining to some killer disease that I'd never heard of before. That's just upsetting though... to think Haru, Tsumiki, all these children lost their parents to some unknown killer. What's more, they don't even know what caused it or how to prevent it in the future. They must live in fear of that everyday. I guess I can sort of sympathize... after all, I had no old man, and my mother was like a disease to my existence. Good enough of a comparison. He wouldn't get it though. When your only parent is a crazed magus, life is kind of difficult. I would've preferred no parents... though one must be born somehow.

To the wind with such sullen thoughts, however. I made my way up the steps with the stack of tasty goods in tow. Haru clambered after me, each step creaking heavily as we made our way up. The incessant creaking made me feel heavier than I really was, which was kind of unsettling. It didn't take long to reach the top, though. There was a sense of relief as I set foot on more relatively stable flooring. Haru went ahead of me to wrack a brass knocker against one of the double doors.

For some reason, I expected a tide of children to pour out and welcome me. Instead, the door that was knocked on lurched inward...

Standing in the doorway was a woman. She wasn't young like us, though not that old either... I estimated early-thirties. She had frizzled silver hair and deep blue eyes that were almost beautiful to look into. Pale skin, curvy frame and she was on the short side... She was either the oldest orphan in the place, or was in fact the owner of such a place. Judging from the bags under her eyes... yeah, she probably owned the place.

"A-ah... Ryuka. Good afternoon... you have brought... a friend?"

Her voice was a bit raspy, yet gentle. It had a certain degree of charm to it, though it was clear that she didn't speak out a lot. Her tone was introverted, and she looked rather withdrawn when faced with me... am I that intimidating?

"Umeko, you look tired as usual... are you sure you're keeping healthy?"

I listened in like the stranger I was. These two seemed familiar enough with each other. I suppose Haru was the one who made deliveries in the past. Before I knew it, he cued my introduction without warning.

"This is Fubuki Endou. She's... a traveler, who's staying with us for a while. Don't worry, she's an... okay person."

Gee, thanks Haru. Really sold my strong points there, you did. I think I'll introduce you to another one of my strong points later on. For now though... I simply put on a smile and lightly waved at the shy lady.

"Pleasure to meet you!"

"A-ah... um... yes... My name is..."

She suddenly started coughing, quite a fair bit. Haru moved in and patted her on the back, almost by instinct. Those two would make a nice silly couple now wouldn't they... if only their age gap was a little less broad. Though what do I know? Maybe he's into older woman. I'd be safe, in that case.

"S-sorry... I'm... asthmatic..."

I didn't know much about asthma, other than the fact that it was a chronic lung disease of sorts. I think. Poor her, in that regard. Though, she works hard to take care of children despite that... she's kind of strong, for someone so weak. How admirable.

"Ah, it's fine. Understandable."

"This is Umeko Ishida. She's the current owner of the orphanage and foster mother of all the children."

Haru decided to do the introduction for her. Fair enough, considering her state... I can be considerate like that, too. I nodded in response, as Ishida started to recover from her coughing fit.

"P-please... come in."

She leaned to the side and welcomed us into the humble abode. I stepped in first...

Indeed, the inside was as Haru had said. It seemed much better off on the interior than its outer appearance. You can't judge a book by its cover. The room inside was a lobby-like hall, with stairs on either side of the room leading up to a walkway that bordered the far side of the area, looking down upon the entire lobby. A chandelier hung from the center of the ceiling, one that likely hasn't seen use in a good few decades. Various doorways led out to different areas of the mansion it seems, as well. It wasn't as vast as my own mansion back in the Northern mountains, though I could appreciate that the previous owners were well-off in their own right. The wallpaper was peeling in some places, and the floors seemed a tad worn and unpolished... though, impeccably, everything seemed well kept and dusted. Leaving the shabbiness and aging aside, everything was near enough spotless. Either, she was a very good and thorough cleaner... or she made the children help her with chores. Either way, that was respect worthy.

I stepped forward a bit, staring up at the chandelier a bit... seems stable. Not gonna fall any time soon. It's crucial to assess threats when entering unknown territory, after all. However, as I scanned the lobby, I noticed something... off.

"Um... where are the children?"

"A-ah... you see, most of them are very young... s-so... it's afternoon nap time... the older ones I have sent out on errands..."

She twiddled her fingers together, as if she felt guilty for sending them out like that. Honestly, if they had nothing else to do, that was just being efficient with the resources at your disposal. Nothing wrong with that.

Regardless, we set off towards the kitchen before too long, tip-toeing along so that we wouldn't wake the children... I sincerely doubted in such a huge place, that wandering normally would have alerted them. Although, old houses probably transmitted sound throughout themselves a lot easier due to... less structural integrity? Or something along those lines. We headed into the kitchen area, which was massive... bigger than the one I had in my home. It had a long, wide counter of old granite sitting in the center of the room, with a line of cast iron cooking units on one side, and a bunch of pantries on the other. Definitely the type of large kitchen you'd expect to see for a place that caters to many, with a distinct nostalgic theme to it... I liked it. If it were a bit fresher, I'd want it in my own home.

I set the food down on the counter and unraveled it from the cloth. Ishida seemed to react upon seeing the ornate cloth, sheepishly holding her hands out for it. Ah, Tsumiki probably borrowed this and was returning it. Two birds with one stone... that woman was sure reliable. I handed the cloth to Ishida with a smile, and she weakly smiled back at me. Unlike Tsumiki's smile, that radiated warmth and comfort, Ishida's smile was a bit more... sad? It's the type of smile someone makes when they've lost something. I would know... I've made that smile to myself in the mirror a lot.

As we started to lay the food out, preparing it to serve to children, I started to become lost in thought...

...

++Interlude 2.1++
Smile...

That smile I always used to convince myself with. "Everything will be okay. Keep your head high and smile." To smile is to mask your emotions, since there isn't really a reason in the world to give off a genuine smile. That is what I came to believe, at least. When I was little, being home-tutored and cared for by maids and other servants of my mother, I would always hear talk behind closed doors of how grumpy I seemed all the time. I don't think I was grumpy back then, there was just nothing to smile about. Studying each day, doing as I was told, having all types of luxuries lavished upon me. It was an ideal upbringing. I guess I could look back and say I enjoyed it... I just hadn't really learned how to feel enjoyment for a long time during my time there. Though... there was that one incident. One of the maids became sick and tired of my apparent attitude. Away from the eyes of the others, she would verbally abuse me without holding back, uttering how incompetent I was compared to my mother. At first, it didn't really bother me. The staff would often get stressed, I assumed this was just one of her methods to vent it.

It didn't stop though. For weeks, she would do it every evening when she was supposed to be teaching me. Eventually, she hit a boiling point. My lack of reaction was apparently an attack on her, and she acted upon that assumption. Silly little me could not have comprehended what she would do next, with that cord... The sudden, crushing sting of fabric embedding itself into my throat. Pain was not something I'd been introduced to prior to that. The new sensation was overwhelming, to a horridly extreme extent. That sensation of being unable to breath, as if I was trapped underneath the water's surface... yet as I tried to raise my head enough for at least a gasp of fresh air, a painful seizing hand would constantly lock my throat in place. My vision went blurry, I felt fuzzy numbness in my mouth, I couldn't even make a sound, other than some sickened gagging. I felt wet warmth spread from between my legs, every part of my body panicking and breaking down. At some point, she lost that murderous intent and I dropped to the ground, wheezing for oxygen like a fish out of water. She didn't stop there, though. Maybe she thought I was already dead, as she threw me into the pond out back.

I wasn't sure what her plan was, I wasn't sure what anything was back then. It was that very moment, sinking into that deep, murky pool of stagnant water that I realized that... if I didn't do something, it was going to end. My life was going to end, if I didn't take action. Young me didn't even know what that meant, it was only the instinct to survive. I had never swam in my life, so surely I was going to drown then and there. Someone had decided to seal my fate... as my consciousness faded, and I could witness some distant light, I felt a steady ache in my chest. Was it from the water swelling my lungs? Or was it my heart struggling from lack of vital resource? I think... it was something else entirely.

Regret. The regret of not having had a chance to live properly. A sudden drive to survive, a desperate compulsion as I had been driven to death's door. And so, at that very moment... I flailed. I flailed as hard as I could. I screamed silently into the dirty depths as I thrashed my arms and legs around as best as I could. With the energy I had left, I burst out with instinctual violence. It felt like a struggle, an internal war... the light became brighter and brighter. One side of me said the light was the end, yet the other told me it was salvation. Either way... it was the only way I could have proceeded. So I reached out-

To grasp at the moon, free from the watery prison I had been incarcerated in. The rest of my energy was spent hurling my haggard body out of the water, flopping onto the bank hopelessly. I coughed up globs of grotesque, stagnated water... and then I threw up, from the horrible taste and smell of what was inside of my body. I don't remember much after that... I was rescued, though, by the chief maid. I became very ill after that, for weeks... it was my first experience of a personal hell. Each passing day of sickness that went by, I found myself bedridden, having intervals of breathlessness that just rekindled those horrible experiences I had endured so recently, causing me to incoherently scream in my sleep. Soon, there was always someone watching over me, 24/7. As for that maid that snapped at me... I only saw her once since then. She looked horrified at me when I was laid into bed, like she was staring at a ghost of some sort. I simply gave her a jaded stare in return... I never mustered the will to expose her crimes. Rather, I didn't feel like it would have changed anything. Fortunately, she seemed to be put off in her own right... she disappeared one day. No one questioned it. so neither did I.

Weeks felt like an eternity of torture. My body felt perpetually torpid from being stationary so often, my mind dulled by the lack of study. One day, the chief maid arrived for her shift, dismissing the former servant. Madame Ran... she was the one who rescued me, as said by the others. She was the closest thing I ever had to an older sibling. The closest thing... I ever had to a family member. That was only because she took care of me better than anyone else. She made sure I did my homework, ate the right foods, received the suitable amounts of luxuries if I managed to earn it... She used to read me bedtime stories too, much better ones than that only dreadful one my real mother told me. So I thought this time, she would have another story for me... at least a flicker of warm light inside this cold abyss that was my sickly, weak life. Instead... she said something very important to me instead.

"I know it's bleak, young mistress... however, in cases such as this... everything will be okay. Keep your head high... and smile."

She then smiled at me... I was used to the facades everyone wore on their faces around me, every time they would sweet talk me. Those fake things they called smiles, a soft facial gesture to lull me into a sense of false comfort. And... it seemed no different in Ran's case. Her smile just seemed like that of someone who was doing their job, a job where they had to smile even in the face of something miserable... That was how I figured it out. For the first time, I put on my own smile... because this was just how things were. When things are bleak, you just need to smile... when you feel insulted, it's best to just smile it off... when you feel weak, smile and everything will be okay.

From that day, I started to recover at a rapid rate, wearing that smile along the way. It seemed to lift the spirits of everyone in the mansion as well... that incident and period of disability became a mere phase for me. Time simply moved on, and so did I. Yet, from that day on, the mansion I called home had become a constant masquerade of smiles.

At the end of the day, however, a smile will always be an illusion... an illusion we employ to quieten the strife within the hearts of others, and ourselves.

...

++Chapter 2 cont.++

Some time passed. We had prepared all that food just in time, the young ones were rising from their slumber. Soon the sunset illuminated the vast, old household through its various windows with a gorgeous amber glow as the pitter-patter of little footsteps filled the halls. The kids must have ranged between the ages of three to ten years old, there were about twelve of them, plus three older kids who had returned from errands. I never was great with kids, though they seemed nice enough... innocent, more than anything. These were all kids who lost their parents, kind of like I did... though I probably could relate better to the youngest kids, who probably would never even remember the ones who conceived them.

Haru seemed more alive than before too. Playing around with these kids, like he was one of them... in a way, he was. Maybe I couldn't really relate, after all. These kids all lost something precious to them, though my parents were never precious to me. I doubt I was even precious to them. That's why I am precious to myself. Still, it was a distinct type of solace within me that made me feel a form of gap between us... like that single kid who is just different, trapped on the outside of the society that is the playground.

"Y-you seem down... does something trouble you, Miss Endou?"

"A-ah, not at all... this is how I usually am."

"Is that so... You don't need to feel so left out though, Miss Endou. I feel like I can relate a little. I never cared for my parents, either."

She smiled that same sad smile as she said that... jeez. I dunno if that was meant to cheer me up, though I feel a bit more depressed now. Though it's the thought that counts, I guess? Regardless, I simply smiled back and nodded. I guess at the end of the day, I was just an angsty young adult who hated her parents and wanted to live her own life, to forge her own way forward.

"Miss! Miss! I drew a picture of you!"

I was caught off guard by one of the little girls running towards me, brandishing a drawing she had just completed. Feeling flattered that I became the model of a little one's artistic endeavors, I felt that flattery diminish as I witnessed a disgraceful mess of pencil markings that was aptly labeled "Ms. Crankypants". Apparently, even kids could judge my face when I am deep in thought...

"Looks just like me, well done sweetie! Well... done."

I handed it back before leaving the girl to rejoin her troupe of comrades. Come on... it was a kid's drawing. Am I seriously feeling perturbed by this?

Oh screw it, of course I am.

Impulsively, I went to sit down with the kids who were aspiring to be little artists. Grabbing my tools of the trade, it was time to teach them a thing or too on how to capture people's good sides. I set the paper down in dramatic fashion, twirling stationary between my fingers with a display of supreme dexterity. The children enjoyed the show, of course. I could make myself look amazing, while performing amazing feats. That was how amazing I was, simple as that!

"Whoa whoa... Endou is really getting into it."

At first, I ignored Haru's snide remark... then I realized, the perfect dunce of an object presented itself as a fine example of how to capture one's... "good" side.

"Alright, watch closely little ones... I'm gonna show you how to draw an idiot."

"W-wait, I have a feeling this is gonna be offensive!"

...

Night time came around so quickly.

I had rallied the cultural troops into creating countless wacky caricatures of the dumb idiot, much to his chagrin. Ishida seemed to appreciate it a lot, at least. She wore that empty smile all the time, though I think that was the best she could do. Soon it was the children's bed time, though we weren't shooed out or anything. Instead, we were treated to Ishida playing a heavenly melody on her antique piano, something she apparently did every night for the children so they would fall asleep. I never thought a single instrument could be played so wondrously... yet there I was, my ears captivated entirely by that beautiful music. Eventually, she had to stop, as the last child had fallen asleep. Haru had to shake me awake a little as well... it was really quite soothing.

We made our farewells and left the orphanage. By now, it was quite dark... the path back to the town had no lights, so I entrusted direction to Haru. This darkness wasn't a treacherous one, however... instead, it felt rather tranquil. Considering I was used to artificial light sources constantly being present, the sight of a distant glowing town surrounded by empty blackness was somehow a pleasant sight.

As we walked, a question came to my mind...

"That song she played... it was amazing. It felt like something was missing though..."

As perfect as it seemed, it was true. What irked me is that such a wonderful piece was lacking that little something that would've truly made it one to remember for all my life. I wasn't much of a perfectionist, though when something was so close to achieving that status, I think anyone would be keen on discovering that final puzzle piece.

"You mean... like, lyrics? Well... Umeko has had a rather rough history in that regard. She used to sing, you see..."

I wasn't really that dense to not understand it right away, though I allowed him to go on and explain Umeko's story, summarized. It seems that the poor bachelorette aspired to be an idol of sorts, and that she had one of the most beautiful voices to ever grace the ears of man. However, she fell ill with a serious case of pneumonia that left her throat scarred. She recovered, though her singing voice was forever lost. Apparently she'd still sing a bit sometimes, and Haru commented that it wasn't so bad regardless... It seems like a sore spot for Umeko though. Maybe that was the reason behind that hollow smile.

We came to the end of the path, where it met the city, as we came under the light of the first lamppost. Haru stopped and turned to me.

"Well, I have an errand to go run before we head home. Can you make it back without me?"

"I'm not a child. I never needed you to guide me in the first place."

"... Right. I'll see you at home then. Don't be out too long, Tsumiki is easily worried..."

With that said, he made his way in the opposite direction, seeming to head towards the shopping district. I shrugged, and made my own way towards the residential area. The few lampposts dotting the sides of the roads were just about a suitable amount of illumination to light my way onward, as I ventured through the dormant nighttime town. Unlike London, there wasn't a soul on the street. Some houses had lit windows, others were completely dark. It seems everyone had relatively early bedtimes here... that, or I was just out late. I realized I still didn't have a time keeping device of any sort. Perhaps the antique store in town would have a pocket watch or something... those things had a stylish appeal to them.

I eventually came across a familiar alleyway, or well... it looked familiar. Haru had led me through some so-called shortcuts earlier in the day. I sure didn't like walking unnecessary distance, so this was a no-brainer. I ventured into the dark alley, away from the guiding lights in the street... and found myself in a bit of a maze of alleys.

Oh.

No.

I hate mazes. I hate mazes. I hate mazes.

I hate mazes. I hate mazes. I hate mazes. I hate mazes. I hate mazes. I hate mazes. I hate mazes. I hate mazes. I hate mazes.

I HATE MAZES.

I had a feeling I'd finally found the right way. It was impossible to tell the time, the lit windows were my only indications... and those were all off now. I came into a new, completely unfamiliar street as I finally escape the urban labyrinth. Honestly, who the hell designs a residential area with such a network of alleys... I did a coin toss in my head on which direction to head in, and decided to make a left turn.

...Walking along, my feet were starting to hurt. This town was too big for its own good. Especially without any form of public transport, like trains or buses... not even a taxi service or anything. Or any bike riders, for that matter. I would gladly take a rear-seat bicycle ride right now... but no. This town has nothing of the sort, people just walk everywhere. It was really behind the times in that respect... that was one type of tradition I could easily pass up.

Soon, I came to a wrought iron fence, following it till I found an open gate... seems I've reached a park of some sort. I have no idea where this is, though I suppose a walk in the park could help me clear my mind a bit from the maze of hell that just ravaged my senses... yeah, that seems wise. I entered the dark park area, following a worn cobblestone pavement through lush patches of grass. A lone lamppost was visible in the distance, a bench sat underneath it as I followed the path, constantly peering down at my feet to make sure I haven't strayed from it or anything. It took a few roughly estimated minutes till I reached that bench. By now, I could see the light was flickering... how irritating. Well, I could have a brief respite here at least. Not for long, though. That shoddy light would drive me mad, otherwise.

I let out a loud sigh, a puff of white winter breath emitted from my maw as I seated myself on that icy cold bench... it was none too pleasant, though a worthy sacrifice to alleviate some stress from my legs. I wiggled them about a bit to shake off the ache as I scanned the area around me... or scanned it as best as I could. Darkness, everywhere. I could see dim lights of distant street posts in the distance, most were hidden by the opaque silhouettes of housing, however. I must admit, Kaseikibo is unlike any place I've been to before... then again, the only places I knew well were a brief part of London, a section of mountains where my mansion was located and the interior of a Chaldea facility. I wasn't exactly the kind of person that's seen the beautiful sights of the world... not in person, at least. I've seen images on the internet, and in my mind, that's good enough for me.

Flicker flicker. This light was damn annoying. If only it would-

Bzzt

...Oh. It just shorted out. Now I am trapped in darkness.

I'll take this over that flickering, any day... or night. I guess. I wondered just how long I'd been straying for... maybe Tsumiki was getting worried. I'm a dependable person, though. She shouldn't be too concerned, though I'm sure Haru is incubating her worries just so he can get one over on me. I'm not really in agreement with the concept of a curfew, anyway. Even though this would be considered quite the generous curfew for any child, I deemed that it was entirely up to me, regarding what I can and cannot do during the advanced hours of night. That's an obvious fact, though.

Were those footsteps just now?

No, it's a presence.

I sat up from my slumped, seated position. I shifted myself into full alert mode. If it were just some person, I would've just ignored it and reacted accordingly if they tried anything fishy. This... this, however, warranted my full attention. Alarm bells were blaring in my mind, symbolized as the ones that constantly rung in my head during the Chaldea incident. This presence was abnormal. It was like that of a magus... only far greater. Far, far greater... like a monster. No, it wasn't so crude as to be a monster... it had vibes of sentience to it, such so that they it was doubtful it were a beast of any kind... it was far too intelligent for that. This feeling, chiseling away at my very conscience, my will...

Killing intent.

My instincts screamed, and I responded. I suddenly lunged away from the bench, without any given signal that would've let them known I was going to dodge it. They couldn't have known that-

Here it comes again.

Swish

A shrill sound that pierced the air, a metallic twang to it as I felt the air above my ducked head part. I swear,,, I could feel a few of my stray hairs split finely by that attack. I cartwheeled backwards and distanced myself from whatever this threat was... no, it's not enough-

Swish

Again, that weapon hunted for my flesh. I narrowly avoided those slashes with movements that defied my previous sentiment of being lethargic by nature... it's not like I couldn't shift it if I really tried, I just lacked the stamina to keep up. Hence, my aching joints as I continued to narrowly dodge those incoming strikes... though I felt like they were evaluating my worth by having me avoid death so closely. That was the terrifying factor in play; if they grew bored, they could simply strike seriously and that would be the end. The solution was simple... I needed to take things into my own hands.

"Crash!"

I thrust my palms forward and a suddenly scarlet aura emanated from my arms, an instantaneous burst of energy exploding in front of me and propelling me backwards considerably. I felt myself hurled across the park, rolling on the ground a bit as the g-force of such a knockback almost claimed my senses... thankfully, I managed to right myself into a steady stance as I skidded the last of the momentum off, peering into the darkness as my eyes finally adjusted to it. Yet I saw nothing... but I felt it.

"Gandr shot!"

I fire consecutive blood red-black bolts from my finger tip, sending them flying forward like a barrage of magical bullets. To my disbelief, I saw them cleaved out of the air with such ease... they were close. I needed to escape again, I just hoped my body wouldn't land awkwardly... each use of this was a physical gamble, after all.

"Crash!"

Again, the burst of scarlet energy send me flying from the previous location, this one sending me further but at a lower arc. My landing was not ideal, as I bounced across the ground and harshly collided with the wrought iron fence. I could parts of my spine wracked in agony as I hit that bumpy metal surface, though that threat was chasing at full speed. I needed to keep moving. I bit my lip and hoisted myself up. Adrenaline became my much needed drug as I vaulted over the fence and ran into the street.

I sprinted as fast as I could, the pain being stemmed off long enough for me to make some distance. I entered an alleyway but tripped over a trash can as soon as I entered it, sending me barreling onto the ground. I found myself covered in rubbish and dirt, groaning at the stench, but not once forgetting the danger I was in. I felt something hard amidst the trash... a pipe, or something. At this point, I was out of other options. I took the pipe and regained footing, sprinting out that alley and into another road.

They were waiting there for me.

I saw a short, black coated figure standing in the middle of the road. That was the only detail I could figure out before their sword-bound onslaught began anew. Rather than dodge, however, this time I was prepared for a different course of action. In such crude manner, I attempted to deflect the sword strike. I found my makeshift weapon cleaved like a hot utensil through butter... though this was ideal. Gathering energy in my free hand, I thrust forward in a risky maneuver, grabbing onto whatever was there beyond the offending weapon... sure enough, I grabbed someone.

"Crash!"

I repeated my same simple spell, except this time the energy was focused into what lied in my grasp. A red explosion detonated from my hand, leaving me unscathed and leaving my attack hurtling back from the force... no, they had leaped back in response to that Crash, seemingly unfazed by it entirely. An average human would be experiencing burns of some degree... of course, I figured this wasn't an average human from the get-go. At least now, I could potentially identify my assailant...

"Hey! Stop for one second! Announce yourselves, otherwise I will smite you from existence without a second thought!"

I was met with an uncanny silence. Before me was stood that short, black coated figure. It was a dark trench coat, and now I could clearly see their features. It was... a small girl? Or lady? It was difficult to tell. The collar hugged up against most of her face, though her bright white hair was apparent. The most striking thing, however, was her bright red weapon... it was a curved blade. Rather, the weapon itself was not red. It was wrapped in what seemed to be red ribbons. This... was the real deal. Usually, someone with such a get-up would be classed as a weirdo, but to a magus like me... this was trouble. Serious trouble. This person... their appearance, their presence, their power... It, it couldn't be...

"Why would I announce myself? I only intend to kill you. This isn't a duel, this a hunt."

As I thought, they hold no sense of honor. I am one to talk, though still... it would've been invaluable to have some sense of it right now. It was unnerving enough that she was just standing there, seemingly observing me. This was... a Servant. I didn't think it was possible at first, but just now... those loosely scattered dots had great lines starting to join them together. That emotionless voice, with that one inquiry, entered my mind at that very moment...

"I ask of you, are you my Master?"

I was being targeted... because I had become a Master. In a Grail War. I had no idea what Grail War could possibly be taking place, on this island of all places... though this Servant before me, was a materialization of that farfetched reality. The very fact, that she held such intent to slaughter me, was proof enough, that all this time... I had been in the most danger I ever had been in my life. The hardest thing to figure out of all, however, was... if I had become a Master, where was my Servant?

"There... must be a misunderstanding! I am no Master! I have no Servant, can't you see?!"

"I'm not a fool. You... have the scent of one. Therefore, you must die."

She suddenly lunged forward again. She clearly wasn't a negotiator of any kind. I side-stepped and ducked as she performed two consecutive attacks in such swift succession... my heart skipped a beat, I could see death before my very eyes in the form of that red-wrapped steel. Soon enough, if I didn't figure out some form of solution, that red ribbon was going to get a fresh dye of color.

"Crash!"

I launched it at the ground this time, creating a small crater as I was propelled higher this time, but not as far... this was the intended effect. As I hung in the air, I could see the Servant gazing up at me. Since this was likely a Saber-class Servant, she was going to have high magic resistance... that is what I thought, anyway. Regardless, even a magic attack like this... should be enough to at least daze her. I swiftly chanted a chain of commands, holding a palm outstretching towards the Servant below me.

"Flow: Engage."

Red rippling swirls started to emanate from my body. Like an exterior circulatory system, my Od flowed through those illusory veins, glowing and pulsating. The glyphs formed at the palm of my hand. 20%. 23%. This was not fast enough at all. I could see her hesitating no longer, she lunged upwards towards me... I had to act now. I was stuck like this, she would reach me and kill me, if I didn't... Ah, screw everything! 26%!

"Engaging: Red Maester!"

The glyphs rumbled and spread out, an orb of scarlet energy forming in their core. The Servant seemed to utter a slight gasp as the orb burst forth in a dense stream of concentrated magical energy, erupting down towards the oncoming Servant.

Not being the risk-taking type, the Servant somehow altered their course in mid-air and veered away from me, drifting off and landing to the side of the road as my spell collided with the ground, creating a large fiery explosion that cracked concrete and kicked up incredulous clouds of dust and debris. I fell back towards the ground and landed hard on my feet, feeling that force thunder its way through me... I groaned in pain and fell back. I might have just broken my knees in some form.

I spluttered as dust from my spell's explosion wafted over me, an inferno left in the crater it had made. I cast a wary glance over at the nearby houses... nothing. No lights, no response. That could only mean a Bounded Field was in play... one that I did not even sense. I was either really becoming lax with my senses, or they were just that damn good. What kind of mess was I driven into?!

Suddenly, I could feel a choking sensation... my air was being cut off. I felt myself hoisted up from my seated position, the pain in my legs fading in favor of the immense agony my throat was in... this sensation of strangulation, a trauma that struck me at this incredibly crucial moment. The Servant, short as they were, had easily hoisted me up by the neck, their grip made of iron as it threatened to crush my windpipe...

"That was easy... I guess I got first blood."

The little girl spoke of it so casually... she speaks of my demise in such a casual manner, it's almost funny. Someone such as I being ridiculed in death by this Servant... I struggled against my binding, yet it was futile. Energy was draining from my body as my oxygen supply steadily ran out. Compared to before... where I was so close to the surface yet couldn't get to that fresh air... this was an abyss, plummeting down further and further, dragged down by this metal hand of despair. I felt a crunch, something was about to give way... I could tell, with what semblance of mind I had left, that she was easing in... she was sending me out slowly, as if she wanted to hear my last words or something. I suppose I'm going to disappoint her...

The image of that maid emerged into my mind. That enraged expression, the vile curses thrown at me, the draconian torture she put me through... I was weak. In this very situation, I had become the weakest person in the world. Not because I couldn't do anything, nor because I was helpless in the face of death... but because, in this time of immediate peril, all I could think about were my regrets in life. All I could think about were horrible, horrible things, in a desperate bid to myself... a bid to not give in, that there are still scores to settle in this realm. Yet, in the end... it's just desperation. I felt horribly... human, as I stared into death's doorway, the entrance flung open before my eyes.

"...I suppose that's it then."

I didn't want to go. I didn't want to see what lay beyond that door. I didn't want to leave this all behind... because there were still things I needed to do... sights I needed to see... grudges I needed to settle... dreams I needed to fulfill.

I weakly grabbed that hand of monstrous strength that was just about to crush my neck like a plastic water bottle. A final act of defiance... How lame... This was all I could muster... I... I need... I need... to live... I need...

A miracle...

...

Crackle.

That sharp sound tinged onto my ears as I lingered on the brink of unconsciousness... and life. I suddenly felt an intense, burning pressure on my hand... like some thing embedded into it was peeling away. Through drunken, blurry vision... I could see the glows emanating from my bandaged hand. That burning crimson that shone so radiantly from the top of it... One of those markings suddenly vanished.

The Servant gasped and let go, lunging back as I fell forward and made the biggest inhalation of sweet air I've ever made in my life. Coughing and spluttering violently, I could taste iron at the back of my throat, slowly crawling up into my mouth... I could see droplets of red dripping onto the ground, yet I shifted all my slowly recovering energy into tilting my head upwards... gritting my teeth as I battled against the torment coursing through my body. Though... for an instant, I felt that pain suddenly alleviated, as my beacon of hope had appeared before me in this darkest hour.

That lithe, dark-skinned frame... the bone-colored apparel... the graceful yet foreboding snow-white veil, gently wavering in a faint breeze... she stood before me, facing my assailant. Slowly, she raised a sword hilt up towards the enemy Servant, of black-white metal. I could catch a glimpse of the look in that Servant's eyes... it was fear. They feared this beacon of hope that had come to my aid. The assailant cried out in shock.

"S-Saber?!"

"...Master, you can rest easy now. I have come to destroy the enemy."