CHAPTER 6: SINISTER SHADOW CITY PART 6

"Houdini, are you okay?" Marie Therese asked. Despite her question, she could tell it was pointless to ask as he was already beginning to disappear.

"We haven't been together long…" Houdini stated. "But, I know your feelings. None of this…is because of you. Don't…blame yourself."

The white haired man approached them. His long blue sleeved left hand rested on Marie Therese's shoulder.

"You're one of the group's leaders, right. I'll need to talk with you. But allow me this moment." he bent down, looking at Houdini. "Don't worry, we'll carry on this mission." he closed his eyes, as he murmured words. With that, Houdini faded away.

"What did you need to discuss?" Marie Therese asked.

"And how did you know we were from Chaldea?" Saya added.

"The two of us have been observing things for a bit." the man said. "We gathered as much information as we could. No doubt your Archer found us a time or two spying on the enemy's castle."

"I suppose we should lay our cards on the table." the other man said. He wore simple clothing with a brown cloak and a coonskin hat. "My name is Davy Crockett. I've been his fighter since I manifested here."

"And I'm Joshua." the white haired man said. "Normally I would be a passive observer, but our current situation is not an ordinary war between Servants. Since your current base was uncovered, why don't you join us at a safer location so we can go over a possible alliance?"

—

The darkened halls of the castle began to light up as the sun began to rise on the city. The lone ruler moved her way through them as she reached the throne room. Doors creaked as she was greeted with an empty room.

"He's finally given up what isn't his." she said as she sat upon the now empty throne.

"Mistress!" a knight called out.

"What news do you bring?" she questioned.

"It's the king. He left with a number of knights just before sunrise."

"So that's why he's gone." she gripped her scepter. "Of course he'd run off, doing his own thing. No doubt he wants to kill the opposition and lord the fact over me. That damned idiot Berserker."

"What should we do?" the knight asked.

"Leave him. The true matters I need concern myself with lie within the castle. Simply treat him like the others from now on."

"Yes, Mistress." the knight said, taking his leave.

"He always was more trouble than he was worth." she muttered to herself. "Damnable father."

—

Saya found herself and the others being escorted by Joshua. The man took them on a winding tour of the city, tracking his way back to his staging ground. He claimed the constant changes in directions avoided patrols of knights and known routes of the Sawney Bean Clan, but Saya didn't want to test if it was true. As the group continued on, the Master found things beginning to look familiar. She'd been this way before with Arsene and Mash earlier.

"It's just ahead. We've been keeping our distance, but making sure we can keep an eye on our enemy." Davy Crockett said.

"Since we're almost there, do you mind?" Joshua asked Davy.

"Of course. I'll head right out." he replied, starting to trail off from the group.

"Don't mind that, I'm having him stand sentry." Joshua explained before anyone could ask. "If you feel safer, you're free to have anyone join him."

"Thank you for the offer, but we'll be fine." Marie Therese said.

The group walked a block before they stood before a building. Joshua walked up, observing it.

"We're here. Looks like nothing happened overnight. Welcome to our base of operations."

—

A thrall of knights lined the streets. The metallic clunk of armored footsteps echoed in the empty city. Though day had dawned, the citizens remained hidden.

"These miscreants have troubled my kingdom too long. Even a single hour is too much, let alone a full night. I demand they be brought before me. Either they will swear their loyalty or they are to be executed."

"Yes Sir!" the knights shouted.

"She may think this Impact Point belongs to her, but once we crush these Chaldeans, she'll see the true ruler. In fact, why stop there. We'll march our forces and claim our true kingdom." the Berserker mused time himself.

Yet from a distance away, Davy Crockett watched. It seemed the streets were about to turn a bit more deadly.

—

Back at Chaldea, Da Vinci sat back in her chair. These Impact Points were still new so she managed to get a certain other freeloading Servant to head off to research what they could. For now, they could only use what little they knew to assist their two comrades on the field.

"Hmm, what's this?" she noted a strange reading on the monitor.

"Oh, are you talking about that strange anomaly? It's been flickering every once in a while. With everyone new happening, we've been disregarding it. It doesn't seem like much of a threat."

"Keep an eye on it." Da Vinci said. "We can't take any risks until we find out more of what's going on."

—

As the discussion occurred af Chaldea, the strange anomaly's origin was present near the new base. The long, white haired man continued his observation. Soon he'd make himself known to the group.