Fourth Morning (7)
Shirou stumbled, quickly regaining his balance and snapping out a hand to steady the Homunculus that had made the journey with him, her leg unable to withstand the sudden shift in momentum and position.
"What, where did we...Milady!"
Quickly squeezing the woman's shoulder and putting a finger to his lips Sella winced, understanding the young man's gesture. They were in unknown and hostile territory, with no way of returning to where they had come. Panic wouldn't help them here.
"What now? We have no way of knowing if Milady is safe or what has occurred, the Apostle could be doing any number of things to her!"
Frowning at the slim woman's helpless whispers Shirou...wasn't so sure of what, exactly, Flavius was planning but the Apostle had seemed rather mercurial in his decisions.
Given his weakened condition-never mind the consuming thirst that was slowly disrupting his usual cool and composure-the Incarnation resigned himself to waiting, to seeing what events would play out beyond his reach.
…
He hated it, an unusually strong emotional response that surprised even himself.
He was supposed to be able to protect Illya, even if it cost him his life...and here he was, unable to help her when she no doubt needed him the most.
That train of thought was abruptly put on hold as a portal identical to the one they had been shoved through materialized, a figure gently rolling onto the ground as it shrank into nothing-
"Milady!"
-and Sella hobbled forward as fast as she could, Shirou fighting not to show the obvious relief that coursed through his veins at his sister's safe return, a weak smile pulling at her lips despite the weapons still piercing her body.
"I'm fine, Sella. The Apostle numbed my body."
An incredulous expression was enough to cause Illya to amend that statement.
"Ok, I'm not fine...but it could be worse?"
Shirou rapidly felt for her pulse...and winced, noting just how weak it was, already pale skin taking on a nearly translucent tinge while being cold to the touch.
Dammit, if only he had the strength to Trace Avalon...or any number of lesser but potentially life saving Mystic Codes or Phantasms.
Placing her palms over where the sword and spear were impaling Illya, Sella began to channel prana through her limbs, biting her lip at whatever it was she discovered.
"What is it?"
"These wounds...they're too much to heal. While the weapons themselves aren't particularly special they are from an olden age and loyal to a Heroic Spirit. That carries with it a conceptual weight all on its own-"
No sooner had the words left Sella's mouth than the blades began to glisten, shimmering with golden light...and then dematerializing into nothingness.
Blood flowed out of the now gaping wounds, a slow and steady trickle that was so much more alarming than any wild spurts, seeing as how the Homunculus was clearly struggling with what little crucial lifeblood she had even before the wounds were exposed to open air.
"Milady, don't close your eyes, stay awake!"
Crimson orbs fluttered dangerously, Illya's voice barely a whisper as she responded, "Sorry, just...so tired..."
Ripping off his shirt and tearing it down the middle Shirou handed half of it to the taller Homunculus, swiftly pressing the material against her injuries in a dismal attempt to staunch the bleeding...he had to think, think and come up with a plan that would do the impossible, think and ensure that he did not fail.
"...What are you three doing here?"
Whirling around and preparing to fight or kill whoever had spoken...Shirou instead blinked, caught off guard by who the individual was.
None other than Souichiro Kuzuki, a teacher at his school that, for a short while after Kiritsugu's death, had been one of his many instructors before they went their separate way.
A quick blink the only expression of surprise displayed Kuzuki idly asked, "Emiya? What has brought you here to the temple?"
Finally paying proper attention to his surroundings Shirou recognized Ryuudou Temple by its arched entryway and iconic architecture, turning to the expressionless man before hurriedly asking, "I need your help, Kuzuki-sensei. My sister, she's dying and needs medical attention. Can the monks help her?"
"...Judging by the nature and condition of those wounds, it is not a Human who's help you should be requesting."
"Would not a magician's skill be more along the lines of what you are looking for, young boy?"
Both Shirou and Sella stiffened as a hooded and cloaked figure appeared next to the stoic man, tone playful and wary in equal parts as she stared at them with hooded eyes.
"...A Servant? But I thought Caster had been killed, Milady said so!"
"Apparently not..."
Trying to think through the haze of literal bloodlust that was slowly infecting his mind Shirou turned to face the woman, requesting, "Please, we need your help. My sister is dying and we're unable to help her, you're the only one who can."
Silence reigned for a few precious seconds...and the woman derisively laughed, sneering as she retorted, "Oh? And just why, exactly, would I help complete strangers who are almost certainly enemies in this accursed war? Why would I aid foes who can apparently slip past my notice and protections, appearing within the midst of my home in the blink of an eye? You have no leverage, no enticement...for what reason would I ever offer you my aid?"
Shirou felt the world narrow to a pinpoint, a side glance affording him a perfect view of Sella's desperate expression and Illya's slowly fading one...and felt something within him snap.
A plain sword sprung to life in his grip, eyes focused with predatory efficiency on the Servant.
"If you don't, I'll kill Kuzuki-sensei."
"..."
"..."
"...You're bluffing."
"He isn't."
Caster's gaze snapped to the stoic man, his tone even as he explained, "There is more to young Emiya than meets the eye...he is one of the few Humans very much capable of ending my life we were to come to blows."
Obviously rattled by that admission the woman scoffed nonetheless, retorting, "When he is that injured? I will confess to having doubts."
"A cornered animal is the most dangerous one, Caster."
...Shirou hid the unexpected surge of guilt he was feeling as Kuzuki continued to stare with a mild expression.
The man, in his own unique way, was trying to get Caster to aid them despite their unfavorable position. Someone of his skill knew damn well that Shirou was in no condition to be fighting anyone of his caliber, let alone while backed up by a Servant.
"...I think you overestimate his potential, Souichirou-sama. I still see no reason-"
A disembodied growl silenced the Servant, a gigantic form coalescing out of thin air...and Berserker stood before them, an act that Sella and Shirou knew would tax the already failing Illya...but honestly, what choice did they have?
"Y-you?! You were summoned by that little doll?!"
Both Servants stared the other down, tension mounting between them-
-and Berserker set aside his massive weapon, bowing at the knees as no shortage of jaws, Shirou and Kuzuki excluded, dropped at the action.
Caster's fingers curled into fists, teeth audibly grinding...and she threw her hands into the air with clear exasperation.
"Damn you. Damn you to Hell thrice and back again, Herakles...fine!"
Whirling on her heel, cape flaring the woman growled out, "Gather up the girl and follow me...but do not expect overmuch, my abilities are not as they once were."
Shirou and Sella didn't waste a moment, gently grabbing their charge and hurrying after the Servant...Herakles astralizing with a tilting of lips that might have been a smile.
"Here, this should delay the onset of your Vampirism by a few hours, at best. Bear in mind once it wears off the urges will hit, and they will hit hard."
"Thank you-"
"Save your gratitude. I'm only helping you thanks to that oaf."
Leaving the mysterious Servant's words for another time Shirou drank the foul smelling concoction-after a brief bit of structural analysis to ensure it wasn't poisoned-and felt a bit of his raging desire for blood fade away, the compulsion merely distracting rather than all consuming.
"I don't understand why Souichiro-sama is even bothering with a beast like you. You're well under way to becoming a full-fledged Undead, a slave to your master, that damned Apostle Ancestor. We should do ourselves a favor and simply put you down while we have the chance."
Shirou shrugged.
"I won't become a Ghoul and my 'master' is dead."
Caster blinked, slowly clarifying, "The Ancestor...is dead?"
"Yes. As of about twenty minutes ago. I felt our...link fall silent."
The Servant merely continued to observe him with a hidden gaze, Shirou turning to face Sella as the Homunculus stared at his sister with a hollow and depressed gaze.
...He understood her situation, he felt much the same.
They hadn't been able to properly heal her, Caster only able to stick her in a bubble of time dilation magecraft and slow the girl's demise while Shirou tried to think of a solution to their predicament...and finding only one.
Had the situation not been so dire and stressful-and he more Human than he was-he would have laughed. The bevy of healing weapons and tools he had at his disposal...and he couldn't use a single one. He had thought that with Caster's slowing of Illya's condition he would have the time to collect enough energy to Trace a healing item...and his ongoing Vampirism had shot that plan dead, the turmoil his body was undergoing affecting both Magic Circuits and ability to regenerate prana.
Shirou had hoped Sella would be able to take over but her skills were slanted more towards combat applications, it was only her knowledge that was truly impressive...even then she may have been able to heal Illya, but not as quickly as they needed her to be, given how damaged she was.
And Caster…
"How are you even still alive and residing in this plane of existence? Milady felt you rejoin the Grail."
Sella's question brought out a sour glower from the Servant, her tone acidic as she replied, "And I mostly did. Almost everything that made up my form and mind was returned to the vessel, were it not for Souichiro-sama offering me a contract at the last possible moment. Even then, I had to rely on the leylines underneath Ryuudou temple for the barest amount of energy to function since the Grail no longer offered mana, as well as...alternative methods from Souichiro-sama~."
"Tantric rituals? Understandable."
Sella blushed while Caster scowled at Shirou's blunt words.
"How un-romantic of you, boy. Regardless, with what I have available to myself right now you should consider yourselves lucky enough that I can make a Bounced Field of even that diminished magnitude. I had intended on creating more substantive means of supplying myself with mana...but then you all drew the entirety of the Moonlit World's eyes upon us!"
Sella seemed caught off guard by the Caster's vehemence, Shirou merely raising an eyebrow.
"Your open battles in broad daylight, the Apostle's assaults all across the city...the Church, Mage Association and other smaller entities have sent observers to this city, no doubt wondering if they should directly intervene in order to preserve their way of life and the secrecy of magic. And that has severely hampered my means of gathering energy, since I am supposed to be dead."
Releasing an aggravated growl the Servant openly sulked, Sella hovering protectively next to Illya while Shirou...had the beginnings of a plan begin to form.
"Caster. Do you wish for the Grail or do you merely wish to live undisturbed?"
The woman scoffed.
"What would the difference be? The Grail still acts as an anchor for my soul, were it not the constant influx of energy I take from the leylines I would be returned to the Throne within a heartbeat. I would have to win the Grail to earn a peaceful life with Souichiro-sama."
Shirou instantly knew what he had to do.
"Caster. How experienced with the spiritual arts are you? Would you be able to move a soul from one body into another, provided that body was as near a perfect vessel as could be? Even as weakened as you are?"
An unimpressed glare was the young man's only reply.
"I could perform such an operation in my sleep. Spiritual arts are typically knowledge and preparation intensive, not power intensive."
A small grin graced Shirou's lips.
"Then let us strike a deal. Transfer my sister's soul into a new body she has waiting and I will ensure you do not vanish at the war's conclusion and can live undisturbed with Kuzuki-sensei. You have my word on that."
"...My, what a compelling and foolproof argument. Except your word is worth dirt and I don't think you have the slightest idea on how to carry out such a-"
"Caster...Emiya is not lying. He is much like me...if he has given his word, it is absolute."
The hooded woman fell silent, deep in thought but clearly not entirely convinced.
"I will ensure he follows through on his agreement, Caster."
Kuzuki's words were the last bit of reassurance the Servant apparently needed, shoulders sagging as she muttered, "Very well, Souichiro-sama...I shall believe in your words."
Turning her attention to Shirou the Servant gravely warned, "Bear in mind, boy...I make no guarantees about this. The doll is clearly on the verge of death and we simply do not have the time to prepare the proper methods needed to ensure a safe passage of the soul after the body fails, else this would be a simple matter. It will come down to her strength of will and presence of mind to complete the transfer."
Shirou rose to his feet, Kuzuki matching the motion as Sella hastily tried to match the motion on her hastily bandaged leg.
"Then we're wasting time. Let's go."
So would Caster classify as an advanced Tsundere?
Typically pretty mean but deep down just wants hugs and a chill life?
