Chapter 187
As time went by, the sensations in the girls body multiplied. She shook, trembled as her dreams took her back to the dark place of her childhood, sweat turning the sheets damp and transforming the bed closer to what she felt in the nightmare as they weighed her down and buried her, surrounding her limbs and body while she slept prone in under the wet fabric. The shapes under the covers kept moving as they increased in intensity, making audible sounds as they scraped against the cotton, nails drawing lines into the sheets. Before anyone heard it though, the fits subsided, her erratic breathing growing slower and slower until it was evenly spaced as air left her mouth and entered it in soothing puffs instead of choked gasps. Relaxed, the moisture staining the sheets and her body evaporated into the air, leaving her white skin pristine and spotless. After an hour, she was left untouched as if she had been sleeping peacefully the whole time.
So it's not enough.
The old man grumbled to himself, disappointed at the results. No matter how much he wanted to, this wouldn't be enough time to turn her into the Lesser Grail. He'd lost his pawns, and was unable to gain anymore, with the final one at the Association's camp unable to do much. On top of that, Rider would still turn on him in a heartbeat if she had the chance, and Avenger, or whatever she had become, wasn't likely to hear him out either. Rather, the Servant would probably just try to kill him on sight.
His body churned and crumbled as he left the area, the many bodies scattered on the roof falling to the ground as they crawled, flew and tumbled, leaving no trace of his existence.
It seemed like he would have to wait for the next Grail War in order to use Sakura, so until then he would just try to keep her alive for this one and wait for her hidden traits to mature for the next time. All the while avoiding detection from the other factions, and avoiding death from troublesome opponents. As he melted away into the shadows of the night, his mind turned to the faction most likely to keep Sakura alive.
The red haired boy known as the son of Kiritsugu to Zouken, Emiya Shirou.
From what he knew, Sakura was quite fond of him, and vice-versa, so it was highly likely that Shirou would be willing to ally with her. Furthermore, he didn't seem like a typical magus, and the old man was quite sure the boy would want to help Sakura regardless of what Caster and the others thought. Plans took shape in his mind as he crafted a scheme for the two of them, hoping to increase the chances of Sakura's survival through whatever means possible.
Sending his mind out through the writhing pathways of his grotesque network, he sought out the last known location of the Emiya Master, the silent forest of the winter that hosted the Einzbern mansion.
As he left, the girls eyelids fluttered open, revealing the violet irises streaked with lilac.
After sitting up, she shivered for a brief moment. The memories of her dreams passed through her mind, the darkness of the pit and the abominable susurrations, utterly at odds with the moonlight streaming through the windows.
Sucking in a deep breath, she banished the memories to the corners of her mind and swept her legs off the bed. It had been some time since she was awake, and the lethargy still clung to her body.
After several splashes of cold water on her face, she started feeling more awake as blood rushed to her cheeks, flickers of life returning to her eyes. The pajamas fell to the floor in heaps of clothing as she changed into something more suitable for going outside.
When she poked her head into the kitchen downstairs, she found Rider putting the final touches to a hearty Western style breakfast. A pile of salad with smoked salmon, freshly baked pancakes with a fragrant, glistening omelette hiding a delicious filling within. Several strips of bacon with parma ham crisscrossed the plate, and a healthy serving of mushrooms on the side complemented the dish.
"Smells nice~"
Sakura came over as Rider gave the omelette a slight dusting of black pepper, brushing her hair back as she leaned down to take in the myriad scents wafting off the plate.
"Only the best for my Master. Please wait outside, and I'll bring everything to the table shortly."
"By the way, where's onii-sama?"
Rider turned around, holding the plate and drinks as she walked past Sakura.
"I sent him on errands, picking up groceries and such. He'll be back before tonight."
"I see…"
"Don't worry, no one's going to attack him. He's a nobody."
Her mouth briefly twisted into a frown at the thought of her brother wandering alone on the streets, with all those Servants and magi littered around the town, but then she realized it was also true that no one would specifically target him, and as long as he was in the more crowded areas, he was unlikely to suffer harm.
As if reading her mind, Rider added.
"I've given him adequate protection as well, so don't worry."
Nodding, Sakura followed Rider to the table, her worries dispelled as her thoughts turned to satisfying her famished stomach.
Far away on the streets of Fuyuki, a boy with scraggly, curly blue hair that earned him the nickname 'Seaweed' was jogging at a steady pace, his legs never slacking in pace as he pounded the pavement. The fruits of his physical training showed as he went at an astounding speed, for a human without any enhancements, going at more than a mile every four minutes. The cold air bit his skin, but he disregarded as he focused on keeping his breath in sync with his feet, his eyes only every facing forward.
Occasionally, he patted the irregular bulge on his chest, as if to reassure himself of something. Mentally, he continuously reviewed the instructions Rider had given him, who had specifically stated that he was the only one who could pull it off.
Step one, pretend to go on a shopping errand and reach the shopping district.
Step two, slip out of the area by using a path prepared by Rider ahead of time.
Step three, go to the Einzbern mansion and establish contact with Shirou, or failing that ask the Einzbern master about his fate and, if possible, request her assistance.
She had seen the devastation of the temple with her own eyes, and was sure that the Emiya Master, along with his allies, were long gone already. In addition, she sensed traces of Berserker's unique mana traces, something so foreign that even she could easily detect it. Through deduction, it stood to reason that the Einzbern Master would likely know something about Shirou's whereabouts, or even that he was there at her base.
Once he could find the boy, the rest of her plan would be able to come true, to rid Sakura of the curse binding her, and give her Master free reign to lead a 'healthy' life. As a maid, this was her first and foremost priority…