A/N: Just one more thing to add before the second night really kicks off. Enjoy.

INTERLUDE-1

The words he spoke would sound unintelligible to anyone who had been listening. But he was alone in the darkness, and the aria taken from his teacher's spellbook were of great significance to Caster.

From within the darkness, something writhed.

He was grateful and blessed to have known his teacher, and the abilities gifted to him during his studies would be put to great use in the War. All of Francois Prelati's demonic rituals and magical spells were recorded and written in the book in his hands, and now that he had been given form once again he would resume his teacher's work. Not only because the spells would help him defeat the other Servants, but because these rituals would further stain his image in the eyes of God.

"Can You see it?" Caster whispered into the darkness. "Even in this darkness, surely He can see it…!"

Those eight years had only been preparation, he saw that now. This was the reason he had been brought back. It was not by God's miracle that had given him form, but because he was chosen by the Holy Grail. The despair and terror he would unleash now would go far beyond his atrocities in the past. This time around, he would see a response from God himself.

"You never saw fit to punish me in the past, yet what would You do now? What do you think of this?!"

The creature in front of him pulsed in response to Caster's screech. The warped Servant gave a few heavy breathes before calming himself. A beatific smile stretched across his face.

"Ah, but I knew this wouldn't be enough. And it has not yet awakened." Caster spread his arms out wide. "A true artist knows that his best work takes time! This masterpiece will not be finished in a day!"

And another blessing had been bestowed upon him by the Grail. He had been gifted with such an inspiring Master.

"As such, I have brought only the best materials with me."

Several small bodies trapped by Caster's magic struggled in vain to get free. They wanted to get away from the darkness, they wanted to get away from the man who had kidnapped and brought them here…

…But most of all, they wanted to get away from that thing squirming in the darkness.

One child cried out in fear as a large hand grabbed his head and lifted him up. The other children could only watch the brief struggle and listen as a wet, sickening snap echoed from within the sewer.

Caster's hand was clenched in a fist where the child's head should have been.

A dull thump echoed through the sewers as something hit the ground.

The darkness in front of Caster distorted as the creature moved. The darkness almost seemed to reach out, as if to grasp something. The small corpse disappeared. Caster seemed not to notice.

"…You still refuse to answer to my blasphemies? You dare to ignore my work again?! To leave me unpunished still?!"

Caster yelled into the darkness and he grabbed two more heads. Familiar sounds reverberated through the cavern. Two more corpses fell to the floor. They disappeared the same way as the first. The children watching couldn't even scream in the face of the terror.

"I don't understand…!" Caster moaned in anguish, holding his bloody hands up as if begging. "You punish Your most beautiful and devoted servant, yet refuse to strike down one who has stained his colors with blood and despair? You would turn a blind eye to this suffering once again? I ask again, WHY?!"

Caster continued to moan and lament, even as the creature and darkness surrounding it creeped forward and swallowed the remaining bodies of the children that still drew breath.

"You toy with me! You toyed with her! Does this wickedness only amuse You?!"

Caster smiled joyfully as the creature finished feeding. Its soft breathing sounded like a lullaby to his ears.

"No… no… I see only one way to be worthy of Your attention." Caster grinned as he clutched onto his spellbook. "Once it awakens You will have no choice! I will trample upon heaven itself! Once You see that creation is not your gift alone to give I will have my wish granted!"

The monster continued to sleep soundly even as Caster kept shouting.

"I will have my Virgin Goddess returned to me!"

Caster let his declaration echo off the walls of the cavern. The Servant gave a longing look at what he had created before turning his back on the thing and retreating down the way he came.

It would take time for it to grow and take form, and even more time for it to become self-sufficient. Caster felt bad for stealing some of his Master's materials, but it couldn't be helped. He had hidden it deeper inside the sewers, far from his and his Master's territory so that it could be left to grow in peace. But in order to keep growing, he would not have to be lax in feeding it. Caster felt worry build up inside him at the thought of other Servants finding his creation. He would have to distract them or eliminate those that got too close. No, better yet, capture one of them and feed the Servant to the creature. It would only help facilitate its growth. His familiars were already spreading throughout the city, making a perimeter, searching and gathering materials. But they were not enough for the Servants. No, this night he would go out personally and introduce himself to the heretics summoned by the Grail and invite them to be a part of his beautiful work of art.

He would no be refused. Their blood, bones and organs would be the feast for his growing monster. The monster would help him tear down the gates of heaven itself and become the tool that would gain the attention of the Almighty.

Yes, once his beast awakened, Caster would have the Grail.

And once he claimed it, he and his precious Jeanne would finally be reunited.

INTERLUDE OUT

A/N: These may pop up occasionally. Not too often, maybe only five or six planned interludes at most. Maybe less. Still, gives a bit of an idea of what Caster's been up to. Look forward to the next chapter.

Kiiam