8 Days Till Christmas
AnonymousRabbit
Rabbit Faced
[] Abort the Assassination. Chase after Ayumi before she vanishes again.
"Don't," you breathed, "Chase after Ayumi quickly. We're going to catch her this time."
"Are you sure? It'll get rid of Rider," Assassin asked you with a concerned tone.
"I'm sure. I don't want to deal with another Blackened because a Servant died. We have to get Ayumi and pin her down. Otherwise I won't be able to sleep at night," you growled as you got up giving Ophelia one last look as she laid on the ground.
Rider met your gaze before vanishing alongside his Master. You didn't have time to stand around, you broke into a run as Assassin went ahead of you. Ayumi couldn't have gone far but therein lies the problem. What if you got to her and she wasn't Ayumi anymore, the poor girl must be possessed again to go this far.
Assassin tried tracking her down but it seemed that Ayumi was faster on her legs than she let on. You searched for her some more and looked at your surroundings for faint traces of magical energy. The fire the Blackened had made had attracted the attention of the fire department and if they got here while you were looking, it would be another headache for you.
"Found her," Assassin echoed in your mind as you ended up seeing through her vision of Ayumi running down a road.
"I'm going," you told her as you found that the area was nearby. You reinforced your legs and made a break for it, running as fast as you could to intercept her.
You winced as your wounds acted up from you exerting yourself but you endured. This was more important. You ran through some buildings and found a quiet street several blocks away from the reservoir. You ended up stopping right in front of Ayumi as she nearly crashed into you. You held up your arm and stopped her right where she was, grabbing her shoulder as you caught her.
"Gotcha," you growled in a low voice as her eyes widened and looked up at you.
"H-Hans!" Ayumi gasped as she stepped back to get away, "I-"
You grabbed hold of her arm and gave her a stern look, "No more running. You're coming with me, okay?"
"I-I didn't know what happened. I didn't know what came over me. I just did something and I thought... I'm sorry," Ayumi panicked as her eyes began to glow before you interrupted her.
"You have to calm down. Calm down for now, okay?" you tried asking her as you held her shoulder, "You just have to stop running so we can sort this out. Your first instinct may be to run but where would you go? I can't just leave you out there, it's dangerous!"
You wanted to keep her under watch for any more suspicious activity but it seemed that she truly wasn't aware of her own actions. Having her lose control was the last thing you needed, especially if she had a tangential connection to the Blackened. You didn't want that thing reacting to her fluctuating emotions.
"I... I'm sorry," Ayumi breathed as she held her chest.
Her eyes began to turn back to normal, the blue glow that Manaka's eyes had subsiding. Was it her soul that was deteriorating or was it Manaka trying to find her way back? No, Manaka did mention that if time went on, Ayumi would be completely overwritten and she would just turn out to be another Manaka separate from the true one that first possessed the poor girl's body.
It's like an infection.
"I know someone who could probably fix you. Well, 'fix' in this case is very loose but we could probably stand a chance," you assured her as you met her gaze, "You'll just have to trust me, as big of an ask that is."
Ayumi grimaced but didn't complain, instead she gave you a firm nod. You tensed up as Assassin threw a kunai near the wall to your right. It smashed a jeweled familiar crawling up the wall before she got down and landed by your side. You looked down at the cracked gemstone and frowned as you left Ayumi with your Servant.
"Well then, this explains some things. Looks like my plans are out of the bag," you murmured as you inspected the stone.
"What is it?" Assassin asked you with a frown.
"Luvia was probably watching our entire fight with Ophelia. We can consider that alliance gone up in smoke," you replied as you stared at the gem in your hand, "They know I'm planning a future war and that my bs that I told them won't stick anymore. This must be Ophelia's gambit in meeting us here."
"Then... They'll consider me hostile too considering what I did," Ayumi said as she clenched her fists.
"We can't be sure about that. They know you're harmless but Ophelia has fought Manaka in your body. Sakura and Luvia will probably be wary of us now..." you said as you pocketed the gem familiar.
"Then what about Miyu? Will she be okay?"Ayumi asked with a worried tone.
"They won't hurt her so she'll be safe with them. Miyu is a smart girl but if this makes her change her opinion on us, then our chances of receiving the Grail gets shot," you summed up with a grim tone. You looked down the street and said, "That girl hates these wars. You could tell... Imagine what she'd think if she knew I'm planning on starting one after this."
"We can discuss this later. Hans, you need to get back to the church," Assassin told you with a sharp tone, "Your body..."
"I know. I'm just about to fall apart," you chuckled as you met her gaze, "Let's head back fast..."
.....
....
...
It was late into the evening when Caren stepped out of Ayumi's room to speak with you outside the church. She had her arms crossed as she found you sitting by the gazebo all by yourself, her eyes quickly glancing at your hand now wrapped in bandages.
"You know, if you planned on getting injured so soon, I wouldn't have bothered with your first ones," Caren said as she walked towards you.
Glancing her way, you straightened up in your seat and smiled, "Well, too late for that now. How's the girl?"
"Her soul is rotting. I'm surprised that she managed to retain her ego in her state," Caren said as she took out a picture from her pocket and showed it to you. It was the picture of Ayumi as she was a couple weeks ago before she was possessed by Manaka. Caren spoke up as she continued, "There's only so much I could do. Had you brought her awhile back, I could have at least tried an exorcism."
"With what's possessed her, I doubt it would have helped. We would be both killed," you told her as you set down the photo, "Is there anything that could be done?"
"With proper observation from the Church, perhaps. I suggest entrusting her to our organization for rehabilitation... Though first you would have to sever her connection with the one that's contaminated her very soul," Caren explained as she took her seat and sighed, "Her personality is going to split between her own and the thing possessing her. It's no demon from what you described otherwise I would be feeling it but something far worse?"
"You could say that," you replied as you looked up the sky, "I'm leaving her under your care from now. I can't exactly watch over her with this War going on."
"And what? Leave the investigation of the Blackened to the King of Knights? You ask too much, Magus," Caren shrugged as she leaned on her seat, "Though you know, there are simpler ways to handle this. You're a pragmatic man."
"I don't like what you're implying," you frowned her way.
"Lord forgive me for such thoughts but you can't deny their effectivity," Caren pointed out as her yellow eyes met your blue ones, "It is something to consider, a choice God would offer you when the moment comes."
You stared at her for a long while before she closed her own eyes. She then stood up and turned her back on you.
"You should rest. Knowing you, no doubt you have something planned tomorrow. Sleep well knowing you managed to survive the night and, God willing, live to sleep another," Caren said as she walked away from you.
What a terrible woman...
You decided to stay out the gazebo some more, your runes providing you with warmth in this cold winter night. You looked at your bandaged hand as you raised it before you. From your side, a pair of hands reached out to hold it and you found Assassin standing beside you as she kept your hand warm.
"You should really listen to others, My Lord," Chiyome chided lightly as she wrapped her hands around your own.
You managed a small smile as exhaustion hit you all at once. You were tired, yeah... But you can't stop now. Tomorrow was the 18th of December, you can find Miyu then. You'll have to take her back during that time...
[] "I'm stubborn like that. I'm stubborn now... Sit with me, I could use better company."
[] "Nagging already? What happened to the quiet Chiyome I knew that just kept asking for orders. You're not cute anymore."
[] "Well then... Drag me back because my legs aren't working anymore. You could at least do that."
[] Write In...
"Don't," you breathed, "Chase after Ayumi quickly. We're going to catch her this time."
"Are you sure? It'll get rid of Rider," Assassin asked you with a concerned tone.
"I'm sure. I don't want to deal with another Blackened because a Servant died. We have to get Ayumi and pin her down. Otherwise I won't be able to sleep at night," you growled as you got up giving Ophelia one last look as she laid on the ground.
Rider met your gaze before vanishing alongside his Master. You didn't have time to stand around, you broke into a run as Assassin went ahead of you. Ayumi couldn't have gone far but therein lies the problem. What if you got to her and she wasn't Ayumi anymore, the poor girl must be possessed again to go this far.
Assassin tried tracking her down but it seemed that Ayumi was faster on her legs than she let on. You searched for her some more and looked at your surroundings for faint traces of magical energy. The fire the Blackened had made had attracted the attention of the fire department and if they got here while you were looking, it would be another headache for you.
"Found her," Assassin echoed in your mind as you ended up seeing through her vision of Ayumi running down a road.
"I'm going," you told her as you found that the area was nearby. You reinforced your legs and made a break for it, running as fast as you could to intercept her.
You winced as your wounds acted up from you exerting yourself but you endured. This was more important. You ran through some buildings and found a quiet street several blocks away from the reservoir. You ended up stopping right in front of Ayumi as she nearly crashed into you. You held up your arm and stopped her right where she was, grabbing her shoulder as you caught her.
"Gotcha," you growled in a low voice as her eyes widened and looked up at you.
"H-Hans!" Ayumi gasped as she stepped back to get away, "I-"
You grabbed hold of her arm and gave her a stern look, "No more running. You're coming with me, okay?"
"I-I didn't know what happened. I didn't know what came over me. I just did something and I thought... I'm sorry," Ayumi panicked as her eyes began to glow before you interrupted her.
"You have to calm down. Calm down for now, okay?" you tried asking her as you held her shoulder, "You just have to stop running so we can sort this out. Your first instinct may be to run but where would you go? I can't just leave you out there, it's dangerous!"
You wanted to keep her under watch for any more suspicious activity but it seemed that she truly wasn't aware of her own actions. Having her lose control was the last thing you needed, especially if she had a tangential connection to the Blackened. You didn't want that thing reacting to her fluctuating emotions.
"I... I'm sorry," Ayumi breathed as she held her chest.
Her eyes began to turn back to normal, the blue glow that Manaka's eyes had subsiding. Was it her soul that was deteriorating or was it Manaka trying to find her way back? No, Manaka did mention that if time went on, Ayumi would be completely overwritten and she would just turn out to be another Manaka separate from the true one that first possessed the poor girl's body.
It's like an infection.
"I know someone who could probably fix you. Well, 'fix' in this case is very loose but we could probably stand a chance," you assured her as you met her gaze, "You'll just have to trust me, as big of an ask that is."
Ayumi grimaced but didn't complain, instead she gave you a firm nod. You tensed up as Assassin threw a kunai near the wall to your right. It smashed a jeweled familiar crawling up the wall before she got down and landed by your side. You looked down at the cracked gemstone and frowned as you left Ayumi with your Servant.
"Well then, this explains some things. Looks like my plans are out of the bag," you murmured as you inspected the stone.
"What is it?" Assassin asked you with a frown.
"Luvia was probably watching our entire fight with Ophelia. We can consider that alliance gone up in smoke," you replied as you stared at the gem in your hand, "They know I'm planning a future war and that my bs that I told them won't stick anymore. This must be Ophelia's gambit in meeting us here."
"Then... They'll consider me hostile too considering what I did," Ayumi said as she clenched her fists.
"We can't be sure about that. They know you're harmless but Ophelia has fought Manaka in your body. Sakura and Luvia will probably be wary of us now..." you said as you pocketed the gem familiar.
"Then what about Miyu? Will she be okay?"Ayumi asked with a worried tone.
"They won't hurt her so she'll be safe with them. Miyu is a smart girl but if this makes her change her opinion on us, then our chances of receiving the Grail gets shot," you summed up with a grim tone. You looked down the street and said, "That girl hates these wars. You could tell... Imagine what she'd think if she knew I'm planning on starting one after this."
"We can discuss this later. Hans, you need to get back to the church," Assassin told you with a sharp tone, "Your body..."
"I know. I'm just about to fall apart," you chuckled as you met her gaze, "Let's head back fast..."
.....
....
...
It was late into the evening when Caren stepped out of Ayumi's room to speak with you outside the church. She had her arms crossed as she found you sitting by the gazebo all by yourself, her eyes quickly glancing at your hand now wrapped in bandages.
"You know, if you planned on getting injured so soon, I wouldn't have bothered with your first ones," Caren said as she walked towards you.
Glancing her way, you straightened up in your seat and smiled, "Well, too late for that now. How's the girl?"
"Her soul is rotting. I'm surprised that she managed to retain her ego in her state," Caren said as she took out a picture from her pocket and showed it to you. It was the picture of Ayumi as she was a couple weeks ago before she was possessed by Manaka. Caren spoke up as she continued, "There's only so much I could do. Had you brought her awhile back, I could have at least tried an exorcism."
"With what's possessed her, I doubt it would have helped. We would be both killed," you told her as you set down the photo, "Is there anything that could be done?"
"With proper observation from the Church, perhaps. I suggest entrusting her to our organization for rehabilitation... Though first you would have to sever her connection with the one that's contaminated her very soul," Caren explained as she took her seat and sighed, "Her personality is going to split between her own and the thing possessing her. It's no demon from what you described otherwise I would be feeling it but something far worse?"
"You could say that," you replied as you looked up the sky, "I'm leaving her under your care from now. I can't exactly watch over her with this War going on."
"And what? Leave the investigation of the Blackened to the King of Knights? You ask too much, Magus," Caren shrugged as she leaned on her seat, "Though you know, there are simpler ways to handle this. You're a pragmatic man."
"I don't like what you're implying," you frowned her way.
"Lord forgive me for such thoughts but you can't deny their effectivity," Caren pointed out as her yellow eyes met your blue ones, "It is something to consider, a choice God would offer you when the moment comes."
You stared at her for a long while before she closed her own eyes. She then stood up and turned her back on you.
"You should rest. Knowing you, no doubt you have something planned tomorrow. Sleep well knowing you managed to survive the night and, God willing, live to sleep another," Caren said as she walked away from you.
What a terrible woman...
You decided to stay out the gazebo some more, your runes providing you with warmth in this cold winter night. You looked at your bandaged hand as you raised it before you. From your side, a pair of hands reached out to hold it and you found Assassin standing beside you as she kept your hand warm.
"You should really listen to others, My Lord," Chiyome chided lightly as she wrapped her hands around your own.
You managed a small smile as exhaustion hit you all at once. You were tired, yeah... But you can't stop now. Tomorrow was the 18th of December, you can find Miyu then. You'll have to take her back during that time...
8 Days Till Christmas
[] "It's just a little bit more, Assassin. Just a little bit more and we can get this over with."
[] "I'm stubborn like that. I'm stubborn now... Sit with me, I could use better company."
[] "Nagging already? What happened to the quiet Chiyome I knew that just kept asking for orders. You're not cute anymore."
[] "Well then... Drag me back because my legs aren't working anymore. You could at least do that."
[] Write In...
