[We ask my servants about the leylines]
You knew what they were but not where they were, of course, knowing what they granted a magus they were likely under watch as well. And they were.
Thanks to @Armoury for the beta! He's very handsome!
—
"Fujimaru's servant is supposed to head for the leylines, so… we should just need to check those. I know there are several in the city, but I don't know
where they are, my fathe… you pause, looking at Illya. "Our father never told me. But Caster would, I wouldn't be surprised if she hadn't scouted them out already."
"You believe she did so without telling you?" Illya's servant asks.
You look up at the purple-themed servant. "She does a lot of things without telling me, some of them are even for my benefit. She probably has three workshops there along with a portal that will make me stumble headfirst into Circe's temple." You wince as the name leaves your lips, then remember you were no longer under
that specific curse. "If not, her abilities will likely let her find them easily enough. She's an utterly fantastic mage."
Illya nods, smiling an adorable smile. "Then… where are we going?"
You pause for a moment, thinking. The house would likely be a poor decision, not that you didn't trust Illya. Just, you would rather not draw yet more attention onto the place. The park would work, but… you have also just come to the realization that you have no means of contacting Caster. You knew there was a spell magus could learn to communicate with familiars… but you were, and would likely forever remain, a remarkably bad magus.
So, knowing her. Probably
back at the house much as you would like to do otherwise, if only because her wards would inform her of your arrival. She was probably waiting for that, so that she could reprimand you properly for your actions. Unfortunately for her, that would have to wait until at least the evening, where she could do so both privately and when you weren't so busy. "Would you happen to know where the Fujimura compound is?" you ask, looking back to Illya's servant.
The servant nods, you… didn't expect her to actually know that, but you won't look a gift horse in the mouth. "Then there please."
—
It had taken you a good hour to walk through town, and another while after that to be 'picked up' and taken to Illya's castle. You had
returned from the castle and arrived back in the compound in just shy of five minutes. You don't recall much of it, as it seemed that Illya enjoyed her servant moving quickly, and everytime Illya showed joy at that, the servant would move faster, which would cause Illya joy, which would cause her servant to move faster. It was a vicious cycle that led to you making the journey with your eyes closed, but as you came to a stop in the compound, much to the surprise of the men and women in the immediate area… you didn't actually feel too out of sorts.
You did your best to ignore the surprise of those around you. Mostly because you had given up the masquerade… a thing you had never cared about to begin with, and because with Medea
teleporting in front of you a split second later, you realized it meant precious little. Your father would be upset, you were sure. But he wasn't here to question your decisions at the moment. That was entirely Medea's job, and she, as always, did so
splendidly.
"What are you
thinkin?!." Caster hisses out. "Bringing them
here?"
"Where are the leylines in the city?" you ask, not bothering to explain yourself at the moment.
Caster blinks, the anger on her face fading away as she realizes you answered her question with another. "The park where you found me, a mansion in town, and a nearby temple.
Why?"
You nod, thinking over those. It wouldn't be the park, unless Fujimura's servant wished to make herself look homeless, and then, that was one of the nicest parts of the city, that ruse wouldn't last long. The mansions… you knew precious little about them, but the temple. There was only one temple, "Ryuudou, the Ryuudou temple. We'll be heading there, can you call Circe?"
"I…" Caster begins, then blinks, the frown returning a moment later. "Why? Master, explain yourself."
"I know the man who runs it, and his son. They take in the homeless and others that have no place to go. If Fujimaru's servant was going to be anywhere instead of searching for her, it would be
at that temple, the park would be untenable, and I don't know much about the upper class of this city, so it's the best place to start."
Caster stares at you wordlessly for several moments. "And the reason you have brought your kidnapper to this place?"
"It's not kidnapping if it's done with good intention," you reply. "And regardless, it was my decision to make and I decided it was worth it. I trust Illya, much like I trust you Caster."
"... We will discuss this later,
Master," Caster replies.
"Of that I have no doubt, now, can you please retrieve Circe and everyone else?" you ask.
Your servant disappears, and you let out a quiet breath.
"She means well, if it helps." Fujimaru says.
You look back towards the time-traveler. "She has her reasons, and I do not fault her for them." You reply. "Though it does… lead to stress."
A light pat on your back caused you to turn your head, only to see Illya smiling up at you with a wide smile on her face.
Well, at least someone was happy.
—
Circe, Archer, Medea and Sakura arrived ten minutes later. Archer carrying Sakura, Medea looking annoyed, and Circe… still only using one arm, the other was hanging uselessly at her side. You want to ask, but now wasn't the time, especially since she spoke first.
"My darling piglet!" Circe says, smiling from ear to gigantic ear. "What have you found?"
"My sister is willing to help," you say, gesturing to the girl by your said. "Illya, my friends."
Illya steps forward, her hands moving to her skirt as she performs a
picture perfect curtsy. "Illyasviel von Einzbern. Head of the Einzbern family, and Shirou's sister." She then raises her head, and… halts unnaturally, her gaze fixing upon Sakura. She catches herself and recovers a moment later. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Sakura blinks in apparent surprise, then catches herself. Returning the gesture before smiling down at the girl. "Sa… Sakura Matou. It is nice to meet you."
"Circe."
"Archer."
Illya nods to them in turn, and you look over the group curiously. "Where's Taiga's?"
"Still searching," Caster replies. "She's also making sure that the
other master isn't tracking you." There was bite to that statement, you ignore it.
Instead you nod your head. "I have reason to believe Fujimaru's servant is at the Ryuudou temple, that's where we'll be heading next. I know the way there, and it's not a far walk… from the old house."
"Do you plan on
walking boy?" a new, voice, grizzled with age asks.
You turn your head to see Raiga making his way out of the building, his cane tapping against the ground. "I-"
"
Will be taking one of my vehicles, I will not have you traipsing across the city in public view, lest there are more
incidents like this morning."
"Raiga, the last time-"
"The last time was unfortunate, I admit." Raiga says. "And I have already given my
suggestions to that organization. But I will not have a friend of the family, a boy I see as my own grandson, travel unescorted, at least to his destination. I presume you will have no objections to this?"
You say nothing.
Raiga smiles, it is not a friendly smile. "That's good, now, go upon this errand of yours. I shall speak to you this evening regarding events in the city." The man then turns, before pausing. "And boy?"
"Yes Raiga?"
"Do understand that I will expect recompense for this, the manner of which has already been decided."
"... I don't suppose you'd be willing to share what that would be?"
"In due time, due time." Raiga replies, leaving you to simply stare after him in silence.
…
"So… what are you to Shirou exactly?" Illya asks a few seconds later, looking at Sakura.
"Oh, a friend." Sakura replies, smiling simply. "How… well, do… you are a magus, correct?"
Illya nods her head. "Yep!"
Sakura was never the best around children, never had been. Though you did think she would be a good mother, she always seemed horrifically embarrassed whenever you told her that however. You watched the conversation with some amusement as a limousine was brought around, though you couldn't help but notice that Fujimaru was staring at the both of them with a rather… odd expression on her face.
—
The drive to the temple was, thankfully, a peaceful one. Containing little in the way of conversation besides Illya seemingly being bound and determined to learn as much about Sakura as possible. Why you couldn't say, but you let yourself relax for the first time since the attack in the morning.
It was a half hour before you reached the steps of the temple, and there the car was parked. Unlike the church where they were right near the doors, this was several hundred feet away. If only because that despite the amount of money Raiga had, he had failed to buy a car that could walk up a hundred steps up a hill. The goons opened the doors for the lot of you, then, to your relief, stayed
by the car as the lot of you began making your way up the hill. With the servants invisible, it was just a group of four friends, or, three friends and a small child making their way to the temple, on a school day… while three of them were filthy from fighting an evil swordswoman earlier.
You were going to say it was relatively normal before you realized how stupid even the thought of that was and quashed it. Still. It was a staircase you had made your way up many, many times in the past. And you allowed yourself to relax further as your shoes clacked against the stone. The only conversation was that of silence between you, with Sakura to your left, Illya to your right, and Fujimaru taking up the spot just behind. A spot you would suspect she took in order to pace herself, as she had an eagerness to her step the entire way, you did somewhat as well, as finding her servant would be one of the few good things that had happened recently.
Cresting the temple, you take in the grounds you hadn't seen in several weeks. It was a simple thing, a large, singular building with a proud blue roof. Behind it there were more of course, but they were invisible from view at present. For now you stood in the shadow of the gate that marked the entrance to the temple proper, just nearby, turning his head to look at you was a priest, one of the many that resided here.
"Ah… Shirou, good…" He looks to the sky. "Almost noon, did… Issei send you here needing something?"
You smile, you don't recall the priest's name, but you knew his face. He was the usual type, bald and dressed in a robe. You had helped him long in the past delivering food to the less fortunate. "No, I was looking for someone actually."
The priest tilts his head, smiling. "Oh? Who might tha-"
"It wouldn't happen to be me would it,
Emiya?" Shinji's voice responds to your left.
View: https://youtu.be/yOgi3nBDh04?list=PLr8oeV3cmlKm1pBlnXBN_3nvsg6ZDlSKR
You snap your head, and see Shinji Matou, stepping out of the shadow of the gatehouse. He looked… worse for wear. His left arm was missing, his sleeve tied up at the shoulder, and his face was… burnt, scarring covering the entire left side with the eye there being a milky white. A gasp came just beside you, and you didn't need to look to know it was Sakura.
Shinji's eyes… eye flitted to her, and a sneer came onto his face. "Ah. So that's where she went." He steps forward, coming to a stop side by side with the priest. "He said you would be showing up here at some point, it's been boring Shirou. Since when are you ever late for anything? Always such a boot-licker."
"I thought you were dead, Shinji," you reply.
The sneer returns, it had the impressive ability to make an already ugly face uglier. "From that? Not likely
Emiya. Here I thought you'd be happier to see me. These priests were
kind enough to take me in."
The priest smiles… slightly, but looks rather uncomfortable with the sudden change in mood.
"Too many surprises lately," you reply simply. You'll need apologize to the priest later if you had the chance.
The sneer drops, replaced instead by a look of simple hate. "Sakura, come here."
You feel her stir at your side, but she doesn't move. "N-no."
Shinji stares at her, saying nothing for a moment, before snorting. "So you're a magus Shirou, I suppose this makes things more interesting then."
"Interesting how?" you ask carefully.
Shinji then grins, a crazed thing. "Now I get to be better than you in more ways than one!" then he slaps the priest
hard on the back. The man gasps, stumbling forward and into you. His eyes bulge in pain, and he opens his mouth to speak before a yellow
smoke tumbles out of it.
Your eyes burn and your vision goes briefly hazy before a hand grabs you by the back of your shirt and yanks you back. You barely have time to register Caster holding onto you before you are twenty feet away further down the steps. The priest lands atop them, his body spasming. He hands dart to his throat, the flesh
bulging outwards like an overinflated balloon as the skin rips open between his fingers, blood and yellow smoke pouring out. His eyes roll back in his head as loud, desperate wheezes escape his throat, tears pouring down his face.
You struggle to move forward, you struggle to help. But Medea holds onto you with vice grip before-
The man's throat bursts open in a torrent of blood, bone, and yellow smoke. He then goes limp, bleeding motionlessly upon the steps as the smoke begins to roll down the staircase
towards you.
"Shouldn't have dodged Emiya, it just makes this take longer. This leyline is mine!" Shinji Matou laughs, "come any closer and I'll deal with the rest of the people in here the same way!"
"Master, a servant is near." Caster whispers.
…
Fine.
—
[] [Retreat for now]
You aren't leaving the people in this temple to Shinji's mercy.
[] [Go after the master]
If Shinji is the master of whatever servant is allowing this to happen, or if he did it himself, then he was going to die.
[] [Go after the servant]
Find the servant, end the servant.
[] [Go after the people]
We have to clear the area before we do any form of fighting here.
[] [Write-in]
