"No, we are not." Medea hisses. "I can feel our link master, you have almost no mana left of any kind. You have a Berserker you cannot control, and you have a gaping wound that was only recently closed."
"Does it matter?" you ask, genuinely. "I'm constantly getting hurt, but people are dying. The faster we move, the faster we solve this, the less people have to suffer due to the actions of magic."
I think Medea is getting a grasp of Shirou's personality here, that lack of self-worth.
"At least he's thinking about doing something, instead of just mocking all the ide-" Ayako begins, but her jaw clicks shut as Caster turns to look at her. Caster stares at her for several moments, saying nothing even as Ruby wiggles in Ayako's grip.
Not even any magic involved, just pure solid "Done with this" energy.
Caster smiles, then, placing her hands on eitherside of your cheeks… she kisses you. You feel a tingle of your mana being drained, but only slightly. It's a chaste thing, and she pulls away a moment later with a light blush on her cheeks. Then, turning away, she raises her hood up once more.
D'aww, she's down bad.
"Oh," Circe replies dully. "Well, if you're upset about the kissing then I'm afraid I have bad news for you."
Circe, Circe. I'm almost positive there was a better time for this.
You and Ayako both look down at the stick, staring at it. Then you wrench your gaze away. "... Tantric ritual, I'll explain later. We don't have time for this."
"Oh you better," Ayako growls. "You've been my boyfriend for a week."
You weren't sure what scared you more, her, or that monster. But at the moment, Ayako looked absolutely furious. Far, far more than you had ever seen her before.
Shirou, Ayako needs loving and attention.
Rider turns to look out west, deeper into the forest. "Another servant has been about, hiding themselves… but not enough that it is beyond notice. Prodding, looking for ways around the castle."
Hm, I mean, if it was Assassin, I kinda doubt she'd be noticed. Archer wouldn't need to, Mordred would have been obvious. Riastrad Cu would have been MORE obvious. Saber in Alter mode would consider it beneath her. So... Brihannala sniffing around Ilya? That's not a good sign.
Circe smiles, then says… something in Greek.
Medea looks confused, Rider bristles. The chain creaks in her hand, the metal squealing from how tight Rider is gripping it. Then she leaps down onto the ground. She ignores you, she ignores everyone barring Circe. She stares at the witch, Circe grinning from ear to ear like a cat as she matches 'gazes' with Rider.
"You are…" Rider says wistfully.
"Indeed," Circe says, eyes twinkling. "Now, might he speak to your master? Or shall we remain in this cold."
Circe, what did you do in that millennium between the Odyssey and the tale of Medusa? Are... are you related to Medusa?
"Shirou!" Illya's voice shouted in glee just about a second after the door to the foyer opened, and you found Illya wrapped around your midsection a moment later, her head pressed against your stomach. She looked up at you a second later, beaming. "You came to visit! I was going to come by tonight for dinner."
Happy Ilya is always fun! She's a good little big sister!
Now the votes:
[] [We need to lure this monster out of the city.]
Somewhere we can fight it without collateral damage, then, we unleash everything. Of course, then it has freedom of movement as well.
This seems like the right and proper Shirou option. Save as many people as possible.
[] [We find its master.]
Something, or someone called it. A servant cannot survive without their master. Whether spirit liner or mere familiar.
I uh. I don't think we want to walk into Kirei with both Riastrad Cu and Brihannala hanging around is going to be a particularly survivable affair.
[] [We hunt it.]
This time, we ambush it. Wherever we find it.
This one seems like the anti-Shirou option, we aren't on the Mind of Steel route I don't think.
[X] [We need to lure this monster out of the city.]
Somewhere we can fight it without collateral damage, then, we unleash everything. Of course, then it has freedom of movement as well.
Shirou brain engage!
