[X] Read something.
- [X] One of your borrowed books.
You stretch a little and consider the books you still have. They're probably not much direct use to you anymore - Archer is the only Servant whose identity you don't know and can't find out, and he's not a real danger - but you might as well finish them before you leave. Patchouli probably already has them, anyway, so it's not like you'd really get anything if you kept them. You take out the book you were reading, still unfinished since your stay at Caster's, and turn to the last section of Greek stories. Eros and Psyche, lovers mortal and divine frustrated by the jealousy of Aphrodite, finally reunited by the judgment of Zeus. Persephone's abduction by Hades, her mother's search for her, and the creation of winter. Orpheus's failed attempt to rescue his lover from the Underworld. Echo, the nymph cursed to voicelessness, and Narcissus, the mortal unable to love anything apart from himself. You pay more attention to the next story - that of Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa. Rider is hardly the horrific figure that Medusa was said to be, but it's possible - likely, even - that her hideousness was created as a self-defense mechanism by humans. If they knew of her beauty, they might seek her out, but an ugly monster would be left alone. This story doesn't include the pegasus birth, but does mention that her dripping blood birthed monsters and snakes in the desert … now wouldn't that be an interesting talent to have? The story that follows is of Daedalus and Icarus, the genius inventor and his foolish son, and the last is of Theseus slaying the Minotaur in the Labyrinth Daedalus created.
The next section begins stories from India, starting with a hero named Rama. His birth, influenced by the gods' desire to eliminate a grand devil who had managed to become immune to death from gods and other devils, and brought about by the sacrifice of a deity named Vishnu. How Rama and his brother Lakshman wounded a pair of devils who had been harassing a priest. How he won a wife - and wives for his brothers - by stringing a bow. His exile by a witch's words to one of his father's wives, and how he left his home with nothing but his wife and his brother, and how the brother who was made king sought his return. How, after a decade of his fourteen-year exile, Rama earned the wrath of the devil he had been born to kill, slaying thousands of lesser devils - only to have his wife abducted, later found by a monkey lord. Rama, with an army of monkeys accompanying him, crossed over the ocean on a great bridge, besieged the city of the devils, and after a long (untold!) war the great devil is finally slain by Rama. And then Rama returned to his city, reigned for ten thousand years, sent his wife away, and lost her again, and eventually returned to his proper position as a deity.
The stories of Krishna are next - another child born to slay a wicked being, and another incarnation of Vishnu. Unlike Rama, Krishna was a mischievous and horrible brat, always playing pranks and causing problems, but apparently never suffering any punishment for his games. He fought a great many-headed snake demon, but let it live after its wives begged him for mercy, and he forced another god to submit to his might.
A mighty banging on your door interrupts you before you can finish the section, and Tohsaka shoves her way in, glowering. "Good, you're awake. Come on, get up!" She walks over and grabs your arm, trying to pull you out of bed, but you hold yourself in place and break her grip.
"You can't command me, Tohsaka." She snarls and steps back, rubbing her arm where you squeezed it.
"Look, we've got a bit of a problem, because there are people coming here - not Association people, local 'authorities.' And the only reason they'd be coming here now is because of you, and especially your little stunt last night! And for some … twisted reason, Illyasviel doesn't want you to get involved, but it's your fault so you need to take responsibility!" You look at her for a moment, then shrug and look back at your book.
"If Ilya wishes to exercise her duties as a host and protect her guests, I am hardly going to insult her by taking care of things behind her back." Tohsaka stares at you, mouth hanging, until you look back at her. "You can leave." She glares at you, draws herself up as much as she can, and stomps out, slamming the door behind her. You take a breath, hold it, and release it … then wait a few more minutes before going to the door and peeking out. The hall is clear, and you nod to yourself before turning invisible and slipping out. You won't insult Ilya by taking care of things, but you'd still like to make sure she is safe … and maybe ask her why she didn't want to involve you. It's a matter of moments to find Tohsaka and follow her - not to the front, as you had thought, but to the back of the castle, where the cars are. You slip around another way and find a spot to wait near Ilya and Ershin. Tohsaka arrives a few seconds later and Ilya looks at her.
"What did you have to get?" The other mage holds up a dagger with a red gem for the pommel, and Ilya huffs. "You won't need that even if it comes to a fight." Tohsaka doesn't respond, and after a short wait Sella and Leysritt join the group.
"They will be here shortly," Sella says, and Ilya nods, running a hand through her hair and taking a calming breath. Less than a minute later four black cars emerge from the path and pull off into the grass. Three of them merely disgorge suited men, but from the fourth emerge the one-eyed man who found Laevateinn and a girl about Tohsaka's age, with brilliantly red hair. Ilya curtsies perfunctorily.
"Welcome to my home. I am Illyasviel von Einzbern. What do you want?" The girl steps forward with the one-eyed man in the position of a bodyguard, but the other men remain by the cars.
"I am looking for the creature called Flandre Scarlet. I have business with you, as well as the head of the Tohsaka family, but I wish to deal with her first." Ilya nods slightly.
"Of course. However, she is asleep right now; as I am sure you are aware, she has a slight problem coming out into the sun."
"In my experience, that exists only whenever they wish it to be one. But if that is the way you wish to continue, then I can deal with you first." Ilya half-bows and Tohsaka shifts uncomfortably. "You are to remove yourself from Japan immediately. Whatever ritual you are conducting here will be dismantled by us. Between the disaster of ten years ago and the more recent events, it is obvious that your continued presence will bring nothing but disaster to our people. Of course, if you wish to resist, I have no problem with removing you by force."
"Tohno-san, please, if -"
"You have a choice, Tohsaka, and that is to either leave with her or submit yourself to our standards and protocols. Of course, your presence here, instead of a location where you could be more easily reached, indicates where your loyalty lies, so I have little doubt regarding your choice." You see the mage stiffen and begin to tremble angrily.
What do you do?
[ ] Keep watching and see how Ilya and Tohsaka handle the situation.
[ ] Introduce yourself to the one-eyed man.
[ ] Introduce yourself.
[ ] Other?
