Poison Wrought from Melted Dreams

[Hakugi Rima]

Day 1 – 12:15, Noon, Somewhat East of Town

So tired. She had flown all the way from Japan. She had not slept the entire time. If she had, she might not have been able to catch someone trying to kill her on the plane. Though, if someone had tried killing her on the plane she would likely have died anyway. It was not as if she could prevent it. Also, the plane had not flown directly to Lucca. That would have been suicidal. No, Rima had made sure to take a trip to Florence. It was a common enough target for trips. After that, she took trains to get as close to Lucca as humanly possible without actually arriving. She was severely paranoid that every action she made could lead to her death if she didn’t take the proper action. Magic circuits closed, taking routes of technology magi hopefully wouldn’t use and taking a roundabout way while dressed in a casual brown jacket, some small jeans and a school-bag on her back she hopefully looked like a normal girl on a school-trip or something. Except the white hair. Gosh, the white hair. So exposed.

After that, she walked. The short girl walked the distance towards the Italian city. She had already attracted many eyes, being such a short girl white purely white hair and a small bag on her back. More witnesses were not necessary. She may have looked like a little curious child on a school-trip, except without the adults. Treading by the streets and the fields surrounding the Italian country, Rima proceeded to traverse the last bit with the absolutely slowest method of travel. With her, Rima had a small bag containing her absolute necessities… and not much else. Expecting with every step to unwittingly step into a bounded field of someone awaiting a Master such as herself, Rima walked forward with determination as she foolishly braved the dangers that would take her life in likely less than a week.

Finally, she stopped. This was the limit to how close to Lucca she wanted to walk alone. She could not quite see the buildings over the horizon, the buildings of the smaller buildings had already spread so far. The heart of Lucca was over there, but the signs of civilization were everywhere. It was difficult to find someplace where summoning would be suitable. However… over there, Rima detected a gathering of trees, so well-placed near Lucca. The thought that it was already inhabited by other magi was obvious in her mind, but this… this was in the middle of the day, sun shining brightly. The Holy Grail War was going to take place primarily during the night, so the safest time to stride in would be in the middle of the day while walking beside a street where civilian cars flew past constantly. Manipulate all their minds to not see the brutal murder of a little girl on the sidewalk? Rima didn’t doubt that was possible. But she needed to breach this fortress of a city somehow. In any case. Those trees over there would serve their purpose. Walking off the road, she silently braved her way towards the gathering of trees…

Alright, she had arrived. This was as good a place as any. It was a small clearing with some bushes and trees hanging overhead as if to protect this area, and the ground was soft and nice. Trees blocked the view here, somewhat south-east of the city. She didn’t sense any magecraft at work here either, but knowing herself and her luck the tiny magus figured she might as well have missed any potential field that had detected her and those that would kill her was already on their way. But in any case. Since she’d be dead anyway if this was the case, Rima decided to simply continue her operation. She put down the bag and prepared the necessary equipment… A knife, and a cage filled with not quite dead pigeons, sprawling for their lives… Not my fault I need blood to draw this infernal circle, Rima thought as she prepared to take her first number of victims in this war…

There. Rima had successfully cut the pigeons apart and drawn a summoning circle with their blood. It had… felt horrible. The poor little lives. But this was a magi’s life, and this was her last mission as a magi. Coincidentally, it was also her last mission alive. Because she’d die in this war. She’d die, and the lives of the tiny pigeons would be avenged. What sweet justice that was. Maybe this war would have gone better if she had not killed the pigeons and instead gathered her own blood for a few months and used that? But, she was too young to donate blood… and that served as her excuse to kill these innocent pigeons for your own goals? You evil magus, you. Rima silently mocked her own guilt at having had to slay the little birds…

Rima silently took off the plain clothes she was wearing. It did feel a bit strange to take off her clothes here, but she had decided to meet her Servant while wearing her dress. There was no real purpose in that other than to… appear as a magus. A tiny white dress for a tiny white magus. There was nobody around to stare at her brief unclothed moment, anyways. And if there were, Rima would be dead anyway, so there would be no loss. After putting her casual clothes in her bag along with the knife and the pigeon-less somewhat bloody cage, Rima closed it. So, there. All set. Set… Rima rose to her full short height as she turned towards the summoning circle.

A cold breeze ran through the clearing as the long moment of truth awaited the young girl. A glaring contest took place between her and the opening through which a Servant would come. The blue pupils of her contacts over her actually red pupils shielded her eyes from the red circle. This was her last chance. If she wanted to, she could just abandon this circle right here. Leave Lucca. Never come back. If she did, she’d probably survive. Sure, her fate as a magus would die, but it wasn’t as if it ever had meant something to begin with. The only reason she was here was because of her family’s pride as magi. If Rima would leave now, she’d shame them, but they’d still be alive. The rest of them would simply have to abandon magi business and get honest jobs as normals. Yeah… so very likely. Rima’s family had put so much effort into her. But she was still the weakest magi in this war. She knew it. This was where she chose to die a magus or live an outcast… … … … …

Rima brought her hands up to her face and picked off the tears that were beginning to form. Don’t you dare cry now, Rima. Life is horrible, but don’t you dare cry. You are going to die, but don’t you dare cry. You are a magus. You face the challenges life issues you, even should they lead to your death. Like this one will. Rima violently brushed of the pointless moisture and walked determinedly towards the summoning circle. Having overcome her doubts, she stopped determinedly and held up her right hand to commence the summoning.

‘Ye first, O silver, O iron.’ Drawing on the powers in the air, the weak magus attempted tapping into the circuits within her. Once again reminded of how weak she was…

‘O stone of the foundation, O Archduke of the Contract.’ Who are you, Archduke, who’d put a girl like me to sign this contract?

‘Hear me in the name of our great teacher, the Archmagus Schweinorg.’ If Schweinorg really had been her teacher, would she have been a stronger magi? Not likely. Those things are determined by birth, not by how good your teacher is…

‘Let the descending winds be as a wall.’ A wall that would most likely break easily since Rima was the one summoning…

‘Let the gates in all directions be shut, rising above the crown, and let the three-forked roads to the Kingdom revolve.’ – What would happen if all of them were not shut? What would happen if the power was not enough to make the roads revolve? They had said the Grail would do it all, but if there was a case of too little prana, Rima would now be a prime example…

‘Shut. Shut. Shut. Shut. Shut.’ … Probably more like “temporarily shoved to a close and could be blown open again by mere wind”, but that would be painful to repeat five times…

‘Five perfections for each repetition.’ If what Rima was doing right now were perfections, then she had no idea what she was doing wrong with the rest of it. Oh, that’s right. Her birth. That was what’s wrong with her. Born with too little prana.

‘And now, let the filled sigils be annihilated in my stead.’ Yes, please. She’d rather not be annihilated. Though, if those sigils are filled by Rima, the annihilation would probably take both the sigils and her along with it.

Rima threw a stare upwards, momentarily. The sun gleamed into the clearing and down on her, as if trying to brighten her day. Her peak prana would be sometime during midday. She didn’t know exactly. She hadn’t kept time particularly. It didn’t make any difference. It didn’t matter as much to her as to some others. This would be close enough.

‘Set.’ As set as it could ever be. Set for her own death.

‘Let thy body rest under my dominion, let my fate rest in thy blade.’ Poor Heroic Spirit. Once so successful and proud, not to mention heroic. Forced to let him or herself be led to shame by this supremely weak girl… it wouldn’t surprise her at all if the Servant would kill her on the spot or as soon as they found a new potential Master.

‘If thou submittest to the call of the Holy Grail and if thou wilt obey this mind, this reason, then thou shalt respond.’ But if you desire a healthy chance to win, you better not. Stuck with me, it is the same as if you’d be entirely on your own. Almost. Not that Rima could imagine any being willingly submitting to her. Ever.

‘I make my oath here.’ The oath that she will keep to her death. Her oh, so, honorable death for her family that will soon take place. But nonetheless, the oath Rima will not fail.

‘I am that person who is to become the virtue of all Heavens.’ Virtues… Did she have any of those? “Is to become”? Will she have time with that before her death?

‘I am that person who is covered with the evil of all Hades.’ … Yes, because this literally bloody ritual demands that the Master claims blood from one being or another. So yes, the Master is forced to commit evil in order to enter this competition. Covered with evil, indeed…

‘Thou seven heavens, clad in a trinity of words… ’ Rima twitched. The ritual was coming to a close. Pain was coursing through her because of her use of herself as a circuit. The energy in the air made her white dress ripple in the wind… or was it just normal wind..?

‘… come past thy restraining rings, and be thou the hands that protect the balance..!’ … It hurt. Hurt more than her usual spells. Had she succeeded? Was she going to die..? She was… still standing. Was the Servant..?

[Semiramis]

A sweet floral smell filled the air as a svelte figure formed inside the blood circle, exploding in a cloud of petals and feathers. A female with long dark hair that went up to the floor was standing before the girl who was her complete chromatic opposite. She wore an elegant black dress with red details on her waist, with black bridal gauntlets connected to each other by a long leather strap with golden spheres socketed on it, as well as two boots with golden rose brooches on the feet, but the most striking part of her clothing was the great fur trim that surrounds her head, being connected in both ends to a solid gold brooch on her chest. Yet all the inky blackness on her garbs were balanced by her pale flawless skin.

An unnatural beauty could be felt from that woman, whose sheer presence overshadowed everything in the room. Her own existence could make weaker persons bow in obedience to the sheer magnetic attraction she emitted on every gesture, smell and look she had. This was one of the reasons that she was chosen as a Heroic Spirit by the Grail, the deadly allure of the temptress that conquered the hearts of men and women on her time, as well as her cunning and wisdom to take all that those seduced by her wiles had. The Orphan that became Queen, and one of the first, if not the first female ruler of a large empire, with many glories attributed to herself.

The woman’s purple eyes opened as she surveyed the surroundings, stopping herself as she noticed the blood on the floor. “...To defile the creatures who saved my life before. Who is the one who dared to take me from the Throne of Heroes with such a blasphemous magic?” Her voice was melodic, yet the words conveyed were dangerous ones, with concealed killing intent. Her black imposing presence overshadowed Rima’s tiny white existence, and as the woman approached the small Magus, her long and sharp nails started to drip an inky liquid at the floor. This liquid, however, is nothing more than pure death concentrated from the most deadly concoctions that ever existed on Earth, a poison said to have killed all men this Servant had disposed of in life. She pointed her finger at the white-haired girl, her nail but a few millimeters from the Magus’ forehead. “Little girl. Are you the one who summoned this Assassin? Or should i say... Are you my Master?” The Servant asked with a faint yet dangerous smile on her face, her tone slowly turning a more playful one, although still terrifying.

[Hakugi Rima]

‘… Ah.’ That was the only reaction she could manage the first second. The Heroic Spirit had really appeared. Her fate was now sealed. The woman… was exceptionally pretty, and she carried herself with a certain grace that… was this person a member of nobles or royalty? It wasn’t impossible to think. The amount of power within the being before Rima was unmistakable. Right at this moment, Rima was more powerful than she had ever been, and more powerful than many other magi. Yet, in the War, she was most likely still inferior. It was simply that way things around here worked. Now, then. In order to survive the first encounter of the war…

…

Rima took a moment to gather just exactly what her Servant had said. Oh. She didn’t like what Rima had done to the birds. Was that the reason why she’d die? Because she had killed those pigeons in order to summon a Servant? That… was just pathetic. Rima stood silent as her Servant walked and towered over her and pointed her finger towards her. Not that she was spectacularly tall, just that everyone towers over the short white-haired magus. Was this the end already? Consumed by this magnificent woman of the past and slain by the intense amount of power gathered on those fingertips? Rima… could have felt afraid, but she just felt disappointed by herself. Came this far only to get killed by her own Servant due to having used animal-blood for the summoning? Rima silently swore within her never to harm things for her own purposes again if someone could take offense. Not that it would matter, she’d die right here. She was Assassin? That made sense, Rima being who she was. Oh, yes. Answer. For whatever it is worth.

‘… Yes. I am Rima, your Master.’ For whatever it was worth, at least the woman had not commented on her height yet in any other way than confirming it. ‘You are expected to follow my command in the Holy Grail War… unless you kill me right here due to my crimes against the animal kingdom. I have no excuse. I sacrificed the animals in order to be able to draw the summoning circle to summon you. Any proper magi would have done the same. If you’re unwilling to follow a Master that would kill for her own gain… you are free to kill me right here or incapacitate me and just keep me alive long enough until you’ve found a Master. The choice is yours.’ … Even though she said that… she didn’t want to die. She knew she’d die. But… she didn’t want to. That nail would at any moment now pierce her and end her life. It was inevitable. And yet, she felt… she didn’t want to die… How selfish of her… She didn’t really feel fear, just disappointment… Idiot, I’d have thought you’d gone through enough to stop expecting things…

… Rima found herself closing her eyes, because she didn’t want to see when it happened…

[Semiramis]

”...Well, aren’t you a cute one? To feign courage even at a time like that.. You really remind me of me on older times... More innocent ones, before this impure world sent its taint upon me.” The Servant sighs as she retracts her hand from the small girl, giving her a pat on her head. A faint smile formed on the dark woman’s face as she took a step back, giving Rima an elegant bow. “Very well, ‘Master’ Rima. Your brutish summoning methods might be excusable due to the current situation. Sacred or not, animals and people are just tools for those who can forge their own destiny, keep that in mind and you shall live a long and plentiful life.” She gives a slight chuckle while wandering around the clearing, elegantly leaning her hand on one of the trees. “You don’t know my identity, huh? Well, let’s keep it at that for a while, ‘Master’.”

The Servant continued to smile while she thought to herself about this situation. What an unlucky situation, to be summoned by such a weak one. The Prana emanating from the white-haired girl was incredibly faint, even more compared to the sorcerers who lived on her time, including herself, and Assassin wondered how it was even possible for her to be summoned by that Magus. That’s only a minor inconvenience, though. There are other ways to transfer Prana to her body, and even on this faraway land and time, men are easy to find and dispose of after all. There are other pressing matters, though, such as what strategy is to be used on such unfavorable conditions? Perhaps it’s a matter of her using the same weapons she used all her time, seduction, trickery and guile.

“So, Master... Pardon me for my frankness, but... Are you a virgin? As i said before, you do have that innocent air on you, if i must say.” The smile on the Servant’s face turns into a mocking one as she asks that question, probably trying to contain her own laughter while saying that. “Ah... What a troubling little dove you are... Then again most men treasure that kind of innocence when it’s well used. We can use this for our favor, no?”

[Hakugi Rima]

... The Servant excused her. Rima reminded her of herself in more innocent times? Would killing pigeons be included in the innocent streak? … It really didn’t matter. Her Servant didn’t kill her, instead Rima felt a light pat on her head as she opened her eyes and saw that slight smile on the woman clad in dark’s expression. Then, she stepped back and bowed… … Rima was able to hear that slightly different tone when the word “Master” was pronounced. Oh. Her amount of power must be plainly visible for her to see, and therefore the meaning of the word is less powerful. Just… just in name. Was this Servant going to take command of everything now? … That might actually be the better choice…

… Just by remembering that animals and people are tools for those that can forge their own destiny people can live long and plentiful lives? Rima could have voiced that she cannot forge her own destiny due to lack of power, but… she left it unsaid, as a bitter reminder on the back of her tongue. There was no need for the Servant to know those details… Servant Assassin… If there was any indication to anything, she was a seductress who poisoned her foes when she had got close enough. That… wouldn’t work easily in this war. This naturally made her wonder… who was this Assassin..?

‘… Alright. You’ll be left unknown for now, then,’ Rima said as Assassin gave the clue to hide her identity. Probably for the best. If Rima knew, there were probably some absurd magi out there that could easily probe her mind due to her low resistance as a magus and find it out that way. Other than that, Rima watched in silence for a moment as her Servant wandered the clearing for a bit. She did possess a strange beauty. Was she someone famous for being beautiful that was enforced into her as a skill? … That… did lessen the amount of suspects considerably. But Rima kept herself from guessing in order to respect her Servant’s request.

… Oh. So the summoning was a success? Rima quickly looked down on her command seals on her right hand. They were… reacting. The connection had been made. But… even though the connection was made… Rima wasn’t fueling the prana her Servant would need. She was frankly too weak. As expected. The Master contained too little prana for this, even if the summoning was successful. Assassin was at a disadvantage compared to other Servants, even other Assassins. How… selfish of Rima, to have taken this woman down to her own level for her own gains. … Though… wasn’t this a clear example of having forged her own destiny using a person as a tool, just as the Servant had told earlier? Rima derived a small amount of satisfaction from such a stupid coincidence. Better not tell the Assassin. Oh, yes. She can’t stay quiet forever. She needs to give small commands and…

The question of the Servant, if she was a virgin, took her by surprise. ‘W-what..?’ Rima recoiled lightly, a lightly stunned expression on her face, as she wondered what such a question had with this to do. Rima wasn’t even sure if she would have known what a virgin was if she had not read up on ways to transfer prana. The smile Assassin was directing towards her… there… there was something ill-boding with that expression… And when the explanation came… Rima shivered to the core.

‘… I… I see…’ Rima felt her sight drop to the ground as she hanged her head. She… she hadn’t expected to need to stoop that low. But in the end, she wasn’t allowed to be picky… ‘… In order to claim the highest chance at victory, I’ll need to stain myself…’ She… shouldn’t be feeling so badly. It wasn’t as if she had any pride as a magus to withhold. Rima got the impression that this woman before her had been the same as Rima was now, and by resorting to tarnishing herself she had successfully risen to become a Heroic Spirit. That’s the impression Rima got. But… Rima didn’t want to do that. But… if she didn’t have a choice… The little girl frowned determinedly as she returned a look at her Servant.

‘… Yes, I am a virgin. Of course I am. Nobody would want to touch someone as disgraceful as me who is trying to live as a magus yet barely is one. I’m not even of an age when bodily features have started developing. There is nothing in me anyone would want, barring sadists and pedophiles. The one advantage I might have is if someone has something against killing children, which I am not willing to risk in the world of merciless magi. If… if I have no other choice, I can do as you suggest. But… there won’t be many such choices. Flaunting my innocence… doesn’t count as innocent when I know what I’m doing.’ Rima attempted to take a sensible stand against the notion she didn’t like. However… the implication still weighted heavily on her mind. And she was in no position to be picky.

‘So… is that how you usually move?’ Rima asked silently. ‘Striking against the enemy using seduction and intelligence, before finally having your way with them. Servant Assassin… The title is amply earned.’ Rima considered a moment, before continuing. ‘So, are you willing to work with me as I am?’ She didn’t need to flesh that question out further. The Servant must already have noticed all the negative consequences of having Rima as her Master. So… once again, for confirmation.

[Semiramis]

Assassin nodded as Rima accepted her request for anonymity for now. There was the obvious tactical advantage of having one’s true name concealed, but there was another one, regarding her own capability to trust other people, which was difficult for someone as untrustworthy as herself, who learned in life how treacherous people could be, even her own children... ”Ah, good that we have an agreement on my identity then. I believe we’ll be able to have a great relationship on this Holy Grail War as long as we are not snooping on each other’s business, Little Dove. Why, I might even let you call me ‘Big sis’ instead of this stuffy Assassin title, no? After all, it depicts my personality better. She said with a fake friendly smile that tried to hide the painful memory who suddenly came to her. But this is not the time to think about Ninyas, not now.

The smile turned into a grin at Rima’s flustered reaction to her ‘innocence inquiry’, though. Ah, how much it has been since she last saw someone as pure as this one? Assassin envied that purity on her own thoughts, remembering her own past as a Shepherd’s daughter... An innocent life of study and work, before the wheels of fate dragged her down on her tragic destiny... Yes, it will be fun to see how this girl will ‘stain herself’ and lose this lovable innocence during this whole conflict, no? After all, the more beautiful and pure a thing is, the more satisfying it is to corrupt it, and Assassin was no stranger to corruption.

She carefully approached her Master and patted her head as she blathered about her disgracefulness and lack of attractive features. ”Please, don’t be so harsh on yourself, dearie. You don’t look much younger than I was when I married for the first time, and back then i was obviously as stunning as this humble Assassin who is talking to you now. She waves her hand on the air on a flourish, amusing herself with her own theatrical gestures. ”You might not be as beautiful as I am, which can’t be helped, really. Even the prettiest star can’t hope to shine as bright as the sun after all *chuckle*... Yet you do have this cute and helpless look on you, and if there’s something those foolish men like, is to have someone weak to protect, even if this supposedly ‘weak’ person is actually much more dangerous that they would think. And this thing. About killing children.” Assassin’s tone turns more stern as she glares at Rima. ”Let’s hope you are being serious about that. There’s nothing worse than letting those treacherous creatures grow up and later stab you on the back. Let that be a lesson for you as well. More memories spring up, more ancient resentments that Assassin desperately tried to keep from surfacing.

The glare subsides for a bit as the woman clad in black put her hands together as she tilted her head, looking a bit surprised. “Ah~ But what gloomy stuff. am talking about. We have priorities first, Little Dove. We must turn you into a real woman for the world before us, since apparently you don’t know the real importance of subterfuge and temptation! This Assassin title is so disgusting, to be honest... Yes, one might use of trickery to achieve objectives, but it’s not like i enjoy murdering people, to be honest” Yet she wasn’t being honest at all while saying that lie. She gave her white-clad Master a long hug before saying. "Worry not, Little Dove. If there's someone who won't ever leave your side, is your Big Sister right here, so let's do our best to be good friends, okay?

[Hakugi Rima]

It would appear the Servant didn’t want to reveal her identity by some reason. Ashamed of her actions, possibly? Not that Rima would ask.

It would appear that Rima had acquired herself a new nickname. “Little Dove”. … Rima couldn’t help but find it fitting. What she usually associated birds with was those that tried their best to survive on the productions of humans, perhaps lingering cafés and such trying to eat the breadcrumbs left behind by humans. If the humans in this case were magi… then Rima would certainly be the little bird trying to get those crumbs. That is because Assassin couldn’t possibly be referring to the doves as the symbols of peace and love. How would that fit Rima? Simply by sheer innocence? Was Rima innocent?

Calling Assassin “Big sis”… In a strange way, it would fit. From the impression Rima had gained, even though it wasn’t confirmed, the Servant had been similar to Rima once. However, then she grew up and went through a long life of hardships and stains to finally become great enough to become a Heroic Spirit. Rima was standing on the brink of a possibly similar journey, and the Servant was summoned as a companion to support her on the way. The same, but later in life. Would that not be the exact definition of what an older sister would be..?

When Rima had said her thoughts on the use of herself using seduction in this war the Servant patted her on the head and responded. Rima merely looked at her as she spoke, bracing herself for whatever Assassin would want to put her through. Married at that low an age? Must have been more common at that time. That’s some metaphor you’re using to show your own beauty, huh. Yes, Rima looks helpless and she is helpless, and magi are not the type of people who’d want to protect her due to that. And she had meant magi not killing Rima due to that she looks like a child, not that she’d kill any children herself… would she if it came to it..? Also, that glare… Did she have a bad experience with what had once been a child?

… Then the Servant talked of other things, which apparently wasn’t as gloomy to her. Rima didn’t quite like what she might mean with turning her into a real woman. Subterfuge and temptation… Rima really would have to use those things to survive. Rima was somehow repelled at the thought of becoming that form of tainted woman. Even as her Servant hugged her, it felt more like the taint was seeping onto her body from the woman’s embrace, and so she felt herself unable to answer the hug. But she couldn’t shy away either. After all, it was her only choice. In all of this… it was the only way someone like her would have any chance at all of winning a war like this, by manipulating the other contestants. Taking a breath, preparing herself, she said…

‘Yes… yes, big sis. Please stay by my side and aid me in this war.’ … Rima felt like she had just given someone permission to taint her irrevocably. Perhaps that was exactly what she had. Rima felt… incapable of movement right now, and she had little else to say… So she just stood there, in the hands of her Servant...

[Semiramis]

“Ah, don’t worry! Your Big Sis will stay here for you all the time, so no need for any worry, okay? Assassin said with a big reassuring smile on her face. Her Master’s meekness might be more useful than she thought, perhaps enough for the Servant to take control of the situation without much effort. She felt a bit of relief and disappointment. If her summoner were someone more brash and stubborn, perhaps more drastic measures would need to be taken, no? Like replacing the Master for a more ‘reasonable’ one before she had the chance to use the Command Seals, or having to resort to other ways to convince her to be more manageable... Yes, yes, this start is not that bad.

From what Assassin gathered from the girl it looks like she has quite the tendency to overstate her own courage though. Few people would actually say that they had the willingness to murder young ones, even though a even smaller fraction of those few would actually do it. Of course, courage without strength is foolishness, and her Master was right on the fact that intelligence is a better modus operandi on a deathly situation like that. Yes, with the right guidance of a specialist like Assassin, the young girl could actually survive? Or even better, win the Holy Grail? The Servant’s smile was bright, as she found her perfect tool to victory... And to her wish of a reborn Assyrian Empire, even if it was to last but a few days, she longed to those glorious days of pleasure and worship from her subjects.

The dark woman walked around the glade, looking at her surroundings a bit more. A slight look of disdain can be seen on her face as she stares at the trees. ”What an unimaginative garden. Is it yours, Little Dove? Perhaps we should remodel it to a more... Inviting one, no? For that matter, where do you live? Hopefully it’s a place that suits a pair of beautiful young girls like us, no? Not that any architecture in the world can ever hope to imitate my shine...“ She gave a muffled laugh after saying that, holding her mouth with her hand. The possibility of that being a forest obviously came to Assassin’s mind. The clothing on her Master belied her standing as a woman from a lower class, but the prospect of teasing the flustered girl was too much to handle at the moment.

[Hakugi Rima]

.... And in a strange turn of events, Rima had gained herself a big sister. A very, very dangerous big sister. One who knew how to survive in difficult situations and use herself to the utmost to outwit and otherwise fool others to achieve her goals despite her situation. Exactly what Rima needed to do, but the means of doing so… a dangerous big sister indeed. But… this was preferable to any other kind of Servant. Any great warrior would simply have been weakened by Rima’s ineptitude and either die instantly in battle or kill Rima before this occurred. This woman had a chance despite the enormous disadvantage where other, more powerful Servants would not. It… it was for Rima’s best. But not for Assassin. Rima’s big sister might still be planning to kill her, but Rima had to bet on that wasn’t the case. Not as if Rima could prevent it if that was the case. Oh… Such powerlessness. It is all up to her now.

The newly become sister of Rima’s was walking around the clearing, commenting on the… garden? This was a garden? Had Rima unintentionally summoned in the rather large garden of another magi that possibly was a Master? Rima almost flinched as she attempted to look around for someone but… Oh, wait… Rima silently muttered to herself that she was way too paranoid over small things. If she was going to become like this every time there was a mention of an enemy this journey would become terribly short. … Though it probably would, anyway. Just wait and see.

‘This is not my garden. We are within a small gathering of trees somewhat southwest of the city of Lucca. This is the outskirts. I didn’t dare come any closer to the city without a Servant of my own.’ Speaking of which, Rima wasn’t feeling as tired as she thought she would after the summoning. She had worried about getting back into town after having summoned, but… It appeared that line about the Grail doing most of the job was true. ‘My family has bought an apartment in town. It is a normal apartment in a residential district. I have a map to direct us there. I cannot guarantee that it will be inviting or suitable, it will be normal. I have never been there myself, as I didn’t dare visit. I don’t believe we have much else to do here. I’d suggest we leave in case someone felt my summoning, unless you have anything else you want to comment or do, big sis.’ As she said that, Rima walked and started kicking the ground where she had summoned. This was in an effort to destroy the summoning circle she had made, since she had no further use of it and someone could possibly use it to track her. Rima had no idea what kind of Magecraft might exist in the world. Better be safe than sorry…

[Semiramis]

Assassin brought a hand to her chin while observing her little master fidgeted around searching for unseen enemies. While a somewhat endearing trait, to be so paranoid is quite a dangerous trait. Of course that the recklessness of ignoring valid threats is an even worse one, but a Master who keeps looking at her own shadow all the time? That will become really annoying in the future, so keeping her unfounded fears from hindering progress will most likely be a good idea. “My, my, aren’t you a diligent one. No need to be all paranoid about big mean mages picking up your scent all the time, you know. And even if that happened, you know i’d be here to take care of them for you.” Of course this was a lie. Her defensive capabilities are too few to be able to prevent an ambush, and her own strength means that being caught by surprise could prove incredibly lethal for the both of them. Yes, it’s a matter of being the one who strikes first, no?

She gave a silent nod at Rima’s confirmation of their situation, at least material goods-wise. It could be worse, she could be stuck with a homeless person as a Master, and for that Semiramis is relieved. The name ‘Lucca’ is unfamiliar to her though. It doesn’t sound like anything on her native language, so she might be at a more distant place for her home in Assyria than she thought, which is a quite troubling situation. ”I don’t suppose your idea of a ‘normal’ household is the same of mine, unless this so-called apartment of yours is a Palace or at least a Mansion. But i guess that as long as it’s not a den of rats i can at least be thankful as well. But very well, my Little Dove. If we are done here, let’s continue our fun chat at your so-called ‘normal apartment’. She gave another cryptic smile at Rima before her figure slowly disintegrated in thin air, turning into a ghostly mass of black dots before completely disappearing. Her voice turned into a quiet whisper before fading in the thin air. ”Worry not, i will return when needed...”

[Hakugi Rima]

... Right. Big sis would take care of any enemy. That would certainly work if the enemy was but a magi, but the majority of their enemies this time around… this only time around… would more often than not be accompanied with enemy Servants. Don’t try to fool me, Assassin. I can see your stats on this little black screen inside my mind. So Rima thought as she continued kicking the summoning circle into nothing, really reviewing what she knew of her Servant in her specially granted Master vision.

‘Then, I guess it will do.’ So was Rima’s reply on the Servant’s analysis of Rima’s description of the apartment. It certainly would not be a palace or a mansion. That would be far too conspicuous for Rima and it would also be far too expensive for her family. But it was not a den of rats, hopefully. Rima had checked maps how the place looked, and it had looked nice enough even though she hadn’t been there herself. But in any case.

Her Servant went into spirit form and vanished from sight, but she was still there. Alright, Rima thought, satisfied with her destruction of the summoning circle. In was rather obvious someone had been stomping there, but at least nature would heal that soon enough and no summoning circle was apparent. So, Rima was now to walk into town. It wouldn’t take all that long, but it was still a distance to cross. Acknowledging that nothing had killed her yet and that she now had a Servant, Rima picked up her bag and started walking for town…