[IC] Fate/Reborn [First Holy Grail War]

[Chevaleresse]

Siegfried

The magus momentarily forgot his courtesy as he broke into a loud, prolific, and multilingual bout of swearing, including no less than four languages and several phrases that were not precisely expletives but still vile. He immediately tore after the werewolf as quickly as his legs would move him over the streets of Seigishi. This is going to cause reprisal from the Church, the Mages Association, possibly local police forces. I wouldn't be surprised if my grandmother told me off, she can probably hear this hellish racket from her grave. While he wasn't a professional or even amateur athlete by any means, the magus was still fit, but the inhuman pace set by Ashnard was impossible to match. At this rate it will take me a half hour to get there, in which time that monster will have likely destroyed the block. He stumbled to a halt, and looked around. There were a few cars parked alongside the road. . . Bah. This takes priority. He ran up to the driver's side of one and drew a particular rune on it. Metal, Earth, you are one and the same. The door began to rapidly rust with a bit of channeled prana, and he removed the door with a single effort after a moment of this. Sorry, friend. I will have to repay you. Once inside, he cursed once again. Damned new cars and their plastic everything. However, his consternation quickly subsided when he realized the ignition was still made of metal. He drew a third rune on it, causing the car to cough and sputter to life. It likely wouldn't be drivable for long with this blunt method.

It'll have to do. The magus sped down the street in his newly acquired vehicle, drawing more than a few looks as he chased the monster he had called into the world.

[Code: PIRULUK]

Yukine and Debronee

"Where? Just...anywhere. Away from here."

Yukine thought about it for a bit, then revised her answer.

"Actually... After we get out, we'll need to acquire money. Most likely by stealing, since it'll be the fastest way. Then we need to find a hotel where we can set up base. But getting out of here comes first."

((Sorry for the short post despite being so late, IRL happened, and I couldn't really think of what to write.))

[Noir]

"To plunder funding.....and to seek a base, a building such as this," The man contemplated. "Are you familiar with this area? If I may, guide me as we escape, Master, unless I am to survey this vicinity myself."

The thought suddenly crossed out of his mind. The Servant had to carry the Master down, but still.......

"If I may, Master....." Hesitantly and somewhat awkwardly, Debronee knelt down with open, beckoning palms, a slight distance apart from each other. Admittedly, he wasn't comfortable with......such a form physical contact on his Master, without her permission, at the very least.

((Trying to avoid bunnying due to a small note I took in the afternoon which is why this is short too. After your approval I'll probably manage a long one.))

Edited August 19, 2015 by YagamiNoir4896

[Code: PIRULUK]

Debronee and Yukine

Yukine blushed as the admittedly handsome man knelt before her, palms open, implication evident. Without a word, she quickly settled herself into his arms, then spoke:

"I'm not too familiar with the area, either; I've never really left the building, and I ideally want to get as far away as possible. Let's just get out first, and figure things along the way."

In anticipation of her oncoming escapade, Yukine broke into a dazzling, genuine smile.

[Noir]

"Very well, Master." Debronee, now cradling the young girl in his arms, leapt onto and balanced himself on the hinge of the window. "Do hang on tight."

His scarlet eyes only watched the ground. The pupils expanded slightly, perhaps estimating the distance of the fall, as his grip tightened slightly around his Master's shapely figure. The evening breeze ruffled his spiky hair as he stared at the road below for a few moments, examining the area; there was not a soul in sight, and only the hissing of the breeze and the flickering of the worn streetlights. True to his class, Debronee was adept in stealth and silence; pitted against the seemingly suicidal fall from such a distance, Debronee knew he would reach the ground safely with only the sound of the wind.

His feet departed the supportive bar of metal they stood on as he committed the daring jump; as Debronee descended from the height at a high speed, his body, honed for sense, attempted to lash at the ground at a precise moment. His scarlet orbs enlarged again as he reached what was a meter and a half above the road below, his body attempting to sense the streams of the air, waiting for the opportunity. Three seconds the two spent in mid-air, before in an instant, the Servant flashed toward the ground with his master along with it, ignoring the distance and forceful impact the pull of gravity threatened them with. Their landing ensued soundlessly and gently, the soles of his feet now firm on the ground, as if he simply landed on a bed of soft pillows.

Stealing a final glance of the building as he carried his master on their abscond, it took not a second before Debronee continued running; yet his feet seemed aloft, as there was not the sound of footsteps hammering the ground as he sped across the roads, heading towards an unknown destination. What was important, for now, was to get away from the place at a reasonable distance. A distance where his master would be free of the torment the dreadful place had cursed her with. Only the serenity of the night could notice his incredible speed, as the twists and turns he took along the complex network of roads were only detectable as derisory, vague movements of shadows under the dull glow of the streetlights.

Their journey was a short one -- at least, in terms of the time it took. Debronee stopped on what seemed to be the side of a road, in front of vague shapes of buildings before him with their lights still open; the vicinity appeared to be a residential area, with a few places still active amidst the chilly night.

"We now distance that place by a mile," He said, Yukine still in his arms. "Now, to attend to your funds, Master?"

Edited August 19, 2015 by YagamiNoir4896

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Ashnard ((in the vicinity of Debronee and Yukine))

But, a bump in the night... it was heard. Or maybe more of a crash. It cut the man's question short as the loud crashing and howling of a beast sounded through the night. It broke the silent air with the roars of darkness and pure unbridled hatred. They sounded in-human, and full of murderous rage. They, the calls of madness. Clearly, this being did not mean to parley, nor did it care that it could be heard as it approached. It might to strike fear into the hearts of those it was drawing near to paralyze them into inaction. It snarled and howled and all the while the sounds of crashing got closer and closer. The clattering of stone and house sidings ringing in the night as the beast crashed it's way towards what it was hunting for. It was looking for any pound of flesh it could get it claws into at the moment and it was traveling at high velocity... it would be there quickly b how frequently the smashing of buildings could be heard and how close the sound was getting.

They might have gotten out of one danger, but it only lead them towards the maw of the beast. The hate-laden jaws of Ashnard...

[Flux]

Vance and Lily

"Well. That escalated quickly."

Vance stood in a stunned silence, running his hand over his chin as he took in everything Lily had just said. Masters and Servants... It was quite a different relationship than he had at first thought...what Lily had just done proved that. And there were supposedly 6 other pairs that he was to... kill? Vance made a fist before answering through clenched teeth.

"Yeah... I've got a few questions. What's the point of all this? Why do we need to kill each other? And why was I dragged into this mess?"

He was clearly upset, as emotional breakouts were rare for a man of Vance's disposition.

"...I didn't sign up to kill anybody."

-----------------------------------------------------

Sylva and Frog

"Of course. We can get you to a bathroom. I'll need to wash my hand too, heheh. And don't worry about your clothes, we'll get them fixed when we get back to my place. There's bound to be a place there somewhere where we could wash your dress, I'll just have to check."

Sylva broke into a beaming smile upon hearing those words, throwing her arms into the air in a gesture of happiness.

"Yay!"

She ran up to Frog, throwing her arms around his waist in a hug. As she separated herself from him, she looked up at his face with curious eyes.

"We're going to your place?"

She paused for a moment, apparently thinking about something. There was a big smile on her face when she looked up again.

"...Do you have cake? Apparently it's a popular food in this era, and it's really sweet!" She laughed as she ran towards the door.

"Cake! Cake! I want cake!"

[Bfroger6]

Although Frog did expect the girl to be somewhat overjoyed at the news, since, well, she was a kid and all that stuff, he did not in any gracious heaven expect her to throw herself on him... Still, for a brief moment, as the child's arms tightened themselves around his waist, he could sense the gratitude behind it, and maybe even feel something he didn't feel in a long time... But then he realized that she had hugged him... along with her little bloodied hands and dress...

...she hugged his black and white hoodie...

"H-hey!" He exclaimed, taking a few steps backwards as to get himself away from her. Her hands left bright red blotches on Frog's hoodie. "Aaah! Be more careful with these things, okay!" He took his hoodie off after shaking the little girl away from his waist. Grabbing the piece of clothing in his hands, he examined the stains, all the while complaining. "Can this even get cleaned? Will the dry cleaning accept something bloody? Will the dry cleaners speak english!?"

He sighed when the girl looked up at him and answered her in a slightly annoyed tone. "Yeah, my place. And no, I don't think I have any cake. If you want some cake, tough luck! The store isn't opened at 2 am." He pouted at the girl and turned around, leaning over the vest in his hands and trying to scratch off the blood, only making the stain bigger. "Ugh! I give up!" He said as he turned around, waving his hands around before yawning heavily. "Let's just go home, we'll solve everything there, kay? Your dress, your cake, my hoodie... Yaaawn! We'll just do it all tomorrow."

[Flux]

Sylva frowned at the news, but seemed to get over it quickly enough. She marched the rest of the distance to the door, speaking along the way.

"All right. "We'll go home today, but tomorrow we're getting cake!"

She spun around, meeting Frog's eyes with a smile on her face.

"Lead the way, Master!"

((OOC: Pretty short, but there's not whole lot more I could say.))

[Code: PIRULUK]

Debronee and Yukine

Yukine took a deep breath and let the clean air enter her lungs. She marvelled at her new surroundings, a quiet residential zone, unpunctured by sounds of lovemaking and its scents unmasked by the smell of sex.

She hopped out of Debronee's arms and ran around, feeling the freedom of running in an open space, spreading her arms out, laughing as a child would.

"This is amazing! This... freedom, it's... amazing."

She turned to Debronee and smiled widely, white teeth stark against the dark night.

"Thank you."

Calming herself down, she thought for a bit.

"Alright, first we should get some funds. So..."

Yukine turned to Debronee with a wide grin and excited eyes.

"Let's rob some houses!"

Lily and Vance

Lily was rather surprised at her Master's unwillingness to fight. Not that she particularly minded, of course.

"Well... When there is only one Master-Servant pair remaining, an artifact known as the Grail will emerge. This artifact has the power to grant any wish, any desire, without limits. There are no drawbacks, no costs, only the condition that you be the last one standing of the Grail War. That's why people will fight. That's the supposed point."

Lily wheeled closer to Vance.

"Not that it really matters to me. I don't really have any wishes that I want granted, I'll just do as you desire. If you want to fight, I'll fight for you. If you want to abstain, I'll wait it out with you."

Lily's ever-present gentle smile vanished as her tone darkened somewhat.

"Do know, however, that even if you don't wish to fight, other Masters who seek to complete the Grail will most certainly pursue you. For all other Servants must die for the Grail to materialise."

Lily leaned back again, once more putting on a reassuring smile.

"Rest assured, I will do my utmost to serve you, whichever option you choose. If you wish to fight, I will perform the killing. You need not dirty your hands. If you choose to abstain, I will guard you with my life, no matter who the enemy may be. You have my oath."

[Noir]

"Wait," Debronee remarked. "Can you hear that?"

It was an animalistic bellow. An enemy was within their ranks. A Servant; one of zealous rage and ruthless lust. The fact that it would make such noise made it seem more brawny than brainy, meaning whatever that was prowling in the area cared not that anyone could sense it. A reckless form of action, he thought. No such action would go unnoticed by the man's honed, sensitive constitutions. Regardless, a slight wariness entered Debronee's calm composure like an annoying, stubborn fly; he was convinced that whatever was coming, was powerful; quite possibly more powerful than he was.

"Something's here," He remarked. "Plundering house to house would seem fine originally, but not with this monstrosity around. Finding an appropriate residence comes first, so it's best if we didn't fight it directly as of now."

Things were happening faster than he'd anticipated them to be. The strings of fate gave them no breathing room in this game of free for all, to hunt or be hunted, to kill or be killed. What mattered now, at the very least, was to keep his Master safe -- regardless of means, and even if it meant a night. The following dawn would welcome opportunities for the two to continue searching, or at least Debronee, if his master would consent it, would scavenge the night to adapt to the ways of the world and scavenge for more supplies. This would be a question best left until he got his Master to an appropriate sanctuary, however.

"We'd better find a place where we can take enough to last for at least a few days. Or for one night, at the very least. To that, we need to plunder from a more..... luxurious parlor, or another place where a large amount currency is kept, perhaps." He suggested. "If I may, are you familiar with banks, Master? I'm uncertain as to how they work in this world, but to my knowledge, there are places where a large portion of money is managed for a certain community, for withdrawal or storage. Besides, the area seems to be a residence; a facility like this should exist nearby."

Edited August 20, 2015 by YagamiNoir4896

[Code: PIRULUK]

Debronee and Yukine

A chill ran through the air. Yukine couldn't hear anything, but she could feel every nerve in her body telling her to run and hide. Not good.

Hmmmm...

There was certainly something after them, something big. She wasn't sure if it was possible to outrun whatever it was. If Debronee was alone, perhaps. But not with herself as extra baggage. The Assassin seemed comfortable enough with the night. It would be wiser to hide and evade than to try and escape. Getting the money could come later. She could live for a few days without food, and they could break into a house if they needed lodging. Granted, the attention it would draw would be far from ideal, but it was an option. First, though, came preparations. She focused herself on assessing her situation and options, trying to force herself to construct an objective view of the terrain based on what little she had been able to see and infer.

"D,"

She addressed her companion by his initial. The enemy might be near, and she would rather not they find out who he was or what class he belonged to, just yet.

"Put aside the money for now. First, we should try and prepare ourselves against whatever's approaching."

With the night as dark as it was, it seemed unlikely that whoever was closing in was tracking them by sight. More likely, they were relying upon some other sense, perhaps smell, or sound, or traces of magic. In that case...

"Okay. I have a plan. Could you please take me, as quickly as possible without using magic, around this residential bloc? I'm going to scatter delayed-action spells at 50-meter intervals, in a 5 kilometer radius around this area. Then, within this radius, find an inconspicuous spot where we can stay hidden for the night. Could you do that? Also, I'm going to need to borrow a knife."

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Ashnard

The beast had arrived now as the question was asked. A huge Werewolf, like ones of Legend was standing on the road. It had swung into the scene by flinging from building to building and it finally landed in the street. It was moving at such speed that when it landed the ground beneath it cracked under it's immense weight and the speed it was traveling. The brown furry blur had slowed to a stop as it howled wildly. It had arrived at about where it master had specified. It sniffed and searched for the prey it had been sent to kill. It wasn't paying the most of attention it's senses clouded with the thoughts of murder and blood. It was pre-occupied thinking about killing something that it's senses were somewhat dulled. Not in truth were they but in practicality as the beast plodded around it's mind fixated on one thing. The scent of blood would be the biggest draw.

All those nearby, they could hear the low growling, the monstrous noises it was making as it tried to quiet down to very little effect. It's plodding footsteps shook the ground ever so slightly as it walked around searching for signs of life to destroy. If one looked at the beast... they'd notice small sparks of pale green electricity jumping between its fur. It caused it to stand on end, making the beast look ever larger than it already did. It was charged with... some sort of energy. The energy of the hunt perhaps? Either way, it was now here, but it didn't know of any around it. It was only looking for specific smells as it's brain was fixated on blood,.. the scents of murder, death, and others of that nature.

[Flux]

Vance grimaced.

"Even if I abstain from fighting, the fight will come to me either way... and the only way to prevent that is to win this 'Holy Grail War'..."

He ran his hands through his hair, an annoyed expression appearing on his face.

"Argh, what a bother!!!

He stopped suddenly, thinking back to what Lily had said.

"For all other Servants must die for the Grail to materialise."

An idea was forming itself, slowly but surely. He just needed more information.

"Lily..." he began, "What happens to a Servant when they die in this world?"

[Code: PIRULUK]

Lily and Vance

Lily tolted her head slightly.

"When we die? Well, basically, see, us Heroic Spirits are inhuman beings. We're heroes, people who have transcended the limits of humanity. So, each of us has a lot of power. Normally, this power resides within this place called the Throne of Heroes, an abstract plane where all Heroic Spirits gather. Now, normally, for a Heroic Spirit to assume a recognisable physical form, like what I'm doing now, is impossible. The amount of mana required would kill almost any mage, barring a few very specific exceptions. The only reason why I can sit here like this, in fact, is because you are only contributing a portion of the mana keeping me here, the rest contributed by the Grail itself.

Now, usually, when a Heroic Spirit falls while in this form, that power just returns to the Throne of Heroes, to be called again when needed. But in this case, when a Servant dies, that poeer is intercepted and held by the incomplete grail itself, to achieve full materialisation as a true Grail.

In other words, when we die, we turn into pure energy and get sucked into a self-sustaining, wish-granting device."

She tilted hwr head the other way.

"Why do you ask?"

[Flux]

Vance sighed. That wasn't the best answer he could have hoped for, but this was still the best option he had.

"You said earlier that all other Servants must die for the Grail to materialize. What about the Masters? If a Master's Servant dies, they can't participate anymore, right? They'd have no means to do battle against another Servant..."

If he was correct in his line of thinking, there could still be a way to avoid some of the bloodshed. He let out another sigh.

"I knew I shouldn't have listened to them. I should have just minded my own business and stayed out of this mess. Aaaagh, what a bother!"

[Shamitako]

Holding a hand out to help Natalie up, Illiana shook her head in affirmation. "Alright, let's go to the library. I think I saw one on the way here," she agreed, hoping that there she would be able to learn more about the War that she found herself apart of. "Natalie, what do you know about this war. Like," she blushed, unable to think of a way to clarify her question, "what's the history behind it?"

Sorry for the delay, though Natalie was still already standing

Natalie

Natalie followed Illiana's lead towards the library. The question asked of her was a good one, too good in fact.

"Well, this is the first time the war has occurred and I know not why." She said, "I suppose that means we're the ones who get to make history so we should probably set a good example, whatever that might entail."

They arrived at the library shortly, though at this time of night it was closed.

"Alright, we should look for a vacant building to set up residence nearby." Natalie said, scanning the area, "There's an apartment complex over there, likely it has vacancies. Do you have enough money for rent or do we need to try to stay inconspicuous? If you can afford rent I recommend we spend the night setting up magical defenses and then speak to the landlord in the morning."

[Arkhi]

Janus and Noriko

"Are you my master?" the young woman had asked. Under ordinary circumstances, Janus could have poked fun at the girl, but her gaze and wealth in weapons made him second guess.

"It... seems that way. That ritual circle ought to be some kind of clue, but seeing as you've simply appeared here, I won't jump to conclusions." He motioned to the levitating spears. "Those are yours, I presume? Is there a reason you prefer carrying weaponry over simply using magic? Or are you preparing for a Holy War?" he asked, not planning the last question. "And while we're at it, I'm Janus Abernathy. Who are you?"

[Chevaleresse]

Siegfried

The man sped through the streets in his stolen vehicle as fast as he was able to make it go without slamming into the rest of traffic. He could sense Ashnard's presence moving through the streets. It had slowed down - or at least, it seemed to, since he was gaining on it - which meant Berserker had either run into some sort of obstacle (unlikely) or located their targets. It was too late to cover up the damage he had caused, but at the very least he didn't seem to be on an unstoppable rampage through the city. Absolute commands. . . I wonder if it is worth using any other than the one I intend to once this is over.

Whoever the Master was (unless it was some hapless mage caught up by accident,) they could likely hear him roaring down the road in the distance.

Noriko

"To answer your questions in order: yes, these are mine; the spears are created by my magic." She paused for a moment to have one briefly fade from existence and reappear behind her. "I am, indeed, preparing for a Holy Grail War, and my name is Noriko." She looked him up and down. "You seem competent enough, if a bit wet behind the ears." The statement might have seemed odd coming from a person who appeared to be in her late teens. "I'm going to assume you don't understand what you've gotten yourself into, Janus, so I will explain."

"The Holy Grail has selected you to fight in a Grail War, evidenced by the red tattoos that have appeared somewhere on you and the fact that I am now standing here speaking with you. We will fight until all other Servants -beings such as myself- have been destroyed. The victors receive a wish from the Grail." Noriko continued into the next topic without her voice changing appreciably or even missing a beat. "Now, the first step toward winning this war is creating and securing a home base." She looked around at her surroundings, scanning for evidence of any sort of bounded field or magical safeguard.

[Arkhi]

Janus accepted and believed everything Noriko had to say. If these red tattoos can appear from nowhere, then this story ought to be just as believable. "A wish granted would be nice," he mused to himself. "Well, it looks like there's no option in this, so best to just get going. So we begin with a base, yes? Would my hideaway suffice?" he asked, hoping to get some kind of reaction out of her. This place was far from pleasant. If it came to it, he could pack his bags and travel far, far away. A war of attrition is his best bet at survival.

[Chevaleresse]

Noriko

The girl nodded once. "This place should suffice, given that we patch it up." Her entire body shined white momentarily, though it was nothing compared to the flash that accompanied her summoning. Afterward, she was firmly on the ground, with spears nowhere to be seen. Her outfit was replaced by an almost jarringly normal one consisting of a pair of slightly worn jeans and a blue tee that matched her hair, which was now cropped fairly short. She remained barefoot, however. "You're going to want to make sure this place is built solidly enough that you can set up magical fortifications without losing too much mana to the environment - as you should know. As is, this place is only good for avoiding notice, which won't last forever."

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Vixen

The preparation, it was now finished. This first night could begin. When they first arrived Vixen used the opportunity within her spirit form to look for vantage points to scout the area. This city was relatively new, though it's layout close enough to the one she hailed from to draw some comparisons. She looked around for the tallest building or at least one with enough eight to see most of the city around her. Her range would be able to reach most places as well being a Sniper after all, however she wasn't going to attack anytime soon. The kid desired her to remain hidden for the night and to not make any drastic moves. It was best her presence be unknown. Luckily Vixen was good at this task, as good as an assassin class servant at the least. After all, she was renowned for her ability to remain... unknown from the general populace in her own world. Not many of the factions knew of her. They knew only of the Legends of the Vixen of the Forest. A supposed killer from the dark. The details on her varied from faction to faction and person to person. Some painted her as a more heroic figure, others... as a monster that leapt to prey on the weak. Vixen knew the truth of her own actions, though the stories... some were close.

Though her cloak was a bit of an odd wardrobe selection, it wasn't enough to make people crazy suspicious. Especially due to her calm matter of fact demeanor and that for once... all her weapons were properly hidden away to not be seen by passersby. Not a soul really payed attention to her as she approached the vantage point she'd use for the night. A large building, probably office space located in the Commercial district right where her and the kid had landed in the city. It was luckily close by, a great break indeed. It's was almost too convenient, but she took what she was given. After she had gotten to the top she removed a pair of binoculars from her overcoat. While she would normally just use her scope lens, this time she decided it was best not to have the urge to pull the trigger. If she didn't have out her firearms, there was no opportunity of her expending any unnecessary rounds and no chance of her being detected this early in the War. It was what her Master had asked of her, though she didn't feel satisfied with that answer. She'd rather finish this job already than wait around. It was naive to savor one's victory like this kid wanted to do. That was how you gave your opponents time to sruge back against you and pull the unexpected out from their bag of desperate tricks. Vixen... she wasn't fond of the notion. It'd be best to eliminate their foes rather than wait. But for this night she would. No longer though would she wait than this.

[Noir]

For the first time, Debronee put thought to his master's order. Having obeyed without question or doubt within the short time the two had had acquainted, it seemed wrong to the man to do so, but his mind swiftly contemplated the array of thoughts that shrouded his mind, thinking Yukine's plan through. It was slightly double-edged, but manageable; Debronee could cover the desired area in a short amount of time, but Debronee's speed was significantly slower without his primary Phantasm, although as a standalone he could still run faster than even the top athletics, and soundlessly, no less. Then again, the imminent threat had possibly come due to have sensed his mana use -- a mistake he reprimanded himself for in his head, unexpected as it was -- meant that conserving it would also be beneficial. His master was also now fixing the possible mistake he had made, to distract the enemy and to buy time to scavenge for temporary refuge; secretly, he hoped that he need not use force to find his Master an appropriate place to rest for the night.

Debronee's first movement after hearing his Master's plan was the withdrawal of a rather short machete from his pocket, brandishing the keen edge of the small blade as it glistened into the night.

"What do you intend to do for the spell?" His voice was a curious one, positioning himself to carry his master again to commence the plan, handing the small blade over acquiescently. They didn't have much time. Blood? The thought of his master leaving her blood on so many spots admittedly disturbed him as it is, adding the fact that it might possibly backfire if their hunter strived for it. Yet at the same time, it was also an ample opportunity to observe his master's capabilities. He was, admittedly, very impressed by Yukine's swift, elaborate planning, and a stubborn curiosity weighed on him, as he wondered if the girl's magic was as practical as her razor-sharp mind.

Edited August 21, 2015 by YagamiNoir4896

[Code: PIRULUK]

Debronee and Yukine

Yukine took the proffered blade with a smile, then grabbed a fistful of her hair and sliced it off. Holding the loose strands in her hands, opening her Magic Circuits, she allowed the od within her to flow throughout her body, circulating, finally reaching her palms, as she began to chant:

"Part of myself, I offer here.

Part of myself, I leave behind.

Take this price, and thus descend,

Fog that conceals from mortal ken.

With the scent that leads astray,

With the mist that hides the way.

At the call of hostile stray,

Answer quickly, if you may.

Echoes shall resound throughout,

All through this field may they ring out.

May magic then suffuse the air,

Surround all who may enter there.

Until such time as light returns,

Ensure that naught the enemy learns."

Concluding the long aria, prana flowed into the strands of hair, causing them to glow faintly before returning to their original state. She turned to Debronee.

"These strands of hair will outline a Bounded Field that should be useful in protecting us. Now, we just need to scatter them."

She hopped into his arms, making sure to leave her right arm - clutching her loose strands of hair - dangling outside the cradle.

Lily and Vance

Lily frowned slightly.

"Well, you're not wrong in saying that only the Servants have to be killed, but... well, generally, the Masters are much more vulnerable than the Servants themselves. It is usually easier to hunt and kill the Master rather than the Servant, considering the inherent capabilities of Heroic Spirits. As such, Masters are likely to be granted higher priority as targets, as compared to their Servants. After all, a Servant cannot stay long in this world without a Master to supply them prana. Even in the case where a Servant is defeated while the Master lives, it is highly likely that the enemy pair will hunt down the Master anyway, as a precaution against said Master making a contract with a Master-less Servant and re-entering the war."

Lily's eyes became gentle, yet hard.

"I'm sure you don't want to hear this, and I'm sorry to have to say it, but... it would be best if you moved forward from this point under the assumption that battles will be inevitable."

[Noir]

Debronee and Yukine

A slight relief entered him as his misplaced fear of Yukine using her blood for the spell was eradicated. Even so, there was no time to waste or falter. Debronee decided to survey the general surroundings from above, his sanguine eyes darting in all directions searching for the highest point -- or at least, a point high enough for the both of them to determine what way would be best to go, instead of blindly running around their unfamiliar surroundings. He didn't take long to find such a spot, as his eyes fixated towards the south after darting his head in all directions, aiming at what seemed to be a slightly bigger building that the rest of the houses that aligned the residential path.

After taking a deep breath, Debronee ran at an admirable speed that lasted what was perhaps a few steps, before his powerful legs leapt to multiple structures along the building he chose for support, ascending higher, heading towards the top. Within seconds, his feet now rested at a tiled, sloped roof of a large bungalow, providing him with the much needed view of complex network of roads that surrounded the residential area. Within the darkness of the night only lit by the faint light of the moon and streetlights, Debronee identified and debated between two paths to opt for their beginning. Each fork had its advantages; the longer, straighter road would mean more time spared to finish the course, whereas the more curved path, riddled by twists and turns, would provide a slightly wider area of coverage.

"Now, Master," He said, getting ready to descend, in another daring jump. "Where shall the scatter begin? Do worry not, this roof isn't that high, and as you ordered, I will not use any magic unless necessary." He said, recalling that he had used his Phantasm earlier to brace themselves from the significantly higher jump.

"And one more thing -- are we to return back to......that place?" He muttered hesitantly, knowing that the girl had asked him to stray away from that dreadful hotel where his master had suffered her torment, and it would certainly be against her fancy to return there again. Yet.... "Do you think what's coming for us can track us through our passing there, and it would be best if we left another trace there to divert the possible trail? 'Twas just a thought."