Chapter 9

The room was dark that is, save for the thin shaft of neon light falling through the crack in the door that led to the hall. The room was very large, with beds lined against the wall, evenly spaced and identical. On each and every bed lay a man or woman in sleep. Save for the wheezing sound of their labouring breaths, there was complete and desert silence. If one paid attention, one could detect the scent of sterile needles and floors scrubbed clean with disinfectants, and a faint trace of sick and vomit, as hospitals sometimes do. The only pleasant thing in the room was the humidifier, a large, smiling pink bear puffing clouds of clean vapour through a small tube.

One window slid open, letting in a cold draught from the outside as well as a sliver of moon. A few patients shivered in their beds and turned. A foot was carefully lowered down from the window sill, and a shadow let itself in as gracefully as a cat stalking prey, and equally soundless. They made no noise either when they shut the window behind them; even as the long lavender hair trailed behind them like a bridesmaid's veil.

The intruder looked around the room, looking at ease and at home as an intruder could get. What business did they have here? Well, whatever it was, it was interrupted by another unexpected voice. Soft, it was, but deafening in this silence.

"Very smart of you, stealing where no one would look," The voice hold an amused, congratulatory tone that did not sound entirely sincere. But it was smooth and sweet, like it could lull you into sleep without you knowing.

Yet the voice, or rather the person it belonged to, was entirely unwelcome and unexpected on the intruder's behalf, since they sprung into air like a startled cat, and just as ruffled and contemptuous.

"However," the voice continued as if it had not invoked such a violent reaction. The intruder felt the keen sense of a wry pair of eyes scanning them up and down. "you must be starving for nourishment. One of the most loyal Servant of the Second Generation, and they've left you to scavenge for scraps of mana like a rat in a gutter."

The voice spoke those insulting words with such delicateness and honey, that those with a weaker disposition might have themselves in a hypnotic spell, unable to discern words from their meaning. But the other intruder merely laughed off the voice, its mocking words and its hypnotic effect, now that she recognise who it belonged to. She straightened from her stance, alert and yet more reassured.

"Who among us are not loyal to our Masters?" Rider said, as a small golden fire flickered into existence hovering above the palm of her adversary, shining light on both their figures and her long luminous hair. The other was cloaked from head to toe, save for the dainty face as white as porcelain and a pair of red lips. "I see you speak from experience. Your Master, it seems, has hardly left you in a desirable state yourself."

At this, her adversary snarled, where she had been mocking but a moment ago.

"I've merely moved on, you see. Found a better place to align my priorities, and a better way of feeding myself without having to draw mana from my Master," she said, regaining her patience. "Still, I admire how far you're willing to go in order not to be a burden." Then, a mischievous smile appeared on those red lips, like a child who suddenly had a wicked idea. "I would even share with you a bit of what I've collected using my magic, if you wish."

"I fear I must decline that offer," Rider said, without a ripple of anger to show that she has been riled by Caster's bait.

Caster grinned, her smile turning condescending. "I see you still hold onto your dignity at least. You've always been strange, but whoever said pride is a vice, is a fool."

Rider noticed that Caster's cloak began melting into the shadows. "Well, you can rest assured. I'm not here to steal your hunting ground. Not that there is any amount of mana worth stealing here. I was just curious when I sensed your presence, I couldn't resist dropping in to say hi to an old acquaintance."

"I advise to mind where you hunt, Caster. The Matous may be willing to turn a blind eye to you, but that doesn't mean the others won't."

"Let them mind. Soon enough they'll resort to it themselves. I'm merely preparing for the turning of the tide."

With that, her dress completely vanished into the shadows, and the fire flicked and died, leaving Rider alone in a darkened and dreary room. It had been many years since they last battled each other and called a truce. She had little reason to get into Caster's way, and the same goes for her. Even after the sorceress had long since gone, her words echoed in Rider's ears. She was preparing for a turn in the tide, she had said. So, like Rider, she had also sensed it. The gnawing, foreboding feeling of something coming. Something awful. An evil happening that would put Caster's meddling to a mere child's play. And if Medusa was taking precautions, then what could it mean for them all?

Rider turned her mind away, determined not to dwell on it. Whatever ominous event they had sensed, it wouldn't happen for a few years. That, she felt too, as keenly as she had felt the foreboding feeling assaulting her senses lately. Rider was not one whose mind lived only for a future, so she could only decide to face it whenever it comes. Such is, to her, Fate.

But one thing does seem to worry her. It looked liked Medusa had no intention of stopping, nor try a more subtle method. Though Rider supposes this was far from the worst of Caster's crimes, if she continues stealing in such an overt manner, it's only time before the others come.

And if they come, our blood will have to be spilled before there is a peace like this again.

Then the question, of course, is how much. And whose.

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A/N:

Well that got a little dark. I had always intended for SnM to take on a more serious tone at one point, but I got distracted by the RinxArcher fluff. But recently the new Fate cooking series is giving me unwanton inspiration.

Rin and Archer will be back the next chapter, which I hope I'll finish sometimes soon.

For those who are new to this story (and old readers too) I have already fully envisioned the ending to Shitsuji no Monogatari. A reminder of the timeline in which this story takes place, which currently is around the end of the Taishou period (around 1926). The ending will take place around 1945-7. So as you can see, I'm planning a long haul (though there will be time skips). I wonder if I should publish a teaser chapter, to shake things up. Tell me what you think in your review.