singularity // Hamelin 1284 A.D.

[bigcrunch]

[ Shirou pushes his hood down further as he walks down the eerily quiet streets. Despite the sun still visible over the horizon, the houses are tightly shut, and the people are scarce, only few stragglers running through the streets. None of them stopped to greet or even acknowledge him, though he can sense eyes on him as he move about the town, observing him. He assumes that the townspeople must be gripped by great anxiety to hide themselves like this. What could have caused such a stir among these people? He has few guesses of his own, but making solid conclusions without directly talking to them would be difficult.

Rayshifting to this small monastery town was a surprise, at least for him. Originally, he wasn't assigned for this mission at all, as he was needed elsewhere in Chaldea. But the system refused to send the original group of Servants; even Da Vinci could not pinpoint what the cause for the malfunction. After some trial and error, the mission control surmised that the only Servants who could accompany Ritsuka to this Singularity were those yet of age. As he was one of the few Rulers young enough to accompany her, Shirou was asked to join this mission.

They must have been rather desperate to ask him, considering the risks involved. But well ... he can't complain.

He returns to the makeshift camp they made outside the town and takes off his hood. Jack the Ripper is snugly resting besides her Master, but the other Servants are nowhere to be found. He suppose they are on similar scouting mission around the area. Due to the mountain range nearby, there is a lot of ground of cover, after all. Assassin probably stayed behind to protect her "Mother."

He makes his presence known with a light cough. ]

As I thought, there is something odd about the town, Master. The townspeople are on high alert.

[ a beat. ] What would you like to do?