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singularity // Hamelin 1284 A.D.
[ 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?
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[ Something about that is vaguely, naggingly familiar. Possibly it's something she'd heard about in school (for all the good that her classes have done her in her position as Chaldea's Master). Or maybe it's something Da Vinci or R-- someone else had brought up along the way. It's possible that Mash or some other Servant mentioned it; it's not as if there hadn't been rats as a sort of background element to most of the missions she's been on.
She takes the paper from him with a little frown. By her side, Jack lifts her head to look as well, but says nothing just yet. ]
Yikes. Who wants to bet we'll have to fight some of these at some point?
[ "They'll be easy to cut up," Jack offers, and without looking away from the poster, Ritsuka pats her head. ]
...I feel like I should know something about this. Like maybe I've heard about it before. I can't really place it, though. [ Oh well. She doesn't sound terribly concerned (yet). ] We'll try again with the citizens tomorrow. Maybe we'll have better luck when it's not so late.
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[ He confesses with a small smile. As Jack said, cutting up rats would be easy for Servants like them, but the animal's sheer number would make neutralization difficult. Heroic Spirits are more accustomed to fighting large, fearsome monsters or great armies, not small vermin. And .. there is something bothering Shirou as well; though, it has less to do with rats and more with the town itself.
The town's clergyman felt compelled to warn the people of rat infestation. The situation must have been quite dire for him to do so with such morbid drawings. Yet, there was no sign of rats on streets. No scurrying feet or muffled squeaks. He finds this contradiction odd, especially considering the time period.
But he decides to withhold this information, for now. It is nothing more than baseless speculation at the moment, and there is no need to worry his Master needlessly. Besides, with the sun setting over the horizon, they'd best start fresh tomorrow as Ritsuka suggested. ]
It is time for children to sleep, isn't it? [ Assassin whines in opposition, but he only gives her an amiable chuckle. ] Very well, Master. Would you like to turn in? I can wait for the others.
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[ She mutters that mostly under her breath. Completely unrelated to her work with Chaldea, she remembers video games -- back when she'd had time for those. Chickens are bad news. But when Jack looks at her questioningly, Ritsuka just shakes her head before addressing Shirou again: ] I don't mind waiting with you. I usually can't sleep well the first night of a Rayshift, anyway. But I'll get Jack to bed, first.
[ That gets another protest, but at least Jack is more willing to listen when it's Ritsuka saying it. When Ritsuka nudges her, she gets up obediently. ]
It probably won't be that long. Unless they've run into trouble along the way.
[ Which, honestly, is a possibility. Usually trouble follows Ritsuka specifically, but there's always a first time for everything. ]
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[ As they talk, the sun completely sets beyond the horizon. Without any modern invention to illuminate the sky, the darkness shrouds the forest almost immediately, accompanied by the night's chilly wind and oppressive silence. While they wait for their allies to return, he and Ritsuka chat about unimportant, miscellaneous events that recently transpired in Chaldea: the hot pot dinner the kitchen staff prepared two days ago, the new story Andersen published last month, and the "game night" some Servants host from time to time.
But even after roughly two hours have passed, not a single soul has returned to the camp. It's strange. Regardless of their younger appearance and personality, they should have been back by now.
Just as he is about to excuse himself, Shirou hears a faint sound. A melody - played by a flute, perhaps? It echoes in the forest forebodingly, gradually growing louder and louder as if the player is approaching them. From their missing friends to the eerie circumstance of this singularity, there are too many things out of place to assume that it's a harmless minstrel out on a late night walk. He stands, the change of tone in his voice apparent. ]
Master, please be on your guard.
[ Is this her attracting trouble again? ]
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She does have faith in that, but she still finds herself listening carefully to every snap and rustle in the woods around them. Anything that might be the sound of someone approaching has Ritsuka's full attention for a full second every time. Is this what it feels like to be a mother for real? If it is, she'll definitely pass.
But her senses aren't as good as a Servant's, no matter how closely she's trying to pay attention. And it's late, and even as a teenager, she's gotten into the habit of early bedtimes and early wakeups, so she's definitely starting to droop when Shirou stands. It startles her into something more conscious, though she has to blink rapidly a couple of times before his comment really registers.
And so does the music. Her brow furrows, and she finds herself tensing up, though she doesn't rise quite yet. ]
Music...? It's kind of late for that, isn't it?
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Then, he ponders, why is the hair on back of his head standing? ]
You are not wrong. But I don't think ... Tch!
[ Unfortunately, he doesn't get to finish his sentence as he notices someone approaching them in alarming speed. With a click of his tongue, Shirou jumps in front of his Master with released Black Keys in hand. A sharp clang rings out as metal meets metal, and he and the assailant struggle for a second before the offender jumps away with jerky movements. With her usual agile grace gone, the assailant's head bobbles back and forth, her green eyes open but empty. Like a child sleep walking, Jack the Ripper wobbles aimlessly, but the dangerous glint of her daggers confirms the fact that the attempt on Ritsuka's life was very real. Was he sensing her killing intent?
But first thing's first. With a slight turn of his head, he asks in a calm voice. ]
Master, are you injured?
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[ She looks from the forest, towards the sound of the music, and then at the Jack. What?
It's far from the first time she's ever encountered an alternate summon of one of her Servants, but usually not when she's brought that same one along for her current party. That makes it significantly easier to maintain a sense of disconnect, even when they imply they might remember her...
Her hand curls into a loose fist. She still has all of her Command Seals for now, but she's reluctant to break them out this early in the mission. They haven't even been here for a day! But if it comes down to that and their lives... well, Seals regenerate. It's just a matter of gambling correctly.
For now she stays close to Shirou as possible without getting into his range of motion. An actual fight between him and Jack is not something she wants to be in the middle of.
As she moves, she glances to the tent. ]
I'm fine. That's -- she's not ours, is she...?
[ It could be a Servant summoned by whoever's in charge here. That wouldn't be ideal, but it's better than the alternative. ]
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Yet, whether or not if she is theirs remains to be seen. If they are dealing with any other Class, the answer would've been simpler, but Assassins are elusive bunch. Ritsuka's Jack could be concealing her presence, waiting for the right time to strike in the shadows.
He does have his reservations about the idea, especially when considering her personality. Would Jack really risk endangering her beloved Mother by hiding herself? Her, the legion of souls who were so relieved to finally receive affection from someone? Even if the situation would become much more troublesome, assuming someone is controlling their Jack would explain a lot of things. The deafening silence from the tent, for example.
He fixes the slender blades between his knuckles as Assassin takes a rigid step forward. The girl says nothing as she raises her dagger again. No excitement for blood, no childish taunts. ]
She is the only Servant I can detect at the moment. It's unfortunate, but I can't rule out the possibility.
[ He braces himself but keeps his distance to Ritsuka close, at an arm's length. ]
What would you like to do?
[ Meanwhile the flute's melody seems to reach its crescendo. ]
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[ The seconds feel like they're dragging on way too long. Think, Ritsuka, think! There are other Servants where one can afford to take the time to strategize a response, even if it's only a minute. Jack isn't one of them. Most of the Assassin class favors swift, decisive action.
Think!! ]
If that's ours... we can't just take her down like she's an enemy. [ Which is the exact sort of thing that has gotten her called soft-hearted in the past. She could argue that it's grounded in practicality as well -- after all, they hadn't been able to bring along that many Servants with them this time around, and of them, Jack is one of the best. ] If she's being controlled, we have to figure out a way to snap her out of it.
...Do you think you can knock her out, Amakusa?
[ Just knock her out. If she's their Jack, then surely they can get through to her. They have to at least try. ]
Or at least get her down for a moment. If I have to--
[ She touches the seals on the back of her hand. If she has to, then she'll use one, and hope for the best. ]