World of Fate/Zero, East Wood City, Yozakura Island.
It was night, the residence of the local aristocrats, the Tohsaka family.
In the pitch-black underground, green flames seeped around, as if someone had sent the souls to burn. The dim light could only illuminate the surroundings, revealing an exceptionally eerie scene beneath.
Countless engraved insects crawled continuously, surrounding a small girl at the center of the sacrificial altar.
Rin Tohsaka... no, now she should be called Sakura Matou. Her large eyes were filled with fear and despair, occasionally glancing towards the steps where the hunchbacked bald old man was, as if pleading for something.
"No!" The little girl's voice was tender, but amidst the screams of terror, it was no less powerful than those of adult women.
How scared was she? How terrified was she?
The densely packed small black insects gradually surrounded Sakura Matou. The little girl shivered, able to hold back tears in such an environment, indicating her psychological strength.
"Tatatata~"
Round-toed little boots stepped on the stone slabs, and Sakura Matou tried to run towards the stone steps because there were no terrifying bugs where "Grandpa" was.
She still remembered this head of the Tohsaka family, a figure that even her father had to respect.
At the first sight of "Grandpa," Sakura couldn't help but feel scared, shivering from head to toe!
Chills wanted to wrap around her at all times. Although this idea was impolite, Sakura always felt that "Grandpa" exuded an eerie atmosphere.
Could Dad not know? He was the most outstanding magician of the Tohsaka family!
Sakura was naturally introverted and dared not ask. After the man referred to as her father left, "Grandpa" was very kind to her. Except for the absence of a mother and sister, it seemed... there was no difference?
The mansion was very quiet. "Grandpa" came to talk to her every now and then, looking like an old man caring for his granddaughter.
Although "Grandpa" didn't look like the kind of person described as having a "kind face," Sakura gradually suppressed the sadness in her heart.
Things would get better in the future. In young Sakura's heart, the alliance between the Matou and Tohsaka families had lasted for generations, and in the future... after she learned the Matou family's magic, she should be able to meet her mother and sister casually, right?
By then... what should she call them?
Aunt? Rin?
By the way, Yanagiya was "Grandpa's" child, right? So, did Yanagiya bring her some small gifts every time he came home?
Thinking of the gifts her sister shared with her, Sakura's anticipation grew.
Anticipating that the man named Yanagiya would come back, at least to accompany Sakura...
Tonight, "Grandpa" was going to teach me the Matou family's secret.
A sense of desolation flashed through Sakura's heart. She was completely unrelated to the Tohsaka family, but after learning magic, the considerate "Grandpa" would probably let her go home and visit, right?
Home... she missed her mother and sister. Even though her usually stern father... Sakura also wanted to see him.
Thinking of the times she made mistakes and her sister bore the burden alone, with her father coldly talking about the glory of the Tohsaka family in front of her...
"Sakura, come with me."
"Grandpa?" Sakura was a little confused. She blinked her big eyes, looking down into the darkness, and a hint of fear flashed through her heart.
"Go down by yourself."
Sakura swallowed hard. If only her sister were here... she... she would definitely ask "Grandpa" questions, but she... she didn't dare.
"Go down by yourself! Do I need to say it for the fourth time?!"
Sakura shivered. The "Grandpa" in front of her suddenly became unfamiliar, like a ghost emerging from hell, devouring the hearts of children!
Especially those two oily green eyes, always reminding Sakura of the ghouls described in books...
Gritting her teeth, Sakura, trembling, descended the stairs.
"Grandpa..."
"Hmm?"
In the tone of Zouken Tohsaka, there was already a hint of impatience, causing Sakura to hold back the words that were about to come out of her mouth.
'If... if my sister were here, things wouldn't be like this.'
Thinking of her sister, the cute girl who always tied two black twin tails.
She would always stand in front of Sakura, saying she would protect her...
Carefully stepping forward, Sakura dared to take the next step only when her feet were firmly on the stone steps.
"Boom~"
Strange flames ignited, but they did not bring any peace to Sakura.
The eerie green light appeared one after another, but there were still areas in the darkness that couldn't be illuminated.
Glancing back at "Grandpa," the old man had an expressionless face, and the green eyes seemed like a hungry wolf about to feast!
With her heart pounding, Sakura quickened her pace. It seemed that the stone slabs in the basement were much safer than where "Grandpa" was.
"Tap~"
Sakura finally arrived in the center of the basement. Strange patterns were carved into the floor, and the central position was slightly higher than the other areas.
There were no sparkling gems, no magic books that made people dizzy at a glance.
There was nothing.
Except for those small holes that looked like the entrances to drain dirty water.
Sakura looked up at Zouken Tohsaka, "Grandpa, I..."
"All right, next, you will inherit the Matou family's secret."
Sakura nodded her small head, but the back of her head felt icy cold. Her small heart... always had a bad premonition.
Sakura didn't understand why she had this feeling, but the innate "warning" in living organisms made her want to run out of here!
Run out of this eerie basement! Even... run out of the Tohsaka family!
She somewhat understood... why she hadn't seen Uncle Yorinobu these days. He... probably didn't like it here either?
Isn't "Grandpa" very lonely then?
"Let's begin."
"Hmm?"
Sakura tilted her cute head, and for the first time, she saw "Grandpa" show such a happy smile!
Although that smile... no matter how you looked at it, was exceptionally eerie!
"Hiss~"
The sound echoed, making the quiet basement seem chaotic. Sakura covered her ears and took a few steps back.
Pupils contracted to the extreme!
Densely packed black insects crawled out one after another from those "drain openings"!
The targets... seemed to be her.