"Mr. Cyd, I think you said too much..." Leticia whispered, watching Reika Rikudou and Jack as they departed. She then turned to Cyd, lightly tugging on his sleeve to get his attention.
"Oh, you guys switched ?" Cyd asked
"It was my idea," Leticia admitted, scratching her cheek in embarrassment. "Jeanne is just too kind-hearted."
"That's just foolishness," Atalanta snorted.
"Those words were for you too," Cyd said, gently patting Leticia. "Now you should understand, the Holy Grail War is not some romantic fantasy. Everyone here is fighting for their desires, and you might see even more brutal things from here on out."
"Maybe you should leave all this behind and return to your normal life," Atalanta said seriously.
"I won't regret it. Since I'm here, I'll see this through to the end with my own eyes," Leticia replied, her unwavering gaze momentarily making Cyd think the naïve village girl had returned.
Smack!
Cyd's hand landed lightly on Leticia's head.
"Why?" Leticia squatted down, holding her head.
"Don't act so tough, you're just a kid," Cyd said, lowering his hand. "Tonight, Assassin plans to attack the last magician, Kairi. After my warning, they'll probably clean up his body nicely once they're done."
"What? That means Kairi is in danger!" Leticia exclaimed, her eyes widening. "We have to warn him!"
"Don't worry. Saber might seem like she's only interested in eating, but she's strong," Cyd said, spreading his hands.
Mordred, who was enjoying her barbecue, sneezed.
"And Kairi is prepared for this. We'll focus on our role as Rulers."
"Which means doing nothing?"
"Exactly."
As night fell, Kairi and Mordred walked down the empty streets, the cold wind biting at them. Mordred clutched a large bag of snacks.
"Looks like the Rulers won't be joining us," Kairi said, scratching his head. "What a shame."
"It's no big deal," Mordred replied, pouting. "I can handle an Assassin in a few moves."
"I'd feel more reassured if you didn't have crumbs all over your mouth," Kairi sighed.
Mordred stopped abruptly, her expression turning serious.
"They're here!" Kairi exhaled, pulling out a gun from his coat.
"That toy won't work on Servants," Mordred said, placing her snack bag on the ground. As soon as she let go, her fearsome armor enveloped her.
"Well, it's how I make my living," Kairi said, scanning the surroundings. "Where is she?"
"Not sure, just a hunch," Mordred replied, holding her sword ready. "Stay close, Master."
The night was eerily quiet. Despite the late hour, there should have been some activity, especially with police patrols due to recent events. But Kairi hadn't seen a single soul, not even a stray cat. The only sound was his own breathing, making the world feel like it had stopped.
He was lost in thought when he saw the fog rolling in from all sides.
"We've been caught," Mordred spat, clearly annoyed.
"Assassin is making her move," Kairi said, instinctively covering his nose and mouth. There was no way this fog was natural.
"Saber, get us out of here," Kairi ordered calmly. "We don't need to fight on her terms."
"This might hurt a bit!" Mordred grabbed Kairi's hand, red lightning crackling from her armor. "Hold on tight!"
Whoosh!
Charging through the fog blindly was foolish, especially with a hunter waiting for a mistake. Even a split-second error could mean death. But Mordred's instincts were razor-sharp, navigating obstacles with precision and speed, bursting through the fog into clear air.
Cough, cough! Kairi fell to his knees, coughing violently. Even with his attempts to hold his breath, Saber's speed was overwhelming, and he had inhaled some of the fog. His lungs burned as if on fire.
Now he understood how those magicians were silently taken down without a struggle.
He relaxed for a moment, and the hunter seized that chance. A dagger aimed for his throat.
Bang!
Mordred pressed Kairi's head down, using it as a pivot to kick the attacker in the stomach.
The small figure flew back into the fog, crashing into a wall with a loud thud.
"Nice kick, though my neck disagrees," Kairi said, rubbing his sore neck. "Why is a knight so good at flying kicks?"
"Kicking is a knight's basic skill," Mordred shrugged, swinging her sword.
"How much damage did you do?" Kairi asked, his hand on his shotgun.
"No idea, I didn't hold back," Mordred replied, squinting. "Stay here, I'll finish her off."
Before Kairi could respond, Mordred charged into the fog.
"Hey! Remember, the fog is poisonous!" Kairi shouted, hoping she heard him.
"No problem!"
Standing in the dense fog, Mordred remained calm, her eyes scanning for any movement. The poison made her feel sluggish, but she could handle it.
Mordred's ears twitched, and she swung her sword, deflecting a scalpel aimed at her neck.
"Impressive! You can see in this fog!"
The childlike voice echoed from all directions as if amplified by the fog.
"Annoying," Mordred muttered.
"We are Jack, Jack the Ripper. Tell us your name, won't you?"
The fog itself wasn't much of a problem for Mordred, who relied on her instincts. But with Assassin's presence concealed, it was hard to pinpoint her location. She could sense the attacks but not where they came from.
Staying on the defensive wasn't her style.
"Time to blow this place apart!"