Ritual

"Huff... Huff..." 

Huffing for a few minutes, Reynold wiped the blood in his cheek, caused Theseus's sword nicked at his face. 

"Shouldn't you better start wiping off the people's memories by now?" 

Clutching into his right shoulder, Theseus tried to stop the bleeding from a deep slash in there. Moving his gaze to Reynold's wound on his left waist, he smiled and said, "Although, it will sting a lot to move with a hole in your waist." 

"Cut the crap." Replied Reynold annoyedly as he waved his other hand and created multiple holographic screens in front of him, "It should be done by now. Even though I had left the area without doing anything, I have silently ordered my AI to capture every person's identity in that place. It's a simple thing as there always be some cameras in anywhere that's public. Not to mention, almost everyone always uses a phone." 

"Oh?" Surprised that Reynold didn't stupidly run away to a quiet place just to have a bout with him, Theseus asked in curiosity, "Since when did you do that." 

"The moment I took flight into this place." Said Reynold as he let go of the hand that's holding his waist. It can be seen that his wound regenerates at a speed that is visible In human eyes, "I can hack into any systems of this era. So it won't be a problem to hack some satellites and go directly for the internet database, terminating any news or posts, messages, anything that was based on today's event."

"Huh, that's convenient." Chimed Theseus as he looked towards Reynold,  "And then? What happens next?" 

"next…" Raising his body, Reynold donned his mech armor again and said, "Time to break into the hospital's storage and let me get some ingredients. I will need it on my trip to the city's water supplies." 

Raising his eyebrows, Theseus exclaimed with a surprise,  "You will poison the whole city? That's so unlike you." 

Gazing at Theseus as if he's an idiot, Reynold said, "What the hell. As if I would kill the lives that I tried to save before. I'll just make some untraceable chemical that will make someone have short memories lost. Might make everyone can't remember anything they did today." 

"Now let's go, we still have a war to win." 

**** 

'The Holy Grail War has finally began...'

Shaltea pursed her lips as she pushed the silver doors open, marvelling at the sight of a seemingly hidden sanctuary. It was the perfect place for her ritual, and thus, her mind was made up.

'And yet here I am, easily drained of my mana just from a petty fight....'

Reminded of the early fight, she could only smile to herself bitterly.

'How... humiliating.'

Beyond her musings, Shaltea tread the obsidian path with careful steps. As soon as she crossed the threshold of the pool situated at the focal point of the chamber, she glanced towards the pillars that stood within its borders and began to chant.

"For I came to, I beckon thee..."

Faint golden lights gleamed under her footfalls, illuminating her figure in spite of the darkness of the room. Her breaths were steady and calm, focus steadfast to its intention.

"Thou who hast passed ages and ages agone..."

Without a flinch, she grasped a few strands of her hair with her fingers and plucked it out of its roots.

"Thou who hast thole thy loss of the siege..."

Raising her hand forward, she let the strands descend into the water, which melted before it could touch the surface.

"Thou who hast drank thine own bane of expiry..."

Immediately, the depths shone a fiery red as a large runic circle emerged within it. Finally, the time has come for her to do her bidding.

"Hearken my laud, my plight, o' Malison..."

Shaltea began to take off her robes one by one, her expression remaining composed despite all the powers surrounding her delicate figure. As soon as the last piece of cloth was shed off, she took another step; right at the edge of the shining pool.

"Ad vitam animarum huius mundi, qui replet in solo animarum, solo vellere caelum caeli ad infernum."

Waves surged into the water violently, containing enormous amounts of raw mana that gathered beneath. The atmosphere dropped a wintry degree, prickling into her skin like needles piercing the deepest of flesh. Yet even so, she didn't react, turning around as her back faced the vast surface of water.

"Quae mihi vita data est vobis."

At the finale of the incantation, Shaltea let herself fall into the water, a splash affecting the surface and sending ripples all across as she sank into the bottom. Hands interlaced in front her chest, she gradually close her eyes and let the darkness engulf her.

Right at the same moment, Gilgamesh materialized in front of the raging pool-- confusion turning into fury. Indeed, she had bid him well to remain out of her sight for the rest of the day, as she had something to commit in regards to her mana.

The least he thought of what she meant-- was practically killing herself for it.

Feeling the connection between them waver, and alas, the last of her breath, Gilgamesh immediately jumped into the pool and scooped her in his arms, emerging into the surface as swiftly as possible. He placed her into the obsidian ground, unfazed about their close proximity as well was their damped state as he tried to read her pulse, aware of the seal in her hands glowing in and out.

'Damn it!'

Was this her method of gaining mana? He was truly astonished of how much she'll easily go far just to take the advantage of the war. She wasn't like this before, as far as he knows. However, he couldn't deny that thousands of years had already separated them. Despite his impeccable sight of the Truth, he could never determine what had happened through all of those times, back when she disappeared and never returned once again.

Gazing at her in total concern and dismay, he could only provide her with his warmth as life returned to her lungs and heart once again, her mana increasing far more than before.