Seal

"Who the hell are you!?" 

Screamed the man as he shot with his favorite falcon gun, but it's for naught for what he fought was something beyond his imagination. 

"....." 

Silence is virtue, that's always his trait as he walked to the man slowly, ignoring all the bullets that passed his body like illusions.

"Thy actions hadst shamed us. For that, thee shalt pay with thy life." 

Giving the Salvation for the man, for he should know what's his sin, he swung his great sword and beheaded the man cleanly. 

"...." 

Dead bodies scattered behind him, as if they were his path. Each of those bodies were infamous assassins of the underground world, but they are all the same in front of his sword. 

Kneeling down, he began to eat the newest prey to mend his damaged core. Although he looks fine from the last battle, the crimson spear really had pierced his heart, which connected to his core. But soon, he would be just as new and ready to fight for the grail. 

Finishing all of what he should do, he disappeared from that place. His actions undetected and his movements untraceable, each step of his would travel hundreds of meters. 

"..." 

He felt it, it was nearby and on his path to his contractor residence. Soon, he stood at the tallest power pole and stared at something below. He saw a woman and man, both with stunning radiance and looks, gathering nearby attention as they walked in romantic stride. 

Shall he strike? He contemplated for a while until he heard his contractor call. 

"Assassin...." 

Though the tone of the voice sounded weak and confused , he still heed upon his calling and decided to bring his contractor an unexpected news he just found. He moved into the world of shadows once again and shortly arrived upon one of the rooms in a luxurious hotel. 

*Tap.*

He stepped out of his concealed form and stood in front of a young woman. The young woman seemed to be just awake and tried to raise her body. She glanced at him in dizziness, but that dizziness soon disappeared without trace. 

"You… What have you done?" 

His body drenched in blood from head to toe, as he maintained his silence. 

For no one should be bothered enough to know he was just cleaning some filth. 

**** 

Heels clicked against the ceramic floor, dominating the silence garnered by particular sections across the museum. As it was still early in broad daylight, only a few people had filed in at the grand establishment. Thus, Shaltea roamed around the place in peace, her Servant nowhere in sight.

Adamant to secure the entire parameters, Gilgamesh disappeared from her side and did as he so desired. All the while, believing her capabilities to defend herself as trustworthy, Shaltea was left on her own, who was currently guided by one of the managers that oversee the museum.

"--And here are several artifacts derived from the Edo Period. These models are of most originality, and thus, we do our utmost best to preserve them of their quality..."

His words only passed from one ear and out of another as Shaltea looked around and analyzed the glass-cased artifacts around her. Of course, what he was spouting endlessly was information deemed important to the mind. However, what she was looking for was not really in front of her. And so, she could only smile away in vague disinterest.

"...Next is the--"

"Pardon me, sir." Shaltea spun on her heels and faced the manager that had been acting like a docent in the span of a few minutes now. "But, is there a section here that tackles the mythological history of Greece?" 

"Oh..." The manager's eyes sparked in confusion. "Well, um, it's at the west wing of the museum, right at the international section."

"Very well." Shaltea inclined her head respectfully. "Thank you for that information."

"Do you prefer that I guide you--"

Shaltea only raised her hand in a halting gesture before he could speak any further. "No need, I know my directions enough." 

And so, the lady ended up proceeding her way towards the west section of the museum on her own, hands behind her back as she looked around in subtle eagerness. Ensconced lights glowed around the quiet hallways, illuminating various antique furnitures, rare paintings, and elegant marble statues that lined each side of the halls, gradually changing in styles depicting the change in range of historical factors displayed for all visitors to see and enjoy.

When the sign claimed itself with the collections that came from Greece, her footfalls became steady and sure, having known of the path towards her destination.

Not long after, she stood in front of more glass-cased artifacts, scanning through all of those imitated models in order to find what she was looking for. Immediately, Theseus' name arrived within her sight. She leaned in the crystallized cover and read the brief inscriptions engraved below the person's possession of artifacts, taking in the information that she could utilize over the incoming battles. The tales of his escapades ranged in many varieties. However, she didn't pay attention to some of the unnecessary details, only intent to have a possible grasp of his power. 

Afterwards, having nothing else to search from that area, Shaltea left the section and proceeded onward, walking aimlessly towards an unknown direction. It didn't take long until her feet suddenly froze on its tracks, as her eyes landed upon the direction of another particular section, the words 'Babylonian Era' embedded above the pathway.

Slowly, as if called over by an unknown force, Shaltea neared the area and took in the ambience of the place. Collections of ancient prestige surrounded her, ranging from preserved weapons, to more antiquities reminiscent of the Babylonian Period. During that moment, one thing caught her keen eyes. Dwelling at the focal center of another glass case, with silk curtains parted behind it, were clay tables displayed side by side. Curious about what they contained about, Shaltea closed in and tucked her hair behind her ear, reading the inscriptions aloud with wide glistening eyes.

「Epic Of Gilgamesh-- Tales Of The Wise Ruler From The Ancient Kingdoms Of Uruk...」

Her breath seemed to have been caught from her lungs as her environment became muted, disappearing altogether and replaced by the foggy sight of a forest that surrounded her instead.

"Shaltea, are you certain of that choice? Here, beyond that forest, lies only two ends-- survival, or an impending death. Treading the same path akin to ours shall only result upon your own demise."

As if she was controlled within that surreal dream, her voice escaped and formulated words automatically. 

"My life has always been indebted to you the moment you took me away from damnation. And as such, this life of mine will forever serve to follow you wherever you go. I... vow to provide you all the aid that I could give. I... swear to you my profound loyalty."

Upon her response, the two silhouettes that stood across from her dissipated into the misty air, and her bright surroundings returned back towards how they used to be. Suddenly, a hand latched on top of her shoulders, which immediately jolted her out of her reverie.

"Oi, have you found anything of significance--?"

Gilgamesh stopped talking as soon as she turned around and accidentally showed him her current expression. A solitary tear trickled down her cheek, cascading unto her chin in a solemn way. Instantly, upon noticing his presence, she took a step back and finally awakened from the trance. Then, absentmindedly, Shaltea placed a hand on her cheek and stared blankly towards the wetness caught by her palm.

"You--"

"Oh, um..." Shaltea blinks momentarily before wiping her tears with a humorous chuckle. "I-I'm sorry, this is really strange, isn't it? I was just looking at it and..."

A distorted image of the forest lingered over her mind for the second time, followed by a flash of gold and green, and a gradual searing pain that was throbbing increasingly behind her back. 

Taken aback by the sudden agonizing heat, Shaltea's knees collapsed and she fell towards his arms, biting the bottom of her lips whilst clutching his shoulders tightly. Gilgamesh glanced around with a gaze preying for possible danger. However, there was no presence in sight except for the two of them. Kneeling down to the floor, he took her in his arms and held her in place as she closed her eyes and whimpered from the flourishing pain.

'Damn it, what is happening?!'

Not knowing what else to do, he materialized his golden tablet beside him and chanted a mystic code capable of healing and easing any agony. As soon as Gilgamesh was done with his incantations, a bright. a glow of lights that were similar to embers soared from her hunched figure. Her limbs finally loosened out of their rigidness, and her body completely gave out on his arms. Hushed, disquieted panting escaped her lips, as she touched her chest in astonishment.

'Why...?'

In the middle of an empty halfway, two individuals sat on the ground, with one oblivious to what just happened, and the other all knowing of its true, dangerous meaning.

'The Seal... why is it happening now...?'