Fate/Magus Path

35 Soul

Roy had a dream.

He saw a black sun falling from the sky, surrounded by ruins engulfed in dark flames. The sky tore open a massive gash, and dark red waterfalls poured down.

Malice, resentment, sorrow...

In an environment where all things perished, he could see no living creatures, only the pitch-black ground beneath his feet and the dark red sky above.

Ominous mud, chaotic heavens, boundless malice; he had seen and heard descriptions of such things before. This was the burning Fuyuki City.

When the Holy Grail absorbs enough magical power and souls from the Servants, the Holy Grail's opening will fully unfold, and all the world's evil will tilt out and plunge everything into a sea of flames.

Witnessing this scene with one's own eyes is far more shocking than learning the truth from words or screens. Roy swore that this scene was the most real hell he had ever seen, even the descriptions of hell in mythology might not compare.

"Arrgh... so painful!"

As he was still shocked by the hellish scene before him, a strange heat radiated from his left hand, making him grit his teeth. He looked down and saw the three scarlet Command Seals beginning to emit a strange glow, followed by a powerful force drawing him in one direction.

"What... what is this?!"

This unusual pull caused Roy to stumble, leaving him no choice but to be dragged by the invisible force.

Then, the scene before his eyes began to whirl rapidly. The fiery ruins around him gradually vanished, and the void in the sky, along with the pouring black mud, slowly faded from his sight. In its place was a beautifully warm room, where a elegantly dressed girl was reading.

An invisible door separated them.

Roy could not see the girl's face clearly, yet felt a strong familiarity. She radiated a sense of intimacy that made him instinctively want to approach her, but his steps were blocked by an invisible barrier at the door, keeping him at a subtle distance from the girl.

Through the thin veil, he could only see her long golden hair and a pair of gem-like beautiful eyes.

Although he could not glimpse her full appearance, Roy was certain she was an exceptionally rare beauty.

"Who are you?"

He wanted to ask, but the girl shook her head.

"Haydée..."

Then, her name unconsciously slipped from Roy's lips, even he himself did not know how it came to be. Where had he seen this girl before? How did he know her name?

"It's me, dear Count, but it seems you are not him..."

The girl spoke gently, yet there was a fleeting look of undeniable disappointment in her eyes as she gazed at Roy. Perhaps it was because the person she was waiting for was not the one she truly wanted to see.

Before Roy could say anything further, Haydée stepped lightly in front of him. Then a warm sensation flowed from her chest, and her gentle voice whispered in his ear.

"It's not time yet..."

...

"I think the time has come."

A familiar voice woke him, and the original fatigue and haze shattered instantly.

Looking at Merlin, who sat across from him with a serious expression, Roy furrowed his brow slightly and glanced around, but he could no longer see Haydée's figure.