Fate/ Grand Crypter

Chapter 33 (Septem)

Leo ran through the streets, pushing citizens aside as he rushed towards the market square. Oberon moved behind him, the pair standing out like a sore thumb amidst the traditional garb of the populace. Several people yelled out as Leo pushed past them, but he paid them little heed. As he continued to run down the street, the crowds grew thicker and thicker with people backing away from something. Leo suddenly broke through the other side, his run brought to an abrupt halt. Rising before Leo was a deep, lightless cloud. The street had become dominated by pure darkness, the inky black space eating any light that fell upon it.

"What is this?" Leo muttered, pulling out his book and quill.

"Some sort of magecraft? I thought the army had no mages?" Oberon pulled up next to Leo, examining the cloud from afar.

"It probably isn't the work of someone in the army. Judging from the nature of the event... this is probably why Vindex delegated the task to us. A mage or magical item is at play here"

"As ever Master, your insight is incredible. Shall I fire some attacks into it?"

"No. There might be civilians trapped within. Can you deal with the darkness?"
"Hmm, maybe?"

Oberon moved over to the cloud and raised his hand to its edge. Where his hand touched the darkness, rainbow light shone, the magic transforming the dark space into butterflies and a multitude of other brilliantly coloured insects. The cloud of creatures framed Oberon as he turned back and smiled at Leo.

"It will be slow going, but I can handle it."

Behind Leo, whispers and murmurs grew in volume, the crowd growing anxious at the unusual sight in front of them. Perhaps they should have waited for soldiers to arrive and clear the crowds, Leo thought. But it was too late for regrets, the cat was already out of the proverbial bag.

"Let's go Oberon. Stay on alert for enemies within."

"Yes Master."

The pair began to move slowly into the cloud, the darkness parting in a rainbow wave before Oberon's touch. As they progressed deeper into the magecraft, the street revealed more and more of its true form. Streetside shops had been overturned, items from their shelves thrown to the ground. Apples rolled across the middle of the street, sitting alongside baskets and cracked clay pots. As the darkness receded before them, a figure stumbled out, gasping as if coming up for air. It was a young man, squinting and shielding his eyes against the light as he stepped out of the darkness.

"Oh, thank you, thank you! I've been saved!"

He stumbled forward, falling to his knees and sobbing. Leo knelt down next to him, resting his hand on his shoulder in a comforting manner while checking him over for injuries.

"What happened? Did you see who did this?"

"Y-yes. Some figures in robes and masks turned up suddenly and started trashing the street," the man sobbed. "They stopped by my stall, and the leader ordered his men to grab my trinkets! Then they stole the light away, with that horrible darkness!"

"Ah, I wondered who had been countering my spell." A voice, calm and smooth, emerged from within the darkness.

Leo's head jerked up at the sound, his eyes searching for a source. Whoever the voice belonged to did not step out of the darkness, keeping themselves cloaked from Leo's sight. Oberon stepped up next to Leo, hand shimmering with the magic he used for his spears.

"I had heard word of the mages that attended the Emperor on her campaign, and the powerful familiars they commanded. You must be one of their members? After all, there is no one else in the city who can compare to me in magecraft."