Fate/Magus Path

134 Shiki Nanaya

Suddenly, I awoke from a dream.

Above me was the pitch-black expanse of night, and within the empty house, there wasn't a soul to be found.

I inhaled softly, catching the familiar scent of tatami mats and the bedding around me.

The canopy of the heavens was profound, the starlit sky adorned with celestial beauty, as if crafted by an artisan's hand.

Yet, in the shadowed corner of this old, dimly lit room, a faint silhouette seemed to huddle.

Death? No, it was something quieter... a profound stillness.

In this silence, a boy who had appeared unnoticed in the room began to reminisce about the past.

The night deepened.

The indistinct figure of the boy stepped out through the garden gate.

The house, silent and desolate, was devoid of life.

Alone, he felt fear; isolated, he was consumed by unease. So, he wandered into the courtyard in search of others.

"Father, Mother..."

He called out, but no response came.

Under the pale moonlight, the cold in the courtyard stung his fingers.

The frozen stars in the sky, the pitch-black night, and the icy glow of the moon surrounded him.

The mansion's courtyard was vast, the darkness enveloping its surroundings.

The blackness of the night, the empty courtyard, and the dense woods nearby all seemed like a stage shrouded by curtains.

Rustling sounds... the curtains began to part.

Screams... the performance commenced.

Starlight scattered, mingling with the crimson that sprayed into the air, transforming into the theater's illumination.

It was as though the red streams had become festive ribbons, celebrating the play unfolding before them.

Cries of agony, endless and varied; the sight of vivid crimson filled his view.

Under this tranquil night sky, there was no peace to be found.

The curtains had yet to fully open.

Unable to bear the abnormal cacophony, the boy dashed toward a certain direction.

The night remained dark; neither the starlight nor the crimson could dispel it. Even the moon's cold light could not pierce the dense forest.

He ran, and he ran...

Far and long, passing by countless figures. He could no longer recall who he had brushed past.

Fear in his heart?

Perhaps. It propelled him forward into the darkness ahead.

As he ran, he seemed to hear someone calling his name.

"...Shiki."

Ah, that's right... his name was Shiki. But his surname?

He couldn't remember.

So, he continued running, deeper into the shadows.

When he finally broke through the forest, he saw everyone waiting for him in the clearing.

Their appearances were strange; each of their bodies was incomplete, marred by gaping wounds.

The clearing was drenched in a crimson liquid, thick and vivid like tomato sauce.