The Thirsty Girl's Guide To Summoning (Fate/Isekai)

Chapter 30

Later, all she could recall was that she reached out from a nightmare in her sleep, and a greater nightmare descended upon her world, bringing blood and guilt and sacrifice. Sacrifice, but not of herself: a sacrifice she'd have to live with, unless she was too weak.

Her world was far darker than she'd imagined it could be.

Eventually, she would recall the terrible choice she failed to make, and then the devastating taste of utter defeat.

And in the end, she would wonder about the price you paid for luck.

But for now, she slept, and recalled nothing at all.

***

Save us this time, Mommy?

***

No, no, no. Strike that. Bad idea.

Although.

Maybe you can bear it without going mad.

It weaves its chains with our own power, and you have none.

Serendipity

Open your eyes again.

***

Hyde paced back and forth in front of the bed where Artoria Alter had placed the children and the Master. They were all that was left and—well, they weren't very much. "Come on, come on, come on, wake up!"

There she was. Right there. The Master that had recognized him. Serendipity. Pride in your work, that was the thing. Stick to what you believe in, work hard, and recognition would come. Keep at it long enough and eventually they'll be screaming your name.

Thinking was hard for Hyde. He knew this. He was meant for action! To get out there and cut some throats, maybe a few abdomens. For Jack. Poor Jack. Poor Hyde, too. In a better organized world, he wouldn't have to do this. Instead, he'd be the cause of very worried thinking in other people.

Yes, thinking was hard for Hyde, but on the other hand, some things were important. He wanted very much for Serendipity to wake up again. Like the children, she'd been dismissed as too weak for the nightmare creature to steal away, but he knew she'd be able to think at least a little better than him.

And if she couldn't, well, there were other activities he wanted her to be awake for, too. You had to roll with life. But waiting was the ultimate in ants in your pants, especially in a situation like this.

Every few minutes, he went over to the bed to see if she still lived. You could never be sure unless you checked. He'd brush her hand across her lips, insert a finger in her mouth. Once, he put his hand on her chest, over her heart.

Roughly. Roughly over her heart. He found out what he needed to know, anyhow.

But Artoria Alter, who didn't trust him, told him not to do that again. Artoria Alter, who didn't understand that for anything more, anything really fun, he'd need the Master awake. Really, it made you suspicious of what the black-hearted tyrant got up to with captured maidens in her tent.

Artoria was just so full of herself, the way she bossed him around. But like the children and the Master, Tora had been left behind by the nightmare creature. Weak enough to overlook, but powerful enough that she slept still, trapped in a petty madness. It hadn't touched Artoria, though, just as the madness inflicted on Jekyll had left Hyde free to simply stroll right out of the nightmare creature's little world.

But Artoria had no secret strength. She wouldn't be Excaliburing anything. Especially not him. Hah!

He ought to show her how weak she was by fondling the Master all over. By pulling off those Magus-given clothes—