As Morpheus stepped out, Medea asked, "She's asleep?"
"Yeah, asleep," Morpheus nodded, sitting nearby.
Medea smiled, shaking her head. "A hug and a kiss would've calmed her down."
Morpheus frowned. "That makes sense, and I'm charming enough, but wouldn't that make me seem like a creep?"
He shook his head. "No way. I'm a gentleman, not a creep. Taking advantage of someone's pain is wrong."
Medea asked, "Is that why you never made a move on Atalanta?"
Morpheus shook his head instantly. "No. Did she have any emotional wounds? Nope. I was just teaching her, not thinking that way. I respect women. Though, if she'd made a move, I might've gone along."
"Pfft!" Medea burst out laughing at his shamelessness. She knew Morpheus well... a man gentle and responsible with women, if a bit of a flirt, but otherwise fine.
She walked over, sat beside him, leaning against him as they gazed at the night sky. "How long has it been since we watched the stars together?"
"For you, ages, right? I don't know much about the Throne of Heroes, but in mortal years, it's been many."
"Yeah, many years. The Throne's 'timelessness' is relative... it has its own time. If it were truly timeless, Heroic Spirits couldn't act or answer summons," Medea said, shaking her head.
"But it gave me a chance. After this Holy Grail War, I won't stay. I'll return to the Throne."
Morpheus looked at the mature woman, surprised. "You're planning to leave?"
She shook her head. "Don't look at me like that. It's a big decision. I'm just a clone, not the true Heroic Spirit."
Morpheus frowned. "You want to escape the Throne?!"
"The odds are low, but not zero. If I bring back news of you, my true self can act. With the Throne's time detached from this world, I could reappear instantly upon leaving."
Morpheus shook his head. "It's not that simple to control time like that."
"I know. Don't underestimate me. My main study is magecraft, and my magic knowledge comes from Hecate, but I'm a true witch, a Age of Gods magus!" Medea's face brimmed with confidence, as if failure wasn't an option.
"I may not time it perfectly, but it won't be long. We'll meet again, not as a clone, but as my true self!"
The Grail stabilized the Root-to-world connection, yet Medea aimed to cross without vast mana, choosing to leave the Throne. Morpheus fell silent.
After a moment, he said, "Don't be reckless. I'll create a beacon and send its signal to the Throne."
"That could take ages."
"Not too long. Months, years, maybe decades, but within a mortal lifetime. I'm sure of it."
Morpheus shrugged helplessly. "Coming to this world was an accident. I can't predict my next destination, and I have worlds I must visit. If your true self comes here and I'm gone, it'll be troublesome... you can't world-hop like me."
This convinced Medea. Even if she crossed the Throne-world barrier quickly, finding Morpheus later would be harder than waiting in the Throne.
Waiting for his signal seemed the only viable path.
That relied on Morpheus's magical prowess.
Medea had no doubts. His magic was both powerful and wondrous, blending strength and marvel. He'd succeed, she thought.
Still, after waiting years, some things couldn't wait.
Her fingers traced Morpheus's chest as she whispered, "Tonight, you're not escaping. These hours are mine!"
Medea burned with passion, as if she could melt steel!
…
Inside, Sakura Matou lay awake.
"Strange, isn't it? That man sent me to that hell, yet hearing why he died makes me angry."
She gave a soft laugh.
"But I can't let my sister see that. She doesn't need to. She can focus on being the Tohsaka head, chasing the family's dreams."
Medusa listened silently. When Sakura finished, she said, "Sakura, if you're so worried about your sister, why not comfort her?"
"Comfort? No need. My sister's always strong. She'll pull through," Sakura said, shaking her head with a smile. "I'm more concerned about the Grail. Morpheus-nii has the upper hand, having beaten the toughest foe, but will the Grail's consciousness accept this?"
"What are you worried about?"
"The Grail has its own will, pursuing its original purpose. With the War derailed, might it have its own plans?"
Seeing Medusa's shock, Sakura smiled. "Just guesses. Even if something happens, I trust Morpheus-nii can handle it."
"Why so confident? Because he helped you before?"
"Yes, and meeting him now confirms it. The him who helped me was from the future, meaning he faced no true crisis and achieved his goals.
"The future Morpheus-nii gave no warnings about this moment, suggesting he's satisfied with this outcome. No need to change it.
"Otherwise, knowing him, he'd have warned me, even if it just created a successful parallel world."
Her reasoning, though based on Morpheus being a good person, was sound. Medusa, after days with him, agreed he was good.
…
After waiting all night, Gilgamesh didn't return, but Hassan of the Hundred Faces did.
"The Matou residence is a fortress. Sneaking in without alerting the master is tough."
Kirei Kotomine wasn't surprised.
"The Matou family is fighting alone for now. That old man likely sent his granddaughter... well, sort of... to the Emiya house to spy.
"He's preparing early. Quite the sly fox."
Hassan nodded, continuing. "The Tohsaka residence lacks strong bounded fields, but it's been empty for days."
"Empty? She left, feeling home wasn't safe?" Kotomine mused, nodding. "She's got her own ideas, unlike her father. But rebuilding a base costs money she doesn't have…"
He looked at Hassan. "Go on."
Hassan continued. "The Emiya and Einzbern residences have strong, highly alert bounded fields.
"The Einzbern field won't block entry, but triggers alarms. I checked footprints outside, confirming something.
"A teenage girl left the castle but hasn't returned."
"Not returned?!"
"Yes, based on footprints and traces. She went to the city, but daily cleaning erased further tracks."
Hassan paused. "I found her footprints outside the Emiya residence, along with others. Many people are there."
"You couldn't get in?"
"Completely sealed. Only the front door allows entry, but it's warded. Someone inside must invite you in... a unique spell I can't crack…"
Kotomine's eyes widened, then he fell into thought.
After a while, he looked at his Servants, realization dawning.
"Hassan says many are at the Emiya house, likely true. As an assassin, he wouldn't misjudge footprints.
"Why did the Grail summon so many Servants for me, all allied? This is unprecedented in Holy Grail War history, meaning the Grail sees a major issue threatening the War.
"Shirou Emiya likely united most Masters, forming an alliance that might not fight each other…
"The Grail won't allow this. Servants must die for it to manifest, so it summoned seven new Servants for me!
"Attacking Shirou directly is risky with Servants around. We need an opportunity…
"Perhaps at school, during class. A sneak attack then might catch him without his Servant.
"But we can't assume Shirou leads the alliance. It could be the Einzbern girl… Rin? No, she's not that clever."
Dismissing Rin as the leader, Kotomine thought of Gilgamesh.
"Did he go there, get mobbed, and die?"
To confirm Gilgamesh's safety, Kotomine dialed his phone.
No answer!
Out of service!
Kotomine's eyes narrowed. "Everyone, it's time to act for this Holy Grail War!"
He had to prepare now!
***
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