Chapter 20: 20. Ren Doesn't Look Away
"This is a general meeting so we're all on the same page." Ren settled herself on her bed in the great hall, waking a drowsing Jack as the other Servants arranged themselves as they pleased.
Cú leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. He'd cleaned himself up from his pig butchering with no more than a swirl of magic, and once again wore his armored bodysuit. Meanwhile, Merlin sat tailor-style before the bed, looking for all the world like a child about to watch a puppet show. Jekyll glanced between Merlin and Cú and settled for standing between them, his gloved hands behind his back.
Ren started by addressing him. "I know this is an unusual situation compared to where you've probably found yourself in the past, so here's the basics. This isn't our world of origin. But it's a world that needs us. An overpowering enemy called the Sovereigns has been conquering the towns and territories via both military might and some kind of magical dominance. This is the last territory in this region—" she paused, glancing at Cú for confirmation, and went on when he nodded, "—and we're here on behalf of a young girl named Ritsu who is down the hall right now." She hesitated, and then finished with, "That's most of what I know. But Merlin, you had some time with that mirror, and information about Tora, and Cú, you did some scouting. Fill me in."
Merlin looked over his shoulder at Cú, who shrugged and spoke. "Some of Tora's company are deserting already. There's a core planning to remain, and messages have been dispatched to their local command, but they're more interested in fortifying their own position and protecting that road than staking out berry fields. I can clean them out any time you want." He scratched his cheek. "I also took a look at the borders again. There's a lake to the south bordering this territory and two others. The territory boundaries are very obvious, roughly hexagonal, and spread around what I assume are summoner portals. Every portal I could detect save ours has a column of darkness over it."
"How fascinating," said Jekyll. He glanced at Merlin. "And you're confident that this isn't a Singularity?"
Merlin tilted his head. "Not the way you're thinking. But there are hints it's not a fully independent World either. For example, the Saber Artoria Alter we dealt with this morning, who manifested within the young woman sleeping down the hall. She's still there, by the way, Ren. Haunting Tora's dreams."
Ren's eyes narrowed as she thought about this. "But you think Tora will still give us her parole?"
Merlin stretched his legs out, leaning back on his hands. "Eventually. She may need some time to consider the consequences of returning to the Sovereigns first, especially since I broke that mirror."
He gave Ren a bright-eyed, expectant look. She sighed and indulged him. "What's up with the mirror?"
Beaming, Merlin said, "I'm so glad you asked. It operated as a conduit to what I can only describe as the local version of a Grail. Without it Artoria's energy will be limited, and I imagine the serious-minded folks who created it won't be pleased that it's gone."
Jekyll asked quietly, "Is it actually a local version of the Grail, or just similar in function?"
Merlin grinned at him. "I think you should lead the investigation there, starting with the portal Serendipity summoned you through. It's in desperate need of maintenance, you see."
With a small bow, Jekyll said, "Ah. I 'm not a proper Mage, but I'm good with theory. I can certainly take a look, if our Master approves."
Ren studied Jekyll. She knew he occupied the Assassin class, and had acquired significant skill with alchemical elixirs during life. He probably qualified as a genius. And yet he seemed so unassuming. "He's pushing onto you work he could be doing himself, you know."
Jekyll laughed gently. "Most likely. But I assure you, I'm quite used to serving as an assistant for those more gifted than myself. My own fault for being too interested in stars far beyond my reach, and yet I truly don't mind. In fact, I'll probably talk the Magus's ear off at night with my ignorant questions and peculiar ideas." He glanced at Merlin, and while his smile seemed innocent, Ren found herself uneasily reminded that Hyde had originated in this man.
Merlin's eyes glittered but he said lightly, "Aren't you a sweetheart? You'll get along well with Ritsu. Well, if you think you can restrain yourself."
A delicate flush colored Jekyll's cheeks and his gaze dropped. "I'm most on my guard with the innocent." The flush deepened and without looking up, he said, "Ah, however, I must ask how our Master is maintaining this many Servants? I did notice the lack of Magical Paths."
"I have to brush your hair," said Ren apologetically. "Merlin can make me a bracelet that will help, though. It works on Jack."
Jekyll froze utterly, and then said, "Yeaaaah? Ah. No, don't. Please, stop," with his voice shifting between Hyde's rasp and his own. Ren's breath caught in her still-bruised throat and her heart began to pound. If this was his reaction to the mention of grooming, what would happen when he required it?
Cú appeared at Jekyll's side without visibly crossing the intervening space, but Jekyll flung out his hand, fingers spread in a warding gesture, as he pressed two fingers on his other hand against his temple. "Please, I must…"
Jack, who had been nestling against Ren's side listening quietly, sat up. "Mommy…? He's bad."
Merlin watched too, with a delighted interest that instantly raised Ren's hackles. She told Jack, "He knows right from wrong and he's at least trying to make good choices."
Jekyll raised his head at that and for a heartbeat, Ren thought she'd said something helpful. But his eyes glinted red as he looked directly at her. Moving slowly, like a wire stretched near breaking being inched just a little bit farther, he raised his hands to his hair and rumpled it wildly, before giving her that unholy grin.
Concentrating on her breathing instead of her wild heartbeat, looking him in the eye, Ren said evenly, "Yes. Eventually. You'll have plenty of work."
His eyes brightened. Then, all at once, the tension binding him broke and Jekyll resurfaced in the resulting slump. His hands closed into fists, and then he started smoothing his hair back down again. "You really do have strange survival instincts, Master. You made him happy, though, which allowed me to take control. Thank you." But despite his thanks, Ren detected reproach in his glance. "He truly is very strong here."
Thoughtfully, she asked, "Do you think you might craft an elixir to suppress him?" She caught the tired expression that crossed his face and added, "You see, you're not the only one with ignorant questions and peculiar ideas. Don't worry, Jekyll. You saw how fast Cú moved when you changed. And I really would like you to focus on repairing the portal as soon as possible."
"It's important," agreed Merlin, inspecting the other Servants. "Otherwise what you summon tomorrow might be 100% monster."
Ren, who had thought that but refrained from saying it, sighed. "Thank you for that contribution, Merlin. What will you be doing while you make poor Jekyll do your research?"
"Oh, I'll find a way to stay busy." He stretched out on the flagstones, resting his head on his hands.
Sternly, Ren said, "I want useful, not just busy," but Merlin just waved an uninformative but placating foot at her. She scowled. "When do you expect Tora to wake up?"
"Oh, how about around dinner time?" Merlin turned his head toward Cú, still lurking near Jekyll's elbow.
"Not a bad idea," said the Lancer. "Delicious meat and a hungry prisoner can really smooth out an interrogation."
Ren went over the plans she'd made earlier and sighed again. "All right. After you're done with your pig prep, try to get us some plates and stuff? And anything Jekyll might need? Meanwhile I," she gave a third resigned sigh, melodramatic in its length, "need to learn more about combat."
Merlin gave her a grin, his eyes sparkling with an amusement that abruptly became concern when Ren glanced down at Jack. "Would you help me, Jack? I bet between the two of us we can really mess Merlin up."
A smile brightened Jack's face. "Oh yes," she agreed. "That will be so much fun."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone