As the side effects of the medicine began to take hold… Fiore felt herself growing drowsy. Though her mind remained awake, her eyelids grew unbearably heavy… even speaking became difficult.
"Shogun… could you… carry me to bed? Haa… I want to sleep for a while."
Fiore weakly asked the Shogun, her fragile voice carrying the sense of a girl who might shatter at a touch.
Without replying, the Shogun directly lifted the girl into her arms like a princess and placed her onto the bed, carefully covering her with the blanket.
"Shogun… when I'm asleep, you don't need to stay with me. You can go wherever you wish… It's safe here. I'll be fine."
Lying beneath the blanket, Fiore murmured softly as her eyes, already unbearably heavy, slowly closed. The strength in her fingers clutching the Shogun's sleeve weakened until finally, the Shogun tucked her into the quilt.
Watching the slumbering beauty for about a minute, the Shogun stepped soundlessly from Fiore's private room, closing the door with gentle precision.
Before leaving, she glanced once more at the decorations on the door, her eyes narrowing slightly… a trace of violet energy spread within the room.
Though the place was indeed safe, her cautious nature led her to layer her own protective wards around the chamber. Should anyone approach, the wards would signal her, allowing her to recognize the intruder.
Now, she intended to wander the halls of the castle… or perhaps go outside to observe the scenery of a land beyond Teyvat.
[This girl truly likes you…]
It was Ei's voice that spoke to her then.
'What do you mean by that?'
[Those gestures, those eyes… I can feel it.]
'You are sensitive to such things?'
Usually, she would not pay such matters any heed. Why today? The Shogun was puzzled.
[Not exactly. It's just that you, Shogun, are still bewildered and unfamiliar with emotions. But I'm no better—I don't fully understand them myself.]
Ei's tone was gentle, admitting her own uncertainty. If she had yet to grasp them, how could the Shogun?
'Because I am not flesh and blood… I am only…'
[Though you are my puppet, as your creator, I wish for you to feel more of these things. After all… every mother hopes her child will grow, does she not?]
Strange as it sounded, it was not out of place. Ei was indeed her mother—for it was Ei who had created her.
The Shogun paused briefly at these words… then, after considering them, resumed her steps.
At that moment, Caules appeared at the far end of the corridor. Upon seeing her, he froze slightly before stopping in place. The Shogun glanced at him, but without speaking, walked past the boy.
"Saber… where's my sister?"
Yet before she passed completely, he addressed her back.
"…In her room, asleep."
The Shogun did not turn, replying simply.
"I see… Sigh… my sister… she is different from the other magi. You could say she has yet to make certain resolve. Her body and mind are still immature. I don't want her hurt in this war. Saber, will you promise me to protect her?"
Caules' tone grew serious as he looked at the slender figure ahead.
The Shogun turned her face slightly toward him…
"There is no need to remind me. That is my duty to begin with."
"…I see. Then I can rest assured. I'll be going."
Relieved, Caules smiled faintly, then pushed open the large doors and departed the hall.
"..."
The Shogun silently watched the direction he left before continuing her steps.
Tap, tap…
Unexpectedly… as she passed through another corridor, a group of uniformed servants rushed toward her. More accurately, they were homunculi—the exclusive resource of Yggdmillennia, cultivated to serve as vessels of magical energy.
Upon seeing her, the group halted and bowed respectfully.
"Lord Saber… Lord Caster is searching for an escaped homunculus. Have you seen him?"
A female homunculus stepped forward, politely inquiring.
Escaped? A homunculus?
The Shogun narrowed her eyes slightly, then shook her head.
"I have not seen him."
Indeed, she had not. Along the way, aside from Fiore's younger brother, she had encountered no one else.
"I see… Forgive us for disturbing you."
The homunculi bowed once more, then hurried past her, running down the corridor.
Speaking of homunculi…
'Ei…'
[The Shogun is far from something as mundane as a homunculus… You are a precious creation formed from my genes, a true soul, and my essence. How could such a being be compared to a mere homunculus?]
[Yes… if we must give it a name… let us call it a "divine creation."]
"This place feels so cold…"
The Shogun closed her eyes, complaining helplessly.
[Cold? But your body temperature is perfectly normal… where would this coldness come from?]
Ei's voice carried confusion… such absentminded reasoning was indeed her nature.
"Sigh… never mind."
The Shogun gave up. She was already accustomed to such conversations between them—half in jest, half in comfort. Perhaps, in this way, loneliness would never touch her.
At that moment, passing by a certain door, the Shogun happened to overhear voices inside. Her hearing was many times sharper than that of ordinary people, allowing her to catch the sounds within quite clearly.
"It seems his magic circuits almost went out of control. And then… it's overexertion, isn't it?"
"Overexertion?"
Inside, Rider Astolfo leaned on the edge of the bed, looking at the short-haired brown-haired male homunculus lying naked atop it.
"Most likely, ever since his birth… he has never once walked."
From the other side of the bed, Chiron placed his hand upon the boy's leg, scanning it briefly with magecraft as he analyzed.
"Eh?"
Rider was clearly surprised.
"Because he was made to be like a battery for supplying magical energy."
Chiron explained calmly.
"I see… then he's like a newborn baby, isn't he?"
Astolfo's expression turned sympathetic and complicated as he gazed upon the frail youth lying on the bed, his tone laced with pity.
"…Why would you help him, Rider?"
Chiron looked across at Rider, his voice tinged with resignation.
"Because I want to help him!"
Astolfo answered without a trace of hesitation—simple, direct, and cheerful, though it seemed almost unreasonable.
"…You realize Caster is searching for him, don't you?"
"Ahaha… who cares about him?"
Astolfo laughed carefreely, utterly unconcerned with how his betrayal might trouble his side.
"…I will leave this room empty for now. It's unlikely anyone will discover him, but if anyone knocks, do not answer. And you must not reveal this matter to any other Servant or Master. Do you understand?"
Chiron stood at the door, turning back to remind Rider solemnly.
"I know already… don't worry~!"
Rider waved with a bright smile.
"Rider, will you take responsibility to the end?"
"I'll help him for as long as I can accept it. I will never abandon him!"
Astolfo's words were firm, enough to make Chiron pause in surprise before smiling knowingly. He then opened the door and stepped out.
Once Chiron had left the corridor, a faint gathering of violet lightning particles appeared, forming into the Shogun's figure. Her gaze, cold and indifferent, lingered upon the door for a moment before she dissolved once more into lightning and vanished.
She despised such "traitorous" behavior… Yet it was not enough to compel her to intervene. For now, she would leave it be.