"That would make sense, but they are still going to you for that, so it seems you may have an answer to deal with them." Griselda noted before looking to the devil princesses. "So had there been any developments so far?"
...
Sona shook her head while adjusting her glasses. "Afraid there is none. I'm not sure how, but they seemed to have fallen off the radar without a trace. None of the familiars are able to find them, and none of the detection spells in the town are sounding off. They must be in an area where neither can find them or they are utilizing some sort of charms to avoid detection."
"I will go with both." I moved to their spot and looked at the map they had. "Considering the range your familiars have and your statuses, I would choose a spot that would be out of town, then for added security, I would also place some spells to deter any eavesdroppers." I pointed out a few areas with that in mind. "These would be good places to start."
"Hmm, never thought of those places. Guess we could send them out." Sona tapped her finger on her chin thoughtfully.
"The sooner we find them, the sooner I give them a piece of my mind on laying their hands on my cute knight!" Rias growled as the Prana started to leak out from her body, making me subconsciously move back out of habit to prepare a trigger. "They will learn it is a big mistake to take one of my children from me."
"Not in that state of mind you will." Her head snapped to me with narrowed eyes.
"Rias Gremory, we will not see eye to eye on certain matters; that much I can say, and in this case I will say this." I talked in a calm manner to reduce the likelihood of me getting blown up. "Your sense of duty towards your servants is admirable, but too much of it is clouding your mind. You are not thinking straight."
"He is my child, and I will not let you say otherwise!" The loose bits of the furniture started to vibrate violently ad the dust dropped from the ceilings as the scent of the sickening sweetness started to thicken and threatened to choke me out. Thankfully I had a counter for that.
"Do you think he would want you to be like this?" My soft question seemed to have knocked her out of her rage, if the feeling of diminishing Prana was of any indication. "Rias, I have already taught you and the others about controlling your emotions during the field camp. Now granted, I have my fair of share of experiments done on me…"
'Courtesy of a certain twin-tailed magus.'
'… And of course I do not know what he may had gone through, but the fact that despite the warnings given to him by the others, he ignored them and got himself caught. Now you are also going the same path and I think he cares enough to wish you not to fall for that same weakness. So you need to calm down now."
"…" There was a very tense atmosphere in the air as the Mexican standoff between the two of us went on for a few seconds. Then with closed eyes and a heavy sigh, Rias brought down her Prana levels to more soothing levels.
And that proved I was still the champion of the staring game.
"Then what would you suggest we do?" Rias opened her eyes and looked at me tiredly.
"For now, all of you need to get some rest." I glanced at all of them and noted their positions. "As it is, you guys are in no state of mind to continue this search, nor do you have the physical capacity. You all should take a quick breather to relax."
"Then what about you?"
"I have rested enough and I might have a better idea of where they might be." I replied simply while taking another glance at the map. "I should be able to get some information from my charms, so in that time you guys can take a break from the craziness." I held up a finger to stop the respective leaders from speaking. "Both sides need to take stock of the situation and prepare for whatever is to come. My gut is telling me that their purpose for coming here has something to do with the shards; the amount of planning that goes into this suggest that they will attempt some sort of experiment with the shards and they likely need something that doubles as protection while they are here."
"What makes you so sure?" Irina raised her hand while acting like someone asking a question in the classroom.
"I may be third rate, but I am still a magus, and one of the principles that we follow is to perform experiments that will help to improve our abilities that would help us get closer to the Root." I shrugged while giving the explanation. "This amount of preparation reminds me of those people performing wide scale experiments."
"The Root?" Tsubaki tilted her head in puzzlement. "I hear you speak that a few times. What is it exactly?"
"Something that can be explained another time." I waved it off as I gathered up the necessary materials. "We can meet up later once I get some information. So on that note." I turned to Mitelt who raised an eyebrow at me. "I will be bringing you to Kawako and Kano so that they can watch over you."
"Excuse me?" The other eyebrow raised itself as she used her famous glare on me. "Do you honestly believe that I am going to be hung back like a little princess? I may look like a fourteen year old, but need I remind you that I have been kicking ass for the past few centuries while you were still in your mom's womb?"
"Which is partially why I am sending you to them, because just in case things go south, you are there to watch over them." I said with another pat on her head. "This way I can keep both parties safe. I prefer to have you bored and safe in the old folks' hands than with us. And maybe you can help take care of the others in the town."
"Hmm…. Fine." Mitelt folded her arms and looked away with a pout. "I will at least look after those two, but I make no promise to the others. Is that clear?!" I merely nodded to her terms. It was a bit of a gamble to attempt keeping her in one spot and perhaps a stupid idea to ask her to help in protecting people, but considering her interactions with the old couple, I would try to at least have her near them.
"Okay then, I will be delivering her to a safe place while you guys take a quick break." I was about to leave the warehouse when a voice stopped me.
"Wait a minute young man." We turned to face the elder Exorcist looking at me with a serious eye. "The fact that the shards are reacting to you is likely to have been conveyed to Galilei, and if I know him well enough, he would likely attempt to get you for whatever experiments he had planned."
"It won't be the first time. It is after all an occupational hazard." I shrugged with the straightest face I have.
"Emiya-kun, that is not funny." Sona looked at me sternly. "Your life is in danger, don't even joke that way."
"As I said, it is an occupation hazard." I replied back while rolling my eyes. "If ever I don't get hurt, I will go for the lottery."
"Emiya-kun~" My spine got chills as I slowly turned to find a smiling Kusaka Reya with the smile that would make Tohsaka proud. "Don't even think about gambling your life like that. Got it?"
"… Yes, madam."
"Oh~ somebody got whipped."
Mitelt, not helping my situation at all.
...
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