#castilium

USUALLY FESTIVITIES WEREN'T SOMETHING HE WAS DRAWN TO. and yet, within these festivals, there were a handful that were fascinating in their own way, if not likeable by the scholar. the tower tree, amidst all its abundance and curious creatures, was one such occasion. he had come on his lonesome, but noticed another off waiting for a guide as his own showed up who had likely done the same, causing a hand to lift to ask for a moment of time. ❝ Pardon me, ❞ he addresses the younger girl, figuring she could use the boost forward in the line.

❝ Would you care to join instead of waiting? An Alraune guide has already arrived to begin my ascension up the tree. Don't worry, there is plenty of room. ❞ as seen in the fact he was the only one this particular guide was waiting on.

❍ Of all the things the Chrysos Heir hadn't expected to find in a city of steel and cement, it was a garden. Beautiful flowers in full bloom, clearly cared for with the same love that those of the Nether Realm. Those were flowers that would not wilt in her presence, and if her powers hadn't been taken from her, these wouldn't have been the same.

Careful not to disturb them, Castorice knelt down on the fringe of the garden so that she could admire them closely and quietly. She believed she was alone, but soon realized someone was approaching from behind. "Please do not take another step, if you would..."

Her curse wasn't active. The fact that she could touch a flower and it didn't wilt was proof of that. But Castorice couldn't unlearn 1000 years of caution in a day, and she didn't have enough data to confirm her curse was truly inactive.

❝ MASHU-CHAN! ❞ Hey! Where are you heading like that?! Don't hug people without their permission!

Left to his own devices by the familiar hole, it takes Wang Yi a couple minutes to process that he's back. Back in a city he'd written off as a dream at first, because none of this had popped into his head when Sao Ling restored his memories. Waving away the taxi that offers to drive him, Wang Yi sets off for the city on foot, using the time to reorganize his thoughts amidst quasi-familiar surroundings.

He's younger now, on a technicality—stronger too, with better reflexes and new skills. A little shorter than he used to be, slightly thinner but with more muscle. He tries to form ice crystals but the Stars have locked that skill for now, though his physical body is in top form from years of sword-training.

It feels...weird.

"Um." Hands fiddle with the cell phone in his hand, debating whether to check the contacts list for people he know. But it's been ages now, surely they couldn't be—?

He's a little reluctant to find out. Pink flits past his vision next, and he looks up, startled to see someone he thinks he knows. They met at a bookshop or something? But he can't remember her name.

"Hey, uh....I mean, hey wait!" Light footsteps propel him forward, long sleeves fluttering behind him as he rests a hand on her arm.

"Sorry, I think we've met?"

"You're the uhh...detective girl?" A fan of detective mysteries, more like.

This wasn't new to all these kinds of mists but it seems that they have found a ruined carriage as the insides of it were stolen and none of them were hurt due to those in-charge had retreated. Of course, this means one thing. They are in Albedo's world even if its mistified.

Albedo was way too ahead of the scene as Mashu might have seen it first.

"Perfect like always Holmes."

He missed the chance to give Mashu a Xmas gift due to being distracted and a bit under the weather. But no way is he going to miss the chance for new years as it's a couple of stuff he knows she enjoy. He put a very well decorated gift basket in front of her unit as he smirk with pride.

A Chaldea style book mark

Some of her favorite tea.

Glasses cleaner fluid and the nicest case and cloth dust can buy

and some bath bombs. God knows that girl do a lot of physical related work and can use it. Just cause she a demi servant don't mean she can't enjoy herself as Holmes about to leave.

He....still want to be a part of their lifes as their friend. Holmes complex about hurting them slowly gotten better with time and assurance from Saber. But he don't think he ready yet to face them as he head down the stairs he bump into....Mashu

Huh she sure back from the cafe early. There this silence as Holmes try to compose himself.

Holmes take a puff of his pipe. Hmmm what should a genius detective say to get himself out of this situation since he been ghosting them (Not his fault. He have no idea how many layer of sleeper agent he in) for months and haven't REALLY had time to talked to Mashu since the whole invasion event?

Holmes put on a pair of party sun glasses on his coat pocket that say CHALDEA 2022 (his last new year with them before you know what)

".....would it be believable if i told you i'm the assassin of Shinjuku?"

The weather was definitely getting colder, and even with all his layers he may have been sitting there shivering as he tried to warm himself up again from the outdoors. The cold was a nightmare for him with the way it seemed to make the pain that would flare in his legs feel so much worth when he got a chill like this.

Thankfully, he was able to take this moment to sit and rest, to catch his breath, in no hurry to go anywhere.

But still even as he had sat there shivering, he hadn’t expected someone else to take notice, jumping lightly when he feels something draped over his shoulders until he looks back to see that it came from a person, blinking as he pulls the added layer further around himself.

“You— um. Surprised me! Haha.” Oh, he feels like he’s being so awkward right now. “But I do appreciate it, ah… … … sorry, what can I call you?”

Aurelius watched on with the crowd, but felt movement stir beside him. He caught the arm of a pink-haired girl before she could rush forward to stop the altercation and looked at her with a smile.

"Please don't."

Behind them, a man's pained howl rose up—it looked like the high heel had found its mark.