Just A Bit Of Mayhem: Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Illya left the church with Atalanta in tow, never once turning back. It was only once they were back in the city proper that she finally let out a sigh of relief. Hands clutching her chest as she leaned against a telephone pole, she gasped out, “Ok, I’m never going back there!” 

Having just met the King of Heroes and Kirie Katomine, she had never been so close to death. Even now she could feel her heart racing. Things could have gone terribly wrong especially with the way she handled her first meeting with the strongest servant of the war, but somehow, she pulled through unscathed.

Maybe the man had a soft spot for kids? No, she was merely deluding herself with such thought. She had merely amused the man, nothing more. Even the presence of Atalanta did little as those terrible eyes landed on her. “He could have killed me before I even knew it,” She whispered inside her mind half hysterically. 

Just one wrong move and it could have been all over before it even began. Thankfully, it was finally over, at least for now that was. Feeling Atalanta’s comforting touch against her back and Miss Weiss’ tongue licking, she let out a shuddering sigh. 

“Archer,” She whispered shakily as she held on to her beloved pet, taking comfort in their affection, “Were we followed?” Still cagey from the meeting, she glanced around, her hand holding Miss Weiss protectively while her hands played with a stray strand of hair. 

“He watched us as we left, but he didn’t follow us,” Atalanta replied, “Nor did the priest.” Hands reaching up to stroke Illya’s hair, she assured her, “We’re safe.”

“Good, good,” Illya breathed out as she returned Miss Weiss back to her place in her coat with trembling hands. She hated how she was afraid, she hated how she had frozen in fear. She had prepared endlessly for this war, yet she was found wanting; She needed to fix that.

Turning, she gestured for her servant to follow her. “Archer, let’s go back to the castle.” For now however, it was best they retreat. They weren’t ready and so was her body. Yawning, she rubbed her eyes, “So tired…” She really should have listened to Atalanta. 

As she stumbled, she felt her servant's strong hands holding her. “Do you wish me to carry you, Illya?” The woman asked as she gave him a tender smile.

Blushing, Illya pouted, “I’m not a child. I can handle myself.” She wasn’t some fragile flower that needed to be tended to everytime. Still, her hands felt nice. Glancing away, she muttered, “But… you can hold my hands.”

Smiling wider, Atalanta nodded, “Of course, Master.” Hands grasping hers, the two retreated back to the castle that would serve as their home for the coming months. 

-x-x-x-

Illya’s encounter with the golden bastard made quite the wake up call for the eternally young Magus.Thanks to him, Illya developed a healthier appreciation of life as she was reminded of her mortality, and how fragile she truly was. For all the power that now coursed through her veins, it paled in comparison to a servant.

Now while she could rely on her servant for protection, it felt like it wasn’t enough. She needed some way to keep herself alive even if her servant were to be incapacitated, thus she found herself working on her new project.  

Brow furrowed in concentration, she weaved the strands of Etherlite into artificial flesh. Her family’s expertise not only lies in alchemy, but that of the production of homunculi. After all, how else were they going to reproduce such high quality maguses? They simply couldn’t rely on genetics when it could fail them.

Such knowledge certainly came in handy as she slowly stitched up a doll with features similar to her own. It wasn’t quite the homunculi like her maids, but it was far more versitile. She’d also rather not have to deal with a clone running around her with her face and speaking off. 

Pausing, she stared at the doll's face. Was it creepy having her own face stare back at her? Yes, but she had plans for her little doppelganger. She had so many plans! 

Of course, her little project wouldn’t go unnoticed. “That’s quite an impressive looking doll,” said Atalanta as Illya heard her come through the door. Turning, she found the Greek servant wearing her maid outfit as she carried a tray of sandwiches. 

Illya had to bite back a comment on how comfortable had gotten in such wear as she turned back to her project. “It’s honestly not that great,” She muttered as she crossed her arms and stared at the hollowed out chest of the body, “It looks decent on the outside, but the insides a mess.” 

Stringing up what is effectively a Homonculi without a mind was a far more complicated matter than she had expected. Who knew that the human mind was quite the effective computer at making this meat puppet move. “How the hell did that woman ever figure out how to make hers move so like…” She mumbled to herself as she bit her thumb. 

“If it’s not too much to ask, Illya,” Atlanta asked as she sat beside her while glancing at the doll warily, “Why do you need such a lifelike doll? Do you wish to make body doubles?” 

“Oh body double is such a crude and limited term,” Illya replied as she turned her head up while sporting a smug smile, “I wanted to make walking bombs.”

Hearing the woman palm her face, Illya chuckled. “What is it with your obsession with explosives, Illya,” Atalanta sighed as she picked up one of the sandwiches and started nibbling on them. Speaking off, Illya felt her stomach rumble. 

Grabbing one for herself, Illya simply answered, “Big Boom is funny.” It was simply the most elegant solution to all her life's problems. Need a date? Prepare some colorful explosives. Need to go somewhere? Create controlled explosions and harness it to propel yourself. A bastard looking to shank you? Explosives. If it doesn’t solve it, she simply wasn’t using enough of it. 

“Now I just need to figure out how to fit everything without messing things up,” Illya mused as she picked up a brick of magically reinforced plastic explosives. Maybe she could stuff them inside the stomach? Where would she store the doll's power source though?

Frustrated, she threw up her hands and called it quits. “Bah! I’ll do this later!” She was going to figure out how to fit enough explosives in this tiny frame to level a city block even if it kills her. Now was it going to kill a Servant? Unlikely. What this baby would kill though was the master that triggered this doll’s death animation!

“Just…” Atalanta grimaced, “Just be careful ok?” Turning away, she heard her mutter something about Medea and just like her. She was going to take that as a compliment. 

Hoping off her chair, she marched out of her workshop. “Atalanta!” She called, gesturing for the woman to follow, “Let’s go outside!” She needed some fresh air right now and simply opening the windows wasn’t going to cut it. 

“Wouldn’t it be safer if you use your familiar?” Atalanta asked as she trailed behind her, “Or Miss Weiss for that matter.” 

“It would be,” Illya admitted as they passed said rat currently drinking the alchemical brew Illya made for her pet, “But it’s not like there’s any enemy’s just yet.” She had maybe a month to prepare for the war. She could do just a bit of mayhem before things really heat up, “Plus, it’s not everyday that I get to be in another country.” 

Shaking her head ruefully, Atalanta replied, “I’ll go get your coat.”

“And oh, Archer,” Illya paused as he turned to the servant who froze in her tracks, “Can you bring the other costume? The ones that Leysritt and Sella made for you!~”

Slowly, the woman turned to her as she grimaced, “Do I really have to?” 

“It’s just casual wear so you wouldn’t look out of place!” Illya reasoned. Oh sure the maid outfit was nice and all, but she wanted to give the girl some variety of outfits. “Plus, it really looks good on you!” She also couldn’t just resist the woman’s charm.  

“I swear you’re worse than Medea when she gets into one of those moods,” Atlanta grumbled as she reluctantly followed her request. 

Chuckling, Illya turned around and followed the woman, intent on watching her try the new selection of clothes she had, “It’s not my fault you’re cute~” 

-x-x-x-

After a few days holed up in the castle, being outside was a welcome reprieve. She was still quite uneasy at the sight of the church in the distance, but she did her best to ignore it. She and Atalanta to explore. 

As she absorbed the new sights, Atalanta shifted uneasily. “Mistress,” She called out, grabbing Illya’s attention away from the store fronts they passed by.

“Yes Archer,” Illya replied as she ignored the looks sent their way. They probably just thought they looked strange, being foreigners and all. Their light hair was quite the rarity out here in the far east after all.

“I know you wished to be discreet,” Atlanta mumbled, “But isn’t this the opposite of that?”

Grinning, Illya played coy to her servants' question, “Whatever do you mean? We’re just two siblings out on the walk, nothing wrong about that~” There was nothing wrong about two girls just exploring the town, right? 

Of course, the attention was nice, even if it was unwanted. “Oh my god, they’re so cute,” She heard one of the passing highschool students ask, “Are they sisters?”

“See, people just think we’re cute!” Illya chuckled.

“Yes,” Atlanta grumbled before looking up at her, “but do you really have to ride on my shoulder?”

“Yup!” Illya laughed as he clung to the woman's head for support while she sat on her shoulder, “It’s because I can see better up here!” Up there, she could see everywhere! It was a bit of a hyperbole, but the point still stands. “Now onwards my noble steed! To the shops!”

Letting out a long suffering sigh, Atalanta nodded. Just as they rounded a corner, a youth nearly crashed into them. “Pardon me!” The red haired youth apologized as he skidded to a halt. Beside him was a purple haired girl that looked equally surprised as he was. 

Illya took a moment to stare at the boy before a grin spread across her face. “Oh, hey big bro,” The Einzbern waved at the thoroughly confused youth by the name of Shirou Emiya, “Fancy meeting you here.” Well, things certainly got a lot more interesting.

A/N:

Sorry for this late post and admittedly small chapter. I've been dealing with headaches lately and fighting through them had been a pain. Hopefully I could make another one of these before I move on to the next commission and then do some Empress.