21 Aftermath (1/2)
Along the way back, Tohsaka and Emiya were feeling downcast as they didn't know what to say to Sakura. They thought Rafi sacrificed himself to save Emiya when Gilgamesh was about to pull Emiya inside the Grail's remnant. Besides, Shinji that was saved by Tohsaka previously, suddenly disappeared when she looked for Archer in hurry.
They felt it would be painful for Sakura if she knew her lover was dead because of Emiya while her step-brother lost in Tohsaka's care. But it would be more miserable for her if Sakura didn't know their fate, and decided to wait for them in worry. After thinking it through, Emiya and Tohsaka decided to tell Sakura the truth when they were back home.
Arrived at home, Tohsaka called Sakura and Illyasviel to a meeting. Sakura and Illyasviel were suspicious after sensing the atmosphere in the meeting. They should be joyful when the Grail was destroyed successfully, but Tohsaka and Emiya were looking downcast and a bit guilty. Their suspicion became stronger after seeing Rafi didn't come back with Emiya and Tohsaka.
Tohsaka first explained that Shinji, although was saved at first, but he disappeared soundlessly later. Sakura appeared shocked hearing Shinji disappearance, although she was not too surprised at it. As she could somewhat guessed about who and why that caused Shinji's disappearance.
But, when Emiya told them what happened to Rafi, Sakura felt her world gone dark for a moment, she was crying hard, leaning on Illyasviel's tiny shoulder. Illyasviel felt something inside her seemed to crack, after hearing he was dead. Some tears were quietly falling from her immature face as she somehow felt her chest tightened. Looking at Sakura who was crying on her shoulder, she couldn't helped felt an urge to cry together. But she suppressed it, as she felt he wouldn't died that easily. He was someone that could even revived a dead her, surely he would had some measure to stay alive, or so she thought about it silently.
When she was about to remind Sakura of that fact, she was shocked by a familiar voice that was transmitted directly to her ears, as she looked at Emiya and Tohsaka didn't seem to hear it. Thus she quickly brought Sakura for a rest in her room, while waiting for owner of the voice. Some times later, 'she' revealed herself in front of both of them, much to Sakura and Illyasviel's shock. 'She' told them what really happened to Rafi and told them not to worry much, as she believed her existence was a proof that he might be alive.
... ...
Meanwhile, inside the Greater Grail, Rafi found himself in a darkest place he ever be. There was no light, only a crazed, chaotic and ominous aura of curses could be felt surrounding him.
”Damn! So, this is a polluted Grail. So sickening. Can I really absorb it, [Claire]?”
[Don't worry, Host. These curses are only trivial things. Host only need to operate the Manual, and it will be absorbed as pure energy after being purified.]
After hearing the System, Rafi then started meditating as he operated the Manual's chants. Times passed silently inside the Grail, there was still darkness surrounded him, but streams of pure energy could be felt entering his body. Some of those were absorbed by Fantasy Seed in his sea of conciousness, rejuvenated the emptied Seed, while part of it rejuvenated his exhausted body.
As he was absorbed in cultivation, Rafi didn't notice he was observed by two entities in the Grail. One of them was looking more anxious as times passed on while Rafi absorbed and purified those polluted energies, and the other entity was more obscure and was pondering in silence.
”Hey..hey..if you keep absorbing it, she will die y'know.” A voice suddenly was heard from the darkness.
”...hmm, eh, Angra Mainyu isn't it? So you finally decided to speak, huh, Avenger.”
”You know about me?? Then do you know that I am currently contracted to a dying Master. If you continue absorbing these Mana, I can't keep my Master from her death.”
”...” Rafi was absorbed in his thought as he completely neglected about Bazett's situation. While he was hesitating, a melodious and cold womanly voice suddenly sounded, cleared his hesitation.
”If you are worried about her, I can help you preserve her state to not worsening any further.”