Alone, Again

...Master, Master.

Wake up, Master. I said, wake up, Master.

... ...

Which is your desire, Master; the Iron Maiden or the Brazen Bull?

？！

No idea. How should I be expected to know such a thing?

Yet, quite clearly it is a pleasant place. Your pet and companion are here as well.

Fou!

Are you awake, Master? ...We're trapped somewhere.

It appears we're in some sort of Reality Marble I'm unable to contact Dr. Roman either.

It doesn't just appear to be, it most certainly is. This is my castle, after all.

What do you mean, "your castle?"

That's right, this is the Castle Csejte. It's best that you don't wonder off somewhere.

The chances of escaping this castle are a mere one in one thousand. You really ought to relax and wait.

But...

At any rate, I know this castle and I'm not going anywhere.

I am quite comfortable here, after all. The smell of blood here is so, so dear to me.

Ugh. ...What should we do, Master?

？！

...Wait a moment, Master. Did you not listen to a word I said?

？！

In that case, surely you know that you won't find any lies or deception in my words.

Ask your companion, there. Have her tell you the blood-splattered legend of Elisabeth Báthory.

...I'll admit, it's exactly as Carmilla says.

The only person to ever to escape here was a one single maiden out of a thousand.

I do believe your safest choice is to wait here...patiently.

？！

...!

You're right. After all...if this is Castle Csejte, we have been imprisoned...!

The longer we wait, the more likely we'll be sacrificed...

Ugh. J-Just how foolish can this woman be? Do you understand? This is MY castle.

How could I be locked inside my own castle? Such self-injurious action would never be...never be...

...ok, it's completely possible.

To drain the blood from a beautiful maiden. To skewer a hateful rival. If it were for that purpose, it is a possibility.

？！

...As infuriating as it is, I'd have to say that is the proper choice. For the moment, I think I shall follow your orders.

What about traps...?

Do you think I would bother with such trivial matters? All I did was give the order, "Don't allow anyone to escape."

As to what manner of security measures were taken, do you think I would bother myself with that?

...Uh, well. Do you have any advice on how to escape?

None whatsoever. Why do you look at me that way? You are a mere commonerEek!?

A hand extending from the wall?! What is this? A haunted mansion?

It's a Golem! The wall has transformed!

I'll destroy it! Stand back, Master!

...I'll admit, I do regret my actions a little bit. Not knowing anything can be quite a scary thing.

But, I will say this. Master, if you ever make a mockery of my foolishness, it's the Iron Maiden for you.

Ummm, I don't see an exit anywhere...

Fou!

Fou? Don't rush ahead like that...!

Fou, fou!

Fou!

Master, stay close by! It's an enemy!

But this is no Golem. Yes...It appears we finally meet the true foe.

I hate you!

I cannot stand you! I will never, ever forgive you!

Mere phantom of this castle... You weakest of the weak, lowest of the low! How dare you stand before me!

What did you say? ...Just because you are a noble... you killed me...How dare you...How dare you!

That's right. Being a noble is my way of life. I am afraid to say that I am not the type to be tormented by guilt.

I am evil. Utter and thorough evil. Void of salvation, I am a ludicrous beast that died in sheer despair.

However, I am not so foolish to have regretted my evil and lost sight of what lies before me.

It was perfectly logical to curse me, but to invite these ones in as well was foolish.

You will receive pity if you were to only curse me, to curse all of those living, then you're no better than me.

In that caseI shall crush you, without a shred of mercy.

Even if you are a phantom, I will wring every last drop of blood from you!

...Hmph! The hem of my dress has been torn. That was somewhat of an inconvenience.

Let us be on our way, Master. The exit shouldn't be far.

...

What's the matter, Carmilla?

Nothing at all. Only a slight headache. ...Master, let me ask you this.

This is just an "if." If the door does not open... and we are truly locked in this castle, what will you do?

Would you give up in despair? Or would you?

？！

...I see. I figured you would say as much.

Even in such a desperate situation, you'll continue fighting without giving up.

Just because you've been imprisoned, you're not the type to lie down and give up.

An enemy! It's aShadow Servant...!?

Oh, dear... I am imprisoned again. Again, I am all alone.

Again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again there is no one to rescue me...!!

No! No! Stop...! I don't want to go back to that place! No! No! Noooo!

？！

...! Master...

Here it comes...!

So it is. Now, I am your Servant.

Even though it was my fate to become imprisoned, it is illogical that you should be imprisoned as well.

Master! Mash! Listen to me closely. This is merely "darkness!"

It is a darkness that envelopes this castle, preventing escape. It is the final barrier, the absolute ruler.

I cannot overcome this alone. But now, I have you with me.

To battle! Now is the time for me to make these ones pay for what has been done!

We destroyed them! We can open the door...!

Fou!

...Well done. You have successfully escaped.

What about you, Carmilla?

Never mind me. You go on. You should return to Chaldea.

This place is nothing more than a world of my own imagining.

As long as my fate has been determined, there is no hope of my escaping this place.

You see, for me to escape imprisonment would be a rejection of my life, my fate, my everything.

HoweverYou are different. I must help you. Even if the chances are one in a thousand, I must help my Master.

...Do not worry. This is a dream. Merely a nightmare. You will forget all of it when you awake.

In matter of fact, what if...

What if, I had met someone like you when I was "Elisabeth."

What if, I had reached out to a beacon of light like you. Then I

Oh! You're awake! Master.

...Why, you look as if you were struck by a popgun. Did you have a strange dream?

That's right. It was just a dream. Put it out of your mind. More importantly, it is still night time.

There is still time before morning comes. Go back to sleep once more.

And this timehave a pleasant dream. Good night, Master.