[h1][color=00aeef]Ernest LaCreux[/color][/h1]

[h2]Church Interior[/h2]



	Ernest took a long drag from his cigar as Ruler opened the door. Immediately, it became clear that Ruler, too, knew something was wrong. Ernest looked at the heroic figure for a moment, a fair amount of the night's shock still hanging over his eyes. Exhaling smoke, he nodded, following Ruler into the Church. Ordinarily, he would've realized the breech of etiquette he had committed by bringing a lit cigar into the building, but at the moment his mind was far too distracted to consider such things. As they entered the Church, Ernest nearly collapsed on a nearby pew. Removing his jacket, and taking another drag from his cigar, he looked up at Ruler and began.

	[color=00aeef]“I summoned my Servant, Lancer, earlier today. We decided to familiarize ourselves with this city more thoroughly. I thought that would be an advantage...”[/color] The magus stared at the floor with blank eyes for a moment.[color=00aeef] “Things were uneventful until we drew near the forest on the western side of the city. At that point, Lancer darted off into the trees... he was following something, as far as I could tell.[/color]” Ernest shook his head. [color=00aeef]“There was a problem, though. It was difficult to tell exactly where he went, and our connection seemed distorted. I couldn't tell where he was going, so I sent a familiar after him into the forest, too try and discern what was going on.”[/color] Ernest looked up at Ruler. [color=00aeef]“When the familiar reached him, Lancer had brought out his spear... not that it did him much good. I don't know if they fought beforehand or if it was an instantaneous attack, but a... man with black hair had put his fist through Lancer's heart.”[/color] Ernest took a breath. [color=00aeef]“No, 'man' isn't the right word. I don't know what he was. He didn't seem like a Servant, but yet he struck Lancer down in a single blow.” [/color]Ernest paused for a moment, disgust twisting his lip. [color=00aeef]“I looked at him for a moment, this 'thing'. I can't describe it exactly, but something was deeply wrong about him. He was... empty.”[/color]


	Ernest shook his head, taking another deep inhalation of smoke into his lungs. “That's all I saw. After that he destroyed my familiar... and then I came here.” The reality of the events that had just transpired became heavier by the moment. Despite obviously being quite shaken, Ernest's voice retained the same air of grim aristocracy that it always carried, evidently a trait that was difficult to shake. The man adjusted his tie, looking at Ruler again.[color=00aeef] “From the way you greeted me I suppose it's safe to assume this is far from ordinary.”[/color] 'Ordinary' was a rather poor choice of a word for anything involving the Holy Grail War, but even so, something was even more amiss than usual.[color=00aeef] “Can you tell me what that... thing was, Ruler?”[/color]