Beta read by Shigiya, Gamercrusher55 and Fluffy Slayer.
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Levantine Estate-
Claudia sat on the edge of the chair, hands clasped tightly in her lap as she watched her husband in silence. Klaus lay motionless on the bed, his body still weak, but at least alive. He had been moved to a safer room after the collapse of their mansion due to the attack. Closer to the castle, where Claudia could keep a vigilant watch over both him and any enemies who might try to strike again. The dimly lit chamber flickered with candlelight, and though his chest no longer rose and fell with a steady rhythm, the subtle shift of his eyes, following the movement of the flame, was enough to reassure her. He was still there. Still fighting.
She turned at the sound of approaching footsteps. The physician, an elderly man with a calm demeanor, entered the room, carrying a small ledger .
"How is he doing now?" she asked, her voice tender but laced with quiet desperation.
The doctor offered a reassuring nod. "I have rather good news for you, my lady."
She inhaled sharply, bracing herself for whatever the doctor was about to say. The days had blurred together since she found him gravely wounded, left for dead by those despicable thieves. She watched over him day and night,clinging to the hope that each breath he took meant he was one step closer to recovery.
"Your husband's condition has improved significantly these last few days. His body has shown no signs of fever or infection, in addition, all of his prior wounds have healed — save for a few scars. But those will fade with time. More importantly, we've observed something simply remarkable."
Her heart pounding, "W-What do you mean?"
"We've seen increased responsiveness in his body. His fingers twitch ever so slightly when we apply pressure, and today, when we tested his reflexes… his entire arm moved."
News, it was no different than a parched traveller stumbling upon an oasis in the heart of a desert. A glimmer of hope, light at the end of the tunnel. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, her world could return to the way it once was.
She had prayed endlessly, sought out every single physician in the kingdom, and even turned to Celestine herself to examine her husband. Now, at long last, all of her efforts were beginning to bear fruits. A rare smile bloomed on her face —one that hadn't been seen in what felt like ages. The constant weight on her shoulders had nearly broken her, especially after the chaos Beardsley unleashed upon the kingdom — The responsibilities had piled higher with each passing day, with no end in sight..
But with Klaus getting better, she hoped things would return back to the way they were with him by her side as always. "Wait, if he can move his arm, then surely he can speak!"
Rather than offering a clear yes or no, the elderly physician hesitated, his expression clouded by uncertainty. Claudia's heart lurched, her stomach twisting into knots.
"Is there something I'm not aware of? Can Klaus no longer speak?" she demanded, her voice trembling. "Please, tell me!"
She barely restrained herself from grabbing the man by his robes and shaking an answer out of him. But when he finally spoke, his response was far from what she expected.
"Truthfully, my lady… your husband should already be capable of speech."
Claudia's breath caught. "Then why—?"
The doctor sighed, shaking his head. "That is what troubles us. Whenever we attempt to communicate with him, he remains silent. We do not know if he is still physically unable to speak… or if he simply refuses to speak."
"What?" The answer left her more confused than before. Klaus, refusing to speak? That couldn't be right.
A silence settled between them as Claudia mulled over the implications. Then, a realization struck her.
"Oh… he must still be in shock."
How could she blame him? In just a matter of days, his world had been turned upside down—his body left broken, his father lost forever. Even though the relationship between father and son had been strained, she knew Klaus had always sought the man's approval, respected him despite their differences.
There was another possibility too, one that left a bitter taste in her mouth. After everything he had endured—the kidnapping, the torture—perhaps he found it difficult to trust anyone. Even the very doctors and servants tending to him now.
Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders. "All right then, I'll handle things from here."
She turned to one of the knights standing at the doorway. "Escort the doctor to Sana down the hall. She will see to his compensation and arrange for his safe return home."
The physician offered a brief nod of gratitude before taking his leave. But Claudia barely noticed—her mind was already fixed on Klaus. Without another moment's delay, she hurried through the corridors, ignoring the concerned glances of the few servants she passed.
By the time she reached his door, her breath was unsteady. She hesitated, fingers trembling over the handle.
'What if he truly doesn't want to speak to me?'
Pushing the thought aside, she turned the knob and entered.
The room was as pristine as ever, the air rich with the scent of flowers she had arranged, their vibrant presence meant to bring him some semblance of peace. Yet the lingering traces of medicine dulled their fragrance, a bitter reminder of his condition.
On the grand royal bed, Klaus lay in silence. His eyes were closed, his expression unreadable. But the moment she shut the door behind her, those same eyes fluttered open—tired, distant, yet unmistakably focused on her.
"Klaus…" she whispered, hesitating, unsure if she should step closer. The uncertainty, the sheer weight of everything left unsaid, pressed heavily upon her chest.
"I spoke with the doctor," she continued softly. "He told me the good news… that you're showing signs of recovery. Thank the Go-Goddess, I—" Her voice hitched, the overwhelming relief breaking through. "I-I thought… I thought I wouldn't be able to help you… that I'd lose you completely."
Tears welled in her eyes, slipping down her cheeks. She clutched her trembling hands together.
"You have no idea how much relief I felt hearing that you will move again. Soon, my love. Days, maybe weeks, but you will recover."
She took a slow step forward.
"Our kingdom needs us. There's so much to do after the passing of your father, and—"
Claudia faltered.
Klaus's gaze didn't waver, yet something about the way he looked at her made her throat tighten. She could feel it—the unspoken grief hanging between them, heavy and suffocating.
She swallowed hard, shame creeping up her spine.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I… I wasn't able to save him." She did not mention anything about what truly happened, not willing to burden her husband with the truth in his current state.
Pushing aside the growing discomfort, she continued. "He was a renowned general, someone I looked up to like my own father. He… he genuinely felt sadness about your condition. I could tell. He regularly spoke to me about the regrets he had, about how he treated you in the past."
From the corner of her eyes, she saw his hands clench, gripping onto the bed sheets with surprising force. It was enough to confirm what she had been hoping for— that he had regained enough strength to move, to feel. She could only imagine the grief he must have felt when thinking about Grave's passing. Claudia had to offer him some kind of closure, no matter how small. "We talked a lot, more than we ever had before. He had many plans for you, from what I understand. He was hoping that one day you'd become a worthy successor for the Levantine family head."
Klaus flinched, she could not tell what emotions were going through his mind at the moment. So she went ahead and sat on the bed next to him. "He tried many ways to cure you. Using every connection he had to find a possible remed—"
The woods came to a stop when she tried to touch his hand, the man just quickly pulled his back.
"…"
Taking a back by his action, she watched as Klaus looked at her for a moment before turning his gaze away, causing her more guilt. "D-Dear…?"
"..."
Not even a whisper, but she refused to give up now and persisted. Wanting to hear his voice just once, Claudia went back to grab his hand only for the latter to pull his back as soon as their skin touched. Almost like a recoil at the mere sensation.
"E… n… enou… Cla… dia."
At first, his words barely made any sense with how quietly he whispered them, but still… she rejoiced. To finally hear his voice after all this time, a smile couldn't help but blossom on her face finally seeing him awaken. Yet something in his voice put her on edge.
"You can talk… thank the goddess…!" More tears started to stream down her face, each one a testament to the weight of the emotions she had carried for so long. In a moment of elation, she tried again to approach him and feel the warmth of his touch. But her hand was immediately slapped away.
"No! S-S-Stay away!"
Klaus violently, as if he had seen a monster, pushed himself away from her. His reaction immediately made her heart ache, confused at his reaction, the woman was not sure what to do.
"Dear, is something the matter—"
"I SAID STAY AWAY!"
His scream tore through the room, raw and jagged, making Claudia freeze in place. Shock flashed across her face as she tried to process what was happening.
"You… how could you… I suffered… so much. A prisoner trapped in my own mind…I wasn't able to do anything, but watch as everything happened around me…"
Claudia flinched not realizing that Klaus had been that aware. She thought back to all the times she had talked about his condition to those around him. "I…didn't know you were aware during those times! I'm sorry you must have heard some terrible things. I know that the nurses, doctors, and servants have all been speaking about how they feel you wouldn't recover, but against everything you did. I knew that you had the strength to push through it."
"Strength…huh… heheheh… hahahaha!"
Taken aback by his change in emotions, Claudia started to question if her husband was still under the influence of some of the medicine or if she missed something. "Dear? Please calm down, now that you have halfway recovered, I will be next to you for every waking moment and make sure you're back on your feet."
As if he could not hear her, the man continued to speak with his voice sounding more and delirious at the same time.
"What a joke! What a joke! What strength!? I am just a weakling…"
"Tha-that's not true, Klaus. There are different types of strength and the will you have to survive and endure this proves that even if you're not strong physically, that you possess an inner strength that is unmatched. Besides, your father didn't think of you as such h—"
"He tortured me."
Something cold washed over her in that moment, an unsettling feeling that sank deep into her bones. It was as if something chillingly brutal that she had tried to deny was just about to be exposed. A scar that she had hoped to heal, to leave behind as if it had never existed, was now being ripped open by the cold wind of reality.
"You… tortured me… both of you… fucking… h-having his child…"
She could see his emotions getting more and more extreme, tears starting to stream down his face with his unfocused eyes gazing at his own hands.
"Klaus, I don't know what happened but please understand that whatever you must have seen or experienced is nothing but a nightmare. You are safe and sound. I am here! Can't you see me? I have always been by your side. Just look at me, everything will go back to normal." She did not know why, but the way he looked at her felt completely wrong. What she saw in his gaze wasn't the love, the devotion, the warmth she had spent so many years cherishing.. Instead, all she found was a terrified man, one who looked at her with fear and disgust.
"Hah…hah"
He was hyperventilating. It was clear he was having a panic attack, he may not even notice his surroundings at this point.
Growing desperate, she tried to reason with him even more.
Claudia was like a fish out of water…her mind having difficulty processing what he had just said, her mind trying to deny everything.
"M-My own survival… ay… een… planned out… h-he said that he would make me unable to… ah!... Unable to m-move… act… stuck… STUCK forever! F-Fully recovered… but stuck!"
Claudia's heart pounded in her chest as she reached out to him, her hands trembling despite her best efforts to steady herself. The moment her fingers touched his frail form, she felt a shudder run through his body, an almost instinctual recoil. His eyes—those eyes that once held so much love for her, so much warmth—were now filled with disgust, fear, and confusion. They were the eyes of a man who had forgotten everything, who couldn't remember the life they had built together, the love they had shared..
"Klaus…" Claudia's thoughts stalled, her mind racing as she struggled to grasp the meaning of his words and the troubling things he'd said about his father… all of it cluttering her mind while she could barely make sense of the situation while still worried about him. "I-I.. I don't know or understand what happened to y-you, Klaus. But please, trust me, I'll find out the truth and make everything back to the way it was."
"I-I… know… I know… y-you know… you know!"
She swallowed her muffled cries and continued to listen, even as his attempts to push her away deepened the ache inside her. "W-what was it? Please… tell me…"
Overwhelmed by a storm of emotions, he tore himself from her grasp, collapsing to the floor as he scrambled to distance himself.
Pointing a finger at her, the man screamed. "HE RAPED YOU! ALL OF THEM! I HEARD IT ALL! YOU ABANDONED ME!"
Claudia froze, stunned, as his voice rose—shouting accusations about her bearing someone else's child, letting him suffer and much… much more.
So much so her heart could not take it, and before she even knew it — Claudia bolted from the room, the doors slamming shut behind her. Pressing her back against the wooden surface, she slid down to the floor, no strength left in her body whatsoever.
Within the hallway, her cries were the only thing that could be heard.
{Break}
-Feoh-
The land of Eostia was ancient, far older than any recorded history, even in the most time-worn archives of the Church of Celestine. Its true origins were shrouded in mystery, and even Celestine's own kingdom possessed little in the way of concrete knowledge. Yet, scattered among forgotten tomes and crumbling scriptures were whispers—cryptic hints that alluded to the very beginning of everything .
It spoke of two giants, a male and female, whose bodies formed the very continents after they fell in battle with each other, with the elves being their descendants. Some ancient records stated that dark elves were born from the brains of the male giants, while high elves descended from the female giants… others also made mentions of the sperm of the giants being their origin as well. Yet, human interpretations altered the tale entirely, claiming Celestine and the light elves originated from a distant island untouched by humans—the birthplace of all light elves and Celestine herself.
'How utterly ridiculous. Fullstar exists and yet they make such claims. Even some of the light elves born here had begun believing this nonsense and spread misinformation further.' Olga thought, recalling that nation's current ruler; Evelyn Mowanar.
A completely different case compared to Celestine, an arrogant fool blinded by her own pride.
Truthfully, aside from Celestine, few even remembered these details. But according to Olga's research, the light elves of today were actually descendants of the goddess Laurentina, who had forged a pact with a giant. What remained uncertain was whether Laurentina attained godhood through this contract or if she already possessed divine power. No matter how many sources she studied, every account told a different story — each one seemingly twisted to serve some purpose. Not even Celestine's vast library had escaped the erosion of time.
It was ironic, considering that the woman was supposed to be the Goddess' reincarnation.
As for the giants and the world before their demise, there was nothing—no records at all. That, more than anything, mystified the Dark Queen. For a time, she had given up her search for answers. But given who she was now working alongside with, she began to question whether the giants were truly dead… and whether Laurentina was the only one who had made a contract with them.
"You've been here for almost an entire day."
The voice of the very person she had been thinking about snapped Olga out of her thoughts. The radiant goddess entered with her usual grace, the white ribbons pressing against her breast. There are times that Olga suspected that this woman's chest had grown once again compared to the last time she's seen her. While her sister, Seraphina, followed closely behind—still refusing to wear anything other than a few strands of hair and a few accessories to hide her privates.
And Archer called her armor revealing…
"You actually gave her access to your library?" Seraphina asked in shock, glancing between them in disbelief.
"Yes, sister. You don't have to worry. We've reached an agreement where she won't use this knowledge for revenge, or against us." Celestine answered calmly, unfazed by that question. "Not to mention that her current circumstances make it unlikely so. She understands that better than anyone after our discussion."
Olga huffed at that comment, wanting to refute but unable to do so.. It was true—she had signed a geas to uphold the deal. But, in truth, there was little here that could be used for such purposes. The library contained forgotten history, not forbidden spells capable of civilization-ending destruction. Those kinds of records had long been lost or buried in ruins across the world.
She herself had once possessed a collection of them… until that man burned them to cinders.
"Trust me, I don't require more knowledge to start another war against you, humanity, or Celestine." Olga's voice carried a faint hint of mockery. "You should know that yourself. There's no way you remained completely clueless to what was happening in the world during your slumber. Not to mention you yourself lack an army while I can always rebuild one in a matter of days."
Seraphina narrowed her eyes at the Dark Queen. Unlike Celestine, Olga had no personal history with her, only knowing the woman through stories. There was a third sister as well, but even Celestine rarely spoke of her.
"What do you want?" Olga sighed, her tone dry with impatience. "I doubt you came here just to have tea with me. While I appreciate the gesture of letting me scour these records, some privacy is necessary for me to be done."
"You are still a prisoner, under the watch of the Princess Knights," Seraphina reminded her. "Wandering the castle without supervision will raise many questions amongst the Princess Knights and servants. Plenty of people here are still not pleased with your presence. I wish to avoid any further conflict between us."
"So what? Do you think someone else will come after my life? Let's be honest here—with everything that has happened recently, people have practically forgotten about my existence."
Seraphina opened her mouth only to have nothing to say in return.
With the recent attack by the Beast, followed by the appearance of her followers and finally the aphrodisiac incident within the kingdom, Olga's name had been overshadowed, and the previous war had been pushed completely to the back of people's minds at the moment. Though the same could not be said of those outside the kingdom, as many still hadn't received word of her defeat. She suspected this would change in a matter of days or months.
"Tell me why you're truly here."
"We're just worried about you." Much to her surprise, it was Celestine who spoke first, stepping forward with an expression that bordered on genuine concern. Immediately, Olga's eyes narrowed. She didn't trust it—not from her. She crossed her arms, waiting for the woman to continue.
"You've been buried in this library for far too long," Celestine pressed, her voice even but laced with something unreadable. "I was willing to overlook your reasons before, but given recent events, I believe I have a right to know the truth."
"Recent events?" Olga let out a short chuckle, disbelief curling her lips. "Is it truly just that? You don't need to lie to me, that has never been your strong point, you are just here to keep an eye on me. There is something else that has you bothered, isn't there?"
She hadn't forgotten how much this blonde ancient high elf had changed—how her once-pure devotion had twisted into something more… different lately, her now every move revolvedaround one man. During the attack, she had seen the kind of eyes the latter showed, carrying obsession and anger when she learned about her relationship with Archer.
Once again, the dark elf couldn't help but feel herself grow more curious, wanting to see just how far she could push this woman who had in the past never shown such interest.
"I am the Goddess Reborn. It is my duty to ensure all things proceed as they should and that the people under my care are protected."
"Never mind," Olga scoffed, now bored with this conversation. "You don't have to answer, I already know the truth."
With a lazy flick of her wrist, she tossed the book she had been reading at Celestine's feet. The dull thud of it hitting the floor echoed through the chamber, drawing the attention of both Ancient high elves. Their curiosity was answered the moment they saw the title.
"You're researching the Giants?" Serafina asked, looking at her with confusion as she read the title. "Why?"
"Trying to understand your strongest ally," Olga said smoothly, lifting her head. "And, of course, attempting to uncover anything I can about the existence of these Beasts. You can't expect me to believe this thing just popped out of nowhere without any precedence or even a record. But of course, I am mostly interested in finding anything that I can on Archer… Even the slightest mention of someone wielding similar powers would help."
Celestine's breath hitched. Serafina's expression tightened. The two exchanged a glance, something unspoken passing between them.
"Let me guess," Olga mused, smirking. "You're here for the same reason. Maybe not for the Beasts, but for Archer. Let's be honest—the kind of power he wields isn't something attainable by a mere human. Not even the most twisted dark mage or an elf could achieve his level of strength without centuries of study, training, and sheer dumb luck. Which is why I believe—"
"—that Shirou is a champion, or serves another god," Celestine interjected, finishing her thought with eerie precision. A strange light flickered in her eyes before she shook her head. "I'm sorry to say this, but you're wasting your time searching for answers. You'll find nothing about him here."
"And why is that?" Olga pressed, unsettled by the certainty in Celestine's tone. It was as if she already knew something—something no one else did. And yet, that shouldn't have been possible. Archer guarded his secrets fiercely.
Then again, Celestine possessed the power of divination.
"I know Archer does have a connection to this world," Serafina interjected, voice measured. "I was awakened to aid him in his fight against the Beast. It stands to reason that this world, the very force that awakened me, could be the source of his power. In a way, it would not be wrong to link his power to the Giants."
Olga had entertained that theory before, but without evidence, she'd dismissed it. Yet if Serafina, of all people, suggested it, she had to reconsider.
Before she could respond, Celestine let out a soft, knowing chuckle.
"While I appreciate your aid, Sister, I should tell you it's no longer necessary with me here. I am more than capable of helping him out during battle, I only need to recover my powers. Not to mention, I've been granted a gift—one that allowed me to see the truth. Archer's power does not stem just from something as simple as that."
Olga's eyes narrowed, her focus sharpening; again, Celestine was trying to horde critical information to herself. Rising to her feet, she strode towards the woman, stopping so close their chests pressed against one another. But the moment she did, regret flickered through her upon finding herself overwhelmed by High Elf's sheer size that dwarfed hers and Serafina.
Something Celestine was clearly aware of, as the smirk on her face widened with quiet satisfaction.
"Of course. Your divination showed you something about him, didn't it? And I assume you're not going to share."
"That vision was a gift," Celestine murmured, her voice gentle yet unyielding. "A moment meant only for the two of us. And I don't intend to share it unless he is willing for me to do so. Shirou already carries enough burdens—he doesn't need strangers getting involved in things that were never meant for them."
"What nonsense," Olga drawled, amusement laced with mockery. "You speak as if fate itself wove your hearts together. But from where I stand, he wants nothing to do with you. He keeps his distance, doesn't he?"
Celestine flinched, her fingers twitching.
The Dark Queen leaned in, her smirk deepening. "He spends more time with me than with you, from the very beginning he has been with me or with Radomira. Morning, noon, and night—he always finds a reason to seek me out. I've seen parts of him you can only dream about. I've heard his laughter, seen the rare softness in his eyes around certain people, and he appreciates my company — not the so-called Goddess Reborn."
Celestine's breath hitched. Her fists clenched at her sides. "Do not misinterpret his actions as anything deep, Olga. Shirou helped you because that is the kind of person he is. Nothing less, nothing more."
"Misinterpret? Do not get me wrong, I doubt he is doing all of this out of the goodness of his heart, I can also recognize when he has an obvious preference."
"Enough!" she snapped, her voice trembling with unrestrained fury. "You don't know him! Don't you dare speak of him as if you understand the depths of his soul! Shirou would never find comfort in someone like you—a tyrant who bathed her lands in blood! He is a hero, scarred and weary, and he needs me to mend those wounds!"
Olga scoffed. "Me, drag him into ruin? Tell me, Celestine, what ruin could I possibly bring to a man who shattered my world? He reduced my castle to rubble, scattered my forces like dust, and nearly wiped out the Kuroinu without much of a challenge. And yet, when we were cornered—ambushed under a crimson moon, with werewolves tearing at his heels—he trusted me. My magic kept him standing when his body faltered, my shadows slayed his enemies when his strength failed him, and my insights guided his path when he knew not what to do next. And where were you?"
Celestine trembled, her expression twisting into something desperate.
"Where were you when he was facing the Beast for the first time in the garden?" Olga continued, voice laced with cold amusement, "When he needed someone to fight at his side."
"At least I have no plans to use him for personal goals! That's all any of you ever do, using him as a tool till he serves his purpose!" The Goddess Reborn continued to argue, not backing down.
Olga's eyes twitched, "Use him? Funny you say that since you are the one being far more controlling of him than anyone I have seen so far. You are not doing it out of the goodness of your heart or for his sake — but just for your own selfish reasons."
"I said enough!" Celestine's control snapped. She lunged, fingers closing around Olga's throat with unexpected force. The latter gasped, the impact sending them both tumbling to the floor. Olga showed she was no slouch either, putting her own weight into holding her off. They wrestled, a furious clash of limbs, neither willing to yield.
"Just because he saved you, just because he showed you mercy, doesn't mean you matter!" Celestine hissed, her grip tightening. "Shirou helps everyone—he would do the same for a stranger! And it's exactly these kinds of people that will lead him to his death!"
"I don't even know what you're ranting about!" Olga snarled, straining against her grip.
Their struggle raged on, a chaotic tangle of fury and desperation, their long hair whipping and knotting around them until strands bound together in the scuffle. Finally, Serafina—growing weary of their antics—let out a weary sigh and raised her hand. Runes shimmered to life in the air, releasing a subtle wave of magic that washed over them, forcing their bodies to ease and their tension to unwind.
"Enough, both of you!" Serafina's voice sliced through the tension, sharp and commanding. "One of you is the Goddess Reborn, and the other a former Dark Queen. Yet here you are, brawling like common drunkards. Start acting like who you are!"
Celestine released Olga with a ragged breath, eyes burning with unspoken emotion.
Olga smirked as she wiped the sweat from her throat and rose to her feet. "How pathetic," she mused, voice laced with amusement. "Is this what love looks like to you, Celestine?"
The goddess said nothing, but the look in her eyes spoke volumes.
And Olga took immense satisfaction in it.
"…"
"…"
The room fell into a brittle silence, Serafina's intervention finally taking hold. The two women disentangled themselves and rose to their feet. Their clothing was rumpled, sweat clung to their skin and their hair was in disarray, but neither seemed to notice or care. Their gazes remained locked—Celestine's blazing with righteous fire, while Olga's smoldered with defiance—each mind brimming with unspoken retorts. "For a queen of my stature to be dragged into such a disgraceful spectacle, this is your fault, Celestine," Olga hissed, brushing dirt from her sleeve.
"You're the one shoving your nose into things that aren't yours," Celestine shot back, her voice tight with frustration. "He saved you once—out of pity, out of necessity—and you cling to it like it means something. It doesn't. He doesn't care about you."
"He cares enough that we ended up kissing!" Olga's words burst out before she could stop them, sharp and reckless. Celestine froze mid-breath, her eyes widening in stunned disbelief. Even Olga faltered, a flush of red creeping up her neck as the weight of her admission sank in.
"W-What?"
"It's nothing—forget I said that." Her voice cracked, emotions swirling in a chaotic storm within her. She turned on her heel and stormed out, the heavy door slamming behind her as she fled toward her lab. She needed solitude, a place to steady her racing heart and reassess everything.
"Why did I say that?" she muttered under her breath, her boots pounding the corridor floor. With every step, her anger turned inward, a bitter tide rising against herself for letting that slip. She hadn't expected her arrival to become that enraged by her words.
Regardless, there was nothing she could do for now except return and put this matter behind her. When she made her way back to the lower dungeons, Olga paused at the threshold, frowning at the empty room. No one was there—only silence greeted her. "Strange, is Chloe still training with Archer? It has been quite a while since they left." Normally, her most loyal follower would have returned by now — tired perhaps, but never negligent. Even after a grueling sparring session, Chloe always resumed her duties without delay.
Not paying much mind to it, she quickly returned to her research table, spending hours working on her projects. However, focus eluded her as her worries continued to grow—Chloe still hadn't returned.
"Did Archer go too far and knock the poor girl out?"
It wasn't impossible. Chloe could be far too stubborn for her own good, and Olga could easily imagine things escalating beyond what the girl could handle.
"Maybe I should look around..."
Growing jittery and unable to concentrate, she stood up and walked to a small window overlooking part of the city below. Glancing at the sky, she noted the position of the sun—quite a bit of time had passed since Chloe had left.
"Hm?"
Just as she was about to step out and search for Archer, a knock on her door made her pause.
"It better not be her again..."
She wasn't in the mood for another dispute with either her sister or her so-called rival. Hesitating to open the door, she realized that ignoring it would be no different from hiding, which did not suit her. Cowardice—no matter the form—was unacceptable for the Dark Elf.
-Warning: Attempted Rape-
With a huff, she marched to the door and swung it open, prepared to scold whoever dared to disturb her. "—!" Goosebumps spread all over her skin as soon as she opened the door every so slightly, finding a figure whose face was hidden behind a dark cloak. A body moved instinctively, getting away from the door. The person barged in with force, giving her little time to even conjure a spell before a blade was pressed against her neck.
"Well would you look at that, if it ain't the former Dark Queen now rotting inside a dilapidated dungeon alongside her enemies. How far have the seven kingdoms fallen truly." The intruder's voice was deep—male, though unfamiliar. Olga didn't recognize it, nor did it sound like anyone she had ever encountered. Even the sliver of his face visible in the dim light, just the lower half, offered no clues. She couldn't even tell if he was human.
Regardless, she didn't move a muscle. She stood perfectly still, her gaze fixed in a hard glare at the figure before her. "Who are you, and what do you want?"
The room that she had turned into her small little sanctuary shifted with his arrival, reminding her of Castle Discordia, of the suffocating presence that used to settle over the throne room in the darkest hours. Was this a plot by one of the Princess Knights to slit her throat? Doubtful. A lone mercenary sneaking through the castle's chokehold of guards, past the iron gates, and into her private quarters without so much as a whisper of alarm?
Unlikely. Yet there he was, a shadow lurking by the door, his shape smeared against the wall like a stain. She didn't have a damn clue how he'd gotten in, and that pissed her off more than anything.
"You really think your bloody past just vanishes?" His voice cut through the quiet, sharp and mocking, like he was spitting in her face. "That the world forgets you because they think you're a corpse or rotting in some shithole cell?"
Her eyes, hard as nails, flicked to his neck, hunting for a sign, some cheap necklace, a scratched-up crest, anything to give her a clue. Nothing. Just bare, sweaty skin. Part of her gut screamed he might be a Kurohinu leftover, one of those filthy mercenaries that were butchered months ago, now crawling out of the grave for payback.
Her hand crept behind her, slow and steady, brushing the table's rough edge. Papers crinkled, a cup wobbled, but no knife, no shard of glass, nothing to gut him with yet.
"You're not here to kill me," she said, keeping her voice flat, no tremble, no crack. "If this was revenge, I'd already be bleeding out. You'd have stuck me the second you walked in."
She stared him down, eyes locked on his smug, crooked grin. He shifted, boots scuffing the stone floor, leather creaking like a taunt.
"If you're here to make me pay, then quit wasting my time by playing around," she snapped. "Kill me now if you've got the guts. You won't walk out of here breathing, that I can say with certainty."
He laughed, a low, guttural snort that swelled into a full-on cackle, bouncing off the walls. Her threat didn't faze him; he just stood there, grinning like she'd told a shitty joke.
"You're dumber than a sack of rocks," he said, voice thick with scorn. "I can't believe a moron like you tore through the Darklands, leaving piles of bodies in your wake." He shook his head, sighing like she was a lost cause. "Doesn't matter. I'm not here to end you today. Just wanted you to know what's coming. You and that bitch commander of yours are both fucked."
Her stomach dropped at Chloe's name, a cold, sick feeling clawing its way up. The room felt smaller, the air heavier, pressing on her chest.
"Where's Chloe?" she snarled, voice like a blade.
He chuckled again, dark and nasty, the sound grating on her nerves. He stepped closer with the sword still pressed against her neck, his breath reeking of rot and stale booze, close enough she could see the grime caked in his stubble.
"That weak little slut? Can't even save herself without her precious queen?" He sneered, lips curling back over yellow teeth. "Don't worry about that little freak, you'll see her soon. Our client's got big plans for you both."
Memories hit hard; Vault and his pack of pigs storming her castle, their greasy hands and leering eyes. It was happening again.
He grinned wider, teeth glinting in the dim light. "He was right, you two are prime people. You'd rake in a fortune, worth more than your weight in gold." His fingers pawed higher, lingering. "Shame Leona snatched Chloe first."
Her throat burned with bile, rage and disgust locking her joints stiff. She wanted to smash his skull, but her body wouldn't move, stuck like it was chained to the floor. "Let go, you disgusting, filthy human!" she spat, voice cracking as his hand shifted. "You've got no right—!"
"Good thing I rigged some silence spells."
His grin stretched, a predator's leer. "Slaver gets his kid first, sure. Little healing magic, and you're back to normal again."
"What?" she said, her voice tight and shaky. The moment he mentioned "slaver," her stomach twisted. "Slaver? Who are you talking about?" she demanded, her tone sharp despite the fear creeping in.
Her mind latched onto a face she'd rather forget, John Mandeville, a human so rotten she could still smell the stink of him from that one time she'd seen him years back. He'd been a big name in the slave trade across the Seven Kingdoms, outdoing even the Pig Brothers at his peak.
Rounding up thousands of her people, dark elves like her and sold them off to nobles with fat purses and fouler appetites. She remembered tracking down one of his hideouts, her army of demons swarming the town just like many others before it, with the goal to conquer and put an end to his slavery ring. Only there by pure chance she happened to cross paths with a girl, a blonde dark elf, thin as a reed, with human blood in her veins. Mandeville's bastard kid, born from one of his slaves. He didn't care about her and saw her as just another thing to sell or keep for himself, like a toy he'd toss aside when he got bored.
"Mandeville sent you," Olga muttered under her breath, anger seeping into her words as the fear faded, replaced by the slow, familiar burn of hatred.
The guy in front of her, a rough-looking type in beat-up armor, froze for a split second. His smug grin slipped, just enough to tell her she'd hit the mark. "Well, you're not as dumb as I thought," he said, his voice dripping with mockery as he tightened his grip on his sword. "You'd be surprised at the bounty that bastard put on you and your little friend Chloe. Once I'm done here, I'll grab that brat too. But for now, shut up and hold still." He stepped closer, one hand reaching for her armor, trying to yank it off her.
Even with her body screaming at her to give up, Olga moved. Her hand brushed a row of glass flasks on a table nearby, stuff she'd been messing with earlier. She grabbed one, pouring what little mana she could muster into it. The thing exploded with a loud bang, purple smoke flooding the room.
The guy stumbled back, coughing and swearing. "What!? Poison?" he yelled, swinging his head around, trying to spot her through the haze.
Olga hit the floor, her knees buckling as she sucked in air, the smoke burning her throat. Without her staff, she was forced to resort to weak tricks like this, powerful spells took far too long to conjure—nothing fast enough to finish him. Her eyes scanned the room, landing on a sword stashed under a pile of junk.
Chloe's weird habit of collecting blades she would get from Archer and keeping them under her bed had paid off, for there was one left here. She clung to the habit, even though half the swords would disintegrate under enough strain, or simply vanish if the man willed it.. Olga crawled over, grabbed it, and pulled herself up.
"Don't you dare think you're doing anything, you bitch!" the guy shouted, catching on. He swung his sword hard, no real aim, just wild slashes. One came close, nicking her cheek, and blood trickled down her face. She gritted her teeth, ignoring the sting. She'd never swung a sword in her life—magic was her thing—but she got lucky. Ducking under one of his swings, she shoved the blade into his chest, hard.
"Urgh!" he choked out, blood spraying across her face as his sword dropped with a clang.
"Just die, you filthy human," she muttered, pushing the blade deeper as rage filled her thoughts. She could still feel where he'd grabbed her, and it fueled her. She kept going until the tip poked out his back and he stopped moving. His body hit the ground with a dull thud, and she collapsed next to it, breathing hard.
"Hah… hah… hah…"
She couldn't stop, not yet—Chloe was still out there, and more of Mandeville's mercenaries could be lurking inside the castle. With shaky hands, she pulled back the guy's hood. His face was unfamiliar—scarred and ugly, but no one she knew. Then she saw it: a pendant hanging around his neck, a white wolf etched into the metal. Not the black dog of the Kuroinu as she'd first assumed. "The White Wolf mercenaries?" she whispered, a chill crawling down her spine.
The White Wolves — another crew of hired swords out of Furusutāja. Her armies had clashed with them years ago, back when they'd supported the Black Dogs against her. Tough and relentless just like Vault's group, led by some demi-human brute, if she remembered right.
"Those low lives are working for Mandeville now?" she muttered with dismay, this did not bode well. If that slaver had them under his thumb, he could pull off something as vile as the Kuroinu— start a war or chase the same twisted ambitions Vault had. She clenched her fists, blood still wet on her face, and swore she'd find Chloe before that monster got his hands on her.
After a long, tense silence, she drew in slow, measured breaths, whispering to herself, "I can't let this happen. I have to get Chloe back." Determination flared in her yellow eyes as she stepped towards the door, her fingers tightening around the handle. But just as she was about to pull it open, hesitation struck her like a cold wind.
'You, just like everyone else, will only try to use him as a tool.'
She froze. Celestine's words echoed in her mind, cutting through her resolve like a blade. A storm of emotions raged within her, conflicting thoughts crashing against one another. Was she truly about to run for help? To depend on another? The very idea sickened her. She was not weak, nor would she allow herself to become someone who relied on others to fight her battles.
"I am not a weakling," she muttered, though the words felt like a hollow attempt to convince herself. Her pride had already taken enough hits. She had fought wars, commanded armies, and ruled with an iron grip against the Princess Knights. People had once trembled at the mere mention of her name… and yet, here she was, hesitating like a frightened girl, contemplating asking him for help once more.
The thought of relying on him again made her stomach churn. He had already defeated her once, and now she was supposed to ask for his aid to deal with enemies far weaker than the Kuroinu? The mere idea was unbearable.
If she couldn't even save Chloe on her own, what right did she have to rebuild what she had lost? What kind of ruler would she be if she couldn't even protect one life without leaning on someone else? Olga swallowed hard, her grip on the door handle loosening. Slowly, she took a step back, exhaling shakily. "I can do this. Better he stay here and watch over Radomira. I can do this." She repeated the words like a mantra—no, like armor—layering them over her doubt, trying to believe them. Needing to believe them.
Turning away from the door, she crossed the room with renewed purpose.Her memories offered only a faint thread to follow, but it was enough. If the one who took Chloe was heading back to Furusutāja — then there was still time to intercept them before they left Feoh.
Regardless, time was of the essence, and she needed to move quickly. Without hesitation, she moved to her wardrobe, pressing her palm against a hidden panel within the wooden structure. A faint glow appeared as a concealed compartment clicked open, revealing a crude scepter of her own creation—a tool made to at least be capable of casting standard spells in a much shorter time than without one. It was one of the few secrets she had kept even from Celestine and the other Princess Knights.
Only Chloe knew about it.
She gathered several flasks of alchemical mixtures, selecting a highly corrosive one and pouring it over the corpse of the intruder. The body dissolved within moments, leaving behind nothing but a black cloak. She bent down, picking it up, feeling a faint pulse of magic coursing through the fabric. It was enchanted, explaining how the assassin had slipped past the castle's tight security unnoticed.
"So that's how he got here… an enchanted cloak," she murmured to herself. As soon as she wrapped it around her shoulders, she felt her presence waiver, her body becoming slightly translucent. Not true invisibility, but enough to help her slip through the halls unnoticed.
With one last glance at her room, Olga exhaled sharply, adjusting the cloak. This was it. She would not allow herself to falter. Without another second wasted, she slipped out of her chambers and disappeared into the hallway, determined to take matters into her own hands.
{Break}
(Present)
"She's not anywhere in the city or the outskirts."
He should have known, Archer sighed as he returned with similar results. He'd hoped to reach her before she left, but he was proven wrong when not a single trace of either dark elves could be found.
Outside the gates, with the kingdom of Feoh behind him, Archer stood beneath the same tree he had rested under the day he reached Feoh for the first time — a sight similar to the day he arrived at Ken. Back then, he never imagined things would spiral this far out of control, with so many unexpected forces suddenly at play.
'Who would have thought I was going to go out to save Olga of all people again.'
He could not understand what was going through the dark elf's head. She had never struck him as someone who acted on emotions alone. But perhaps he'd been wrong this entire time. Or maybe he had simply underestimated how deeply she cared for Chloe.
"How will we find Olga then?" Radomira asked, feeling equally worried and distraught over the woman's disappearance.
"She shouldn't have gone too far. There's still a chance we'll find her if we continue down the road. But chances are slim." She left him no clue, no trace to follow. Unlike the moment he was first summoned to this world, this time he had almost nothing to go on. No prophecy, no guidance—just questions that couldn't be answered by reading a few books..
"Then let me just fly above and find—ah~💕!" As soon as Radomira tried to fly off, Archer swiftly grabbed her tail, anchoring her back to the ground, with the unintentional effect of causing her to fall face first onto the ground. "...Why is it more sensitive now?"
He heard her murmur, caught off guard by the sound — though he tried to ignore it. "Despite what she just did, she's not foolish enough to wander openly along the road. People know who she is and dark elves generally are not well received around these parts. She probably used an illusion to mask her appearance or took another path altogether, away from prying eyes. Finding her now? It's no different from searching for a needle in a haystack."
That only made Radomira panic more. "T-Then how are we going to find her?"
"By finding Chloe first," he answered, thinking about it carefully. "If we find her, then we'll find Olga. Either way, we'll need to save both of them regardless. So getting to Chloe should be our main objective."
Problem was that he had no idea who or what took her. Though Maia did mention a vision Celestine had… maybe she knew something that could be useful.
"O-Oi!" Both turned, startled by the sound of Maia's voice calling from the gates. They saw her sprinting towards them, panting and drenched in sweat— like she had gone through a marathon. "Hah… hah… fucking bastard… I told you to wait!"
"Maia!" Radomira grabbed onto the redhead before she crumbled to the ground out of exhaustion. "Sorry, we don't have time to take care of you now. Olga needs us! So I'll drop you off at Claudia's house and then we'll be off!"
Rather than answer the Tiefling, Maia instead took out a small necklace from her cleavage and presented it to Archer. The latter narrowed his eyes and looked at the pendant suspiciously as it bore a lot of similarities to a certain mercenary group he killed before. "I found this… hidden between the trash in the room."
He grabbed it, looking at the White Wolf shaped amulet carefully. "This does not belong to Olga, I never saw something like this before."
"Ignoring the fact that you are familiar enough with her room to know that it wasn't there, I know where that came from." Maia said after catching her breath, "I don't know how it got there, but it's bad news."
"Then tell me, I don't have time to waste, the longer I stay away from Feoh the more likely Draco will take advantage of my absence." He was not sure what she was planning, the fact that she did not appear during Beardsley assault was very odd and worrisome.
He wanted to believe that she was still in the middle of recovering her energy, but trusting such assumptions would never lead to a good outcome.
"Trust me, I know!" she snapped at him. "It's the White Wolf, a mercenary group from Fullstar. This is their emblem."
White Wolf? Shirokami?
The name sounded unfamiliar, though the kingdom Maia mentioned rang a bell. From the books he read about this world's geography, they were in the Continent of Sererus. Located on the northern-southern edge of the Great Forest—so vast it was nearly the size of a country—lay Furstentum Fuchswald. To the west of it stretched the sprawling plains of Eos, a natural divide between the forests of Fuchswald and the lands farther east: the country of Eostia. Eostia housed the Seven Kingdoms, each ruled by the Princess Knights— the only territory he'd actually explored. The closest he had ever come to its borders was during his time in Rad, Luu Luu's kingdom, which bordered the towering mountains of terra merita to the south. He'd also traveled north, to the Dark Lands which encompassed the northern section of Eostia — both regions forming the boundaries of the known realm. Fullstar, though, had caught his interest, a kingdom of High/Light Elves that existed just for them, their own homeland similar in nature to what he read about Nidalivier, the land of the Dark Elves. If he'd remembered right, there was also an island where the Light Elves called home. "Did the White Wolf decide to expand their territory now that the Kuroinu are gone?"
All he got was a shrug, "Like hell if I know. But this doesn't sound like something Leona would do, that bitch doesn't really care about this kind of stuff."
"You know the leader?" He asked, then remembering Maia's moniker as the Mercenary Queen.
"A bit, she helped us out in the past fighting Olga's demons. Ruthless bitch who wields a Greatsword, basically a Buster Sword…a massive cleaver even bigger than Vault's. You should have seen her swing that thing ar—"
"Make it quick, Maia!"
"Alright! No need to be pissy… It's just the Dark Queen… anyways, I can lead you to their nearest camp. If Olga is going after Chloe, then it's most likely she's going after the White Wolves. I doubt whoever kidnapped Chloe made it all the way to Ur let alone Fullstar in the far west yet. So they should have a camp set up along the road or in the forest. The distance from Fullstar to Feoh is like comparing Feoh to Thorn, which are both on the outer edges of Eostia. If we take the road on the side of the river bank or even through a more treacherous path in the forest, then we might be able to catch up with them
.
Archer nodded. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing—and it was their only lead. "We might find them before they reach the main camp, so we'll have to hurry."
"Great!" Maia showed an ecstatic face. "So let's go then!"
"Oh my, didn't I tell you to wait for my arrival, Maia?"
"—!"
The woman froze in place, Archer turning his attention to the newest arrival behind Maia riding a horse. She did not look particularly comfortable riding the animal with the little amount of clothing she had on, but avoided showing it.
Green eyes stared back at gray.
"So, when are we leaving, Shirou?"
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The next 5 chapters of Snafu, and my other Fate fics (Fate Coiling Sword with 3 chapters, A Fake Familiar Reborn with 3 chapters, Steel Eyed Faker 3 chapters, Hound having 3 and To love a sword having 4 chapters) are already available on my P@treon. With 4 more Broly chapters at /NimtheWriter. Also, I post commissioned arts on each story, already posted a few on an Archer's Promise, Broly and Snafu.