Beta read by Shigiya, Gamercrusher55 and Fluffy Slayer
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-???-
Olga had to admit, she was truly not made for overland travel. The constant trudge over uneven terrain, the damp chill that refused to leave her skin, the utter lack of comfort, all of it made her long for the cold stone corridors of her little… prison cell in Feoh. She would almost rather be back there than deal with spiderwebs in her face every few steps, with Chloe being the only person who ever bothered to clean the place.
The thought only made her miss her Castle even more. The epitome of luxury built in her own taste, raised over the remains of the old former Black Keep… now all reduced to rubble and, by now, probably swallowed by moss and ivy.
'That damned man. Yes, he saved us from Vault's plan. I am not ungrateful. But did he really have to destroy everything? Tch. Always trying to act so cool and composed, then the moment it suits him, he reverts to brute force like some stupid Orc swinging a tree.'
She had no choice but to remain vigilant through the entire night, scanning for any sign of demons, slavers, monsters and fiends that prowled just beyond the reach of her vision. It had been far more taxing than she cared to admit. Her eyes, once used to the glitter of candlelight and polished marble, now scanned every rustling bush and shifting shadow with suspicion.
The only genuine solace she had found since fleeing was the ward she cast each night, a basic earthen bounded field, layered into the ground around her as a dome. It cost her a fair amount of mana to maintain, but it let her rest behind the knowledge that anything short of a mid-tier demon or an organized orc warband would bounce off it. Of course, if either of those did try her ward… she doubted she'd hold them for long.
Fortunately, nothing of that magnitude had occurred.
The wilderness, all things considered, had treated her kindly. Animals approached her without fear and left her unbothered. Which, given her status as a Dark Elf, made sense. It was part of what she was — something she had gone so long without needing that she'd nearly forgotten it. Perhaps with the right spell, one could even fashion control over a beast to act as her eyes and guard for the night. Now, with her power bled and her throne gone, even that level of control would take effort — and worse, waste.. Maybe she thought, she could still manage a familiar. A small one. A bird, maybe. Something to keep watch.
Instead, the only things that tormented her were insects. Mosquitoes had plagued her the previous evening with tiny, mindless persistence until finally, with a low snarl and no patience left, she released a pulse of wind magic. The gust had blasted them apart so violently the surrounding treetops had rattled.
"Something as small as this will not hinder my path."
It wasn't for anyone else to hear. It was a ritual phrase, a quiet mantra she'd whispered to steady herself when she was still an apprentice in Nidavelir and later, even more often in the years just before she was chosen for the ritual that followed Mistiora's disappearance.
But that had been a long, long time ago.
So long ago her memories of those days were starting to feel like dreams unraveling with daylight.
She adjusted her robes, brushed a few loose strands of hair behind her ear, and exhaled deeply.
"She should be close enough."
The woman stumbled forward whilst holding the wooden staff, which now showed signs of wear and scratches after being used across a long distance — its base slightly worn. A robe she managed to acquire… after carefully taking it from an unsuspecting human caravan that seemed to be heading to Feoh. Stealing? That was a sacrifice she was willing to make for her decency, and when recalling that these people were humans, any amount of guilt would evaporate.
The thought of asking for it never even crossed her mind, refusing to barter as an equal.
Though it did nothing for the shame that remained, that was something she hadn't grown used to these past few weeks.
Despite her best efforts, these robes did little to hide her full, voluptuous figure. Even draped in fabric, her curvy shape pushed right through, the substantial swell of her chest straining the material, her toned navel and thick thighs refusing to be concealed, and her long legs peeking out beneath every step. Strands of gorgeous, dark black hair escaped the hood, framing flawless, deep-toned skin. She continued down the road, pausing every so often to glance backwards, always making sure to pull her hood forward to cover her elf ears. Her eyes narrowed as she squinted into the distance, a flicker of worry and something unreadable passing through her gaze each time.
Her firm, calm gaze planted firmly in the direction of Feoh.
"…"
There was not much to do when traversing such long distances other than entertaining herself with her own thoughts, which left her delving into memories of the past.
At times, stopping in her tracks, she gazed at what was a breathtaking view of the verdant hills in the distance, untouched by human hands or demons. With nothing but the soft wind swaying the grass and the sound of leaves rustling behind her. Some even bloomed with flowers whose petals resembled the moonlight as if they were crafted from silver. In the midst, a few patches of roses grew amongst them red as rubies, and stood as proud and untouchable as their thorns suggested..
"She would have loved this view…" Olga let out, recalling moments where she could peacefully fall asleep to such a display, accompanied by her only family, so long ago.
Further pulling her hood over her head, recalling that particular face, her dear Mistiora, who always liked playing outside during their spare time and loved exploring the world itself. A pure soul untouched by the taints of this world who let out a smile so carefree as the wind, a person she still sought to find one day… even if part of her heart feared encountering a grave at the end or worse.
Humans were cruel, twisted, and lustful with her alone; someone like Mistiora has little chance of surviving for long outside. But she still kept hope, foolishly maybe, it was better than accepting a bleak outcome without proof. The one truth she refuses to accept is that a quick death is a mercy for many of her kind rather than being captured.
"Archer really is my only chance of finding you, isn't he?" She had searched for centuries and failed to find any trace. Despite that man's insistence on non-interference, he seemed to have a massive tendency to encounter lost souls who sought a saviour, and aiding them, with Radomira being a good example.
She hoped one of them would be a certain Dark Elf, to accomplish something she failed time and time again.
"She would have laughed seeing me in this state or despised me for what I have done…," Olga chuckled, remembering just how much that girl idolized her. A sentiment she found endearing and used as encouragement for her to grow better in her studies of magic. And now, the once in a thousand years prodigy and fearsome queen who commanded thousands had been reduced to a single weak woman who had to use a spell to compress thousands of leaves together just to make a pillow. Then another wind spell was cast to make sure to remove the foul odor from it so it wouldn't stick to her hair. "Hah… What am I doing reminiscing with these memories? I should focus on Chloe."
Through pure dumb luck, the dark-haired woman managed to avoid many dangers while keeping track. A simple marking spell she had used to keep track of her subordinate's location during the war was her saving grace. But not long, she had to use it less and less as she learned where the path was heading.
Completely opposite to what she believed to be the initial destination.
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(A few hours later)
"Fullstar."
The name slipped from the lips of a certain blonde Dark Elf as she watched the campfire crackle before her, its light casting flickering shadows across the clearing. Nearby, the demihuman who had captured her sat polishing her greatsword, working methodically with a damp cloth and whetstone, a bucket of water at her side. Around them, tents dotted the camp. Men Men moved supplies, readied carts, and harnessed restless horses. Mercenaries clustered in small groups—some drinking, some eating, a few throwing her hateful stares—while others gathered around their own fires, murmuring amongst themselves.
They were a particular mercenary group, all wearing a necklace bearing the symbol of a white wolf, the same as the flag above the campsite. A distinct reminder of the Kuroinu.
The mark of the White Wolves Mercenary Group…"Shirōkami".
"Fullstar? And what makes you think that?" Leona asked, not gloating nor angry, not even mocking. Her voice hardly shifted as she just continued to work the blade, wiping it in slow, deliberate strokes. Firelight danced along the polished steel, yet, she never once looked up from her task.
"This place," Chloe mentioned, her voice slightly hoarse due to both exhaustion and dehydration. She was, after all, barely given enough food and water to stay alive. Their current location, though dilapidated and overtaken by vegetation, was actually situated in the middle of the old ruins of a bygone era. However, while the White Wolves had made camp in it, they could not deny the broken structures around them as they moved around it... the gray stone cracked in places yet still sturdy, and the signs of time riddled the entire place. "Interesting place to set up a camp."
"I see, you dark elves would recognize this place?" A moment of silence came after those words, the dark elf's eyes narrowing, though she did not say anything in response. "Still have those long-lost childhood memories of frolicking around this area centuries ago?"
"Did you kill the people who once lived here?" Chloe asked, perhaps even feeling too tired to even get angry or fall for the bait. At this moment, she recognized the place, not because she held memories of this place, given she had never been here, but rather recognizing the symbols that once belonged to the ancient high elven population of ancient times. Symbols that she had seen Olga study before and even recreate in Castle Discordia.
The very idea that perhaps at one point people lived here had their own livelihood taken one way or another by the various humans and demi-humans that helped them made her blood boil with rage. She had seen and heard of such cases so many times that even though she became numb to it, she still could not stop the ferocious emotions rolling within her… it was not something she could afford to accept. "I am not that old to have lived here, but I know this place does not belong to you."
"Yeah, well, neither does it belong to you or anyone, for that matter. Whoever had a claim on this place was long gone, and not even that bratty queen in Fullstar is interested. Their loss, this place is still usable, so tell me if not us, then I'm sure that some other demons or refugees escaping as far from the war as they could would have taken over this place." Stopping her polishing for a bit, she swung the blade and pointed the massive greatsword at her, the tip almost nicking her chin. "Which version of that is more palatable to your taste, oh great dark elf?"
Without even flinching at the sword, she answered with her gaze firm on the Lycan woman. " A group that will not defame our history."
"Unfortunately, you've already done so yourself. Hard to keep seeing dark elves in a positive way after all the shit you've done. To not to be feared when the most infamous amongst you is waging war against the world itself by using demonic forces sent at every corner; destroying villages, killing people, raping women, and eating children. So in a way, just see this as repurposing the land for a much better cause than her bullshit." The woman answered, sounding a little impressed by Chloe's words.
A silence once more emerged between the two of them. Leona pulled the greatsword back to her eyesight and gently touched the tip. "Hmmm, needs to be sharpened again." Placing the wet cloth back in the bucket, she took out the whetstone and proceeded to sharpen it.
Shink….
Shink…
Shink…
Nothing but the sound of her blade grinding, scraping, and singing, along with the crackling of the campfire, could be heard as she worked to maintain her sword.
"You speak as if you are a righteous group out to do the right thing and talk as if you're better than us, yet here you are working for that man who is a true monster skinned in human flesh." A trace amount of venom escaped Chloe's mouth, for even in her tired state, she could not accept being anywhere near that person and even now felt her emotions reach a boiling point at the mere thought of… him.
"Again with that, you just won't shut the fuck up about him, won't you?"
"Because I am still having a hard time believing you don't know what he is. He is his own kind of monster, and even you must realize that if it weren't for people like him destroying the elven race, we would have never seen the need to fight in the first place. You think you're safe, trust me, it won't be long before he turns his eyes to the people you care about. The sheer ridiculousness of your situation makes me unable to think of anything else other than to find it funny how much of a hypocrite you all are." A sarcastic, tired grin devoid of energy emerged on Chloe's face.
Leona had nothing to say to that, a frown appearing on her face.
"Go ahead, hate us for what we did to survive, but just one look at that guy's actions and you'll find it difficult to say you're better when you're helping him."
Their conversation was listened to by the others in the camp, whose gazes all turned slightly redder and darker the longer they listened, their gaze finally turning hostile, filled with anger, gazing at their prisoner. "Hey boss, I know she's our main merchandise that's being delivered, but I don't remember there being any clause that specifically stated that we could knock her teeth out. Probably thank us for shutting her up and making it easier to fuck that bitchy mouth of hers." One of the guys mentioned while cracking his knuckles, others had a similar idea on their mind.
"She talks quite a bit for someone currently tied up. Perhaps the reality of her situation has not settled in yet."
"Don't forget all our friends and members who lost their lives dealing with this bitch herself and her queen's demons she led to attack everywhere."
Leona remained firm as she looked Chloe straight in the face, but the half-dark elf didn't even flinch. Letting out a deep breath, she set down her whetstone, took the wet cloth, and wiped her sword one final time. Touching the blade's tip, she finally saw small blood on her finger. "This'll do."
On the other hand, the crowd around kept getting more and more rowdy. "I say we each get one pummel session with her. Let's beat her till she's black and blue. Make sure to cover her mouth so her screaming doesn't attract animals."
"At least that would get her to shut up completely, remember how pissy she was when she first arrived? Bitch. She could still command us around even while being tied like a pig about to be roasted, I bet a few fists to the guts will remind her of her place."
Others within the group had another idea completely. "No, just give me one moment with her, with a fine body like that, I'll make sure she reme—"
"—Enough."
That single voice spoke with such authority that it silenced all the hungry wolves in an instant. Leona now had put her greatsword to the side and then proceeded to smack the last person who commented on the head. "I know she can get on your nerves, and even more so when you remember who she is exactly, but don't fall for it. The client paid us a pretty coin just to get her back to him and will even pay us a bonus if she's unharmed."
She walked between them and Chloe to address them all. "All right, listen up, whichever bastard here wants to turn down an extra gold coin per individual, come forth and say that you want to teach this bitch a lesson, I'll let you do it."
At the silent crowd, he gazed at their leader. "You're serious with that, Boss."
She let out a feral grin. "Yeah. Be my guest, but you'll have to bear the consequences of making others lose that money. I don't mind, my pockets are already quite heavy."
She addressed her pack with a different tone after seeing some hesitation this time. "Listen up boys, this is still a job, and we do our jobs well. Our client wants the little missy here in one piece, so any damage she takes goes out of our paycheck. Be that as it may, I know you have grievances and I'm all for letting them out, but whatever beating she takes comes out of whoever's pocket does the beating."
As soon as she said that, everyone stopped talking and looked at one another, though no one came forward as they contemplated the decision. Their minds were completely hooked on the part concerning their payment, their promised riches made them all look on with greed, erasing any anger and, ironically, the lust that had managed to worm their way into their heads. "Shit, I'm already happy if I can earn a silver per mission, but a fucking gold coin… With that, I could easily go to those fancy restaurants all month and drink all day till I'm shit-faced drunk."
"Yeah, but with all that she's done, I bet it would be worth it."
"Maybe…but with that, I could finally get that enchanted sword I always wanted. Those greedy mages always charge a leg for even the lowest quality enchanted weapons. They can create it in five minutes for no reason and have the audacity to call it fine quality."
"I want to beat her so badly, but I really want to retire this season."
"She may have a fine body, but I can find a whore just as sexy that would cost me less and with a less of a cunt attitude."
One by one, the words of Leona made them come back to their senses, with matters related to money being the most powerful thing to jostle their mind.
"Whatever, she'll get what's coming to her where she's going. We'll just have to accept it's enough."
All of them went back to their fireplaces and some even to their tents to sleep for the night, leaving the two women alone all by themselves.
Chloe was taken aback at first, having fully been prepared to be taken advantage of by these people. Still, seeing them retreat after hearing the reason, she was even certain of one thing alone.
"Whatever he promised you, that man will not hold up his end of the bargain. He will take advantage of you in some way, shape, or form. You'll all just end up becoming pawns in his hands. That man… he has his eyes on everyone to sell them as slaves, and you will be part of his products soon enough."
The more she talked, the paler her face became, goosebumps spreading from remaining memories associated with her early childhood.
"The more I listen to you, the more apparent it becomes that you have some connection to this guy, and I'm not just talking about you hating him just because he is responsible for enslaving your kind, no, this seems more personal."
"..."
"Not going to talk now?"
No. Chloe didn't answer, not with words. Her stare alone made her feelings perfectly clear. Across from her, Leona had stopped polishing her sword. She squinted, as though some idle speck in her memory had suddenly taken shape.
"Mandaville is quite well known in Fullstar," Leona said, her voice casual, eyes not leaving Chloe. "Even outside the kingdom, there are plenty of stories about him and his fondness for dark elves. When you're in my line of duty, you hear all kinds of rumors floating around."
A flicker of something dark stirred in Chloe's chest. Her hands began to clench, her knuckles paling. Her breathing deepened.
"Shut up," she whispered, a low warning, almost inaudible.
But Leona showed no sign of stopping. If anything, she leaned further in, her voice quieter, crueler as she's slowly digging the knife in an open wound. "Before he moved to Fullstar, I remember hearing he ran a slave ring in one of the Princess Knight kingdoms. Word was, he liked his dark elf slaves so much, he kept the most beautiful ones in his own private harem. Slept with them. Fathered plenty of illegitimate children before fucking them as well."
"I said shut up!"
"You… you're one of them, aren't you?" Leona tilted her head, studying her like a predator might a wounded deer. "A half-breed."
"…"
Her silence may have been a mistake, for it only served to affirm the previous statement and make her captor grow increasingly bold. "Not going to lunge at me again? No righteous fury demeaning my very existence ?"
"… I… I am not a half-breed," Chloe said at last, words that were more to herself than the Lycan woman in front of her. "That man is not my father. He's a disgusting, excrement of human waste who deserves to rot in the deepest pits of Oblivion. I am not… I-I am not…"
"Hmph. Normally, I'd pity someone like you. But you and your precious Queen, you're both monsters. Don't expect sympathy. I'm no saint either, and I'm not trying to be. I've lost too much in this pathetic war between Celestine and Olga. So I won't shed a tear if one monster kills another."
Leona straightened her back and placed her sword down beside her. "Now sit tight. At first light, we'll take our secret pathway to Fullstar. Let's give you that sweet little family reunion."
The longer she thought about getting close to that place, the more the desperation within grew, along with hatred of herself. For she knew full well that man would use her to get to Olga, whom he must have set his eyes on, an outcome she could not accept.
If death turned out to be the best outcome to save not only herself but also Olga—then so be it. "I won't go back. I'd rathe—mmph!"
"Don't," Leona growled, her grip clamping over Chloe's mouth right as it appeared she would bite on her tongue. Her fingers pressed hard into the girl's cheeks with enough force to pry her jaw open. "Even if you tried, the collar and cuffs are specifically made for that. If you want to get electrified, then be my guest. You have much to answer for. Blood spilled. Families shattered. You think you can escape that? Death isn't a door you're allowed to open."
Her voice dropped to a whisper, but the venom lacing her words struck deeper than any scream. The white-maned amazon warrior loomed over her, the massive sword slung across her back catching the low torchlight. Her features, sharp and weathered, cast her in the shape of something more beast than woman. In Chloe's eyes, she was a wolf — wild, cold, and ready to tear her throat open the moment she tried to run.
"I can see it," Leona murmured, eyes narrowing. "You've already given up on the thought of rescue. Good. Keep it that way. No one in their right mind would come for you, especially not after everything you've done. Be it elf, beastkin, demi-human, or less than likely, human."
The idea of a human aiding Olga or any of her allies was absurd in itself. Her hatred for humanity had never been a secret, and even those foolish enough to think they could earn her favour were swiftly proven wrong. Chloe knew this line of thought must have crossed Leona's mind as well, and she wasn't entirely mistaken. The notion of humans working alongside her Queen was about as believable as demons suddenly deciding to become kind-hearted pacifists and devote their lives to celibacy. There was a better chance of the goddess reborn siding with them than her Queen placing any trust in mankind.
…Except for one.
"He is not like the others," Chloe whispered, the words slipping out before she could stop them. Her own consciousness balked at the thought, but no matter how many times she tried to reject it, this truth refused to be denied.
"What?"
"He… he doesn't have the same hidden agendas as the ones who sought to harm us. He doesn't even care about that sort of thing."
She recalled their encounters, the moments when he had cut down those Kuroinu, the ones who would have led them into a fate far worse than death. The memory was vivid. He could have slain them at any moment. He had every advantage and could have used them without fear of resistance. But he didn't.
"Sympathizer?"
Chloe shook her head slowly. No, that word didn't fit him in the slightest.
"He just didn't see us as a threat like the rest of them," she answered, her voice quiet but certain.
Leona gave her a strange look, a mixture of curiosity and disdain. Had Chloe heard herself speak like this even a few weeks ago, she would have scoffed or perhaps reacted even more harshly. How could anyone not see her Queen and the armies she commanded as a threat? They possessed legions of demons that could topple kingdoms. Her Queen wielded advanced magic, the kind that surpassed what most human mages could even dream of. It was madness to think anyone would not be intimidated by such overwhelming force.
But that was exactly it.
"Because there's a monster far more terrifying hiding within the kingdom itself."
Not a demon or devil, but something wholly foreign. Something Powerful. Something that wasn't born of this world. Its first appearance had sent even Olga into a moment of stunned silence, and the carnage it left behind in a single encounter had shaken Chloe to her core.
"She came the closest to killing him," Chloe murmured, more to herself than anyone else.
"The so-called Princess Knights are revered in backwater villages, spoken of as demigods in human form. It is not uncommon for people to say the goddess herself had imbued them with fragments of her divine essence. If they can prove themselves to be a threat against him, it would be someone like Claudia. He is still a human, from what I understand, a skilled one but still human." Leona added with a light shrug. "I would have tested him myself had we met, to see if he truly deserves such a reputation."
But at that, Chloe laughed, softly, weakly, and with a dry, bitter tone. It was the first time such a sound had escaped her in Leona's presence, and the white-haired warrior narrowed her eyes in response.
In the end, not even Claudia had left such wounds as she had seen. The mangled arm on her first meeting, the time he was flung from the castle on the brink of death, practically in a coma. She'd thought so hard about beating him, but the one who always managed to injure him was the one he spoke of as the true target.
"You truly have no idea," Chloe whispered, gaze cast downward. "Even the Princess Knights are nothing compared to him, let alone that… thing."
At that, Leona chuckled, and it was clear she did not take her seriously at all. Instead of getting up and grabbing her neck. "Ugh!"
Chloe struggled at first, her feet barely able to keep up as the pole she was tied to was pulled off the ground. Chloe, being dragged to another area of the camp, struggled to breathe as Leona never let her hands off her throat. Leona stopped in a tent, where she then proceeded to throw her into what was practically a giant cage, snapping the pole. The bars were then closed, making any escape impossible.
"Whatever, right now I am tired of talking to you. So just sit there like a good girl and we will part ways tomorrow," was all that she said before leaving.
The humiliation of being treated like that did not fail to fan Chloe's anger, yet that was all that could happen with her being powerless to do anything else. Curling herself up in the corner, she just waited for the inevitable outcome, starting to even lose the light in her eyes when thoughts of him surfaced.
'Why would he even come here to save me?' Along the way, numerous times her mind betrayed her with the desire to be saved by Archer, coming back again and again. It made no sense, and even the explanation she gave to Leona earlier was mostly something she told to convince herself. 'I have insulted him, attacked him, kept antagonizing him at every given opportunity… why would he ever consider rescuing me?'
It was a stupid idea, one that she started to understand bit by bit.
Archer saw Olga as important for obvious reasons, not her. 'I have nothing to offer him and he has nothing to gain from me. Even if I die, someone else can easily take my place.'
Brynn alone had already done that. As much as she hated that woman, Chloe had to admit her skills had grown at a tremendous rate under his tutelage. Olga would not be in danger with them around, and that brunette even knew how to cook and clean.
As the seconds turned into minutes, she began accepting her fate. Perhaps it would be better this way, for her Queen to stay safe and Archer to focus on more important matters than herself. So with all hope vanishing from her eyes, she closed them with faint words leaving her mouth. "It has been an honour serving you, Lady Olga."
"I don't remember dismissing you, Chloe."
"—!?"
A fragment of her imagination? That was what she believed upon hearing those words at first, snapping her eyes open only to see the impossible sight of what was a familiar silhouette standing outside the cage. Invisible at first, but her outline was clearly distinguishable, with the spell disappearing soon enough.
"I believe I remember you making the oath of only stopping to serve me in death. Are you going back on your words now? I did not give you permission to die."
"W-what are you…"
No… no, she was not supposed to be here… in this dangerous place… why was she…
Her answer came with the sound of Olga tapping the staff on the ground with several magic circles starting to glow both beneath the cage and also around the camp. "People have forgotten who I am; they no longer fear me. I blame him, and I shall teach him a lesson and put him in his place under me next time we meet."
"…" No, she was really here….
"So I will remind them today as to why I am called the Dark Queen."
Chloe could not even find any strength within her to say anything as the glow grew brighter, enveloping the entire camp, and then followed by a large amount of mana gathering all at once.
This felt just like that time, back when she was still young and chained up. Having lost both her mother and all hope after being tortured by that hateful man.
And now, even after all these years, she was being saved again by the same person she swore to protect and serve. Any joy within her heart got overwhelmed by sadness, for this only highlighted that in the end, she was still weak.
{Break}
-???-
"She was here." Celestine's voice reached Archer as the horses came to a stop in front of a small clearing, one of many they had seen during their travels. Though this time, Archer did not even need Celestine to comment upon seeing the clear marks of runic symbols on the ground that appeared to be for a bounded field.
"She did not bother to hide them this time, either; she was in a hurry, or something was chasing her."
"Unlikely, there are no signs of any conflicts, and we haven't encountered any demons or their remnants of any kind on our way here." Crouching near the area and gazing at every little detail he could find.
His eyes momentarily went to the pile of leaves that appeared to have been mushed together, almost resembling a pillow of all things along with the trace of magic. Quite a funny sight, which made it clear it was none other than Olga's work.
Archer couldn't help but chuckle at that image. Even in the wilderness, her highness tried to live with luxury; he had to commend her effort at the very least.
"The only reason she would have hurried along is either because she heard or sensed us, discovered others approaching her, or, finally, we are not just getting closer to her but also Chloe. Let's pick up the pace and catch up with them. The quicker we find them, the sooner we can return to Feoh." With that said, he mounted his horse, and the group continued down their path.
The sound of the horses trotting on the ground as they blew the leftover leaves rustling away. The sight of the grassy meadow as they galloped across the plains, as the wind blew against them. A beautiful sight that made him remember once more that despite all its ugliness, this world still had its fair share of beauties and hidden gems.
'It's been a while since I saw a sight like this; it's hard to believe that I'm on another planet entirely.' Compared to Olga's domain, it was a difference like night and day. This land was brimming with life even more so than the lands around the seven kingdoms themselves. He could see deer galloping by their side in herds.
"Hey, Archer," Maia called his name, getting his attention away from the mountains and greenery in the distance as he turned to look at the redhead next to him, who now looked a bit uncomfortable to say the least. "Not that I am against what you said before or that I'm particularly worried, but are you sure we should keep ignoring that woman?"
In unison, all four of them turned their heads and gazed at a horse in the distance following them slowly, upon it was a woman riding the creature, silencing them with her features completely hidden once more, now wearing a cloak he had given her, and the leftover veil she had left at the inn.
The woman who had tried to use some kind of charm spell on him in his sleep, the one that was hunted down by the townspeople and their mayor, the one that apparently was found naked after being about to be attacked by a goblin, was following them ever since they left the place.
"As long as she is not getting in our way, then just ignore her." He said calmly, not really minding her presence, actually. Since she kept her distance for the most part, and where she got that horse, he did not know.
Maia, on the other hand, did not share his sentiment. "Well, hard to ignore her given that this woman tried to seduce you and shag you in your sleep."
"I wonder about that. I think she wanted me more under her thumb than anything. I don't think she was going to do something like that unless she had to," he answered quickly with an awkward chuckle. "Had she tried to do so, then she already had more than enough opportunity to do it when I was under her influence for a brief moment; she was just trying to get control of me, that's all."
"Just? That's all? Well, look at you, Mr. Tough Guy, making light of the situation. You're not making it any easier for me to believe that you have a soft spot for dark elves. Pretty sure when Luu-Luu tried to sneak into your room, you kicked her out the window." The redhead Princess Knight exclaimed. A fair argument, but not exactly the same situation when it came to Luu-Luu.
"Well, first of all, pretty sure she wasn't trying to sneak in to go after my body. She was trying to sneak in to go after my swords."
"Ah, do you mean Bertha? She still mutters that name in her sleep from time to time… pretty sure in some of her dreams she even uses them to ma—"
"—I don't need to know that part, keep it to yourself." His eyes twitched. The man turned to look at the woman who was grinning at him, fully aware that those weren't the main swords she had been after.
"I also don't think she had any malicious intent." To everyone's surprise, Celestine took his side and actually vouched for the girl. "She's a lost soul, forced into a desperate and dark place where trusting others is not so easy. She didn't know Archer, nor his morals or his opinion on dark elves, nor would it have been wise for her to assume anything. I believe this was merely a misunderstanding."
"Damn… Well, if Lady Celestine of all people were to defend her like that, then it's hard for me to keep saying anything. Seriously, now it's sounding like I'm the bad person here!" Maia finally ended her inquiry, though it looked like she was still a little miffed.
Archer looked toward the blonde elf. Just like after their private talk, she remained calm and composed, behaving exactly as she always had. There wasn't a trace of anything unusual in her manner. Perhaps, by some miracle, she had actually understood his words?
He had genuinely expected some form of resistance from her, a persistent stubbornness to keep pushing the issue of him being Shirou and her trying to save him again and again. But it didn't happen. And now, he wasn't sure whether to feel glad or cautious about this change. This world had already dealt him so many misfortunes one after another that trusting her wouldn't be simple, but maybe, just maybe, something good could come from it for once.
…And the Beast might actually turn a new leaf.
His luck was never exactly great, that much he knew, but that didn't mean everything that came his way had to turn to disaster. Not everything had to fail. That sort of thinking was just pessimistic. So, for the moment, he was content. More than that, he was quietly relieved that Celestine continued to genuinely support their efforts in searching for Olga.
But there was one matter that still confused him.
"You don't recognize her?" he asked.
He'd seen and heard plenty about Mistiora from Olga, and it puzzled him that Celestine didn't seem familiar with her, especially since Celestine had been Olga's friend long ago. Had the two never spoken to one another about this?
"Familiar?" Celestine tilted her head to the side in a surprisingly cute manner, then glanced back at Mistiora. She immediately realized she couldn't see the woman's face due to the veil. "She does give off a sense of familiarity... but I honestly believe I've never met her before. Why? Is there something I should know about her?"
Now it was her turn to question him. Archer simply shook his head.
"Nothing. I guess I was wrong," he replied with a shrug. It didn't really matter whether she knew Mistiora or not. He supposed she wouldn't spot a connection since she hadn't seen her face yet. What puzzled him more was the woman's reason for tagging along. He had even asked her directly why she tried to control him, but the dark elf gave no answer, just stood there in silence, eyeing them all with quiet wariness.
"I can get rid of her," came an unexpected offer from above. Radomira's voice drifted down as she hovered in the air, her black wings fluttering gently as she had given her horse to the woman in question. Lately, flying has clearly become her preferred mode of travel. She seemed to enjoy it far more than sitting on horseback and then complaining endlessly about her sore back and aching behind.
Her long, luscious purple hair, which had reached the back of her knee, blew at the behest of the wind, her wings, and her flight to keep pace with them had now made it spread about in a chaotic mess all over her body. With several strands getting tangled in her wings, her body, and her clothes, its color constantly flickering between a spectrum of orchid violet and solid purple. Her long spade tail trailed lazily behind her, swishing in and out with the wind.
"You just saved her, and now you want to get rid of her?" Maia asked, though her tone was more curious than accusing.
"I don't know what I really want with her. Let's just show her the way to Feoh and give her a letter to pass on to Brynn. She could just give her a place to sleep for the night, and she could be on her way. What's the point of her even following us? She keeps looking at Archer weirdly… don't fall for her charm!"
"I won't!" The man said defensively to Radomira's clear chaos of emotions. "I resisted her first attempt, didn't I? And what's with you being in a bad mood today?"
The woman huffed, crossing her arms beneath her chest. Which in her previous form would have looked adorable, but now only served to emphasize her prominent bust, as she lifted them and caused a mouth watering view for any male to kill to see. "I didn't get to sleep with you… she ruined our sleep—hmph!?"
This time, her speech was interrupted by her own hair getting in her face and mouth. Forcing the girl to spit out the strand and make an annoyed face, trying to keep them out of the way.
Seeing the scene, Archer couldn't help but sigh at that. "Alright, it's clear you don't know what to do with your long hair when we get back. Just get back on the horse; it will be easier for you."
Radomira pouted but said nothing at that, given that not that long ago her hair had mostly been shoulder length and far less of a hassle to maintain. Unconsciously hovering upside down, above him, letting her long hair curtain all around him. Before he could realize it, he was covered in purple, and her black wings occasionally dropped feathers that got mixed in as well.
His hand reached up, taking a moment to untangle the mess, which made her lean more against his touch. The changing shades became more frequent as if to mirror her own emotions, until she heard a snicker, but didn't move from her spot.
"What is it?" Radomira asked with some slight annoyance due to being distracted by the wonderful sensation just now.
"Pft-hahahaha." Maia let out a massive laugh at the sight of him covered in hair. "Well, you did ask for long hair before your transformation, now you got it… Now you know why I keep mine short. Less of a hassle, and I'm pretty sure Archer likes them like this."
"Really!?"
"Yep. Makes it for him to pull on when—"
"No." The man answered immediately, "She is just making up stuff again."
"Then what do you like?" Radomira asked, floating upside down and obscuring his vision ahead. "... Hair like Alicia and Olga's?"
"Why those two in particular?" He asked with a dry tone, "Just choose whatever you like. I am sure Brynn would be more than happy to style it for you."
"You didn't answer my question."
She sure was serious about this matter, wasn't she… Well, he really did not have any particular favourites. Unfortunately, saying that would only make Radomira be more stubborn in getting an answer from him—so he just picked the first thing that came to mind. "I suppose you can try out twin tails."
"Twin tails?" The three women around him repeated simultaneously, their reaction making him wonder if he had said anything wrong or if they did not recognise the term. Maia gave it some thought and started to play with her own hair. "I can give that a try and see, mostly stuck with this one due to convenience. Though they would look pretty short."
Archer shook his head, exasperated. "Anyways, Radomira, when I asked you to let down your hair, I didn't mean… hah, whatever. Just don't float in front of anyone while they're moving on the road."
"Why?"
"Because they can't see where they're going, and crash into something. When on the move, it's best to be aware of your surroundings. You're lucky there's nothing here."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, it is. Just stop moving for a bit, I'll do a quick fix for now." Archer gently ran his hand through the hair, collecting it all in one spot. Maintaining his balance on the moving steed, he held most of her hair with one hand, while using the other to glide his hand along the back of her head, and pulled any lingering hair strands still caught somewhere else.
"Hehehehe~ that tickles~"
"Stop moving around and hold still."
He noticed her hair changing once more into a brighter shade of purple as if someone added a splash of pink to it. 'I guess this confirmed my suspicions that her emotions affect her hair color. It looks like her normal is purple.'
Gathering her hair all in one hand, he held his other to project a black scrunchie and placed it around, locking it with a metal clasp.
"There, try turning upwards now."
"Good. I was starting to feel the blood going into my head." Radomira did what he said and found her hair tied up into a long ponytail, her hair now one long clean strand. Not catching anything as she twirled her head, and it flew around like a rope.
"Wow, it's all better!"
"Nice new look, you do nice work, Archer."
"You look beautiful, Radomira."
Both Maia and Celestine gushed at her new look, as the Tiefling twirled around.
Maia once again threw him a suspicious stare, "You did that rather smoothly, like someone who has done it plenty of times."
Well, she was not wrong. Given the last time he had done so was during his last summon, Rin tended to be quite demanding when waking up early and, in general, not a morning person. Come to think of it, most of the women he was involved with had long hair.
Maybe he did have a type…
"Eeeeh, now I want to try the twin tail style too." Radomira proceeded to fly around, enjoying her new hair.
"So, twin tails huh." Maia was giving him a strong look. "Was that something one of your past lovers had or something? Wait, did you have someone like that?"
"I believe we already had this conversation." This was not exactly the best time and place to have a conversation such as this, especially when he recalled having one a while ago. Also, giving in to her words and giving details would just make the woman ask for more and then, knowing her, even ask to make a portrait of them to see what they looked like.
Another major reason why he wanted to avoid this conversation was due to the other people in the group.
Staaaaaare
Both Celestine and Radomira were staring at him. He could feel like the gazes of the two would pierce right through him as if they were trying to force the answers out of him.
"You seem to be enjoying Maia's company as you always do. I feel like I can't leave you two alone at all." Celestine commented with a smile on her face, but her emerald green eyes were conveying a completely different emotion.
"Hey, you were focusing on me just a second ago. I'll let you play with my hair some more." Radomira floated in front of him again, trying to get him to focus on her yellow eyes.
"I told you not to block my field of vision."
They stared at each other, and eventually, while miffed, Radomira realized how serious he was and moved out of the way. "Fine…"
Whatever he was about to say next came to a halt. His ears twitched, and Archer — along with both Celestine, Maia, Radomira, and even Mistiora in the distance — turned their heads sharply to the horizon, where a dark plume of smoke coiled into the sky. It was followed by the unmistakable sounds of combat—clashing metal, raised voices, and magical energy flaring like static through the air.
"A demon army attacking a settlement?" Maia muttered aloud. The suggestion wasn't far-fetched; they had crossed paths with more than a few of those vile creatures on their journey here.
Celestine, however, reacted far more sharply. Her eyes went wide, her lips parting in stunned recognition. "That... that is—" What she meant to say was left unfinished. A figure thundered past them on horseback, speeding straight ahead and kicking up a spray of dirt in her wake. The horses around them whinnied in alarm, hooves stamping, nearly unseating Maia from her saddle.
"Whoa!"
Archer's eyes fixed on Mistiora, riding directly toward the smoke without so much as a pause. No caution. No hesitation. Straight into what was very clearly a battlefield.
"Damn it!" he hissed under his breath, already leaping down from his horse. He hit the ground running, his boots thundering as he sprinted for the treeline ahead. The closer he got, the more the devastation unfolded before him — crumbling ruins from an older age, ancient stone barely holding its shape, and a scorched battlefield littered with ash. Trees crackled and spat embers. The air was thick with smoke, stinging the eyes and lungs.
"What the hell is that woman thinking?!" he muttered, ducking under a blackened branch. He barely knew her. They hadn't exchanged a single conversation, and yet here she was, Olga's sister or not, charging headfirst into a fight that could easily claim her life. Perhaps she wielded magic. Perhaps she was skilled in battle. But based on what he'd seen, how she'd been chased across like prey, there was no sign of either.
"Archer!" Radomira called from behind.
He spun halfway and raised his hand, signaling her to stay back. "Stay with Celestine and Maia! Keep watch on our surroundings and shout for me the moment you see anyone familiar leaving this place!"
"B-But—"
"Just do it! I'll be back soon! Maia, you look after them to make sure that none of them are attacked!" The last thing he needed was to drag them into the chaos ahead. The smoke alone could suffocate Radomira if she flew in and wasn't careful. And someone needed to stay behind to protect the others.
"Damned fool," he growled, spinning back around. His hands rose, and with a flash of blue light, his twin blades materialized in his grip just in time to intercept a heavy strike. A mercenary or maybe a missionary of sorts, middle-aged and broad-shouldered, came barreling at him with murderous intent. Around the man's neck hung a large necklace shaped similarly to what the Kuroinu had, but crafted in the visage of a white wolf instead.
"Fuck! Boss, she's got reinforcements!" the man shouted, though Archer doubted anyone else nearby had heard him.
"I'm not your enemy!" Archer barked, twisting his blade to deflect the next swing. "I'm just here to find—"
His words fell away as the man roared and lunged with brutish force, cutting off any chance of diplomacy.
"I'll kill you and take your head as a prize for attacking the White Wolves!"
He lurched forward once more, aiming to pull back his greatsword before swinging it down again in a powerful arc, an action that would have easily shattered a lesser weapon and crushed a skull beneath its weight. Yet the result was far from what he expected. A sharp, metallic crack rang out as the flat of his blade struck against a glimmering edge, and the weapon itself trembled from the impact. It had not been blocked by mere steel.
'An enchanted sword?' he thought, a bit surprised before his eyes narrowed at the one who had deflected him.
Archer raised an eyebrow. "Well, you're not technically wrong," he replied coolly, his voice devoid of effort or strain. With a quick twirl, he spun the blade in his hand and drove the pommel into the man's temple, hard enough to send a jolt through his skull. The mercenary's eyes rolled back, his knees gave way, and he crumpled in a heap on the ground.
Wasting no time, Archer moved deeper into the ruins. More figures stepped into view now and then, occasionally trying to bar his path.
"They do possess some skill," he thought out loud, ducking a spear aimed at his head, tilting his head just enough for the weapon to miss. "More organized than the Kuroinu, but they're lacking in numbers."
A swift slash followed, clean and precise, severing the shaft of the spear in half. The head of the weapon dropped harmlessly to the floor, clinking faintly against the stone. Its wielder stood frozen, left holding what amounted to a wooden stick.
"Guh!" he gasped as a boot drove into his midsection, knocking the wind from his lungs. He followed the fate of his comrades, collapsing into unconsciousness.
"How the hell did that girl manage to get this far without being stopped by any of them?" Archer mused silently. "Unless she has some kind of cloaking ability. But if that were the case, she would have used it earlier when the others were chasing her."
Food for thought, but for now, it was clear the girl hadn't been captured, nor was she in immediate danger. He met no serious resistance aside from the odd mercenary that decided to confront him. One by one, they fell.
The sound of explosions drew nearer. Flashes of orange and white light occasionally lit the ruins in brief, eerie bursts as he advanced. Finally, in the deepest part of the remnants, where the stone walls had long crumbled and shadows clung stubbornly to the floor, he came upon a lone figure.
A woman.
Hair the same colour as his, long enough to resemble a lion's mane, twitched slightly with each shallow breath she took. Canine ears stood out from her head, twitching faintly. She was kneeling, her body clearly worn from battle, and a line of blood ran from her forehead down her cheek.
"Hah… hah… hah…" she panted, every breath heavy and ragged.
Physically, she was in poor condition. Yet when her amber eyes found him, they widened. She looked past him, then down at the swords in his hands. The faint glint of blood still clung to the blades, and at that, the anger in her face grew. 'Olga must have fought her, the wounds on her body are clearly not from a bladed weapon nor blunt force… mostly burns. But if that is the case, then where the hell is that woman?'
"What did you do to them?" she asked sharply, her voice raw with emotion as she pushed herself upright, leaning heavily on her greatsword for support.
A wolf-type demihuman. Likely possessing enhanced strength if she could wield a blade that size with any measure of skill. And more importantly, she matched the descriptions Archer had been given.
'She must be the one Maia keeps mentioning?' he wondered. 'The leader of the White Wolves. Most likely it is here after all, and the tag around these people's necks is just a dead giveaway.'
He spent only a few more seconds scanning the area, yet what he saw deepened his confusion. Something was missing.
"You must be the leader of the Shirōkami, Leona. I'll ask you directly. Where are the dark elves? I'll tell you the same thing as I did to the others: this does not need to end in pointless bloodshed. You cannot afford that outcome, trust me," he asked flatly, eyes still flicking about for any trace of them. The woman didn't answer immediately. She coughed, spat out a mouthful of blood, and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, her stare never leaving him. "As for your allies, like I said, there was no need for bloodshed to them, but they still fought. Still, they are alive and will continue to live if you stop doing whatever you are doing now."
"Ah, white hair, black and white swords. So you're the one she's been talking about…" the lycan whispered, showing no signs of retreat or even listened to what he had said. Her hand gripped the hilt of her sword, lifting it steadily, the blade catching the faint light. Her movement drew a low, tired sigh from the white-haired former Servant. "Sorry that our meeting had to be this short, but you really should have thought better than to come here. Too bad you came at a bad time, tch."
"Fine. This is your own choice," he muttered under his breath. "Let's get this done with."
"Who the hell said anything about fighting you?" A calm reply. Her eyes sharpened into a cold gaze that could freeze the air around her. "As much as I'd like to teach you a lesson for hurting my men, I'll stay true to the contract and the mission I was given. My first task is to recover the cargo first; she won't escape me this easily."
With that, she stabbed her sword into the ground. The moment the tip sank into the earth, a sudden, searing light erupted outward, illuminating the ruins in a brilliant flash. The floor beneath his boots started to glow, mana rushing upward in spiraling threads, gathering into a whirlpool of energy. That exact same pulse as before washed over him, and the sensation immediately snapped, warning bells went off in Archer's mind.
Wasting no time, he conjured another weapon into his hand, a jagged dagger designed for one purpose alone: to sever and undo any form of magecraft. Not recognizing the pattern nor what it meant with this world's magical system—he was not willing to find out. His grip tightened, preparing to plunge it down and sever the spell before it could complete.
But the moment he moved, the ground beneath his feet vanished.
"What…?"
The wind exploded around him, a powerful gust ripping through his cloak as the world changed in a blink. The old ruins were gone. In their place stretched an endless forest far below. Green canopy, trees, the sky above he was falling, and falling fast, toward the treetops rushing to meet him at a breakneck speed.
"Teleportation!" he cursed, his voice barely audible over the roar of air. Not even surprised at the discovery of such a high-level magecraft existing in this world, and found in the middle of nowhere!
He had no time to think, the distance to the ground shrinking with terrifying speed. With or without reinforcement, a fall from this height could maim him at best or kill him at worst. His thoughts raced even faster than his descent, calculating, adjusting, and about to use his magecraft for the right tool until a burst of wind came, violent and sudden, as something formed around him. A shimmering sphere of translucent energy wrapped him in its center, cushioning his fall like a protective shell. He crashed through the forest, the dome cracking branches and smashing apart trunks, scattering leaves and debris in every direction.
"Ugh—!"
Though the sphere had softened the impact, the landing was far from painless. His body rebounded harshly, the force sending shockwaves through his limbs. It hurt. A lot. Enough to make him grit his teeth and groan through the pain. The barrier flickered and then dissolved into fading wisps of mana.
"Oof!"
He continued to fall, roll down a hill, and nearly get himself entangled in several vines around him. Able to instead use them to slow down his fall.
He opened his eyes to find a face staring down at him, "Well, look what we have here." Her amber eyes were glowing faintly in the filtered light as she uttered those words. Her hair, damp with sweat and dirt, hung in strands that tickled his face like a silken curtain. A tired, battle-worn pride filled her gaze. Dust streaked her cheeks. There were bruises, dried blood, and scratches across her skin, yet none of it diminished her beauty.
Especially when the upper part of her armor was completely gone, leaving her chest fully exposed for him to see. Yet weirdly enough, she did not try to kill him for that; she did not even seem to care at all.
Her hand seized the collar of his armor and gave it a sharp tug, pulling him up just enough that their faces were only an inch apart. He could feel her breath on his skin, even catch the faint scent she carried, something wild and floral tangled with dust and mana.
Her lips brushed the edge of his ear as she spoke in a whisper.
"You wasted your time. I managed to save Chloe and myself without you. And now, my dear little Archer… I've saved you, too. We're even now."
There was a strange glint of excitement in Olga's voice. Faint, but unmistakably there. It struck him speechless, leaving him unsure whether to respond or remain silent, wondering how to respond to Olga's words. But the moment passed quickly.
She collapsed against him, unconscious, her weight resting across his chest. Yet the faintest smile lingered on her lips.
What the hell just happened?
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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 soon to be 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.