Beta read by Shigiya, Gamercrusher55 and Fluffy Slayer
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-???-
Peaceful dreams were a rarity, whether in this life or the last. Fleeting moments where fantasy eclipsed reality, only to vanish when morning peeked quietly through the curtains. The one occasional constant was the fire, like a broken record that looped endlessly, never dimming, never ceasing.
It wasn't a nightmare, just a memory… an unpleasant one. The kind that burrowed deep into the soul, not with terror, but with encompassing numbness.
Alaya's domain made the notion of sleep unnecessary, for there was no physical body that needed rest. But now, bound by flesh, it was different. No longer a tireless Servant, drowsiness crept in eventually, inevitable, inescapable. One could not remain vigilant forever.
After some time had passed, what awaited on the other end was not the shapeless unknown of dreams, neither a darkness that devoured all, nor the embers dancing beneath the glow of a blood moon, but rather a soft, lingering "Hmmmm~"
A gentle sound, without a clear source, echoed all around. It was soothing, both to the ears and body, in ways that were both relaxing and disconcerting. Yet whatever emotions the dreamer had felt at first began to fade away, washed away by an overwhelming tranquility. A fragrant breeze carried the lovely scent of roses and garden blooms, each note weaving into the next like a lullaby, easing the soul into a sense of comfort.
With only the faintest trace of lucidity in the former Heroic Spirit's eyes, they remained in a dream-like state, where fleeting thoughts flared and vanished like sparks in the dark.
The faint chiming of anklets echoed throughout the area, clinks and clangs dancing in harmony with the gentle humming, as soothing and tranquil as a melodious musical instrument. The mingling of scent and acoustics brought forth several feelings from within, especially a warmth that steadily rose in the chest, ever so stubbornly.
Enthralled by the melody, the mind drifted, thoughts slipping like water through trembling fingers with no permanent coherence. And then, at last, through the haze, a silhouette emerged playing just beyond reach in the shelter of darkness.
"Aaaaaaaaahhhhnnnn~"
A feminine voice drifted through the air, graceful and sweetly melodic. Movements drew the eye just as candlelight danced across the table, casting a warm glow that slowly revealed her silhouette in the dark. The slender female figure, draped in see-through satin silk black cloths threaded with gold. Her body shimmered with ornamentation, golden necklaces, bracelets, armlets, and bangles adorning her limbs. Her nipples poked on the fabric as their pink color showed dimmed underneath, and her belly button was clean and smooth. Wrapped around her waist was a thin golden chain that interlocked and kept all the black garments from falling. Each step, each sway, made her jewelry sing with a symphony of soft chimes, like pouches of gold coins calling out in admiration.
Curves and skin on display, adorned with jewels, mostly gemstones, amethyst. Precious gems that only seemed to accentuate the body of the bejeweled. All held together by delicate, equally golden chains interlocking at the center above her smooth belly button.
The faint metallic sound was ringing rhythmically, each movement calling like a siren's song. Exotic silk swaying with mesmerizing grace, further adding to the entrancing performance. Hips rolled, bells sang, and the eyes feasted, as intended, on her curvaceous figure, which was what she wanted.
Supple, smooth, spicy brown skin that sparkled with each motion. Oil and lotions gave it a luminous sheen, catching light like ripples on a dark lake. Large, impossibly firm breasts, jiggling with each movement, so beautifully delicious. While also garnering attention to her slim waist that shook with a hypnotic simmer — luring anyone into a trance.
A veil concealed her face but not her beauty. Long ears of a Dark Elf, while vivid… fiery eyes stared back. Even in motion from her performance, they stayed fixed.
Each spin dragged the gaze into a whirl, with her silky silver white hair fluttering all around. Standing out despite the black veil trailing from a golden crown-like headpiece. Even from behind, she captivated. Her smooth, immaculate back arched like a work of art, framed by strands of silk and shadow. Below, the subtle sway of her hips teased the senses, the caramel treat peaking with each shake so round, plump and inviting, offering a promise that needed no words: temptation, wrapped in grace..
The rhythmic sound of her flesh slapping from the motion, feets tapping on the floor and jewelry jingling was amazing.
All of a sudden, the shaking stopped.
A slower rhythm took hold with her hips swaying back and forth, never halting and demanding attention. Focus shifted to the arms raised high, fingers fluttering like wind, twirling towards the dazed face. The dancer stepped forward, continuing her motions and giving no room to escape.
She stared deeply, her head tilted up, lips gently pulled open, letting out a breathtaking moan.
"Aaaahhh… Mmmmmmnnn~!"
Breaths grew heavier between the dancer and the audience of one, loosening herself to the building lust within her. Not only that, but with a body no less than Olga's or Grace for that matter. Her long legs stretched, and she proceeded to dance on a ballerina's tiptoe. She glided like a fairy, weaving through grapevines and swirling twirls. Then gently slowed down as she swayed backward with scissor steps, with another round of ringing coming from the ornaments.
'Who…'
Slowly, her left leg announced its approach with the gold coins jingling on it, as she bent its smooth knee, and raised it forward towards a face so they could truly appreciate the length and the slim yet meaty thighs. When its length stretched to full length, pushing her heel down, she brought said foot smashing onto the floor, and forcing attention back to the centerpiece.
The belly dance resumed in slow circles, arms flowing, body swaying, knees rising and falling as long legs anchored every lift and drop of the hips. Muscles contracted in smooth undulations, drawing pelvis and ribcage inward until both sank into the belly, then eased back out. The midsection fluttered in sharp, controlled bursts, top and bottom shifting with mesmerizing precision. Subtle abs emerged, not hardened for combat but shaped to master the surrounding flesh.
All the while, her chest's cleavage was pulled along for the ride as it circled, lifted, and dropped, moving in and out. It strained against her coverage, the black silk, straining as her unseen nipples strained on them, the areolas at times peaking through the fabric, standing tall and firm.
Then, she performed her slowest and most nerve-wracking undulation technique, a "camel" as her torso flowed in a wave forward and back. Keeping it mostly contained in her lower abdomen and back, her body truly shows its full majesty.
All the while, the subtle roll of her stomach remained in perfect harmony with every part of her body, there was no misstep, only perfection. The fluid arc of her arms, the precise tap of her feet, even the stillness of her head, locked in unwavering focus on her audience. It was a show of experience and control. There was strength in her elegance with every dance and motion. Only someone who had trained to a professional level could move their body to the limit in such a manner. This was someone who elevated craft to a master level.
Those decorations, their true purpose was to attract one's attention to every body part that served as the true stars of the show, to truly show the loveliness of the woman before the gazer.
The way she controlled her weight to lift and drop her hips at her command, dancing along invitingly.
The way her ribcage twisted as her body moved, so one could see everything she wanted without fail.
The way she gently teased her skin under fabric after fabric, revealing more of her body.
The way she turned to show her back, only to lean backward so low that they were face to face.
The way she danced around so enchantingly with her long arms and legs as freedom itself.
Her backside, her breasts, her belly, and her undergarments were all so visible and straining. Her arms continued to embark on their own exotic adventure, so enthralling that it was as if they were in multiple places at once, continuing to move in a hypnotic manner. The way she leaned her arms up as she leaned forward, descending. Stopping the distance, she went deeper, all the while her hands were tall and blooming. Showing herself as a rising flower blooming only now at this moment.
Lowering herself onto the floor, she leaned on her back while her belly pushed itself upwards so enticingly. Her entire body twitched in paused bursts, as if to contain her explosive energy. Her hair splayed out on the floor, reaching out to touch everything in sight, her hands ran through her hair, straightening it like manes of pure silk. She stretched her legs to open slightly, to reveal the hidden mountains and valley beneath, all of it almost visible, which should have been impossible considering how such a small black collection of cloth should not have been able to cover it.
Only for her floorwork to finish with a bang, as she lifted herself up so gracefully with a corkscrew and leg strength so controlled, it was like she didn't weigh anything. The valley was closed as soon as the entrance was teased.
The skills of this belly dancer to make it unseeable until the promised time spoke of how wrong those who saw her as an easy woman were. The truth was she was the opposite, someone who flaunted her beauty with the knowledge that it was she who decided if they obtained it or not.
Moving into a figure eight dance routine, she moved her hips left, and right, right and left, back and forth, forth and back, tracing an infinity as if to say she could do this forever if she wanted.
Gazing at the prize and tenacity she offered and displayed, it was no different than a challenge, as if daring someone in that moment that if they wanted her to stop, they would have to do it themself.
A beauty that stood above countless beauties, to mark itself as one of legend, to stand equal to all the other beauties met in a long life, and screaming for a match as if to declare herself the winner was all she wanted. It was its own beauty; an exotic work of art, priceless.
Turning behind one final time, she leaned backward so low that their faces were inches apart. Letting the one sole focus of the night see everything. The swaying of her hair, the shaking of her bosom, her belly that continued to contort hypnotically, and lastly, the flesh around her waist, which was straining to be contained by the fabric, as the cloth was almost moved out of the way due to the shaking. Right when it was about to come off, she straightened her back, and in an instant, it was all gone.
Both eyes, performer and audience continued to stare intensely at one another, as she kept performing with no signs of tiredness, decreasing the distance between them, the beautiful silk flying closer and closer, caressing the Counter Guardian's body as they skipped around like spirits in the air. Continuing until her hands came to rest upon the sleepwear, which she then proceeded to take off one by one, tossing them to the ground.
The last one, the undergarments were pulled off, and with them, an excited member stood up, trembling in excitement, unable to contain itself. She gazed down, analyzing every inch of the body before her, judging what she saw.
Finally nodding to herself, she moved in close onto the bed, and sat down onto the lap, their bodies finally touching each other skin to skin. There were no words for the joy coursing through the one who now felt the silky, smooth, and warm body as it pressed deeper and deeper. Their skin pressed against one another at long last, feeling each other's warmth and heartbeat.
She moved her soft hand through the short white hair, playing through it as if getting a feel of it. Then slowly she moved his head downward, permitting his face to grace the touch of the royal woman's chest, it felt so comforting and soothing that it almost beat the taste of flesh in between them, tasting so delicious like the most extravagant rich meat one could buy—his lapping and licking tongue that came from a subconsciously opened mouth continued to taste her like a dog in heat.
"Aaahhh~!" Her voice escaped her at the sudden contact, as her arms wrapped around, feeling every inch she could.
The oils and lotions adorning her tasted of sugary cinnamon. After all that dancing, the sweat on her couldn't be seen, but the included taste of salt told that the oils had trapped the sweat from escaping; if anything, it made her skin glow more. They intertwined both of their fingers, hands holding each other tightly as if to never let go. Able to feel the softness of her hand as if it were a pillow. A light nibble to the ear brought a shiver through the body, followed by an ethereal voice filled with affection, whispering.
"Do you love me~?"
Strange…
It did not sound human…
…
Yet, he shook at those words, he couldn't help but want to hear more—so smooth like sweet honey.
Each syllable builds up the never-ending lust within. Wanting nothing more than to push her down, marking her in every way possible, and dominating the woman entirely regardless of any violation. To mark what was before as property of the devourer forever.
So that all would know that she was his, and no one else's.
"You can have me~"
"—!"
The smooth and hot sensation of her tongue sliding against the neck, sending a shiver all over. Edging the recipient along the brink of no return… soon there would be no stopping it.
"I want you," she said, whispering again. "You can have me when others have failed, you can devour me like no one else, claim me as yours, and I'll take it all willingly. I love you…"
The words sank deeper, the fog growing denser, and each thought getting harder and harder to form. A thought, a memory began to form in a brutal fist fight.
Strandling on top with the expertise of a Rider. Her clothes and silk ran lower, a clear liquid began to leave from above as well as below, staining the cloth… unable to contain it, the pain was too much.
Every grind brought a whole new level of suffering.
Lying down, she lowered herself over the toned, tanned body, her long white hair blanketing the still-dazed face with the scent of vanilla. The world was a clear void, with nothing but her and those piercing purple eyes. Gently, the woman undid the veil over her face to plant the final action that would complete the total conquest of the one before her.
She really was beautiful. A young face that went with the body, perfectly proportioned with no flaw. Her beauty was even further increased by the makeup that made her skin glow. Surprisingly, she looked far more innocent than her actions dictated. Gazing through bedroom eyes, she slowly lowered her face, lips parting, glossy and tinted a deep cherry pink, inviting and deliberate in their motion.
Time slowed to a standstill as she descended.
It felt like forever as she slowly went to connect their faces.
Despite this very sight, the headaches grew by the second, memories unable to be held back any longer flooded back in with vengeance. The mind of the seduced raced, clawing for clarity. A final push of reason against the pull of desire. The way her hair curtained around, reminding me of a black haired woman, something about her felt too familiar.
The pleasant sensations from earlier faded, and he placed a hand in front and stopped the woman from getting any closer. The distance between their lips was widening, much to her surprise.
"Why do you resist? Your body is more honest than your mind. Why be so stubborn? Am I not good enough?" The voice asked again, much louder than before. Their surroundings were no longer as peaceful as before, showing cracks in the illusion.
Her honey-glazed words did little to stop the man's consciousness from resurfacing. Clarity starting to return bit by bit till lust and desire from before immediately gave way to confusion… and annoyance.
Emiya blinked as the scene changed, now holding onto Kanshou as the black blade sank into the figure in front of him. Cold gray eyes stared back at what was no different from the illusion of one filled with love and desire. "Who are you…"
He got no answer; the world around him broke apart in an instant.
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-Karoun Inn-
He tore free from the haze of the dream, eyes snapping wide open, only to find himself staring straight into a stunned pair of purple eyes. The disbelief etched across her face was unmistakable, as was the weight of her figure seated squarely atop his bed. She had somehow bypassed the bounded field he'd set up.
Though considering his pitiful talent with magecraft outside of tracing, that wasn't entirely surprising. The field had been a basic construct, nothing more than a beginner's alarm spell, the kind even the least gifted apprentice could manage. It was never meant to stop someone, only to notify him.
Still, this wasn't the time to dwell on the inefficacy of his magecraft. There was a far more immediate concern: the woman currently straddling his waist, her palms braced firmly on either side of his head. In an instant, everything fell into place. She was the reason behind the strange dream. The source.
"Impossible… go back to sleep."
Her words spilled out in a frantic rush, dripping with magic that felt like syrup trying to stick to his thoughts. But it was about as effective as tossing a cup of water at a river; the new fluid couldn't break through the stream. His mind which had been steeled after countless battles as a Counter Guardian displayed new found strength against the incoming attempt pushing it away. After his mind was straightened out he turned on his magic circuit's, cycling Magical Energy like a well-oiled machine, at last clearing the final remnants of her spell, scattering it into nothingness.
Realizing her failure, the woman made a move to escape. But she was far too slow.
"Gah!"
Before she could rise, Archer's knee drove into her stomach with enough force to knock the air from her lungs, spit and air spraying out from her mouth as she crashed backward into the wall. She barely had time to register the impact before twin blades flashed into his hands, the married blades, leaving just as quickly, already airborne. They struck the wooden walls in a blink, one on either side of her neck, forming a sharp cross. The metal bit deep, close enough that the edges grazed her skin. A fine cut formed on her throat, and a single droplet of blood slid slowly down.
"Who are you?" he asked coldly, his mood thoroughly soured. Having his mind tampered with was a violation he did not take lightly. And the fact that she had managed to get so close without triggering a single alarm only deepened his suspicions.
Assassin? Whatever she was, she had earned his full attention. Archer manifested his holy shroud, and armor their presence further increasing his resistance to hostile environments.
"You were the one following me since early this afternoon, weren't you? Start talking if you want to keep your head attached."
His voice held not a quiver, no hesitation—only steel as he offered his pursuer an ultimatum. A part of him, almost instinctively, wanted to drive the blade into her throat and end the threat then and there. But he held back. He needed to understand what this was, what she wanted, and whether killing her would solve anything.
"How… how is this possible?" she quietly whispered to herself, her voice frayed with disbelief. Her lips moved again, desperate, weaving words laced with power, trying once more to cast her spell, to peer into his mind.
While Archer's mind remained firm, his now summoned red shroud flared, wrapping him in a barrier that shrugged off her magic like water off a duck's back. Her attempt didn't just fail—it didn't even register.
"How are you not affected?"
"I'm the one who should be asking the questions, don't you think?"
Despite the blades at her throat, she didn't flinch. Her voice carried no fear, only calm. It was almost baffling. Did she truly not believe for a second that he was capable of killing her right there and then? To test the limits of her composure, he let his killing intent bloom. It poured into the space between them, like an invisible pressure that would've dropped lesser foes to their knees.
"People like you are not welcome here," he said coolly. "No matter what species you belong to, or what kind of powers you think you possess, none of it will work on me."
His twin blades edged closer, pressing in with precision. The cold bite of steel kissed her skin, not yet drawing blood, but threatening to do so with the next breath. For the first time, something flickered in her eyes, disbelief. The unwavering confidence she had worn like a veil slipped, torn by the realization that her powers, the tools she had relied on, had no effect here. No hold over him.
A glimmer of panic danced within her irises.
"Wait! Wait! I am not an assassin!" she cried out, her body stiffening in place, sweat and fear pouring from her face. She dared not move a muscle, knowing any motion might drive the blades deeper than they already were.
"You still haven't answered my question."
He didn't believe for a moment that she had been following them since they left Feoh. Only after stepping out of the shop did his instincts begin to itch, warning him that something was off. He studied her closely now, and one detail immediately stood out, the pair of long, dark elf ears poking through her veil. Even while partially hidden, they could not be mistaken. His suspicion grew thick, a certain memory stirring uneasily at the back of his mind.
The dream was hazy, more a collection of fleeting and enticing sensations than anything coherent. He hadn't been fully aware, just a passenger while he was pulled in. Still though there was something familiar about so much he had seen—especially the registered faint impression of her white hair. Now that he was out, all the details were sharp, crystal clear as he stared at her—and they matched someone he'd seen before, a certain Dark Queen.
Without a word, he reached out and pulled the veil away from her face. Gazing at it he finally remembered someone she had shown him that also fit the bill.
"You are…"
The rest of his words caught in his throat. For a fleeting second, he simply stared, utterly taken aback by the face revealed to him as tears built up in her eyes. Recognition crashed over him like a wave, and dozens of questions surged into his mind.
How? Here of all places?
"Archer?"
A sudden voice from the hallway shattered the stillness. Radomira, calling out with a tired and groggy tone that sounded like she had just woken from a restless sleep as she knocked gently on the door.
"I can't sleep, Archer. I had a scary dream… again," she murmured, half-whining. "And Maia stinks too much of alcohol, so I'm sleeping here."
The door creaked open before he could even respond. The young tiefling stepped halfway into the room, a pillow and thick blanket bundled in her arms. It was clear she had no intention of waiting for his permission. But as soon as she laid eyes on the scene inside, she stopped dead in her tracks.
"Ah…"
To anyone wandering in without context, it looked no different to Archer pressing a beautiful woman against a wall with both of their faces flushed. As for the weapons… Maia did tell her about weird people and the types of roleplay involving such things. Something about the thrill of danger increasing the intensity of the sex.
Seizing this small window of opportunity, the Dark Elf threw a small bead towards the confused tiefling. It pulsed with a fierce light that set his nerves alight. "Watch out!"
Prioritizing the tiefling's safety first, Archer lunged forward, seizing Radomira by the waist and yanking her back from whatever that thing was. A sharp crack rang out the next moment, followed by a brilliant explosion of light as the bead detonated midair. It lit up the dim corridor and inn room with a searing flash that blinded anyone whose eyes had grown used to the darkness.
"Kya!"
The tiefling shrieked, clutching at her eyes, stumbling backward in confusion and pain. He, on the other hand, had shielded her from the start, narrowing his eyes as the glare receded. When the light faded, the woman who had been in his room was gone. The window was wide open, the curtains fluttering gently in the cool night breeze.
Her veil and cloak were on the floor.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to…" the girl mumbled behind him, her voice riddled with hesitation. "Were you going to do the same thing to her that you did with Alicia? But who is she? You shouldn't be doing that sort of thing with random prostitutes! Yo-You should have told me!"
Why in the world would he even tell her something like that in the first place!?
Choosing to ignore the odd accusation, he rushed to the window. Outside, the streets were already stirring with life, the earlier blast having awakened several of the townsfolk. Despite the late hour, the city hadn't settled into a full slumber, and the shouts of armoured men echoed through the alleys. Guards had caught sight of the fleeing intruder and were now hollering to each other, calling out orders to pursue.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath. It was always something. Always.
"Wake up the others," he barked at Radomira behind him without turning around. "Looks like we're leaving earlier than planned."
Pushing himself on the edge of the open window, the white haired man jumped onto the roof of one of the closest buildings. For all that work, the woman's attempt at escaping from his gaze proved to be unsuccessful. Keeping track of her figure even as she continued to run in the distance.
"Hm?"
Aside from the guards who were running after her, the other regular people had also taken part in this little hunt.
"An angry horde like this… she'll be lucky to not get impaled by the end of it." He said while shaking his head, not even disappointed at them or angered. To their eyes, a Dark Elf was associated with the source of their suffering, Olga Discordia.
This, coupled with the restrictions put on the town just to find her, must have pushed a few to the edge.
Even from this distance, her back was on full display, as well as her face when she turned to look at her pursuers…the same face he saw earlier. "Is that really her…"
Granted, it had been a small while since Olga showed him the face of the person she was searching for — but even then, the similarities were clear to him. 'Doesn't seem to have any offensive magic from her earlier interaction, and not much of a combatant, but she's smart, skilled, and quick on her feet. Add her using the kind of ability that manipulates one's mind and significant skill in seduction, and you've got a truly smart and dangerous woman.'
While running on top of the rooftops following after her, more information was gathered by him. Another being the fact that she seemed more… capable compared to Olga when it came to escaping. Using every means to slow down the crowd, nimbly trying to lose them by constantly changing directions, and even throwing more of those flash bang orbs to disorient her pursuers.
Unfortunately for her, there were just too many people around going after her. These tactics would only buy her so much time; she seemed to realize that as well and changed her pace. Rather than trying to lose them by hiding away, she instead made a complete beeline for the edge of the town.
"Archer!" Maia's voice came from below, the redhead still having bed-hair, sitting on the horse, accompanied by Celestine. Their other horses were tied and following behind them. Both women looked confused about what was going on, but still, they packed up as instructed. "What the hell happened for the town to get so loud?"
A slight tremor could be heard in her voice, with Celestine also looking around cautiously.
"Is it another outbreak?" The Goddess Reborn asked, making him sigh in relief upon seeing that she was behaving as she usually would, without making things harder for him after what happened.
Though her eyes were slightly red.
"It seems that the Dark Elf the people were talking about this morning thought it was a good idea to pay me a visit, but it didn't go the way she thought."
"What! Again? What is with you and dark elves? I was with you for most of the day. How did you manage to woo her?" Maia voiced her indignation, while Celestine tightened her hold around Maia's back and hid her face. Radomira was following behind, giving him a look that said she was miffed.
"It wasn't like that; she was trying to use me for something, but she didn't expect pushback."
"Then what the heck did she want?"
"When I tried to ask her who she was, things escalated, and she ran away. Unfortunately, because of that commotion, people saw her face, and now everyone is chasing her." His answer only brought more suspicious stares from the three, but he did not have time for further explanation. "Hah… putting that aside, we should be leaving as well. There's no point staying here now that we know Olga isn't here."
"How?" Maia asked. "After what just happened, they will most likely just keep the gates shut even further now. They're probably not going to let anyone out until she's caught."
She had a point to anyone listening, but unfortunately for her, he responded with an assured tone. "I doubt she is suicidal enough to just let herself be caught. She most likely has a way out, just keep heading towards the gates, everyone is already too preoccupied with her to care about us."
With that said, the group galloped across the town, heading towards the gates where the people had gathered, with the guards opening them. All the while, Archer kept track of his target on his side, "Keep heading straight, don't stop!" He shouted, and Maia and Celestine looked unsure but followed his words.
"Oh shit! Watch out!"
"Horses!"
"Don't push me!"
Several people panicked, afraid of getting trampled — they moved out of the way. A few armoured men who tried to block the way with their spears pointed at them, getting shot by blunt arrows, denting their armor, and sending their figures flying across.
"We did it!" Radomira shouted with glee upon making their way out, continuing to head down the road while the people behind did not even bother pursuing them and instead were far more preoccupied with catching the Dark Elf.
Upon seeing where they went, Maia looked in disbelief and shook her head. "If she really went that way, then the last thing she'll have to worry about is an angry mob."
Archer sighed, agreeing with the Princess Knight.
That woman really had a death wish.
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How… how was he not affected?
Her feet pounded against the stone as she tore through the winding streets, the sound of pursuit crashing behind her: heavy boots, clinking metal, angry voices. They were closing in fast. Shouts of recognition rose from the crowd as more torches flared to life, igniting the alleyways with flickering orange light.
Her veil was gone.
Face now fully exposed. The effects already spread faster than the torches were lit.
Mistiora ran with her heart pounding in her throat, her mind spinning with disbelief. That man had been human. She was sure of it. Her powers should have affected him, invaded him, overwhelmed him. She had entered his dream where resistance should have crumbled like wet parchment. She had stirred his desires, tapped into the primal layers of his mind the same way she had with countless others before him. And yet… instead of submission, there was steel. Instead of pleasure, there was pain.
All she could remember now was the biting coldness of his blades, how they had pierced her, not just in some illusionary plane but in that mental realm where no steel should exist. One stroke had nearly severed her head from her shoulders.
She had failed.
Worse still, her retreat had been sloppy. Chaos trailed in her wake—the veil discarded, her cloak shredded and abandoned. Her presence now rang like a bell across the town, known by half the townsmen living here. The guards were hunting her. Villagers, too, stirred by the commotion, had joined in the pursuit. Torches bobbed and voices rang out all around.
"Capture her! She went that way!"
Pitchforks, ropes, and cruel excitement burned in their eyes—eager for a reward. That cursed bounty from the pompous mayor had turned every commoner into a potential threat.
"Hah… hah… hah…"
"This isn't good, I'm already out of flash jewels.'
Running had never been her strength. True, she'd fled often enough over the years, but everyone had their strengths and weaknesses. She was built for seduction and stealth, not escape. She could melt into the shadow under better circumstances, but now, without her cloak, even that gift betrayed her. A stray glint of light caught the jewelry at her throat; her movements betrayed by the quick flash of ornaments against stone. Her torn cloak was long gone, left behind in her panic.
"Capture the dark elf!" someone bellowed behind her.
"I say we kill her! How long are we going to stay closed off here without emptying our reserves!?"
The townsmen all shouted, many of them, rather than seeking the bounty, just wanted to get rid of her and be done with the restrictions put on this town.
'I have to get rid of all this.' She thought, eyes darting to the bangles, necklaces, and glittering trinkets—jewellery worth several hundred gold coins, enough to rival the wealth of a high noble family. One by one, she tossed them aside, each piece flung the moment someone drew too close, buying herself a heartbeat of space, a sliver of time.
"Wait, is that gold!?"
"Emeralds!"
"Look at all those Amethyst!"
"Get your hands off it! I got it first!"
"You were more interested in that dark elf, my family needs to eat!"
"Only the Dark Queen would have such wealth! The rumours were true!"
Thankfully, it seemed that her method bore fruit, distracting a few of the townsmen who were immediately attracted by the gems and riches she got as gifts from various rich men during her journey.
A part of her heart ached at losing them, for even if their sole reason for existence was to enhance her overall beauty, she had to a certain point grown fond of them. Collecting these pieces and having them around for so long that they had become a part of her, almost like proof of her long journey filled with memories.
"Olga Discordia or not, she must definitely be royalty! Quick, she's heading towards that river!"
Mistiora was aware that her fleeing would only buy her so much time before those faster than her and with more stamina would eventually catch up. She was already figuring out how to survive the worst possible scenario if she was caught. The woman may prove difficult, but she was confident at handling a few groups of men even if it meant sucking them dry down to the bone in bed.
Luckily, it seemed they cared more about riches than the pleasures of the flesh, and fortunately, in the best-case scenario, she would just end up being captured, thrown into a random dungeon, and then put in handcuffs by those who were trying to sell her to a slave market.
A faint swish reached her ears, drawing the woman's attention to the side.
"Ah!"
An arrow hissed past, grazing her shoulder, a near miss from one of the distant guards. It left a thin, stinging line that welled with blood.
"Don't shoot at her, you idiots! If you kill her, then we won't get our reward!"
"The bounty did not say anything about bringing her back in one piece! A few healing potions, and magic, and she'll be more than well enough to be offered up to those guys!"
With the people shouting behind gaining more speed, and closing up on her, the dark elf gritted her teeth and wasted no time jumping immediately into the nearby river.
Arrows whizzed past her, some completely hitting her leftover clothing and ripping it apart. The freezing cold water left her momentarily stunned, temporarily immobilizing her movements.
"Grnk!"
Pushing through the pain, she managed to swim further deep down until she found a small hole in the side of the river wall. Looking through it, she found that it led to a lake which was near a clearing on the other side.
The other side of the walled city, a blind spot in the city's barricade.
It was large enough to fit her slender body, only showing some difficulty and mild tightness around her chest and butt, but for those who were following her, as long as they weren't dwarves, they would not be able to pass through.
"Hn!"
She squeezed her body through, feeling a sharp pain from the open cuts she'd received, as they grazed against the rough dirt within the water. She ignored them, finally managing to worm herself across and heading upwards.
"Haaa!"
Reaching the surface, she gulped down as many breaths of fresh air as she could before scrambling to the shore. The angry shouts of the crowd still echoed behind her.
'They'll open the gates soon, I… I need to escape somewhere else…'
Staying within this town was no different than a death sentence. As much as she wanted to cling to any lead or people who might bring her closer to finding her dear sister, survival had to come first.
Wasting no time, she bolted towards the only place where she might lose them, not the open road where they'd overtake her on horseback in a matter of seconds, but instead within the forest itself. Her heart trembled at the thought, but she had no choice.
Clang!
The grinding creak of giant hinges echoed through the treetops as the gates of the city groaned open. Mistiora did not hesitate. She bolted into the darkened forest without looking back, bare feet slapping against the damp earth. Her breath came in quick bursts, chest heaving as she sprinted, each step unearthing memories she would rather bury. That night. That place. Those hands. Her mind threatened to pull her back into it, but she shoved it away. Survival came first. Always.
Voices behind her pierced through the branches, the flicker of torchlight casting long, chasing shadows. They were close. Too close. And for a brief second, she wasn't Mistiora, but the trembling girl she once was, stripped of everything. But this time she knew better. She knew not to venture too deep where monsters roamed wild. She knew to strip every last trace of herself—no jewelry, no reflective shimmer, nothing but flesh and dirt and breath. She was nearly naked, but she was alive. Spreading the remaining jewelry along a fake path, before backtracking in the hopes it would be her sometime, she hid herself deeper.
"Hah… hah… hah…" Her breath hitched as she spotted it—a narrow cave mouth veiled behind thick drapes of vine and fern, half-concealed along a riverbank.
She didn't think at all.
Slipping through the tight opening, branches clawing at her skin as she pressed into the cool stone. The air was wet, mossy, and still. Not a sound escaped her. She dared not even blink.
Footsteps pounded past, so close she could hear the leather of their boots scrape against stone and grass.
"Where the hell is she? Her trail just stops a few meters back."
"She must've gone deeper into the forest."
"Is she mad? That place has been crawling with demons lately!"
"Tch. Then she's as good as dead. Damn it, I should've stayed behind and picked up the jewelry she tossed. What a waste of time."
"What'll we tell the mayor?"
"Tell the mayor if he wants her so badly, he can ask the fucking Princess Knights next time for reinforcement!"
Their angry muttering faded with their torchlights. One by one, their footsteps dissolved into the distance, swallowed up by the forest.
Only then did Mistiora finally exhale, her breath trembling as it left her. She remained still a moment longer, then slowly edged out of her hiding place, fingers parting the veils of greenery. Her limbs ached as her mind spiraled from the disaster that had just unfolded.
"It's because of that man," she hissed, voice low, bitter. The words tasted like bile. She had seduced kings, lured lords into ruin. She knew how men looked at her. How they lost themselves when she so much as gave a smile to them, how they groveled for her as she gave them a taste of pleasure.
…Even before she became so skilled in seduction, her extended presence was enough to drive men crazy to the point they would do whatever they could to pin her down, and have their way with her.
But him?
He resisted and broke free. She clenched her teeth. Was he interested in men instead? That didn't make sense either. She had seen the way his body reacted — he was straight. Everything had worked perfectly.
Perhaps… Perhaps it was magic?
A spell to protect his mind? She had never dealt with something so strong before. Her usual prey were men of power and wealth, not mages. It was too strong for her magical knowledge, skill, and strength to break through.
"I can't just abandon this," she murmured, voice sharp with frustration. "If he finds Olga first…"
She could not bring herself to finish the thought.
"I'll just continue toward Feoh and from th—?"
The sentence caught in her throat. She had just stepped out of the cave and into the clearing when her feet rooted to the earth. Her eyes widened, breath held tight in her chest.
There, across the river, kneeling at the water's edge, was someone. Or something.
"Gneh?"
Green skin, rectangular pupils, pointed ears. Barely taller than her waist. A goblin.
It hadn't seen her yet—its head submerged beneath the water, taking in deep, slurping gulps from the river. Mistiora froze, heart thundering as her mind reeled.
"No… no, no, no…" The words spilled from her lips in a fragile whisper, her already fraying sanity teetering on the edge. Then—silence. The forest, the breeze, the rustle of leaves, all of it vanished into nothingness, swallowed by the weight of memory as the past struck her like a hammer to the skull. She could see it again. Feel it. Smell it.
"Run… please run…" she murmured to no one in particular. Maybe to herself. Maybe to the frightened girl inside her, begging for the strength to flee. But her legs would not obey. Her entire body was locked in place, trembling with chaotic, conflicting sensations.
Terror distorted her features, her chest heaved in panic, and she began hyperventilating, but her lower body betrayed her completely. She quivered—not in fright, but in unwanted arousal. A thin stream of clear fluid traced down the inside of her thighs, glistening faintly in the moonlight.
Her body, violated by its own memory, reached a peak she hadn't even felt with all the men she had been with before on her journey.
Not one of them.
Not even close.
She didn't let them.
Now though…
Too tired and drained, physically and mentally, she couldn't fight back against her impulses. Her strong will, which had been tempered over so long a journey…the sight of the goblin had undone her faster than anything did. Such was the terror they inflicted, as deep scars were placed within her heart.
"Aaargh!" she whimpered.
The creature's head shot up at the sound, blinking at her through water-slicked lashes. For a second, confusion flickered across its grotesque face. It took a cautious step back, just as startled to see her as she was to see it. But then it saw. It saw her disheveled form, the trembling legs, the glistening skin. Confusion turned to desire, and then to greed. Its grin stretched wide.
"No… no, stay away…" she whispered, her voice cracking as she finally summoned enough strength to step back. But her foot got caught on a root. She collapsed, palms scraping against the ground, gasping as the goblin crept closer with hungry eyes.
Right when she feared the absolute worst…
All at once, a thick splash of blood painted her face. Warm. Wet.
The goblin's head caved in beneath a massive rock that struck it from above, crashing down from the sky. Its body crumpled, twitching once before going still.
Mistiora stared… breath caught in her throat. Then she looked up.
What she saw would remain etched into her memory forever.
Black feathered wings spread wide against the night sky, gleaming like onyx in the moonlight. The figure descended in slow, graceful arcs, the breeze toying with her long strands of violet hair. A spaded tail swished behind her.
Was it a demon? An angel? Either way, she was lost for words.
Regardless, the person differed greatly from the same sleepy girl swaddled in blankets back at the inn. This person was almost… radiant? Her curves were more defined, her body sculpted and mature. Larger hips, fuller bust. The outfit she wore covered more than Mistiora's ever had, yet hugged every curve and somehow made her feel more enticing to anyone watching, accentuating her shape in a way that no bare skin could ever match.
Glowing yellow eyes pierced down through the shadows as she landed soundlessly in front of her. The red gem in her forehead glowed brightly in the night, bringing their attention to each other's faces. The Dark Elf oddly noted it reminded her of her former crown-headpiece with amethyst.
Mistiora could only gape, lips parted in stunned disbelief, as the woman stepped closer. She leaned down, fingers tilting her chin with gentle precision, inspecting her face like a curious scholar studying a rare artifact.
"You're pretty… but not that pretty… I think I'm prettier. Is he actually into dark elves? No, he slept with Alicia and Maia, hm, maybe people with bright coloured hair? My hair can get like that sometimes." She murmured under her breath, voice filled with quiet disdain. Her violet hair took a slightly darkened tone as if in line with her words.
Mistiora couldn't even begin to make sense of those words.
"Hmph. Archer! That strange prostitute is here! Trying to celebrate her escape by having sex with a goblin of all things! Next time, don't go sleeping with random weirdos without talking to me first!" She shouted out in a direction.
Was she… pouting?
{Break}
-Feoh-
Management, negotiations, and social grace had always been among Prim's greatest strengths. She took pride in honing them whenever the opportunity arose.
In a world where she couldn't summon inhuman strength, outrun the swiftest horse, or command the arcane with any great talent, these became her weapons and her shield—her way of standing equal to those born with more obvious power.
When it came to politics, no one surpassed her.
"The Silver Trading Company has accepted your demands and will be sending the shipment of armaments soon."
"That is excellent news. It is always a pleasure to work with your group. Please, take some time to rest and spend a few days relaxing here in Feoh. While it may not be as prosperous as Ken, Rad, or Ur, I can guarantee you that my sister's kingdom still has a lot of charm."
Within the confines of a quiet, stone-walled office, the still and composed pink-haired Princess Knight spoke with flawless courtesy towards the elderly man seated across from her. Her tone was warm, professional, and polished to perfection, revealing nothing but cheerful hospitality. The smile resting on her lips seemed to cast a subtle calm across the room, almost unnatural in its serenity. That smile was deliberate. She knew the man's tastes well, particularly his soft spot for young pretty women, and it was one of the key reasons she negotiated with him so frequently.
For he was easier to control.
"About that…"
"—?"
Her smile remained fixed, but her eyes twitched ever so slightly as the old man's face twisted with uncertainty. A flicker of irritation crossed her mind. She already knew where this was going.
"I know what you're thinking. You've likely heard more than enough about what happened here in recent days. Yes, it was tragic. Lives were lost due to the betrayal of a single man we once considered an ally. But I assure you, everything is under control now."
The old man nodded, "I must admit, Princess Knight Prim, the news of a terrorist attack, led by none other than Beardsley, caught all of us by complete surprise. That man had been involved very deeply with the official affairs of Feoh in Lady Alicia's place for so long… to have someone like that to turn on the very city he helped to build… It's difficult to process."
Prim subconsciously rubbed her thumbs in her interlocked hands very hard.
"It's to the point that a majority of my colleagues still believe this to be a false rumour." He continued with a helpless chuckle.
"I wish that were the case. But you saw it with your own eyes the moment you arrived, did you not?"
The streets were under heavy repair, and while the bodies were mostly cleaned up, the buildings were still demolished, and there was still an underlying stench in the air.
"There was simply too much evidence to declare him innocent. The official report is thorough. Anyone who reads it will come to the same conclusion. That still doesn't make it any easier to accept. We may never understand what drove him to turn on his own people, but we must investigate thoroughly to make sure it never happens again."
A heavy pause followed, the old man's expression weighed with troubled thought.
"I understand. But that only deepens my concern about the state of this city. Is it true then? Has… um, forgive me if this question is too personal, but has Lady Alicia truly resigned from the Knights of Iris to take an active role in governing the kingdom? Ah! I did not mean any offence, just simple curiosity. You must understand my worries given her prior reputation…"
They were uncertain of her ability to lead.
Even if those words were not said directly, Prim could tell how obvious it was. She showed a crescent smile, her expression showing no signs of being offended.
"The streets are no longer swarming with depraved men and women preying on each other, nor with beasts and demons prowling for blood. Did you, during your arrival, witness even a single act of violence out in the open? I doubt it. Besides, some of the stories circulating have been greatly exaggerated. You know how these tales tend to grow with each telling."
To paint most of these changes as one of Alicia's efforts, even though it really wasn't, helped put these people in check—for now at least…
"Hahaha! You are correct, it seems that I was overthinking things, please forgive my insolence for doubting your sister's ability to lead the kingdom and the prosperity the Princess Knights have always given us." He bowed, becoming more relaxed as she accompanied him outside, continuing to engage in conversation till he left in his own carriage.
As soon as he was out of sight, the smile on her face instantly disappeared as she let out a deep sigh.
"How tiring."
It was one thing dealing with such snakes in her own home kingdom, but it was completely another matter having to deal with them when she was here in Fiore instead. Without Beardsley, managing the city's affairs became increasingly difficult.
While she trusted her second in command to keep things stable in her kingdom, she feared that those vipers had now started to see the shaky foundation of Fiore as an opportunity to come here and make it their next prey.
"This place belongs to my sister. None of you will lay a hand on it—or on her. She is mine and mine alone." The girl whispered, truly wishing that there was a more permanent solution to deal with them right now.
The girl had to think of something to keep them out, but unfortunately, death was not the answer, for she knew full well that it would only serve to bring more trouble in the long run. Plus, the current power holders were people she had known for some time—familiar personalities she had studied, manipulated, and, in many cases, wrapped neatly around her finger. Replacing them with unknowns would mean starting from scratch, and that was a game she had no interest in replaying.
"I should visit my sister!" Just to get in a better mood, she figured paying a visit to the blonde Princess Knight would be the best.
Now with Celestine, Maia, Archer, and the dark elves gone, the city—despite recent political shifts—had almost returned to the way it had been when her sister ruled alone, with only the occasional visit from her. The castle had grown quiet again, with the servants speaking more animatedly now, no longer hushed with dread or constantly glancing over their shoulders at every moment in fear of crossing paths with a Princess Knight who might overhear their every word.
Kaguya herself had returned to her kingdom, and so did Lulu. Leaving only Claudia and their newest arrival related to the Goddess Reborn.
—Bam!
"Ah!"
Deep in her thoughts, she didn't pay attention to her surroundings, which caused her to bump into someone by accident. Pushed by a remarkably powerful and elastic force, she recoiled just a bit. Initially thinking it was a servant, she was about to dismiss the action only to find herself staring wide-eyed at a pair of humongous breasts, larger than anything she'd seen in her life… larger than even her own mother, aunt, or any Princess Knight from what she remembered of them through memory.
Bigger than even the Goddess Reborn and Claudia, and barely being contained and hidden by a piece of dress that was already visibly straining.
Blonde, long, and glossy, shiny hair paired with a beautiful face that she did not recognize, Prim was at a loss, wondering just who this very busty woman was. While in a state of pure shock, the woman in question panicked and exhibited a fidgety personality.
"Oh, I'm so very sorry! I didn't see you! Please forgive me for my clumsiness! It won't happen again, I will ensure my error of not paying attention in the corridors will not be for naught!" She immediately started to bombard her with apologies one after the other, bowing down several times, with her actions making the world's most massive rack bounce around with each movement as if they were filled with helium, only for them to fall to gravity and produce a breeze for her.
Still in shock, Prim worked on autopilot to diffuse the situation. "I-It's okay, you did not see me, so I'm not mad, you don't need to apologize so much. Also, I needed to watch where I was going." She said with a familiar, sweet smile on her face.
Internally reorganizing her feelings and adopting her diplomatic persona.
Then, as she observed closer, the girl realized and managed to catch a few cues from the women's movement as she apologized and bent down to start picking up the papers on the ground.
Prim subconsciously looked straight up until the lady had already stood up and walked away.
'I am still not used to her presence here,' Prim thought.
From a stranger's point of view, the person certainly was no peasant or simple servant. Her movements, which held some grace befitting the house of a nobility, described her as one from a wealthy upbringing. Not just limited to posture, but beauty, appearance, and that necklace on her neck made it clear that she did not come from a simple background.
'She's heading towards Alicia's office, again.'
Feeling slightly suspicious, she followed the woman as she left, making sure to stay out of sight. The beautiful lady unsurprisingly made her way to Alicia's office, where upon entering the room, she did not leave just as fast. Feeling concerned, Prim waited outside for a couple of minutes before pressing her ears against the table.
"You actually did all of this by yourself in a single day?"
Then came her sister's voice, sounding unnaturally impressed as well as shocked.
"How did you manage to make sense of all those messy records and compile them into something so simplified this quickly? I tried to read through that so many times before, but I was always stumped and left it to someone else. Even now, I couldn't make sense of them when I last checked."
"Oh, I just did the same as I used to do when managing my husband's estate… my skills may be lacking a bit as I still need to reorganize here and there. You see right here, there's a lot of missing records, so please forgive me for this sloppy work."
"No, no, no, you're doing a wonderful job! With this, it's only a matter of time before we'll be able to clean up the mess Beardsley left in his wake."
It almost sounded as if her cousin was speaking to a long-lost best friend.
Prim's eyes narrowed as she did everything she could to remember everything about this woman in detail.
She arrived not two days ago and requested an audience with Alicia under the pretense that she was a noble who came here to seek asylum after the fall of her kingdom.
A strange situation, neither of them knew truly how to handle without Celestine being here to help give them any advice. Prim had confirmed her identity from several of her sources who had traded with the Kingdom of Sangrea.
The names of Sophia Van Grea and her husband would occasionally pop out from time to time as people of interest from a distant, wealthy kingdom. She had even discovered that she had attended one of her banquets a long time ago, when she was still so young, accompanied by her parents before they died.
Taking what she could gather from her snippets of memory, the woman had not changed her personality even after the fall of her kingdom; if anything, her noble nature only improved, having grown as beautiful on the inside as her body, which could match the Goddess Reborn. She remembered how envious many people were of her looks, how envious the rumor mill sang when the men were told about her husband, and how the two seemed to form the perfect pair.
But perhaps, as the people of Fuchswald and Thorn often said, enemies like those only bring bad karma. And now from what she could tell, she has lost everything.
Her home and her husband are now gone, left with nothing but the clothes on her back and her infant daughter.
'She appears to have worked something out with Alicia.' Comparing the familiarity of the two individuals with the information she recollected.
"…They are getting along well," Prim muttered under her breath, perhaps feeling the most uncertain about this point specifically.
Did she feel threatened? Hard to tell, but seeing Alicia be so cheerful and happy around someone other than her and Archer felt odd. Archer, she could accept, for the young girl truly desired both of them and wanted the two to get along well so that they could live together as family.
But Sophia was a stranger, a stranger who came out of nowhere. 'Why are you here exactly? Was it really to seek asylum, or to do the exact same thing as Beardsley was doing, to steal her from me?'
These fears had begun as a passing unease, but lately they had taken deeper root in her mind. Alicia was still so innocent—raw from Beardsley's betrayal—and this woman simply did not belong here. Anything unaccounted for was a threat she couldn't tolerate. If she had anticipated this, she would have ensured they never met.
She just did not feel safe around her, as if a position she had spent years carving out was about to be taken from her. Shaking her head, she decided it was best for her to just stay back and watch. To observe her from afar, and if she proved any of her fears true, then Prim would make sure to handle this woman in secret.
After all, she was a fallen noble with no back, and thus carried little importance in the grand scheme of things. With that said, the girl walked away from the hall and headed outside, looking into the distance as if hoping to see a figure returning from his venture out to save those useless dark elves who brought them nothing but trouble.
"Just when will you be back? I hope you stay safe, Archer," she whispered, praying that he would return soon and that the Goddess would keep him safe from any danger. He had left so quickly that they couldn't say a proper goodbye.
Regardless of how she felt about Maia and her relationship with Archer, even Prim had to admit that the redhead was one of the most capable people to have around in such moments. Though she would have much preferred for it to be someone else, as the thought of those two travelling with each other, spending more time together, and being happy together with doing what she should be doing with him, made her green with envy.
She felt much remorse that she could barely spend any time with him, even while living in the same kingdom. Last time she tried, her sister ended up reaping the benefits, leaving her stunned and confused about how to feel about the matter.
"I must be patient. I must be patient. Everything has its timing."
She repeated the words like a mantra, over and over, hoping their weight would dull the tightness in her chest. But the more she repeated those words to herself, the less meaning they seemed to carry. A sigh slipped from her lips, her brow furrowing as the pounding in her skull grew sharper. This entire matter was giving her a headache.
Needing to clear her thoughts, she stepped away from the source of her stress and made her way into the royal garden. It was a secluded area, closed off to all but the Princess Knights and Archer himself. She expected to find it empty, a quiet place to breathe in peace.
Instead, she was met with murmurs.
The garden was not silent at all, but filled with a hushed gathering. Several figures stood huddled in a loose circle, their attention focused on someone seated at the center. It took her a moment to recognize him. The man looked so different now from the images and memories she held in her mind.
His hair had grown long, disheveled, and streaked heavily with white. His skin was pale, drained of warmth, and lined with deep wrinkles where once there had been a healthy flush. His shoulders slumped, his back hunched forward slightly, and his eyes—those tired, hollow eyes—were fixed in a lifeless gaze that stared into the distance without truly seeing anything at all.
He sat motionless in a carved wooden chair while female knights around him tended to his every need. One gently offered him a cup. Another dabbed a cloth to his brow. They moved with silent reverence, ensuring he ate and drank at proper intervals.
"…Klaus?" she whispered, startled.
The name left her lips with confusion and disbelief. She had known well the tragedy that had struck the man, and how devastated her fellow Princess Knight had been over her husband's condition. Claudia had fought tirelessly, clawing through every rumor, searching for a cure, desperate to restore what had been taken from her. Yet here he was now… present, upright, and breathing.
She could not help but wonder, though… was this truly a recovery?
"Prim?"
The voice came from behind, weak but recognizable.
Prim turned, startled again, and found Claudia standing across the garden path. The brunette watched her with a strange expression, flickering between hope, concern, and something harder to place. Her gaze shifted rapidly from Prim to Klaus, then back again.
"Claudia, it's so nice to see you!" Prim said, stepping forward with a pleasant smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Congratulations on Klaus's recovery. It's been such a long time since I last saw him… he hasn't changed much… though I hope he gets his usual vigor back."
The words left her mouth in a polite rhythm, the kind expected in a situation like this. But the truth she felt in her heart was different.
To her, Klaus looked like a man who had already died and simply refused to lie down.
Claudia's lips curled upward into what could barely be called a smile. It was stiff and strained, not from rudeness, but from something far deeper, something like sorrow barely hidden under a threadbare veil.
"Yes… I'm glad to see you too, Prim," Claudia replied gently. "As for Klaus… he's only just begun to recover. He can move now, just barely. Walking is still difficult. It's going to take time. A great deal of it."
It was clear from a single glance. After so long confined to a bed, his muscles had atrophied, leaving him frail and thin — more so than his previous self.
"Is there a reason you're here?" Prim asked suddenly, her voice careful, laced with curiosity. But the girl caught something else, too, when she asked.
Claudia's shoulders tensed the slightest bit. Her mouth opened as if to explain, then closed again just as quickly, the words catching in her throat.
"I-I just… I just wanted to give him some fresh air," she finally said, not even able to hide the small stutter.
"Oh?"
Prim tilted her head slightly, her tone light, almost innocent. But behind the softness was a quiet intention. It did not take much to sense that Claudia was withholding something, not necessarily a lie, but she chose her words with unusual care.
"Forgive me for asking," Prim continued, still feigning gentleness, "but wouldn't he prefer for you to be the one taking care of him? You two were inseparable, last I recall. I remember how close you were, how devoted. From what I know of him, Klaus was never fond of crowds or being fussed over, especially not by strangers. I would have thought he'd want you beside him now more than ever."
She offered the remark with a touch of friendly naivety, but her eyes didn't miss a thing. She watched Claudia's face carefully, looking for any crack in the mask to reveal what was truly going on beneath the surface.
Claudia let out a deep sigh, her gaze fixed on Klaus from across the courtyard, the silence between them weighed down by something too heavy for words. Her fingers curled against her robe as she turned slowly to Prim, her voice quiet but steady.
"Prim… I have known you for many years. I've watched you and Alicia grow from adorable children into beautiful women. You've stood beside me through war and peace, and I trust you with many things, my life included. What I'm about to share is not to be repeated. It's… delicate."
The pink-haired Princess Knight blinked at the sudden solemnity in Claudia's tone, her earlier ease swiftly fading. Stepping closer, her hands resting gently atop the older woman's own, lending silent support. Claudia's shoulders dropped slightly at the touch, but her eyes didn't lift from Klaus.
"I want to help him. Truly. There is nothing more I want than to see him well again, to make certain his needs are met, to return him to the man he once was before… all of this." She inhaled deeply. "I swore to myself, no matter what, I would see him healed. I would make it right so we could return to the life we had before."
She paused, voice starting to waver.
"But Klaus… Klaus doesn't want me near him anymore."
The tremble in her voice gave way to a full-bodied shiver, the kind that began in the gut and spread through her limbs like ice. She lowered her eyes, the confident commander gone, replaced by someone who looked painfully small. It hurt to watch. Prim gripped her hands tighter.
"What happened, Claudia?"
"I…" Her breath hitched. "I don't know."
She shook her head as if trying to dislodge fog from her thoughts, trying to put order to the confusion that had gnawed at her since the moment Klaus had turned cold. She took a moment, breathing in slowly, composing herself before continuing.
"Since he recovered enough to speak, he's been different. Whenever I try to approach him, no, even when I simply stand nearby, he flinches. If I try to touch him, he reacts like I'm… a monster. He won't speak to me. He avoids me entirely. And if I press him… he shouts — as if I were hurting him just by being there."
Prim's lips parted slightly.
Unable to picture it, not clearly.
Klaus had always looked at Claudia like a man had his own personal goddess. Now this?
"He even called the guards on me once," Claudia whispered. "Told them to remove me from the room."
It was almost too much to believe, but the pain in Claudia's voice left little room for doubt.
"Could it be…" Prim hesitated, her eyes flickering toward Klaus again. "Could he still be suffering from the toxins they used on him? Maybe it left lingering effects on his mind? Or… maybe there was damage done that we cannot see?"
"I've asked myself that," Claudia said with a hollow laugh. "A hundred times. I keep wondering if I failed him, if I missed something in his care. I asked him directly. Begged him to tell me what was wrong. If I had done something, even unknowingly, I wanted to know. But he wouldn't even look at me."
Prim's brow furrowed.
"There was one thing, though. Just once, when it all began. He shouted something. A single string of accusations."
She stopped again, her voice faltering as emotion surged too close to the surface. Her hands clenched unconsciously.
"He thought that I…" Her words dropped to a whisper. "He thought I betrayed him. That I went behind his back and slept with… with… with someone else behind his back. That I… used him."
Disbelief showed on the pink haired girl's face.
"I told him again and again it wasn't true. That it was all in his head. That I would never betray him. Never. But no matter what I said, no matter how many times I tried to explain, it didn't matter. The damage… it was already done."
It turned out the matter was far more complicated than she had first believed. Had it simply been a case of post-traumatic delirium, perhaps caused by lingering head injuries, then at least there would be a path to healing. A treatment. A cure. But the deeper she dug, the more elusive the truth became.
Perhaps it was his time spent trapped in that paralyzed state. Perhaps the stillness, the silence, had caused his mind to conjure visions he had mistaken for truth. And with what had happened recently, particularly the outburst linked to that cursed aphrodisiac, Claudia and Prim could no longer dismiss the possibility that the effects ran deeper than anyone anticipated. Physical corruption was one thing, but these concoctions… they lingered. Twisting thought, warping reality, embedding themselves in the unconscious.
Even now, days later, she herself had been tormented by dreams so vivid they made her question what was real. Lying beside Alicia, hands entwined, only to feel another presence behind her, taking her without restraint. Her body, lost in pleasure, moving in time with every thrust, mind blank and helpless until climax pulled her from the illusion, with only the white hair of the person using her like a toy visible. Pinning her, ravishing her, taking her again and again, before doing the same to Alicia. Only then would she awaken, breathless and shaken, heart hammering against her ribs. It was always him. Always that same man. Yet it was just a dream. Only a dream… unfortunately.
What if Klaus had seen something similar? But instead of himself, he'd seen his wife, Claudia, in the arms of another man. Perhaps, in that distorted vision, her betrayal had been clear and absolute. It didn't need to be true. It only needed to feel true.
Prim looked at Claudia with something close to pity. Despite Klaus being a husband in name and once in affection, Prim had never held him in high regard. From the beginning, there had been something soft, even feeble, about him.
He was no mirror of his father. Where the elder had carved out a legacy on the battlefield, commanding legions and facing steel and fire without flinching, the son had lived behind silken curtains, poring over tomes and philosophies, untouched by war.
She remembered clearly how even polite conversation with some of her more spirited guests would leave him visibly overwhelmed. He could only endure their presence for moments before slinking away, leaving Claudia or his father to smooth things over. In truth, he had always been weak. A coward dressed in noble robes.
But he had been genuine in his love and loyalty to Claudia.
"Don't worry. Things will get better, I promise." The words spilled from her lips before she could stop them. "Have you tried asking Lady Seraphina to examine him? Maybe she could do something."
It wasn't a baseless suggestion. While Seraphina was no Goddess Reborn, her healing arts were still powerful enough to save Archer. Most likely connected to divine magic, though less potent than that of Celestine herself, it was still formidable. If anyone could peel back the layers of this affliction, it would be her.
But Claudia only shook her head.
"I did go to her," she said quietly. "She examined Klaus. Found nothing wrong with his mind. And when I asked about Archer, hoping he might have a solution, just the mention of his name made Klaus… worse. Agitated. Angry."
"He knows him?"
The brunette nodded, "Briefly. I once invited him to look at his condition and to introduce Radomira. That's about it."
"I see…" Prim murmured, her brow furrowed in thought. Then she brightened, though the shift in mood was deliberate rather than natural. "Look, it won't do you any good to stay in this state all day. Come with me. Let's take a walk together. You can show me those places we used to visit back when I was still a little girl. Buy me sweets. Keep me safe from all the scary bandits~!"
She gave a playful wink, batting her eyelashes in an exaggerated fashion. A trick she'd picked up long ago, back when it never failed to melt Claudia's stern facade. And sure enough, it worked even now.
Claudia chuckled, a soft, weary laugh, but a laugh nonetheless. The smile that followed wasn't bright, but it was real.
"I don't know… leaving Klaus like this—"
"He's surrounded by your most trusted knights. Nothing will happen to him. And here in the garden, we're the only ones allowed to wander. You said your presence makes him uncomfortable; maybe what he needs now is time to himself. Maybe talking to other people will make him see the light. Besides…" Prim stepped closer, her voice gentler now. "I doubt the real Klaus would want to see you like this. Haggard. Hollow-eyed. Maybe if you regained a bit of your old light, it might remind him of the past Claudia, the one he's clearly forgotten."
There was a pause, the silence hanging in the air, before Claudia finally gave in.
"Fine. You win this time. Let's go."
Prim smiled, having won, already planning a day of nice relaxation for both of them. Claudia also seemed to have had her spirit lifted somewhat, already adding her own itinerary.
"And we'll bring something for Alicia, too. Poor girl's been stuck in that office all day. I heard she hasn't even stepped out once, still cleaning up the mess Beardsley left behind."
"It's because she wants to impress Archer," Prim replied, knowing full well the sort of person her sister was and exactly where such motivation had taken root. "In truth, I want to show him how hard I've been working lately, too. When he gets back, I'm sure he'll be happy to see you in a much better state as well."
"You think so?" Claudia asked, her voice tinged with hesitation, before she gave a small shake of her head. "I suppose you're right. I doubt Radomira would be pleased to see me like this either. I miss her… I just wish I could have spent more time with her and Klaus before she changed into her adult form. We always wanted a daughter in the past. Having her around felt right."
At that, Prim remained silent. She had her own thoughts when it came to the Tiefling girl who never strayed far from Archer's side. Unlike the others, Prim had always sensed something peculiar about her. Even though the girl had grown into a stunning young woman, there was something hollow behind her eyes, something more than if her mind had remained locked in the innocence of a child. Prim felt little toward her beyond a detached curiosity, intrigued only by the strange abilities the girl possessed rather than by any genuine bond.
Soon after, the two women drifted away from the garden path, their conversation dissolving into silence as they walked beyond the flowering hedges. Klaus remained alone at the center of the tranquil garden, unmoving, his gaze fixed on the horizon. A handful of knights surrounded him in a semicircle, their posture vigilant, their armor gleaming under the pale light. They stood like statues, unwavering and sharp-eyed, not even a breeze dared disrupt their formation.
Time passed. Seconds ticked away in solemn quiet, broken only by the soft chirping of birds hidden among the trees and the gentle ripple of water flowing from the marble fountain. The perfume of blossoms hung in the air, thick and sweet, weaving itself into the stillness.
Then, without warning, one of the knights stumbled in place, her armored step landing askew. Another turned her head toward her in silent question, her brow knit beneath her helmet.
"What is wrong with you? Have you been drinking all nigh—"
Her words faltered as dizziness struck her mid-sentence. A sudden slackness overcame her, the strength leaving her limbs. She, too, began to stagger, her vision blurring, and with a low gasp, she collapsed to the ground. One by one, each of the knights followed, their composure shattered as a strange drowsiness flooded their senses. The thuds of metal and flesh echoed through the clearing as they slumped into the grass like marionettes cut from their strings.
Yet Klaus did not stir. He neither blinked nor flinched, as if the scene unraveling around him held no meaning. His eyes remained set on the heavens above, blank and unseeing.
Then came a sound that pierced the silence, a trickle of liquid being poured. The subtle splash of wine spilling into a cup. His gaze shifted at last, slowly, deliberately. His pupils narrowed.
By the stone edge of the fountain, another figure had appeared. A young girl sat perched on the rim, her bare legs swinging back and forth, unconcerned. In one hand, she held a cup of solid gold, the other tilting a bottle filled with wine as red and dark as blood. Her hair was the color of sunlight, long and shimmering, drifting with the wind in elegant coils. Crimson eyes glinted beneath the strands as she looked back at him, smiling without warmth.
His body jolted as if struck. It was the first time he had shown any emotion since the others had left.
"Well, would you look at that," she said, her voice smooth and unhurried. "I thought there was nothing left inside you but wrath, fierce enough that I could sense it from the other side of Feoh. But it seems fear still clings to your core like a parasite. How pathetic."
She lifted the goblet to her lips and took a slow sip before letting out a sigh as if disappointed. Then she looked at him again, her voice soft, but threaded with malice.
"This emperor will keep you company for a short while. Rejoice at my generosity, you peasant!"
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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.