An Archer's Promise

H-Feoh-

(Early morning)

"Tch, be grateful that this emperor is showing you leniency by not feeding you to my lions for ruining my hair — there are countless others who have suffered for far less."

The Kingdom of Feoh, with its tall walls of brick and concrete, no longer defined their world.. They had left behind the familiar cobblestone roads, once bustling with the sounds of hundreds of people selling their wares, shouting, and living out their daily routines. Now, all of that noise had faded away, replaced by the serene silence of the open wilderness.

They found themselves surrounded by a vast expanse of green grass and trees, the kingdom's urban chaos a distant memory. The only sound was the gentle breeze that whispered through the leaves of the scattered trees dotting the landscape. It was a world untouched by the hustle of the kingdom, a peaceful oasis far removed from the turmoil they had left behind.

"..."

All of this helped Radomira from getting overly anxious.

"Nevertheless, I have gone above and beyond just for you and even allowed the hands of a child to touch my hair once more. This, in itself, can be considered an honor of the highest degree."

Rather than listen to the incessant chatter of a certain blonde Emperor, who had been repeating the same points since their arrival, her focus drifted to the strands of hair that were so soft that she had to fight the urge to rub her face against it. "Wow~! Your hair is so silky and smooth! How do you make it look so shiny?"

"Humu! This level of magnificence? It's all natural, peasant. Bask in its glory, grovel before its splendor, for you'll never—ow! How dare you pull my magnificent hair! These golden locks are more precious than all of the gold in your kingdom!"

"Just stay still for a moment, you brat! It's hard enough to remember Brynn's instructions, and your head bobbing doesn't make it easier." 

"Twist like this… this knot over that one, and there we go! What do you think?" Draco looked at her reflection on a nearby pond, humming in contemplation before shrugging her shoulders.

"Passable, I suppose. You are not yet at the level of the handmaidens back in my new abode. Tread down this path, and I may or may not grant you the position of royal handmaiden and my personal perfumer."

"What's a perfumer?"

"You are."

"I don't understand." 

"You don't need to, just know that is what you'll be."

"Why?" 

"For I had ordained it."

"Eh, doesn't sound impressive... but not because I wanted to! I'm still mad that you tried to hurt Archer." It was only then that she snapped back to reality, her senses returning as she realized just who she had been admiring. Cursing herself under her breath for getting so easily distracted by the bundle of perfectly soft and silky hair that was utterly addicting to touch, she pulled her hand away reluctantly.

Her response earned a light scoff from Draco. "For someone who is supposed to be irate with me, you sure were willing to tend to my beauty with little fanfare."

"That's because I don't want to cause more problems for him than you already have, and you don't look as scary as I remember. …Wow, I might get addicted to this. Even Olga's hair isn't this soft." Honestly, she just got distracted, not to mention the peaceful land around them made the atmosphere very relaxing. 

Ahh… so soft…Nuzzel…Nuzzel…

"W-What in the—? Get your face off my head this instant!" Draco sputtered, her usual regal composure cracking as her voice rose in indignation. "Has the Guardian lost his mind, taking in such a brazen fool? You dare manhandle an Emperor? I ought to smite you where you stand!" She swatted Radomira's hand away with a huff, readjusting her crown with an indignant flourish. "Who do you think you are, some doting nursemaid? I'm the Beast of Sodom, you buffoon, not your pet cat!" 

"B-But it feels so nice…" 

"Do it again and I'll feed you to the pigs."

"Hiya!" Radomira looked like a kicked puppy while holding her hand, having made a move without even realizing it. 

"Humu, in any case, I recall that you wish to inquire about my vast knowledge. So speak, for I will grant you only a small moment of my audience. Though I can be persuaded to extend the time… if you provide more of these bottles and delicious food offerings." Her hands went to fetch a piece of flatbread topped with cheese, tomato sauce, and some spices while her other hand held a piece of glazed ham which she devoured with gusto. 

It tasted far better than the greasy slop the chefs in the manor usually served her. As she savored each bite, she couldn't help but wonder where this brat had procured these from and more importantly, who prepared them. Whoever it was would soon be under her employ—she deserved only the finest meals for her refined pallet. 

"Ah, right! So, why do you keep calling him Guardian?"

"... Is that all you wanted to ask? How disappointing." 

"Eh?" 

"Hah… Cease your prattle and I shall answer." There was something wrong with this girl. "I refer to him as such, for that is his role and duty. A guardian sent to this realm to eradicate any threat towards humanity's history."

"Woah, so he really is a hero!"

"Pft-hahahaha! Your mastery in the art of jesting is truly impressive.""

"Hey! What's wrong with calling him a hero? He saved so many people from an army of millions of demons and dragons! Brynn said he even dropped a sword bigger than the entire kingdom to save her! And he also saved me…" she murmured, her voice trailing off, eyes clouding with the flicker of painful recollection. The nightmares still lingered - being torn from her parents, thrust into a world far colder and crueler than anything she had known. Freedom had been no more than a fleeting illusion, quickly stolen away by cruel hands that treated her as nothing but property, to be sold like cattle. She shuddered, pushing the dark thoughts aside.

Radomira's eyes clouded as unwelcome memories bubbled to the surface. Even now, the taste of freedom couldn't erase the deep scars of her past. Some nights, she'd jolt awake, her heart pounding, phantom chains biting into her skin. The suffocating dread of powerlessness, of being nothing more than property – clung to her like a second shadow. But then she'd remember him, the one who'd pulled her from that abyss. Sure, he'd terrified her at first – who wouldn't be scared of someone who fought through a pack of crazed humans unscathed? But in the end, he'd been her unlikely savior, yanking her back from a fate too grim to dwell on. Thinking of him now, even amid all this weirdness,brought a small but comforting sense of safety.

What else could she see such a person as, other than a hero—her savior, and the only person in this world with whom she wished to stay beside for as long as possible?

"I believe you're misunderstanding Archer. He's a real hero, saving people left and right. How can you just laugh that off?"

She demanded more, unwilling to leave them before finding clarity. If there was a way to clear the misunderstanding between them and prevent another conflict from arising, then she was willing to give it a try. Yet it was clear that, for some reason, Draco knew more about Archer's past than she did.

"Wait, have you two met before?"

"As expected, your ignorance knows no bounds. Do you truly believe that I would waste precious time indulging all of your petty questions?" Draco scoffed, a superiority complex evident in her tone. "However, since I am feeling generous today, I will entertain you for a brief moment." With a regal flick of her finger, she continued, "First and foremost, let me remind you that the Guardian and I have never crossed paths before my arrival in this realm. My previous self was surely not foolish enough to associate with him...or was she?"

For a heartbeat, Draco's haughty demeanor cracked, her gaze distant as if peering into a foggy past. The shift was subtle, but Radomira caught it, her brow furrowing deeper. She tilted her head, trying to make sense of the Beast's cryptic words. But the more she pondered, the more tangled her thoughts became. Draco might as well have been speaking in riddles for all the sense she was making to the young tiefling.

'Past self? What's that supposed to mean?' the young tiefling mused, scratching at one of her horns in confusion. 'Maybe she knew him as a kid and forgot? Grown-ups are weird.'

Before Radomira could voice her confusion, Draco shook off whatever had momentarily gripped her. With a dramatic flourish, she raised a second finger, clearly ready to launch into another proclamation.

"I was not jesting in labeling him as a Guardian, for that is his designated duty. While you may view him as a noble savior, the truth reveals a much more pitiful and demeaning reality. In actuality, he is nothing more than an unfortunate pawn who has bound himself to an eternal contract, forever enslaved to a deceitful master."

"A slave!?" Those words shook the young girl, who looked at Draco in disbelief. "That can't be right, Archer is obviously not a slave! He's not chained, nor is he locked up in a cage, and he can travel wherever he wants!"

Seriously, she was starting to wonder whether or not this blonde-haired brat was messing with her by stating such lies about him. She was a slave, and in her eyes, calling Archer the same thing as her was beyond ridiculous. Yet, once again, Draco chuckled. Without even realizing it, she grabbed the flower that adorned her hair and twirled it between her clawed fingers.

"Your naivety is profound, I must say. A servant need not always be shackled with physical restraints or confined to a cell. In many ways, their fate is far more wretched than that of the fallen women auctioned off to brothels in the capital. They are enslaved by unseen bonds; their very essence forever bound to a single purpose. They are nothing but pawns wielded by the Counter Force, summoned whenever humanity nears its own destruction."

There was a trace of disappointment in her tone when she said that, recalling matters of the past before sighing and turning her attention back to Radomira. "That is all he is—a soul forever enslaved, and that is why I find him pitiful more than anything else."

Truthfully, the young tiefling was having a hard time keeping up with everything Draco was saying. There were times and phrases she couldn't even understand, but she kept quiet and carefully listened to Archer's past. The only conclusion she came to after hearing all of this was, "It sounds pretty sad." 

Regardless of what kind of slavery this was, at the end of the day, it was still slavery, and she could not bear to imagine him going through such a thing. "I know! Let's go find this Ayala and beat her up! If Archer is set free, then you two won't need to fight each other anymore!"

Her proclamation was unexpected, causing even the Beast to stare at the young girl in shock and uncertainty. "You are fortunate to be but a child, for any mature individual would never dare challenge the Counter Force. Yet, you also display foolishness by attempting to strike one such as myself. Truly, your twisted nature knows no bounds. Or you're just incredibly foolish."

"Hey! I'm not twisted! My body is perfectly fine, and my hair is straight!"

"It was a figure of speech, you fool!"

"You're also an idiot for trying to use such complicated words on someone you know won't understand! That makes you the idiot, idiot!"

Draco's hands clenched, and her eyes began to twitch barely suppressed frustration. She repeated phrases of meditation in her mind like a mantra, to prevent herself from killing this buffoon in front of her again and again. Otherwise, she would lose her sole source of entertainment and addictive sense of amusement for good. Especially when living in such a deplorable kingdom where everything and everyone was so disgusting. "You know what? Just for that, I will be even harsher against the Guardian during our next final battle. Maybe I'll torture him for a few years before killing him."

Her words had the intended effect, as Radomira glared back at her, furious yet fully aware that she did not hold the capabilities to hurt her whatsoever, which made Draco smirk victoriously. "Don't count on it. Archer is very strong, and he'll find a way to win. You can barely stand on your own without that tail behind you helping you."

"How dare you!" The words pierced through Draco's pride like a dagger to the heart. She seethed with anger, still wounded from her recent defeat caused by a mere stumble. "I may not have reached my full potential yet, but when I do, you will be left speechless and captivated by my unmatched beauty. Just wait until my true self emerges. If I had not been forced into this battle prematurely, I would not have lost all of my progress."

"I still don't understand why you are so against Archer. What do you want to do in the first place?"

"What I want is…" She barely had enough time to finish her speech when both girls noticed a ball roll up near Draco's feet. Momentarily confused about where it came from, they looked down the hill to find a group of kids of various ages, the youngest being barely five years old physically and the oldest one looking to be around Radomira's age. Most of them rushed up the hill, wearing dilapidated rags and clearly belonging to the lower-class peasants.

"Oh," To Draco's surprise, Radomira turned completely shy and silent before quietly walking up behind her and using her as a shield to hide. Her actions differed greatly from what Draco had imagined, and the scene looked somewhat comical given that Radomira's current appearance suggested she was already nearing her teenage years and could not realistically use the small Draco as a shield.

"Your jest cannot be taken lightly! You, who have faced a deity such as myself without trepidation, now cower before mere children!? Do you intend to provoke my wrath and meet your demise at this very moment?!"

"Shut up, I-I'm not afraid! I just don't know how to act around children… I'm scared they'll be affected by me." She said shyly, "Olga said some of the Princess Knights should be resistant to my powers…" 

What she said was partially true; Radomira still felt some fear when dealing with strangers who were neither Archer nor the Princess Knights she had recently gotten to know. But when it came to everything else, she still felt a slight fear around unfamiliar humans.

There was that time when she first met Claudia, fear had momentarily gripped her heart but since Archer was somewhere in the castle, it had eased her mind. Plus, she already had a hunch about who Claudia was since Brynn wouldn't stop talking about her. But now, they were outside the walls, the farthest she'd been from him, and her confidence wasn't as high as before. 

"Hey, Blondie! Can you toss that over…?"

The first boy who shouted was struck speechless, while the rest behind him had a similar reaction the moment they saw Draco. Half of them had already started to panic, visibly sweating and cold drops rolling down their faces. "Woah, are those scales… and a tail!? A demi-human!" 

One of the kids shouted with shock, halting everyone from approaching the duo and some even looking at Radomira in the back with a light blush on their faces. 

"Hush! Look at those clothes, she's definitely one of those rich folks, don't make them angry or they'll hunt you down!" 

"Is that a real gold crown? It looks pretty big on her." 

In the end, regardless of how prosperous Feoh looked from the outside, the livelihood of its citizens was abysmal with the fear of the higher class nobles, clergymen, and merchants, who executed them for the smallest of reasons just to keep them in line. This fear was shared amongst the younger generation who were continuously told to stay away from such people at all costs. 

"B-But our ball…" 

"Screw the ball! We can always ask your dad to make another one." 

"The old man is out of leather though…"

While the kids continued to discuss amongst themselves and threw side glances at the two girls, Radomira curiously grabbed the ball near them and hesitantly looked at Draco. "S-Should we…" 

Her hesitation made the Beast roll her eyes, feeling a bit offended at how this Tiefling was fearful of human children but had the courage to confront her so many times before. It made absolutely no sense for Radomira to consider herself on a lesser level than these kids. 

"Intolerable!" Draco huffed, her patience wearing thin. The sudden outburst made the latter yelp in surprise as she marched to the front of the group with her head held high. Piercing crimson eyes scanning the assembly of children, disdain dripping from her gaze, even if they stood a little taller than her. . "All of you, are you not aware how rude it is to ignore this emperor and turn your back against me?"

"Emperor?"

"No way, you're royalty!?"

"That's awesome!" 

One by one, the kids all had stars in their eyes and immediately believed her. Why wouldn't they? For she had no reason to lie. 

The expensive crimson satin dress coupled with the golden crown and her overall aura just screamed royalty and they couldn't help themselves pay more attention to Draco while completely ignoring Radomira. 

"Wait, I know who you are!" One of the girls in the group pointed her finger at the blonde. "Blonde hair, beautiful, fierce-looking, scary, speaks in a weird way… you're definitely Princess Knight Alicia Arcturus!" 

"Wasn't she supposed to be an adult?" 

"Maybe it's that dress." 

"My dad told me Princess Alicia has a bigger chest than Mom. She doesn't have any." 

"Maybe it's the dress?" 

"She also looks kinda small, even taller than her!" 

"Maybe…. It's the dress…"

"I'm pretty sure Princess Alicia doesn't have red scales." 

"Maybe she's using some of those strange magic stuff to change her appearance? I heard from the village elder that the Goddess Reborn granted the Princess Knights powers that normal knights can never get." 

"Ooooh, that makes sense. You're smart, Mark!" 

"Humph, darn right." 

They all started to speak to one another about the physical traits associated with Alicia and comparing her to Draco. 

"..."

"Pft-hahahaha!" 

Radomira couldn't hold it in anymore. She burst into laughter, her amusement spilling out as Draco's carefully composed poker face crumbled spectacularly. The kids, oblivious to the mounting tension, only made things worse. Their excited chatter rose into a chorus of "Princess Alicia!" that had Draco's eye twitching like a broken clock. 

Bang! 

Crack!

Her crimson tail lashed out, smashing into a nearby boulder with such force that it shattered into pieces, silencing everyone in an instant. Awe swiftly dissolved into raw terror as the once mesmerized faces are now frozen in fear. Even the Tiefling flinched at the sudden display and warily gazed at Draco. 

"Fools, the entire lot of you! It is painfully evident that intellect is not a trait bestowed upon you by your inept parents. Attend to my words with utmost attention, for I shall not deign to repeat myself. Umu. I am no mere Princess Knight or Alicia Arcturus, titles granted frivolously by a flawed deity - I am Draco, Beast of Sodom...well, I highly doubt any of you would comprehend the magnitude of such a title. Let it suffice to say that I am an emperor."

"An emperor? So young!?" For some reason, they all believed her in an instant except for Radomira who just huffed. 

"Are you from the kingdoms beyond Eostia?" 

"Nay, your limited intellect could never fathom the verity. Be aware that I once governed an empire of unparalleled magnitude. A realm that spanned the breadth of the world itself, holding dominion for countless ages." She turned her gaze towards Feoh and its towering palace in the center. "How tragic it is that mankind in this realm shall never attain the splendor of Rome. But instead succumb to decay like all else in this mortal world."

"Is it bigger than Feoh? Dad said Feoh is the most powerful kingdom in the world!" 

"... Talk nonsense again and I shall kill you." She growled at the brat who brazenly interrupted her inner musing. Fortunately, it worked, making the boy cower and nod his head furiously. "To call this place powerful is an insult in itself. It is nothing but a rotten apple soon to be grave for all its inhabitants. A final battlefield and soon-to-be grave for the Guardian who will even be betrayed by the very ones he tries to protect—gah!" 

Her speech was cut short as the leather ball struck the back of her head. The scene quickly fell into a deadly silence, and moments later, a suffocating aura descended upon them. Draco turned around mechanically, her eyes now locked onto Radomira with a cold, emotionless stare that promised a swift and brutal death. Radomira's heart pounded with fear, but anger soon surged to the surface as she recalled what Draco had just said.

"Don't talk about Archer like that," she hissed defiantly. "I don't care whether it's you or anyone else, but no one will ever kill him. Ever. And if someone does betray him, I'll make sure they pay for it for all eternity."

For a brief moment, Radomira pushed her fear aside, her heart pounding as she stood her ground before the blonde-haired Draco. Her yellow eyes burned with a fierce, unyielding intensity, locking onto Draco's piercing crimson gaze without a flicker of hesitation.

The silence between them lingered, thick with tension. Draco's eyes narrowed, and then she glanced down at the ball that had landed by her feet. She picked it up, to the confusion of everyone watching.

Suddenly, a red glow enveloped the sphere, thin but exuding so much magical energy that even the children nearby could sense it. They began backing away slowly, feeling the weight of the power in the air.

"Make them suffer for eternity?" Draco mocked, her voice dripping with disdain. "What a foolish declaration. Eventually, the Guardian you speak of will die by my hands. What will you do then? Will you persist and challenge me with the pitiful power you currently hold?"

Her hand blurred with motion, and Radomira's instincts flared, sending her senses into overdrive. Wings burst from her back as she flew up, barely evading the glowing ball that smashed into the ground where she had stood. The impact obliterated several trees in its path, the destruction echoing around them.

"You!" Radomira shouted, her voice trembling with both fury and fear. She had felt the cold touch of death in that instant, and her magic surged, desperate to protect her from further harm.

Draco maintained her composure, her tone measured yet tinged with a hint of menace. "Even in my current weakened state, which holds less power than a mere fraction of my true self, I could reduce you to dust. And yet you persist in defying me, repeatedly... Do not assume that my fascination with your scent will deter me from ending your life if you overstep your boundaries."

"I'm not scared of you." Regardless, Radomira did not back down once more. Even if every fiber of her being begged her to stop being around this being. But if she followed her instincts, then both Draco and Archer were bound to battle against one another again. 

They were determined to kill one another and she hated that. 

"Perhaps you lack the intelligence to feel fear. A swift reminder should serve as a valuable lesson in understanding whom you are dealing with. I must admit, it seems some of the guardian's traits have rubbed off on you - he does have a tendency for that." Another orb of pure magical energy coalesced around the leather ball as it effortlessly floated to Draco's grasp. "Do not presume for a moment that you can outwit me by deliberately depleting my remaining reserves and further weakening this vessel."

"Eh? What are you talking about?" 

"...too juvenile to concoct such a scheme," she sneered with an elegant flick of her wrist, sending the ball soaring through the air with effortless grace. This time, it darted at the slightest movement of her fingers, nearly striking Radomira in the process. "This Emperor grows weary, so entertain me for the time being."

"Wah!" Just like the last throw, it nearly struck the girl and only managed to miss her by a hair's breadth as it went sailing past her body. "Are you trying to kill me!?"

"Yes." She moved her fingers again, calling the item back swiftly and aiming straight for Radomira's head. It possessed enough strength to level a line of trees without breaking a sweat. Even a school would not be left unscathed by such an attack. "damn you!" Unable to say anything else, Radomira merely flew around like a bird as she evaded the item's pursuit. Seconds turned into minutes as she remained unharmed by this cat and mouse shenanigans . The entire time, Draco was watching the scene with a small smirk on her face. "Very interesting, who would have thought something like this would bring me such satisfaction. Perhaps I should keep doing this with you until you become proficient enough to challenge me."

Unable to hear what the other party was saying at all, all she could do was continue evading the ball as it pursued her relentlessly, as if it had a mind of its own. Sometimes grazing her skin and bruising part of her body or leaving some burned marks. "Hm?" While boredly guiding the ball around, Draco noticed the girl doing something. 

She extended her hands, focusing intently despite the constant pursuit, but her intent was clear — an attempt to cast a spell. "Your scented aphrodisiac won't do you much good, seeing as it has very little effect on me, aside from being pleasant." 

Rather than feel disdain or boredom over her seemingly pointless action, Draco found herself curious about what Radomira was attempting to accomplish. With a flick of her wrist, she aimed the ball straight at her stomach, applying just enough force to catch her off guard but not enough to abruptly end her entertainment. "A—Argh!" 

"Oh?" 

Rather than dodge, she caught the ball in her hands, her grip steady as a faint purple light flickered to life around her fingers. The energy was faint but determined, slowly spreading over the ball, wrapping around the red aura in an attempt to break it and wrest control. Draco's lips curled into a sly smile as she observed the bold effort. "Oh my, trying to seize control, are we? she mused, amusement coloring her tone. "Strange… I was certain the brat couldn't cast any spells. Copying something you've seen once won't work in your favor." The world differed greatly from the one she was familiar with, including their version of magic casting. 

From a quick glance, Draco could tell this wasn't magecraft—far from it. The energy felt barren, crude even, despite there being an ample amount of Mana. Tieflings were a race loved by magic, and she was curious what abilities they have. 

"Despite being in a precarious position you still hold the will to confront me. Hubris, perhaps? It is not the lust for power that drives you, but rather anger isn't it? For someone whose very essence calls forth lustful desire, this is rather interesting." Intrigued by Radomira's resolve, Draco slowly lowered her hands, allowing the crimson energy around the ball to dissolve, fading into nothingness. She watched as the purple light eagerly consumed what remained of the red aura. 

"Hah… Hah… Hah…" Radomira gasped, her chest heaving with every breath, sweat dripping down her temples as she stared at the purple glow surrounding the ball in her hand. It was just like what Draco had done earlier. She recalled Olga mentioning that her race could use magic far more efficiently than elves, their powers tied to their desires and imagination. "Just a bit more, just a bit more!" Radomira urged herself. Even though she hadn't yet mastered the basics of magic, she had taken a few lessons, with Olga serving as her teacher.

She had once asked Archer to teach her, but he had simply shaken his head and said, "Don't. I'd be the worst teacher. My methods won't work for you or even most people for that matter, and even if you have magic circuits or a mana core, learning my branch of Magecraft will only hold you back from reaching your true potential. I was always considered a third-rate magus, after all."

Radomira hadn't understood what "third-rate" meant nor magic circuits, but the former words sounded very demeaning. She couldn't wrap her head around how the ability to summon swords and fire explosive arrows could be considered third-rate. If Olga said he held the capabilities to easily kill the Princess Knights if he wanted to, then how powerful was a first-rate mage from his place!? 

She bombarded him with questions, but he simply said, "It's complicated," and went back to cooking. He acted as if it was a minor issue, like he didn't really give it much thought.

"I did it…" she whispered, staring at the ball of magic in her hand. Her gaze shifted back to Draco, and her expression hardened. Taking a deep breath, she shouted, "Archer won't die! Stop saying stupid things!" With that, she hurled the ball at Draco, the energy surrounding it amplifying its speed and power far beyond what Radomira could achieve through sheer strength alone.

Bang!

The attack was effortlessly caught by Draco's small hand. The force didn't even make her hair sway. She smirked. "Disappointing, but still, I am intrigued." With a flick of her wrist, Draco threw the ball back at Radomira, this time with less energy layered on top of it.

"Oof!"

Radomira caught the ball again while being pushed back a great distance into the sky, it felt as if her stomach had been struck by a boulder. Warmth began spreading through her body as more magic surged in reaction to the hit, the pain slowly morphing into an odd, soothing sensation… it felt almost pleasing and single a strange tingle across her body. She blinked in confusion. How was some of the pain turning into… pleasure? 

'N-No, focus!' She quickly shook her head from these weird thoughts.

"T-Take back what you said!" she yelled, her voice strained. Another layer of magic surrounded the ball as she threw it back at Draco. The blonde woman caught it with ease once again, smirking. The cycle repeated over and over, with the Tiefling pouring everything she had into each throw, only for Draco to return it with ease with a bored expression.

"What should we do?" One of the kids spoke up, his voice tinged with uncertainty. They all stood frozen, glancing nervously between each other. The memory of the blonde girl shattering a boulder with a single flick of her crimson tail was still vivid, and none of them were eager to approach her now.

"Guess we should just go back…" 

"Yeah, good idea…"

"Demi-humans are scary." 

Minutes bled into hours. The sun had long dipped below the horizon, leaving the sky bathed in twilight as Radomira's strength waned. Despite what they had said earlier, the kids huddled at the bottom of the hill, and watched the display of magic with wide eyes, their awe mixing with fear. Stray blasts occasionally struck the ground near them, but they didn't dare move, frozen in place.

As the hours had passed, Radomira looked utterly exhausted. Her body was sweaty, bruised and wounded, and her magic reserves were nearly depleted. Draco, on the other hand, appeared unchanged—unscathed, not even the slightest sign of fatigue, nor a stitch out of place on her dress. Her scales had deflected countless Noble Phantasms; a few magic spells from a determined but inexperienced girl posed no real threat.

"Had enough?" she asked, her tone casual, as she lounged comfortably, watching Radomira struggle to remain upright. The younger girl sat in the middle of the field, having collapsed moments before, her entire body screaming in protest.

Her opponent clenched her fists, but no matter how hard she tried, she could barely stand. Draco's calm, unbothered demeanor only fueled the fire in her heart, but her body had reached its limit. Now sitting on the ground with half of her clothes torn, she couldn't even muster the strength to get up. 

"You heal quickly, not exactly high-speed regeneration but it seems your species has its own advantages." Draco's gaze lingered on the fading bruises that had once marred the Tiefling's skin. Already, the marks were disappearing, leaving behind a flawless, almost ethereal softness. Even in her bruised state, there was an undeniable allure beginning to manifest—a magnetism that hadn't been there before. "Are you sure you're not part succubi? Had there been a regular human here, even without your aphrodisiac he would devour you on the spot right now." 

"Do-don't say weird things… weren't you trying to kill me just now?" 

"Initially, I was," she confessed boldly. "However, witnessing your futile efforts to resist and rise repeatedly ignited a desire within me to crush your spirit first." 

The girl's actions reminded her of the Guardian who out of everyone in this world knew the extent of her powers the most yet still tried to face her. Seeing the futility of his actions, he continued to throw every weapon at her. 

It was frustrating.

It was disgusting. 

She wanted to crush that hope rather than give him the satisfaction of a quick death. 

A similar emotion arose in her heart when facing the girl before him. 

"... Yo-you haven't answered my question before." 

"Hm?" 

"About why you're trying to kill Archer and what your goal is." 

"Are you perhaps thinking of persuading upon a different course of action?" Having seen through the girl's intentions, she revealed them casually without feeling angered or even disdain. "Then I'll tell you right now, and the guardian will give you a similar response. What you're trying to accomplish is absolutely impossible and not even the aid of a miracle will change that." 

"But why!?" shouted Radomira with frustration. "Archer is not trying to invade your empire or whatever you rule! You're the one who keeps trying to come after him when all he does is take care of me!" 

Unexpectedly, Draco did not insult her words and just turned her head to face the Kingdom of Feoh in the distance. Easily spotting the children from before running around the fields around the wooden houses built outside walls. Some of the farmers laughed at their antics while others scolded them. All in all, a stark contrast to the environment she'd seen from within the walls. 

Unlike here, it was a breeding ground for slothful individuals, intellectually lacking leaders, and rats who thought of themselves as kings just because they held more power than they deserved. "You who have seen the true nature of this place for a brief moment, can you honestly tell me this place is worth protecting?" 

"..." 

Radomira had no answer for that.

"It's a doomed world, barely able to stand its legs through sheer luck. It's a miracle in itself it hasn't crumbled yet, the fact that people are in awe of this place irritates me. No different to people praising a pile of excrements…It's revolting." She learned more about the other surrounding kingdoms, Ken, Ansur, and so on. All of them were flawed along with the people, every passing second she couldn't help but compare it to Rome. Even at its lowest point, it shined brighter than all of this yet these people dared to boast about their creation. "No one can fix this mess, it needs to be completely burned down and restarted back anew… the guardian knows of this." 

"I… I don't like this place as well." Radomira agreed with a small voice. "But… but still, destroying everything is too much." 

"This place will never give birth to an individual who can shake off temptation, and become a small yet sure beacon of enlightened brilliance. If it did, then they are long dead, and in their death buried humanity's hope for the future." She said that last part to herself with the other party not hearing it. 

"S-Still, this does not mean you need to burn everything down. Archer… right! Archer can correct the issues with Feoh and the other kingdoms. Get rid of all the bad guys and fix this place!" 

"What you cherish is not humanity, nor the kingdom — you only care about the guardian." At that, Draco genuinely chuckled, "Umu, the more you talk the more you cement your position as my jester. You have a talent for such things I must admit. Regardless, you'll see it with your eyes this… Archer right? Even if I wasn't here, he would have left this to rot long ago after killing Vault and the Kuroinu. Counter Guardian's duties are not to rule and lead people, it's to destroy whatever gets in the way of their duty." 

"... He won't." Radomira went in front of Draco. "He… he may act like he doesn't care about the others, but I can tell he'll try his best to help the people here and save them… just like he did with me…and Olga… and Chloe and many others. And I'll help him and make sure he never gets betrayed! I'll… we'll prove you wrong and make a kingdom so awesome that even you will be amazed!" 

"Humph, blind faith. It's an eyesore, but I look forward to seeing the kind of face you'll make when the inevitable happens—hm?" Both girls stopped, each one of them picking a faint sensation of the ground beneath them quaking ever so lightly. Both their eyes went to the edge of the walls where a plume of black smoke started to arise. 

"Huh, what's going on?" 

{Break}

(Earlier on)

'What the hell is wrong with the people in this world?' This thought plagued his mind, echoing louder with each passing day. Ever since he'd been thrust into this strange realm, it had been a constant refrain. 

For a world saturated with more Mana than modern-era Earth, one would expect its mages to be formidable and dangerous individuals. At one point he was even prepared to go against individuals rivalingServants. A few names came to mind, like the Witch Queen and as well as the other entities around her level. 

The presence of demons had led him to believe that he'd soon be crossing paths with dragons or other Phantasmic creatures, who could crush even his Servant form with ease. 

Despite these potential threats, he remained focused on strategizing and avoiding confrontation when possible. Even Vault's presence barely registered as a concern despite the threat he posed. That all changed when he encountered the Beast—or rather, a fragment of one.

That single encounter had been enough to shake him to his core, reigniting a fear he hadn't felt in ages. Given the choice, he'd gladly face Gilgamesh again or stand before Excalibur at full power rather than confront Draco once more. The mere thought of her, with her crimson eyes and overwhelming presence, sent a chill down his spine. It was a sensation he hadn't experienced since his darkest days as a Counter Guardian.

That was supposed to be the only moment he had truly felt fear. 

Yet as fate would have it, it had other plans. Now, it had shoved him into a situation so surreal, so twisted, that even his darkest nightmares wouldn't have dared to conjure it. 

"COME BACK HERE, ARCHER!!!!" 

But in this case, the nightmare has taken the form of a nearly naked blonde woman with bloodshot eyes rushing straight for him like a true demon. One that even made the Orcs look no different from mere stuffed puppets.

Only one thought persisted in his mind. 

Run.

Escape was the only option. Not just from this immediate danger, but from the kingdom itself. Every fiber of his being felt threatened by the aura of this woman. The thought of her ambushing him in the dead of night, eyes burning with unrestrained lust, sent chills down his spine. He had to put distance between them immediately, and quickly, before fate could trap him in her clutches again.

"—!?" 

His instincts flared, and just in time, he sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the rapier that shot past where he had been standing a moment earlier. The blade pierced the door behind him as effortlessly as if it were made of paper. A shiver ran down his spine as goosebumps rose across his skin. Alicia's speed accelerated beyond anything she had shown in the past and for a split second, she vanished entirely from his view. 

A wave of Deja vu washed over him, instincts screaming as he twisted his body to its limits, expecting the slash of a blade or the thrust of a spear aimed at his heart. But no weapon struck him. Instead, a pair of sweat-covered sticky hands latched onto his shoulders, slamming him against the wall with inhuman strength. 

Enough that it would have broken something had it not been for his armor. 

"W-Why!?" He couldn't help but shout, staring at her agitated blue eyes. She desperately tried to put on a smile but it just made her appear even more demonic. A sweet fragrance wafted from her hair as it momentarily touched his face as she moved with unsettling speed. Despite the height difference, she loomed over him, radiating an aura of menace that far outweighed her stature.. 

"Y-You're m-misunderstanding the situation! I-I wasn't doing a-anything weird, I SWEAR!" 

What was the point of yelling while hovering over him bare naked with her chest practically rubbing on his armor? The slightest touch made her arm tremble and her hands slowly slid from his shoulders to his collarbone. 

"Right, I believe you, so you can let me go now." He forced the words out with careful precision, feeling his composure creep back even as his pulse raced.His hands stayed motionless at his sides, every instinct screaming at him to approach this as delicately as possible. One wrong move, one poorly chosen word, and she could explode like a powder keg. 

"NO, YOU DON'T!" She didn't believe him for a second. "I wasn't thinking about you! I was thinking about… uhh… Asher! Y-Yes, Asher! NOT ARCHER!" 

Her spit was getting on his face from all of the shouting.

Rather than concocting a story to explain that she wasn't pleasing herself, Alicia zeroed in on the accidental slip of her own words, as if that alone held the key to the entire debacle. Her priorities were baffling and he reckoned even she wasn't aware of it!

Did she also forget about her reputation when it came to men? 

Didn't matter, he wasn't planning on reminding her of that part.

"Yes, I understand, it's perfectly normal." The urge to hold back his sarcastic tone proved to be challenging. "Besides, I truly didn't hear nor saw anything. Since no one was answering the door, I figured you were elsewhere and were just about to leave." 

"Liar!" She shouted again, her fingers making their way underneath his collar till he managed to intercept her fingers, pressing them back gently but firmly before they could wreak any more havoc on his already disheveled collar. "You heard something! Tell me what you heard now!" 

'This girl was persistent!' 

Can't she see that pushing this even further would embarrass herself to no end!?

"I believe it's best if you wear some clothes first." 

These past few seconds her breathing had become more intense, the distance between them closing as her arms now tried to block any path for him to escape. Not that he couldn't, in terms of strength she wasn't someone he couldn't overcome unless the girl was capable of achieving a temporary burst of increased strength like Maia. Her breasts were pressing firmly against him to the point that he could even feel her erratic heartbeat. 

"Please stop squirming so much, Alicia. I can feel your legs moving somewhere they shouldn't." 

Her knees were slowly reaching upwards, his words causing Alicia to freeze in disbelief. She wasn't even aware of her actions… 

'Don't tell me it's the same aphrodisiac from before!?' It sure did look like it at first, but unlike before her rationality wasn't gone per se, there was still clarity and she wasn't trying to shove her tongue down his throat. 

"A-Archer…"

"Alicia." 

Best to tread carefully, so he kept a calm tone when calling her name. 

"You, you must loath me." Her voice broke the silence unexpectedly.. "After all, I've challenged you at every turn, accused you of wrongdoing more times than I can count, and stood against your presence in my kingdom whenever I had the chance. Surely, you must hate every fiber of my being. Isn't that right?" 

What was the purpose of this question exactly? 

Archer weighed his options carefully. Agreeing would only escalate the situation, potentially pushing Alicia over the edge. Denying it outright might come across as insincere. He needed to defuse this without lying or inflaming her further.

"I don't hate you," he answered calmly, while ignoring the soft sensation pressing against him. 

"Wha-What?" 

She was taken aback by his answer. In a strange way, he was able to understand why she reacted as such. Anyone else in his shoes would likely view her with the same disdain reserved for the Kuroinu, considering everything she had done to oppose him thus far. 

He regarded her with the same indifference he held for Olga, unmoved by how either of them saw or treated him. 

"It's the truth, I don't actually hate anyone here, for that matter. Perhaps a few of you Princess Knights are... irksome, if I'm being generous. But genuine hatred? Not once. It takes a lot to have me hate someone honestly. You'd have to be one of the most despicable or migraine-inducing beings alive to earn that honor." 

Today, he had one single objective: To calm this woman down, guide her towards reason and and, with any luck, secure her cooperation. 

So for just this once, he had to hold back from taunting or purposefully rousing her anger in any way, shape, or form.

.

.

.

This man was confusing… someone who she couldn't wrap her head around no matter how hard she tried to.

"...Really?" She asked silently, clearly in disbelief. 

How could he not hate her? It made little sense. 

'That's right, he must be lying to me.' This was the only logical explanation she could come up with. Having been on the receiving end of so many people who hated her due to her actions, she just could not understand why Archer would say something like that or lie to her for that matter. 

She had to uncover the truth.

"I tried to kill you." 

Yes, trying to detain him and have him hanged when they first met. For daring to lay his hands on Prim, then a second time when he reached the outskirts of the kingdom. 

"So did pretty much everyone I met in my life at one point. I wouldn't really hate you for something like that, again, I mostly felt annoyed and frustrated with how stubborn you were." 

Don't… don't say that. It made her body react strangely. 

"I insulted you!" 

"Am I a child who can't take a few insults thrown at me? And it wouldn't be insults given most of them were the truth, I did murder the Kuroinu and many more people. So in a way, you were right."

"I treated you like a vile human!" 

He shrugged again, "I'm not a saint mind you." 

A-Ah~! Her heartbeat grew so erratic that it started to hurt, she wanted to calm down but was unable to do so!

"I accused you of using Dark Magic!" 

"Humph, as if anyone cared. Even Maia said only people from the church care about such details, and so far no priest has come knocking on my door. Also, my Magecraft is indeed rather strange in this world, even Brynn was afraid of it when we first met."

No! Why did he keep answering like that!?

Where was the taunting!? 

Hn~! A shiver spread across her body once more. 

'N-No! I must remember, he's a man, he's a man, he's a man… he's just like the rest, trying to get me to lower my guard and force himself on me! Shove his disgusting member into me again and again, violate every part of my body till my mind succumbs to the pleasure and becomes his. Hold my face and forcefully kiss me and push me on my knees to then grab my head and—what the hell am I thinking!?' She slapped herself, the sudden action making Archer even more wary. 

Alicia had to return back to the topic! 

"I-I… I-I-I forced myself on you…" 

"Tried to, and you were obviously influenced by a drug so I can't hold it against you." He said with a sigh, "Seeing you now, it's clear you must have been suffering from its remnant effects this entire time. I'm sorry I didn't think about this possibility before, I'll make sure the person behind this is dealt with." 

She clenched her fists hard enough to draw blood. "I… I accused you of raping Prim with the aid of the Dark Queen!" 

"That was rather extreme, but given the state of mind you were in and how strangely Prim behaved according to what I heard from Brynn, I can see how you came to such a conclusion. You were a sister worried about your siblings I suppose."

"..."

No! 

No! No! No! No! 

Shut up! 

Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!

He should have just said that he hated her!

Why didn't he try to hit her and condemn her for everything she did!? Alicia was willing to be hit without resisting… to be insulted and demeaned harshly… 

Just one excuse.

She just needed a single reason to convince herself to keep on hating the man. To keep the image she had of him in her head alive and fuel her fire to keep the others safe from a savage! 

To keep the source of her hatred lit stop herself from getting consumed by pure greed and desire. It is no different from a small candlelight struggling to continue burning in the middle of a storm. 

Yet…

Yet he kept saying those things so honestly that it was getting harder and harder to keep on hating him for anything. Even forcing her mind to remember that he was the one who killed Vault and their allies — her body just wouldn't listen. 

"Please… hate me…" She begged, her head pressing against his chest as his scent drowned her mind. 

"Listen, I know we started out roughly and my actions didn't help. I acknowledge the fact that my approach wasn't the best but with the looming threat upon us, as well as weeding out the snakes in your ranks trying to drug you all… it's better if we cooperate. Let's start over, from the beginning and put everything behind us." He said confidently, reassuring her that he no longer wanted this feud to persist any longer than necessary. "Are you willing?" 

At that moment, the candle flame was consumed by the storm.

The shaking within her limbs stopped.

"Archer… can I ask you something?" 

The man visibly relaxed when he saw her calm down as well, letting out a small sigh of relief. "Sure, I'll do my best to answer your question. Also, I still need some room here."

She ignored that last part. 

"I need some proof that you will truly be my ally and not betray me." 

He squinted his eyes but said nothing, letting her continue after nodding.

"Prove to me, just like you proved to Maia that you won't be my enemy any longer and I'll help you." 

"—!" 

He didn't even have time to reply before she closed the distance between them in an instant. Her warm lips pressed against his while the painful sensations in her body started to calm down as soon as she did so. 

It was a clumsy, desperate attempt at a kiss, their lips mashed together awkwardly as Alicia's instincts took control. She had no idea what she was doing, her inexperience glaringly obvious, but the craving for more contact overrode any sense of embarrassment or hesitation. Rational thought had long since fled, leaving only a burning need that demanded to be sated.

Archer froze, his entire body going rigid as Alicia kissed him. Her lips were soft and warm, but the desperation behind the kiss was palpable. He could feel her trembling, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she tried to pull him closer.

For a moment, he was too stunned to react. This was the last thing he'd expected from the proud, stubborn Princess Knight who had been his most vocal opponent. But as her tongue swiped across his lower lip, seeking entrance, reality came crashing back in.

He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back, breaking the kiss. "Alicia, stop! What are you doing?"

She blinked up at him, her blue eyes hazy with lust. "Proving... that you won't betray me," she panted, leaning in to try and capture his lips again.

"Alicia… onee-sama?" 

The sound of a platter dropping onto the ground with cups shattered reached her ears.

"—!?" 

Clarity returned to the blonde Princess Knight in an instant, the whiplash from hearing the voice was strong enough to forcefully end every single moment of lust influencing her body. 

"Prim!" She jumped away from the stunned man, quickly covering her intimate parts as she realized her clothes and armor were missing! 

"You… you kissed…him?" The blonde-haired girl stood by the door leading to the kitchen, a platter near her feet which had multiple shattered cups and spilled tea. The eyes in particular looking at Alicia and Archer lacking any and all signs of life. 

"Th-This isn't what it looks l—huh?" 

The ground started to shake, snapping everyone's attention to their surroundings rather than what happened between them just now. 

Crack! 

A massive fissure tore through the ground, the earthquake growing in magnitude until the very earth beneath them began to split apart in mere seconds. The fracture surged beyond the floor of the living room, ripping its way outside and carving a deep ravine seemingly out of nowhere. 

"Prim!" Alicia shouted when she saw Prim lose her balance, the ground beneath her feet crumbling apart as she was about to fall. 

"Look out, you fool!" 

Archer's hand grabbed onto her arm and stopped Alicia from going any further. With a burst of strength, the latter found herself forcefully thrown backward with her back impacting the wall of her house. A large piece of the ceiling dropped where both were standing, with Archer already having rushed towards Prim.

"No!" But he wouldn't make it, Prim's body had already fallen almost all the way downwards with there being no way he could grab her in time. 

To Alicia's disbelief, Archer leapt into the chasm without hesitation, his body vanishing into the darkness below. Before she could even process what had happened, chunks of the ceiling came crashing down, sealing off the ravine and cutting off any chance of following after them. She could only stare in stunned silence at the rubble blocking her path, her mind reeling from the sudden turn of events.

"Archer! Prim!" She shouted with horror, unable to understand what was happening. 

{Break}

(Castle Discordia ruins)

A long while passed since the destruction of both the Kuroinu and the once proud castle of Discordia. 

The once intimidating castle that had soared into the clouds now lay in ruins, reduced to a mere heap of rubble, with not a trace of vegetation daring to grow nearby.. A giant crater in the middle emanated an unsettling aura, causing both animals and demons alike to steer clear of the cursed ground. 

Yet at this moment, a hooded figure emerged, striding purposefully along the desolation. In their hands, a large map unfolded, revealing the entirety of Eostia, with a marked path winding through many kingdoms including Eldonia and even Nidavelir, all leading towards the Dark Lands. Several locations were marked with an x, suggesting places this enigmatic figure had traversed before leaving in search of something—or someone—elusive and beyond their grasp. 

Approaching the desolation, this person staggered backward, overwhelmed by the suffocating aura that enveloped the area. It was eerie, malevolent to the core, and it cast a shroud of despair over her, a sensation far more intense than what the average demon nearby could perceive. 

A sudden gust of wind tugged at the figure's hood, yanking it back to reveal a cascade of silvery-white hair that framed the unmistakable features of a Dark Elf woman. Her piercing yellow eyes and exquisite heart-shaped face, eerily reminiscent of the Dark Queen's, scanned the desolate landscape. Despite the grim surroundings, her face remained a picture of ethereal beauty, untouched by the oppressive gloom of the ruins.

Her hands shook, as tears started to stream down her face. 

A tired yet enchanting voice came out of her lips. 

"Please… please still be alive, Olga." 

------

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.