Beta read by Shigiya, GameCrusher55 and Fluffy Slayer.
Edit 1: Corrected a few errors concerning Kuroinu lore I missed before (Yeah, I know, it surprisingly has a lot going on) both in this chapter and previous ones.
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-Feoh-
It was a strange period for Prim, or more accurately a frustrating one.
She had endured her sister's irrational hate for Archer for quite some time. From the day their paths first crossed to the recent tragedy of Claudia's father-in-law — Alicia's resentment had grown sharper and harder to bear with each passing day. Prim had tried to reason with her, insisting that Archer hadn't harmed her in any way, nor would he be the kind of person to voluntarily weaken their group from the inside by killing Vault.
"But she's trying not to show it, at least I can see that," she whispered to herself.
Ever since Prim, in a moment of desperation, had vowed to sever all familial ties if Alicia continued her stubborn behavior, her cousin had managed to stay calm for the most part. Yet the pink-haired Princess Knight could tell that the woman was no different from a volcano, holding in a seething fury that could erupt at any moment.
"Is there any news from the Pantielle household?"
Now seated at her desk, Prim sifted through a stack of paperwork —some her own, some belonging to Alicia, — as she questioned one of her assistants, who shook her head.
"Unfortunately no. The Pantielle household has been silent for days, and anyone we sent to check up on them have returned after being denied entry."
"..."
This was rather unusual; the father and son duo had never disregarded her people or her orders so blatantly. Arrogant, yes, but not foolish enough to offend her without cause. Especially given her crucial role in facilitating their business dealings with the pig brothers.
"I see, never mind then, you can leave for the day. Tell the others that I will be busy and do not disturb me."
"Understood, my lady. See you tomorrow then."
"Thank you for your assistance, Margaret."
Now alone in her office, Prim's smile vanished, her carefully guarded composure slipping just enough to reveal a crack in her emotions. She bit down on the tip of her finger, hard enough to draw blood, though the sting was drowned out by the boiling anger within her.
"Michelle! That useless fool! I handed him every piece of information he wanted about Maia, and yet she is still safe and sound, glued to Archer all day long." She had done everything in her power to pave the way for that love-struck tub of lard, arranging a meeting between them, feeding him intel on the Queen of Mercenaries' last known whereabouts, and ensuring the knights would be nowhere nearby if they crossed paths. But somehow, it was all for nothing.
All of it had been in the hopes of removing her from the picture.
Yet none of her attempts had borne fruit. She was left feeling helpless, forced to watch as the redhead grew bolder by the day. Rumor had it that Maia now spent most of her days lounging in his room, as if she belonged there!
"Just what is she doing with him in there… I can't imagine." In public, they kissed openly and Maia flirted with him shamelessly. It frustrated Prim to no end — how easily the redhead could behave that way while she struggled just to get a glimpse of him.
"Maybe I can ask someone else for help. But who…?"
Even Beardsley has been unreachable since the last incident; the bumbling old man had disappeared and remained untraceable ever since. Prim had her suspicions and, by now, had all but concluded that he was the one responsible for Alicia's exposure to the aphrodisiac.
But rather than reveal this to her sister or anyone else, Prim was actually more curious than anything else about what he used to make the typically hateful and deadly Alicia behave in such a way with Archer. If she could get her hands on that mysterious concoction, then she could finally have both of them in her grasp.
Just imagining both of them sharing the same bed made her body shudder with pure ecstasy.
"I need to get my hands on it! Alicia Onee-sama and Archer are mine!"
As if Maia wasn't enough trouble, now it feels like every woman in sight was falling under Archer's spell. There was Claudia, that meddlesome ex-knight; Celestine, the goddess herself. And now even Olga herself, the wretched Queen of the Dark lands, to think she had fallen to the whims of a human. If only she had died in that godforsaken castle, then things would be smooth sailing!
It was as if he had become catnip for the entire female population, and Prim was seething over the attention he was attracting. "At this rate," she muttered bitterly, "I'll have to beat them off with a stick just to get near him."
"Why are they all so interested in him? He only saved them out of duty and has shown no desire to even be acquainted with them!"
Unlike her, who'd experienced his genuine care firsthand. He'd saved her, stayed by her side through the night, when he could've easily walked away. That wasn't duty - that was something more. Something real. Something they couldn't possibly understand.
"If Michelle is too much of a coward to take action then I will bri—
Knock
Knock
A knock sounded at the door, and, still frowning, the pink-haired princess wondered if her assistant had returned despite her instructions. "Who is it? I told you I don't want to be disturbed!"
Unfortunately, the knocking continued, despite her warning. Her frustration nearly reached its boiling point until the person behind the door finally spoke.
"Um, Lady Prim, I beg your forgiveness but there is a guest waiting at the front door. He specifically asked if he could meet with both you and Alicia. The guards tried to stop him, but they couldn't do much—he insisted you would know him."
It wasn't the voice of her assistance, but rather the head maid.
Someone came over to meet her and Alicia?
Strange.
No matter how hard she thought about it, no name came to mind, nor was she aware of any scheduled rendezvous with them. Her mood was thoroughly ruined now; whatever plans she'd had planned were disrupted, and with a sigh, she told the servants to let the person in.
"Maybe it's the Pantielle patriarch, here to apologize. It wouldn't be the first time he has tried to cover for his son's mistakes—nor the last. But even that seemed unlikely… the guards would have recognized him." Adjusting her dress to look more presentable, she moved over towards the stairs.
"—!"
But she froze mid-step when her eyes met those of the white-haired, silver-eyed man standing confidently at the entrance. A whirlwind of chaotic emotions overtook her as she struggled to believe he was actually standing there, in her house. "Prim, it's been a while. How have you been?"
"A-Archer?" She stammered, barely able to believe her eyes. She prayed silently to every god she knew that this wasn't just a dream.
"Surprised to see me here that much?" He chuckled, watching her nod in dazed disbelief.
"Why… might you be here?"
"Well, I asked the servants to round up both you and Alicia, so clearly, I've got something to discuss," Archer replied, his tone casual yet tinged with a hint of weariness. "Don't tell me you've started sharing your sister's... less than favorable views of me." He paused, a rueful smile playing at his lips. "Though I suppose I can't blame her for calling me a murderer. That's not entirely inaccurate."
His words, laced with self-deprecation, struck a painful chord in Prim's heart. She stood there, torn between the urge to comfort him and the lingering shock of his unexpected arrival.
The last thing Prim wanted was for him to misunderstand her feelings for him.
"Well, if that is the case, then never mind. I just wanted to send a message to Alicia, so you can just hand over the let—"
"No, it's fine!" she blurted out, finally regaining control of her emotions as she rushed to dissuade him. "It's not that I have such thoughts and opinions about you, Archer. I was just surprised that you came to visit me. You've never done that before, especially with Alicia also living here."
It felt like a rare, precious opportunity, one she couldn't ignore or let slip through her fingers."
"Please, come in—ah!" In her haste, Prim took little care as she started down the stairs.
Her foot missed a step, and in an instant, she started to fall.
The servants gasped, their hands darting out instinctively but unable to catch her sly as Prim tumbled down the stairs. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the impact, silently cursing her own carelessness. But instead of the hard floor, she felt herself held securely by strong arms. Her eyes flew open, and there was Archer's face, inches from hers, his expression a blend of concern and faint exasperation.
"You know, Prim," he murmured, his tone gentle but teasing. "Most people outgrow the falling-down-stairs phase. First a waterfall, now this. Should I start carrying around a safety net for you?"
Prim's cheeks flushed, caught between embarrassment and the thrill of being in his arms. "I-I was just surprised to see you," she stammered, trying to regain her composure.
Archer set her gently on her feet but kept a steadying hand on her arm. "Well, try to contain your excitement. I'd rather not have to explain to Alicia why her sister ended up with a concussion on my watch."
This scene would have felt more romantic had Archer not grabbed the back of her dress like a cat.
But it still made her heart flutter.
Whatever he said afterward barely registered. Her intention was locked entirely on him, memories from their first meeting flickering through her mind like vivid ghosts. For a brief moment, she felt like they were back by the creek, her leg in a makeshift cast, propped up under an old tree while he tended a campfire nearby, the glow of the flames casting shadows on his face as he tried to bring her some warmth.
That memory, one that left her feeling safe and lusting for more, was now tainted by a pang of envy. The realization that Maia and a random knight sharing those quiet moments with him daily made her resentment toward the other Princess Knights flare. Then helplessness settled in. 'I've been too quiet and passive lately. It's time I learned to take action, just like the others.'
"Hey, are you listening? Don't tell me you actually did hit your head."
Archer snapped his fingers in front of her a couple of times and grew visibly concerned when she did not answer him. But Prim was quickly brought back to her senses, and as much as she wanted to stay like this forever, she had to make sure to take full advantage of his arrival. "I-I'm fine! I'm fine! Thank you for saving me again. I'm sorry for always ending up in such situations."
"It's fine. Let's hope Alicia doesn't walk in on us like this. She'll go for my head and have half the kingdom's soldiers chasing me down."
Prim showed a difficult expression when he brought up her sister and their ongoing feud. "You misunderstand, Archer. Alicia Onee-sama was just very worried about me these past few days, including the state of the kingdom, which is why she treated you so badly. She actually has a good heart, and if you give her a chance, I'm sure she'll show you who she truly is."
The Princess Knight meant every word. Recently Alicia had been oddly quiet about Archer, barely mentioning him at all and spending more time cloistered in her office. Prim had no idea what was brewing in her sister's mind, but if it meant fewer rants and less rage over ARcher's existence, she was willing to count it as a blessing.
"Please, have a seat! It's been so long since I had any guests, and I can't even remember when was the last time we spoke," she said excitedly. As her body slowly dropped down, she suddenly seized Archer's arm with a surprisingly strong grip, practically dragging him along toward the living room.
The servants, who had been hovering nearby with concern after her earlier tumble, quickly realized their worries were unwarranted as Prim brushed them off with a wave of her hand.
"All of you are dismissed for the day; return to your homes and take a well-deserved break," She left no room for argument, her tone making it clear that she wanted privacy.
"While I am happy to see you welcoming my presence, unlike some people, I did come here on important business. And unfortunately, it's something that can't be discussed without your cousin's presence."
Instead of agreeing, Prim turned to face him, revealing a pair of giant pitiful eyes brimming with sadness — reminding him of a forlorn puppy. "Can you truly not spare even five minutes to catch up with me? There is so much I want to tell you, and I'm still grateful for what you did before. As my savior, I owe you at least this much. Besides, you're one of the few people I've been able to speak with lately."
The man hesitated, clearly weighing his options, and Prim's mind raced, desperate for a solution. 'What can I do to make him stay? I can call the knights, have him restrained, and lock him up in the basement.'
As quickly as the idea surfaced, she shook it away. Such a method would only earn Archer's hatred, something she couldn't afford. Unlike others, he seemed to hold a good impression of her and treated her with kindness. A rarity she didn't want to squander..
"Fine," Archer surprisingly ended up agreeing. All of the dark thoughts taking place within Prim's mind evaporated in an instant as she sighed in relief. "But I can't spare a lot of time with you, only a couple of minutes until Alicia comes over."
"Of course, I am more than happy with just a few minutes of your time."
And so, the girl guided him from the entrance through the halls, offering him a casual tour of the estate before leading him to the living room. The entire time, she filled the air with her cheerful chatter while Archer remained silent. It was a novel experience for her, a mix of joy and anticipation from having him see her private abode. "If you don't mind me asking, is it just you and Alicia here along with the servants?"
"My parents, as well as Alicia's, died many years ago. Both of our fathers fell during the war against Olga, and our mothers died from illnesses and unfortunate accidents."
"I see, I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's nothing heartbreaking; many years have passed, and we had time to cope with our loss. In the meantime, we were raised and nurtured by the Goddess and Beardsley."
"Beardsley, huh? I've been hearing that name float around. Who is he exactly?" the man asked curiously. Prim, seeing nothing wrong with his curiosity, just continued to answer without missing a beat.
"It's hard to explain, but Beardsley was like a close friend to Alicia's father and his assistant. When the former passed away, Alicia, of course, replaced him in becoming the one overseeing his duties. Beardsley stayed by her side to help her manage everything when we were just kids. He taught her everything she knows about managing a kingdom."
Archer bit back a sardonic laugh. Beardsley's tutelage clearly hadn't done Alicia any favors. The girl could barely manage her own wardrobe, let alone a kingdom. He'd seen more political savvy in tavern brawls than in Alicia's so-called leadership. Still, he kept his face neutral, not wanting to offend Prim with his true thoughts on her cousin's incompetence.
"I see. He sounds like someone who is very close and someone Alicia gets along with well. A bit surprising, given what I heard about her supposed distaste for men."
At that, Prim flinched ever so slightly, uncertain if Archer noticed her reaction. After all, she was fully aware of why Alicia had turned out that way. What should have been a straightforward task in the past had ended in catastrophic failure. A failure that had planted the seeds of her sister's extreme disdain for men. Back then, Prim hadn't given the matter much thought. Alicia had never suspected her involvement, and Beardsley, blissfully ignorant, had remained none the wiser about her role in the plan. But who would have thought this issue would come back and serve as an obstacle with Archer?
"It's an old story. My sister had an incident in the past; I believe I shared some of the details with you when we first met. After she managed to escape, both Beardsley and I were the only ones she felt she could trust. Anyone else, especially strangers who tried to approach her were immediately pushed away. It took a while for her to recover, but unfortunately, when she did, her attitude toward those of the opposite gender… well, let's just say it became a bit harsh."
"'Bit harsh' is an understatement. You never had any suspicions as to who was behind this attempt?"
At that, Prim let out a deliberate sigh, shaking her head as though the weight of the memory burdened her deeply. "There are so many names and people with such agendas. The recently deceased Levantine was among those present that day, and despite all my efforts, I couldn't find any solid leads. Fortunately, this never happened again."
"Until recently," Archer said, his tone somber and measured. "You are a Princess Knight; I can't believe for a second that the incident Alicia suffered recently escaped your attention. Given that the only other person who stood by her side all this time is the one person untouched by such a drug. Aren't you suspicious of this Beardsley?"
Prim stopped in her tracks and turned to face Archer, her heart beginning to race as nervousness crept in. He suppressed the unease, crafting an expression of controlled curiosity. "You can't be suggesting that he is the one behind Alicia's case… Beardsley?"
"And what if I was?" Archer's response was calm yet firm, his gaze unwavering as he took a step closer, and looking directly into her eyes as if challenging the girl to say otherwise. But rather than feeling threatened or intimidated, that action only made her mind swell up with countless emotions.
"Not good, at this rate…" Prim thought, panic rising within her. This was the opportunity she had longed for, the chance she'd been waiting for, and now it was in danger of slipping away. For it to present itself in front of her like this was a dream come true, yet she feared that one wrong step would ruin it. "You don't have to give me an answer; I'll just find out the truth and show it to you regardless," With a shrug, he took a step back, then turned, walking away from her .
"If you don't mind me asking, where is Alicia right now? Best I find her first, or else I might spend an hour waiting for her."
Prim quickly snapped out of her thoughts, trying to focus on the task at hand. "She's in her office, down that hallway and past the golden door," she replied, her voice betraying none of the nervousness swirling inside her. "I'll prepare some tea for both of you," she hastily added, eager to give them space and clear her own head.
"This is not good; I need to get a hold of myself." She slapped her cheeks lightly a couple of times, hoping to get rid of any unnecessary thoughts. Stepping inside the kitchen, she instructed the servants to prepare a set of tea, which was quickly arranged and presented before her. Everything was just as it should be—perfect, controlled, her way. Rather than sending the servant, she brought it to the living room herself, where Archer and Alicia would be waiting for them. However, Prim turned on her heel and walked into her room. Since she was going to serve the two of them, this was an opportunity she couldn't miss.
"Where is it… where is it… I left it here if I recall correctly." she muttered while scavenging through her belongings.
Until she found a small wooden box hidden away in the corner of a cupboard.
"There it is!"
With trembling hands, Prim opened the small wooden box. Inside lay a packet of fine, pale powder. She hesitated for a moment, then steeled herself. Carefully, she tipped a small amount into Alicia's teacup, watching it dissolve.
"Forgive me, sister," she whispered, guilt and determination warring in her voice. "I know you two should reconcile, but... I need this chance with Archer. Just this once."
She stirred the tea, erasing any trace of her deed. "A few hours of sleep won't hurt you," Prim reasoned, more to herself than anyone else. "And I'll finally have my moment."
It wasn't a dangerous drug, but rather a small substance a former Viscount once tried to use on her but failed in the end. "This should do it; she'll be sleeping for a couple of hours, which should be enough." With this matter handled, she gathered her nerves and, with determination, went towards the living room, being extra careful not to drop the tray before.
Crash!
The sharp sound of something shattering echoed through the manor, as if a bull had blasted through, jolting her senses like a lightning strike. Although her grip on the tray faltered, Prim ignored it and made haste.
"Don't tell me… she broke her promise and pounced on Archer? How could she! She promised!" For the first time, she felt resentment for her sister ruining her chances. Hastening her steps, she realized the noise had stopped. Bracing herself for the worst, she hurried into the living room and faced a scene she never imagined even in her dreams.
Archer and Alicia were on the ground, the latter completely naked and forcing her lips upon his without any reservation. She moaned as her body shook from waves of ecstasy, while grinding herself against him.
"...Alicia… Onee-sama?"
Both of them were acting in ways she couldn't have predicted, their tangled presence stirring a feeling she had never experienced before. Her fingers went numb, and the tray she was holding slipped from her grasp. The porcelain tea cups and glasses shattered upon impact, shards scattering across the floor, tea splashing wildly, staining her clothes and pooling around her feet. The sound snapped the room into a frozen silence. "P-Prim!" she stuttered, trying to explain the situation, "This… this isn't what you think!"
Alicia had flinched at the sound and quickly turned towards her. She tried explaining but was interrupted mid-sentence by the ground shaking beneath them.
"Eh!?"
The tremors intensified until the entire manor swayed violently as if caught in the grip of a furious storm, the walls groaned under the strain, and jagged cracks splintered across the ceiling, bits of plaster crumbling down like pale, lifeless snow. Before she could react, a thunderous roar tore through the air, and a gaping ravine split the ground beneath her. Her eyes widened in terror as the floor vanished beneath her feet, causing her to tip forward and fall through.
"Prim!" The last thing Prim saw was Alicia's anguished expression, her sister's eyes wide with desperation, poised to leap after her. But the moment shattered like glass as a massive chunk of the ceiling splintered away, crushing her if she were to continue.
"Stay away!"
She tried to scream, but Archer was already moving. A blur of silver and white streaked through the chaos. With a fierce determination, he shoved Alicia aside, sending her skidding out of harm's way. Without missing a beat, he dove into the chasm after Prim, his fingers wrapping around her arm just as she slipped further into the abyss. Then, all at once, the world went silent. The darkness consumed everything.
{Break}
(Levantine manor)
"Here, have some food, dear,". An unknown amount of time had passed since Archer's visit to the Levantine's estate. Claudia had taken a break from her duties and was now sitting next to her paralyzed husband, feeding him food bit by bit. "Do you like it? I made it myself. It's been a while since I last cooked, so I'm still getting used to it again."
Klaus could do nothing but patiently eat the food made by his wife — or rather just try his best to swallow without choking. His mood was too down to care or even notice the flavor.
Klaus's hearing had sharpened of late, picking up every whispered word from the servants who no longer bothered to lower their voices around him. Their careless chatter stung more than his paralysis - tales of his wife seen with that white-haired man in the castle gardens, her head resting on his shoulder. The rumors had spread like wildfire, painting the stranger as Claudia's secret lover. Worse still were the pitying glances thrown his way, the unspoken judgment in their eyes, as if he were already a relic of the past. Each murmur, each look, twisted the knife deeper into his helpless form.
They fully believed he would never recover.
Even more suspicious was Claudia's behavior. Back when he was still perfectly healthy, she shared with him everything related to her duties as a Princess Knight, whether it be political or personal issues that plagued her mind.
"There is a new bakery that opened near our house, the person over there agreed to prepare your favorite desserts tomorrow."
"This room is getting a bit dusty, those maids aren't doing their jobs properly.
"You look pale, I'll have to move the bed closer to the window."
"Ah, don't mind my state. I just had to handle some important matters all night. I didn't get enough time to sleep."
"Father-in-law is… busy with some matters with the local bishop, he didn't have time to visit because of that."
These were the topics brought up by Claudia every time she came over. Random useless information mentioned to only serve as a distraction, that much he could tell. Speaking about the weather, her dogs, random stories that had nothing to do with them.
All while hiding the real truth from him.
He saw it clearly — every time she averted her eyes from his gaze, when hesitation flickered across her face. The moment she'd spoken about Grave,the discomfort in her voice had been unmistakable, though she'd tried to hide it. He hadn't missed it. The thought of what that monster was doing to his wife in secret gnawed at him, like a relentless, festering poison. Claudia's facade of normalcy, her gentle words and careful gestures, now felt like a cruel mockery.
Claudia's saccharine words of affection rang hollow to Klaus, echoes of flimsy excuses to mask her infidelity. But her body betrayed her true actions - the flushed cheeks and sweat-drenched skin she poorly explained away as mere fatigue from training her knights was a dead giveaway. As if he didn't know her schedule like the back of his hand. Claudia would never push herself so hard physically, especially not while visiting another kingdom. No, these were the unmistakable signs of a woman sneaking around with another man, thinking her crippled husband was too blind and feeble to notice her indiscretions. Klaus seethed silently, his paralyzed body a prison from which he could only observe his wife's betrayal.
'Has she already already slept with Grave and others!?'
The delusions plaguing his mind further broke his spirit.
He… he just wanted to be left alone.
"Is it too spicy? I made sure to use less chili peppers than usual." Claudia said while wiping the corner of his mouth with a tissue, her action both loving and mortifying to the man who kept imagining her under his father's arms. "I went ahead and added some herbs that are said to improve one's health. It might… no, it will hasten your recovery."
Her scent reached his nose as she kissed his forehead, her strands of hair tickling his face with a smile that usually made his heart ease up from all the stress. Yet that very image now became tainted and he couldn't bear to experience it, his fingers twitching, trying to move his body to get away but unable to do so.
"Do you remember Archer, dear? That man who came over recently with that child?"
Yes, Klaus remembered that man's face perfectly. He had never seen him before, but his impression of him plummeted the moment the possibility of his connection to Grave arose. The timing was also too convenient— Inserting himself into Claudia's life just when he had been confined to his bed.
"He gave me a list of herbs and exercises I can use to help you recover faster. That soup I fed you was made per his instructions, it was tasty wasn't it?"
What!?
Klaus's heart sank. A cold realization swept through him - everything Grave and those so-called healers had fed him wasn't medicine. It was poison, carefully designed to prolong his suffering. Each spoonful, each tonic, had been another nail in his coffin. And he had swallowed them all, helpless and unaware. The betrayal cut deep, leaving him more imprisoned than ever in his unresponsive body.
'Did Grave send that man to mislead Claudia into killing me with her own hands!?' The thoughts struck like lightning, igniting a storm of other sinister possibilities in his head. Each scenario unraveled in his mind, darker than the last, until his skin grew clammy and his face turned ghostly pale. The idea of betrayal—layered, deliberate, and intimate—gnawed at the edges of his sanity, leaving him trembling in a prison of dread.
While he struggled to move away from the food Claudia kept feeding away, the latter continued her conversation without noticing the fear in his eyes. "He is an… odd man to say the least. In a way, it's his own fault. The way he presented himself at first didn't exactly inspire trust. Honestly, I had my own doubts about him… until recently."
"..."
Her words lingered in the silence like a blade hovering above his throat, each syllable a reminder of how fragile his reality had become.
"Many things have happened, lots of changes and uncertainties I'm not sure how to deal with on my own." She looked at him with a gaze tangled in guilt and hesitation, only to turn away once more. The weight of her conflicted conscience pressed down on Klaus, who desperately wished not to hear another word. "Somehow, he's at the center of it all. Whether his presence proves to be a blessing or a curse, I still can't say for certain. Personally, I feel like we can count on him, not just because Celestine trusts him, but also because talking to him gave me a better grasp on his personality. He has a sense of duty and he's… different."
She showed a small smile on her face when remembering how he behaved around Radomira. Though he kept a mostly indifferent attitude, his behavior around Radomira pictured a different kind of person who genuinely cared.
Maia mentioned a similar thing.
"When all of this is over, I am thinking about inviting him to our Kingdom and if he's willing, grant him a title. I doubt Archer and the others will accept the idea of a man without any blessings to be knighted but I'm willing to bear the responsibility. If he's not willing, then perhaps give him some land and establish a small fiefdom."
If possible, Claudia wanted him to accept a role as her equal, standing by her side and helping to fill the void left by Grave in his passing. That man, despite his old age, had managed countless duties that she would find impossible to handle alone. She needed someone to share that weight, someone steady and capable. More than that, she refused to allow Klaus back in a position where he could be hurt again.
"He is very capable, I doubt I can best him in combat when it comes down to pure force. Maybe swordsmanship? Although, I'm not sure as well… either way, he is also wise and I'm sure my knights will grow to respect him soon enough."
More than anything, she didn't want to see Radomira leave, the small girl was glued to that man and showed absolutely no desire to let go. It was a selfish desire, keeping a man close just for a child… but somehow that child, despite being a demon, managed to worm her way inside her heart.
As for Archer, Claudia wasn't completely sure what she wanted him to be. She owed him a debt, so granting him fiefdom was another way for her to try and pay him back.
She chuckled, shaking her head. "What am I doing making such plans in advance? I haven't even mentioned this to him. In the end, If he declines all of it then I'll respect his wishes."
The smile on her face faltered as she imagined the small girl leaving one day to journey alongside him. Claudia knew that forcing her to stay would only sow seeds of resentment, shattering the fragile goodwill they had painstakingly built.
Klaus on the other hand had a completely different thought, her smile meant something else entirely.
'You're replacing me, Claudia…?'
"Speaking of which, I got a gift." From deep within her cleavage, Claudia took out a small piece of paper, unfolding it to show a rough drawing of what looked like herself standing in front of a wall of flames. "Radomira made it, Chlo—uh… one of Archer's guests has been helping her deal with boredom. She drew me this in her free time, don't I look valiant like those brave dragon hunters in fairy tales?"
She looked at the drawing once more, a sigh escaping her lips. "I know we've tried many times, but I wonder if this is what it feels like to have a child you can look after. She's not my blood, but I wouldn't mind having a daughter like her in the future. Maybe, if Archer agrees, maybe we can take her in as our own."
Her hands caressed his hair.
"Like this, it'll be easier and you won't need to try as hard, Klaus." Claudia purposefully excluded any mentions of her nature as a demon, for she knew her own husband held an understandable amount of distaste and fear against such entities. It was best for him to first recover and introduce each party slowly, letting Radomira's natural charm win him over gradually, hopefully he'll overlook her demon origins.
"..."
The man's hands twitched further.
"—!"
As Claudia tried to continue feeding Klaus, the room began to tremble. A faint vibration quickly swelled into a violent quake, the walls groaning under the pressure as cracks spiderwebbed across the ceiling. "Klaus!"
Without hesitation , she flung the bowl aside and lunged for her husband, pulling him from the bed just as a wooden beam splintered and crashed down onto the bed. A thick cloud of dust exploded around them, stinging her eyes and choking her lungs.
"Argh! Cough! Damn it!"
She sputtered, holding Klaus tightly as she forced her way out of the room.
Reaching the hallway, Claudia witnessed dozens of servants scrambling in panic, their faces pale with shock and fear. IHer instincts as a commander surged to the forefront, and a steely determination replaced her fear. The safety of everyone was paramount.. "Everybody follow me now!"
"C-Claudia-sama! Th-There is a fire—"
"—THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO TALK!" Her thunderous voice struck like a whip, freezing the approaching butler in his tracks. One look at her blazing glare sent a shiver through him, and without another word, he fell in line, joining the wave of servants now following her lead.
Facing the Knights who gathered soon after, she ordered them to clear a safe path for everyone behind her to pass through safely.
The tremors grew worse and her pace quickened. Debris crashed down—crumbling walls, splintering beams—but under her steady command, they navigated the destruction, narrowly avoiding disaster at every turn. Finally, they burst into the open air, where Claudia came to an abrupt stop, her breath caught in her throat.
"What is going on?"
Fire.
Plumes of thick, black smoke billowed from the lower district, twisting ominously into the sky. Jagged cracks snaked through the cobblestone streets, spreading like fractures in fragile glass. The air was filled with screams and desperate cries for help as panicked crowds poured out of their homes, faces etched with terror.
Are we under attack? But… there was no sign of an invading army… this destruction hadn't come from outside the kingdom. It was born from within.
Claudia's mind immediately recalled the people who attacked her and Radomira, people claiming to be serving a new goddess who granted them strange blessings. The same goddess who Archer called "The Beast", the one who had fallen silent these past few days.
"Sara!"
"Yes, Claudia-sama!"
"Stay here and direct the other Knights to aid anyone they can." She hesitated, looking at Klaus within her grasp and at the castle in the distance. "Take my husband with you and head into the cellar. Barricade the door and don't let anyone other than me enter, I'm trusting you on this."
As much as Claudia wanted to bring him along, it would have been disastrous. If this was an attack then there was a chance she'd confront enemies possessing abilities akin to those she faced against in the past. And she trusted her subordinate, Sara, who served her personally for many years.
"Don't let anyone in, not even the other Princess Knights."
The death of Grave weighed heavily on her mind. While she still had mixed emotions about the entire situation, she no longer mourned his passing, as she would have before he… drugged her. Regardless, her priority now was keeping Celestine, Radomira, the Princess Knights, and Klaus safe.
"I will! Stay safe, Claudia-sama!"
And so, she sprinted towards the main castle, keeping tabs on her surroundings along the way. So far, the areas in the upper and middle districts only suffered minimal damage with only a couple of collapsed buildings, fallen trees, and cracked roads. The fire hadn't spread this far yet and some mages have begun using water magic to protect their areas.
Finally, she reached the outskirts of the castle where several Knights were gathered along with most of the Princess Knights and Serafina.
"What the hell is going on!?" Amongst them, a certain red-headed mercenary queen shouted with pure rage. "I was just about to get my beauty sleep, then out of nowhere the goddamn castle started shaking like a stampede of horses!"
"Looks like an enemy attack," Luu-Luu answered casually, not looking the least disturbed by what had transpired. Kaguya on the other hand, was kneeling as she prayed with multiple talismans held firmly within her grasp. Celestine had an unreadable expression before turning her attention to the brunette.
"Claudia, I'm glad you are safe. How is your husband?"
"Safe," she answered, trying to understand what was happening. "Is this the doing of the Beast?"
Celestine shook her head, "I do not believe so. I have not detected any trace of the same unnerving magic from before, Kaguya as well has not sensed any as such." As she finished saying that, both the women turned to see a few figures running towards them frantically. Consisting of civilians and regular guards, they ignored the Knights demanding them to stop.
Some of the men and women looked rather strange, wearing torn clothing that revealed their entire bodies bare to the world. A few even salivated with a maddened look on their faces, a sight that initially sent a shiver down Claudia's spine which she suppressed.
Claudia went forward, "Please stay calm, we will keep everyone safe as long as you co—huh?"
"Claudia watch out!"
"Urgh!"
Maia shouted and, moving at incredible speed, closed the distance between her and Claudia in an instant. She viciously kicked the nearest person —an old man— and sent him flying.
The scene startled Claudia and even the surrounding Knights.
"Open your eyes, you idiots! Something's not right with them!"
"Kya!"
On cue, another person managed to tackle a nearby Knight onto the ground, "W-Wait, how dare you attack m—mmphf!" Her lips were devoured hungrily, the man groped her breast while attempting to rip off her armor. His erect member desperately tried to force its way inside the horrified Knight until others came forth and saved her right in time.
"More incoming!"
At Maia's warning, they immediately went into action and started to fall back. Maia and Claudia knocked out anyone who came close and even used lethal force against those who persisted in their act.
"Maia!"
"Don't break formation!"
Unfortunately, not all of the Knights managed to get away scot-free. Some were unfortunately dragged into the swarm until they were out of sight. Their screams of pain and moans being the only evidence of their fate. This along with the sight of them getting ravaged by the horde had left the Princess Knights shaken.
"Get out of my way! I got this!"
Luu-Luu's voice rang out and everyone followed suit. From somewhere on her body, she retrieved a massive hammer… Twice her size and many times her weight, this behemoth of a weapon smashed into the people like a wrecking ball, sending them flying. This gave her the opportunity to grab the leg of a Knight who was caught, pulling her back just as the talismans in Kaguya's hands started to glow brightly and cast a shield all around the castle.
"W-What have they done to you…" The only Knight that Luu-Luu managed to save had all her armor stripped away, with disheveled hair and bite marks on her breasts. A small trace of blood mixed with some white liquid was streaming down her thighs.
Her entire body was shaking, completely in a state of mental and physical shock.
"Fuck!" Maia cursed with pure anger. "Did they get possessed by orcs and imps!? This has Olga's meddling written all over it! Also, since when could you use barriers this big!?"
Kaguya's eyes twitched as she tried to maintain focus. "This is a gift my god bestowed upon us right after the Kuroinu's demise. Keep your voice down for it is hard to concentrate, this is consuming a lot of energy."
"Then we should find Olga and force her to stop controlling these people!"
"Do not use me as a scapegoat for every little issue, harlot. Believe it or not, had this been my doing then Celestine would have found out the second I initiate the spell. This incident reeks of a ploy made by your kind instead." Behind Celestine, Olga approached, followed by Chloe, who kept a close eye on their surroundings. The Dark Queen's appearance elicited various kinds of emotions from everyone.
Serafina on the other hand kept a neutral expression just like her sister and bowed. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Olga Discordia. I have heard a lot about you from my sister and others, you truly are someone worthy to have been chosen to bear a child of the giant."
Olga stopped in her steps, crossing her gaze with the smiling Serafina and showing clear distaste. "I already don't like you."
"That is unfortunate, maybe time will change that."
Both elf rivals exchanged glances with Celestine showing a helpless face at her sister's behavior. But Olga on the other hand had other matters to worry about first, "Where is Archer? I need to join him as soon as possible."
As soon as she said that, Celestine's eyes sharpened. The previous warmth was replaced by a cruel coldness. "Why are you looking for Shirou? You have been seeking his attention far too much lately, I know I've granted you some measure of freedom but that doesn't mean you should burden him."
At that, Olga scoffed. "Burden? Is that what you call a man who actually seeks me out every day for tea?"
Celestine's eyes twitched, revealing a face Olga had not seen in years. But it was fleeting, soon hidden by her infuriatingly calm smile that mirrored Serafina's. "He is very caring by nature and thus must have come over regularly to check up on you, making sure you wouldn't harm others. I know you better than anyone, Olga, you are the kind of person he wouldn't enjoy being around."
It was rare to see Celestine speak back in such a manner on topics other than the nature of humanity. It caught Olga off guard and she momentarily went speechless.
"Caring? That perverted man!? Humph, so he has also fooled you, which isn't that surprising given how naive you are. He and I are very much the same, more so than you like to think." A certain stubborn memory that refused to die flashed in her mind, one involving a pair of elves and a lake, bringing a prominent blush to the dark elf's face. "He's still a lecherous beast, the biggest difference between us."
"Don't call him that!" Celestine shouted, "Shirou is nothing like you nor will he ever be."
"Is that anger I hear? Or jealousy?" A rare grin appeared on Olga's face. Walking close to Celestine till their eyes were a mere inch apart, her chest pushing against Celestine's soft mounds. Her action was almost a sign of dominance which the Goddess Reborn didn't back away from one bit. "You don't know anything about him like I do, his potential is wasted here and he's bound to grow dull. Like it or not, that man is more suited to being my follower than yours."
"Shut up."
"He smiles when he's with me, gazing at me intently every time from the back. He has felt my body in the past and even revealed his full self to me as well as his deepest secrets."
Chloe in the background looked away, not wanting to show her smirk in front of the others. Technically, her queen wasn't lying, since that bastard smirked whenever he managed to make fun of her queen. Touched her body when picking her up when they were bound upon first meeting, and as for that last part — she wasn't sure what he'd queen meant by that. Did those two do something in secret she wasn't aware of?
Not that it mattered, no one could verify them.
"—!" Sanity momentarily left Celestine's eyes and her hands unconsciously went for Olga's throat, her fingers wrapping around her while a murderous light flashed within her eyes "He's mine. Mine. Mine. MINE. You will just use him as a weapon whereas I will give him the life he always wanted. Free from any and all suffering! Stop trying to take advantage of his kindness or else I will end this right now."
"..."
"I'm the one who knows the real Shirou! I've seen everything, his past struggles, his desires, his wishes, all of it~!" Celestine shivered in delight as she reminisced about the memories of a cute red-headed boy. Her face grew equally as red as Olga, the latter unable to say anything in return. "Only I can stand next to him, not you. If you try it, I'll remove you myself…"
A chill crawled upon Olga's spine, this woman was serious.
Madness. How has Celestine become so infatuated with a single person this much at any point in her life!
Olga couldn't remember.
And with Celestine's powers, it wasn't usual for the woman to have seen some elements of his past.
"..."
She felt disturbed when realizing that point. Envious of her rival's powers to easily acquire something she herself tried so desperately to get from him.
'He never spoke about his past with me. Does he not trust me as much as he does Celestine?'
It made sense for Celestine to know…
Yet her pride refused to let her have the win so easily!
"I've seen him naked." Without even realizing it, she blurted those lines before her brain could even catch up. This statement made everyone around her freeze up, and Celestine's grasp on her throat grew tighter.
"He's a perverted beast in more ways than you can imagine." She said with a suggestive smirk.
"Y-You're lying! Shirou would never… "
"You know I don't bother with lies."
"Shut up!"
"If I wasn't allied with the demons in the beginning, that man and I would have made for a wonderful team."
"SHUT UP!"
Was it petty and childish? Yes, it was.
Did it hurt her pride to stoop down to such a level just to get a reaction? Tremendously.
Did it affect Celestine as she hoped? Yes, it did and that alone was worth it.
The last part was all that mattered, consequences be damned, she couldn't afford one defeat after another. And the rage within the usually passive goddess made it so much more enjoyable than she imagined.
However that was the last straw, Celestine's face twisted into that of pure anger, the wrath of the Goddess Reborn given form. And even though she was weaker than Olga, killing intent oozed off of her in waves, making everyone around her uncomfortable.
"Both of you, enough!"
Fortunately, Serafina intervened and pushed herself in between both women, "We have more important things to worry about now, and until this matter is resolved, you two are not allowed to fight. Celestine, this isn't like you at all."
Both elves who were unwilling to back down initially felt a wave of calmness envelop their being as Serafina used her magic. Celestine barely managed to come to her senses but the frustration within her refused to die out so easily. So rather than walk away, she pushed past Serafina and pulled Olga close till the latter could feel her breath upon her skin.
"Shirou is mine, don't make me regret keeping you alive."
This was a very unexpected reaction from Celestine, she never reacted this strongly towards anything as far as Olga remembered.
Strangely enough, it made her want to push back even more.
"Then prove it to me."
"... Fine."
An uncomfortable silence followed until Kaguya broke it with a rarely heard sound of worry. "The barrier can't hold on for long! We need a solution fast!"
Brought back to the present, the goddess reborn looked at the crowd of hungry eyes all desiring nothing more than to ravage her body. Had it been in the past, a sense of guilt and responsibility would have filled her heart.
Perhaps going so far as to willingly sacrifice herself if it meant saving everyone here. But now, she felt no such emotions whatsoever and instead sensed a faint trace of disgust at those gazes.
Did they want to touch her body? To take her purity and satisfy their lust?
Unfortunately, only one person was allowed to do that.
Those gazes wanting to violate her were unforgivable.
"We have no choice, this is definitely the influence of the Beast and these people are beyond saving." They were the same ones who would turn their backs on him and bring forth his demise. Once more, Draco's words rang within her mind and strengthened her resolve.
They needed to die.
"—!"
Everyone around Celestine was shocked to hear such words from her mouth. The Princess Knights felt a strange sensation compelling them to listen intently to every word.
Even Olga wasn't sure what was going on.
"I order all of you to—"
"I'll handle this." Before she could finish her orders, Olga spoke over her firmly. "Knowing you, there is a high likelihood you'll just decide to sacrifice yourself."
No, she wouldn't.
"Unfortunately for you, as much as I relish the idea of seeing you get tortured by the very things you're protecting, this is not the right moment for that."
She wasn't going to sacrifice herself for people like them.
"But, I agreed to help Archer in his quest. Which means keeping you alive and I believe I have an idea as to what is going on here."
This woman… just what was she trying to do?
{Break}
(A few minutes earlier)
"Argh!"
It was dark, and Emiya could barely see his surroundings. With great effort, he managed to get a feel of his surroundings and first reinforced his eyes, allowing him to see a bit more clearly than before.
"A-Archer?" Prim was nearby, Her clothes were slightly tattered but she was mostly fine. "What happened?"
"I don't know. But it doesn't look like we can just go back up." He said while looking upwards, the hole which they fell through had been sealed by the debris — nearly burying them in the process. "Can you walk?"
"M-My legs are numb…" The pink hair Princess Knight said pitifully, the scene reminding him of the time they first met. However, it was fortunate that her foot didn't seem as injured as it was back then.
"You probably experienced a shock or twisted your ankles. I don't think they are broken." Gently grabbing her foot, be carefully checked for any signs of injuries without noticing the flushed expression on Prim's face. "I'll carry you, It doesn't look like you can walk for now. So hop on quickly, we need to move before this place collapses entirely."
"Y-Yes!" Sounding rather eager, she quickly latched on to his neck with her head buried on his back. He made sure to grab her thighs so that she wouldn't fall. "An~!" Only for his actions to force out a sensual moan from her mouth.
"..."
"S-Sorry, I didn't mean…"
"It's fine, let's just ignore that," Archer said after letting out a sigh, on one hand he had grown used to the strangeness of the girls in this world. But on the other side he just concluded that perhaps Prim was a bit sensitive to people's touch.
"It's quite dark."
"It is."
"Are you able to see where we are going?" She asked, seeing him make his way forward without tripping so far. A question which Archer answered with a shrug and out of nowhere a dagger appeared in his hand which gave off a gentle wave of light illuminating their surroundings.
"A holy dagger!?" Prim was shocked at its appearance and how he just let her hold it so suddenly.
"No, it's just a regular dagger that some mage decided to turn into a flashlight for purely aesthetic reasons." The only reason he traced that dagger was to provide a way for Prim to also see in the dark. And in case something lunged at them, he would have already a weapon on hand to dispatch it quickly. Bringing out a sword in such a tight space was not a good idea.
"This is strange. For such a big earthquake to hit the kingdom is already shocking but for there to be this kind of path hidden beneath the manor is very suspicious," Emiya noted and raised an eyebrow when he noticed some light flickering in the distance. Walking for a few more seconds, he stumbled upon another hole in the wall which was connected to a man-made tunnel with various torches illuminating the path.
"There was such a thing beneath the manor?" Even Prim was in this belief when I discovered this place. "I never heard Alicia Onee-sama mention such a thing."
Archer squinted his eyes, observing the cobwebs within the roughly made tunnel and the clean hallway in front, along with the torches that were only recently lit on fire. "This tunnel we fell through wasn't formed because of the earthquake, it was there before."
He walked along the path, trying to follow the torches but soon realizing that the path converged into different places, a true labyrinth that started to annoy him when certain places led to a dead end.
While he was busy trying to find a way out, the brim was enjoying every second of this moment, taking in his scent and enjoying touching his body. Each passing second she felt like there was a fire in her stomach that kept on growing.
"Is something wrong?" Seeing her shift behind him, Archer asked, concerned that he may have missed something.
"It's nothing… hehehehe, this feels like back when we first met." She whispered close to his ears, sensing the slight pause in his steps when she did so. A small smirk appeared on her face when he continued forth as if nothing happened.
"Isn't your blessing something similar to a form of mild regeneration? You should be good at walking right now."
No, she didn't want to let go so soon!
"I-It's not that fast, my foot still needs a few hours to be completely healed." She drew closer till her body strongly pressed on his back. His scent made her mind go slightly numb, making her want to take in more.
"Are you and Alicia… lovers?" Trying to change the subject, Prim asked a question that had been sitting in her mind ever since she saw them kissing. "I… I suppose it makes sense, she is beautiful and despite her personality, many men still dream of being with her."
"Did you forget she was trying to kill me not that long ago?" Archer said with a sneer, finding the entire thing that happened before to be a headache. "She didn't kiss me because she loved me or anything like that, your cousin is still under the influence of the aphrodisiac which must have slowly corrupted her already twisted mind and forced her to assault the first man she saw. I just happened to be that unlikely one."
It could barely even be called a kiss and closer to their face smashing. Had she been a bit more forceful than that 'kiss' would have probably chipped his tooth or broken his nose.
He chose to ignore the part where she kept masturbating while calling his name, she didn't have many men around her after all.
"I don't know, she is terribly stubborn and if she truly hated you, then she would have preferred to kill herself instead. The effects shouldn't have been nearly as strong as the incident from last time."
"I highly doubt that. She and I get along like water and oil." He said, jumping over some parts of the tunnel that had collapsed from what he concluded to be an explosion of sorts. Other areas of the hidden tunnels were completely destroyed. "I bet you next time we meet, she'll try to take my head again."
Prim chuckled, her breathing more heavily as time went on as noticed by Archer. "Then what about me? How do you feel about me given I'm her cousin?"
He took a few seconds to gather his thoughts. "You're one of the least troublesome Princess Knights so far. I haven't had any issues with you and you never were hostile to me."
"Then please trust me when I say that Alicia truly no longer hates you. I can see it in her eyes, she just does not want to admit it."
"It dawned on me that you harbor strong desires to see me and Alicia get along. Is there a particular reason for this?"
She hesitated at first but decided to say, "I… I really love Alicia Onee-sama. She's been someone I looked up to for many years and I can't see a life without her. But… I've also grown to view you in a similar light, maybe because you saved me or because you remind me of her. But I want to have you both ha~!" She finished her sentence by biting his left ear.
"—!?" Her sudden action shocked Archer who looked back at the mischievously grinning girl whose face was red like a tomato and hazy eyes looking at him with desire. "What was that?"
"I-I don't know, I just couldn't stop myself~! My body feels hot, touching you felt so good that I wanted to try more~! Please help me, Archer~!"
Something wasn't right, as soon as she started to behave like this, Archer smelled a familiar scent that made his heart skip a beat. The same scent he smelled upon Claudia and when he first met Radomira. Faint but present, enough to make alarm bells ring in his head and force the man to quickly drop Prim and swiftly shock hee body with a pulse of Magical Energy.
"Ah!" The sensation was painful enough to bring the girl back to her senses. "W-What happened?"
"Damn it, it's that aphrodisiac again!" He quickly cycled Magical Energy within his body as well to push back against any effects he might have not noticed.
Boom!
The tunnel shook and Archer jumped away with Prim in hand from one of the walls next to him. A dense purple cloud instantly filled the area, which made him curse out loud.
"Hold your breath!" He shouted to Prim who complied, and hastily ran towards the newly opened path in order to find a safer area. He knew asking Prim to hold her breath only bought so much time given this cloud affected a person through skin contact as well.
Finally, I reached a clearing large enough where the upper ceiling showed a hole large enough where the sunlight peeked through. This being the only exit he found so far, Archer tightly held onto the Princess Knights who was shaking like a leaf, and quickly made his way towards as the entire area around him started to collapse.
"Ah!" With one last burst of strength, he managed to make his way out of the underground tunnels and what awaited him outside was a chaotic scene straight out of a nightmare.
The once dilapidated slums are now filled with people all ravaging one another. Individuals having lost reason started raping and assaulting anyone nearby with not a trace of sanity left within them. The sound of moans and cries filled the air and many young women and men who managed to resist were now desperately trying to run away.
Houses were burning and being destroyed left and right.
And in the midst of it all, Radomira stared blankly at the chaos before her, holding onto the lifeless hand of someone around her age whose body was buried under a pile of rubbles — a child who couldn't escape in time. The girl did not even react to the approaching group of people around her, with one of the men grinning and grabbing onto her hair and dragging her away while she did nothing but stare blankly at the fire.
Her clothes were ripped away and laid bare for others to ravage her. Corrupted guards who were looking for their next victim were now all greedily looking at the untouched flower before their eyes, who by now resembled a young teenager instead of a child.
"—!"
Blood splashed on her face, and the next thing she knew, a pair of arms held onto her gently. Pulling the young Tiefling away from the group who have now turned into lifeless corpses. She recognized this touch, "A-Archer…" her voice shook as well as her body. "Why… Why is it always me? I-I didn't want any of this to happen… it's my fault… I can't do anything… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"
She cried, with tears staining his clothes.
"It's not your fault." He said firmly, gently caressing her back. He looked at the area around him, and a hardened light flashed within his eyes. The man clenched his teeth but soon relaxed as all emotions left his face. All that remained was a single task.
The place couldn't be saved.
"..."
I'll handle this. You don't need to worry about a thing, I give you my word," with an unwavering voice, Archer reassured her. If he had arrived mere moments later, the result would have pushed him past the brink of madness.
But in this instant, mercy was not an option.
"Trace, on."
--------------
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.