Chapter 20: The Hanging Gardens Part III
"That was an impressive shield, Ms. Master." Rider said, trying to break the silence as the paced through the halls.
"Not really. Lancer of Red did all the work, I just had to direct the flame." Hazel spoke while keeping her eyes on Atalanta, who knew the way.
"It was reckless." Karna said. Hazel only smiled.
"Risks get people killed, or have them be remembered." Rider smiled to that remark. Even in her weak state she still managed to push through her pain and live in the moment.
"He's in there." Atalanta said as they opened the doors.
The others had arrived, waiting patiently. A pile of ash lay in the middle of the room and Berserker was hunched over it. Clearly Darnic and Lancer of Black had been defeated, and he was upset by it. But on the steps stood the mystery man which Lord El Melloi II and Kairi had informed her. His servant stood by his side, snake like in appearance and dressed in the finest robes. She stood with the sword lowered. It was time to listen for now.
"Berserker, relax. Let him speak." Hazel asked, and he rose from the ground to stand beside his master.
The priest smiled, now that he had a full audience. "It has been long but my dream will finally come to pass." He continued to explain his identity as most stayed put. Hazel was curious about this man's intention. Knowing his real identity as a heroic spirit, she now was anxious to understand his goal. A Ruler who lived past the last war could only want something grand.
"What do you wish?" Ruler asked, now understanding why her summons were flawed.
"Salvation for all humanity." Shirou said, descending the steps to the main floor. He explained further how the world had grown selfish, how he desired to have souls transcend where there would be no more war, or death. Hazel and the others listened with some rejections. Out of everyone here she was now the weakest. If she spoke her words would need to be chosen carefully.
"I should ask now if any of you are willing to trade sides. Considering The Black Faction are now out numbered."
"That is an insane request." Chiron remarked.
"If you be willing, I'll go." A voice rose as the servant stepped forward.
"Caster of Black, you are welcome." Shirou said as he began to manipulate his command seals to put him into his possession.
Caster nodded in approval, "My dream does not involve either side. I can go where I chose."
Archer went to ready his bow. Hazel saw his movement from the corner of her eye. His actions would break the room out into a fight. She put her hand out.
"Wait Archer." Hazel said, breaking her silence. "Let's not fight over one betrayal."
"How odd coming from your mouth." Assassin of Red spoke, her grin revealing she knew more than Hazel wished her to.
Shirou knew that by opening her mouth, he had a chance to persuade her once more.
"Master of Black is it safe to assume you are the new Head to Yggdmillennia now that Darnic has fallen?"
Hazel clenched the sword tighter. "No. That title does not belong to me."
"But you carry his sword?"
"My family collects artifacts. But I have never been his heir." Now she was unsure of the truth. If this being assumed her to be related to Darnic as well, maybe her relation was never a lie.
"I wonder, what is your wish?" Shirou asked and Hazel took a deep breathe before answering, feeling everyone's eyes were focused on her.
"To see these grail wars end for good."
"But that does not conflict with my dream. With salvation attained the grail will no longer be needed. We could work together. Your family they would be safe with my wish. Those who have fallen, you could see again. They could be saved. What is wrong with that ambition?"
She paused for a moment, glancing and the ash in front of her. What Waver had said before she left, what she would do once her revenge was carried out. Her choice came now. She could side with the Red now that her mission was complete. However, she saw flaw in his goal. His dream would not come without a price, and it was one she could not see past.
Archer grew concerned with her silence, "Hazel you can't be thinking..."
"Salvation would be nice." Hazel began, "But when you save everyone that includes the thieves and the murderers. I've met many mages who use words like yours as an excuse to kill, executioner. My apologies, but salvation for humanity and salvation for yourself are two different matters."
"You mock my master's dream?" Assassin hissed, ready to strike.
"I don't want to bet on something unless I know it will come true. I've done too much evil to be worth saving. I don't believe that 14 servants and masters fighting could wipe out centuries of bloodshed. Death is the only thing I can get for payment of my sins in this life."
"That regret you carry, why not end it yourself?" Assassin asked, reading the pain in her eyes.
"There's no honor to die like that. But life is a balance of good and evil, that's what makes it exciting, a challenge. Not knowing my finish line, but testing it. Salvation is something that is hard for me to picture because I will find mine in life with what has been provided for me. Ending the wars, and returning home to those I care about is more realistic, and enough of a reward for me."
Shirou had heard what he needed to see Hazel's true goal. And now was time to share her truth and let fate determine her path.
"You war within yourself." he said. "Have you told your faction of your mission, Golden Fox?"
Hazel froze. She could feel the eyes shift focus, waiting for her response.
"Hazel, what does he mean?" Chiron asked, and she could not turn to face him.
"You can confess now." Shirou said. Hazel sighed, knowing that she had no way to drag this out.
"I was assigned by the Mages Association to infiltrate the Black Faction and assassinate Darnic."
A stray arrow flew towards her head. Berserker deflected it.
"Archer. Hold." Ruler commanded, but he kept his bow ready. Restraining himself.
"You've been against us since the beginning."
"No, I..."
"You wouldn't take a mission if you didn't have a reason."
Hazel couldn't hold back her rage any more, it was time to release all the anger she had been hiding. It no longer mattered who listened, the priest had put her to the pulpit.
"He and Lancer of Black impaled those I fought with, my best friend, what was I supposed to do!?" she shouted, tears streaming down her burning cheeks. "I vowed to save where I can and the one time I'm held back I lose those who trusted me? My family was torn apart and I couldn't stop it. I don't see the grail as some holy thing. Only an artifact that people and heroes are willing to risk their lives for. Killing to get a wish from something called sacred doesn't add up. It has to end. This war cannot happen again. I can't watch my family and others suffer because of its existence."
"You lied to her." She now looked at him. Hazel saw the anger in his eyes. She had failed her as a teacher, but she never intended to be Fiore's enemy.
"Don't." she scolded, now holding the blade towards him. "I would never harm your master. I only had one target and thanks to the priest he is gone. The Mages Association won't care what I do now."
"So will you join your true faction?" Shirou asked, knowing there was no place for her now in the Black Faction. Hazel knew there were few alternatives, and Berserker seemed less resistant to the option of switching sides. But Hazel was curious about one glaring question, one that needed an answer before she could make her final decision.
"If so, I must ask where are the other Masters of Red?"
"Why would that matter?" Assassin of Red hissed.
"Because the Servants of Red have a right to know what happened to them. And I would not join another faction without knowing my consequence as a Master." Hazel paused, seeing that both Shirou and his servant looked away, wanting to conceal their secret.
"Please be honest with me, priest." Hazel insisted, and the other Red Faction servants seemed to agree.
"Well they are no longer masters." Shirou professed, and Assassin showed the projection from the dungeon. Five masters were sleeping with glazed eyes. Hazel had seen this before, and received an answer that she had promised to discover for her sister.
Shirou continued, knowing that Hazel's stare into the ground meant that her demises would come soon.
"They forfeited their seals willingly. It was for the best. You understand how mages deceive each other. It would only result in more fighting."
"Liar." Hazel said. Berserker could sense her rage, but could also see that the priest was not fazed by it. "You poisoned them. Just like you did to my mother and sister for one catalyst." She looked at them, knowing Assassin's identity now. "These grounds we stand on, they are the Hanging Gardens, are they not? You summoned the oldest poisoner."
Semiramis chuckled knowing this weak mage could not manage to face her head on. The pain she felt was amusing.
"You're family isn't dead, it was their fault to intervene. And you want revenge when none have been lost."
Hazel readied her sword, blinded by the pain of being a puppet in their game. Berserker could see that he had to make a choice, his master once more would fight without plan, only led by the pain in her heart. She would fall, and he was not ready to die without having his fill of battle.
"Plenty is gone. Someone can live but still have no life. That is worse than death."
Hazel went to charge as Shirou prepped his sword but as Hazel stepped forward she felt a sharp kick to her side which flung her into the wall, cracking the stone.
Her shield barely protected her from the impact. She could feel the internal damage in her side. Her eyes looked at the assailant, as a feeling of grief over came her heart.