Chapter 8

Archer watched Hakuno sleep. He stood at the foot. He was also exhausted but was to anxious to sleep. Hakuno managed to use a command seal to summon him. When he had arrived, his worse fear had come to life. Hakuno at Gilgamesh's mercy.

To his surprise though, she insulted him several times, but the king of heroes did not take any violent action against her. Why? Naturally the first thing that came to his paranoid mind was Gilgamesh was interested in her romantically. Then he dismissed it, if that were true Gilgamesh would have tried to kill Archer.

The king of heroes was actually acting odd, even for him. First of all, settling a debt for the honor of Uruk? Gilgamesh never cared about honor. To him Uruk existed to serve him in his reign, whether it was honorable or not was of no consequence to him.

Second, he didn't attack Archer even when he attacked him. Gilgamesh never accepted any form of assault against him. Even if someone threw a pebble at him. Instead he just turned around and walked away, not caring.

Lastly there was the information he let slip about the hero Altera. Gilgamesh was many things, but he wasn't the type to let important information slip. Even if he believed he was invincible.

Gilgamesh basically lived in his own world. He didn't care about the moon, or the grail war, or anything, only if he was entertained. Then there was also the fact that he didn't hurt Hakuno. Aside from gently knocking her out he didn't touch her. And that scared Archer. Gilgamesh wasn't a gentle man.

He might not had been romantically interested. But he was interested in Hakuno for some reason. And whenever the king of heroes was interested in someone, people suffer. Mostly the person of interest. But at the moment it was a good thing, Gilgamesh did help them understand their enemy more. The titan's name was Altera, and she had a hero self-walking in her place.

He and Hakuno had decided to go see Nero and her master. They needed help with the threat against the and even thought Nero was as childish as a five-year-old, she didn't seem objective against helping them. So, it was decided to seek out the Roman emperor for help. And Hakuno made it clear, that anytime he went into battle she'd be with him. And he decided that was the right thing to do. Rather to have her in the ring than unguarded and kidnapped again.

For the first time Archer pondered the other remaining master, Hikari. Why would that boy stay on the moon? He had a wish of his own, he could have just wish for riches then returned to live his life in luxury?

He then looked again at his sleeping master. He didn't know why, but something about that boy made him think of his own master. They had slight similar appearances. Maybe he should look into the boy.

Archer decided it was time to try and get some sleep. He was going to jump head straight into a fight between two women fighting over a man. That wasn't going to be pleasant.

Hakuno and Archer walked through Nero's territory. The architect was like that of ancient Rome. Hakuno had seen pictures of the ancient city's ruins. This must had been what they looked like before the test of time.

"You have to admit, it's a bit nice here," Hakuno said.

"I don't really care," Archer shrugged, "If we found a vantage point I could see everything."

"I wonder how I would have looked, dressed as an empress of Rome," Hakuno said as she saw some statues.

Archer wondered too. Hakuno wearing a white toga, golden leaves in her hair, trying to look dignified, but instead looking silly. It was such a cute thought. Archer almost laughed.

Hakuno noticed his shoulders trembling, "What's the matter?"

"He must have sensed my dark power," chimed an arrogant voice. In a flash of light, standing on a floating pedestal… and wearing a pink frilly dress, was Elizabeth Bathory, "Because I'm back." She struck a pose like she was about to give a concert.

Neither servant nor master were impressed.

"And why should we care?" Archer asked impatiently.

"Because I'm here to tell you there's going to be a new sovereign, and her name is Dark Elli, or Dark Eliza. Whichever you prefer."

Archer pinched the bridge of his nose, "Is she serious?"

"Dark Elli… Dark Eliza," Hakuno thought out loud, "D… Elli… how about Deli?"

Archer had to suppress a chuckle.

"Dark Elli, or Dark Eliza!" Elizabeth shouted embarrassed, "Watch your mouth little squirrel."

"Anyway," Archer said, "We have business to attend, so I'm sorry to say we don't have time to play with you lancer."

"Who's playing, soon I will have the regalia, and the moon and all the blood I can drink," the lancer said.

"The regalia will work only for it's chosen master or servant," Archer reminded shaking his head.

Then Elizabeth just chuckled, she almost sounded dangerous, almost, "Oh we'll see about that Mr. Archer and squirrel, we'll see." Then as randomly as she appeared she left.

"I'm confused," Hakuno said, "Is she dangerous or not."

"Let's worry about her we have more pressing matters to attend," Archer said.

"Uh…" Hakuno looked straight up. It was a golden statue of Nero wrestling a lion. She closed her eyes, then opened them. The statue was still there.

"You see the giant golden statue, too right?"

"Master try not to be distracted by meaningless objects," Archer then started dragging her away from the gaudy statue. And he thought Gilgamesh's ego was big.

Then Archer heard someone approaching. He took his master and hid. Walking past them was Nero, her master Hikari, and someone Archer did not recognize.

"Your majesty, we must devise a strategy to reunite the regalia, only then will your rule be unchallenged."

"That is true, but not right now," the saber said, "right now I'm going on a stroll with the Praetor."

"But…"

"Do not forget who is ruler, Archimedes," Nero said, before leaving with her master in tow.

That was Archimedes? Hakuno imagined him as an old man with a long beard. But then again heroes are often brought back in their prime. The traitor had shaggy brown hair and a toga that only had one sleeve, he also looked exhausted.

"Getting their regalia is going to be extremely difficult, but they're easier than those other two."

"Oh? Which two do you mean?"

Archimedes had to place a barrier between himself and an arrow. There stood Archer, Hakuno behind.

"Well if it isn't the anomaly and her servant," Archimedes said.

"That's Hakuno Kishinami to you, traitor," Hakuno shouted, "What are you doing with Nero and Hikari?"

"Well, I couldn't exactly go to you, you declared me a wanted criminal in your territory," Archimedes snapped.

"Well, that seemed like the right decision considering you're working with something that wants to wipe out all life on the moon and earth," Hakuno snapped.

"Human life," venom dripped from Archimedes words, "Humans are a flawed existence. They live illogically yet thrive nonetheless. It is blasphemy to logic, it must be purged."

"Are you serious?" Hakuno could not believe what she heard.

"Don't bother master," Archer said, "a mad man can't be swayed."

Hakuno went inside the ring and Archer attacked.

Elizabet Bathory. You can't be afraid of her, yet you feel sorry for her because she has failed to be scary. Blame the grail, it brought her back as a fourteen-year-old girl and not the scary countess history remembers