Chapter 9

Archimedes was defeated, but not killed. The rogue servant looked at Archer in fury one last time before disappearing.

"What a glorious day for an outing it was," Nero walked in with her master, "And surely it was more glorious for you with me by your side."

"Yeah," Hikari's answer might have sounded unenthusiastic, but his smile was genuine.

"Now let's hear what you had to say scholar," Nero looked to see Archer instead of Archimedes, "Where is the scholar?"

"He left after I defeated him," Archer simply.

"What?" Nero shouted, "You attack my adviser?"

"Wait," Hakuno ran between them and held out her arms, "Please, listen to what we have to say first."

"Very well, make your case," Nero said.

"Archimedes isn't the maintenance manager anymore," Hakuno went straight for the point, "He defected during the war, he's a danger to everyone on the moon including you."

"By what proof are these charges based off of?" Nero said.

"We came here without the other servants, in the heart of another kingdom," Hakuno reminded, "That should show you we are not aggressors. We don't want to fight we want peace for the moon."

"I suppose," Nero said, "What is your name again? Master of Archer?"

Hakuno slightly slumped, "I'm Hakuno. Hakuno Kishinami"

Suddenly Nero and Hikari looked at her, "… Kishinami?"

"Yes," Hakuno answered.

Nero watched as her own master walked ahead, "My full name, is Hikari Kishinami."

Hakuno looked at him in disbelief, "How can we have the last same name?"

"I don't know," Hikari said, "Why… did you stay on the moon?"

Hakuno looked down before answering, "Because there was never a body for me on Earth. I'm not a wizard who came here from Earth, I'm an NPC who gained self-awareness." There was no point in lying.

"Like B.B?"

"No," Hakuno quickly said, "I'm just a normal girl. Whatever power I have came from my victory in the grail. I don't hurt anyone… anymore."

Hikari looked at Nero who looked back, "We need time to talk, give us a day."

"That's all I ask," Hakuno said.

Hakuno lied in bed. She could only hope that Nero and Hikari would decide to listen more and hopefully form an alliance. Hakuno, was young, chronologically speaking, she wasn't even a year old yet. She had the mental and emotional capacity of a seventeen-year-old. None of it was good for being a leader. Archer did help, but a leader he wasn't. Nero was strange, but kind, maybe she could help. Hikari… Kishinami. How did he have the same last name?

Hakuno closed her eyes, she needed sleep.

"Help…"

Hakuno looked, in front of her was… Hikari. But his robes this time was green.

"Are you the body?" Hakuno asked.

"I need your help…"

"We will, we just…"

"… this is a message, from another timeline…"

Hakuno was left silent, "What?"

"Archimedes has been sliding from one parallel world to the other to destroy the moon cell. And every time he has used Altera to do it. I am not just asking you to stop Archimedes once and for all, I'm asking you to save Altera."

Hakuno's eyes widened.

"I know you heard that she was an evil titan. But have you seen her, talked to her? I have, she's not a monster and she doesn't want to destroy anything, but she thinks she has too. Does this look like a monster?"

Suddenly Hakuno was standing in a cavern. In front of her was a giant girl. Despite her enormous size, she had a warm smile, sitting on her shoulder was Hikari also smiling.

"When I was a child," the giant said, "I always loved the hills, I loved to run through them, with the wind. I wish I could do that again, but I can't leave."

Then it was just Hikari again, "In my world, I finally managed to convince her that she did have a choice, but Archimedes came and destroyed it."

Hakuno saw another vision, this one was where the giant titan had turned white and terrifying. But she had begun to crack. In front of her was a smaller version of Altera and Hikari. The white titan reached out to Hikari, not to kill, but to touch, "Master… I was… selfish… but you still… stayed by my side…"

Then the smaller Altera began to vanish, "I was always afraid… Afraid that you hated my cooking, my giant body. It was love at first sight when I saw you, the truth was I was your prisoner."

When she vanished. Hikari picked up the regalia's left behind tears running down her face. Hakuno was speechless. Everyone has told her that Altera was a monster, a killing machine that needed to be stopped. Everyone believed that, even Altera herself even though she didn't want to do it.

But Hikari, didn't see that. He did everything he could to show her she was more. Because he saw more. He didn't see a monster, he saw a girl who was lonely… Was the Altera in her world like that too?

"It's too late for us in this world," Hikari's message continued, "But not too late there. I would love to go back, defeat Archimedes and sweep Altera off her feet again. But I won't survive the trip, so I use the last of my power to send this message. Whoever you are please, end this. Stop Archimedes and set Altera free."

Hakuno opened her eyes, to the morning sun, she sat up. As if on cue Archer came in with the morning tea. He noticed her staring into space.

"Are you still asleep?"

"Archer," Hakuno began, "What is it we now about Altera?"

Archer looked at her, "She's the titan. She was sent by the Umbral Star to destroy all life as we know it."

"That's what she is, but, what about who she is?" Hakuno asked.

"Master I don't see how that is important." Archer said.

"Archer, we only know what people have told us, but we never even saw her," Hakuno reminded, "Is Alter really the monster they all say she is."

"Where is this coming from?" Archer asked.

"Well, I think I just received a message, and I don't think you'll believe me, but I'll try anyway…"

Sorry I took so long. Writers block, had other works.