Beta read by Shigiya, Gamercrusher55 and Fluffy Slayer.
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-Feoh-
(Warning, the chapter starts with a lemon, please skip beyond it if you don't want to see it.)
(Lemon start)
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Never in his wildest dreams did Archer imagine ending up in this situation with Alicia. Not after they first met.
They mixed about as well as water and oil.
He saw no good reason to think that things would settle between them– the blonde princess knight despised him, and she made damn sure that he knew it.
Rational or not, she hated him with a passion—like he was the living embodiment of everything wrong with the world. And yeah, maybe she had some deep-seated issues with men thanks to her past, which, fair enough, he could kind of understand after hearing it from Prim. Archer wasn't out to win her over—he didn't need her friendship, he just needed her cooperation, even if it came with enough glares to melt steel.
But now? Now the same woman who'd happily skewer him with a rapier given half the chance was now shoving her tongue down his throat. Go figure. Life had a sick sense of humor, or it was just Lady Luck fucking with him.
The room had long since fallen into a charged silence, broken only by the soft, wet sounds of their deepening kiss and the rustle of fabric as Alicia pressed herself closer to the point where he could feel her soft chest pressed against his, her body flushed against his. Her hands, which had started out hesitant, now moved with a determination that left no room for doubt. They roamed over his chest and shoulders before zeroing in on the clasps of his red shroud—both above and below. With a few quick tugs, she undid them, and the fabric slid off and onto the floor.
She continued to explore his body while doing everything she could to take off his complicated armor, but eventually grew frustrated with its advanced design leaving her unable to take it off. Seeing how cute she was fiddling with it and having no luck in removing it, he let his armor slowly disappear in a mote of blue lights.
"Mhmph!" She paused from the sudden action, caught off guard, but continued her task, writing it off as another of his pagan magic.
When they finally parted, a thin string of saliva still connected their lips, a testament to the intensity of the moment. Alicia's face was flushed, her eyes half-lidded and darkened with desire, but there was no hint of regret or hesitation in her expression.
While he observed her reaction, so did she observe his.
His bare chest was exposed to her for the first time, and Alicia couldn't help but stare in shock and admiration at his sculpted tanned physique. Her mouth opened slightly, yet no words came out, leaving her in stunned silence for several long seconds.
The visual sight mesmerized her, from his tan skin that glistened with sweat to the well-defined muscles that made up his body. She slowly guided her hands to them and felt around, tracing his muscles extensively as if to make up for all the time she hadn't touched a man.
She savored this touch as much as she could, from the hardness of his pecs and abs to the actually soft, marble-like feeling of his body. He felt like a warm fireplace on her hands not burning her, but gently warming her from the cold.
She lingered for a moment, savoring the warmth radiating from him, before meeting his grey eyes with her own violet ones. He was watching her intently, as if expecting her to make the next move. Taking a deep breath, she began to unhook her armor, starting with the pauldrons and moving down to the blue brazier that barely covered her chest. She tossed it aside, letting it land where his shroud had been discarded.
The Princess Knight's perky breasts were now fully exposed, bright pink nipples exposed to the environment. Even if this was not the first time he saw her naked, she couldn't help the embarrassment creeping through her body. She felt like she was on fire. Instinctively, her hands flew up to cover herself, embarrassment washing over her as she remembered how Maia, Olga, and even Prim had far larger breast that put hers to shame.
She shifted off his lap, and for a fleeting moment, the absence of his warmth made her hesitate. With a mix of determination and lingering embarrassment, she pulled off her gauntlets and gloves, tossing them aside without much thought. Next went her light armored mini-skirt, revealing those flimsy silk pink panties that were doing absolutely nothing to hide how turned on she was. Alicia's face burned as she caught Archer's gaze, half-expecting him to crack some smug comment or look at least a little smug. But no—he just sat there, watching her with that infuriatingly calm expression, like he had all the time in the world and wouldn't rush her for anything. Seeing as how he wasn't going to say anything, she continued to remove the last of her clothes.
Just as she reached for her boots and shin-armor, a thought hit her—something Maia had joked about ages ago, teasing her with it in hopes of getting under her skin, which it did, much to her frustration. Now, though, it might actually come in handy. Alicia felt the heat rise to her ears at the idea.
She pivoted gracefully, bending over with the ease of someone who'd spent years honing her agility as a knight. Her flexibility wasn't just for combat, apparently—it gave Archer a full view of her backside. Alicia could practically feel his eyes on her, at least she thought he was, and though her ears were on fire with embarrassment, she couldn't resist a subtle, almost imperceptible wiggle as she fumbled with her greaves and boots. It was barely there, but she hoped that he'd notice. Gods, Maia would never let her live this down if she ever found out.
She took her sweet time with the boots and greaves, fumbling more than she'd ever admit, her cheeks burning hotter than a forge. Finally, she straightened up, her face as redder than the time she was caught stealing cookies from the royal kitchen and had the evidence all over her face.
But she wasn't finished.
She hooked her fingers into the thin straps of her panties, tugging them down as she bent over, fully aware of the show she was putting on for Archer and continued to hope that she wasn't making a fool of herself. The fabric clung briefly, a faint strand of her feminine juices trailing before it snapped free, before she slipped the garment off.
With her panties, boots, and armor unceremoniously tossed onto the growing pile of discarded clothes, Alicia turned to face him. Her face burned crimson, but there he was—smirking, of course. For a moment, she thought he might tease her, but then his expression shifted, serious and steady as he met her gaze.
"Are you sure?"
Alicia squared her shoulders, refusing to let her embarrassment win, and kept her voice steady and honest. "…This is my choice, no drugs or magic has any control of my actions."
With that, Alicia took a shaky breath, dropped her hands from her chest, and slid her arms around his shoulders. She climbed onto his lap, her movements bold but slightly clumsy, and crashed her lips back onto his. The kiss was fierce, more desperate than skilled, and she surprised herself with her own audacity, but knew that it was just her wanting to overcome her own nervousness. Archer, ever the expert in any kind of field it seems, took the lead, slowing her down and guiding her with a practiced ease that made her frantic attempts melt into something smoother, calming her previous erratic attempt at pleasing him to something that both could enjoy.
What she once believed to be a disgusting act of intimacy had proven itself to be a far more pleasurable and almost addictive experience. She couldn't deny it.
A jolt ran up her spine when he placed his hands on her waist and pulled her closer, eliciting a small gasp from the princess. "Ah!" Both hands traveled lower and lower until they reached her backside, and at that point even the smallest touch made Alicia squirm in place as she'd never felt anything like this before.
"Aah!"
Alicia let out a soft moan as his hands slid past the edge of her skirt, fingertips brushing against her bare bottom. He cupped her round, perky cheeks firmly, each squeeze sending a jolt through her that left her mind hazy. Their tongues tangled, and she couldn't help but lose herself in the taste of him—sharp and intoxicating, like it was daring her to pull away. But she didn't want to. No, she didn't even think she could at this point. She was being sucked in. It was all too much, too good, and she was drowning in it, greedy for every second. The heat between them was addicting, and she wasn't sure if she'd ever get enough.
Her body felt feverish, and it was getting difficult to breathe, yet her heart beat faster than ever.
This wasn't enough, she wanted more.
So, with that in mind, her hands slowly traveled lower until they found what they were looking for, and it was then that Alicia broke their kiss, looking at his crotch with a nervous gulp.
His… thing was as hard as steel, pressing against the fabric of his pants with an intensity that made her pause. She could feel the heat radiating from it, a stark contrast to the cool air of the room. It was… intimidating, to say the least.
Her mind raced, a chaotic blend of thoughts crashing together. She'd read about this in her studies upon reaching maidenhood, but theory and practice were two very different beasts all together. And then there were the countless battles she'd fought, where she'd witnessed similar acts—ugly, violent, and devoid of any semblance of consent. She'd cut off the 'bits' on plenty of monsters and scum who'd forced themselves on her knights and people, before ending their miserable existence, their actions leaving nothing but disgust in their wake. Those memories always left her with a bitter taste in her mouth, a reminder of the darkness she fought against and why she never wanted to lay with another man.
But now? Now she didn't feel that same revulsion as she had before. Instead, there was a strange mix of curiosity, excitement, and just a hint of nervousness. It wasn't disgust that gripped her; it was something else entirely—something she wasn't entirely sure how to process.
She could feel Archer's hands release her ass, reaching towards her shoulders. They ended their kiss and Archer gave her a concerned look. His hands were holding her firmly, and a thumb reached up to stroke her cheek slowly, calming her down as she only then realized she'd been shaking on his lap. All of a sudden she could feel her emotions settle, and could see that this wasn't going to be anything like those times.
"Alicia," he said, his voice steady but soft, cutting through the tension in the room. She froze, her hands paused as her name—her given name—left his lips when he cupped her cheek and met her gaze. "Listen, if you're having second thoughts, now's the time to say so. We can stop right here and call it a night. No pressure, no strings. And if this isn't what you want, ever? That's fine too. Don't force yourself into something just to prove a point. Take a second and think it through before doing something you feel that you would regret."
Strangely, Alicia realized that this was the first time she ever heard him speak to her so gently. His voice was but a whisper, tickling her ears and taking a few seconds for her to fully interpret — was this what Prim experienced upon their first meeting?
Only when she understood what he was trying to do and was worried about her that her previous stubbornness rose back up with a vengeance. The hesitation she was experiencing at that moment got pushed back to the farthest corner of her mind, replaced with pure resolve to prove herself otherwise. So what if she'd never done this before? Her actions of straddling him and smothering his lips with her own were not done because she saw them in any books, she was doing those by following her own instincts.
And it was working so far with few hurdles. She hesitated for only a moment before committing, her hands moving to his belt with shaky determination. The clasp clicked open, and she fumbled with the zipper of his pants, her breath catching as she finally reached inside. Her eyes widened as she got her first real look at it—there it was, staring back at her like it had its own personality. "Holy Celestine," she muttered under her breath, swallowing hard. Her fingers wrapped around it cautiously, half-expecting it to bite. It was warm, firm, and… well, intimidating didn't even begin to cover it. She was almost afraid that she'd break it somehow.
She faced his gaze once more, with courage and began to answer his previous statement.
"Don't belittle me, I chose this. I want to do it." she instantly answered, then suddenly got a bit shy, her hand still gripping his cock. "I-I am just… I-I'm just not used to this."
He simply nodded.
It was her first time touching one after all.
But instead of backing down, she pulled his length out and stared at it with a blush, the size and shape of a new experience.
It was longer and thicker than she expected, bigger than the ones usually shown in the books, but Alicia was too focused on how hot and heavy it was to worry about that. Her hand slowly pumped his cock, feeling it throb within her grasp.
"If that is your wish, then so be it. I just don't want you to regret it later on." Not even having the time to ask what he meant by that, she let out a sensual moan that echoed throughout the room, as his head leaned over her breasts and an electrifying sensation surged through her body as his tongue licked her nipples. "Aaaah~!" The sound escaped her before she could stop it, sharp and involuntary.
Her whole body shuddered, her toes curling involuntarily. She hadn't expected *this*—his hot breath against her skin, his tongue swirling and teasing her nipples with a skill that left her breathless. One of his hands slid up to cup her breast, holding it steady as he worked, and she let out a shaky gasp.
It felt too damn good, and she wasn't sure whether to be impressed or annoyed at how effortlessly he'd turned her into a mess.
He had taken her nipples between his lips, licking them and suckling them like a babe. The feeling was intense and Alicia's entire body shivered in delight, the sensation shooting through her body like an electric current, straight to her groin. She was so caught up in the moment that her hands stopped moving, causing him to look up with a raised brow.
Alicia blushed at the sight of him sucking on her breasts, her hands resuming her earlier pace. She moved her free hand to cup his head and pushed him to her chest again. She could feel his hair and how soft it felt on her skin.
"It feels good…" She whispered, biting her lip and arching her back, pushing her chest forward. "I want more." He did not wait to oblige, his tongue and lips attacking her breasts, leaving a trail of saliva along the valley.
She gasped, feeling the sudden wetness of his lips on her, the warmth of his mouth, and the softness of his tongue.
Alicia's grip on his cock tightened, and she started stroking him faster. Shesqueezed the base before sliding up to the tip, her palm pressing against the head, massaging it gently. She could feel his pulse, and it made her smile.
Her breathing was quick, and her heart was racing. It was all new, all too exciting to even put it into words.
"It's so warm," Alicia murmured, her fingers wrapping around his shaft and stroking him.
She couldn't believe she was touching him like this, and even more, enjoying every moment of it.
As much as she tried to fight back her arousal, it was a battle lost.
Her hand had a mind of its own, and her other hand left his head to soon join it. Both were now stroking his cock, their movements slow and gentle, but growing stronger with each stroke.
"I-Is it supposed to be this hard? It… it feels like it would hurt to deal with such a thing." Alicia mumbled, her eyes wide with awe, as her hands stroked faster . "Will this fit inside…?"
This entire time, the blonde hadn't realized she was panting, nor how loudly she was moaning. All that mattered was her hand pumping his shaft and the pleasure he was giving her.
His mouth and tongue continued their assault on her nipples, making her arch her back and lean her head back, moaning louder.
She wanted him to be rougher with her, to release any and all his pent-up anger or grudges he must have held somewhere within.
She wanted it more than anything.
And as the pleasure increased, so did her need.
She was so close.
It was only a matter of time.
Her hands stroked his length faster, and her other hand moved lower, cupping his balls, and squeezing them gently.
She could feel the pressure building, and her body tensed.
The heat was unbearable, spreading through her veins until she was sure her body would burst from the sensation. Archer had never stopped licking her breasts, igniting something deep within her that she couldn't contain.
"I'm gonna cum!" Alicia gasped, her entire body shaking as the pleasure built up inside her, threatening to overflow.
Then, with a sharp gasp, her climax tore through her, blinding and undeniable. Her vision blurred, everything melting into a hazy white as waves of pleasure left her breathless and trembling, her earlier confidence replaced with raw, unfiltered sensation.
She had never felt anything like it.
Every inch of her body tingled, her muscles spasmed uncontrollably, her hips bucked and her toes curled. Her whole world exploded in ecstasy.
Her eyes fluttered shut, and she cried out, her climax reaching its peak.
It lasted forever, and yet, it ended too soon.
When Alicia finally recovered from the intense pleasure, her entire body was limp, and her breathing was ragged. Archer removed himself from her chest, a string of saliva separating from the tender pink nipple, and then gazed at her.
"Did that feel good?"
"Yes…" She whispered, her voice hoarse. Yet, despite having just come, the fire within her refused to die down —instead, it burned hotter, consuming her completely. Her thoughts grew hazy, coherence slipping through her grasp like sand in the wind. "You can keep going, right? This was just the beginning… right?" She asked him eagerly. She was not sure exactly how to proceed from there, but Alicia did not want this to end. Not yet.
Her body yearned for more. Her womanhood rubbed against his shaft, his pre-cum mixing with her juices.
"Are you sure you're ready? I know that you're a virgin," he said, his hand traveling lower and caressing her thighs.
"I am ready," she assured him. "Please, don't hold back. I am a Princess Knight!"
His touch was gentle, but the intensity behind his gaze was enough to make her heart skip a beat.
"Very well."
He leaned in and kissed her again with him being the one who initiated this time, his tongue slipping past her lips, exploring her mouth. His hands roamed over her body, teasing her skin and sending shivers down her spine.
She could feel his cock pressing against her entrance, and she let out a low moan as he slid inside her, slowly stretching her walls.
"Mmm…!" Alicia whimpered, her hands gripping those stern shoulders, grappling onto his head with a tight embrace. Her face scrunched up as the sensation was more intense than she could have imagined.
It was so hot, and big, and hard.
She was so full, it felt like his dick was filling every part of her body.
She couldn't breathe.
She couldn't move.
She wanted more!
"Ah!"
A sharp sting cut through her focus, and Alicia's breath hitched as she felt something tear inside her. His cock pushed deeper, stretching her in ways she hadn't expected. Her legs instinctively locked around his waist, clinging to him like a lifeline. The pain didn't fade—it lingered, stubborn and unrelenting, a reminder of the barrier that had just been broken. A faint trickle of blood marked the moment, and for the first time, she felt truly vulnerable. Tears welled up despite her best efforts to hold them back. 'This hurts! It hurts so much!' she thought, biting down on her lip to keep from crying out loud. Her body shook uncontrollably, and she hated how weak it made her feel as the tears finally fell.
"Relax. Everything is going to be okay." Archer whispered into her ear.
Alicia closed her eyes and took deep breaths, her muscles relaxing. His hand stroked her hair gently, soothing both the woman's worries and pain bit by bit. He used his other hand to embrace her body, holding her close, while she adjusted. He moved to look at her face, her blue eyes streaming with tears. He took his hand off her hair, and gently wiped her tears away with his thumb. "I'm sorry I hurt you."
"It's… fine. Thank-Thank you Archer." She blinked away the last of her tears, her voice steadier than she expected. With a shaky breath, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his, softer this time, more deliberate. No fiery clash, no desperation—just a quiet, lingering touch that said more than words ever could.
She could feel it slowly ebbing away, the process taking a minute where neither of them so much as moved a muscle. Something within quickly turned the pain into pleasure as she started to recover. Every time he breathed, it sent a tremor all over her, her pussy opened, clamping down on his cock, trying to milk him. As for Archer, he could feel her formerly virgin pussy squeezing him as if to make up for the area he'd opened. The way it felt was intense as her folds wrapped around him tightly, making him feel like he was going to lose it.
"Hah… Ah…" She panted, her nails digging into his skin.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, his breath tickling her neck.
"I'm okay," she replied, her voice shaky. "It… it's starting to feel good. Please, keep going."
"So soon? It's okay to take more time, the first experience is when it will hurt the most. No need to rush through the pain."
So he said, but her body truly had moved past the point of pain. Uncertainty brewed as she considered whether it was because of her own body being far more adaptive than she believed, or due to her abilities as a Princess Knight playing a role.
Regardless, none of it was of any importance, as all she cared about was for him to continue. Her hips started to twist and turn, wanting to feel more of that fading sensation again. Archer, noticing her actions, shook his head and chuckled. Pulling her further in with a single action she was instantly hit with an explosion of pleasure, her vision blurring and her head spinning.
"Hn~!"
It was so intense, she could barely handle it.
He rocked his hips back and forth, using his hand wrapped around her body to move her in sync, his cock sliding in and out of her with a slick ease that made her gasp. She could feel the weight of his balls slapping against her ass with each thrust, the friction between their bodies sending sparks through her.
She moaned and whimpered and screamed, her body shuddering, her legs trembling uncontrollably,, her toes curling into the sheets, her heart pounding so hard she thought that it might burst.
It was too much.
"Oh Goddess…" she whimpered, her eyes rolling back in her head as she clawed at Archer's back, desperate for something to hold onto as the pleasure overwhelmed her. "It feels so good!" Was the only lucid thought that her mind could process amidst the waves of pleasure crashing into her mind with the same force of pain as Archer's cock entering for the first time inside her pussy. Less than a minute later, her body convulsed as she came, her holes seizing up and squeezing the thick appendage as the man just kept fucking her, creating friction so forceful and good that Alicia felt like she was about to pass out in pleasure.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice strained.
"Don't stop." She pleaded, her eyes pleading. "Please don't stop."
She couldn't stop.
The pleasure was too great.
She was losing her mind.
"Oh Goddess… Oh Goddess…! OH SWEET GODDESS!" She moaned, her hands clawing at his back, adding more to her work.
Archer became more hungry during the process as he began to move faster, she could feel him now slamming into her, moving one of his hands to hold her side to keep her in place, as he started ramming into her with more force that had the sofa shaking. Her back began to arch, as she stared at the ceiling, however Archer was having none of that as he pulled her closer, slamming her against his chest as her tits were squished by the tight embrace.
"Alicia, I'm gonna cum…" he grunted, his thrusts becoming faster and rougher, hips jerking involuntarily at the sensual assault. The Princess Knight whimpered, further pushed to the edge with his teeth once more on her chest, assaulting it, biting her nipples, and sending shockwaves of pleasure radiating through her lithe frame.
"Oh fuck…!" She screamed, her eyes rolling back deeper in her head. But then sensing him trying to remove his member from within, already losing that warmth, her body moved first. "NOOOO!"
"W-Wait, at this rate I'll—"
"Don't care! Just do it! DO IT!" Her voice began to slur, proper sentences escaping her. She moved his head away from her chest and pushed her face to his own, locking lips once more to silence him from saying or doing anything stupid.
Ignoring his attempts to pull out, she slammed her hips back down taking in the entire length once more with passion. Bouncing on the couch in an absolute frenzy, the prior Alicia Arcturus completely disappeared, leaving behind a side of hers she didn't even know existed.
"Yes!" Was the only word she could cry out, as their lips finally separated.
With a final, keening cry, her tone reaching a pitch that had the dogs barking outside, Alicia's orgasm crashed over her. Her inner muscles clamped down on Archer's thrusting shaft as waves of pleasure wracked her small frame. The man groaned, burying himself to the hilt as he felt his own release approaching.
Her body convulsed, with her back arched as her pussy clamped down on his cock like a vice while her juices flowed out like a dam. Her vision went black, and the last thing she remembered feeling was her womb getting filled with something. Something hot, sticky and plentiful. Her insides got filled with his essence again and again till it overflowed out onto the sofa.
The body Alicia once swore to keep pure and unsullied by the filthy presence of a man had now been turned into such a state due to her own action and will — serving to only make the aftershock of the orgasm that much more intense.
"Hah… hah… hah…"
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(Lemon End)
By the end, the woman found herself panting, her body covered in sweat, and feeling completely exhausted as if she had just completed one of Claudia's brutal endurance courses. Unable to move her legs or even wanting to leave her spot, she settled on him using his shoulders to rest her head and bask in the remnant pleasure, his cock still buried inside of her.
"Thank you, Alicia, that felt amazing, I'm sorry if your first time was too painful."
"No, that was incredible…I don't think I could have asked for a better partner."
"I'm glad to hear it. Hopefully, this is enough to give you that boost in confidence to handle your kingdom. If you can do something like this, then there's no way you wouldn't be able to face the trials to come." Archer said, making her remember why she wanted this to happen in the first place. Jealousy reigned in its ugly head as ALicia recalled how Maia most likely slept with Archer several times since meeting him.
At that moment, she did not want to let go, for she feared it would be the last. They just stayed as they were for a while, basking in the other's embrace and feeling each other. Sadly their snuggling had to end at some point.
"Still afraid?"
"…A bit." She admitted, ashamed to say it out loud after what she'd mentioned previously about gaining enough confidence after he agreed to be with her. Yet here she was, satisfied yet still yearning for something more, feeling the desire to go back on her words and try to ask for even more of his presence.
But that went against her pride as a Knight.
With a sharp exhale, she forced herself to move, sliding off him slowly and wincing as his cock slipped free. She stood on shaky legs, feeling his release start to trickle down her thighs. Her body felt like it had been through a war—sore, heavy, and yet still humming with the echo of what they'd just done.
She glanced up just as Archer got to his feet, pulling his pants back up. His armor was still gone, leaving his defined chest and chiseled six-pack abs on full display. Her eyes lingered a little too long, and she quickly looked away, her face heating up again.
'Oh Celestine, why did he have to look so damn good?'
"U-Um… A-Archer," she called, a sense of urgency befalling the woman upon seeing the man about to put back his armor. With a crimson face, she continued. "W-We still have the whole day ahead of us. We can head back to my room and continue where we lef—oof!"
Her suggestion was cut off at the last second, by a powerful force pushing her to the side. Alicia's body soared across the room till she realized her body nearly ended up getting kicked out of the window. "Argh!"
The sudden impact of the wall to her face nearly knocked her out cold. She barely managed to shield herself as her body reacted through pure instinct.
"Archer!"
A voice belonging to an unfamiliar woman reached her ringing ears. Believing this to be a surprise attack, Alicia turned around to make sure Archer was alright. But found the man frozen in place with another tall woman over him, her arms wrapped around him with long strands of purple… almost magenta hair covering them along with two large, black feathered wings.
And finally were the furious yellow eyes staring back at her with magic brimming within them.
"Don't you dare take him away from me !"
'Eh?'
'Who's this!?'?
{Break}
(A few minutes earlier)
Everything up until now had been nothing more than a dense fog — she could not remember much. The sensation was strange and hard to describe as if her body was trapped underwater surrounded by complete darkness. But despite that, a few memories did return and already they brought nothing but horror to the young girl's mind.
The raging fire threatened to consume the entire kingdom, reducing it to ashes.
The thick haze of aphrodisiac smoke slowly consumed everything, turning men and women alike into mindless creatures driven only by basic desire. Raping anything they could get their hands on, unafraid of getting wounded or even killed in their effort.
Bloodied bodies of those she once knew—those she had played with—lay strewn across the streets. Some were crushed beneath the smoldering ruins of collapsed buildings, others trampled by the frantic masses, their desperate cries swallowed by the chaos. There was nothing they could do to save themselves.
Too many suffocated from the blackened, acrid smoke rising in the air, blanketing the once beautiful blue sky with an unsettling red glow.
It made her believe she had fallen into the netherworld —a place she had only read about in the tatteredbooks she found at the local orphanage. A realm where brimstone and ash choked the air, where fire raged endlessly, and an ocean of blood swallowed the damned. Those who defied the Goddess Reborn, the demons and dark elves cast from grace—was this not their final resting place? Was this not hell itself?
And most haunting of all, amidst the chaos—the fire— the madness— a lone figure stood. The wind howled around him, carrying embers that danced through the air, rustling his stark, white hair. His entire presence seems almost detached from reality itself… a foreign entity, watching from the eye of the storm.
A man she knew to be both caring and gentle when no one was looking, the one who had given her a warmth she had not felt in so long. But now, that same person stood there, silent and unmoving. His tired eyes reflected the devastation before him. Eyes that, with each passing moment, hardened into cold detachment, an expression that no longer belonged to the one she knew.
Radomira wanted to stop him. Yes, she tried to stop him back then.
Even in her state, the enormous amount of destructive energy gathering around that… thing sent her instincts into complete chaos. While her body continued to burn from the outside, a weird sensation welled up within her with every breath she took — But she could only think about him at that moment.
Unable to explain how or even why, the young girl knew that she had to stop him. Not just to save the lives of those she had the chance to befriend, but also to save him.
Yet as she reached out her hands, screaming his name. He never noticed her presence, not even looking as his arm pulled back and the wave of crimson energy from his arrow grew more ferocious. More suffocating. As if she was being slammed by a boulder.
'No, no! Don't do it! Look at me! Please, Archer!'
She tried to run, pushing herself with all her might. Yet the distance between them only seemed to grow larger and larger for some reason. His figure grew distant, not even looking back as if her voice never reached him. Regardless of how much she screamed, it all proved to be a fruitless endeavor.
So she watched with wide eyes as he let go of the arrow. The projectile turned into a crimson streak of light soaring across the kingdom like a comet, overwhelming everything around it till it became the one thing every soul sensed in the last split second before it reached the main castle.
"—!"
Detonating upon impact in a fiery dome of fire, it expanded and engulfed everything in its path. The shockwave tore through the air, reaching every corner of the battlefield, as if the entire world had been painted in shades of red and destruction.
'No! Archer!'
Now fully lost in darkness, she could only cry. Lamenting with despair at what she knew was her fault in the end, unable to control her curse she doomed not only thousands of souls but also his own.
"What's with the tears?"
An arrogant voice asked, she did not even need to look up to know who it was. The sorrow was too overwhelming for Radomira to even bother answering the blonde Beast.
"Humph, it just shows that you never truly knew him. Living a fairytale in such a rotted world… the Guardian should have never tried to save what was beyond his capabilities."
Then she saw him again, no longer standing within the kingdom but under a lone tree on top of a hill overlooking Feoh. Or what was once Feoh, where now all that existed were just rubbles, ashes, and burning remnants. She watched his back leaning against a tree while looking at the devastation brought forth by his own hands.
Not a speck of blood or dirt on him. But that wasn't what Radomira saw.
She saw the weariness etched into every line of his face, his whole being radiating a quiet exhaustion. His steel-gray eyes, usually so steady, churned with a storm of emotions—anger flaring as his jaw tightened, teeth grinding before it all faded. What remained was hollow, a cold shell that seemed to have shed everything he once was. It was a twisted kind of acceptance she couldn't grasp. For a single, jarring moment, the hill transformed into a grotesque landscape—a mountain of corpses, a sea of swords, countless swords stabbed into countless bodies—before snapping back to its original form.
Not saying a word, he turned his back and walked into the woods. His back facing what was once Feoh.
All alone, he quietly disappeared without noticing her presence.
Understanding that at the end of the day, he has and always will remain chained to the responsibility of…
.
.
.
"Archer!"
Radomira's eyes snapped open, her breath hitching as she shot upright in bed. A cold sweat clung to her skin, dampening the sheets beneath her. Her chest rose and fell erratically, the phantom scent of smoke and blood still clinging to her senses. Her hands trembled slightly, fingers curling into the fabric of the blanket as if grounding herself in the present — all the while failing to notice the changes to her own body.
Her long, purple hair, usually smooth and pristine, clung to her damp skin in tangled strands and had darkened into a plum color. Sharp golden eyes, still clouded with the afterimages of her nightmare, darted around the dimly lit room as if expecting to find ruins instead of walls. Instead of embers floating through the air, there was only the flickering glow of candlelight casting soft shadows.
Her pulse was a steady thrum in her ears, but the silence of the room was deafening compared to the screams that had just filled her mind. It was disorienting. Too sudden. Too jarring.
She exhaled shakily, pressing a hand to her forehead.
It was just a dream.
But the weight in her chest remained, it was as if she could physically feel it now and it had divided into two instead of one. The lingering dread in her gut whispered otherwise against her telling herself it was a dream.
… She could feel it refusing to go away until she saw him again with her own eyes. Her fingers curled tighter against the sheets, her nails lightly digging into the fabric.
"That wasn't just a dream…" Radomira muttered, barely above a whisper.
Even now, the image of him standing there, watching it all unfold, refusing to turn back—refusing to see her—wouldn't leave her mind. It felt too real, too vivid as if it had already happened, in another time, in another place.
One where she wasn't there to stop him.
Swallowing thickly, she forced herself to move. The cold air against her damp skin sent a shiver down her spine, but she ignored it. She needed to shake this off. She needed to—
"What?" Her breath hitched again as she caught sight of her own reflection in the polished surface of a nearby mirror. Wide, shaken eyes stared back at her. Her normally composed expression was gone, replaced by pure shock at the unfamiliar person looking back at her. Yet it was not a stranger now that she looked closer, the bright yellow eyes, the same colored hair but longer, and a body far more developed that even left her further stunned.
Unknowingly, she walked closer until the woman stood right in front and her hand slowly reached up to touch the same face reflecting on the mirror. Soft skin, a foreign gem embedded on her forehead, sharp eyes, and so on.
She glided downwards until her fingers sunk into the large pillows of flesh on her chest. Even a single hand was not enough to grasp how big they were, surpassing Maia, Brynn, and even Claudia. A toned stomach with no marks, wide hips, and an overall hourglass figure.
"Who… is this?"
Even the voice did not match what she possessed before, sounding deeper with no trace of her childlike nature.
"Woah…"
Was this another dream? But there was no reason for her to have such a dream in the first place.
"Ah!"
Without even realizing it, she pinched herself. But instead of pain, a sharp, electric sensation shot through her skin, —closer to pleasure than anything else. All of these changes completely threw her off, he changes in her body, the dissonance between sensation and expectation—it was too much. Radomira's breathing grew uneven as reality itself seemed to slip from her grasp. Her mind swam, overwhelmed, and the pounding headache creeping in threatened to consume her entirely.
It was not until her ears picked up a strange groan coming from outside the room that she broke out of her stupor, "Archer."
Right. Whatever happened to her or whoever did this held no importance at the moment. She wanted to find him… needed to see him with her own eyes to stop the anxiety within her from taking over. To feel a sense of comfort by his side like she always has been feeling in the past.
Swaying left and right trying to get accustomed to her body's new balance, the woman approached the door leading to the living room. Pushing it slowly she was about to call his name once again but as the wooden door moved, the light from outside crept in and her eyes, and she caught a glimpse of what was taking place on the other side.
"—!"
She froze, her breath caught in her throat as her mind went blank. In that moment, every instinct screamed at her, yet her body refused to move—paralyzed by the sight before her.
"Ah~!"
A sensual moan filled the air, accompanying the intimate entanglement of two figures she knew all too well. One was a blonde Princess Knight— a woman she had long depspised, one who never hid her hostility toward those she cared for. And the other… was the man she had just seen in her dreams.
The two of them moved with a frantic rhythm, Alicia's blonde hair whipping around wildly with each thrust. Her moans filled the room, loud enough to make Radomira wonder if the whole damn castle could hear her. Alicia's eyes were practically rolled into the back of her head, with her tongue lolling out like she'd forgotten how to keep it in her mouth. She looked so far gone from the haughty, uptight knight Radomira remembered that it was almost jarring. Almost.
But somehow… a single thought ran across her mind upon observing the Princess Knight.
"Beautiful," whispered the Tiefling, entranced by the scene and people. It was completely different compared to the ones who had lost themselves in her aphrodisiac, as well as those who attempted to force themselves on others. The care Archer showed her, and the way Alicia moved of her own free will with clarity showed something far more intimate and lovely compared to the inhumanity, primal animal urges, and disgust she saw before. It was forever ingrained into her mind and at that point, she was not sure what to do. Remaining in that state for what felt like hours until they reached their climax and both parties calmed down.
Her body felt strange.
She could not explain it in words, but her instincts urged her to find it again.
"U-Um... A-Archer," Upon separating, Radomira saw Alicia hesitate and begin rubbing her thighs again while observing Archer as he was clothing himself, somehow she immediately knew what that woman wanted.
The strange, sweet scent that had initially filled the room was now rekindling, becoming more intense than before along with the lust in her eyes.
'W-Wait!'
It just hit her at that moment.
Why was Alicia doing such things with Archer? Wasn't she the one who wanted to kill him before? Everyone knew how much she hated him!
Yet why…
Her mind spiraled into chaos, overwhelmed by countless thoughts. Desperate to make sense of what she was seeing, she grasped at every possible explanation, no matter how unlikely. But one idea in particular stood above the rest. 'Is she… trying to trap him?'
That seemed like the most logical answer to the troubled girl, who grew more reassured as she remembered what the woman did and the stories Brynn mentioned about their first meeting where she accused him of being a criminal just for saving Prim.
Radomira would not let her take him away!
And so, she moved. Her wings stretched,wide, responding to an unspoken command. With a powerful flap, they generated a fierce gust of wind, propelling her forward at blistering speed. A brilliant purple light flared to life in her palm, pulsing with raw energy as she closed the distance in an instant.
"W-We still have the whole day ahead of us. We can head back to my room and continue where we lef-oof!" She pushed her to the side as hard as she could. Immediately taken aback by how the Princess Knight went flying, almost ending up through the window, but somehow they managed to avoid that in the end.
Still, that didn't matter right now as she felt an enormous amount of relief the moment she hugged Archer. Grabbing onto him with dear life and thanking every single god out there that what she saw was nothing but a dream and that nightmare never came to be. Overjoyed to see his current face brimming with emotions ranging from shock and a bit of embarrassment at being caught without his shirt, not that she cared.
For the person in front of her was nowhere near what he became at the end of her dream. He was not an empty husk who had thrown away everything that made him the person she knew.
"You!" That only served to fuel her anger upon realizing that Alicia was this close to pushing him to that outcome.
"Don't you dare take him away from me!" She shouted with venom in her tone, not caring if the person would grow enraged and try to attack her.
"Radomira?"
Suddenly, she was pulled away from her prior anger as she heard him call her name. Filled with energy once more, she quickly nodded her head with an overjoyed expression. "Yes, yes! It's me! You recognize me, right? I'm Radomira! I don't know what happened, I woke up and suddenly looked like this! I don't remember how it even happened, I had a nightmare where you destroyed the kingdom, then you became all "scary" and wouldn't even look at me when I called your name! I tried so hard! I tried, and I tried but you never once looked at me! Why did you ignore me!? You were going to leave me just like Mom and D—"
Her erratic tangent came to a halt when the counter guardian placed his hand on her head and pulled her close. His embrace was more gentle than what she had done before, his hand stroking her hair and managing to calm her down.
"I don't know what you saw but from what you're saying, I have an idea of what it was. You don't have to worry about that outcome, it will not happen and I will make sure that I never end up being pushed into a scenario where I am forced to make such a decision again."
Ah… He really was the Archer she knew. The one from her nightmare never came to be and she truly never wanted to see those emotionless eyes again. Unable to control herself, tears started to stream down her face as she continued to bask in his warmth.
"Uuuuuuh, don't ever do that again!" Her muffled voice exclaimed, "Let me help you next time!"
Archer's hand paused mid-motion at her last words. For a brief moment, an expression of uncertainty flickered across his face. But then, with a quiet exhale, he shook his head, pushing the thought aside.
"Promise me," continued the girl in between her sobs. "Promise me you won't abandon me."
"I think I already made such a promise, and I haven't broken it so far. It wouldn't hurt to do it again I suppose. I promise I won't abandon you under any circumstances."
Liar.
The word burned on the tip of her tongue, aching to be spoken. She wanted to accuse him right then and there. She had been around him long enough to see through the cracks in his words. He would leave. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday. Where or when remained a mystery, but the truth of his intent struck her soul like a dagger.
He had been preparing for this all along—subtly, carefully. Telling her she needed to learn how to do things on her own. Introducing her to Maia, Luu-Luu, and the others with the intention that they build bonds with her. Back then, Radomira simply swallowed the bitter truth, convincing herself she didn't want to be a burden to him. That staying silent was the better choice.
He was a terrible liar.
Despite that, she felt happy and relieved to hear it again, because it meant he cared for her.
"W-Who is this!?" Unfortunately, their moment was ruined by Alicia's furious voice. Turning to where she had thrown the blonde before, Radomira found her clutching the curtains and using them to cover her naked body. The lust and desire that had once filled her expression were now completely gone, replaced by a sharp, seething anger. She pointed a trembling finger at the Tiefling. "How dare you throw me away like that! I can have you thrown into a dungeon for attempted assassination right this instant!"
Weirdly, despite the woman standing before her being a Princess Knight, Radomira felt no fear. Instead, her gaze was filled with suspicion and contempt as she eyed the blonde. "Shut up you slut, I ruined your plans to trap Archer. If you try that again, I will make you pay!"
"Hey, who taught you to talk like that?"
"Trap him? Slut!?"
Two very different reactions came from the two people standing before her. Archer's was one of concern, his brow furrowing as he focused on the harsh language Radomira had used. He didn't seem to care about the accusation itself as much as the way she had phrased it.
Alicia, on the other hand, was absolutely livid. Her eyes burned with offense, her pride stung by the accusation. "I'm not taking that back," she snapped, her voice full of indignation, unwilling to let the insult slide
.
"W-We were having an important moment! I-It was for the f-future of the Kingdom!" Alicia shouted, her face growing increasingly flustered and red from anger. "Not even Maia dared to call me such a thing!"
"I dare! What are you going to do about it, you blonde hussy?"
Who cared if she was a Princess Knight? A newfound power coursed through Radomira's veins, unlike anything she had ever felt before. It surged through her body, raw and intoxicating, making her feel unstoppable. Even if she had yet to learn any spells so far, the strength she used before just now was more than enough!
…
Archer felt his eyelids twitch at the scene.
He just watched while these two continued to bicker with one another as their animosity grew bigger by the second. He had remained quiet for the most part but then decided to act knowing that he had to step up and stop this before it was too late.
"Calm down, Radomira. Alicia is right, she was not trying to trap me, hopefully... And Alicia, stop arguing with a child — it's unbecoming of you." Perhaps that was not the wisest thing to say, as at that moment, both women immediately turned to him, their gazes burning with the same fiery mix of rage and indignation.
"How is this one a child!? She's a demon!" shouted Alicia.
"Don't call me a child! I'm way bigger than even her now!" Radomira, on the other hand, shoved her hands under her chest to push them up further and used them to emphasize her point.
Feeling a headache incoming, he just sighed. "I am not sure if that transformation of yours is even permanent or not. Don't get used to it. And Alicia, this is Radomira. You met her before and I would prefer if you do not call her a demon, since she is not one. Also you should be saying thank you as it was Radomira absorbing all the aphrodisiac in the kingdom that saved it from a worse fate. The result was her transformation into… this." He used a more stern voice to get his point across them. Alicia's eyes grew wide as dish plates as she looked at a prideful Radomira with her hands on her hips and compared her to the child that only reached her waist just a few days ago.
"..."
"..."
Thankfully, both of them stopped arguing, but their glares remained locked on each other. He had an idea of how to break the tense atmosphere between them.
"Before we have a civil discussion that doesn't involve hitting each other or using magic to cause harm, it would be wise for both of you to get clothed."
He gestured toward Alicia's discarded armor and then at the completely naked Radomira, who, from the moment she left the room, hadn't bothered to wear a single article of clothing. He suspected this was Olga's doing, considering he had brought Radomira here fully dressed after taking her away from the last examination.
"W-Wah!"
A flustered cry escaped the Tiefling's lips as she finally realized the truth of his words. She let out a startled yelp, hastily raising her arms to cover herself before rushing back into the room. At least her sense of shame hadn't been completely eroded like the other girls in this castle, though he did see some concerning signs, he would have to make sure she will be okay.
"I'll get my armor now."
Alicia, on the other hand, quietly retrieved her armor. However, as she began putting it on, she kept throwing glances at him every few seconds. Archer raised an eyebrow. She was dressing right in front of him without even attempting to find privacy. The way she twisted and posed was slightly exaggerated and awkward, revealing her lack of experience in such movements compared to before.
'Is she seriously trying to seduce me after we just finished?' To be honest he wasn't entirely against doing it again. Just at that moment, he happened to stare at her as she bent down to pick up her armor, with her round ass on full display swaying, as her long smooth legs fidgeted. He could see her eyes watching him the entire time, studying his reaction with every movement she made. Her pure blonde hair cascaded down, reaching the ground in soft waves., Her modest breasts barely concealed as she adjusted her armor, shifted slightly with the pull of gravity.
He sighed internally, unsure whether to laugh or cry. It was adorable at best and pitiful at worst. Not wanting to embarrass her, he pretended not to notice her attempts.
However, when he turned around pretending to be oblivious, he couldn't help but hear Alicia let out a small, disappointed sigh. That was when something crossed his mind.
"Alicia there's something that still concerns me."
"Yes! I-I mean, cough! What is it?"
It was painfully obvious she was ready for round two. Wasn't her first time supposed to leave her wincing or at least a little sore? But no, here she was, practically bouncing with energy, like she'd just discovered the world's most addictive hobby. He raised an eyebrow, half-amused, half-concerned. Maybe she had some freakish Maia-level recovery going on.
Regardless, this was not the moment to think about that as something more important needed to be asked.
"Even as a Princess Knight, I know you are part of the Knights of St. Iris belonging to the Holy Chivalric Order."
"Ah." she became stiff at his remark. Nearly dropping the chest plate she was in the middle of putting on. "I know that what we just did was with two consenting individuals, and you were fully aware of everything that it entails. This was your decision, and it was your own free will as well, so I won't prod any further on that. But if I recall you are also the captain of that order of knights, right?"
"I am." Her answer did not come off as confident or even as prideful as it would have been in the past.
"I often heard of them and even read about them from different sources during my travels, and from Maia. If I recall, they are an order of knights that are famous for chastity, does that mean you can't be their captain if this ever comes to light."
Alicia paused in silence, thinking deeply and hard about it. "I…don't think so, while it is something we are heavily known for, it is not a requirement to be a knight. If it merely concerns if I am a virgin then no, that is not an absolute requirement for our knights."
He now roamed his eyes, scanning her face for any traces of lies. His actions continued to make the young woman more nervous than anything else at the moment. "You wouldn't happen to say that now just because it suits you, right? Since the rules can be changed by the person who created them."
Though he did not say it aloud, Archer knew she understood what he implied there.
"I-It's the truth! Many women under my command were once on the front lines and previously villagers who were unlucky and had their purity violated by the Dark Queens demons. Despite that, they are proud members of the order and took up their blades to join the fight, not willing to let things end as they did."
He nodded his head, when thinking about it in that way, it made sense. "I see. While you all do have many flaws and have committed plenty of idiotic mistakes in the past, I will praise you for this at the very least. It is admirable to move past tragedies and aim for a better tomorrow."
"You could have just said I did a good job," whispered the girl quietly at first and then puffed her chest with pride. "My Knight's loyalty and strength should not be put into question. With all they've been through, being driven out of their homes that were turned into ashes, thrown like discarded garbage by the general populace, they are still incredible women that I do not regret fighting side by side… but now…"
Her previous prideful look disappeared and she now looked at the ground without much of an expression.
"No, I don't believe I am any longer suitable to lead a group like that."
Archer became confused at that remark. "What do you mean?"
Alicia took a deep breath, able to put on the last piece of her armor and give Archer a complicated look. "While being chaste is not a requirement, it is forbidden to masturbate. We are not even allowed to seek company with other women. This is to ensure we will always be capable of resisting temptation without succumbing to pleasure. Our battles against the horde that would rape and break our minds, were imperative, so we needed to clear ourselves of such desires."
Archer supposed that made some sense.
In a world where constant rape was an even bigger problem than his world, those who needed to fight needed to have strong self-control. They needed to be able to resist their urges if they wanted to survive those who used sex as a weapon. It probably also explained why they were so confident in their enemies' character traits, that they would wear those skimpy outfits to entice their foes not to kill them, almost as if taking advantage of their weakness.
At least he hoped so, if the revealing armor had nothing to do with that then… hah, why would he even be surprised at this point?
These very armors were one of the underlying factors leading to the Kuroinu and other similar-minded mercenaries developing the desire to rape them. A double-edged sword if he were to describe it. The men themselves would need to have just as much self-control, if not more than the females in order to endure, either that or have a low amount of desire for it at all. There was also the fact that the armor offered little in defense, while focusing on blessings. But it would mean nothing against a foe who could surpass it.
Alicia's face took a grim, yet embarrassed look. "You remember do you not… you walked in on me after all. I can admit it, without feeling shameful now… I was… I was… m-m-ma… m-ma…" The longer she went on the more she stuttered and blushed, squirm as if she did something terrible, which he found to be a pretty hilarious and cute thing given what they just did. "You know what I did! You saw it! I don't need to say it out loud…"
He waved his hand. "Yes, yes I get what you're trying to say. You don't need to lose your temper for that."
"I am not—hah," tried as she was, and about to have another outburst, the woman somehow managed to keep her calm. "Regardless, in doing so I have betrayed our code." She revealed with a shaky breath. "I have been dreading this ever since I first performed it. Which is why what I have done today does not affect me or break any oath given I had long since broken it myself."
"But that was because of the aphrodisiac. It made you incapable of resisting release." Archer reminded her. "Not to mention how these rules were set up by you. They can be changed or made more flexible however you wish without anyone saying anything."
"I cannot do that, I must take responsibility for my mistakes regardless of who made the rules. Also, I should have been able to resist it. Even so, if your words are true, after being purged of it I initiated a sexual relationship with you right now. I started it, and pushed for it, which may have well been no better than masturbating myself."
She could talk quite well when she wasn't embarrassed.
Honestly, he was impressed by how far she was willing to go and take this matter seriously. Even if it ended up working against her judgment.
"You don't have to leave your Knights." Still, he insisted, gesturing at the kingdom outside the window. "After everything that happened recently, this place needs a leader more than anything else. If you are truly doing this for your people, then pride can become an unnecessary hurdle."
Disbelief flashed in her eyes, "Are you asking me to lie to my knights as their leader?"
"What exactly is a leader or better yet, what are you specifically? A leader or a ruler first? If you want the simple answer, then yes. Lie, deflect the blame, or invent a story. Anything, as long as it works."
"That means that I will have to betray the loyalty of my knights which I cannot accept. And besides, I know a better way to fix this without lying to my knights. I will take a leave of absence from the Knights of the St. Iris, and put my effort into rebuilding Feoh, it is time for me to finally look at my nation."
Archer remained silent after what she said. He had his reservations about this particular decision she was making. Alicia not being part of this order could change various things across the kingdom, whether it be for the better or worse. But she had a point, prioritizing the kingdom more than anything else, perhaps that was the best outcome.
In the end, he shrugged. "I can't force you to do anything. If you are truly willing to go through with this plan and are sure that it won't cause more chaos, then all the power to you." He already told her of his inability to stay behind and help her manage the kingdom; she needed to learn how to do so herself without relying too much on others.
Though looking at her face, It became clear that she had something else to say.
"It would be much easier for me to rebuild this kingdom with you by my side," she confessed with a melancholic smile. "Even if you play only a minor role in its construction, I know it will be a major boon for me."
"I appreciate the compliment, but unfortunately, that is not something I can do— managing a kingdom or being an advisor has never been my forte. I cannot ignore my own duties like I mentioned before, just like how you can not ignore yours anymore. However, that doesn't mean I will be completely out of the picture. From time to time, whenever I have the opportunity, I'll make sure to check up on you and ensure you're not messing everything up again. Thankfully, you also have Prim by your side to keep an eye on things."
"I suppose you're right," she admitted, agreeing with him but clearly unhappy with the conclusion.
As their conversation reached its end, the bedroom door creaked open, and Radomira peeked her head out, her expression mildly embarrassed.
"Archer, none of my clothes fit me," she admitted in a pitiful voice. Had the clothes he put on her earlier disappeared? "So I wore one of your shirts!" she declared enthusiastically before stepping out.
She was wearing one of his oversized shirts—a gift from Maia when they first arrived here. The fabric clung to her figure, and from the way it draped over her legs, he was fairly certain she wasn't wearing anything underneath.
"Not good enough. You'll need to change or at least wear some pants," he remarked, causing the girl to pout.
"You could at least tell me if I look beautiful or not!"
"Indeed, you are beautiful. Now go change."
"Hmph! None of your pants even fit me! So it's either this or nothing!"
Even in the body of a mature woman, her personality remained the same. It was a relief to see. Still, he sighed and projected a set of clothes before tossing them at her face. As the girl let out an audible "oof". These were the same clothes he saw Anna wearing, big enough to fit the girl without much of an issue and not exposing her entire body. He'd even altered the colors to match her a mix of purple, red, and black colors as she requested.
"Try these on, then." The brat had the nerve to show him her tongue before retreating back into her room. Still, he smiled upon seeing how she had recovered from her initial reaction. Whatever she saw in that dream hadn't come true. He was not sure if it was similar to Celestine's power or just a simple nightmare that happened to come very close to reality by sheer coincidence. "Get ready soon, we need to visit Olga and have her check you over. You don't know what this new form has changed within you and it's best to make sure that there are no negative side effects."
Radomira immediately shook her head, "I don't want to lose this form, Archer! Can't you see just how beautiful I am right now? How can this be a bad thing? And I'm strong enough to help you now!"
"You don't even know a single spell," he reminded her. "That attack just now was just pure luck. Against an experienced opponent, or if Alicia wasn't distracted, I doubt you would have done much damage."
"Exactly!" Alicia added, puffing her chest. "I am a Princess Knight known for my speed, there is no way a demo—uh, a child would have so much as touched me without my consent."
The Tiefling wanted to say something else but kept her mouth shut in the end, "...Can I get something similar to Maia's outfit? It's cuter."
"No."
"Olga's armor."
"In your dreams."
"Luu-Luu?"
To that, He did not even give her an answer as he gave her a withering glare, enough for her to understand and go back inside with another pout. Thus leaving him and Alicia inside the room alone once again, though unlike last time the atmosphere was a bit more awkward on her end.
"So… I-I should leave. Prim is probably looking for me." She approached him, making him think she was going to extend her arm for a handshake only for the woman to close the distance between them and leave a kiss on his lips. "I won't let you and the people of Feoh down!"
Those words left her mouth in quick succession as she ran out of the room, kicking the door open and running down the hall at superhuman speed. Just before she left he clearly heard someone yelp behind the door and at that moment, he remembered Brynn who was guarding the door this entire time.
Walking outside, he looked around and found Brynn on the ground with the lower part of her clothing missing, her hair completely disheveled, and shame showing on her face as she met his gaze.
"I'm sorry master! I didn't mean to peek!"
Just like Alicia, she ran away without giving him the chance to say anything.
This was going to be hard to explain if word were to spread.
…
"I don't know about this outfit, Archer. Can you really just not make me something similar to Chloe's?"
On their way to see Olga, Radomira continued to marvel at her transformation, pure wonder shining in her eyes. She couldn't stop admiring every little detail, tracing her fingers along the edges of her newly grown wings with excitement. "Woah! These wings grew so much but they don't feel heavy at all. Do you think I can hit someone with these? And they're so soft that we can use them as a blanket together!"
He was not sure if sleeping together like they used to in the past would be a good idea now that she had basically turned into a mature woman physically. In her sleep, the girl tended to be very grabby and moved around a lot. But he also could not say no, since she still experienced night terrors from time to time. Even though their frequency had diminished, he feared what happened recently must have worsened that part.
"Who do you think is bigger? Me or Olga? Do you think she'll be jealous?"
"For the love of…Do you really think Olga's the type to care about who's got the bigger chest? She was the one taking care of you when you were unconscious and not once did she make a comment about your transformation."
"So I'm not sexy enough…"
How did she even come to that conclusion? Of course, now that she started to twirl around, some of her long hair strands were hitting his face.
"If I absorb more of my aphrodisiac, will I get bigger?"
"I don't know."
"What about my hips? They're already a bit too big for me now…"
"I don't know."
"My hair is already so long and luscious, can you help me style them in a different fashion when we get back? Oh, make it like Alicia's! She was rude to me but when I saw her today, she looked absolutely stunning!"
"Hah… please forget about that."
"Oh! I can't wait to show my new form to Claudia! I think I'm taller than her now and bigger!"
"Maybe."
"Do you think she'll be jealous of me?"
"No."
ARcher responded with simple answers along the way, humoring her excitement but refusing to entertain her more outlandish ideas—especially the ones about how her transformation somehow made her more mature than she already was physically. Still, a nagging concern lingered in the back of his mind. Bringing her out in public might not be the best idea. Her demonic traits were far more pronounced now, harder to conceal than before. That alone could invite unwanted attention—and trouble he wasn't sure they were ready to deal with.
Not to mention with her striking beauty, she was still a young girl—one who could be taken advantage of by a stranger.
Finally, they reached Olga's quarters and Radomira was the first one to rush ahead and barged into the room with a large smile on her face. "Olga! I'm awake!"
"..."
No answer came from within, looking around they found the place to be eerily quiet with not a trace of either of the dark elves. Strange, that woman barely left this place unless she was accompanying him. And given some of her research notes were left on the table, it made no sense for her to leave them unattended with any passerby able to steal them.
"Eh, she's not here?"
Radomira went around, going from room to room trying to find the duo but coming out empty-handed.
"Maybe she went on a stroll." He added, not even believing his own words as that woman was not someone who would not entertain such things in enemy territory without him by her side.
"Archer!" He was pulled out of his thoughts upon hearing a panicked voice come from the hallway, turning around he found Maia running over with a pale expression. "You need to come quick, Olga was with Celestine and—eh, who?"
The redhead stopped in her tracks when she saw the Tiefling. Though, unlike Alicia, it only took her a few seconds to recognize the person in front. "R-Radomira!?"
"Maia!"
Neither of them wasted any time embracing one another with a tight hug, one side showing pure shock while the other smiled gleefully. "I just woke up like this, we were here to have Olga check my body and make sure nothing is wrong but she's not here."
"Wai—what…" Maia needed a few moments to gather her thoughts, still overwhelmed by Radomira's appearance until she shook her head fiercely the next second. "We'll discuss this later! There are more important matters you need to hear, Archer!"
"Another attack?" This was the conclusion he came to first, and the one that made the most sense. There was a large possibility for Draco to continue her relentless assaults and further push the kingdom into chaos. But he didn't expect her to make a move so soon.
To his surprise, this did not turn out to be the case when Maia shook her head again.
"N-No, It's about that freeloading Dark Queen and her minion! Celestine-sama just had a vision about them."
A vision? That sounded concerning, neither of the previous ones was good news. And this concerns Olga no less…
"She got a vision of Olga walking away from Feoh all by herself and then a large army marching its way here soon after! We tried to find both her and Chloe but they were nowhere to be seen! Kaguya got reports about a few of her spies seeing a white-haired woman riding away from Kuoh with a blonde Dark Elf! So…"
"Chloe got kidnapped and Olga is going after her!"
This could not get any worse.
Whoever this was, were they luring Olga away? And the part with an army invading Feoh brought up more questions.
The fact that Olga left without even telling him was hard to believe.
"No! Archer, we have to do something!" Radomira begged him, not making his next decision any easier for it meant leaving the kingdom for a while and leaving it vulnerable for Draco to take over in his absence.
But… if he did nothing then more problems would arise.
"Damn it, we need to find Olga first." He needed her enhancement magic to help him in the near future again. He couldn't imagine himself winning against Draco without her. He just hoped the Princess Knight was able to hold off whoever was invading. Without saying anything else he sprung into action.
"Hey, wait for me!" Maia shouted as soon as she saw him leaping out of the window, with Radomira following close behind. Her wings stretched wide, dark feathers scattering into the sky like ink staining the clouds.
Archer didn't spare her an answer—time was not on his side. He needed to stop that foolish woman before she got herself killed, by blindly rushing into danger in a reckless attempt at a rescue
.
.
.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the castle. Alicia had returned to her office with an embarrassed face. Grateful that Prim was not present and wanted to take some time to focus on her neverending work.
Though strangely enough, a Knight awaited her in front of the door.
"What is it?" She asked, tired and wanting to get whatever matter this was done quickly.
"Alicia-sama, a woman claiming to be a diplomat from a foreign kingdom has asked for your presence."
Eh, a diplomat? That was new. She rarely—if ever—had never got such people knocking on her door.
"She claims to be from the Van Grea family… but her current appearance does not truly match the status of a diplomat, making her words hard to believe." The Knight said with uncertainty. "I decided to have her wait outside, just in case she is a pretender. Several Knights are standing by, ready to lock her up in a dungeon if necessary."
Van Grea?
That name sounded very familiar, the young blonde could not remember exactly where she heard it from. Prim most likely had knowledge of such things. Still, the fact that the name alone gave her a sense of familiarity was not to be ignored.
"Bring her in then. I'll see who she is myself."
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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.