136 A Passion That Shook The Earth

Seth awoke in the middle of the night after he sensed the Chaldeans have finally arrived. However, he didn't show any reaction other. He merely sighed while a hand ran through his hair. 'I should have known this was going to happen. Things are never that easy.'

When faced with situations like these, the black-haired man would always take the coward's route. He would keep himself far away from the present situation and only appear when things have calmed down, when he wouldn't need to face reality, one that always seemed to be laughing at him. That no matter his strength, be it of mind, soul, or body, it would never be enough.

Yes, that is what he would normally do.

His fake name of Seth meant many things, but some of them were: he who is pleased with desertion, he who abandons, and he who is missing—someone who would not hesitate in leaving anyone behind. A person that hates friendship and any positive relationship.

But his eyes, his eyes showed a different kind of approach this time—one unbecoming of a man who always ran away from his problems.

"No matter the era or the place, war always produces casualties, and more often than not, those casualties are the people you have come to recognize as companions, equal in standing to you." He thought aloud, removing his back from the tree he was resting on and fully standing up.

"I can share the sentiment, but aren't you angry at us?" Like a ghost, EMIYA materialized silently on top of a near branch. Although he spoke calmly, his appearance denoted how much trouble they faced against the Argonauts. There were traces of blood on his clothes, and his right arm was almost hanging limp to the side, probably due to broken bones.

"Why should I be, and what should I be angry about?" Seth asked evenly while dusting himself off. Apparently, his question only worked to bring a scowl to Archer's face.

"You know what I am talking about. I am not so naive as to think you weren't aware I was here. In that case, going by what you said, it is not that hard to assume you are knowledgeable about what happened to that girl." A hint of respect was noticeable in his tone. Whatever happened, it managed to move the Wrought Iron Hero.

"You mean the state Altera is in right now? I naturally know of it. But then, so what? What do you want me to do about it?" Seth's choice of words made Archer's eyes narrow. He knew he wasn't talking to the most rational of Gods, but he still hoped the black-haired man would have a semblance of grief by the fate of his Servant.

"You aren't dense despite how you might portray yourself to be. Your legends speak of a man of great cunning. With that in mind, you are trying to say you didn't know how she felt?" EMIYA's patience was starting to run low if the folding of his arms coupled with the cynicism on his face was any indication.

"And despite that great cunning you speak of, despite me being a God of Trickery, I was still deceived. Don't you find that hilarious?" The growing answer on the white-haired man was enough of an answer for Seth, so he stopped playing around.

"Yes. I am aware she has feelings for me. I am not stupid. I am also aware that she would do anything in her power to act as my sword, to trample the enemies before me, even at the cost of her own life. But then again, what do you want me to do? I don't know what concept you have of our kind, but we don't do miracles. You can't ask a fish to fly or a bird to swim. The fact that I am a God doesn't mean I can save her. That requires one specialized in healing or magic. In fact, it's thanks to me that she is still alive right now. Not everyone can be a jack-of-all-trades like you, EMIYA. You would do well in remembering that."

A sigh escaped Archer's lips, his frustration growing with each passing second. "If you know how she feels, then you should be doing even what you can't do to see that she survives. The fact you hate the Servant system doesn't elude me, so it is obvious you will not summon her again should she perish. In that case, the next best option would be to somehow prevent her Spirit Core from collapsing and restoring it afterward."

"Not happening. I already know my limits. Though, if you want to try something, then be my guest." With nothing more to say, he prepared to leave. However, EMIYA's next words rooted him in place.

"So you are going to ignore her happiness for your own selfishness? If you didn't feel the same way for her, then you should have told her so. That way, she wouldn't have gone to such lengths to defend us against Herakles, knowing their aim was your supposed daughters. She wouldn't have fought so relentlessly until her body was filled with wounds. And most of all, she wouldn't have that mortified face when she fell and realized she couldn't keep protecting us anymore." The next thing Archer knew, a hand had made its way to his throat. Red eyes which seemed to shine more in the night staring at him coldly. Despite their height being the same, EMIYA felt like he was looking at a giant who was deciding if he got to live or die.

"Watch your tongue, boy. You don't have any idea how much I wish I had the ability to help her, but I don't. Will become depressed solve anything? No, it will not. Will a pointless effort that is beyond your capabilities do anything? No, it will not. In that case, I will do neither. And it certainly doesn't help to have a snotty brat like you telling me what I should and should not be doing." The Egyptian God didn't know if it was true, but there seemed to be a competition going around where the one who pissed him off the most was the winner.

EMIYA's response was a smug grin. "So you do care for her after all. And here I thought you only cared about yourself and your ambitions."

"Is that supposed to make me laugh? Because you are doing a terrible job at it." The only thing that Archer managed to get with his words was the tightening of the hand around his neck.

The Red Bowman just lifted his remaining working arm in surrender. "Think nothing of it. It was just a test to see if you had any hidden agenda. I am sure you understand that it is not easy to leave 'saving the world' to a person with questionable character. I take it you know what I mean."

Seth didn't say anything. He just kept staring at Archer's steel-gray eyes without any sign of releasing him from his grip.

Seconds passed, then minutes, until finally, the black-haired man took his hands off him. "You should think things through before trying that with me. If it weren't for me being in a good mood until recently, I would have snapped your neck."

After that, he disappeared from EMIYA's vision, destination unknown.

"Is that a threat?" He asked to the rustling trees before him. However, he still got an answer. "No. It is a fact."

Everything grew quiet shortly afterward, leaving room for Archer to process everything he had gained from the short conversation he and Seth had.

The white-haired man's posture relaxed as he exhaled a sigh. Good thing he was a man who took risks as long as it was profitable. Otherwise, he would have fallen down the branch he was stepping on due to the sheer pressure in the atmosphere. 'Do not hate a man to his face when you know nothing of him. If I remember correctly, that was one of the many codes of conduct you Egyptians lived by. I guess it would make sense for it to apply to Gods as well. His attitude aside, it seems his heart is in the right place. Heh... Never thought I would be one to say that. Still, you were right in putting your trust in him, Master. To think someone younger would have more foresight than me. I don't know how to feel about that.'

In the end, what they teach you as history is mythology, and true Mythology is far from fantasy - every kind reveals true fragments of our real history. Indeed, myths reveal to us worlds of other dimensions that make up our true reality. In summary, what people know about Mythology is far from the truth, but it isn't entirely false either.

'Instead of thinking about what is true and what is false, it would really help if I could read his weapon.' He had tried it before; he wouldn't deny it. Sadly, much to his annoyance, everything came as static, similar to a certain Golden Archer's weapon. What's worse is, he felt as if his blood was becoming nothing more than poison the longer he stared at it. The sensation was something he didn't wish to experience again in his life. That said, he at least got a bit of information out of it. If that weapon was something similar to the Sword of Rupture, then it meant they both shared some traits. Now, the question was, which traits?

The Red Bowman released a grunt of frustration. There were too many things to think about and too little knowledge to go with them.

He would have to let the thinking to his future self. He was already tired after all the bullshit he went through. Seriously, fighting the Great Hero brought back unpleasant memories by the hundreds. What was next, Caster suddenly appearing just so that the World can laugh at his E Rank Luck?

EMIYA shook his head with a wry smile. There's no way that's possible. He was sure his bad luck had to have a limit. It was already enough to meet the younger version; he didn't need to do so with the adult one.

'Speaking of bad luck, he didn't seem to have come unscratched from his fight against that Archer. Those cracks in his body and the unfocused eyes, not to mention the weird need to use glasses... We all got the short end of the stick, huh?' Despite it being night, the white-haired man was able to see with clarity the changes that occurred to Seth compared to the last time they saw him.

Shaking his head out of his pessimism, EMIYA went to reunite with his comrades. They have had a very rough time, so a couple of days of good rest wouldn't be unneeded. Besides, Fujimaru required his help. The kid had been a little out of it since the battle was over. It was obvious he wanted to talk to Seth. Since they were both Masters, the young man felt more comfortable talking with him about things than any other person. Sadly, even though the guilt of what happened might be consuming him, he would have to wait. After all, the Egyptian God had a place to be at this moment.

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Seth silently walked through the forest in the Golden Hind's direction. He didn't want to meet with anyone yet, only with one person. And that person was already inside the ship.

He didn't feel the other's presence near the vessel. Instead, they were a little farther together with Atalanta and David, probably getting to know each other or some crap like that.

The conversation with EMIYA had been unproductive and utterly displeasing, but the worry he felt allowed him to put it in the back of his mind.

Thanks to that, Seth could think about what he was going to say and how he would react to seeing Altera. He knew himself, and it wouldn't be pretty for those around him.

Masking his presence from everyone's senses, the black-haired man continued his walk unimpeded. It was only after he exited the forest where he had been resting and spotted the Golden Hind that he stopped.

Suddenly, he felt as if his legs had grown heavier. Soon enough, they weren't just his legs, but his whole body too. It might be because it was the first time in a long while that he actually decided to face his problems that his body refused to move as if it didn't know how to react.

Frowning at the sight, Seth bit his tongue. The sudden pain enough to restore his motor skills. It was an absurd situation for someone like him, but he didn't let it bother him. There were more important things that required his attention, after all.

With strong but steady steps, the black-haired man made its way to Drake's ship. The sand beneath him giving way to its rightful King.

From a distance, Seth could hear people talking, albeit in a low volume. Some of Francis' crewmates remained on the ship by looking at things, probably to watch after it.

At first, they didn't show signs of noticing he was walking toward them, but as he neared the Golden Hind, more and more people started taking notice of his presence.

It took a few seconds, but they managed to recognize him as the guy who was with them some time ago before disappearing. "Oh, ye be back! We be glad t' see ye aga—"

"Get lost." Without letting the guy who had come to greet him finish, Seth used his Authority to control all the people currently on the ship.

"...Aye." Everyone's eyes became glazed; their faces devoid of all traces of emotion. There was only a single thing in their minds: To obey.

One by one, the pirates started dispersing, abandoning the ship, leaving Seth alone to his devices.

Once he made sure everyone had abandoned the Golden Hind, the black-haired man jumped lightly to the deck.

Seth stayed in the same place for a couple of seconds, unwilling to see the sight that awaited him. It hadn't been that long since he had to kill his own student, the memory still fresh even if he pushed it away to focus on the objective at hand.

Being honest with himself, he didn't know if he was ready to let her go after Thutmose's recent death. However, he couldn't just turn around and walk away either. Not for him, but for her. As much as he disliked it, EMIYA was right. It was thanks to him that she fought without pause nor care for her wounds. The least thing he could do was show his face.

The Egyptian God directed his gaze upward, more precisely to the full moon. A heavy sigh soon escaping his lips. 'Being young sure does not suit me.'

Before he knew, Seth was already walking in the direction of Drake's bedroom. His lone steps echoed throughout the small wooden hallway. The sound only stopped when he reached a pair of double doors.

A flash of hesitation entered his eyes, one that was gone as quickly as it came. Pushing the doors open, he was met with a sight that brought frost to his face, something unbecoming of a God of Fire.

A multitude of thoughts ran through his mind, but one stood out among them.

'Herakles... Just you wait... I will mutilate your fucking corpse.'