"Stars," Zoe repeated. Her eyes fixed on the night sky. And she did not move again.
Thalia lowered her head. Annabeth gulped down a sob, and her father put his hands on her shoulders. Bianca was crying, and Artemis stood there looking at Zoe.
Then, the goddess looked at Drako. "You said you could save her."
"And I did," Drako nodded.
"I can't feel connection with her, it disappeared."
"That was because I severed it," Drako explained. "She is now no longer your Hunter, but my Servant."
For a mont, they didn't see anything different. Then Annabeth gasped. Looking again at Zoe, a strange silver lighting surrounded her body. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
"I'm alive?" She asked when she saw all of them.
"Welco to your new life, my dear Servant," Drako smiled.
"What?"
Zoe was disoriented for a mont, but then she rembered her "last monts". It had been Artemis who had decided that this was the best thing for her.
But... she would rather move on to the next life than stop being a Hunter.
"I understand what you're thinking, Zoe," Drako said. "I'll explain to you later what it ans to be a Servant."
"What can it an, other than being a man's personal servant?" She asked with a bitter smile.
"Nothing of the sort," Drako shook his head. "To begin with, don't you notice anything different about your body?"
This didn't just catch Zoe's attention, it caught Artemis' as well.
"She's... stronger. Much stronger," the goddess muttered.
Zoe also seed to have noticed the sa thing. "But... how?"
"These are the benefits of becoming a Servant," Drako explained. "In fact, you are not alone. You've already t two in Japan."
Zoe rembered Mordred and Kuroka. At that mont, she was surprised to feel how strong they were. Now she understood why they were so strong.
"Although you are my Servant, and I am your Master, this contract is one of equals," Drako said. "We both have the sa importance in this contract."
"There are many more things to explain, but this is not the place or the ti," Drako continued. "Just rember that if I die, you die. Our lives are linked that way."
"I see..." Zoe muttered.
"I must go to Olympus imdiately," Artemis said. "I will not be able to take you, but I will send help."
The goddess set her hand on Annabeth's shoulder. "You are brave beyond asure, my Hunter. You will do right in this new live."
Then, she looked towards Thalia and Bianca, the two youngest Hunters. "You did a nice job, my young ones."
She turned to Percy. "You did well," she said. "For a man."
Finally, she looked back towards Drako and Zoe.
"Take good care of her," she said. "Zoe is my most precious hunter."
She mounted her chariot, which began to glow. There was a flash of silver, and the goddess was gone.
"Well," Dr. Chase sighed. "She was impressive; though I must say I still prefer Athena."
Annabeth turned toward him. "Dad, I… I'm sorry that—"
"Shh." He hugged her. "Do what you must, my dear. I know this isn't easy for you."
His voice was a little shaky, but he gave Annabeth a brave smile.
Then, they heard the whoosh of large wings. Three pegasi descended through the fog: two white winged horses and one pure black one.
"Blackjack!" Percy called.
They have a short horse talk.
"These are my friends. We need to get to Olympus pretty fast."
The only problem was the professor, he couldn't go to Olympus since he is just a mortal. But… he was staring open-mouthed at the pegasi.
"Fascinating," he said. "Such manoeuvrability! How does the wingspan compensate for the weight of the horse's body, I wonder?"
Blackjack cocked his head.
"Why, if the British had had these pegasi in the cavalry charges on the Cria," Dr. Chase said, "the charge of the light brigade—"
"Dad!" Annabeth interrupted.
Dr. Chase blinked. He looked at his daughter and managed a smile. "I'm sorry, my dear. I know you must go."
He gave her one last awkward, well-aning hug.
There were three pegasi, and they were six persons. Thalia and Bianca went to one of the pegasi, Annabeth and Percy climbed on Blackjack, and Drako and Zoe went to the last one.
Dr. Chase finally called, "Annabeth. I know… I know San Francisco is a dangerous place for you. But please rember, you always have a ho with us. We will keep you safe."
Annabeth didn't answer, but her eyes were red as she turned away. Dr. Chase started to say more, then apparently thought better of it. He raised his hand in a sad farewell and trudged away across the dark field.
Soon, San Francisco was only a glittering crescent behind them, with an occasional flicker of lightning in the north.
..........................
Thalia was so exhausted she fell asleep on her pegasi's back. Bianca had to hug her from behind to hold her, and the pegasi also helped with that.
Annabeth and Percy seed to have a conversation on Blackjack.
"So, are thee going to tell more about being a Servant?" Zoe said. "What am I going to do from now on?"
"Hmm, I guess you are coming with to Japan," Drako said. "You don't really have to do anything for now. Well, we are going to another world in a few days."
He just said that casually, like it was normal to do that.
"What?" Zoe asked. "Going to another world?"
"It's difficult to explain from the start. The whole concept of Master and Servant co from another world, a parallel one. We are going there to participate in the Holy Grail War."
"Holy Grail War?"
"A war between 7 Servants and 7 Masters. They fight for the right to get the Holy Grail, an object that can give you any wish you want. But we are going to be exceptions in that war, and eight master and his three Servants."
"What is your wish?"
Drako denied with his head. "I don't have any wish."
"But thee are going to fight in that war for the wish, right?"
"Not exactly. You see, the war we are going is corrupted. The Grail is not going to give any wish. Although I know of another war that indeed give that wish, but that's for a later date. What I want is to kill as much Servants and Masters as I can."
Zoe didn't understand why Drako wanted to kill that much.
"You want to know? I'm not a psycho, at least not right now. I can tell you that I have a curse and a blessing at the sa ti. I have the ability to increase my power very quickly, but that cos at a price. I cannot improve by normal ans; I am dood to remain at the sa level unless…"
"Unless thee kill, right?" Zoe guessed.
"Exactly," Drako nodded. "The stronger my opponent is, the more powerful I beco. You've noticed that, haven't you? How much stronger I have beco after killing Ladon."
Zoe already assud that Drako had killed Ladon. The prophecy said that one dragon had to kill the other, and Drako was the one that was still alive.
"The sa goes for my Servants. My strength is also improved with your kills, and your strength is improved when my strength grows."
The towns were zipping by faster now, islands of light thicker together, until the whole landscape below was a glittering carpet. Dawn was close. The eastern sky was turning gray.
"The Servants are divided in 7 classes principally," Drako explained. "Saber, Archer, Lancer, Rider, Berserker, Assassin and Caster. Yours is Archer, and it cos with the skill Independent Action. Even if I don't allow you to whatever you want, you can to whatever place you want. You can still Hunt with Artemis if you want."
Drako leave that option open to Zoe, but she denied with her head. "My tis in the Hunt has already ended. I'm not going back there." She looked towards Thalia and Bianca. "Is the ti to let the new generation get the lead."
Drako nodded, respecting her decision. "But you don't mind helping a little bit when Artemis call , right?"
Zoe smiled a little. "Only if thee want my help."
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INFO
For those who want Zoe's stats.
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[Zoe]
Race: Hesperid/Servant
Status: Normal
Lv: 49/100
Strength: 2504
Defense: 1252
Magic: 5008
Agility: 7753
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