"A-A Goddess?" Marteo muttered, causing Elanor to frown before discreetly pushing Marteo away to get a glimpse.
Immediately, a feeling of inferiority that she had never once felt before flooded her mind as Arturia's form was distinctly made out.
From the moment Shirou had first created Arturia in YGGDRASIL, she above all was the one he had spent the most time on. Blemishes and minor details were impossible to be found on her; the natural radiance and elegance she had exuded in life, all painstakingly recreated from the efforts of a broken man. In the end, the result showed.
Her emerald eyes remained clear and steadfast even before the large group of people before her. The clanging of her armour was like a soft melody as her battle skirt rippled with every movement. Finally, she stopped just shy of fifty meters away and within shooting range of the Archers.
And yet, many of the Archers were reluctant to shoot unless ordered.
No man was willing to harm a flower.
Elanor though was different. From the inferiority she was feeling came an uncomfortable sense of jealousy. If not for the fact that Dillan hadn't issued any commands yet, she would have had already attempted to blast Arturia in the face.
In hindsight, Arturia probably wasn't what she and everyone else should have had been focusing on, but the man trailing behind her with a resolved expression.
Vincent Berferd.
It wasn't until Arturia had stopped that many realized this fact, namely Dillan who had been too distracted staring piercingly at Arturia. Unlike Marteo though, it wasn't out of adoration for beauty, but because of his apprehension.
"Vincent Berferd, you finally show your face. I was beginning to wonder if you'd already died in there," Marteo sneered after reluctantly shifting his attention away from Arturia.
"Marteo Vandele, you weasel. If you truly think yourself a man then call off the others and fight me as a fellow Knight!" Vincent rebuked, warily staring at the Archers with their bows poised.
Marteo had always been prideful of his skills, but unlike Dillan and Elanor, he had competition in regards to Vincent. The both of them were hailed as the foremost Knights in the younger generation of the Southern Kingdom of Roble and many times he had heard himself compared with the Berferd family prodigy. It was infuriating when the majority held him in lower regard, therefore, he had always wanted to prove others wrong.
As such, Vincent's words were exceedingly agreeable with Marteo. However, as Marteo was about to give the command for the Archers mainly consisting of the Vandele's men to stand at ease, Dillan intervened.
"No, something's wrong," Dillan said simply before turning his attention to Arturia. "You, who are you and what purpose do you have in standing with the Berferd family heir?"
Arturia glanced up, not a change in her expression as she spoke justly.
"My name is Arturia, and am purely one who stands on the side of the righteous."
The sound of her voice was tranquil, like the soft calling produced by the swaying of evening reeds.
"What you all are doing here is not something that I could ever agree with," she replied to Dillan before shifting her attention towards Marteo. "And you," she glared. "A Knight? You lack the conviction, character, and true dedication to ever call yourself a Knight. You stain the title."
Marteo's teeth clenched as a vein popped over his forehead. He had once had pleasant thoughts and intentions upon first sighting Arturia, thinking to woo her with his natural charm. However, now he just wanted nothing more than to know if she could maintain such an attitude towards him after he ravaged her in his bed; not stopping until 'Young Lord' was the only thing that could ever come out from her mouth. After all, the outcome of the fight was settled from the moment one thought it possible to face hundreds of enemies with just two people.
Still, it was best for him to stake his claim.
"She's mine," he muttered lowly, the lust in his voice unable to be hidden from Dillan and Elanor who he was talking to.
Elanor bristled in disgust, her lips raising into a scowl.
Dillan however ignored him. The fool couldn't possibly understand what he had seen. In regards to Arturia, Dillan didn't view her as a woman, but as something on a higher level, and this showed in his caution. Since the very beginning of the discussion, he had yet to issue any commands.
"Will you not just leave the matter alone? Gold, possessions, anything you want can be discussed in terms," Dillan tried to reason.
In response, Arturia only shook her head, causing Dillan's apprehension to rise. His gut was telling him that the entire operation would be a failure if he could not find a way to avert the situation.
"Then perhaps we ca-"
"Enough bantering!" Marteo growled.
He had already been incensed by both Vincent and Arturia's remark but had only held himself back because he believed that Dillan would still fight. Yet from Dillan's words alone it was evident that Dillan wished to let Arturia go.
Marteo wouldn't allow it.
"Stand down," Dillan seethed while he glared, sweat building on his brow. "You don't understand what you're facing."
Elanor could sense the gravity of Dillan's words and quickly quelled the jealousy she was feeling inside. Invisible as she was, she whispered lowly to keep her position secured.
"Marteo, just listen to Dillan. He's never been wrong before," she said.
"Are you both fucking kidding me?" Marteo's lips twitched as he raised his voice. "Why the hell are you negotiating when it's clearly wrong? There's only two of them and four-hundred of us!"
Saying that, Marteo pushed past Dillan and raised a hand for the Archers to prepare to fire.
"You're making a mistake!" Dillan yelled, knowing that he wouldn't be able to get the Archers to stop with his words alone due to their allegiance to the Vandele.
"NO, Dillan. YOU'RE the one making the mistake," Marteo answered coldly while his gaze shifted towards Arturia and Vincent. "The job's over, and the bitch mine. What can they possibly do alone?"