Deliford explained that he was an active soldier during the time Erste, from a simple kingdom, expanded into an empire and gained a lot of experience. After being promoted to an officer, he was recruited for the task of training 'special' recruits.
"I was not privy to the details, but each one of those recruits was given a special mask, an experimental piece of equipment meant to make them more powerful," He frowned. "Certainly they were effective, though the recruits' discipline left something to be desired."
Those masks were probably prototypes, and the recruits test subjects to check for effectiveness and possible side-effects. Archer had met dozens of similar cases in the past.
"Rosamia was one of the best recruits of my squad, though she avoided socializing with the others and was often involved in scuffles. Then one day, while I was away on a different assignment, I received a letter saying one of my recruits turned traitor and ran away. I was shocked, for I knew that lad to be of unquestionable loyalty." His expression became pained. "When I returned, however, Rosamia told me the truth. The recruit suddenly lost control of himself and began to attack the others, to the point they were forced to use lethal force to stop him. The researchers that made the masks took the body away and ordered the other recruits to stick with the cover-up story. She confessed that their masks were cursed, constantly trying to influence their minds to make them lose all sense of self and keep fighting beyond their limits."
'An item that bestows Mad Enhancement?' Archer wondered. The concept wasn't foreign to him. He had several cursed swords (most of them of Norse origin) that made their wielders into a violent berserker. The Servant of Madness may be considered nothing more than an attack dog, but Archer had witnessed firsthand, and on his own skin, how dangerous they truly are.
Deliford finished his story by saying that Rosamia, after their conversation, absconded with the sum of the Empire's research and has been on the run ever since. Deliford tried to do something, but was stonewalled at every opportunity and threatened more than once to stop, otherwise, he would be branded as a traitor too. "It went against my morals, but I had to look after my family. So I took the only remaining choice and left the empire."
"That's messed up," Rackam frowned. "First those dark crystals that can summon monsters, then that weapon in Auguste... they already have a large and well-equipped army, why is Erste researching this dangerous stuff?"
"If you want a comprehensive answer we'll be here all day," Archer snorted before looking at Gran. "What are your orders, Captain?"
"Isn't it obvious?" He nodded with determination. "We are going to rescue Deliford's student!"
"We need to know where she's first. Also, if those Empire troops are here to find her too we may have a problem..." Eugen grinned and looked at Archer. "Sounds like the perfect job for a scout."
The bowman scoffed when every eye turned to him. "Piece of cake, but it will take some time," - Unless he's lucky, which is never - "And I'll need to move alone."
Gran nodded. "Just tell us when you find something, alright?"
Archer nodded back before leaving the Grandcypher. He walked behind a building, out of sight of the people within the port, before jumping on the rooftop to move across the city with Servant speed. His first order of business: find a place high enough.
[*]
It took Archer for nearly three hours to find something. Specifically, a purple-haired woman traveling alone in the opposite direction from the Erste troops. Judging by the mask with glowing oculars covering half of her face, she was his target.
"Trace, On." He projected his bow and a simple straight sword without an edge, made not of metal but an extremely resistant plastic material. With Alteration, he carved indications to reach his position on the flat of the blade and shot it in the Grandcypher's direction, making sure it would land without damaging anything. With that done, he sat down on the tree's branch and began to observe the woman, who was resting at the edge of the forest he was in.
Gran, Lyria, Vyrn and a few other members of the crew arrived some times later.
"Who uses swords to send messages!?" Rackam asked the moment he saw Archer.
The white-haired man just shrugged. "Someone who lacked other options?"
"Ever heard of tying a scroll around an arrow's shaft?"
"That works if the distance to cover is limited. The speed necessary to reach the Grandcypher would shred the paper."
"Mmh?" Yuisis and Lowain's ears twitched. "Hear that, Yui-Sis?"
"Yeah, someone's running way fa-"
Archer rolled off the branch just in time to avoid a cluster of rectangular pieces of paper, similar to the talismans used by Japanese Onmyouji, wrapping around the piece of wood before detonating.
"You'll never take me alive!" A feminine voice shouted.
Everyone readied their weapons, save for Deliford who just sighed before taking a step forward. "Lesson n. 38!"
"Always make sure to know who and what you're aiming at!" The voice immediately replied before pausing. There was a sound of hurried footsteps before the woman Archer followed emerged from behind a tree, eyes wide as she stared at the middle-aged soldier. "Instructor Deliford?! What are you doing here?"
"Do you believe I could remain in the Empire after hearing how they treated you and the others? I resigned of course!" He began to move forward, but Rosamia stepped back.
"No, don't come close!" For a second, her eyes lost focus. "Would it actually be so bad to be freed from this curse?"
Everyone stared at her in confusion, while Deliford sighed again. "Rosamia, did you mix up your thoughts and words again?"
"So it seems," She seemed hardly fazed.
"Is that the cursed mask you talked about, old man?" Vyrn squinted his eyes at the mask covering Rosamia's face. "It doesn't seem very solid. Whack it with your sword, Gran! That oughta break it!"
"I told you, I am not an old man!" Deliford protested. "I'm still young!"
"Instructor is sensitive about his age as always," Rosamia's eyes lost focus again. When they went back to normal, she noticed the rapier still around Gran's waist. "Is that my Thunder Rapier? No, it can't be! Why do you people have it?"
"Um... Is something wrong?" Lyria asked.
"The last time I saw my father and mother, they entrusted me with that blade," Rosamia explained. "I could never forget such fine craftsmanship."
"Oh, so this sword is yours?" Gran raised it while scratching his head. "I just brought it today in one of this island's shops."
"To think it was so close... Its beautiful form has been passed down in my household for generations. That rapier was my parent's farewell gift until the army took it from me. They said I would have no need for sentimentality. I never thought I'd see it again."
"But you've escaped from the Empire," Lyria pointed out. "Why don't you just go home?"
She shook her head. "Don't be foolish, girl. I have no idea when this mask will go berserk. How could I return home knowing I might lose myself and turn on my family?"
"Right," Eugen patted the bowman's shoulder. "Archer. Do your thing."
"Aren't you relying on me too much?" Even if he was the best choice right now, it wouldn't be good if the crew grow to rely excessively on him. Snorting in mock annoyance, he approached Rosamia.
"Weren't you listening? This mask is cursed. If you approach it careless-"
"Worry about yourself first," He flatly replied before reaching her side with a burst of superhuman speed. Then, before she could react, he touched the mask.
"Trace, On."
Information about the mask filled his mind. Almost immediately, the inner enchantments opposed resistance to his prana, but he blew past them by using more of it. When he reached the inner core, the curse tried to take hold of his mind but splashed harmlessly against a wall of steel.
Compared to All the World's Evil, resisting such a weak curse was a child's play.
"Mh, so I was right. This is truly similar to Mad Enhancement." Archer removed his hand, with Rosamia giving him a confused look. "This mask allows you to fight beyond your limits in exchange for increasing your violence and aggression... Well, that's all I can tell." He shrugged. "Want me to remove the curse? It would destroy the mask though."
"Tsk!" She looked away with a frown. "If only it was that simple..."
"For me, it is," He just had to scratch the mask with Rule Breaker, the prana cost to nullify the curse well within his current reserves. But he made a point to never use the dagger lightly, and that required asking for permission if circumstances aren't dire enough.
"You seem pretty confident..." One of her hands reached up to the mask, metal creaking slightly as she gripped it hard. "But even if it was indeed possible, I still need the strength it gives me for now. I'll remember your offer."
"Suit yourself," Needless to say, he was going to keep a firm eye on her.