So the woman supported her Master’s ideals despite knowing they were foolish. In a way, the Hoshido master and the way she strove to unite others despite the odds reminded him of a red-clad idealist from his past. In other words, she was the type that he would never see eye to eye with.
“Of all Servants, I didn’t think I’d hear such optimism from a Berserker. Who was it that wronged you in the past? How did it feel? Was hope enough then?” If her rage was anything like his when he lost Martel, she wouldn’t forgive so easily. Archer could no longer see the world as his sister saw it, as a place filled with flaws as it was filled with light. Hope was futile and the world uncaring, to believe otherwise was to be set up for disappointment.
His words help her infer of something, that he too previously was robbed of something or someone precious in the past. The agonizing despair of losing her son, being scapegoated and painted as a witch forced her hand to become the witch the townspeople desired to see. While she could not fault them due to the uneasiness of the times, their blind assumptions made her vengeful. The ignorance of her own life of hardships and lack of understanding enraged her. Her son had become everything to her, so seeing someone carelessly kill him due to their greed pushed her to the breaking point.
“No, unfortunately despair brings out the worst in people; my hope was taken from me before I died, the lies had been spread before I had any chance to defend myself.” Berserker sighs while she replies, remembering the events from back then. “I had faced countless obstacles prior to it, living is not easy. But if I can aid my Master to secure a new era to flourish because of her wish, I will be content. My story has already ended, but her’s is only beginning.”
“I died a villain and became what they wanted to see, but they suffered the consequences for their ignorance, they reaped what they sowed.” She isn’t ashamed, but isn’t necessarily proud of what she became to be known as. They had gotten their divine judgement: their lands plagued, an epidemic arose, no one from that village had gotten out alive. And it spread.
“...I suppose hope wasn’t enough for you either then, at the time...?” She wouldn’t fault him if he didn’t tell her of course. She deliberately pauses, to ask another, “..speaking of, your Master is the sole adult participating amongst these...children.”
...Out of all the other Master’s–– Archer’s had been the sole adult aside from Saber’s Master’s chaperons which she found a bit odd. Anastasia had been an outlier, set apart from the rest given her ability with magic and undoubtedly her experience too. They seemed like resourceful allies but powerful opponents too. She wondered where this would all lead. “Does your Master think too idealistically...?”
