act12mini

You didn't come empty-handed, though.

What about you? Your followers?

You know the answer to that.

The Grand Knight Territory has intervened, as you hoped. The loyal knights acknowledge their new orders.

For honor, for chivalrous order, for their long term interests... for the vain glory of their campaigns.

The Grand Knight Territory has...?

Ah, it seems you didn't know.

...The Adeptus Sprawiedliwi Kazimierz casts its eyes along bloodlines. They know all that goes on in every corner of Kazimierz. This has nothing to do with me.

My apologies, it couldn't have been you. You would not have begged for help from the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi and the Grand Knight.

You came to convince me to turn back.

But there is no way back, now that they've learned of the plan, and the Grand Knight has issued her orders.

Besides, I've raised my sword against my own men, to give the order to begin the operation.

Now that I know how hard it is to see a deed through to the end... it makes me admire what you did even more.

...Who do you think you are, to compare what you're doing to what I did?

I suppose I didn't provoke as many people as you.

You're not provoking anyone... you're just contemptible.

If you're not ashamed of your own actions, then why did you go to the convoluted lengths of leaking intelligence to pit me against the delegation from Leithanien?

No need to criticize my means. I'm simply as disappointed with you as I am with Kazimierz.

Oh, right.

The Adeptus Sprawiedliwi does not permit negative news about campaign knights to exist in writing. If I really did follow the order to stand down...

What do you think would happen to me? Would I die of a mysterious illness on my way back to the Grand Knight Territory, or be forever imprisoned beneath the tower, just like you?

You're in no position to talk about my life, Czcibor.

If you insist on trying to decide for millions of people where the battlefield should lie, then you deserve your punishment.

It is a campaign knight's duty to fight for the common folk.

The unarmed are the first to be abandoned in war.

...You should have made a smarter choice.

Even if it didn't involve returning to the campaign knights.

'I should have'? I should have ran from Kazimierz? Then why have you stayed, if you truly believe that leaving was the only correct choice?

Or should I have abandoned the plan in its entirety, even if this is my last chance?

You know better than I do that Kazimierz needs true violence. It needs a war that will turn it on its head.

...No.

I've never once thought that way.

Is that so?

All these years, we thought we knew each other so well. Well enough to leave certain things unsaid.

Now I'm beginning to wonder just how much of that was all a misunderstanding.

We should have sat down to talk, like the old days. Before a campfire in a forest clearing.

...If you weren't set on standing in my way right now, I'd have picked a branch and made a spear out of it, just like back then.

You need to wake up.

Stay down, sir! There are archers nearby!

Who are they? First last night and now this, who could be after me?

This is no checkpoint, Aloisia! We must go!

Inspector, I suggest you get out of the way if you don't want to be run ov—

Now, now, don't be hasty.

Our guys have taken out the ones in your way. I suggest you relax and refrain from using Originium Arts.

There are some traps here that are triggered by energy. And I doubt you'd enjoy the trip back to Leithanien if anything happened to your car.

When did you—

Nnnnnng—

Sir!

Oh, sorry.

To put it simply, we would like this gentleman to come with us. May we have your cooperation?

Serious advice. We're all screwed if the trap blows up.

You're good, but not good enough to deal with everyone here. Can't hurt to hear me out, can it?

There's nothing for us to discuss, mercenary.

Oh? Are you really thinking about setting it off, just to give your master a chance to escape?

That's why I never liked you spire casters. Nutjobs.

Chill out. This isn't worth any of our lives.

The inspector isn't one of ours. Neither are the ambushing archers.

...Go on.

Ah, in the mood to listen now?

Multiple groups fighting over the same objective is a fact of life in this line of work. Some people want to keep things safe, others want to watch it all burn.

Think about it carefully.

There's a little village by the road to the southeast, about thirty minutes from here. On the highest building in the village is a shield emblem that looks like it could fall off at any moment.

It'd make our jobs much easier if you waited there.

...Such a familiar light. The real Nearl.

I've read the legend of Kirill, seen the Radiant Knight's name on banners in the streets, heard of your brother's blinding light from your own mouth.

But this is only Nearl I know.

It's just like in that banquet of betrayal... I thought I'd open the door to see the ground covered in blood, only to find myself bathing in a rain of light.

...That was many years ago.

Indeed, being praised for old deeds is in itself a tragedy.

What have you been doing all these years? Your sword is still sharp, your light even more disciplined.

But there is enough power in your blade to parry even the weight of a heavy lance.

Why do you ask when you already know the answer?

Because I don't believe you're powerless.

I don't believe you couldn't have testified to Celina's innocence when she was being tried before the National Council. It would have taken a mere word.

I don't believe that she could simply vanish without a trace without you so much as casting a glance at her.

There are many things that I feel powerless about.

I didn't think they could trap you.

There was no point in testifying to her innocence. None of us could have saved her.

The old you would never have said that. You would have pushed to have the justice you saw missing from the National Council codified into law.

There were too many forces involved. Thirteen people were convicted. One law would not have brought them justice.

So you measured their injustice against your life, and decided it was not worth the risk.

Have you become afraid of death? Or have you simply decided that nothing is worth risking your life for anymore?

The campaign knight's blows fall hard.

His lance was intended to pierce armor and shields, creations of stone and steel.

But now, he aims his pent-up fury at an unseen foe.

You're losing your balance, Czcibor. Don't make elementary mistakes.

One more, and it'll be more than your armor that cracks.

Ha...

We haven't sparred in ages, have we? Maybe I'm fiercer than you remember.

And what about you? You never considered sheathing your sword when we tried to persuade you.

Another charge.

The lance smashes against the ground, sending gravel flying with Originium Arts sparks.

Nice dodge.

You didn't care what the disgraced nobles and blackmailed merchants thought. You didn't care about warnings from on high, or whether it was all for naught...

You would have exiled yourself from the Grand Knight Territory forever, gone out in a blaze of glory for justice.

...What about now?

If you can't do it, then stand aside and watch.

I'll do what you should have.

Who are you to judge what I should do?

Nearl's sword looks like it is simply shaking off the rain.