act13side

Have you ever thought of all the people you're harming through your juvenile actions?

Have you ever considered that Marcin and the others will now be at the mercy of the Armorless Union?

Have you ever considered that Maria and Zofia may no longer be able to live safely in the Grand Knight Territory?

You may hold your own ideals in a vacuum, Margaret, but remember this: Your greatest mistake is trying to determine the trajectories of other peoples' lives.

There is not a soul who has that right.

I am extremely disappointed in you.

Margaret...

Maria, tell me the truth.

Did I rob you of your dreams?

You handed both the family name and the right to enter the tournament to me... You...

Margaret! That's never crossed my mind!

I just... don't think I'm cut out to be a knight.

I...

...I'm listening, Maria.

It's been so long since I've heard you... confide in someone else.

I... don't understand what you're doing...

I've been doubting... what the point of a knight even is anymore.

When we stand victorious in the arena, what is it the audience cheers for? What have we won?

Even if... you wanted to beat them at their own game, to defeat those rogues who want to keep you from winning...

What if they let you win because they get something out of it?

Or, what if they were never beholden to the rules of the game in the first place?

You're right.

From the beginning, they never had an ounce of concern about the knights. This, I already knew.

What...?

There is no meaning to me becoming the champion.

But to those watching us... it means the world.

Maria, if you think this city – this country – is sick, what do you think is the root cause of the illness?

The corruption of the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi? The General Chamber of Commerce's endless expansion and exploitation?

It might be either, or even both.

We often say that Kazimierz needs to regain its former glory, and every so often, someone needs to remind it what glory and justice are.

But it is not just the knights who need to recover that glory.

Victory is not about defeating some enemy. 'To be a knight is to be the noble light that illuminates the land..'

But after illuminating the path forward, clearing the thorns, and filling up the pitfalls...

A knight should have taught all those who seek freedom to overcome hardship.

Finally awake, huh? Took you long enough. Thought you were dead.

You—

You... You're a Sarkaz...?

And you can talk. Looks like you're doing better than your brother.

Don't worry, he's not dead either.

This special salve is usually used for armor repair. So this is what happens when you apply it directly to humans...

The principle behind it is activation? What exactly do Kazimierz suits of armor have in common with humans? Both humans and armor can be activated? Then, what about Originium slugs?

You... You're a de-horned Sarkaz...

Are you... with the Armorless Union?

Hah, I'll take that as a compliment. Those guys make three thousand times more than I do.

I'm a bounty hunter. I'm here in the Grand Knight Territory on a bit of business, as well as... a little investigation related to the Sarkaz.

Of course, it's nothing official. Just a personal curiosity of mine.

––Have you seen any other Sarkaz with trimmed horns?

Who cut off yours?

Who would use... the Sarkaz... as slaves and test subjects?

All right. I suppose you've been whipped pretty thoroughly.

Want to come with me?

What...?

Big guys like you should be able to help out with some handy work, right? We're camped in the wastelands, and we're lacking hands more than anything else–

You—

––Come with me, Sarkaz.

Come with me, and you just might survive.

...*Sigh*.

Batbayar...?

You poor lad. Your folks won't even pay the bills for you when you're in the hospital.

But your body is undoubtedly sturdy. Anyone else in your position wouldn't have much life left in them after a bout with the Blood Knight.

Even if you're an independent knight, you should've at least had some money saved up from making it to the semifinals. Where'd it all go?

Stop moving around. Your wounds are deep.

Where are you going?

Hey, hold on! Where are you going?

...I'm leaving.

A golden pegasus, a crimson Minoan. I... I've gained much.

You're unhappy?

...No, I failed.

I won't fear failure anymore.

I won't be afraid to retreat anymore.

I won't fear... the beauty of weakness.

...But I am still lacking... I have yet to finish my Khaganquest.

Khaganquest this, Khaganquest that... Do you even know where you're going?

Even in ancient times, it's not like there was a path you were supposed to follow for years, right?

North.

In the distant north... the echoing north where my ancestors disappeared.

And after you make your way there, then what?

Are you going to come back?

You... I assumed you were searching for something you were missing.

But it turns out... are you searching for a place to die?