act13side

I used to hate Arts more so than anything. The more outstanding my Arts are, the more I am reminded of my upbringing—

And the more I come to realize... the situation I am in.

Tell me, Margaret Nearl, the Radiant Knight. Each and every knight who keeps the faith feels particularly curious about you.

Tell me your answer. Your answer of what it means to be a knight.

—Both the Radiant Knight and the Candle Knight have stopped. They're cautiously sizing each other up, taking a stroll around the arena—

What's the matter? Is this a tea party to the two of them? Are the two knights going to share a dance together after all that careful probing?

Hoh, did you hear that? He said we could dance.

Please, then.

Like the gentle morning sun, her beaming radiance begins to extend its reach toward the candle-lit darkness.

Soon after, the light begins to flood the entire arena.

Kawalerielki tonight is as brilliant as any bright, clear day.

The Nearl girl went this way, didn't she? Quick, find her!

—There's no one here!

How can that be?! This place's listed in her file! It's Tremoriron Knight's bar!

Check if there's an attic or an exit out back—

Misters, I'm afraid we're not open right now.

Don't you dare!

Erk...

Don't you kill them, V. Not unless you want shit to really hit the fan.

Hah, how about you have a guess at how many artillery casters I captured during the war all those years ago to earn my military honors?

Son of a...! How dare you?! We're—

The Armorless Union? How about before that? Were you a robber? A bounty hunter? A veteran, or perhaps a down and out knight?

Let me tell you. We aren't scared of you.

You dare cross the Union even once, the Union will hunt you to the ends of the world.

It might happen today... maybe tomorrow. It might happen when you're eating, when you're asleep, or when you're spreading marmalade on your toast... You'll have nowhere to run!

Thanks for the advice. *Spit*.

To be honest, though, the Armorless ain't nearly as scary as the vanguards.

Hah! I haven't felt as good as this in years!

Looks like their buddies are on to this... Sorry, Marcin, but that might be it for your shop.

Oh, that's too bad. I paid two years' worth of rent upfront.

You! What have you done?!

You dare resist—Form up, ready your crossbows—Uh?

The Armorless points his crossbow forward.

The bowstring has snapped. More accurately, it is being twisted.

W-What?

Take this!

Ugh?!

It's been a while since I used any Arts... Guess I've gotten rusty.

Hmph, since when did the Armorless have this many men?! The K.G.C.C.'s got too much money to throw around, huh?

Hah, that's why we wiped the floor with all of them!

Watch out! The bald guy's Tremoriron Marcin, and the other two are campaign knights!

Keep two squads here. Keep them alive. They will be our trump card against Nearl. The rest of you, find Maria—

Hey, this isn't looking good, V!

You want to try begging for mercy, then?

Ready, fire—

What? Who is it this time?!

You...

What have you done to Maria?!

Radiance. The word 'radiance' is starting to be wear on everyone in the arena.

The sun-like prismatic colors dye the area behind the Radiant Knight. Standing opposite her is a small candlelight that has lit anew.

Then, right when the audience is starting to grow tired of finding the two knights in the blinding glow...

The faint sphere—Its rays, its halos, and all its light blink away.

*Pant*... *pant*...

Viviana... You are truly impressive...

Look, my light... have been swallowed whole... *Pant*.

I'm honored to have exhausted the Radiant Knight.

But it seems you rely on more than just your dazzling Arts.

With her Candle Sword held up high, the Candle Knight begins to steadily lower her blade.

The candle's flame has extinguished, leaving behind a glistening brilliance on its milk white cross section.

The candle, now halved, flutters down toward the earth like a feather.

You've broken my blade. It seems I have lost.

I, The Candle Knight, Viviana Droste, admit defeat.

The Candle Knight has conceded! I didn't hear that wrong, did I—? The Candle Knight has just accepted defeat! The committee has confirmed her request. So there you have it—

After this excruciating, protracted duel, the winner is our young legend, the Radiant Knight!

The Radiant Knight, suddenly returned from exile, has defeated her first Grand Knight opponent after an extraordinary match of the highest level!

The Candle Knight may have suffered defeat, but there is no doubt she is basking in glory! The two knights are shaking hands and trading salutes! Take a good look! This scene is going to be all over the headlines the next couple weeks!

What?! The Candle Knight lost?! That's a couple months' paychecks down the drain!

Serves you right for not listening to me... Not that I earned much myself, but well... *Sigh*... This match's probably giving me some kind of eye disease down the line.

Hnnf...

To be a knight is to be the noble light that illuminates the land...

Hmm...

Viviana.

I won't comment on your background—and that matter that weighs on your mind. However, you are among the strongest knights I have ever met.

That is more than enough.

In the classic knight tales... the knights always opened their hearts to each other by crossing swords.

Reality has proven to be less romantic. Though I've only just met you today, Margaret.

Show me how far you will go.

I'm looking forward to seeing.

Tch—

(—I managed to block that strike, but I still almost lost my grip on my weapon—She's tough—)

My next shot will pierce through your legs. You won't be able to run anymore.

The next shot after that will pierce through your armor.

The final shot will blow right through your chest. You'll struggle in agony for a moment, before dying in the dirty, wet street.

Hah... No wonder Sona told me to run as soon as I ran into an Armorless elite.

You've really hit it big for someone your age. Bet the people higher up the ladder there are some serious monsters, eh?

You'd better pray you never find out—Hm?

Wild Mane! We'll cover you! Get out of here!

(Hurried beeping noises)

Alright, Justice, if that's what you say. Today's not the day for us to settle the score with the Armorless anyway.

See you next time, Platinum!

*cough*, *cough* *cough*...

She's gone.

What's her deal with explosives...?! *Cough*, there's ash everywhere... and I just washed my hair.

*Sigh*... How am I supposed to explain this...?

No need to explain anything.

We saw all that.

A fair number of the Infected just now are part of the Pinus Sylvestris.

They banded the Infected together fairly quickly. Since when has the Grand Knight Territory had this many Infected?

If we have to play the blame game, I guess that's on both the sloppy engineering contractors and the Catastrophes.

That's why we need Area 0 to do its job... Oh.