act18mini

The soil of this foreign land is soaked with the blood of the Sarkaz.

Churned, jumbled. I can sense a chaotic mess of emotions tangled together.

Hesitation, wrath, cowardice, homesickness. Was this what you wished for, Your Highness?

Sleep, my kin. As long as blood continues to flow, relief from pain will soon follow.

...Have I arrived too late? Perhaps.

If the war can truly come to an end, if this end can truly determine who wins and who loses... When have we Sarkaz ever won, I ask?

I have never been fond of watching the clock, mind you. I prefer to keep time with the pulsing of my heart.

It told me to come here, and so I came.

As far as I was aware, Rose Riverside was dissolved after your princess fled far away and the Canoes scattered.

Quite a few former Canoes have gone on to serve the Military Commission.

Reestablishing our long-lost contact right after the Commission's decline suggests you want something from me. I can't guarantee you'll get it.

Not even for old-time's sake? You're the same as ever, Kal'tsit.

It's hard to believe how much Amiya has grown. No doubt she's keeping an eye on me, yes?

A necessary precaution.

Logos warned us of your appearance.

Since we withdrew from the falling airship, you are the first outsider to reach our safe house.

...'Outsider'.

Are you like me, Dame Kal'tsit—most difficult to persuade when we're in the throes of grief?

This is not a <i>Babel</i> safe house, Entelechia.

Hearing that codename coming from your lips truly takes me back.

I passed by the charnel house that is Londinium on my way here. I rescued a few fortunate souls, and sent off a few unfortunate ones.

It brings me no joy to see my countrymen spill their blood on foreign soil, Kal'tsit.

I don't recall you being such a sentimental person.

The Vampire goes silent. Kal'tsit sees she has no intention of answering.

Why would you risk crossing the battlefields of Victoria to see me, Entelechia?

If you require assistance, Theresis would be the better option.

No need for these probing questions, Kal'tsit. I'd rather not have anything to do with the Regent. Perhaps some of the sisters agree with him, but as you know...

Ever since Her Highness Theresa's untimely accident at Babel, there has been less and less contact between us. Our sororal bonds have weakened.

But that is not why I came to find you, Kal'tsit. I intend to help Ascalon with a trifling matter, one that will allow her to enter the city a tad easier.

What do you want?

According to our latest intelligence, the Military Commission is strengthening its control within the city.

The Nachzehrer troops and the ducal armies are facing each other down at the city walls. The situation is ever-changing.

Oh, I know, I know. But such an adorable and studious youngster as her is well worth the effort to look after.

That is not what I mean. Given the circumstances, you should have been unable to find any trace of Ascalon. I am very familiar with her ways.

She is wounded. Gravely so.

She's never used something like that as an excuse to lower her guard.

You really trust her. It's hard to say whether I should be happy or worried for her that you hold her in such high regard.

Who is helping you with this?

Trickster, one of our sharp-eyed sisters. As a technician, she was able to hunt down a few clues I was looking for in Londinium.

Her? I remember you all cherished her and would never have approved of putting her in the middle of this battle. And according to the vows made by all you Canoes, none of you should even be here.

...As I suspected, you know of our plight. Her intelligence was right. You have a trail leading to the princess.

As I'm sure you're well aware, Dame, I am the only one who will not and can not leave this river of blood.

Do you still doubt me, even after all I said?

Rhodes Island thanks you for your assistance. We will repay the Canoes in kind, just as Theresa did during the Babel years.

I will tell you all I know in regard to that princess.

Thank you, Kal'tsit.

On another note, while I was in the bowels of the city, I caught a whiff of Duq'arael's stench. While I would love to help settle that matter for you while I'm there—

I will need help from your people.

I'm afraid Rhodes Island does not have any more to spare inside the city.

There is a local faction known as Millscar. Finding them should not be a challenge for you.

They are close to the heart of the storm, but are determined to avoid entangling themselves with any of the involved parties. A stance you would find familiar, I'm sure.

You would trust someone like that?

We retain shared interests, for the time being.

If the Military Commission has other plans for Duq'arael's arrangements, they will undoubtedly affect the ducal alliance's next moves... or even disrupt the Exemplars' plans to enter the city.

Neither Rhodes Island nor Millscar wishes to see such an outcome.

Haha. You really haven't changed one bit. Did this plan come from you, or that commander of yours?

It is Rhodes Island's plan.

...Rhodes Island. Very well, do send my regards to your commander. Though I fear I'm simply another lost memory at this point.

Dame, there is a question that's been eating away at me, one I was hoping you could answer.

Aside from His Highness the Regent, I'm afraid only you hold the answer. After all, you were the only ones who made it from the airship.

Is a question you already know the answer to really so important?

...Of course it is.

If one does not see it with one's own eyes, hear it with one's own ears, say it with one's own mouth, then saying goodbye becomes quite a challenge.

Even though my heart sensed the echo of the myriad souls as they left with such clarity, I still ask myself over and over if she was among them.

And so I must ask... Has Her Highness left us once more?

<p=1>Southern Region of Kazdel</><p=2>Summer, 1094, after the fall of Babel</>

*cough*, *cough*...

I've left you your life, and a knife. I'd say that's a very generous price for answering my question.

Who hired you all to kill me? Few even know of our existence.

I'm dead either way, so do me a favor and be quick about it—

'Release' him.

//临时用一下

I mean with a quick death like he asked for, Entelechia.

As long as he spills enough blood, you can always just tear out the memories you want from him, right?

Well, since you mention it—

The Vampire raises her hand.

The crimson shackles binding the mercenary disappear into nothingness.

I find I'm rather against that suggestion.

Go on then, mercenary. As you can see, I have far too many people trying to kill me at the moment. I shan't be remembering your face.

No need to thank me.

Watching that cringeworthy performance of yours was painful.

Not many know the name 'Rose Riverside'. I didn't have to do anything to him to guess who's hunting us.

Her Highness has only just left us, and those who have hidden in the shadows for too long are only too eager to act.

You played your part well, though. Otherwise, it would have been such a bother finding an excuse to let him go.

Don't misunderstand me. Her Highness is dead, and I have no intention of following the Regent to throw my life away in Victoria.

Which is why I found my own way forward, one that lets me live.

It almost sounds like you want to kill me too, Milton.

Even if I did, I couldn't touch you... or any of you, for that matter.

If not, I'd have taken back my sister a long time ago.

You best make yourself scarce, then.

The young mixed-blood Sarkaz does not do so, instead tightening his grip on his knife.

Hah.

You helped your sister deliver messages, which is why I remember you. My memories hold true, and whatever your role may be now, it has no bearing on them—

You and I both know what Her Highness's passing means for Kazdel.

I sense a storm approaching, and none of us can escape it.

I do not wish for your sister to mourn. Leave while you still can.

The situation is rather murky at the moment, and the sisters have scattered. Even I am having trouble tracking them down.

The chaos in Kazdel has forced me to bid many a farewell. There are fewer and fewer informants I can speak to as the days go by.

I do not intend on losing another sister because of you.

...There's nowhere any of you can hide.