act30side

But... very well, Saintess.

Matriarch!

Sciurus is back!

She is?!

Some nerve being late... wait, no, I told her to keep out of this! Why did she come HERE?!

Who's saying I can't come?

And I didn't just come, I brought some special guests with me too!

Is this let's-bring-guests timing to you?

You make a language out of inane, you silly sister!

...I am NOT being silly.

Indeed. Madam Sciurus's hand is deft and wise. I find her admirable.

Ratatos, you'd do well to finally raise your opinion of her.

<i>...What the hell is this, Enciodes?</i>

Madam Sciurus, the guests have arrived safely.

Good! Bring them all in!

I'm out.

Master!

Your guests are here already!

Your who? These are MY guests I invited!

You're Madam Sciurus of the Browntail clan?

Very pleased you invited us to be part of this ceremony.

Sciurus... is this your <i>pleasant surprise?</i>

Uh, duh!

Let me introduce you all! We have here our campaign knight from the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi Kazimierz, here to celebrate the erection of our statue to Kjeragandr!

I sent an invitation especially to the Adeptus! That was NOT an easy invitation to make!

So they're MY guests!

It's just a coincidence, Madam Sciurus.

I cannot laud you enough that you were able to invite a campaign knight. My guest of honor, meanwhile, would be this fellow—

Welcome, Sir Spokesman of the General Chamber of Commerce.

Hello to you. I'm taking it you're Mr. Silverash?

Good to meetcha, good to meetcha, and hello from my company. Thank you for all the effort of inviting me out to Kjerag.

The scenery here in Kjerag, supremely beautiful. I believe your company and mine will absolutely end the day here with a partnership we both love.

Oh, and don't mind me but I gotta say, I think I saw some mad fight out on a frozen lake the whole way here?

And kind of familiar too, like, one guy. I mean, those combat moves, they rang bells in my head.

Oh sorry, excuse me if I'm talking too much?

It's, uh, a holdover from the old job. Ahem. Right, I'll be careful not to say too much that doesn't work towards us working together.

No, Mr. Mob, I'm in need of your exact talent right now.

Come again? You need...?

Yes.

Right now, this very moment.

Please, come with me. I'll have them cast sound amplification Arts.

May I ask you to loudly proclaim that—

Karlan Trade, and the corporations of the Kazimierz General Chamber of Commerce, are about to sign an agreement.

To Kazimierz, Kjerag will become a trusty partner.

...What's that noise?

It's not anyone splashing into the icewater, and it's not cries for help.

It sounds like someone loudly saying something, and then the people all about her stumble in disarray.

That loud voice. But whatever it's saying, she can't tell clearly.

Her field of view narrows and dims by a fraction more. The sounds almost turn to fuzz in her ears.

She can't feel her own limbs anymore, but she can be sure she still has a grip on her old companions.

Her degenbrechers.

Because she knows her body is still acting on reflex, striking down every person that comes near.

It's just... too loud.

Too loud. How can someone talk this noisily?

Why has the crowd gone?

Did someone breach her line of defense already?

No.

The wild beast's dulling eyes of gold suddenly flare alight.

—As long as she can stand.

—She will allow absolutely no one past!

...brecher! Madam Degenbrecher!

Stop fighting... Gah!

You've lost too much blood, Madam Degenbrecher! Come to your senses a little!

Aht-aht-aht, keep flailing at this rate and you'll sink us both in the lake!

We're not fighting?

No more fighting, no more!

Goodness, however much the Duke wants to slap Kjerag in the face, we can't be showing Kazimierz the hand in the process... at least not now.

Kept between Victoria and Kjerag, one might still call it the Duke's personal Silverash grievances. But the moment you bring Kazimierz into it too, things become far, far less simple.

Are the gourmands of Kazimierz already inviting Karlan Trade to the table? With such distance between them, and in such short order?

What a talented young individual.

And I know the Duke won't reproach me for deciding to stay my hand. Spiffing excuse.

A good half my men you batted into the lake, Madam Degenbrecher. It was a backbreaker to scoop them out again...

If we'd kept going like that, I'd need another pair of arms to treat you all!

I say you need them as is. *cough*

I take no criticism from anyone still hacking up blood.

...We're done?

Well and truly done.

Okay.

Enciodes pulled it off.

She did what she needed to.

That's all Degenbrecher hears.

Now, Madam, stop there!

The lives we live, they always tend to be out of our hands.

I wanted to retire eons ago myself, but I have to keep my own men, my all too often down-and-out brothers in mind.

With this, it finally ought to be my turn for once, hm?

And in light of the fact your faithful fan's been beaten black and blue...

Could you give me your autograph?

...You're still in the mood for that?

This card... heh.

Do tell?

The first time I won the Major, they wouldn't leave me alone until I agreed to a photoshoot.

After that, I never agreed to another one. They were too boring for me.

I see. No wonder The Black Knight's knight trumps always come in those same poses, edition after edition.

Degenbrecher accepts the pen Harold holds out to her, and writes her name—'Degenbrecher'.

Take it.

You'd better not have anything else for me to sign.

Ah, Madam, where are you going?

Do you need some quick treatment? My first aid's excellent, you know.

Degenbrecher lifts her head to look to the dawn.

In the distance, two figures walk, approaching her. She still can't make them out, but she knows who they are.