act37side

I-I just go over there like this?

Yes. Just go over there and ask what the price is.

A-Alright.

The child approaches the merchant's stall and timidly peruses the wares.

Fireworks, kid?

Y-Yeah...

A special occasion? A gift? This one's real popular for celebrations!

B-But there's a lot of dust—

That's normal; it's been lying in the warehouse for a while. How about this, you buy one, and I'll give you one free—

What's that smell—

Fire! It's you, isn't it?!

Hah!

What are you standing there for? Run!

The merchant tries to put out the fire to no avail, and is soon surrounded by flames himself.

The exploding fireworks draws a gawking crowd.

The 'practical joker' has long fled the scene with the child.

'But... wasn't it supposed to be a joke...'

'Serves him right for marrying a devil woman, the bastard.'

The fire's getting bigger! I'll grab the man; you get the crowd out of here!

Yes, ma'am!

The piledriver spear rips the flames apart. The sounds of explosions and crackling fire sing joyfully in cacophony.

A Vouivre emerges from the flames, spear in one hand, the merchant in the other. She puts the merchant down in a safe place, then sits beside him, wiping the soot off her face.

Ach, sorry aboot yer stall, I think I might've...

It's fine, fine, don't worry.

Fine? This is... fine?

She points towards the raging fire, with fireworks still leaping out from time to time.

The gawking crowd continues to grow. A drunkard, seemingly oblivious to what is going on, pulls over an unsuspecting passerby and starts dancing.

Under the setting sun is pandemonium, drunken singing mixed with angry yelling mixed with the cackle of fireworks.

This street has not been so lively since the Sarkaz took over.

It is the very picture of chaos, but the merchant, who has already calmed down, begins to laugh.

I haven't seen the folks so happy in a very long time. Brings back memories...

But... it's <i>your</i> stall that's on fire.

You know what? I'm in a good mood today. Let's just call it a fireworks show for everyone!

Between you and me, ma'am... my wife can finally leave the city, tonight.

No injuries, ma'am. Should we go after the troublemaker?

Well, nobody got hurt—

We've got a duty to handle anyone who commits an offense.

Well, thank you, in any case. Say, can you dance? Or play an instrument?

What?

Can't let good fireworks go to waste, can I?

Maybe my wife will hear the commotion. My way of saying goodbye.

*sigh* I'm startin' to miss wartime. Even workin' on the farm. Anythin's easier than this 'keepin' the peace' business.

But, hey, if everyone's happy, who'm I tae complain?

Once she is satisfied that there is no danger, she lies down on a crate by the roadside, stretches, and lets the beams of the setting sun fall upon her face.

Gimme a haystack over this any day.

Where are you, Chenchen...?

Wh-Why did you burn his stall? You said you were just going to snitch something!

That shameless bastard's own fault for marrying a devil.

On the bright side, maybe somebody's already lynched his wife—

Whoa!

Who the feck are you?

Now's your chance to run, kid.

O-Okay!

Wh-What do you want?

Just doing a favor for a client. Maybe it'll bring in future business.

What's the situation with this batch?

Coast is clear, and the head count checks out, no problem. But word on the streets is that Parliament is looking for you.

Nothing they can actually do about it. Same as before, don't cause any trouble.

Speaking of trouble...

There's a kid in this batch that's giving us a hard time.

Why can't I see my dad one last time before we leave?

This man says there's fireworks outside. It's dad's fireworks!

Shh, quiet.

You don't want to leave either, do you, Mum—

The Sarkaz covers the child's mouth and holds her tightly, gazing up nervously at the woman looking quietly down at her.

I'm sorry, she's just not used to this... her father never left her side, even during the war.

Our deal with your husband was to get you out of the city. The rest is not my business.

If you want to stay, that's also your own decision.

Ma'am, they're just scared because they've never been through anything like this.

None of us have... Don't worry, I'll take care of the girl. She won't cause you any trouble.

But where are we going? What about Dad?

He'll come find us once he's taken care of things at home.

*sigh* I knew this day would come, the day the people from Kazdel came.

You don't like the Military Commission? Isn't Theresis your legendary hero?

I'm every bit the Londinier that you are. I've never been anywhere else since I was born, and I don't know no Theresis.

Your accent, that's not how commoners talk. I take it you ended up here because of the folks from Kazdel?

I—

Never mind.

You're a good person, ma'am. No one else would come close to us at a time like this.

Without you, the new Parliament might've... nothing to be surprised, I suppose. The bigwigs never change, whatever happens.

I've seen enough in my lifetime.

This new Parliament is different—

Maybe. For people like us, though, it all feels the same.

The aged Sarkaz soothes the sobbing child and sighs.

Don't be afraid, child. Your father is an honest man, more honest than most people I've met. He'll find you.

Alright... but where will you go after leaving here?

I plan on visiting some old friends. They left during the withdrawal with their twins, who work for a pharmaceutical company.

Do you know them, ma'am?

No. We have no time. You should get ready to leave.

What is your name, ma'am?

We will not meet again.

Humor an old woman, won't you? I just want to thank you, on behalf of myself, and all those who are afraid of you—

And I would rather not direct this gratitude to a code name that's ready to be cast aside any time.

Allerdale.

Beautiful name. Thank you, Allerdale.

Allerdale. A name that should have been laid to rest in the Mausoleum of Kings.

In the darkness where even the passage of time became blurred, she had sought to die in the ruins of history, to be forgotten by all those whom she disappointed, yet she was afraid to die, afraid to be forgotten.

But when muddy water dripped from the hole that the Steam Knight left behind and fell upon her palm, she opened her eyes and saw light.

What lay at the end of the light was life, and submission again.

Her hesitation may have lasted three days, or three minutes... in the end, she made the same choice as she once did.