Глава 9

Even if your home's torn apart, does that mean it's not home anymore? You go enrich the soil again with your own hands. Isn't that what all the folk who live here should be doin'?

Phew... Last one!

And the road's clear—

(Quick, the signal B9 sent's down this alleyway!)

(There's debris blocking the way out the back, but send a team around just to be safe!)

(The rest of you, stay and watch the entrance. Don't let anyone out. Our command will be here soon—)

There's more of them!

I'll hold it here, Lass. Take your pal and get runnin'.

That's gonna be difficult, kiddo.

Huh?

You heard what they said, didn't you? Their leaders are coming, and I'm not expecting pushovers like we just fought.

That's all the more reason you should go, isn't it?!

I guess I didn't say it yet—

I'm not one to run from a fight.

Come, my young friend, give me a hand—

Outcast transfers the patient in her embrace to Bagpipe.

Whoa, that's heavy! Is she really a Vouivre?

Hah, not very polite to call a girl heavy.

Huff... Ugh... I doubt anyone else would be able to carry her.

Good thing I have a Vouivre friend, then. She's about your age, and a fairly tough warrior, too.

You mean...

I want you to take the patient to the east side of the statue and hand her over to my friends.

Tell them I'm sorry I can't keep my promise. They'll know what to do from there.

What about you?

I'm gonna stay a little longer. Got somebody to wait up for.

Is she in here?

Uh, yes, sir. Uh, the other officers are here, too?

The intel says there are only three of them... and one of them is both heavily injured and unconscious.

In the case, wouldn't just one of you be more than enough to deal with them?

Two of them took down three squads, and without so much as a scratch.

Are you telling me how worthless you all are, or does the mission matter so little that you don't mind messing up again and again?

No... I wouldn't dare...

Huff... Huff... Are they really that tough?

At the very least, they're formidable enough that you're up and awake.

It doesn't hurt to be a little cautious. Don't forget, we have both the unidentified Sankta and Victorian soldier, and she's there with them, too.

You know what she can do when she's pushed to the brink, don't you?

Huff... I'm starting to look forward to this.

The enemy's... got reinforcements!

Leader! This is Bagpipe, callin' Leader—!

Still not gettin' a signal... Argh! I need to get this girl over there right now...

Ugh...

Huh... You're awake?

No. No...

Still asleep... but why's she strugglin' all of a sudden? Is she having a bad dream?

Bagpipe looks up, as though she feels something.

A few faint silhouettes look down at the commotion from atop a tall building nearby.

Bagpipe hasn't yet realized that the flames around her, unextinguished still, are starting to change color.

A young soldier who had just passed lies on the ground. The purple flames in his lifeless eyes look as though they could surge out at any moment.

She looks back down the street to see yet more hostiles approaching.

It's almost time.

The enemy's gathering over there. We can't stay much longer.

Let's give her a bit more time, Shredder. You know Outcast's always punctual.

Right.

Look! Over there! That's two individuals, incoming!

Outcast, we're over here!

Out—No, it's not her. Who's that running this way...?

Bagpipe?!

Huh? So you're the cool Sankta lass's friend?

That's perfect, then. Come, this girl's your pal too, right? She's heavily injured. The Sankta lass told me to bring her to you—

Outcast...

Where is she?! Did something happen to her?

She seemed like she was doin' alright when we parted ways...

Not sure why, but she told me to apologize to you for her. Said she can't keep her promise, and that you'd know what to do from here.

Then that must mean...

She said it herself. We have to be sure we're safe before we help anyone else!

Because that's how we save... even more...

No—!

Jane! Don't go after her!

The Lass said it. We know what to do from here.

I...

Aye, I agree with him.

Do you trust her? I only met her the once, but I trust in her.

I reckon I knocked out some two dozen on my way here with this girl. Not sure if any of them are chasin' after us.

The soldiers themselves aren't much of an issue, but if we run into their Caster leader... There's no tellin' how powerful she actually is.

So, take your friend, and get out of here.

What's that flash?!

An explosion?

No, can't be. There's not a bomb out there with a flash this bright. Leastwise, not one we'd live through!

So it's Arts?!

But usin' Arts to your extreme in such a short period of time, the Caster herself would...

The blaze... the light... it blew through the clouds...

Did... the rain stop?

That fire's from the west... Is it the alley from just now?

If it wasn't for the direction, I would've thought it was bright out already...

...Right...

The sky's... all bright.

None of them says another word.

The flames, kindling the skies, are still burning bright—

A raging fury that portends the impending end of the darkness above, or perhaps a shining beacon that impresses the brilliance of life on those aiding each other below.

That's the most stunnin' daybreak I've seen...

No wonder she said it'd draw a crowd, haha...

*Sigh*...

Jane...

Huff... puff... I'm okay.

Shredder, is it time?

It is...

Let Uncle Oliver know... we got her.

—Someone seriously infected.