Глава 12

You're right, Revenant. I should see. I have seen.

I have seen it all.

All three thousand four hundred and twenty-one destructions, every brick that turned to ash.

I saw the resistance of every King of Sarkaz. I saw their hearts, each and every one of them.

I saw the tears and blood swallowed. I saw the dust and broken pieces.

Familiar silhouettes fall, overlapping with one another. Familiar scenes replay themselves.

I have seen. I see. I will see.

I never averted my eyes, Revenant.

I will remember.

Every hard decision, every death and sacrifice, every destruction, every hope.

—I made you see, Chimera.

I made you see!!

Impostor! There is not a single moment that I do not experience it, feel the burning flames!

But you?

Yes, you could see it, like a map, like a play, a mere passerby watching from above the cliffs.

I denounce you, False King, I despise you, not because of your foolishness, not because of your arrogance, not because of your conceit.

It's because you can never truly stand with us.

But I've tried—

Tried?

You could try to not avert your eyes—

But you can still turn away any time you choose.

I...

You're not Sarkaz. You will never be.

The souls of the Sarkaz reject you.

You call our fate 'pain?' You say you try to endure it—

But we are fated to be buried by it for eternity.

You say you have the courage. But if the day comes that you can take it no more...

You can abandon us.

I won't—

How many seasons have you seen? How dare you promise that you won't?

No, you will. You will, because you can.

How could Sarkaz pick such a king? How could Sarkaz accept such a king?

Theresa wanted me to be... she said we can share in the same feelings, even if we're not of the same blood!

Then she was a fool!

If you truly share the same feelings... now that you have seen it all...

Why do you come before me?

Why do you try to stop this war?

I...

Amiya finds herself at a loss for words.

Why does she want to stop this war?

She has seen the anger, the pain, the longing.

Why does she want to stop this war?

There is no other way for the Sarkaz.

No Sarkaz could come to any other answer, after coming face to face with it all.

But...

Amiya realizes that, for an instant, she understood Theresa's choice.

Drown tears with tears, and bury suffering with suffering.

Only scorched earth will bring new life to the Sarkaz.

But...

Still... I renounce this path.

The revenant was right.

She renounced it. She can never truly stand with them.

She can leave.

Get out!

Get out of us!

The shadow wriggles furiously, splitting apart, growing so thick it seems to take physical form.

The chaotic shadow of the revenant emerges from the empty shipyard.

Hello there, big one.

The purple flame impacts the black shadow.

You interest me, Revenant.

What ember will you leave behind when you burn?

That Draco... Eblana.

Nothing in the mission brief said she would show up!

Go! Hurry!

Amiya!

I... I'm fine...

Here, hold onto me.

Doctor, I...

They're right... I can't stand with them...

Maybe that's why it has to be you.

...Huh?

The Draco's fire is getting closer!

She's strong! We shouldn't try to fight her here!

Hmph... interesting.

Rhodes Island...

I seem to hear that name often lately.

G-General... the Draco...

Pay no heed.

Her flames burn nothing but her own short-sighted ambition.

Lead us away from here, Great Revenant. This shipyard is too small for your fury. The noises of those Outblood are not worth your time.

I have heard from the Regent. He is ready.

Your Royal Highness.

The Sarkaz airship has taken off and is slowly turning towards Londinium.

Battleship squadrons are ready to intercept on the perimeter.

Other regiments are also assembling.

Oh?

The Duke of Windermere's fleet is already deployed near the plate. The Duke of Caster's ships are also in movement and will likely approach in short order.

Looks like everyone cares a lot about this place.

Do they?

Aren't the dukes are little late?

You're... the manager of that hotel?

What are you doing here?

You're a Sarkaz mole in Londinium?

No, Colbert is just a Sarkaz cleaner who thinks he's Victorian.

What about you?

We...?

Just some poor souls made to come out and work while having a chat with a friend.

You're such a spoilsport, Draco.

Why not have a chat with me?

Give us a break.