Глава 12

Hannah, I hate it, I hate all of this, I'm a fool through and through, a self-righteous twit!

Allerdale, Baird...

If I hadn't involved myself in this, they wouldn't have...

What did I even come back for?!

What did I even <i>think</i> I came back for?!

Was this... a mistake from the very beginning, born of a false sense of responsibility?

How does she really see them, her friends whom she went through thick and thin and all kinds of hardships with?

Could it be... that this 'friendship' she cherishes so deeply, was actually just an excuse to deceive even herself?

Could it be, that she of all people, has gradually come to see herself as a king?

Grant mercy, sow benevolence... and then, harvest hope and reverence.

What exactly... did she want to achieve here?

What exactly did she expect to achieve here?

Vina, we came back because we couldn't stand it... we were just watching from the side.

Because this is our street, our turf, our country.

You're always charging ahead, but this isn't your responsibility.

We're not following you to see what kind of person you'll become.

Vina, you're just our Vina, right?

Of course.

I'm just Vina. This I swear.

Where should we bring these people from Norport Borough? We can't let them fend for themselves in the wilderness, right?

Besides, this is the heart of the battle.

These townspeople can live on my mother's land, if they're willing to move.

Mother has a nomadic city in the vicinity of Londinium. It's a rather tiny fortress city, but it'll be no problem to accommodate them.

Got any other ideas, Cador?

Hmph.

You know, Delphine? Ever since you stopped hiding your identity, you've changed the way you speak.

I know what happened with Baird... has upset you.

It upset us all, but right now, there's no need to dampen our spirits even more.

I just...

Ah, finally found you.

Could we please have some water to drink?

That Draco... we don't like those flames of hers, so difficult to extinguish.

Damazti.

Ascalon... It's been a while, hmm?

What did you come here for?

We're thirsty.

And to offer a greeting to the little King of Sarkaz here.

That banshee speaks pretty highly of you.

Amiya, get behind me.

It's alright, Doctor. I've never seen our guest here in their current form, but... I know them very well, they've appeared frequently in those histories.

But they're always wandering outside the Royal Court, and they're not interested in anything... except themselves.

Damazti fragment, why have you appeared before us?

So you really are a genuine King of Sarkaz, little bunny.

That thing seems to have also tormented you quite a bit. Good job holding all that in your little head while not being a Sarkaz.

Memory is the most precious thing to us, but it can sometimes also be our poison.

So you see, we do appear to have something to talk about.

Are you... also of the opinion that I'm not worthy of bearing the crown of 'The King of Sarkaz'?

I see that talkative revenant really put you through the wringer.

Don't mind it, he's never been the kindly type.

You're an ancient Sarkaz, so how do you think... a King should act?

Oh, good question. We've never been one, and we don't care to bother...

But we're thinking, you should at the very least be strong enough?

Strong enough to... overcome any hesitation or doubt, yes?

Oh, we're certain of something else though. You definitely shouldn't be asking us this question, little King.

You have a long path ahead of you, regardless of whether you're leading the organization you call Rhodes Island or following the guidance of the Sarkaz souls.

Oh, sorry. We forgot that the souls won't accept you, just like how they won't accept us.

We're all different from each other.

However—

You'll understand at some point in the future, that the passage of time is unbeatable. The Kings of Sarkaz in our memories, all walked the very same path in the end.

Not me.

I—refuse to walk that path.

Don't be too quick to refute us, Cautus. We did think it was a nice change having a young King of Sarkaz, but it seems like you're still chained to your fate.

Though we're nonetheless full of expectations for you, a non-Sarkaz King...

A young King of Sarkaz who is still growing and questioning her own blood...

A never before seen King of Sarkaz...

What are you up to?

We... have no ill intentions.

King of Sarkaz, we don't dare to claim that we're wiser than you are, and we have nothing to teach you either.

We only wish to extend an invitation, we seek an opportunity to thoroughly understand a 'unique' individual.

Ascalon, you will understand when you've lived as long as we have.

When something you've never seen before appears right before your eyes, how could you resist reaching out to it?

O King of Sarkaz, please grant our perennial lives a pleasant surprise.

What are you looking at?

At your King of Sarkaz, Banshee.

You're facing Amiya.

I advise you to carefully consider your actions.

And you should do away with the curses in your hands.

Relax. They've already won.

I'm grateful for our earlier exchanges, Damazti. I have a clearer understanding of your methods now.

The King of Sarkaz couldn't have possibly lost to our clone that had already been fried near to a crisp by a Draco's flames.

But we are glad to have experienced something new for the first time in such a long time.

It's been ages since we've seen anything that has brought us even a speck of excitement.

Be proud of yourself, Banshee. You've convinced us, and we'll be more than happy to keep this new possibility of yours, though we're still not very optimistic about the direction this possibility is heading.

But to us, time and patience are two things we have more than plenty of.

We <i>will</i> meet again, at the next finish line.

Where are you going next?

We've never gone anywhere on purpose, we merely wander the land.

You've mentioned before, Damazti, that you've pretty much exhausted all possibilities.

Yes.

But there remains uncharted territory for you.

...Oh?

Everything on this great land is constantly evolving, while you stayed just as you always have been, imitating the fruits of evolution.

Yes, you've never gone anywhere, and yet you're already complete.

So of course there can be no progress in something that's already been completed.

How persuasively provocative. And what do you suggest?

You've already guessed it.

Heralding our deaths—you do live up to your name, bean sí.

From death comes new life.

Indeed, we've never tried this before...

We just bid goodbye to a friend, at a place not far from here.