Глава 13

You aren't certain to succeed. You're just a mercenary.

'A place to call home: somewhere you can always return to.'

Theresa.

All this time, I've been trying to keep that name separate from this war.

Her Highness...

How can a war just like before let anyone rest in peace?

Haha, I bet it's just some diversion by that Theresis bastard. He killed Her Highness, and he's still blaspheming her.

I'll make him beg forgiveness on his hands and knees.

And once he's done, <i>then</i> I'll turn his skull into fireworks.

Finding you was the right choice. I'll take your plans as the stance of... Babel's survivors, and inform the Liches.

Thank you.

But you blew up my cube! How do you want me to get back, on foot?

Eight kilometers northwest, there's a Sarkaz transport camp. Go and steal their car.

Need us to help?

Forget it.

I don't want her catching me again and finding out I've been making deals with you on the sly.

So, good luck to you, and may you... still be alive to make good on your promise after meeting her.

'Her'?

Hold on.

Are you guys getting this... familiar feeling?

What are you talking about?

What AM I talking about? I have no idea.

Dammit, Hoederer should be the one saying moody crap like this.

But still, what's bugging me?

Not far off, there's someone sitting on a mountain peak. Just on the edge of where that original illusion vanished.

She's just sitting there, like she doesn't have a care in her heart.

Her long pink hair draped over her shoulders, as it always was.

And that look in her eyes, that... sorrowful...

I look away.

How is this happening?

How, how, how...?

No, that's no illusion...

The moment I saw her, I knew it wasn't.

That's her.

...Your Highness?

She's gone.

I want to reach out to—

No, forget it.

Maybe I should save it for next time.

Besides... she couldn't have been real anyway.

She just... really, really looked like her. An indistinguishable forgery. Able to fool almost any pair of screwy, messed-up eyeballs.