Глава 13

Wait!

I told you they were real!

Those ghosts were the real deal!

Ah, it <i>is</i> a child.

Is that you...?

Does the Doctor know this Sarkaz girl?

Uhh...

You're that, uh, 'Doctor', right? I saw you once in the munitions factory in Highbury!

What are you doing here?

And the knocked-out Cautus, and... Sarkaz?

You were supplying goods to refugees in Norport.

How did you know that?!

Don't—Don't let it slip! I was just, uhh—

I don't think that Cautus girl is looking too good, is she? And your arm is all...

I, um, I'm gonna guess you guys are... fine hanging out with these Sarkaz?

I think we ended up back where we came. But did we do it for real this time?

I've met enough haloed monster things for one day. This is out of whack.

Paprika, what are you talking to the ghosts for?

One... in a hood, one unconscious bunny, and a Sarkaz?

No! Driver, they're real!

As in real?

This Sarkaz steps up to me, skeptically looking me up and down.

I can tell with a glance that she's never taken the battlefield. Her hands are callused in the wrong places.

Just now, did the young Paprika girl call her Driver?

Hello.

Blaagh!

Miner, come check this out, it's real!

Your... your clothes must've cost some money, didn't they?

Maybe take a closer look! No, never mind, trust you Ursus bumpkins not to know.

Quit it with the 'ooh I'm from Kazdel' already, Shopkeep, like you matter! All you do there is run a grocery store!

Oh, wait, forgot, you sold your store so you come pick fights out here! Ha!

Shape UP a little! Stop getting carried away in front of people!

Hello, hahah... you may have met me in Kazdel before. My grocery store was a fairly popular one...

The man nicknamed Shopkeep rubs his hands, eyeing me with ingratiation.

His dagger is equipped with an auxiliary Originium Arts control apparatus; never an affordable piece of kit. A shame it's all-new, dagger itself included.

You... must be part of the Royal Court, yes? I can tell by your regalia... I take it you're the—Child of Soil and Stone?

So he hasn't the first clue about any Court at all.

...I am the Banshee.

A boy Banshee? I thought Banshees were meant to be all girls?

Correct.

Huh. Never heard about any boy Banshee while I was in Kazimierz... uh, not that I mean to be impolite or, you know...

Paprika, you're friends with celebrities like him and you never told us?!

Uh... no, I dunno if we <i>know</i> each other...

Are you moving things?

Inside their truck, I notice an uncovered spot, where a few blood-streaked crystals are poking out.

Where are you transporting these goods to? Aren't these ritual materials?

Er... I don't really know how to explain. We're just patrolling along our route map, 'cause some Arts Circles might be a little damaged, and we need to repair them.

The Doctor makes brief eye contact with me. I have some inkling. A Sarkaz truck—a vehicle that can take us through the battlefield.

With Amiya's current condition, we won't be rendezvousing with the main unit on foot.

I can sense Ascalon all set to go in the shadows, ready to strike at the amateur squad before us.

But evidently, the Doctor already has a better idea.

Noble Banshee, sire, we won't cross the battlefield alive at this rate. I beg you, just let us go.

I can comprehend the Doctor's gist, but... I'm really not well-versed when it comes to this.

I commandeer your transport squadron. We are on a special mission of the utmost nature, but were assailed en route. For your assistance, I will memorialize you forevermore.

Haha, it'd be our honor to serve a member of the Royal Court, Your Highness!

It's just... being 'memorialized' by a death-tolling Banshee... doesn't seem like much of a fortune. Could you...

Here is your payment.

Thank you, coins that Mechanist stuffed in my bag.

Haha! Thank you, sire!

But our transport duty...

I'll explain to your superiors afterwards.

A special mission? Why bring these two outbloods along?

...They are my captives.

Captives? But you, um...

Okay... but once this is over, you guys are gonna come see General Manfred with me.

For now, we'll go sort out some positions.

The Doctor comes to my side, voice grave.

Logos, figure out a car for Ascalon too.

The Confessarii attack was no simple one. They and the Vampire were working together, but in the process, they estranged Amiya from the ship.

Doctor, are you worrying?

Closure and the Self-Salvation Corps troops don't have any suitable combat personnel between them. Kal'tsit's wounded. Shining's powerful, but the Confessarii are sure to have methods prepared just for her.

...I understand.

The state Amiya's in may not be curable with medication. What she needs most right now, before she comes to, is not to fall into the Confessarii's line of sight.

Operating under this squad's support will be safer.

I'll get Ascalon to back up Kal'tsit. We've got you here.

Besides...

The Doctor looks at the sanguine Arts Circles. A pit forms in their stomach.

Say no more. I know far too well.

These crystals... aren't just simple Originium.