Глава 13

You can feel the Confessarius's breathing.

A numbing sensation filled with ancient witchcraft moves towards the top of your head.

Get out of my head!

What? What could possibly repel a Confessarius's...

The King of Sarkaz? But her mind should have been shackled...

A black vortex rises from behind you.

Amiya whispers at its center.

The black crown trembles with agitation.

*Ancient Sarkaz Language*

Amiya!

The shackles of myriad souls are not so easily broken. She remains amidst the myriad souls.

She has chosen to protect you subconsciously. Hah.

Wait... That's not all?

Her connection with the crown is growing?

'The crown... remember... souls...'

Is that Amiya's voice?

You get a feeling...

She is growing more distant by the second, to a place that you cannot reach—

Amiya! Wake up!

You try to grab Amiya. The black vortex roils between you, and a great force tries to push you away.

You dig your one good hand into the dirt, dragging the rest of your hide along, towards the girl lying on the ground.

Ah, such intense emotions.

Looks like Theresa's choice was not entirely one of desperation, after all.

Just a little further—

Why don't we cut straight to the chase, then? I hope this won't break your little head. That would be a shame.

The Confessarii left more than statues in this cavern.

*Sarkaz incantation*

Amiya!

You touch her.

You promised—

Reject the voice!

The black vortex shatters and vanishes. You grab Amiya's hand.

Amiya has grown up, but her hands still feel small and frail.

Her palm is filled with sweat.

You do not know if the Confessarius's curse worked, or if this was the result of Amiya's effort and yours.

Tsk—

Blood sprays from the Confessarius's neck.

Ascalon walks towards you, casting not another glance at the fallen Confessarius.

That was reckless, Doctor. If I didn't run into—

Look out.

Blood explodes, and a sanguine shockwave sweeps towards you.

A figure stands in front of you, arriving in the nick of time.

Vampire Arts... what have you done to your bloodline?

Hard to imagine that you're related to Shining.

The amount of grief that your degeneration has caused that fine girl...

*Cough* *cough*—Lord of the Banshees.

I'm impressed. It couldn't have been easy to get here.

The Confessarius puts her hand on her neck wound. The blood that sprayed from it is slowly flowing back.

I should have been more careful, knowing that the sitting Lord of the Banshees is rather rebellious.

You're more dangerous than we expected.

Urgent situation. Interrogation out of the question. Kill her and leave.

I know.

You see Logos's cold expression, and the incantation that obediently emerges from his tongue.

But you do not see Salus's fear, anger, any expression you might expect to see on one facing her own death.

You see only curiosity.

This is the Lord of the Banshees? The Elegiac Court? Indeed, these incantations are no less refined than that of your famous mother.

But... did you know?

Such refined runes, refined Arts... they are far from the Sarkaz's roots.

She is backing up.

Behind her—

The statue of a Banshee towers above.

Ascalon!

An instant before everything went black, you saw Ascalon grab Amiya, while Logos shielded you.

You saw the statue come to life.

You saw the Confessarius's eyes narrow, and saw her ring the death knell first.

Doctor.

We've left the cave. Ascalon is scouting the area.

Your right forearm is broken. I made a makeshift splint, but I'm no medic.

What about Amiya?

Still unconscious. The Confessarius said something to the effect of 'trapped in the myriad souls', but...

She's alive, at least.

You turn around to see the Cautus girl lying peacefully under a tree, as if she is merely sleeping.

I can understand Ascalon's objection to your methods. She's concerned for more than just your safety.

But it's also true that you bought us time. The Confessarius and Amiya would be behind Londinium's walls by now, if not for your efforts.

What of the Confessarius?

She got away.

Rock and earth, blood... and the wail of the Banshee.

Is this the Sarkaz that the Confessarii want? One so obsessed with bloodline and witchcraft?

Their target is the King of Sarkaz.

We must inform Kal'tsit and Shining.

...Wait.

The vapor around us...

...This can't be. Careful, Doctor. We may still be inside the enemy's trap.

What is it?;I don't often see that look on your face.

This is not Victoria.

This is the Convallis of the Banshees.