Глава 13

You try to present a picture of calm.

The crowd is running. There are screams everywhere. They have hardly awakened from the last nightmare, before they are put into another great escape.

You brace yourself against the wall. Someone ran into you, hard. Someone pretty darned strong.

It all happened so quickly that you had no time to plan.

You had expected the worst the moment you failed to stop the first drop of blood from seeping into that curious citizen.

Even worse is that you and Amiya have become separated by the stampeding crowd.

It has been a long time since you last felt alone.

Stay calm!;......;Don't panic!

The screams drown out your voice. Nobody is listening to your commands.

Out of my way, out of my way!

Th-The monsters are coming!

Get out of my way!

Get away! There's blood on you! Like those monsters!

They are not your operators. They are just ordinary people.

Reason is a luxury in the face of death.

Doctor!

Doctor, I'm here! Grab my hand!

You finally hear a familiar voice.

Amiya!

Amiya tries to force her way through the panicking crowd, and reaches out her hand.

Grab my hand, Doctor.

You know that you are the one whom Amiya cares most deeply about, always.

You do not want to disappoint her.

You penetrate the crowd and extend your hand with all your strength.

......;You...;You're not Amiya!

You realize who it is standing before you, a moment before your hands touch.

Damazti...

...Why?

What should The King of Sarkaz look like?

You're not the one you once were.;......;I heard Logos's bone whistle.

The myriad souls still reject us.

However... a change has occurred. A part of us has left us.

We must make a choice... we cannot remain stagnant.

The Damazti approaches you, one step at a time.

You can feel that the one-time King of the Sarkaz Court has changed. He is no longer an idle observer.

He has begun moving forward.

Doctor!

...King of Sarkaz.

I tried to imitate you, but I failed.

A new Damazti...

Is this your choice? To formally stand against us?

We simply decided to try.

Hm—

Will we learn our meaning in battle against you, King of Sarkaz?

Where does our path lead?

Once... I asked the previous Damazti what I should do. He said I must overcome all doubt and hesitation.

If you still call me the King of Sarkaz after being reborn...

Then go find the answer yourself. You won't get it from me.

She is always at your side, smiling. It almost makes you forget that she is the true King of Sarkaz.

Dark Arts rumble. You find Amiya's presence downright imposing.

But still, you feel uneasy. Instincts tell you that this was no ordinary attack.

In just a short period of time, you have learned that the Duke of Windermere, defender of the frontiers, is no pushover.

She had her flagship break off from the fleet in order to save her daughter. This was an opportunity.

But the rest of the fleet was not so far away. The tactical advantage in attacking a ducal vessel is limited... unless this was a decapitation operation.

No, killing a duke only makes her men angrier. There is more to Theresis's plan.

Plus, this ship is home to more than just the duke's elite guards; you and your friends are here.

The King of Sarkaz is here.

Suddenly, a pang of intense pain dazes you.

Oh, did I hurt you?

That Ascalon woman is so annoying. Is she so persistent with everyone?

Doctor!

Amiya disengages from her battle with the Damazti and runs towards you. Arts converge on her fingertips, and her crown appears above her head.

Look out, Amiya!

You're the one they're after!

The black Arts are shattered, and the black crown gone.

Amiya's Arts disintegrate in an instant, as though they had never existed.

How could this be? It is the power of the King of Sarkaz!

H-How—

I have long waited to rummage in your emotions and memories, little king.

I thought the Revenant would cause you some difficulty, but you seem to be in better condition than I expected.

Cautus, no, Chimera.

You are no Theresa.

An eerie dark halo envelops Amiya. She tries to break through, but the Confessarius's cage does not budge.

The cage grows smaller.

You look for someone who can help, a way to break Amiya free.

The Confessarius guards block any eyes that dare gaze upon this place.

The enemy is more prepared than you thought.

Let go of me—

You had the fortune to be conferred the crown, but do you truly understand your power?

We have studied the King of Sarkaz for thousands of years.

Amiya's struggle grows feeble. The ancient, bane arts drain her strength.

Her knees buckle, and she falls to the ground.

She lifts her hand, but not a ripple of Arts answer.

As for you...

You feel the chilling gaze scanning you. Your heart is beating so fast, it threatens to escape your chest.

Anger and despair.

Death extends its tendrils towards you.

You clench your fist.

Get... away... from... Doctor!

Oh? Still mustering the power of the King of Sarkaz, even when surrounded by Confessarius witchcraft? I'm starting to miss Liz.

Well, this is a benefit to our experiments. I'll spare the Doctor's life, for now, and teach you to leverage your emotions.

But I must make sure you behave before handing you over to the leader.

Great Damazti, that nasty woman is coming. May I count on you to deal with the rest?

Very well.

Maybe she will temper us.

You see Ascalon sprinting towards you.

Countless Confessarius guards stand in her way. They fall without a sound, then the figures of countless Damazti once again bury her.

The Confessarius with blue hair lifts Amiya in her arms. The hull structure around you shatters, a staircase of earth and stone rises, and the wall of the canyon outside opens its gaping maw.

You have seen Arts like this before. But she is no Gargoyle.

Doctor...