Глава 14

Is there nothing left?

Am I the only one left, yet again?

No... You are here too, Sarkaz.

But your soul is weak and frail.

You are not worthy of the flame.

Hah, I kinda like you now, you old bastard.

But you are worthy of witnessing this new Kazdel.

For you too are Sarkaz.

The revenant leaps into the raging flame. His final scrap of kindling is himself.

W stands by the edge of the forge, the fire nipping at the ends of her hair.

She lets out a sigh, pinching the sparks dead.

You still haven't told me where to find the damn thing I'm looking for, you old coot!

If only I had some explosives on hand...

Bam, bang, boom! I'd just blast a way right through the fire.

Hmph.

She jumps down into the forge.

She is burning within the flames. Agony. She screams curse after curse after curse.

The revenant's wail.

Sorrow. Everlasting sorrow.

I will burn everything away.

My kin. The past. Hatred itself.

She continues to drop down, falling free, until she approaches the embers of the very first kindling.

The first revenant who set himself alight.

Within the fires of the forge, she sees the ever-shifting core.

Her tears are wiped away by the heat. Heh.

She smirks, holding the core of the soul that could burn anything and everything.

I've got you now, you old bastard.

The fires cannot be quenched. From one forge to the next...

My shattered soul will burn in yet another cage.

Until I can finally rest in true death's embrace.

Get! Down! Here!

The moment that W touches the forge of the burning soul onboard the airship, a burst of fire separates from it, engulfing her in flames.

The unrelenting heat surges towards her. The revenant intends to burn away the Sarkaz who betrayed her clan.

The heat of the engine is already enough to sear the flesh of her hands.

Let go or die!

Shut the fuck up, you stupid ghost!

Casting aside all concern, she holds tight to the airship's true engine.

Aaaaaagh—

The revenant withdraws himself at an unprecedented speed.

He must return to his forge, immolate himself in the sin-bearing flames—

'W!'

Black Arts pierce the fires, encircling W.

The shadows rushing at her halt for a moment, then find themselves unable to penetrate the black barrier.

You dare obstruct me yet again!

The revenant circles around W's back, becoming her shadow.

He opens himself up, as if he were two great jet-black wings, enveloping all—

Get down here already!

*Ancient Sarkaz profanity*!

The screeching of the engine cuts off.

At last, the beating heart of the flying fortress that had roared across the skies above Londinium and threatened the lives of each and every Victorian stops.

*pant*... *pant*...

'W! W! Wake up, W!'

Old hag—?

(Excited growl)

Who said you could carry me?! Let go, or I'll stick a bomb onto your claws!

(Disapproving poke)

I can only give you some basic wound treatment, W. We have another issue to solve at the moment.

I'm fine. I'm not so easy to kill.

Hey, little bunny, we did some pretty good work together just n—

Amiya, you... How'd you get that badly wounded?

You stretch out an arm to support Amiya, the girl's petite frame trembling slightly.

The revenant suddenly attacked Amiya.;It was thanks to you that we defeated him.

*cough*... Don't worry about me... It isn't that bad.

We should prepare to return to the skeleton now.

The airship has gone completely out of control ever since it lost power.

We're all finished on our end, Logos.

I am glad to hear that you are all safe.

Please wait a moment. I will provide immediate support.

I hope that we can make it in time...

Wait, how come I don't see him?

That old bastard that I ripped apart—

She sees the damaged engine on the floor, bereft of flame, bereft of grief.

The soul-binding core finally shows its true form.

This thing was his core? Kinda looks like a cannon. Seems like it would be pretty handy.

Hmph, the miserable thing ruined my weapons back there, so I guess I can call this my compensation.

He...

Hey, little bunny, you saw it too, right? That old ghost's whole life and all, could be considered rather... what's the right term for it again?

Magnificent in all its glory?

W...

I don't give a musbeast's ass about his sob story.

...I'm just thinking about Her Highness.

This ship, those ghosts of Babel, and the revenant...

We haven't seen Theresa at all.

Where is she?

We've all got lots of questions.;We can face the truth together.

Hey, don't look at me like that. I really don't want to hear that kind of talk from you right now.

And what're you staring at me for, old hag?

I already told you, I won't kill Hood here in front of you, for your sake.

You don't feel different, in any sort of way?

Different?

The revenant has been completely cut off from death.

But he does not reside within this shattered core.

Are you saying that he's hiding in my body? I'm in no mood for your crone lies right now.

Let me give myself a once-over...

Not here... Not over here either... Definitely not down here...

W, your back...

Nah, isn't that just the airship core? You all saw me rip it apart, right?

Wait, I thought this thing was broken?

Why's it look brand-new—

The shadows are flowing within the pipes in the core. Its damaged body is repairing itself with what is clearly metal gleaned from fragments of the airship.