Глава 14

Ever since King Yliš died, I continued to see him many more times.

His emotions and experiences remained within 'Civilight Eterna', but there were marked differences between them and my memories of him.

My impression of him was of a man always sitting at the center of the chamber of the Royal Court, his head hung low, never speaking a word while other members bickered amongst one another.

Duq'arael and Nezzsalem believed him too weak, telling him plain to his face that once more the Black Crown has erred in its choice of successor. He never responded. He merely continued to stare out the window, his gaze enraptured by the thick smoke billowing out of the furnaces outside.

Only after his death did I know that Yliš was a remarkable Caster and artisan, once dedicating his time to researching Arts that would improve the living conditions of the people, planning out all the possible ways that Kazdel could step into the Crystal Age.

He travelled for many years. Once returned, he persuaded the revenants to prepare to raise an immense furnace in the heart of the city, larger than any other.

But once the crown fell upon his head, the newly-coronated King of Sarkaz slowly slipped into silence.

The sudden burden of all-too-many emotions and memories is a pain beyond measure. Many chosen by the crown did not have time to leave behind their names, so swift was their death from madness.

But Yliš did not fall into insanity. He bore it all. It was thanks to his lucidity that he fell further and further into despair.

The Black Crown had revealed a truth to him, and to me in turn—

All that we can envision, the entire future of the Sarkaz, is most likely to be yet another loop in the cycle that is the tortured history of our race.

All that we build will end in ruin.

War will tear apart his Kazdel. War will kill him.

War will kill me.

(Roars)

He can't keep going much longer!

Come on! Take down the bastard and the witchcraft altar'll be useless!

A crossbow bolt lodges itself into the Sarkaz's chest.

He takes no heed of it, continuing his advance.

*beep beep* *beep beep*

He lowers his head, seeing that the bolt fletchings protruding from his chest have begun to shine.

The cluster bomb within the Sarkaz's flesh explodes.

A multitude of concentrated explosions, faster than even powerful witchcraft can heal.

Did it work?

Haha, he really is dead! Damn, we blew him up sky-high. All that's left are just bits of bone. This idea's amazing! We don't need to fear these monsters anymore!

Wait—

The Sarkaz's remains begin to glow.

The soldiers instinctively begin to retreat, but it is too late.

A spurt of flame and Originium dust envelop this corner of the battlefield.

My Patriarch! Your body...

It will not hinder me in battle.

The Victorians, they are fierce.

They have adapted quickly. They are on the cusp of finding means to counter our ways.

Our losses grow by the minute.

Our warriors. Will not surrender.

Our defensive line. Still stands strong.

Indeed, my liege.

It is enough.

I believe in Theresis. In Theresa.

This has not changed. Not even now.

I have talked to Theresis about Gul'dul the Citymaker many times.

The Children of Soil and Stone had long since scattered across the land. I was in no way able to replicate his deeds, what with his unique talent for commanding Gargoyles that he used to quickly lay down city walls of stone. However, I was able to learn much from his decisiveness and leadership.

A clothesmaker, a citymaker.

I jokingly told Theresis that perhaps Gul'dul and I were more alike than I thought.

His face turned rather serious all of a sudden, telling me that he would not allow me to share the same fate as that king, betrayed by those he called his closest companions.

I was never able to share all of Gul'dul's thoughts and feelings with Theresis.

Gul'dul's final emotions had embedded themselves deeply into my mind. The last thing he laid eyes on was not the Diαblo who betrayed him, but the city that he and his countless fellows had wrought together.

We knew that Gul'dul would not be the last King of Sarkaz slain by the ones they hold dearest, nor was his city the final Kazdel.

As long as there are still those who yearn to return home, Kazdel will be reborn from the ashes.

Both BM and TAA are currently clear, you can proceed down those routes! The Originium crystal clusters shouldn't reach them for the next fifteen minutes.

I9's no good, Feist, the beacon just changed color. The Originium mountain next to it is a collapse risk.

Closure, we've scouted ahead on I903! We've got wounded, looks like they're civilians.

Yep, saw it already. I'm sending a buggy to you. Make sure to meet it and get what defensive equipment and medicine you need out of it. It'll know where to go next.

Oh, right, there's also two drones headed your way.

When the fog rises, keep an eye on the signal light, green means no problems ahead. The Exemplars will provide support at I901.

I can't help but ask, Closure, but how many things are you controlling at once?

I'm still doing alright, I've got seven, eight...

A dozen of things in total, looks like. And I've got my eyes watching a few others besides.

The situation's a lot more complex than most other Rhodes Island Catastrophe support missions. Fang...

Don't worry, I'll be careful.

Closure, you should also—*bzzzzzzt*

Comms interference?

Looks like drones 176 and 178 have lost signal.

Found some supplies.

There's meds and eats. Nothing that can be used as a weapon.

You can have the food and medicine, though don't take more than you need.

You really gonna try and make demands when you ain't got a weapon... Wait, vampire?

Yep.

Don't worry, I'm not with the Royal Court, and I don't know how to use Arts to rip all your blood out of your body with a snap of my finger.

Pah, if you really are with those bastards, I'll stick my sword through your neck right here right now!

You're not here on a mission, are you? Manfred wouldn't have sent a team who didn't recognize our logo.

I know that saying this to you isn't going to change a thing, but this position's about to blow real soon.

Do you mind not getting in the way of my work?

Argh—!

That crazy Catastrophe's coming back around? Damn the Royal Court and whatever insane thing they pulled out of their behinds. I ain't staying in this blasted place!

Hey, this is 467, you guys read me? I said—

The mercenaries who attacked the camp have been dealt with.

Go, Closure. You should move to the next safe location.

Sure. My thanks, Master Assassin.

Surrendering?

If you are, then you can come along with us.

Not like I've got any other choice now.

Since the war progressed, more mercenaries have been scattered all over the battlefield. They're likely to return to old habits without the Military Commission's commands keeping them in check.

We will most likely be encountering many more attacks like this one.

Wasn't it the same deal back in the day?

...It was.

No matter if we must cross Catastrophes, or a horde of enemies...

We will do our best to allow everyone who wishes to go home, go home.

Has there been any news from the Military Commission?

I heard they just killed a Victorian duke, and that it won't be long before they bag their second and third!

*cough* *cough*... Have you had any, gah, good meds lately? I wanna heal up this busted leg of mine. Even getting rid of just one or two rocks would be good enough, to run a bit faster in battle...

You are heading to Londinium too?

Londinium? How am I supposed to make it there? Even if I wanted to go, the Regent's not going to want me.

But this war... It's going to end up at Kazdel sooner or later, right? Those Victorians and Leithanians... They're not going to let us off easy, are they?

You should probably start planning ahead too, little fella. Keep polishing that weapon of yours, and remember how to use it to kill...

...The Military Commission.

After so many years, is our city really about to—

Huff... puff... I've finally caught up with you.

Er... You're...

Uh... Your fellow professional?