nearl2

Standing before a true knight's lance is nothing like the mock-play in the arena. Nor is it like dealing with riffraff in the wastelands.

Uncle Liam.

I'll always remember how you taught me to wield a spear on the battlefield when I was still very young.

'When a knight charges, he fights to defend every yard of soil beneath his feet.'

All these years, I've never stopped charging forward.

It takes more than words.

Right.

My spear will speak in my stead and tell you everything I have to say.

Let's get started.

Under the sunlight, the silver of the lance's tip glows faintly with no air of pretense. It has been darkened by the erosion of wind and soil.

The golden light flowing from the blade of the swordspear gradually dims until the only bit of the eternal radiance that remains is the spark collected in the young pegasus's eyes.

Charge. Sweep. Feint. Thrust. Block.

Their actions seem to blur into one, at a speed hardly distinguishable to the naked eye.

Absent is any glow of Arts. The only light comes from the clashing of the two adamantine stars as they collide in the wastes.

Is that all you've got? You've gotten slow, Margaret!

Huff...

In battle, you get only a split second to land a decisive blow!

...*cough* *cough*...

(Is this... a duel between campaign knights? It's nothing like brawls in the arena.)

(They're kicking up dust everywhere! Even standing at this distance... I can... barely catch my breath...)

They're clearly... not even using... any Arts... Urk...

Watch out!

Haven't you learned to watch out for yourself first? Margaret, you have your eyes on too many others. You're full of openings!

Uncle Liam...

I disagree.

This light...

You not only blocked my lance, but also...

I advance, I burn brightly, solely for the purpose of illuminating others.

Ugh––!

The Silverlance Pegasus takes a step back.

But this single step is enough to determine the victor.

I... can breathe again... Are they done fighting?

And this light in front of me... this warmth... Wait, are you using the light to cover us from the sand kicked up by the duel?!

The Radiant Knight!

She's still the same Radiant Knight as always, isn't she? She never turned her back on the Infected! She swings her blade for us, and she lifts her shield to cover us!

So... that's how it is...

The Radiant Knight... The Radiant Knight!

You really have grown, Margaret.

I'm sorry, Uncle Liam. You didn't use any Arts, and I wasn't going to use mine––

Nobody ever stipulated that campaign knights cannot use their Arts during a duel.

Furthermore, you are no campaign knight, Margaret.

I...

I've seen your feats in the arena.

Haven't you always looked down on the knight competitions?

I've always had contempt for those hypocritical performances, until now.

You fought well, Margaret.

And the show you put on in the arena... was not the full extent of your power.

Is that... a compliment? Thank you.

You've defeated me, once again. Ten years ago, you were already almost unstoppable.

And now, you've perfected your techniques and your Arts. A spear that can control its own sharpness far exceeds your prior abilities, as well as what I am capable of.

But even if I've won...

That's right, Margaret. Even if you've won, so what?

I asked you to lift your weapon. And so you did. You came here prepared to fight. But... have you thought about what comes next?

We made no agreement.

I never once thought that a single victorious duel would make a Silverlance Pegasus yield to me.

Even if I let those Infected into the city...

What does that mean for them afterwards? How should Kawalerielki accept them, and how are they to survive in Kawalerielki?

It's not as if I haven't given these things any thought, Uncle Liam.

Reality... is not a game. The day won't abruptly end, nor will there be a clear-cut winner.

So, I've made up my mind––

Yesterday, I received a letter from the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi. It credited the Kazimierz Alliance Medical Organization for the Treatment of Infected with substantial contributions to the Major.

Under significant pressure from people of all walks of life, the Adeptus considered allowing this organization to continue working in Kazimierz, and established a special regulatory agency.

And this organization... needs someone who can work closely with both sides to serve as a bridge.

Margaret, are you saying...?

Please inform the Grand Knight that I will take this position.

Margaret, did you decide all this before you chose to fight me?

Yes.

But I also believed you'd want me to demonstrate my determination.

Hah... Haha... You really have changed.

In the past, you only knew how to charge ahead, alone, consuming yourself in your own radiance––

When did you learn to take all these other things into consideration?

While I was thinking about how to save people.

During my years of exile, I made some friends who weren't the mightiest of warriors, but had hearts no less sincere than that of any knight.

I may not ever become as thorough and thoughtful as they are.

But I do hope... that my light can illuminate lands far and wide.

To this end, I'm willing to learn some new things.

Excellent.

Those companions of yours must be very trusty indeed.

All units––

Allow these Infected persons to enter the city! For the time being, custody over these individuals will be transferred to Margaret Nearl!

Phew...

They're letting us in...? This... Thank you so much, Radiant Knight! You're a lifesaver!

The Radiant Knight...

I don't know... if we can trust you. You helped us, but what good does it do? After all the hardships we've endured to return to Kawalerielki, what kind of life awaits us?

...I have no answers for you.

I'm sorry, but.. I can't make you any promises. Not now, maybe not even for the foreseeable future.

But, what I can say for sure is, I won't ever stop.

The long and difficulty journey you'll have to face... is the territory I've sworn to defend.

Radiant Knight–– Have you finished going over all the paperwork?

Yes, I've read them all, Mr. Spokesman.

I resigned from that position. You can just call me Malkiewicz.

Alright, assistant to the chairman of the Rose Paper Union–– Mr. Malkiewicz.

I thought this would be a simple interview. I never expected that you'd be waiting for me here.

A simple interview? Hardly. After you won the Major, you refused to speak with the press. This will be the first time you've been willing to face the camera––

As someone who has just stepped into the media industry, how could I miss such a rare opportunity?

The interview is just a means to an end.

I'm here to express my gratitude to you.

Gratitude? Oh, I see now. You're talking about the report published regarding the settlement of the Infected following the Major? That was nothing more than a minor publication in an inconspicuous weekly medical journal.

...Mhm.

But I must say, I was rather surprised.