Those Who Weave Eternal Prayers

Pardon me, Aldo. Since we're visiting the castle, I have some official business to attend to.

No problem. Go ahead and take your time. We'll wait for you around here.

Thank you. I'll try not to be gone too long.

Anabel's always in such a rush... That's so like her.

Even though she's helping us out, she never dodges her duties to the other knights. I'm impressed she can juggle it all. Couldn't you lend her a hand now and then, Deirdre?

I would love to. Assisting Anabel is my life's work. But there are many limitations on what I can do. The reality is, I can't help her nearly as much as I would like to.

Limitations?

*huff huff* I'm back. Sorry to keep you waiting.

Are you okay, Anabel? You sound really out of breath...

I'm fine... Just a little tired. Maybe I overdid things a tad. But I have so much still to achieve. Rest is a luxury I cannot afford.

It won't do you any good to exhaust yourself. Could you delegate some of your work to an assistant, maybe?

Ah, appoint an aide-de-camp? I never thought of that. You may be on to something.

It won't hurt to ask around. We should interview a lot of candidates to find the right one for the job, too. What kind of person would you want as your aide, Anabel?

Well, just off the top of my head... Someone with a different worldview to mine. That, and someone who is unafraid to state their opinion would be best, I think.

Cool. Let's take a stroll around the castle and see if there's anyone with those qualities.

Blast it all! Doing things one at a time like this is so outdated. I'm never going to finish... If only they'd adopt the alternative method I thought up. It's so much more efficient... Today's the day I stand up to the officers and suggest we shake things up!

That soldier over there sounds passionate about his work. You said you'd want someone who isn't afraid to speak their mind. Right, Anabel?

I suppose...

Let's go ask him if he'd be interested in the aide posi...

You! Quit slacking and get back to work!

Sir! Yes, sir!

If you've got time to chat, you've got time to work! Put your back into it, man! Let's get this finished before we die of old age!

I-I-I'm sorry! I'll get right on it!

What happened to all that passion he had earlier...

Hmm... I guess we'll have to ask someone else.

*sigh* How tragic, that our proud castle should have been trampled by the beastfolk army... And yet, as time passes and memories fade, will future generations have any idea of what we've endured? Rebuilding will only obscure our history. Oughtn't we to leave things as they are, as a testament to our fallen?

What an interesting idea... I'd never thought about it from that angle.

You did say you wanted someone who could challenge your worldview. Right, Anabel?

I suppose...

Let's go ask him if he'd be interested in the aide posi...

Get out of the way! We need to start preparations for moving all this rubble.

Don't be a fool! This should be preserved as a monument to the ravages of war!

Huh? Look, I get what you're saying, but this is a public thoroughfare.

Leaving it cluttered like this is only going to make it harder for us to recover, you know?

Stop! It being a place everyone visits is what makes it ideal for a monument. We must never forget!

...He's a little inflexible with his ideas.

Yeah... I guess we'll have to ask someone else.

This search isn't going too well. Perhaps I set my expectations too high?

Don't say that. If we stick to it, I'm sure we'll find someone good.

I hope you're right...

......

Hey, Deirdre, couldn't you volunteer for this aide position? You're always talking about how you want to help Anabel more...

I... I'm not fit for that kind of assignment. People will only think badly of Anabel if she's seen with the likes of me.

Come on, that's not true...

Anabel is the guiding light of our people. I'm better suited to protecting her from the shadows. Fulfilling that duty is enough for me.

...... All right. If you say so.

Captain Anabel!

What?

Captain, I heard you're looking for an aide-de-camp!

How do you know that? We haven't told anyone about it yet.

Heh heh... Don't underestimate my sixth sense! I know everything there is to know about our beloved paladin.

I beg of you! Appoint me as your aide. I promise I'll do a great job!

I suppose I can consider you as a candidate...

I'll do whatever it takes to prove my worth. Name it and it shall be done!

I... Well, I think... Very well. I'll give you a trial run and see if you're right for the job...

......

Hail! Well met. You could not have arrived at a better moment.

Is something wrong, Sir Lakhesis?

We've had reports of a suspicious character loitering in the Karek Swamplands.

Great scott! We can't ignore such infractions in our kingdom. It could be some ne'er-do-well planning devilry and sedition! Captain, we should investigate. I'll go on ahead and scout the area!

*sigh* I feel more exhausted than when I was working alone...

Sorry, maybe I shouldn't have suggested this after all.

It's not your fault. I feel uneasy letting him run around on his own. Let's make our way to the swamp.

Wait! Please, you don't understand...

Silence, knave! Why do you insist on hiding beneath this hood? If you won't reveal yourself, I'll tear it off myself!

Whoa... He's going a little overboard, don't you think?

We must stop him. Stand down, soldier!

Ah-ha! I knew there was something suspicious about you!

...... It's a beastman!

No, please... Let me explain...

Behold, Captain Anabel! The beastfolk insurgent is unmasked. Dispense justice forthwith!

A-Anabel? The Paladin?! Oh my...

...Did you come here to cause humans harm?

Please believe me, I don't want to hurt anyone! I'm sick of fighting...

Don't be swayed by his lies, Captain. He'd say anything to save his hide. A conversation with the business end of your sword will change his tune!

......

There is no honor in turning my blade on one with no will to fight.

You should go. It's not safe for you here. Tensions between humans and beastfolk are still too high.

Th-Thank you! I'll never forget your kindness.

What is the meaning of this? Such a feeble judgement is unworthy of you, Captain! Is this the hero who cut down one beast soldier after another? I looked up to you! What happened to the grudge you held over the massacre of your parents? Was that a lie?!

......

Go. Just go!

Thank you. Heh heh... What a fool. This act of mercy will come back to bite you!

Curses... Another few seconds and I'd have taken the paladin's head!

...Watch your back, Anabel.

Deirdre... Where did you come from? Why did you...

Don't get the wrong idea. I just happened to swat an annoying little bug.

......

Don't just stand there. He's not down for the count just yet. Careful!

It's over...

You see! What did I tell you? Beastfolk can't be trusted. They don't deserve one iota of mercy!

I'm sorry I didn't live up to your expectations.

I'm disappointed in you, Captain. I'm no longer interested in becoming your aide. Goodbye.

What a jerk! He's got no right to go pushing his ideas onto you. Don't let him get to you, Annabel. He just doesn't understand.

Thank you, Aldo. Don't worry, I'm fine. There are still a lot of knights like him who hold grudges against the beastfolk. I understand how they feel all too well. Beastfolk wiped out my hometown. That's not something I can forget...

......

...We're done here. We should return and report to Sir Lakhesis. I apologize for letting my lapse in judgement put you all in danger.

...And that concludes my report.

I see. You dealt with the situation admirably. Try not to dwell on it.

Thank you, sir.

It seems my new ideology still hasn't gotten through to the ground troops. A world without war... It sounds good, but it'll be a long, hard road to actually achieving it. Anna... You were so much stronger than I imagined. I have a fine comrade in Aldo. At least one person understands me, but... Is my only choice to continue my efforts alone...?

...?! This voice!

Urgh... My head!

Nrgh... *huff huff*

Anabel, what's wrong? You look real shook up. Did you finish reporting the incident to Lakhesis?

Yes, I did. But more importantly... I've decided who to make my aide!

Oh, that's great! Did Lakhesis introduce you to someone good?

No. It's... Well, it's rather hard to explain, to be honest.

......

I'm sorry, I don't mean to ramble. The truth is, I'm still a little confused. You've all done so much for me, I would love for you to be there when I make the position official. Of course, this all depends on the person I have in mind accepting the offer...

Don't worry about that. I'm sure they'll be honored to work with you, whoever they are.

Thank you, Aldo. Why don't we continue this conversation elsewhere? We'll borrow the throne room for a minute. It is a highly important matter, after all.

Come on, Anabel, don't keep us in suspense. Who's your new aide gonna be?

A moment, please... I need to prepare myself.

......

Huh? Where are you going, Deirdre?

I'll wait downstairs. My being here will only make things awkward. You can tell me who got the job later, Aldo.

That won't do, Deirdre! We can't perform this ceremony without it's most important person!

What do you mean?

Ah...

Haven't you guessed? You really are slow on the uptake sometimes.

Deirdre, I wish to make you my aide-de-camp. Will you accept?

Me? Your aide? D-Don't joke around. I'm a pariah in the Order's eyes. Besides, you hate me. You get headaches just from looking at me, remember?

No, the headaches have stopped now.

Don't be ridiculous... The only way to stop them is...

Deirdre, your head doesn't hurt when you look at me anymore, does it? Does that mean your memory has also returned?

Wait! "Also"? Anabel, you...

So it's true. I knew it.

It's impossible... Those memories could only be restored by looking directly into the past.

I did. Or rather, I had the past shown to me.

...?! This voice!

A-Anna...?

The truth?

Nrgh...my head... It feels like it's going to split open! ...! These memories... How could I forget all this?

I don't believe it...

Have you really remembered, Anabel?

Believe it. And don't be so stiff, speak to me as you used to.

...... ...S-Sis...

I'm sorry it took me so long to remember.

It's all right... What matters is that we can be a family again. We'll make up for all the time we lost, starting now.

But are you sure about appointing me? People will talk...

Let them. Little by little, everyone will get to know the real you.

The real me...

I knew, you know. That someone was supporting me in secret. That was all you, wasn't it? I can't believe I didn't see it before. People have always gotten the wrong idea about you, ever since we were little.

I...I had to keep it from you. I didn't have much of a choice...

It will take time, but I'm confident the kingdom will see the truth. Above all, I want us to be together.

Then I'll do it. I'll stay by your side, Sis.

Thank you, Deirdre. Don't ever leave me again.

I-I'm really not used to being shown so much kindness...

That sword you carried was the reason we lost our memories, is it not?

Yes. But without Verweil's power I'd never have saved you, or even met you again.

I know... I'm sorry I never listened to your side of the story. We've been at loggerheads ever since we came back into each other's lives. But in a strange way, even that fighting was fun.

You're right... We got to vent our feelings to the fullest. We never held back, did we?

Our friendship is all the sweeter now that we've been through all that. We're going to be fine from now on.

It's like a dream come true...

This is real, I guarantee it. Now's all that's left is to perform the ceremony. You still remember the oath, don't you?

In the name of the Royal Order of Knights, I, Anabel, hereby charge thee, Deirdre...

What? We're starting it right now?

How did it go... T-To serve the house of Miglance, its environs, and its citizens...

Uphold your honor as a knight. Protect the kingdom's peace.

My honor as a knight... To protect my sister.

We will bid farewell to our past...

...And pray for a better future.

We will be the bedrock of our kingdom...

...And an example to our people.

On our swords, this we swear.