12-20 Sincere Invitation

......

Did old Wellington send his entire reserve fleet here?

Yes, Your Grace.

The Duke of Wellington seems to be fighting that ship... he must be sure of his victory.

Their frontline forces must have already exchanged fire with the Sarkaz.

Grr, and there's still Caster...

That woman has barely ever stepped outside her demesne, but even she's not staying put this time.

Just how valuable is this ship to be worth all their trouble?

Your Grace, the strategists are also recommending we obtain as much technology as we can from that airship.

Whether we stand against the Sarkaz, or... other possible rivals, such an unprecedented weapon will allow us to control an even larger airspace.

Shut them up. What 'possible opponents'? They're inciting me to break up Victoria.

I came here solely to bring Delphine home.

They're also saying that Norport Borough may be in terrible shape right now.

Delphine will be fine. She's my daughter after all.

Y-Your Grace...

Haven't I said before that running inside the ship is forbidden?

Please, take a look at the shadow of that moving plate...

Something's... not quite right...

Is that... The Shard's shadow?

How can this be? Is this a natural phenomenon? Or...?

How long did you say it would take for Caster's and Wellington's troops to arrive?

Perhaps within the next two hours?

A rare event indeed, for the troops of three dukes to all coincidentally converge near this area...

According to reports we received earlier, a few other dukes are also planning their moves, so it would not be too surprising to see their warships on the move here.

I've been in the army for many years, and yet this is the first time I've seen something like this.

!

Full stop! All units, stop immediately!

Get all of them clear of the area at once!

Send a red flare to warn our allies!

Quickly! Now!

Send a plaintext to every Victorian unit in the region!

This place could well be the target of The Shard's attack!

A-Alright!

Don't turn the ship, speed it up towards Norport Borough!

I have to find Delphine before the storm comes!

Impressive work, Ines.

It was going to be a simple test shot, not at our full power, but we have many other locations to choose for next time.

I do have to admit I have some tiny regrets.

But the Military Commission always has more than just a single plan.

Inform the Nachzehrer King, it's time to rouse the troops.

The storm will open a path for him.

I never should've expected... that the two of them could come up with anything better.

Hey, Ines. Still alive and kicking?

That explosion was pretty tough, so don't blame me if any minor issues crop up.

Ah man, Hoederer. Let's just bury her.

Sorry to rain on your parade, but I'm still alive for now.

Ugh. Killjoy.

So, did you like the fireworks I set off for you?

And guess what I secretly sewed into your clothes?

Wow! Who would've guessed? A tracking device!

Do you think I never noticed it?

Shoddy stitching, your darning skills are honestly embarrassing.

Grr. That was supposed to be a present for you, but well, I guess this way's fine too.

And these—

Don't you know how difficult it is to keep clothes clean and tidy on a battlefield?

And you still threw me into a ball of smoldering ashes?

You used to call my Arts embers.

Not in the mood for that now.

You're pretty seriously injured.

Better than being dead.

What?! Hoederer! You had Arts to cast all along? I thought you only knew how to chop at guys with your knife!

Embers? No wonder you're so unfazed whenever I throw a bomb at your face!

So, are you not afraid of getting shot?

I am.

Can you fling ashes at someone else's face?

No.

Is your permanently haggard scowl a side effect of your Arts?

Shut up.

...Heh.

How many years has it been since I've seen you in such a pathetic state, Ines?

Believe me, you'll never see me like this again.

Don't be too confident now, we might just bump into the Sanguinarch having a leisurely stroll on our way back.

......

W, can I ask you to swap your little hypothetical there?

What, did you develop feelings for those crusty old monsters of the Royal Court after hanging out with Manfred for so long?

Hey, you should be thanking me! If I didn't bump into you scuttling around on my way back, you might've gotten recaptured by your old besties!

Maybe I'll head back to prison so I can at least enjoy some peace and quiet without you.

Be my guest, I'll even do you a solid and report you to Theresis.

Where are we headed?

W's safehouse.

Fine, I can force myself to pretend we're going home.

And also—

...Thanks.

...I wanna go back.

What's taking her so long today? She injure her leg or something?

We gotta help her out, she'll be so grateful that we're bound to get a few bottles of decent beer out of it.

What'cha standing around for? Let's move!

Enough, Hannah! Norport's a sea of flames right now!

Baird's not dumb, she can keep herself safe.

She's dead.

...

What're you on about? Morgan, this is no time for a laugh—

I said! Baird's dead!

Didn't you see that butterfly knife? It was covered in blood!

Baird always kept that on her person, there's no mistaking it...

That knife, in someone else's hand, only means one thing...

......

I mean, it might be just a misunderstanding. Maybe she lost her knife or something.

She's got her careless moments too, right? Not like she never lost nuffin before.

Remember that one year when she accidentally lost our carton of eggs? We were supposed to have fried eggs that morning.

Sometimes she slips up, no big deal...

Hannah... McClaren is holding her knife.

Baird went back just to look for him.

He's deaf in both ears, so they probably...

......

...

Hah! They've been friends for years. You trying to scare me?

Baird probably just lent her knife to McClaren for a bit, nuffin wrong with that, right?

I...

...

I... I'll go ask him. He can tell us, it was just a...

Hannah.

Where's he? McClaren left Norport along with us, right? So he's definitely in the crowd.

We'll just ask him, this oughta be a misunderstanding...

McClaren—Where are you—

McCla—

Hannah, he can't hear you.

...

I—

I'll kill the bugger! He's dead! When I find him, I'll smash every single bone in his body!

Hannah! That's enough.

Vina! Did you already know about this? Bloody hell, why haven't you—

Why haven't I gone and smashed his skull in for Baird?! You think I don't want to?!

You think I don't want to?!

Because there's no meaning to it! Rubbing out a frightened deaf man makes no bloody sense at all!

Hannah, I hate it, I hate all of this, I'm a fool through and through, a self-righteous twit!

Allerdale, Baird...

If I hadn't involved myself in this, they wouldn't have...

What did I even come back for?!

What did I even think I came back for?!

Vina, we came back because we couldn't stand it... we were just watching from the side.

Because this is our street, our turf, our country.

You're always charging ahead, but this isn't your responsibility.

We're not following you to see what kind of person you'll become.

Vina, you're just our Vina, right?

...

Of course.

I'm just Vina. This I swear.

Where should we bring these people from Norport Borough? We can't let them fend for themselves in the wilderness, right?

Besides, this is the heart of the battle.

These townspeople can live on my mother's land, if they're willing to move.

Mother has a nomadic city in the vicinity of Londinium. It's a rather tiny fortress city, but it'll be no problem to accommodate them.

Got any other ideas, Cador?

Hmph.

You know, Delphine? Ever since you stopped hiding your identity, you've changed the way you speak.

I know what happened with Baird... has upset you.

It upset us all, but right now, there's no need to dampen our spirits even more.

I just...

Ah, finally found you.

Could we please have some water to drink?

That Draco... we don't like those flames of hers, so difficult to extinguish.

Damazti.

Ascalon... It's been a while, hmm?

What did you come here for?

We're thirsty.

And to offer a greeting to the little King of Sarkaz here.

That banshee speaks pretty highly of you.

It's alright, Doctor. I've never seen our guest here in their current form, but... I know them very well, they've appeared frequently in those histories.

But they're always wandering outside the Royal Court, and they're not interested in anything... except themselves.

Damazti fragment, why have you appeared before us?

So you really are a genuine King of Sarkaz, little bunny.

That thing seems to have also tormented you quite a bit. Good job holding all that in your little head while not being a Sarkaz.

Memory is the most precious thing to us, but it can sometimes also be our poison.

So you see, we do appear to have something to talk about.

Are you... also of the opinion that I'm not worthy of bearing the crown of 'The King of Sarkaz'?

I see that talkative revenant really put you through the wringer.

Don't mind it, he's never been the kindly type.

You're an ancient Sarkaz, so how do you think... a King should act?

Oh, good question. We've never been one, and we don't care to bother...

But we're thinking, you should at the very least be strong enough?

Strong enough to... overcome any hesitation or doubt, yes?

Oh, we're certain of something else though. You definitely shouldn't be asking us this question, little King.

......

You have a long path ahead of you, regardless of whether you're leading the organization you call Rhodes Island or following the guidance of the Sarkaz souls.

Oh, sorry. We forgot that the souls won't accept you, just like how they won't accept us.

We're all different from each other.

However—

You'll understand at some point in the future, that the passage of time is unbeatable. The Kings of Sarkaz in our memories, all walked the very same path in the end.

Not me.

I—refuse to walk that path.

Don't be too quick to refute us, Cautus. We did think it was a nice change having a young King of Sarkaz, but it seems like you're still chained to your fate.

Though we're nonetheless full of expectations for you, a non-Sarkaz King...

A young King of Sarkaz who is still growing and questioning her own blood...

A never before seen King of Sarkaz...

What are you up to?

We... have no ill intentions.

King of Sarkaz, we don't dare to claim that we're wiser than you are, and we have nothing to teach you either.

We only wish to extend an invitation, we seek an opportunity to thoroughly understand a 'unique' individual.

Ascalon, you will understand when you've lived as long as we have.

When something you've never seen before appears right before your eyes, how could you resist reaching out to it?

O King of Sarkaz, please grant our perennial lives a pleasant surprise.

......

What are you looking at?

At your King of Sarkaz, Banshee.

You're facing Amiya.

I advise you to carefully consider your actions.

And you should do away with the curses in your hands.

Relax. They've already won.

I'm grateful for our earlier exchanges, Damazti. I have a clearer understanding of your methods now.

The King of Sarkaz couldn't have possibly lost to our clone that had already been fried near to a crisp by a Draco's flames.

But we are glad to have experienced something new for the first time in such a long time.

It's been ages since we've seen anything that has brought us even a speck of excitement.

Be proud of yourself, Banshee. You've convinced us, and we'll be more than happy to keep this new possibility of yours, though we're still not very optimistic about the direction this possibility is heading.

But to us, time and patience are two things we have more than plenty of.

We will meet again, at the next finish line.

Where are you going next?

We've never gone anywhere on purpose, we merely wander the land.

You've mentioned before, Damazti, that you've pretty much exhausted all possibilities.

Yes.

But there remains uncharted territory for you.

...Oh?

Everything on this great land is constantly evolving, while you stayed just as you always have been, imitating the fruits of evolution.

Yes, you've never gone anywhere, and yet you're already complete.

So of course there can be no progress in something that's already been completed.

How persuasively provocative. And what do you suggest?

You've already guessed it.

......

Heralding our deaths—you do live up to your name, bean sí.

From death comes new life.

Indeed, we've never tried this before...

......

We just bid goodbye to a friend, at a place not far from here.

She said that she would rather give up living than to let life wash over her.

We felt her emotions, we saw her determination.

She claimed it was the choice of a coward, but we felt something else.

We could barely put it in words then, but now we know, that it also took a certain kind of courage.

The kind of courage we've never considered before.

Well, alright. Banshee, we admit it

We've begun looking forward to this.

This might be just an innocuous scheme of yours, a clumsy method of ridding yourself of an enemy.

But that doesn't matter to us.

Or maybe the souls are merely borrowing your voice to provoke us.

Need me to help you?

How about you leave us with some decency?

Though you ought to sound the death knell for us.

......

You sure are a tenacious and brave bunch. Celebrate your victory.

What, are you not entertained, Doctor of Rhodes Island?

Or maybe that's unnecessary? Maybe we actually understand you on a... level beyond your worst estimates?

Haha, relax, Doctor. Your ship's onboarding inspection is not as easy as it seems to slip through.

Alright. Goodbye, all.

What are you planning?

What else can we do with our broken body?

We've stayed in our original form for... long enough.

Tiny King of Sarkaz, where will you go next?

Where will you bring these people who trust you, follow you, protect you?

Will you do as Buldrokkas'tee prophesized, and enslave everything across all the lands...?

Or will you prove that it is only us who have been bound too deeply by the chains of history?

'Evolution,' a tricky word indeed, implying an inevitable progress, though it may not be.

But no matter, you will find your path, and us as well.

He dissipated...

No, the Damazti won't die. His other, more complete and stronger self, is probably just around the corner.

This is a typical tactic of his, to have the prey let down its guard, and then come in for the kill...

A bone whistle? How can this be?

Logos sees the bone whistle as a lamentable tradition of the Royal Court, and has always refused to sound it as his predecessors have done.

But this is indeed a bone whistle from the Master of Knells.

!

The Damazti cluster... is dying.

A bone whistle.

How long has it been since we've had the Lord of the Banshees grace our court to sound the bone whistle?

......

The Damazti Cluster has died.

Fret not, the Damazti has only encountered a minor setback, he'll soon...

No, what I mean is, every Damazti fragment is simultaneously decaying.

The Damazti dies, and our long-lasting Royal Court will collapse.

Hmph, how interesting.

I think, that he himself never imagined that it would end like this.

How should I describe it? A split into halves?

Or the birth of two new lives?

The ancient Damazti no longer exists.

......

And two newborn Damazti have appeared in this world.

Sand in nature is regarded as the final state of all things. No matter how strong a boulder may be, it turns to dust at the end of time.

But then again, the sand may also hold the possibility of starting a cycle of reincarnation anew.

Kal'tsit, your wounds are still healing, move another inch and I'll tell Shining—

I'm already fine, for the most part.

An old friend might locate us soon... no, I should say a new friend now.

I don't want to meet any of your old or new friends.

There's good news and bad news, pick one?

Wait, I sure am tired. Why did I think you would be up for a stupid game?

The bad news is—

Give me the good news.

The bad news is that we didn't find the entrance to the Sarkaz supply route in Brentwood. There was no underground tunnel at all, but there was a passage used for inspections...

Wait, you... huh?

I said, give me the good news.

Ah... um, I...

Shining—!

I like to hear positive news sometimes as well, Closure.

......

The good news is, we managed to get in touch with the Doctor.

Thank you for your assistance, Duke Windermere. We've managed to re-establish our communication channels.

The refugees we brought have all boarded the ship, and they'll be under the Duke of Windermere's protection for the time being.

I should be the one thanking you, Rhodes Island.

You've helped the townspeople of Norport Borough escape a disaster. Not all of them, but... it's enough.

Protecting the people is what we, those who bear the title of duke, ought to do.

And, you even saved my daughter.

She was just bawling in her room earlier.

Mum! I was only...

I can guess what you've all been through the last couple of days.

But Delphine, perhaps you have come to better understand how those in power should wield authority.

If I may be so bold, Your Grace, how are you planning to use your power?

After witnessing the fate of the Steam Knights, I'm not sure—

I had to make a strategic decision, daughter of Montague.

You may call it a plot, and I won't deny that I signed my name on the Steam Knights' orders.

But... to decide the future of this country is exactly our duty.

...'Duty'.

Yes, Miss Vina. 'Duty'.

You understand why I'm addressing you that way.

Of course.

If you'd excuse us, Your Grace. For now, I would... rather be with my friends.

As you please.

Now then, Doctor of Rhodes Island. I believe... we can't avoid discussing the object your operator is carrying.

I knew it wasn't my imagination.

That is Victoria's Realmblade, yes?

Delphine was praising you so highly that perhaps I require a re-evaluation.

Anyway, it's impossible to ignore her and the sword she's carrying.

Delphine told me about your deal with her. Even though there were some twists and turns in between, I'm sure that deal remains valid.

Of course.

But I promise you that for now, I'll act as if nothing happened.

We can talk this out slowly when we've returned to my demesne.

Cador didn't get on the ship, he left with a bunch of people.

And Hannah?

She's still in her room and refuses to come out.

...

Let's get her something to eat. She's barely had a decent meal in Norport.

Yeah.

What are you burning?

A bunch of drafts.

Notes I saved for writing inspiration.

But I forgot where I dropped my memoir notebook, haha.

Siege, you don't need it, do you? We don't need it anymore.

Sure.

I...

Siege, what's... are you crying?

No, I just...

I just...

......

I just... got ash in my eyes.

Norport will return to her old self, the people are still there after all.

We'll get our old lives back... eventually.

We just... need patience. A little more of it.

Vina, I—

The war is going to end, right?