Arknights story · Episode 8: Roaring Flare
R8-9 Reunited, Only to Separate
After learning about the patrol to the west, Alina heads east to exchange supplies. Once she's gone, Talulah hears that the village to the west is being searched and decides to ambush the patrol.
2 scenes, 242 lines
1. Before Operation
105 linesHui-chieh:
I don't know how much further I have to go.
I can hear the winter feathers chirp every now and then. Is that supposed to mean something? Does it mean that spring will be here soon?
It's still very cold here, but it shouldn't be much longer until it starts to get warmer.
It's been three weeks. We've finally found two more villages willing to trade with the Infected.
We've set up camp at an abandoned settlement a few kilometers away from them. There's plenty of fuel here to last us a while.
You can't imagine how awful tree bark tastes. I don't ever want to listen to the old man tell me how nutritious they are anymore.
December 7th
I am very well aware where this road is taking us.
Nonetheless, we have to get to the end of the road. Even if I don't make it, Yelena, Alina, and Eno and Sasha as well... I am sure they will make it.
But the road beneath our feet is just way too murky and hard to see.
Will they reject us? We can't bring their hopes up too much.
It's a bad thing to make a promise you cannot fulfill. The Ursus Empire's promise about bread and bed was nothing more than a ruse to cover up their atrocities and lies. And lies are what lead to tyranny.
Will they come to loathe us? It's very likely. If it wasn't for how hard life is in the Northern Plains, people here would probably report the Infected to the Patrol Unit the moment they spotted them.
This kind of animosity probably came from how worried they are about their own situation.
I'm not like Buldrokkas'tee. We certainly need to be on the lookout and avoid that, but I don't believe that's in their nature.
We can't hold it against them just because they want to look out for themselves. Definitely not.
Will they try to hurt us? I have no idea. And it's probably not something I can worry about too much...
No matter the case... I think most people are only like that because of the circumstances they are in.
If they had a teacher like Alina, a team like ours, or the chance to live in harmony with Infected... I'm sure things would improve.
Most of them were simply brainwashed by Ursus's twisted ideology. We can help them. Knowledge can change the way people think.
It's just... it's a really difficult thing to do. That's even though I believe... if you always hold fast to your beliefs in your actions, getting everyone to accept the truth should be one of the simplest things to accomplish.
【The words above were crossed out. Naturally, the letter was never mailed out.】
Oh, good morning.
Wouldn't it be dangerous for you to head outside right now?
I talked to the soldiers, and they said the patrol unit all went to the village to the west. Did someone see you trading with them the other day?
It's not impossible. Anyway, you should stay away from the west.
I know. I'll go to the village to the east instead. I should still be able to barter for some things there.
Oh, you don't need to worry so much. Remember, we used to find ourselves in situations much more dangerous.
What are you trying to get this time?
Some canned fruits and dried vegetables.
...Are those things really worth heading outside for?
Our fighters will get sick if things don't improve soon. It's about time you pick up a few things about taking care of yourself...
We're having trouble just getting enough food to feed ourselves. I really don't think we should go out of our way for....
Now, Talulah, that's not right.
Uh huh, ahem—
'It's precisely because there are times we don't get enough food on the table or even clothes to keep ourselves warm that things like songs, music, fruits, and flower, and our desire for all the things that delight our taste buds, our eyesight, and our sense of smell are so important.'
'These are the things that remind us what we are fighting for: we're fighting so that everyone can lead a decent life.'
Naturally, your health is part of all that. With just some vegetables and fruits, we can help a lot of people fight off their diseases.
...Rebutting me with my own words... That's cheating.
Hey now... Cheating? That's quite a serious charge, isn't it? Here, say it after me: 'That's smart!'
Okay, okay.
Do you need someone to go with you? A bodyguard, that is.
That probably isn't a good idea. I may be Infected, but I am not that special. I wouldn't want anyone to find out about us just because of me. Besides, it isn't too hard for me to hide my infection. Easier than for some of our soldiers.
Okay, but you should still be careful. I don't think we can completely trust the villagers there... There are a lot of things that don't add up there.
Yep, okay. Oh, I'll try to get us some pears too. Or do you reckon the Yetis like apples more?
I think they are more of a fan of raspberries... but let's not worry about them. They know how to look for those themselves.
I've got a meeting now.
Okay, I'm leaving.
—Alina!
What's up?
I'm thinking about putting together an Infected education group. Would you like to run it?
Huh? Am I really the right person for that?
You have a much better reputation than me among the noncombatant Infected.
It'll be easier for me to introduce you to everyone.
That's not what I mean...
Knowledge is a means of fighting itself, Alina. I insist.
Well...
I'll leave the decision to you. I don't need to write up any speeches or anything, do I?
Oh, I can hear the applause already.
...Stop teasing me. Okay, I'll get going now.
See you later. Don't stay out too late!
That won't work. We need to hang them.
The captain isn't around right now, but I know that's what he'd order us to do.
Remember, guerrilla fighters. We are not an army. At least not yet.
It gives a bad impression. When they first joined us, it was because they trusted us. They only started having doubts because of hunger. That's the only reason they made this mistake.
It only happened because we didn't keep our end of the bargain.
What bargain? Feeding them what little food we have left?
We promised the Infected a place to stay.
...Not everyone came here for a noble end. That's not realistic.
We could've earned even more of their trust if we had the machines exchanged for the provisions sooner.
In any case, I cannot accept keeping them on the team.
Then let them go.
I won't tolerate any excessive violence. Also, give them enough rations for a week before you exile them.
Absolutely not! Not even our warriors get that kind of treatment!
......
We're not going to give in on this one. It has nothing to do with achievements or whatever. We simply can't abide by their behavior.
Fine. At least don't go overboard with the language. Don't chew them out too much.
...We can accept that.
Good.
Now that the patrols are trying to smoke us out to the west... we can't let them find the group of Infected there.
That's all the more reason to put these bastards over...
Hm? Someone's knocking.
Come in.
*Pant*...
Talulah!
It's the Patrol Unit! They're investigating the village that traded food with us!
Should we get out of here? If we leave now, we'll be long gone by the time they found out about us!
—
Draw the patrol unit our way. I'll ambush them somewhere close by. We must let the patrol squad think we're behind it all, even if we have to leave our tracks behind for them to find.
Talulah! Think this through again! The Fourth Army's sentries are just ten kilometers away. Once they get word from the patrols about us, they will definitely come after us!
If the villages are pillaged because they gave us a helping hand... No, suppose they didn't. If they come in harm's way because of us, the Infected, we'll never find another village willing to trade with us.
Then let's take it upon ourselves to keep the news from spreading.
That's exactly how word about this gets out!
Listen to me. If you try to put a lid on this by killing everyone there, the bodies will become evidence. If you then get rid of their bodies, then the deserted village will be evidence instead.
If you want to keep any bad news about us from spreading, then there's only one way to go about it: Don't let anything bad happen in the first place.
What we need to do now is to widen the path we have ahead of us, not just for ourselves, but also for the descendants of those who are following us down this path. Any questions?
No.
You have a point. Let's do that.
Let's go.
Right, what you said just now makes sense. Protect all non-combatants, and help them evacuate first.
We have a tough battle ahead of us. I'll be fighting alongside you, but neither FrostNova and Patriot are here with us; remember, one day, you may not even have me fighting next to you.
But as long as what you are fighting for is just and feasible, then we don't need anyone else by our side. You don't need anyone by your side.
Yeah!
Let's go.
2. After Operation
137 linesYou even defeated the reinforcements? I shouldn't have expected less from you, Talulah!
What about all the other Infected?
They all made it in one piece. The backup safehouse we found really came in great use.
Have you done a headcount yet?
I did. Some of the kids were crying about how one of the older girls hasn't come back yet...
It's sad, but this happens fairly often these days. *Sigh*.
......
Talulah! We found the rest of the patrol unit. Looks like they've just been running away the whole time.
Which way did they go?
East. Makes me wonder if they'll come across the folks we exiled.
—Talulah?!
H-Hold on! Talulah, where are you going?
Running
Running.
Boots soaked in freezing, chilling water.
Legs sunk in white, blinding snow.
Forgot to use the sleigh.
Forgot to use the snowmobile.
Melting all the snow.
Dashing in the mud.
A long trail on the earth.
A long trail in the snow.
Cold boring into the lungs.
Pain piercing into the brain.
Running.Running.
An endless snow.
An endless winter.
An endless world.
A drop.
Talulah stopps in her tracks.
Another drop.
Tears drip down the corners of her eyes.
She does not notice the drops she shed.
Alina lies there on the ground.
She grips firmly onto the empty basket in her hand. Her clothes are dyed red with her own blood.
The grass and the mud around her body, once pale white, have been dyed a dark shade no less intense or florid.
The snow keeps falling, relentlessly.
......
No... A... A...
......
Talu...lah?
Alina...!!!
I didn't... want you to see me like this.
Don't talk. Alina, stop talking... Just don't talk!
We need to stop the bleeding...! Just hang on...!
I'm... not bleeding anymore... It's just...
In that case... Let's go! We need to get you to the medics right away for a blood transfusion!
It's okay... Don't worry... It's just... the things I traded for...
Don't worry about those... They aren't important... Let's head back... I'll take you there!
The Draco carries the Elafia on her back. Only now does she notice: this little deer looks so delicate and light, but her weight is so, so unbearably heavy on her back... As heavy as the weight of this whole world.
Stop...
I won't!
Who did it... Who did it... Who did this to you?!
Was it the Patrol Unit...?! The villagers?! Those bastards... Those bastards... I'll burn them all... I...
Wait, don't tell me... Was it the Infected we exiled...?!
Those ungrateful shitheads... No, no... If the Shieldguards gave them any rations...
Talulah...!
Alina... I'm listening... Just tell me!
I won't tell you...!
Why?! Why?! Are you not going to at least give me the chance to avenge you?!
You mustn't... Don't you remember what you said to me yourself?
You mustn't fight for revenge. You've already chosen, Talulah. You've already chosen a path to follow...
Giving up halfway... all because of me...? I won't have it...
Don't hold this against anybody... You mustn't.
What are you talking about?! What are you saying?! How can I not...? How am I supposed to not hold this against anyone?!!!
You told me yourself...! You said yourself that you can't harbor hatred against anyone... or you'd be... swallowed up... by that old man who placed that curse on you...
...Even if those Arts never existed in the first place... Wouldn't you still... be taken over... by all those things that represented who he was?
You told me that yourself.
Right... Right. But... But... Those people... Those...
...You know where they came from... and why they did that.
You said it yourself... Those people... aren't our enemies...
Stop... Alina... Don't speak...!
No... Talulah... Everything you said... I remember... so you must remember yourself...
These aren't the people... you need to crush... It's Ursus... That drove them into that corner...
It's Ursus... and... the world as it is...
It's okay... That's enough, Alina... I get it now!
Talulah... There is one thing you can detest... Everything they did, you can scorn.
But... never hate... anyone.
Do you agree with me...? Do you think what I said... is right? Are our lives... meaningful at all? Ugh... I don't know.
I'm not sure what it was... that we did wrong... but I know very well just what that curse... is all about.
Your rage... can burn down the entire plain... but you mustn't hate...
......
Alina...
I'm worried. Talulah, I'm so worried. If I'm not here anymore, you must have Yelena remind you... All this...
Alina, stop! Don't go on! I don't... I don't want you gone. All of you need to be here with me. You, Yelena, Sasha, Eno... All of you...
I don't want to lose any of you...!
Talulah... but all of us...
All of us met... so that we could part one day.
The white-haired Draco keeps trudging on in the cold, endless snowfield. On her back, the Elafia girl trembles away, pausing only to take in deep breaths now and then.
Snow drops down from the Elafia's horns. As Talulah slogs along, the snow-covered trees behind her begin to burn alight in silence. She has unknowingly begun to set her path ablaze.
The snowfields before her eyes are vast and endless. On her back, Alina is the only warmth she can feel.
Talulah feels each and every beat of Alina's heart through her back, and they grow weaker and weaker by the moment.
She wants to scream. She wants to cry. She wants to squeeze everything she feels out of her lungs, as though it could erase all this from her body.
But Talulah stays silent the entire time.
Talulah...
We'll be there soon, Alina... We're almost there!
Don't close your eyes... Don't close your eyes!
It's far...
You don't... need to lie.
The snowstorm is growing.
Talu...lah...?
I'm listening, Alina. Tell me. What's the matter?
...Snow... is warmer... than I ever imagined.
I'm sorry... I still don't... have all the things we talked about... written down.
It's okay. It's okay, Alina. It doesn't matter.
The children... Eno in particular... You need to...
I'm listening! Go on, Alina... I'm listening!!
You need to... do more... than just talk to him...
It's getting hot... Talulah...
...I don't want to die... I still haven't... your sister...
......
You must... live on...
This will do it.
Talulah will not remember what happens next.
She has no memories of anything after that.
She melted away each and every last thing she should have remembered, along with the snow.
She leaves behind only a trail of flames, and, with the exception of Alina, everything behind her is burned away in the inferno of her wake.
And Talulah treks on in the snow toward her parting with her dear friend.
Talulah! You're finally back! You didn't answer our calls, what—
...What... Who's that on your back...?
She's not breathing! Medic! Get over here, now! Talulah, just hang on...
...Talulah?
(What? She's walking right by... Where is she going?!)
Talulah, you may be the leader here, but that doesn't make it any less serious to leave—
Wait.
Yelena...?
......
Let her go.
(Do you know the poor little girl...?)
(Not really. I think... she's a teacher at the settlement.)
(Oh, she's a teacher. Poor kids. That's another person they could look up to, gone.)
(But why is Talulah...)
(Everyone has secrets they want to keep to themselves..)
(Whatever happened, it's hers alone to remember.)
With the Elafia still on her back, the Draco walks past the encampment. Their contours slowly begin to blur until they both disappear into the edge of the forest.
No one knows what happened after that.
They could only watch as the Draco walked into the darkness of the night.