Chapter 14: Separation

Chapter 14:
Separation

 

NEKT LET OUT a loud, despondent sigh as she walked out of the operating room.

“Looks like you failed at convincing her.” Satuhkie had been waiting for her in front of the room.

“I mean, I did have to drag her here.”

“This is exactly as you said, you know. You said you would let them decide whether or not to undergo the operation.”

“I know that! But I’m not going to let her die like this.”

Mute’s body was quickly deteriorating, the consequence of having used two Origin cores at once. The reversion core had returned her to her usual appearance, at least, but they would need to remove the core and transplant it with a human heart if she wanted to live.

“I’m going to give it another try.”

Satuhkie called out to Nekt before he could return to the operating room. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to try my hand at talking to her.”

Nekt snorted. “Heh. How do you plan on changing her mind? She’s never even met you before.”

“Perhaps the strength of your connection is what keeps her from seeing reason.”

“That’s not…impossible, I suppose.”

Mute was clearly still angry with Nekt for dragging her away before she could die properly. Nekt was open to the idea of letting someone else try. Whether Satuhkie was the right person for the job was another question entirely, but Ottilie was out on a job at the moment, and there was no one else to ask.

“All right, I’ll give you one shot. That doesn’t mean I trust you, all right?”

“Understood. Wait here…and try to not get your hopes up.”

Nekt plopped herself down in a chair and watched the old man disappear through the doorway. She continued to sit there and stare at the door impatiently until he finally walked back out five minutes later. There was something about the grin plastered to his face that she found even more annoying than usual.

“Well, she’s…”

He paused for a little longer than necessary and beamed.

“…convinced.”

“Wha…”

Nekt was dumbfounded. She’d spent all that time talking to Mute to no avail, and yet he could achieve results in a matter of minutes. Her words from earlier echoed in her mind: “…Doesn’t mean I trust you.”

She immediately rushed past Satuhkie and hurried to Mute’s side.

Mute looked tranquil as she turned to greet Nekt.

“Why did you change your mind all of a sudden? What’d Satuhkie say to you??”

“I…made the decision…by myself. I decided…I want to live.”

There was something different about the look in her eyes. It looked…almost like hope.

Nekt hurried out of the room, leaving Mute to undergo the surgery she so badly needed. The moment she was through the door, however, she immediately walked up to Satuhkie and grabbed him by the collar.

“Just what in the hell did you say to her?”

“I just explained to her about the value of life, is all.”

“Ngraw!

“I don’t get why you’re so frustrated. Isn’t this exactly what you wanted? If the surgery is successful, she’ll be a normal girl again.”

“That’s true, but…”

He was right. Nekt should be grateful, but deep down, she still didn’t trust him.

“I pray that we can give those of you who were robbed of your humanity a second chance at a happy life.” Satuhkie readjusted his collar and made his way down the hall.

Moments later, the red lamp above the door to the operating theater flicked on. A great sense of unease washed over Nekt as she sat down, stared up at the light, and began to pray.

 

***

 

“Nnnn…” Flum’s eyelids twitched several times before she finally opened her eyes.

“Master!”

More than anything in the world, hers was the face that Flum wanted to see at that moment. Or at any moment, really.

“Milkit? Where are…?”

“The guild’s first aid room. Linus brought you and Cyrill here.”

“Linus? Oh…that’s right… I…” The memories all came flooding back. She’d finished her battle with Mute and then blacked out. “Are Eterna and Gadhio okay?”

“They are, but they’re talking to some other people right now.”

Flum’s whole body relaxed.

“Haah, I’m so, so very glad that you woke up, Master.” Milkit hugged Flum’s waist tightly, burying her face in her side.

The warmth of her skin finally convinced Flum that she was still alive.

“I was just so worried. I didn’t know what I’d do if you never woke up again!”

“Sorry, Milkit. I always seem to make you worry.” Flum placed her hand on Milkit’s cheek and gently toyed with her soft, delicate hair.

A lamp’s weak glow illuminated the room. From the view outside, the capital was submerged in full darkness; Flum reasoned that she was knocked out for quite a while. Milkit must have spent that whole time at her side, holding her hand tightly and waiting for her to wake.

“Thanks, Milkit.”

“There’s no need to thank me. I hardly did anything…really…”

“Still…thank you.”

Milkit’s heart always clenched, her body heating up fit to catch fire, when she thought about how kindly Flum treated her. Her words alone were almost more than her heart could handle, but then there were her warm embraces, her delightful scent… It just went on and on. Her thoughts were so entirely consumed by Flum that she felt as if she were in a constant state of euphoria. All she wanted was for them to be together, never apart, and that desire grew stronger with each passing day.

“Oh, right,” said Flum. “How’s Cyrill?”

The warm sensation suffusing Milkit’s body vanished. She knew this was no time to bask in her master’s kindness. There were still details in need of discussing.

“She’s sleeping on the other side of that curtain. Apparently, she lost consciousness due to a mix of the exhaustion from the battle and her body’s response to the…Brave, was it? Some sort of magic. Her injuries have all healed, though, so she should wake up soon.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Flum was relieved to hear that, even if none of them had made it out entirely unscathed. Waking up and talking to Milkit made all her concerns melt away. Things were okay. In time, everything would all be back to normal.

But the fighting wasn’t done yet. Luke, Fwiss, and Mother were still out there. Flum felt like she was made of lead, but she also knew that she couldn’t just stay in bed forever. She started to slide out of bed, and Milkit took her hand to help support her. Gadhio, Eterna, Ink, Y’lla, and Slowe were waiting in the guild with the usual collection of adventurers.

Y’lla was the first to speak. “I see someone finally woke up. I was starting to worry you were gonna die on me.”

Miraculously, she wasn’t being facetious. Judging by the look on her face, she had been worried about Flum.

“I’m surprised to hear that.” The words were already out of Flum’s mouth before she had a chance to stop herself.

“Huh? Here I am, showing a little compassion for once, and that’s how you treat me? How rude!” True to form, Y’lla flew off the handle at once. Flum found a sort of comfort in it but didn’t dare say so.

“Sorry, sorry… It’s just that I’m not used to you looking so concerned. Thanks, Y’lla.”

The other woman merely crossed her arms and turned away with a harumph.

Once that exchange died down, Eterna and Gadhio spoke up.

“Morning, Flum.”

“I didn’t think you’d be awake so soon.”

“Really? I feel like I slept for ages.”

“With all the energy you used up, you must’ve been absolutely exhausted.”

“You can’t compare yourself to this crusty old pack mule, ya know.”

Gadhio put his hand to his chin at Eterna’s verbal jab. “Mule…?”

Flum looked Gadhio over, realizing just how energized and refreshed he looked. She felt a small pang of disappointment in herself, reminded anew of how far she had to go before she was strong enough to fight Origin.

She turned her attention to Ink. “Listen, Ink, about Mute…”

“All I can say is that I hope she survives. Maybe it’s not appropriate, but I have to say it.”

“No, she’s family. I understand how you feel.” The choice she’d made to leave Mute in Nekt’s hands was starting to look like it had been the right one. “Hey, where’s Linus?”

Flum looked around the guild, but he was nowhere to be seen…until she looked over to the reception area and found him sitting sullenly in the corner.

“Maria left a note and disappeared,” Eterna explained.

“Oh, wow. I guess that explains why he looks like that.”

Maria disappeared shortly after she brought Linus and Flum back to the guild and ensured they were properly healed. She hadn’t said a single word to Linus; she left only a note behind, thanking him for helping and believing in her. She’d thought a lot about what Flum said and realized that she, too, was in a position she could never return from.

Linus lifted his head and looked at Flum. “Honestly, I kind of knew that it would come to this.”

They bonded for sure, but she never really opened her heart up entirely to him. There was a wall there that kept them apart.

“She never really talked about the things that really mattered. Maybe I should have just put her first and taken her out of the capital. I’m a worthless coward.”

Linus was fully prepared to accept all the blame on himself—but less prepared to accept the sense of comfort she had given him.

“That’s all quite interesting,” said Eterna, “but none of us really understand why Maria left like that.”

“Linus…have you still not told Eterna and Gadhio what happened?”

“Not yet. Tell them if you want. I won’t stop you.”

“All right, then.”

It was probably best coming from Flum anyway, and Linus realized as much. Even so, Flum found her heart growing tight, and she struggled to find the right words. No matter how she tried to cobble together an explanation, the tangents and supporting details weighed it down intolerably.

“Maria’s got an Origin core embedded in her.”

“Maria…?”

“She was wearing a mask to cover up how her face transformed.”

She’d never actually seen what was under the mask, but she was fairly certain, based on all the creatures she’d fought. Gadhio didn’t look terribly surprised; he nodded thoughtfully. It looked like Flum answered some of his lingering questions.

“I guess it only makes sense, if you think about it,” he said. “She was a trusted member of the clergy. Perhaps she was sent along on the great journey to keep an eye on Cyrill and Flum.”

“So did that battle with Mute have something to do with the church, too?” said Eterna.

“I can’t really say for sure, to be honest,” said Linus. “But considering that I found Maria in a dungeon under the city, I think it’s safe to say she’s burned bridges with the church. She did give cores to Cyrill and Jean in an attempt to bring them into the fold. Once Cyrill saw what happened to Maria, she ran away before she had a chance to use the core.”

“And that’s why Cyrill turned up wandering the capital,” said Eterna.

Milkit listened patiently to the conversation until it led her to recall something. “So that means that Maria never expected that to happen to her face?”

“Seems that way,” said Linus.

“She must have been confident that the cores she was handing out were properly suppressed if she was willing to use one on herself,” said Eterna. “Did someone betray her?”

“Our journey was at a standstill; the church no longer had any use for Maria.” said Gadhio. “They probably meant to cut her loose like they did with the Children.”

Linus looked worried. He clenched his fists, praying for Maria’s safety. “Maria was still in the wrong—there’s no doubt about that. I didn’t pick up on it, and that’s on me. But…I still want to help her in any way I can.”

Everyone in the room stayed quiet. They all knew how terrifying the cores could be and that nearly all those who used them were beyond help. On the other hand, they also understood how Linus felt. Everyone in the party knew that he was head over heels for Maria.

Gadhio finally broke the oppressive silence. “Right now, our enemy is the Children, not Maria. The day may very well come where we must fight, as long as she’s still affiliated with the church, but you still have some time.”

“…Thanks.” Linus’s voice nearly cracked. He bit down on his lip and groaned.

They had no choice but to leave the Maria issue to him. Flum knew that she and the others had too many problems of their own to deal with.

“Well, good evening, folks! I, Welcy Mancathy, have safely returned!”

Welcy threw the door open and waltzed into the guild with much the same flair as she had earlier that morning. The cheerful lilt to her voice blew away the dark mood that hung over the room.

“Let me tell you, it was quite a trip getting here. Everyone’s in such a hurry to get out of the capital.”

“Welcy!”

“Oh, Flum! You’re awake?”

“Well, I can’t just keep on sleeping forever. Anyway, what did you mean about everyone leaving?”

“Right after that huge battle started, it was a mad dash to get out of the capital and pandemonium at the gates. Things got even worse when the church knights started to close everything off.”

“Are they trying to kill everyone in the capital?”

“As it turns out, that was about the limit for some folks on the force; they mutinied. Wiped out the church knights who were keeping the gates shut. It took all of the lieutenant commanders and Commander Huyghe himself to put the rebellion down, but the gates stayed open.”

It had to have been quite a commotion to get all the top brass involved.

“All that happened while I was asleep?”

“I have my own network of informants, of course. I’m sure most of this hasn’t reached the masses.”

“Who turned on the church knights?”

Welcy shot Milkit an award-winning smile and chuckled. She grabbed a nearby sheet of paper and used her burn projection ability to burn two faces into it.

“Is that…”

“Henriette Bachsenheim and Herrmann Zavenyu.”

“They were from the royal army!” It was rare for Gadhio to sound so excited.

“I heard earlier that they were tortured and left disabled by the church knights. I guess that was all just a ruse. They waited for just the right moment to fulfill their duties as members of the royal army.

They’d probably had no option but to surrender the gates when faced with the church knights’ onslaught.

“Ottilie looked so happy she could cry.”

“Knowing her,” said Gadhio, “crying seems like an understatement.”

“True.”

Flum recalled the image of Ottilie sniffing Henriette’s unwashed sheets. It wasn’t hard to imagine her so overcome with emotion that she grew damp all over and nearly passed out at the news.

“It still worries me,” she said, “thinking about what they’ve got coming to them now.”

“They must have known what to expect,” said Gadhio.

“More people got to escape thanks to them,” said Eterna. “That’s great.”

Ink nodded approvingly from where she sat, her legs swinging back and forth.

“Oh, right. I still managed to gather all the information I needed, even amid the chaos.”

“You found out who Slowe’s father is?”

“Well, I put together a couple of reasons the church would be after him and followed up by checking through my company’s archives. I got lucky, happened across an article from the ‘do not print on pain of death’ pile.” Welcy held up an old newspaper and waved it back and forth through the air.

“So who is my father?” said Slowe.

Welcy answered plainly. “Vacias Carole.”

“Um, but th-that’s…””

Even Flum was taken aback at the name of such a ubiquitous public figure.

“Th-th-the previous king?!” Slowe’s hands shook as he raised his voice, despite himself.

Neither Gadhio nor Linus looked terribly surprised. They spent long enough working the capital’s seedy side to soak up the folklore.

“The ex-king lived a rather unassuming life after passing the throne on to his son,” said Gadhio, “though it was an open secret that he loved a good time. They say he made a habit of sneaking away to bars to flirt with young women.”

“I heard about that. He took more than a few to bed, from what I heard.”

Flum blushed a bit at Linus’s comment.

“Can he really do that?” she said. “I mean, as a member of the royal family?”

“I figure he was careful to make sure he didn’t have any kids,” said Linus, “but…hey, accidents happen.”

“So you’re saying I’m an accident?”

“A pretty big one, too.”

Slowe slumped visibly as Welcy mercilessly doubled down on the pregnancy being a mistake.

“I asked a veteran reporter, and he said that the evidence was solid,” she said.

“Why wasn’t it published?”

“I mean, there was some heavy pushback.”

“So does that mean I’m…a member of the royal family?”

“Well, as an illegitimate child who was never officially recognized, it’d be hard to prove. But I’m sure your mother got some money out of it at least, yeah?”

“Money? Oh, my… Could that old man have been…?”

“Old man?”

Slowe thought back on his childhood and explained.

“There was this old man who used to always send me presents when I was little. I only saw him once, but I never caught a glimpse of his face. He was wearing a coat and a hat pulled down low, but something about him just struck me as really cool.”

“He was almost certainly connected to the royal family.”

Hush money, or perhaps a concession to his conscience. The old king was dead now, so there was no way of knowing for sure.

“But even an illegitimate heir still has a claim to the throne. I suppose that’s why they’d want to wipe out anyone else in the capital who could interfere.”

“But why would the Children be after him, Gadhio?”

“As we saw today, the church is content to have us and the Children battle it out among ourselves.”

“We’re interfering with their plans, so they’re cooking up a scheme to get us to destroy each other.”

“Meaning…that the Children were fed some false information? But why would the church care so much about Slowe, anyway? It’s not like anyone would just up and make him king.”

True though it may have been, the whole conversation was doing a number on Slowe’s self-esteem.

“I’ve been wondering about that as well,” said Gadhio. “Why put their lives on the line for something like this? But if Nekt can be believed, Satuhkie sees Slowe as an asset.”

“Maybe he’s just a matter of convenience, since he also knows us, the supposed heroes.”

“What do you mean, Eterna?”

“Disaster befalls the capital. A ray of hope appears in the form of the heroes when they slay the Children before ripping the country back from the church, with their new king at their side. The citizenry rally behind them. The end.” She looked mildly annoyed at the prospect as she spoke.

“That all assumes that we work with Satuhkie,” said Gadhio.

“He’s already got Nekt firmly in his grasp. We might end up with no other choice.”

“Hmm… I’m not totally sure I’m sold on some of these theories, but at the very least it looks like we have a powerful ally.” said Flum. “But you’d think he’d want to keep Slowe with him rather than leave him with us.”

Satuhkie had been incredibly cooperative thus far, but the more they dug into his actions, the more mysterious his motives became. She simply had too many questions.

“Unless he wanted to lure out Luke and Fwiss.”

“Wait, you want me to be bait?”

“No, Slowe, it’s not like that. I just mean…well…actually, that would make sense…”

“Wait, what?!”

In a way, he really could be useful in the search for the Children. But if that was really what Satuhkie was thinking, they couldn’t entirely trust him.

“I have no idea what their next move will be, but in any case, it’s safe to say that the city is about to get a whole lot more dangerous.”

“I mean,” Welcy interjected, “everyone did just abandon their homes to flee the capital. That pretty much leaves us with reporters, adventurers, and people with a death wish.”

Even the most ordinary citizens, who knew nothing of the church’s corruption, could tell at a glance that it was time to leave. They could try to muster every fighter within reach of the guild, but even that might not be enough to ensure their safety.

“We were discussing this before you woke up,” said Gadhio, “but I think it would be best to send Milkit, Ink, Kleyna, and Hallom out of the city.”

“What? Milkit…?”

The reasoning was obviously sound, but Flum still hesitated. The idea that they would be together, side by side, was so ingrained in her that she’d never even considered the thought of sending Milkit away. But if the church took her hostage, it would take Flum completely out of the fight. The whole party’s chances looked better with her safely away from the capital.

She understood it all logically, but she still felt an immense sadness settle over her.

She shot an uneasy glance toward Milkit, who responded by placing her hand on Flum’s and smiling softly. So, she was sad about it, too. But even she had come to terms with the fact that they really had no other choice.

But still…Flum wanted so badly to be together. She had to fight back the urge to tell Milkit as much.

“I know it’s all rather sudden,” Gadhio went on, “but we’re doing it tonight. As Welcy brought up, the gates are open for the moment, but we’ve got no assurances about tomorrow.”

“Hopefully the church won’t realize something’s up,” said Ink.

“Lots of people are leaving the capital as we speak,” said Eterna. “As long as they blend in with the crowd, they should be able to get out without raising any suspicion…”

“I’ve already asked my brother to make the arrangements, so we’re done on that end.” Welcy smiled triumphantly.

“If Leitch is taking care of things, then I’m sure it’s fine,” said Milkit.

Everything was ready. There was nothing Flum could say to stop it at this point.

 

***

 

A cart arrived at the guild a short time later. Flum stepped outside to make sure she could see Milkit off. She watched as Leitch climbed down from the cart he’d arranged for their escape.

Gadhio bowed his head down low to the older man. “Apologies for the sudden request.”

“No, no, it was nothing at all. No need to apologize to me. I’m no use to you in all your battles; this is the least I can do to support you.”

Though Leitch smiled brightly as he spoke, Flum felt that there was something off about his expression.

“Hey, um, Leitch.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“You look pale. Are you okay?”

“I…well, you’re certainly not wrong. I’m not used to seeing bodies lying around.”

“Aah…I see.”

The city was full of corpses, many of them buried in the wreckage of Mute’s rampage. Leitch being his normal, cheerful self would be even more out of place.

Flum sighed and watched as Milkit got ready to leave. She handed her bag to the driver and then climbed into the bed of the cart. She turned to lock eyes with Flum. Milkit jumped out of the cart and ran to her master’s side, wrapping her hands around Flum’s. They would only be apart for a matter of days, but the thought was just too hard to bear, and she couldn’t let go.

Meanwhile, Ink and Eterna stood side by side, wearing forlorn expressions as they spoke.

“Is everything really going to be okay?”

Ink couldn’t keep count of her worries anymore, though the thought of leaving the capital without Eterna was prime among them. Would Eterna be able to weather the battles to come?

Additionally…here she was, leaving, while Nekt, Luke, and Fwiss remained in the city.

“There’s nothing to worry about, Ink. I’m not going to die, and the Children…well, we’ll take care of them.” Eterna had an unusually serious look on her face as she caressed Ink’s head.

“I believe in you, Eterna.”

“Good. I’m glad someone believes in me. But even more than that…” She couldn’t stay serious for long. The corners of her lips turned ever so slightly upward. Her voice took on a teasing tone. “I’m happy that you’re going to be lonely without me…and that I’m loved.”

Ink waved her arms around in search of Eterna’s face, giving her cheek a pinch the moment she found her mark.

“Ouch!”

“It’s your fault, really. You should try being a little more refined.”

“Listen, I’m just not good at gravitas, okay? It’s better than getting all sentimental and saying goodbye.”

“We could just laugh and say our goodbyes. Honestly, I was hoping you’d be a little sad too, Eterna.”

Eterna was momentarily taken aback at Ink’s frankness. She could tell the girl was putting up a tough front, obviously saddened by Eterna’s words.

Eterna had lived alone for a very long time. Ink was the first person she’d really grown close to in a while, and before she even realized what was happening, she’d found it transforming her into a more positive, cheerful person.

“I guess I have no right to judge Flum and Milkit,” she whispered under her breath before she turned and smiled down at Ink. “All right, all right. I’m sad, too.”

“What do you mean, all right? Hmph. That’s what I was talking about.”

“No, I’m serious. I’m going to do whatever it takes so that we can be together again soon.”

The force behind her words struck a chord in Ink’s heart, and her anger melted away. Suddenly, she was meek and quiet again. She’d been caught completely off guard and wasn’t sure how to reply.

“I wouldn’t lie at a time like this. At least not to you.”

“…Right.” It took all Ink had to nod without breaking down.

Eterna took her hand, led her to the cart, and helped her in. Gadhio was standing off to the side, talking to Kleyna and Hallom, who had already found their seats.

“Gadhio…”

“There’s nothing to worry about. I don’t plan on dying yet.”

This only made Kleyna worry more. If he really didn’t plan on dying, he wouldn’t say “yet.”

“Daddy…” Hallom was anxious as well. This was the first time she’d ever traveled, in fact.

Gadhio, perhaps realizing her emotional state, didn’t say anything about being called “Daddy” for once. Instead, he offered up a charming, fatherly smile and placed his large hand atop her head.

Hallom beamed, and her worries melted away.

“Hey,” said Kleyna, “can I see you over here for a moment?”

“What is it?” Gadhio leaned in close.

She grabbed him by the collar and pulled him in until their lips touched.

“Naa…”

“You say you’re not going to die, but I just can’t help worrying when I look at you. Now that you stole a kiss from me, I’m not going to let you go easily, got it?”

“I was kind of forced into it.”

“Stop nitpicking!” Kleyna’s face burned a furious red before the two parted, still smiling at each other. Hallom’s cheeks were flushed pink as she watched the interaction with great interest.

It was almost time to leave. Flum pulled Milkit into a tight hug.

“With you as my master, I know that I’ll see you again, no matter how long it takes.”

“Aww, I’m kinda sad to see you take it in stride like that.”

“Better than being a burden to you, no?”

Flum already told her time and again that she wasn’t a burden. In fact, it was her very desire to protect Milkit that kept her fighting. But this time would be different: There were no safe places left in the capital. There was no way that she could keep Milkit in such a dangerous place out of her own selfishness.

“Looks like everyone’s ready.”

“Aww, but I haven’t had enough time with you.”

“I…I haven’t had enough time with you, Master. Not at all. But it’s not the time for that.”

The two reluctantly stepped away from each other until their hands finally broke free. The residual warmth in their palms only deepened the sting of parting. Milkit turned away and began walking toward the cart. She put her foot on the step…

“Master!” She hopped down and ran to Flum’s side, pulling her into a tight embrace and pressing her lips against Flum’s cheek.

“Aah…”

It was all so sudden that Flum’s brain didn’t get a chance to catch up.

Milkit’s cheeks burned bright red as she turned away and ran back to the cart.

“C-close the door, please!”

The driver did as she asked. Milkit wondered why she decided to do that, but she had no answer. She knew what it implied, but…why did she do it with Flum?

Flum’s brain slowly caught up to her, and her cheeks began to tinge pink. They hugged and even slept in the same bed together countless times before, but this felt different, somehow.

The cart took off with its four passengers inside. Flum and the others watched it shrink into the distance until it disappeared.

 

***

 

Flum took several deep breaths upon returning to the guild.

Calm down, Flum. She just meant to say thanks. You can ask her all about it when she comes back.

Slowly, she managed to calm her racing thoughts and collect herself. Flum got straight down to business before Eterna had a chance to tease her.

“Gadhio, was it really the best idea not to send Slowe with them?”

“You think Satuhkie would allow that?”

“You mean I’m…I’m going to be a king?!”

Y’lla, who had also stayed behind, smirked.

“Slowe a king, huh? If we got married, that’d make me…”

No one made a point of it, but they weren’t sure why she chose to stay.

“The advent of a new king and queen, huh? In that case, I’d like to secure an exclusive interview with the two of you.”

“Welcy, you too??”

“No journalist in the world would leave when there’s a shot at such a massive scoop. Besides, my brother and sister-in-law have already left, so there’s no one left to stop me!”

If Welcy could be believed, many of her company’s reporters also stayed behind. A fair number of adventurers refused to leave, in the interest of protecting the capital.

“Foiey made it out, too,” Welcy went on. “My brother’s overprotective, ya know. He took off with all of his staff and helpers without saying a word.”

“That was a wise decision. If you value your life, you should have left, too.”

Welcy laughed. “You’re probably right, Eterna. But hey, I’m good at running away when I need to.”

It sounded as if she planned on escaping if—and only if—it came down to it. The problem was if she would be in any position to escape once she needed to.

“There’s no sense in worrying about those who stayed behind,” said Gadhio. “We should start talking strategy tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow… You know, according to those letters, that will be the last day. Speaking of which, I wonder if one came today.”

“Eterna mentioned it earlier while you were asleep,” said Linus. “There was something about three seeds, right?”

Flum assumed the three seeds were a reference to the Children. But there was something strangely out of place about the idea of planting seeds. If the letters had been written by the person she thought they had, then that made the phrasing even stranger.

“Seeds…plants…taking the meaning a little further, it could mean to grow…”

“What about that giant baby you fought, Flum?”

“Now that you mention it, it was just a small baby earlier that morning. Just like a seed!”

“Ultimately, all this research was for the benefit of the church. So Mother must have been looking into mass production.”

“Three seeds… Does that mean that there are three of the third-generation creatures embedded throughout the capital? Or…wait. Considering how it was written, and that you’ve already taken one down, maybe it’s best to assume there were three in total.”

“Whoa, no way! Two more of those things??”

Slowe was one of the few to actually see the first specimen. He was absolutely petrified at the thought of there being more. Deep inside, Flum shared the feeling. Additionally, given how long it had been since that battle, the creatures were likely even larger at this point.

“But that’s all assuming that you can trust what the writer is saying. Can we really trust them?”

“I…I think we can.”

“Which means that you think you know who wrote it, then?”

“When I showed one of the letters to Leitch, he said that the paper and ink were fine enough that they could only have come from the church or the castle. And that the handwriting looked like a woman’s.”

“Echidna and Henriette are the only ones who come to mind,” said Gadhio.

“Henriette is under close supervision by the church knights,” said Welcy, “so I doubt she could get a letter out.”

“Actually, I think the letters were penned by…Mute.”

Eterna’s eyes went wide at this. “Why would the person causing all this trouble do that?”

“That’s right, Flum,” said Gadhio. “She has nothing to gain from telling us.”

“As a weapon, sure. But they aren’t just weapons with Origin cores inside—they’re kids. They want to prove their loyalty to Mother, sure, but deep down inside, they must realize that what they’re doing is wrong.”

At least that was the impression she got from Nekt, who had grown up in the same environment.

“So Mute wanted us to stop her?”

“Maybe a part of her did. Then there was the whole incident with Cyrill. We thought this whole time that she abducted Cyrill, but the truth is more that Cyrill went with her in hopes of stopping her, maybe even helping her.”

At some point, Cyrill and Mute had formed a bond. If Mute really was a creature with no human heart, that should have been impossible.

“That’s just how humans are, no? We’re complicated. Every person is different, but we all have good and evil within us. Once they were looking death in the face, the Children began to show their true colors as they pursued their dream of leaving their mark on the world.”

“And so…that’s why you think the letters are trustworthy?” said Gadhio.

Flum bit her lip and nodded.

“Eh, to be completely honest, I really don’t know much about Origin or these Children. But if Flum says that we can trust these letters, then I say we work from the assumption that they’re true.”

Eterna nodded in agreement with Linus, and the group began making plans for the next day.

They needed to kill five people: Luke, Fwiss, the two third-generation babies, and Mother. And they had four people to do this: Flum, Eterna, Gadhio, and Linus. Setting Mother aside, this meant they would be going one-on-one.

“If Luke and Fwiss are also using two cores,” said Linus, “they’ll be tough to fight alone.” The battle against Mute had taken a tremendous amount out of them.

“What about the third-generation ones? Do you think we could take them on our own?”

“I could, since I can destroy their cores…but I would say that they’re less powerful and intelligent than the second generation. It seems like it’d be a lot easier to lure them into a trap.”

“Then Linus and I should take them,” said Eterna.

“Sounds about right,” said Linus. “We’ll go hunt ’em down, wipe ’em out.” He seemed oddly pleased with his assigned task.

“That leaves Flum and me,” said Gadhio, “though one of us should stay behind at the guild.”

“I’ll stay here then.”

“You know the Children are likely to come here looking for Slowe.”

“And that’s exactly why it should be me. I fought Luke before I had to take on that third-generation creature, remember? I managed to drive him back, but he looked pretty upset before he escaped.”

She still remembered the angry glare he shot at her back as she ran into the church. He said something, though she didn’t fully catch it. ‘…Wish…human…regret’?

“Right, and I think Luke will be coming after me again to make good on his threat.”

“Which is why you want to stay here in the guild, where he’s most likely to strike. Got it. In that case, I’ll focus everything I have on finding Fwiss and Mother.”

Now that the assignments had been doled out, there wasn’t much left to do but rest up and wait for the enemy to make their move.

“I dunno,” said Linus, “I feel a little let down to be working this hard and not get paid. Think the guild can spare a little something?”

“If that’s what you’re after,” said Gadhio, “perhaps you should join the knights and devote yourself to the king.”

“What, and work with Satuhkie? Don’t make me laugh.”

Linus and Gadhio made their way to a table in the reception area to eat.

Eterna sat nearby, beginning to put together a plan. “Now where would they leave one of these third-generation things? Thinking about the Children’s role… Hmm…”

Flum thought about joining a group for a moment, but she still felt like she was dragging lead weights everywhere she went. She’d already slept quite a bit, but apparently, it still wasn’t enough to fully heal her.

“Well, I guess resting’s important too.”

With that, Flum returned to the first aid room and laid down for a nap.

 

***

 

There were three beds, and Cyrill was in one of them.

Flum pulled back the curtain and smiled when she saw that her friend was sleeping. It would be a while before she woke, what with how much Brave took out of her.

“Night, Cyrill.”

Met only with silence, Flum crawled into the neighboring bed. She and Milkit shared a bed so often that it seemed like forever since she last slept alone. The bed felt wide, cold, and more importantly, lonely. Had Milkit arrived in a neighboring village yet? Was she sleeping, too? Was Milkit looking up at the same night sky that Flum was watching through her window?

“G’night, Milkit.” She chuckled to herself at her own sappiness.

From the moment she’d been sold as a slave, her commitment to protecting Milkit had been a constant refrain in her mind. Without her, Flum would have been just an ordinary girl who likely would have never survived this long.

This fundamental weakness was one she shared with Cyrill, actually. People’s lives were clearly defined by who they met along the way and who they chose to travel alongside. Without Milkit around, Flum worried that she might find herself easily disheartened. She needed to find a new reason to fight for tomorrow, and so she told herself that the sooner the battle was won, the sooner she would be reunited with Milkit. This would serve as her source of motivation, to keep her heart from breaking under the pressure.

Hmph… I dunno. I’m starting to wonder if maybe I’m just a little too fond of Milkit. But then again, she… Well…she kissed…my cheek…and…

Her cheeks instantly flushed red as she recalled the sensation before quickly burying her face into her pillow out of sheer embarrassment.

Mmmmmmph! What’s going on with me?? My heart’s pounding in my chest just from the thought of it!

She kicked her legs, tossing and turning all alone in the dark before remembering that Cyrill was resting next to her. She forced herself to stop.

Chill out, Flum. This is no time to get yourself all worked up. I can just ask Milkit why she kissed me later. And I’ll have my own feelings sorted out by then. But that means that I first need to fight, win, and survive. I got this!

Even with that pep talk, her heart continued to pound. However, it was time for her to try to rest up to recover some of her endurance, so she finally turned toward the ceiling and closed her eyes.

 

***

 

A short time later, the cart carrying Milkit and the other passengers successfully made it through the gate and out of the capital. Tens of thousands of people were attempting to leave the city at the same time, resulting in incredibly long lines at the gates. Even once they were outside the city limits, the roads were still packed with carts and people heading for neighboring towns and villages.

It wasn’t long at all before the cart abandoned the main road, ostensibly to avoid all the hustle and bustle.

“Whoooooa…now it’s really shaking!”

The wheel hit a pothole and bounced so hard that Ink came up off her seat for a moment. She seemed to be enjoying herself.

“Mommy…” Hallom looked worried and held fast to her mother’s clothes.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of, honey,” said Kleyna. “Mr. Leitch here is going to take us all somewhere safe, isn’t that right?”

Leitch looked back from where he sat with the driver. “Of course. In fact, we’re just about to meet up with an acquaintance of mine.”

Milkit cast a suspicious glance at Leitch’s back. She wasn’t the only one who was beginning to have doubts.

Kleyna leaned in close to Milkit and whispered in her ear. “I wonder if everything’s on the up and up with him. I’ve heard that this Mancathy guy is trustworthy, but there’s just something really strange about how he’s acting.”

“I was thinking the same thing. Why would they choose a place like this to rendezvous?”

The cart began to shake even more violently, until they went so far afield that they no longer crossed paths with other refugees. Just as Milkit’s anxiety was reaching its peak, the driver stopped the horses with a crack of his whip.

Leitch turned to face them, wearing a joyless smile. “Could you please get out? We’ve arrived at our destination.”

The expression on his face was one full of regret. Between that and the sound of his voice, no one wanted to listen to his instructions. However, now that they were here, they had no other choice left: soldiers in gleaming armor appeared just over his shoulder.

“You betrayed us?!”

“Why would you do such a thing, Leitch?”

“I had no choice. I was told that they would kill my beloved Foiey if I didn’t listen!”

Leitch’s wife, Foiey Mancathy, had been taken several days prior. He had done everything in his power to avoid just that happening but was helpless in the face of the church’s sheer numbers and its military and political might. Leitch loved his wife so dearly that he would commit any crime to save her, even abandon his pride and carry out dirty, underhanded tasks if that was what it took.

“So that’s why you sounded so sad all this time.”

“Mommy, I don’t like this. Those people are scaring me…”

Kleyna pulled her daughter close to her chest.

“Please get out. I’ve been told that they won’t kill you.”

Milkit’s eyes wavered as she turned to look at Kleyna. They had no choice but to obey. Kleyna nodded. Milkit stood up and helped escort Ink off the cart.

The only light came from a lamp hanging from the cart; it reflected harshly off the soldiers’ gleaming armor. A man with a long, black ponytail, dressed in a baggy tunic with a sash tied tightly around his waist, stood at the center of the group, stroking his beard. A thin, curved sword hung from his hip.

“Great Buddha, Jesus, Allah… I believe that’s what the ancient ones used to say at times like this.” He approached them. “Then again, I believe there are still those who use such archaic phrases. Countless words and phrases of the kind have existed throughout history, evolving as they go. It’s all so intriguing, wouldn’t you say?”

“I’m not interested in your little charade. If you’re going to take us hostage, then just do it.”

“Gyahaha! Kleyna Yandoura. You were an A-Rank adventurer in your prior life, no? I see you’re still as vibrant as ever.”

“Heh, I know you. Jack Murray, lieutenant general of the church knights, right?”

“In the flesh.” Jack flashed a toothy smile, pleased that Kleyna recognized him. “I’m not actually interested in taking you hostage. I find this whole affair craven and pathetic. I feel nauseated, really. But alas, this is what Huyghe has ordered. They keep saying it’s for Origin and all, but I bet that’s just an excuse. Who am I to judge someone’s hobbies, though?”

“I don’t really care how you feel about it if it’s not going to change the outcome,” said Kleyna.

“You’re right. I’m not really interested in rocking the boat. I’d really appreciate it if you’d all give up now and listen to my commands. Come on over.”

Kleyna walked over as instructed—and then suddenly pulled out a dagger hidden in her shirt, preparing to dive toward him.

Jack responded almost instantaneously. He drew his sword and stabbed it straight into the ground.

“Justice Arts… Stone Torture!”

“Hyaugh?!” Kleyna felt an invisible force press down on her, locking her feet in place.

“Ka…hyaaaa…!”

The same weight was also being applied to Hallom behind her. The impact it had on the young girl was exponentially greater, and it wasn’t long before she collapsed to the ground, her eyes blank.

“Uwaaaugh…so…heavy…hnnng…!”

“What kind…of magic…is this…?”

Milkit, Ink, Leitch, and even the horses were caught in Jack’s assault. One by one, they all collapsed, their faces clenched in agony.

“Ha…llom…!” said Kleyna. “You…bastaaaaaaaaard!!”

“Hm. So this is the strength of an A-Rank adventurer. Even in the face of my Justice Arts, you still don’t give up.”

The church knights behind Jack succumbed to the same fate, frothing at the mouth as they fell.

“But you know, I would have ensured your safety had you listened to what I said.”

“As if…we could trust…the likes of…you!” Kleyna forced herself forward, one heavy footfall after the next, on unsteady legs.

Jack chuckled to himself, stroking his beard at the sight. “You know, I really like strong women like you. Even knowing that it’s all for naught, you still force yourself forward, toward whatever ideal you’ve hung everything on. I’m tempted to break your spirit and make you mine.”

“I’d sooner bite off my own tongue and choke to death!”

“That makes me want to try it all the more!”

“Gaah, are you church knights all like this? Such a disgusting lot.”

“Jack…” A woman with two red pigtails stepped out from behind a hedge, gazing at him with a look of pure astonishment.

“O-Ottilie?” A gentle smile graced Milkit’s lips, though she could only barely choke out the name.

“Hmm…so that’s how it is. I guess I needn’t concern myself with the commander’s silly little hobbies then.” Jack withdrew his sword from the ground and slid it back into its sheath. Everyone gathered in the area felt the oppressive weight of the Stone Torture technique dissipate instantly.

Kleyna immediately ran toward her daughter, who’d been hit far harder by the attack, and held her in her arms. “Hallom, are you okay? Hallom!!”

“Mo…mmy?”

Tears sprang to Kleyna’s eyes.

Ottilie watched as Milkit and Ink stood up slowly, leaning against one another for support. “You gave up pretty easily, Jack Murray.”

“The commander is in quite a funk, you know. He was worried about an information leak. Now that we know where it’s coming from, I think there’s a certain value to operating in the dark like roaches. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“No, I wouldn’t. He’s already seen through you and the way you do business, anyway.”

“Can you really blame me, with how Cardinal Satuhkie betrayed us? Or finally showed his true colors, rather? Hmm, I’m guessing the fact that you’re here means that you released the woman, then?”

“Yes, I already helped Madam Foiey Mancathy escape,” Ottilie replied.

“My Foiey…she’s safe?”

Leitch leaned heavily against the cart as he struggled to catch his breath. Tears rolled down his cheeks.

“I’m so glad. Once she’d been taken by the church, I thought I’d never see her again.”

Ottilie sighed.

“We’ll never have our happy ending without a few sacrifices,” said Jack. “I’m not terribly interested in fouling these plans up either.”

“From the way you talk,” said Ottilie, “it almost sounds like you think you can beat me.”

“Ah, but I could. You’d present little challenge.” He raised his eyebrows and shot Ottilie a hard, unblinking stare.

Ottilie gritted her teeth in annoyance.

“Alas, I will have to bid you adieu just this once. I’m sure you have no complaints with me making my exit now, no?” There was a playful, challenging tone in his voice, almost as if he were inviting her to attack him from behind.

Our stats are pretty much the same, but with the way he’s acting, I almost wonder if he has an Origin core on hand. Even worse, I don’t know how powerful his Justice Arts are. Even if I’d love to give this jerk a taste of what he deserves, I have to let him go.

Ottilie’s job, after all, was to ensure the hostages’ safe return. As long as she got that done, she could consider the day a victory.

Jack, accompanied by his unsteady group of soldiers, made his way off into a hedge. Before he was completely out of sight, he turned around and shot a glance back at Ottilie.

“I’m surprised you’re going to just let me go like this. Perhaps no one has told you of the awful fate to befall your dear Henriette?”

“Of course I know. She’s my sister, after all. I know her better than anyone else in this world ever could. It’s my duty to know everything about her.”

“Then why didn’t you try to kill me?”

Ottilie clenched the handle of her sword.

“Because that’s not the role that my sister wishes me to fulfill. But if the time comes for me to end your life…”

Her eyes went red as blood began to pump throughout her body, readying for a fight. “I will stab you, slice you open, run you through, rip out your insides, spear you, and cut you open again and again and again and again until you’re field dressed like the animal you are! For your part in committing the most unforgivable sin of harming my beloved sister, I will ensure that you experience the greatest pain imaginable. Of course, even that would be too good for the likes of you, so I will ensure you find your way to the most magnificent execution before long. So please, I beg of you, please look forward to your impending fate, and tell your cohorts about what’s to come.”

Her impassioned rant finished, Ottilie shot Jack a grin that only seemed to excite him further.

“Ah, that I will. I truly look forward to the time when we can cross blades and trade blood in combat.” Having said his piece, Jack disappeared into the woods with his men.

Ottilie visibly relaxed the moment Jack was out of sight. “Gah, I’m getting really tired of having to fight with those psychotic miscreants. Once this is all over, I swear, I will never work with Satuhkie again for as long as I live.”

“Thank you, Ottilie,” said Milkit. “I truly appreciate you coming.”

“I’m just glad that I got here in time. Does anyone have any broken bones?”

“No problems here!” said Ink. “I’m a little sore, though.”

“I’m fine, too,” said Milkit. “Kleyna? How are you and Hallom?”

“Hallom just passed out, is all. She doesn’t seem to have any injuries.” Kleyna looked upset about the whole ordeal.

“And Leitch Mancathy?”

He remained silent.

“Well, you don’t seem to have any injuries. Your horses will probably regain consciousness shortly, and when they do, you can escape to the village where your servants are waiting for you. You’ll find your wife has already been taken there.”

“Thank you, truly.” Leitch refused to lift his gaze. “I can’t thank you enough for saving my darling. Thank you!!”

Tears streamed down his cheeks as he repeated the words over and over.

“Before you go off thanking me, I think apologizing to your companions here takes priority, to be honest.”

“You’re…you’re right. I should have done that right away. Not that I deserve to be forgiven, apology or not, after what I’ve done. Milkit, Ink, Kleyna, Hallom… I’m incredibly sorry for what I’ve done to you! I was an idiot, a buffoon, a poor excuse for a human!” He knelt down and bowed until his forehead touched the ground.

Milkit thought about stopping him and saying that it was nothing, but remained silent. Leitch understood the gravity of his sins greater than anyone else. It had come down to choosing between his wife’s life and doing what was right, and his wife had won.

It was hard to blame him. At the same time, it was equally hard to forgive him.

“Well, I think we’re about done here. Everyone, follow me. We’ll be taking a slightly safer route back into the capital. All right, let’s go!” Ottilie began walking in the opposite direction from Jack and his party.

Though they were no longer hostages, there was no way that Ottilie could bring Leitch with them to the facility after his betrayal. He held his head to the ground even as Milkit and the others followed after Ottilie.