"Mono/Dialogue"

  'Inner thoughts'

  Narration

  [Message/communication apparatus]

  Date: 31st December 1083

  Location: County of Toron, Victoria

  POV: Narrator

  Kal’tsit’s arrival at the party had indeed garnered a wave of attention, but the attendees were much more interested in her medical expertise. They had naturally heard of how she treated a noble retive back to full health in a retively swift manner and with nary a complication that could have been caused.

  The Cleric's articute speech and knowledge of a wide breadth of topics fascinate the attending guests. Her unusual article only boosts her charm in a galnt and formidable manner, something a certain Young Lady found truly alluring and mesmerizing.

  When she had finally satisfied the nobles’ queries and socialization, the Young Lady asked the Cleric on a multitude of topics, albeit stammering ever once in a while, with a sweet crimson face accompanying her. The Cleric is endeared seeing such a brave Young Lady broach upon a topic that might have been, usually, too complicated for someone of her nature.

  Kal’tsit obliged and satisfied Heidi’s thirst for knowledge. Her way and style of answering questions were exquisite, her demeanor certainly made even noble swoon with how sophisticated her words were. Vincent smiled gingerly seeing his niece being so animated and lively while he, himself, also conversed with an old friend who also happened to be Arkell’s old rival in the venue of business.

  Thus all sorts of merriment was drummed and exchanged to fill in the night to be full of wonder and enjoyment. It almost feels like that night itself to be blessed by heaven, nothing wrong will befall this joyous occasion.

  The revelry of the night continues, as is the situation outside. The snowy weather did little to dampen the people’s mood and drive to ensure that this year's celebration will not be less than what it had been st year. The Count’s men and assets had also been utilized to ensure the celebration could be finished without a hitch and hassle.

  Children are frolicking about and creating their winter works, young people are taking and making their chances, adults milling about to help with celebration or simply enjoying the scenery, and elders are walking peacefully at their own pace. This tranquil bliss is the complete opposite of how winter was dreaded as the bringer of an end.

  What it means is that mankind always managed one way or another. Driven by their instinct for survival and desire to be a better version of themselves, motivations are irrelevant. Thus the common folks are enjoying their jubition with singing and dancing. While the nobles are enjoying theirs in their ways.

  Vincent is entertaining his guests with his tales of galntry and all it entails. He regaled the time when he was invited by the Duke of Normandy on a hunt, he further cimed that the Duke was duly impressed with his skill during the game. The guests are awed and cheered his name in an unmasked sense of pride and joyful tone.

  It appears that nothing unusual will mar this gathering of peace and profound revelry… As, a concerning development had seen it fits to give the occasion of a piece of its mind…. fate is a fickle mistress and decided that bance is a profound part of life that must be maintained and duly utilized.

  Suddenly Vincent’s communicator that has been appropriately hidden within his coat rang alive quietly with a subdued hum. He excused himself for a while, and once he was out of view he replied to the one who contacted him through the emergency channel. He is surprised that the one who contacted him can be heard to be unnerved.

  “Something of importance, Nyx? You wouldn’t hail me without a good reason now would you?”

  [Vincent, I had detected and then verified that an intruder beyond what your men can handle had breached the perimeter, I don’t know how could they breached it so easily. They are still 40 kilometers or 25 miles away, so I’m heading to intercept.]

  [I had also detected preemptive saboteurs, what puzzles me is that they seem to be not coordinating whatsoever with the other one, these saboteurs have no indication of from being where or who sent them, trying to guess using race is useless, I found dead Ursus, Feline, Kuranta, and even a Savra… Did someone have a grudge against you?] Nyx then exhaled before continuing with her report.

  [Some of them are still at rge, which is why I’m using a lighter loadout at the moment. My full equipment is still in the annex, I’ll be even more slowed down to intercept them with full gear on the get-go… can you order some of your men to load the truck with all the equipment to a marked location and then drive it 15 klicks northeast? The vic is already unlocked and can be remotely controlled but no leeway to concentrate on driving with only a camera while chasing stragglers.]

  “That can be arranged, please continue with your report.”

  [Sure, a number of your sentries had gone offline. They are most likely annihited by this group of saboteurs. I had overridden the rest to safety, as per the agreed-upon protocol. I’ll report again ter, this might cause an even greater problem otherwise. Once again I have no idea who sent them… as for the odd one still en route… let’s just say that one is an even bigger bad news and I’ll need my full gear.]

  “… Goodness, are you positive that the situation doesn’t warrant my express intervention?”

  [I’m at least obliged to tell you from where this lone intruder came from, they bear the mark from Empire of Ursus…]

  “…”

  [This is still in line with our contract stipution, and pusible deniability must be maintained like what you had told me, I was never here. So things had gone complicated and I’ll be frank here, handled wrongly and the fire shall spread. Victoria, and by extension Toron, will be sucked into a whirlpool.]

  The mention of fire brought an uncomfortable chill to his spine. He is weighing his options, if he suddenly cancels the celebration, it might cause further suspicion and complication creating a catalyst of problem, but if he doesn’t and then ill fate strikes, he is endangering his allies. Tiredly sighing he decides on a course of action.

  “I’ll ensure that none of the guests realize it, this is the best possible choice I can make in the face of an unknown…. Goodness me, why can’t we have a nice and quiet yet fleeting snowy celebration’ jubilee…”

  [Well, your contract stated for me to get rid of nuisances while maintaining peace and aforementioned bnk record during extreme circumstances… so this is the best I can do.] Nyx then added a little something, a mere pyful request…

  [Can you be a dear and prep several fireworks to be unched at 10 P.M? I have something in mind and please make it loud~.]

  “Truly now? Well, that is child’s py, you’ll have your fireworks, and if there is nothing else… may fortune be with you.”

  Location: 12 kilometers or 8 miles northeastward from the city outskirts.

  Heavy trudging sounds can be heard echoing amidst the cascading rain of snow… but said snow is an alien one. Bck snowfkes created an eerie contrast to the pristine embrace of white. The intrusion of such a dangerous element had created dark splotches that vioted Lady Winter’s blessing.

  The perpetrator of such a viotion can be described as a hulking figure with a mask that is seemingly attached to their body. Their gasmask had no visible opening asides from several vertical slits that appears to be more of a jail than a ventition, based on how multiple elongated tubes are being connected all over its head. In this figure grasp is a bde that is as long as they are tall. The bde also unleashed a suffocating glow of blood.

  But that’s not what makes the whole thing even more unnerving, everywhere they go… marks of corruption can be seen. Dried leaves beneath the snow immediately crumpled and sucked off whatever vitality it still have. Natural snowfkes turned bck when entering the figure… no… the abomination’s proximity…

  Their breathing is also heavy, but instead of the rasping sound of a sick dying man, all can be surmised is that of a low growl from a different dimension itself. Each exhale is felt to be paradoxically cold and yet it will scorch the lungs of those who breathe that same air.

  The very air that has been polluted by a substance so alien that nature itself recoiled from its touch.

  “Ты не пройдёшь, незваный гость (You will not pass, uninvited guest.).”

  Suddenly an archaic dialect of Ursine was heard. But not from the being, they looked upward and saw an ashen serpent nestled upon a branch. The ashen serpent is poised to strike with its fang bared and its body coiled to lunge at its prey… but the thing in front of it is no prey.

  The shadowy figure immediately halted its advance with that voice, and even when their face is unseen… the sheer disdain, hate, and disgust for mercenaries can be felt through their rumbling voice. Majestic and cruel in equal measure, while measured and level but rabidly restrained with utter prejudice.

  “… So you’re here, worm.” The entity towered on almost double of Nyx’s height. Looking closely they are garbed in a mix of bck coat and armor, a respirator connected to the helm, and metallic gloves and boots. The entity also had a sword strapped on its waist, akin to Higashinese Katana.

  “I must confess, for what reason does this quaint and quiet county be graced with your presence… Emperor’s Bde?” Nyx is wearing her usual set of grey uniforms with a chest rig that includes temperature control, an all-terrain exoskeleton augmenting her body, her Terran P226, a metallic compound bow, and several knives.

  “For a worm, you are at least educated to know your betters, truly a pleasant surprise… it won’t do for me to not introduce myself. I’m The Pursuer, one of Empire’s finest.”

  “Hi, I’ll just call you Bde. Being a merc is a tedious job, and as I recalled it… Ursus had yet to announce an exchange of diplomatic entourage upon this fine evening. Thus you’re vioting the sovereignty of Toron, and by extension Victoria, for illegally trespassing.”

  “A mere mercenary dare to lecture me about sovereignty?”

  “Well, if it falls upon a mercenary to teach you about decorum then you’re not all that bright… but don’t worry, you win some you lose some.”

  “Don’t try my patience worm…”

  “Are you here to decre war then?”

  “Such nonsense. The Empire is me, and where I walked is where the new border of Ursus was also being redefined, nothing less than an absolute conquest for Ursus.”

  “So with that logic in mind, if I managed to cause you to run with your tail tucked between your legs, this empire of yours shrunk proactively?”

  “Insolent whore! I’ll enjoy carving your broken body and dragging it back to the Tzar Pace in Deity Gryphenburg. So consider your worthless hide a good substitute for cleaning the window of our glorious pace, be grateful.”

  “Really now? Is that your idea of glorious civilization…? Ursus Empire is so backward to use hide instead of cleaning service… Well, if you used blood as currency of course you can’t afford basic decency.”

  “Other than feasting upon the dead for morsel, a mere hired criminal can never comprehend a glorious future.”

  “That so huh? Does your glorious future mean waging war everywhere like a total moron? So much for a glorious future… guess your Tzar speech of cooperation and peace is full of shit!”

  “Silence imbecile! Your irreverence is now beyond redemption!”

  The Emperor’s Bde then broke into a sprint and even when their sword was still sheathed, the force of blow from such a weapon was enough to topple the whole tree itself. Nyx had long since vacated herself off the tree branch. With this, the battle between them starts in earnest.

  Using the momentum of her fall, Nyx widened her gap with the Bde before delivering an arrow targeted upon their body. Unsurprisingly, it was deflected while her opponent kept rushing at her. The Pursuer then gouged the earth and threw it at Nyx who merely evaded while sliding across the snowy ground. Nyx is menting being unable to bring her full arsenal immediately.

  But that’s enough for the Pursuer to catch up to her and deliver a kick that knocked her back several meters away. Instead of stumbling down however, she once again let herself roll on the ground before breaking into a proper stature to shoot her bow, sadly she got interrupted because the Bde wouldn’t let her by simply breaking into a dash with their hand poised to strike.

  A tremendous right hook had connected with Nyx’s face and she momentarily bnked out before being flung backward by the sheer force of it. Her bow was lost to the wind and flung somewhere into the snow. Not that she has much of a luxury to go and find it anyway.

  She threw several of her knives towards the Bde and it did little than stagger them. The Bde keeps advancing with ease, unperturbed despite having several knives aimed at their facepte.

  ‘Did I actually bite more than I can chew? Damn those other fucks who keep moving about…’ Nyx find is not pleased with her current predicament. Using a tree as footing, she dashed to the side and evaded another heavy strike from her opponent.

  The Bde presses onward, but Nyx is anything but unprepared, and with that she pulls a gun from her waist and starts aiming it at her foe. Her shots stay true, but the Pursuer proves themselves to be a resilient foe.

  The Pursuer’s face is covered by their vertical slit helmet, but a sense of intrigue sprouts upon them.

  ‘Is this worm mad? Why is she smiling? And how come she is still conscious despite having her brain be struck with such force!?’

  The Pursuer is flummoxed seeing an opponent that has little care for personal safety. They had fought a lot of those things, things that behaved like her, and yet…

  ‘Those aren’t receptive to pain to begin.’ They thought quietly. The Emperor’s Bde never stopped its assault to corner the Serpent. Rocks, tree barks, chunks of ice, and all manner of environmental weapons were utilized against their opponent.

  Then The Pursuer tried to pull their sheathed sword but was interrupted when Nyx threw a grenade at them. Realizing that they can’t retreat fast enough from the potential bst, they start covering themselves, which proves to be the right answer because the grenade turns out to be a fshbang… but that’s just the right answer, not the correct answer.

  Nyx capitalized on the Emperor’s Bde momentary g and she retook the initiative by immediately going on the counteroffensive. She might be cking the skill of close combat compared to her betters, but her inhuman speed and agility can level the pying field to a degree.

  Pulling a page out of Degenbrecher’s style for reference, Nyx starts unching kicks and punches after substituting raw power with velocity. Then it proves fruitful when her right uppercut connected and the Emperor’s Bde finally staggered. Such an opening was not left wasted. She pulled another fshbang and threw it at their feet, disorienting them.

  With a path opened, The Grey Serpent delivered an uppercut that was immediately followed by a reverse roundhouse kick. She is not finished and aims her pistol at the Bde. Several shots rang out, but Nyx could only click her tongue seeing that the bullet cked penetration power.

  ‘What the fuck is this shit made up of!?’ She held back a curse at how infuriatingly hard their opponent's uniform and helm were made up of.

  Soon after, she was suddenly assailed by a multitude of punches from hooks to jabs, even a near-miss haymaker. Nyx can’t afford a pse in concentration, even when the Pursuer is having a hard time hitting her. A gust of wind from near misses just shows how dangerous each of their attacks was.

  Each time a hook was about to nd its strike, Nyx would either tilt her body sideways or pivot a kick while the residual force also bounced back into her to dodge the Pursuer’s follow-up move. The Bde then smmed their fist to the ground, shaking and gouging a sb of rock to be flung at Nyx.

  This back and forth continued for a while before a simple shot to their knee joint made them tumble half-step backward with an awkward posture and footing. Nyx sneaked her tail into the mix, hitting their respiratory, knocking them off, before smming down an armor penetration dagger she had hidden upon her back.

  The Bde finally got its body armor pierced through its shoulder gap, yet the Pursuer just ughed it off. Something like this won’t be enough to stop them.

  “Hahaha! Interesting, but…” Their palm starts crackling with dark energy.

  “Don’t underestimate me!” Before Nyx could dodge away from danger, she got struck by a crystalline object suddenly manifesting through thin air, tearing through her body armor and flesh, before dissipating just as quickly as it had manifested.

  She lost her grip on the downed enemy who promptly stood up for their payback. Her foe wasted no time to smash Nyx’s throat with a full-powered haymaker. She tried to brace for impact but was promptly sent crashing upon the earth.

  Interestingly, the Pursuer must stop momentarily and instead focus on fixing their respiratory system that was damaged from Nyx’s tail smash. When she sobered up dizzily, the Bde had just about to finish fixing their respiratory system… A lull was then created.

  “… You’re still alive? Impressive for a worm.”

  “Ha… Ha… Well, I’m no good if I just got knocked out cold from a single round. *cough* Bad impression on a customer if that’s all I have really… *spit*” She spat a patch of blood out of her mouth, the Emperor’s bde noted that it looked akin to venom.

  “It appears that you’re out of tricks now.”

  “Pusible but it is going to be 10 P.M. in just a few seconds…” Nyx just looked down at her wristwatch.

  “…” the Emperor’s Bde lunges forward, adamant to make use of her poor attempt at stalling.

  “…and Toron has a surprise firework scheduled, that’s why…”

  The Bde is puzzled with what she tried to insinuate but their enhanced hearing had caught upon a whistling sound. She smiled with a clear mockery and amusement cing every sylble of her utterances.

  “Hit the dirt.”

  *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*

  Several improvised bombs were dropped on top of the Emperor’s Bde, the sound of such cacophonous strings of explosions should have alerted the people despite being so far away… but the Fireworks had masked it most excellently.

  The Pursuer had managed to avoid most of the explosive force from 10 makeshift bombs totaling 160 Kg or around 350 Lb worth of refined originium explosives. They were just a breath away from regaining their footing, and yet…

  “!?” They tried to dodge with a jump when another silhouette approached them, but being caught while jumping away was a perfect occasion for a grand sm.

  They didn’t take into account the drone itself for smming right at them. The drone exploded and then shattered into pieces in a cone-wide arc, an almost a ton's worth of metallic body crashing against the Bde at a rapid velocity.

  “My regards to you and happy, early, New Year!” Nyx had made use of her speed to avoid the ensuing shockwaves from the aforementioned explosion. Giving her both time and a breather from her hectic hunt.

  ‘Thank god the explosive fillers are easier to tinker with, I shudder about originium contamination…’

  Nyx glided on the snowy ground with finesse like an ice skater. After finally stopping and activating a remote control on her wristwatch, a low mechanical roar was heard heading towards her while her eyes were poised only at where the Bde was.

  “Might as well bring the rest of them down.” She brought the remaining drones smashing into the ground. She heard the roaring getting closer, prompting her to dash towards it.

  A heavily armored van pulled up close. There is no driver in it, but Nyx didn’t bat an eye and started opening its interior to reveal a bristling amount of weaponry, equipment, and her primary great bow. Taking up several medical syringes, military-grade combat stimuli, and even doses of nondescript medicine, she forces her body to recover even faster.

  ‘Thank god for this abnormal body, otherwise I just signed a contract with cancer or worse there…’

  “… Would have been much better for you to die there and then…” Nyx said feeling that The Pursuer finally reoriented themselves. She sighs wearily seeing the Pursuer’s sickening shadowy energies now freely flow between their very fingertips and whole figure.

  ‘I’m so fucked, and what’s worse? It’s not Mwi who is screwing me over.’ She grumbled at such an absurd opponent. She used her remote control to send the van away towards retive safety.

  “… Seemingly, I was indeed always expected after all, the Imperial Intelligence had truly done a magnificent job. Another performance inspection is necessary…” The Emperor’s Bde body, while there is visible damage on their suit, is retively unharmed while dark hazy smokes start to ooze and yering them in hazy, nigh-transparent, protective shells.

  “No, you weren’t. I am just that good when being hired as protection detail.”

  “Not only did you resist justice, you had also committed thievery.” The Bde threw a mangled drone … it was of Ursus design, of which Nyx could only grin bitterly. Not every single one of them was destroyed.

  ‘Bravo… I’m in a deeper shit now…’

  “Those savages from the wastend, the Rusthammer, had hired you after all. Everything is in pce now, you are always undermining the Empire.”

  “Well, if your nobles can stop driving them out of your border, I won’t have my hand on these awesome gadgets.” Nyx chuckles, she still can’t believe it herself…

  “Hmph, a snder now? How low can you stoop? Not exactly surprising from a wench who let herself be used like a ragged and cheap rag.” The Emperor’s Bde had finally unsheathed their sword. The sword is as long as they are tall, said weapon also glowed with a reddish light that further exacerbated the haze flowing out from them.

  “Said wench had been matching an Emperor’s finest pound for pound, thus I ain’t just gonna sit here and letting you rail me. Let’s tango, Товарищ (Comrade).” With a Great bow strapped behind her back, her trusty daggers and pistol around her chest rig, a sword M?ynar had gifted her being strapped on her waist, and then finally a carbine on hand, she is ready for the final round.

  An hour ter.

  With her Terran Carbine in hand, Nyx is engaging her enemy from a retively safe distance. Her bullets are trying to overwhelm the hazy-looking shield, some managed to impact the Pursuer, but most were burnt down or perhaps more aptly erased by the shield.

  She had gone past her seventeenth magazine at this point, and the result could have been much better. Her van was almost destroyed several times, luckily she managed to stop the Bde from doing so.

  Avoiding the Emperor’s Bde counter barrage through their crystalline spikes was quite an ordeal as well. Despite losing the range combat from a logistical standpoint, The Grey Serpent had proved to be more than a decent challenge.

  ‘Damn it, extras are almost out, and this is the st mag with me…’

  She is now down to her st magazine. When she just aimed the carbine muzzle back at her dance partner, the Pursuer then unched a precise spike of crystal directly at her gun, destroying it.

  She still has weapons to use and her mobile armory is still within reach if she can make enough leeway, but her predicament is not exactly great. Pulling out her trusty pistol and dagger, she continues her assault, but not before taking a much closer distance to gamble on increased penetration power against her opponent's shield.

  The Bde is no longer taking their assignment lightly either. They were supposed to be eliminating an assassin responsible for Grand Duke Vanya’s death who has been confirmed to be attending this puny county local gathering and retreat after everything is said and done… Not being locked in combat with the Grey Serpent.

  “Enough!” The Pursuer’s hand glows into a dark crimson haze that seems to tear the fabric of reality itself. Merely a beat ter, several spikes of crystalline objects were unched toward Nyx who was ready. She was knocked off from her footing due to its sheer amount, but her face is much calmer this time around and she proceed to avoid a sword from severing her neck.

  Unfortunately, her opponent dispyed their superior finesse in close combat. They retracted and swung the sword back on a flight path to sever her chest. Nyx tried the usual parrying motion to disperse the incoming force… but her dagger barely held out. The Pursuer had carved deep into her dagger.

  “Ngh!” Nyx is caught off-guard by the sudden upset.

  This caused her to stagger since the sword lodged itself long enough to interrupt her flow, luckily she traded a fatal blow for a shallow one from her opponent’s Iai ssh against her stomach, causing her to lose her grip on the dagger but managed to retreat to safety once more.

  ‘Shit!’ Holstering her pistol, the great bow must make a difference.

  Even when her flesh was carved open, Nyx just kept unleashing her arrows and started raining the Pursuer with an accurate strike upon what she surmised was a weak point. Despite the arrow getting deflected, the bde still staggered because the force of each impact from her Great bow was equal to that of a cannon round.

  The dance showcased both Nyx's monstrous dexterity and abnormal equipment against the Bde’s own equally monstrous physique and deadly swordsmanship. An all-or-nothing is needed…

  POV: Nyx

  ‘Fucking stupid ass bde! Can’t you just die already!?’ I had always heard that the Emperor’s Bdes are feared as Ursus's trump card, bested only by the Wendigos. Which is why hearing and being given a live demonstration is different. His katana had even nicked my dagger which got flung to god knows where.

  Right now I’m running around the snowy forest, using tree lines to avoid sshes, vaulting over broken trees and branches, and all manner of evasive maneuvers since it doesn’t take a genius to see that this fuck just wanted to see me dead, or being broken to then be dragged to Ursus. It is different compared with how I sparred with either Mwi or Deby while sparring did help…

  ‘Nothing can beat an actual ass whooping for a test of how far you had come.’ I just ugh listlessly, this night is going great… Then I heard something fall in front of me, that motherfucker just topple a tree to cut me off.

  ‘No choice I guess’ Using snow as leverage, I glide away to dodge a crystalline spike before using my pistol to shoot back at them. With predictable results, but all that matters is that it hit square at their face.

  “Fitting of you to slither like a snake you are!” A sword thrust almost hit right in my chest, before I used their extended sword as my footing to deliver a moon kick. It is coming right on their face, but unsurprisingly they blocked it with retive ease. Disheartening but not catastrophic…

  “Thanks for not calling me a whore for once!” I still have enough leeway to leave their grasp with a follow-up kick before pulling my bow string for a closer top-down strike. It nded and finally pierced that infuriating yer of shadowy shield enveloping them.

  ‘Fucking finally, a much-needed progress. Just what the hell am I fighting with? A demon? Surely that’s just ridiculous.’

  While I was still not confident this sword would hold up either, I uncsped the lock of my sword sheathed around my waist in case of anything. Guess I have some apologizing to do if I survived this deadly combat anyway. I did finally notice an oddity, however…

  ‘Why does it feel like I’m getting slower and less responsive? Am I getting tired but was not feeling it due to endorphin and adrenaline?’

  POV: Narrator

  Nyx is getting desperate, these back-and-forths have started to take a toll on her psyche, mentality, and physical integrity despite her regenerating body. Made worse with the fact that the Emperor’s Bde can still mount up a fierce level of resistance.

  But the Emperor’s Bde themselves is starting to tire, an inconceivable ordeal for someone of their stature. Nyx relentless arrow volley and bullet rain start to make a dent in their defense as a whole. Not helping that the seemingly useless carbine had sapped the Emperor’s Bde of much-needed energy.

  The Grey Serpent can’t afford to keep her distance, since the hazy and shadowy mist would always deflect her arrow if she is too far away, worse still the arrows start to dwindle. That is without mentioning that her opponent has a seemingly infinite amount of spikes to throw.

  She still has a sizable amount of small arms munitions, but those did little to lessen her burden. The Pursuer on the other hand needs to keep abandoning their offensive due to their opponent persistently attacking both the facemask and respirator tubes connecting their body.

  Thus the ensemble of sword sshes and arrow volleys are being exchanged. When Nyx ran up to close the distance, in a gamble to increase her likelihood of piercing the veil of their foe, said foe would always be ready to, their poise absolute and their strike deadly.

  A straight arrow shot was deflected with ease to then flow into a two-handed sword strike called wrath swing or a Higashinese Iai ssh. Prompting her to retreat if she has no desire to be turned into sbs of meat.

  The Pursuer keeps a steady rhythm of left ssh to be flown into a diagonal cut. Nyx mitigated it by stepping away to left or right, firing a bullet at their grip, with a kick to their chest, pivoting herself to avoid a ssh towards her neck merely an inch away, or anything along that line.

  One of them is bound to make a mistake, and the Emperor’s Bde is the first to make one. An overswing that only grazed the wind is a good start to losing control. It starts with a mere pse in concentration, it costs the Bde a precious window to avoid an arrow aiming at their knee. The arrow pierced, it was not enough to topple someone like them, but it did bring more opportunity.

  The Grey Serpent is not getting it for free however, it can be seen with a deep gash on her left fnk, an inch-deep gash opened up to be exact. Even though her vision was growing hazy, she just pushed the pain aside. No matter how minuscule, the duel is slowly shifting in her favor.

  Then finally after numerous close calls, Nyx managed to gain enough time window to cause the Pursuer’s posture to be shot and out of position without enough time for possible recovery. She aimed her great bow directly at close range toward her opponent's respirator system and broke a sizable level of breach from it.

  But her body immediately froze sensing an energy that is beyond abominable… this one is eldritch in nature, a complete dimensional pollution.

  ‘What the actual fuck!? A dimensional entity was sealed within that!?’ Nyx starts panicking, her body is sweating like mad, and her breathing has gone erratic, all in the span of seconds.

  “Why the fuck would anyone do that-!? Shi-!’

  The Emperor’s Bde noticed her apparent shock, and they wasted no time to have the leaking energy coalesced into a fog. Nyx is now trapped and she can’t even muster a third of her usual speed and agility. Then the smoky haze is now being concentrated upon the Bde’s palm… and was unleashed towards her directly in all its eldritch glory.

  A full force of eldritch energy smmed her very soul. She can feel it encroaching her deep inside. How every single one of her muscles, sinews, and nerves are being devoured and broken. Her brain is overloaded with torrential storms of feedback that must be transted by her overwhelmed brain.

  Thus there is only one way to lessen the strain; scream.

  She wailed in a broken voice full of agony and before she could even fully comprehend the complete nature of such an overflowing feedback herself, the Pursuer unleashed another wave of eldritch energy that seemed to be boiling Nyx inside out while damaging everything within her body.

  All the while gagging and having a stupendously hard time breathing, the test wave of eldritch energy also caused The Grey Serpent to get tossed away and crash against the snowy ground. Her vision is drifting from lucidity and darkness.

  Nyx can only thrash and spasms on the ground. She is crying tears of blood with now voiceless wails, her throat is almost suffocated from her mix of bile and blood, and her body is as heavy as lead, almost like suffering rigor mortis itself. She forces herself to sit up, with a mind-numbing pain, but soon after that…

  “Nghh! *cough* *cough* *wheeze* Agh!? *cough*”

  She toppled backward unceremoniously while vomiting fresh blood, her breathing was beyond erratic and even moving her fingers caused her immense pain. Her mind is in disarray, her body resists listening, and her senses are overloaded like being gnawed by billions of ants chipping and feasting away at the expense of her flesh and bones.

  She vomited bck blood soon after from having her internal organs pretty much mushed by such an esoteric, and perhaps enigmatic, eldritch arts.

  “Hah… hah… *hiss*… You’re still alive?” The Emperor’s Bde is incredulous, to survive even that is an astonishing feat.

  ‘In the end, however, The Grey Serpent is still a mortal.’

  Nyx still tried to get up, and seeing that their opponent was still wide open, the Emperor’s Bde smmed their sword square into Nyx’s chest. Pinpointed to have her heart pierced and mauled beyond repair and recognition… which was the intended pn if not for a sudden upset to occur.

  Even though Nyx had lost most of her senses and her natural regeneration was finally outstripped by a rge margin, her own body reflexively willed her hand to pull the sword out of her scabbard… Gripping the sword allowed her a brief moment of crity, out of sheer spite or desperation was already lost to the wind.

  She utters a single line, in a sing-a-song tone… Her arts fred into existence… silvery, yet it belied a cry of innumerable souls, her voice is gone but the air itself briefly shook in terror.

  “??????G?????o?????r??????y?????,????? ?????G????o?????r??????y????,?????? ???????W?????h??????a?????t??????? ??????a????? ??????H???????e???l?????l????? ???????o?????f?????? ???a??????? ???????W???a?????y????? ???????t?????o??? ?????D?????i??????e?????”?????

  Nyx’s sword glows in a silvery sheen and cshes with red light coated in eldritch haze… completely halting the Emperor’s Bde’s own with hers. The csh between them had killed the sound of metal cshing upon one another, the point where they intersected gone null and void.

  Her arts ugly side-effect triggered at the same time, her skin is melting and blood is starting to drip out of her wounds. Another pain is added upon her overworked brain and nerves, eliciting more voiceless and soundless wail from the Grey Serpent.

  The Emperor’s Bde audibly gasped in utter disbelief… their mind failed to comprehend what had just happened. The silver light dissipated with that and… the Grey Serpent’s sword turned duller than ever before, its metallic construct refused the moonlight’s grace and anchored in a dull, gloomy, color.

  As, she is too winded and her movement lost its coordination, now it is her turn to be in no position to protect herself… Nyx is wide open for a fatal blow. Despite her weakening body, Nyx is hellbent on not letting the sword M?ynar gifted her be flung away like a piece of junk… she held on to it unconsciously, dearly so, with whatever she had left.

  It appears that the end of the line is here…

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  “Mon3tr!”

  But before the Emperor’s Bde can capture or annihite her, an interloper arrives. A bck and greenish metallic creature akin to a dragon smmed the Bde square in the chest, while the creature also yanked Nyx away towards retive safety. The interloper immediately forces the Bde to withdraw from finishing their job and instead is locked into combat with a new opponent.

  The Grey Serpent is nigh-unresponsive, but instead of crashing against the ground for the umpteenth time, someone catches her. The Bde managed to throw the dragon away and make use of it to have their bearing readjusted while simultaneously fixing what they could upon their damaged respiratory system.

  After it is sufficiently stabilized, the Emperor’s Bde gred hatefully at the sudden interloper, while fending off the draconic creature once again. Their gaze locked on their consigned target, a feline woman with white, and lime highlight, hair who is clutching Nyx and simultaneously applying first-aid medical treatment.

  “There you are! You shall pay for your crime of assassinating Grand Duke Vanya!”

  “And I bid you welcome as well, Bulwark of Infy Icefield, but you will not harm her any longer.”

  “How did you-!?”

  “I know more than I left off, and I was the Grand Duke’s private doctor after all.”

  “An assassin… and a filthy traitor to boot…” Disdain and uninhibited hate can be felt clearly, yet the Feline woman didn’t even flinch… her face is a mix of pity and impassivity.

  Merely tens of minutes before Nyx was mortally wounded…

  “So what do you wish to converse, Ms. Thomson?” Kal’tsit is now walking with Heidi outside the party ballroom, they walk in a serene atmosphere, but their face is anything but. Heidi had even lost the pyful and flustered visage she showcased within the venue.

  “I have so much to talk about with you, but there is something I must deliver first and foremost. Dame Kal’tsit. A letter from Kazdel to be exact.” Heidi dons the face of a seasoned catastrophe messenger. She handed her an envelope.

  Kal’tsit carefully, and neatly, opened up the letter… her softer countenance shows that something written within was of utmost satisfaction to her. The young catastrophe messenger is surprised to see the cleric be more natural, which elicits a joyous giggle from herself.

  “A most intriguing message was written within it. I will be remiss to deny the fact that I wish to depart posthaste, but I had a prior arrangement.”

  “Prior arrangement? …Ohoh~ so you are aware… my, and here I had the gall to even fantasize the idea of surprising you~.”

  “Indeed, such a thing would not be something I would dismiss after all.”

  “Gosh! You’re truly as resourceful as what Papa had regaled to me, time and again.”

  “A compliment from one such as you is always welcome. Thus, do share your repressed thoughts.”

  “Can I really? Well then…” Heidi chose her topic carefully and settled on a topic that might be unthinkable for someone so young.

  “It is regarding this world Dame Kal’tsit, what can we make of it?”

  “Hmm… such a general question. Do you mind to be more specific?”

  “Naturally. Then, how come Victoria still stands? Toron is truly well-off since I had made my conjecture about its nooks and crannies, but what can we say about the rest?”

  “Simple, we can't.”

  “Hmm?”

  “While the throne was indeed nothing more than that of a seat the Iron Crowns were perceived as complementary to announce power and stability. Kyngasycath or Sighs of Kings is anything but a symbolic identity for Victoria. ”

  Kal’tsit then inhaled softly, Heidi had sworn she saw a forlorn phantom from the past era. The Cleric continues with her thoughts.

  “The Kyngasycath, the very bde forged for the first king of Asn, is not hailed as the Realmbde without reasons. It is the sword that was passed down for the Victoria line since they were still Padishah from Sargon.” Kal’tsit decides that further expnation is unnecessary at the moment.

  “I once heard that the bde was lost and found by the now missing Her Highness the Crown Princess, and the legitimate Queen of Victoria, Alexandrina of House Victoria.”

  “Hmm, I must admit that I’m not privy to the incident, where her Highness was once rumored to seek out the missing Realmbde, then returning it with such poise and grace. Oh how I long to see such a majestic scene for myself, but as time was truly unpredictable.”

  “That is precisely why the Grand Dukes are redoubling their effort to stabilize Victoria. The nobles longed for unity once more… but it takes more than that to cast an illusion to those knowing the ugly truth.” Kal’tsit’s voice was briefly ced with pity and mockery.

  “Truly fascinating… and so lopsided with greed and vanity for the vainglorious.”

  “Of course, do you recall how there are many quote-on-quote incidents that befell people of influence all over Victoria?”

  “Indeed, so many nobles and merchants had fallen victim to food poisoning, bckmailing, hunting accidents, and even assassination… even Papa himself was almost killed, machinations between nobles had gone even more sophisticated yet is still haphazard all the same.”

  “True, especially when the Grand Dukes are now starting to get behind each other… making the whole situation into an endless state of quagmire and fostering a tenuous alliance at best, and proxy war at worst.” Kal’tsit then inquired about security.

  “How many ‘Vincent’s’ men are there within the manor?”

  “A lot, most of them had been trained by the Grey Serpent to personally… Speaking of her… do you think the Grand Dukes would let her go just like that?”

  “No, if I were any of them, I would be discussing with my inner circle pertaining how to best dispose of her. She is good, terrific even, which will cause an immense upset about who can coerce her servitude.”

  “… Her ability to train up soldiers and agents is probably the prime aim for them. She has shown immense reluctance to swear fealty, she needs a home… and when even ordinary people can’t have one for free, she must pay a much heftier price for it.”

  “Home… tell me, Miss Thomson, is there anywhere in Terra that can be a suitable pce for her?”

  “Please, call me Heidi.”

  “Very well, back to my question… pray to tell, regarding your answer.”

  “Well… her tenure in Kazimierz might be worth deliberating. Rumors of her being closed with a knightly family were also heard, the specifics elude me, however.”

  “Pusible but not exactly safe, she already made mistakes, a lot of mistakes. She had become emotionally invested while still stubbornly holding out as a mere mercenary. They will all run out of patience eventually, and she must pick a side or antagonize everyone equally.”

  ‘Except the current Grandmaster, Wdirosan, and the Silvernce.’ Kal’tsit held her tongue on that thought.

  “…”

  “She pyed her role well, but that’s nothing more than a role. I had met numerous heroes and vilins, so to speak, of which rare any of them is as true as their persona. I had seen heroes who were no better than megalomaniacs, and I had seen vilins who knew it was best to drown a vilge to save a city. It is not so white and bck… and her? She is not even sure about herself.”

  “Do you have so little faith that she would be different?”

  “Allow me to eborate, I had merely voiced an opinion based on what I had seen, her current demeanor, and ultimately… her psyche. She is broken, on the very basic fundamental level. Fortunately, however, she was never blinded by the fa?ade all around, she knows that she had made a less-than-optimal decision and is willing to learn… that’s what made her even more dangerous. People like her can spit death in the face and try again, to die is merely an assurance…” The corner of Kal’tsit’s mouth twitched ever so slightly.

  “I can, at the barest minimum, commend herself to finally make a stand, siding alongside a failing family is also an intriguing prospect. She is human, she has wants and she makes mistakes, she has needs and she makes decisions, and stly she is still capable of empathy if only needing more work in regards to it.”

  “Hmm... then how about Toron? Uncle is a terrific… entertainer.”

  “Vincent acts like a fool, but he is anything but. Your father didn’t befriend him willy-nilly, he’s a good leader and a good leader knows how to weigh risk.”

  ‘His decision to become a catastrophe messenger, while making a shadow to fill in the gaps he left, is also a form of commitment.’ Kal’tsit recalled the day Arkell petitioned her to find a… helper.

  “So it is true then? Uncle lied about his dealing with the Grand Duke of Normandy?”

  “I would say it was the opposite. He didn’t lie, but noble dealings are not something to be trifled with. It is not hard to imagine that the Grand Duke levied a heavy list of demands, something Vincent must maneuver carefully. Toron is under no one, so it must fend itself alone. An intriguing allegory parable for our mercenary…”

  Heidi was about to say something, but her nose tingled and she started to shiver.

  “Ah- ah- achoo! Pardon me. That was truly unbecoming for a noble dy…”

  “It is of no problem, and the White Lady has seemingly and sternly reprimanded us. Thus, let’s head back.”

  “Can we link hands so no one would be suspicious?”

  “If you deemed it necessary.”

  “Then I shall partake~”

  Before Kal’tsit had truly entered, however, her sharp eyes had seen something. A fke of bck snow was brought drifting by the winter wind as if the ruler of snow had hailed her with a dreadful message.

  Her heart dropped, and uneasiness settled in quietly. There is only one organization, or more aptly put a unit, in Terra that can reasonably be hunting her out for her action a few years ago… Kal’tsit immediately scanned the annex, and she found a vehicle to be gone… The Grey Serpent had most likely departed to do her duty.

  “Heidi, head inside and ensure that the party goes on for at least another hour, and tell Thomson’s men to secure the venue quietly.”

  “Um, I beg your pardon?”

  “Something came up, and judging from it Toron will be implicated heavily if the situation goes out of control. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Um, ah, Yes! You can count on me.” Before Heidi could dash into the revelry of obliviousness, Kal’tsit gripped her hand and she saw the Feline Cleric eyes that chilled her to the bone.

  “If anything happened to me, or what might entail, do not dig deeper and only tell your father regarding Kal’tsit’s needs. He knows what to do and once again, you must keep yourself ignorant of this matter. Clear?”

  “I-I-I promise, I’ll do as you told!”

  “Good, now be a good dy and secure the venue.”

  Heidi immediately returned to the venue without looking back. Seeing that the girl had made herself scarce, Kal’tsit called upon her old companion.

  “Mon3tr, carry me and make haste.”

  “Grooarrr!” A bck dragon materialized itself seemingly out of thin air behind the questionably-a-mere-cleric-for-real Feline dy. The dragon was at first merely a few inches or centimeters, but it now swelled to at least 22 feet or 7 meters tall. The dragon scooped up the Feline and blitzed through the forest.

  ‘Hopefully, I’m not too te… and I do owe her an apology for the uninvited guest…’

  Back to the present time…

  POV: Kal’tsit

  ‘Such a deadly commitment had Ursus shown to me, I almost had her killed by proxy.’ I gaze down at her in my arms, to say she had been unearthed from a graveyard would not be an exaggeration.

  ‘Never mind that actually, there are corpses with better condition than her.’ Without further ado, I pulled a syringe gun from my inner pocket and injected Nyx with revitalizing and stabilization agents.

  Her breathing starts to level and stabilize, her wheezing stops, and her spasm is gradually brought under control. Her eyes open briefly…

  ‘I owe you…’ Her lips moved listlessly, with nary a sound that accompanied it. Thankfully, I was more than proficient in lip reading. Soon after, her eyes closed themselves.

  I look back at the Royal Guard who is battling Mon3tr fiercely. Despite being wounded and grappling with the risk of contamination, they fought most excellently, a good tiding. To find the protector of mankind being less skilled would be a hazardous moment for this world after all.

  Then Nyx’s healing body caught my interest.

  ‘What a fascinating body… and she is still alive after something that should have killed her a hundred times over…’

  Nyx's body is regenerating visibly, but I’m unsure whether it’s quick or slow by her standard. Her body still lost a lot of things that would make her presentable, such as an actual yer of skin while her bones were sticking out. Her bloodied visage, with attire and equipment that is more or less annihited, doesn’t help her case.

  I felt her trembling in my arms… blood started to seep out of the corner of her mouth… then it happened… a voice that sounded more akin to screeching from the abyss itself reached my ears…

  Suddenly I saw myself in front of a mound… there are corpses all around it… but my eyes are trained upon a figure on top. A little girl is seen to be cradling someone in her embrace and that is… Nyx!? The white-haired girl is looking at her so longingly. Then her eyes locked on mine…

  [????? ???, ?? ??? ????????? ?? ???, ?? ??????? ??????? ?? ??? ????????, ??? ????? ??? ??????? ???.]

  “She… thanked me?” I understood what she said… A sweet yet sad and equally, inscrutably, hollow voice rang true silently, solely, towards my ears, amongst the unknown pce. Suddenly I was back in the cold forest where the battle between the Royal Guard and Mon3tr raged on ever fiercely.

  Then I felt that just now, the temperature dropped sharply albeit not more than a fraction of a second. Yet even that was enough to cause the winter weather itself to shiver and falter while the bckened fkes of snow seemed to shine in silvery hue in a fleeting show of thawed fortitude.

  The sudden spike of… arts? No matter… that fluctuation caused the battle between the Royal Guard and my companion to ground to a halt, effective immediately. Both sides retreated from their duel, the Emperor’s Bde seemed to wonder where it came from while Mon3tr let out a confused growl.

  ‘It is best if I keep mum.’

  “It is time for us to cease this foolishness, Royal Guard.”

  “You’re blind, criminal, with even myself battered I can make a quick work of you and your pet!”

  “Maybe, but the evil within you is breaking through its confine…”

  “…”

  “The saying of ‘Each Royal guard is himself a nation’ is true. Yet the primary drive of that notion is the shard within your body.”

  “…”

  “Look around you, Royal Guard, the marks of battle can be covered, but the dark smog already seeped into the nd. Making it infertile and dead for eternity, you shouldn’t be obstinate in your reasoning and stance regarding it.”

  “Your fear… certainly it makes sense. You know of our secret, then fear is a fitting emotion for you to feel.”

  “Do I need to remind you again then? Your mask is fracturing. Reality is reacting to the evil that lingers in your body. The cage created by the ritual is beginning to fissure and warp.”

  I let her body down from my arms. She is breathing normally now, that’s good enough.

  ‘Hopefully, the Emperor’s Bde can be convinced and reasoned with, something of this magnitude would invoke total war between Victoria and Ursus if left as is without proper mitigation and steps that follow.’

  “Or do you believe that Victoria will turn a blind eye when an Ursus Royal Guard sets off a horrifying, eldritch, annihition at a Count’s territory, a part of a whole that constitutes the Empire of Victoria? A nation that is for every iota can match yours despite its division?”

  “…”

  “The Royal Guards' duty rests with all that exists in Ursus.”

  “Don’t make me ugh! I don’t need a low-life assassin, and a traitorous scum to boot, to teach me about duty!”

  “Tell me who do you serve then? Ursus as it is now, or the great shadows of the past?”

  “…”

  “Tell me, Royal Guard. Do not bring shame to your title. Tell me, what does the current Ursus Emperor think of the Pine Valley affair?”

  “You were the cause of it, criminal!”

  “Yet truth pointed out that the young emperor is unaware of the events that transpired there. Why? Because you believe he does not need to know.”

  “…”

  “You… all of you seek a bygone era, the very one that is gathering dust in a history book.” I exhaled wearily, this problem is not exclusive to Ursus, and almost everywhere this happened with varying lethality, yet all bore the same process riddled with blood and devastation.

  “I won’t judge whether this is correct, but when a Grand Duke is allowed to die in political conflict, his death will always lead to an all-new rebellion.”

  “This is not yours to judge.”

  “It is not but let me tell you something.”

  I narrated several possible scenarios that were meant to orchestrate the death of a Grand Duke and what can be gained from it. There are others who wish for the Grand Duke to suffer, another faction wishes to spare his life to be used as a stepping stone, and there are those who would turn the te Grand Duke into a political card for use against the Third Army.

  ‘Ursus can eliminate the dissidents from the rebellious army, but removing their nobles would be a daunting task, in more ways than one…’

  “You don’t mean… the assassination was…”

  “It was up to an unremarkable Ursus assassin to kill the Grand Duke, someone she could never imagine to reach, out of personal grudge. Only then were those crimes finally erased, digested like grass seeds eaten by burdenbeasts.” Righteousness or malice matters not, only what can be pilfered, a universal truth regarding the game of politics.

  I gaze upon them in pity, political intrigues are almost as old as civilization was formed. Mankind will prey upon one another, regardless of even the looming danger that can be seen or otherwise. They will band together, but mostly out of necessity, and when the threat is gone they will turn upon one another once more… and it keeps repeating.

  “From what I had witnessed from you… you have great foresight. You mean to tell me you solved such a difficult problem as a mere citizen?”

  “It was the best choice to make to keep Ursus’s internal friction from developing any further.”

  “Enough with your presumptuousness!”

  The Royal Guard threw a spike at me, but Mont3r can easily deflect their strike. Their body had truly been exhausted and damaged beforehand only made it easier. But it makes me even more worried about how the shard’s influence keeps expanding.

  ‘Thankfully, Nyx had intercepted them outside of the city.’

  So If I had to do the unthinkable, which is barely any better than the worst possible scenario, it would be easier for the following clean-up. The nd, which is already tainted by corruption, will have to be forfeited, however.

  “Even if all is truly as you say and your actions benefit Ursus in thousands of ways, it was not your decision to make!”

  “Patient, control yourself, Royal Guard.”

  “I can smell your lies, how dare you cim you did this for Ursus!?”

  “Because the Valley of Setting Sun has turned into a nd of fear!” I raised my voice and the Bde stopped in their tracks.

  “Even if the Empire’s glory sts another thousand years, those bck nds no longer belong to Ursus! They are no longer a part of this world! Do you want to repeat your mishaps!? Do you want to drag the Empire into a war of unimaginable scale just because you lost control of yourself!? You are just caught up in the former emperor’s grand vision!”

  An eerie glow seeped through the Emperor’s Bde’s mask. It is the same type of energy that had brought Nyx to the verge of death… which is only an inconvenience for me.

  “Mon3tr, halt!” Mon3tr ceased to move against the btant trap and the Royal Guard let out a huff.

  “…You squander your only chance to have me felled with little danger just a moment ago…”

  “And letting myself be torn and pierced by both the shard’s pulse and crystalline spikes? I know your kind. Your presence belied power, but ultimately is a man.”

  “Looks like I need not to test you no more. You know, like the back of your hand, how the Royal Guards operate… you had insinuated me as inhuman, and now you addressed me as a man?”

  “Suppose you still have a shred of my approval, it would have nothing to do with the will that you’re executing now. As long as you’re resisting, you remain the stalwart barricade of mankind. No one can take from you your honor of having been born human.”

  The tension between us had eased considerably. It is for the better that we deem this incident buried for good, any knowledge regarding them would be less than desirable to be known by common people or even those who accidentally heard about it.

  This brought me into contention of whether or not Nyx heard our conversation… that can wait,

  “At the very least, before you find yourself fooled by that illusion that is destined to be destroyed.”

  “… How profound, there are many things I had misjudged… Indeed, ‘knowledge’ is how they grow in strength. To fend them off, the passing down of all knowledge was suppressed, an unwritten w of all nations.”

  The Emperor’s Bde sighs wearily along with a hiss of pain.

  “You are not a Sami Snowpriest, and you have nothing to do with Sargon’s Eternal Army… those who have the privilege of seeing sights beyond Terra with their own eyes have always been at the top of their country’s academic authority… who are you?”

  “Someone who fulfilled her duty.”

  “…And what is your duty?”

  “You already know the answer in your heart. I did far less than you’ve accomplished.”

  “Hmph… I must admit… I never met an outsider who knew of the Royal Guards’ secrets. The crimes you committed and the secrets you hold make you guilty beyond measure, but I never met such a strange creature so wise and capable of foresight such as you to even go so far to challenge me, regardless of my state.”

  The Bde sheathed their sword.

  “*hiss*… You are full of surprises… the mystery surrounding you worries me. It seems I must be more cautious when dealing with you. Let us pretend I’m following your advice, Ursus citizen, but do not forget that the Emperor’s Bde is watching you…”

  “We may have time, but it would be best for you to vacate the area. The count of this territory will arrive soon with his army, if that happened consequences be damned.”

  “Don’t get so cocky… I simply did not expect it would take this much time to deal with that serpent and you… Which is why, you’re worthy of my caution, traitor…”

  “It was your responsibility to guard Grand Duke Vanya, and finding the cause of his accidental death is your one and only mission. I ensured a quiet death for him, only then, escaped from Ursus’ territory.” They appear to be still indignant.

  “Perhaps what I have done can’t truly be considered a viotion of Ursus’s rights. If so, it stands to reason that a life is too great a price. I trust all of you Royal Guards are capable of making a sensible decision.”

  “Such a shame that I cannot have that serpent in chain, brought back to face justice for her crime against Ursus and its people. The grieving families due to her sins would have rejoiced…” They pointed their sheathed sword at the girl being cradled by snow, but not buried by it.

  “Her so-called sins and current condition are unreted. Thus you will do no such a thing, a doctor must never surrender their patient.” A simple argument of mine.

  The Royal Guard shot another crystalline spike my way, out of sheer spite, which I dodged promptly. Do I need to remind them to not overexert?

  “You should return now else you won’t make it. Nyx already destroyed a good chunk of your internal mechanism that sustained the ritual. Once again, leave now and you may at least be welcomed by your homend.”

  “A target worrying about my wellbeing? What a valuable experience… How ironic that a criminal and traitor understand me better than the men in our armies…”

  “I’ve never had such a long chat with a Royal Guard of the Emperor’s Bde either.”

  “How long have you lived? And who exactly are you?” How long indeed… time is almost a foreign concept to me…

  “I used to be the Grand Duke’s private doctor, nothing more… and mayhap you should have killed me.”

  “… perhaps that’s still doable…”

  “I await the news of your success then.”

  “What a shame, your foresight and expertise can bring prosperity to Ursus, yet you betrayed us!”

  “Sounds like something I should feel bad about…”

  “*hiss*”

  “You love Ursus for how prosperous it is. Which is why you can see the parts that rotted in the sun. New generations look back on magnificence because honor is unable to feed and sustain them. What better distraction is there than to relive history?”

  “Another wisdom of yours?”

  “I could be talking to myself if it pleases you. I belong to Ursus no longer.”

  “You belong to Ursus no longer… so the Grand Duke’s personal doctor’s decision that was passed, she meant to reduce his suffering.”

  “I hope you make it out of Victorian territory without a hitch.”

  “A shame… if only you understood what it is we’re safeguarding… you could’ve contributed… Until next time, we will meet again…”

  The Royal Guard walked away slowly until they melted into the cold wind beneath the veil of winter and obscured moonlight. They are mankind’s stalwart bulwark against the horror that y past the boundary of civilization, a horrific front that must be made unknown.

  ‘Made unknown out of tacit understanding, and innumerable sacrifices. When those things are simply by being known, they gain anchor on reality, prompting even more sacrifices… Terra is adrift between manmade, natural, and inscrutable types of disasters…’

  “Now, I have a patient to attend to. Mon3tr, can you gather her scattered weaponry into the vehicle for now? I shall attend her personally and once you’re done you may retire as usual.” It is a good thing that the vehicle she left had been mostly emptied from its cargo, more room for her.

  “Rrrrrhh….” With that, my old companion immediately complied with my request. Then I have Nyx hefted up in my arms, she is surprisingly light. Another inscrutable detail that seems to go against the notion of logic but…

  ‘Even logic had failed in this world before…’

  While walking back towards her van, the fireworks lit up the night sky, marking the coming of New Year or perhaps…

  ‘It appears that either Heidi or Vincent had decided to further obfuscate the situation…’

  Yet the cacophonous noise failed to elicit even a shake of movement from this girl in my arms.

  ‘This girl fought a supposedly unknown opponent to a standstill before her ignorance of what her foe is capable of reared itself. Should I attach someone to keep her in check? Hmm, I have a feeling that’s unwise… not to mention that mysterious child…’

  Moving my eyes directly on her sword, bereft of any mineral luster and metallic gleam, another train of thoughts entered my mind.

  ‘Her right arm is still clutching her sword tightly, emotional attachment is it? How curious…’

  “Nyx… Fate truly moves with its own set of axis and pace…”

  POV: ???

  “Hmm… an upset, a possibly positive one, had intruded upon the future prophecy. Isn’t that a surprise…?”

  “How so?”

  “She brought with her souls merged into one, cold and ruthless but is capable of understanding humanity. Her scent is reminiscent of the sea, but differed greatly…”

  A pack of Feraerus, looking like lions, are conversing while also observing an Asn girl, even bloodied and bruised, taking her stands with her subordinates. The fight had been going on for almost an hour, but she still held strong… they also felt a great, ever-engulfing, fear and self-doubt in her hearts… yet she persevered, not for herself but for them. Those who believed in her.

  “She had suffered enough… we should intervene.”

  “It is only normal for a mortal to feel dread and fear upon responsibility, no one was ever truly born brave. Those who cimed so had never stared fate worse than death in the eye.”

  “Your idea of lesson is quite radical.”

  “I’m well aware.”

  “I will very much say she should take her time but time itself will reach a point where it will collect its due.”

  “So why should we force it on her? If that Caster woman truly believed herself to know best, then we can let her taste the bleak future.” One of them snarled at the mention of Caster. While the one who appears to be their leader replied promptly.

  “Because I saw a potential that dwarfs even Lugalzargus himself, a potential that will carry on to be a foundation for a new age, or a total doom if all else fails. He might be the greatest Asn Padishah, but Her Highness has that drive to be an even greater figure. Maybe by the swords, or maybe by the words. The point is, the future is yet to be set in stone.” Then their leader growled…

  “Also since I very much hated what the Asn Kings had become for the st centuries… avaricious, warmonger, and even useless pettiness… Her Highness is different.”

  They watched as the gang finally had enough and retreated. The Asn girl was about to colpse before being supported by her equally bloodied subordinates. A white-haired feline with brass knuckles is seen to be ughing heartily. Another Feline, brown-skinned with wheat-colored hair, can only sigh exasperatedly. A pair of white and bck-haired felines can be seen to be arguing about something. Her other subordinates, numbering around 8, are doing their best to recuperate.

  “Regarding the anomaly… should any of us do something?”

  “She is reasonably well-knowledgeable but equally lost. Thus, It would be wise to establish contact.”

  They looked back to the group engulfed with feelings of merriment for winning a gang war. The Asn girl excused herself, saying that she had to check – up on something. The pack of Feraerus naturally followed her, still invisible, and there she was. Her emotion y bare, her back leaned on the cold brick wall.

  The girl starts to feel forlorn and helpless because the weight on her shoulders is heavy. She is stuck in a hometown that doesn’t recognize her, a legion of people that brought down a regime only to have it all for nothing if not worse, and like what her Feraerus guardians said… time is running out.

  She gazed towards the gloomy sky, she had been doing so for a while now. The young cub is lost, she is scared, she is hurt, she is angry, and she is everything and nothing at the same time. The young girl exhales silently before putting on her finest smile, she concludes that… at least she has friends…

  “Lord Gawain, you should be by her side. I’ll make contact with the anomaly.”

  “Godspeed to you, Sir Gareth.”

  [END OF CHAPTER]

  Author’s Note:

  Yo there, this is me, myself, and I, the author who just wanna read LNs but can’t because of mental fatigue from graduation thesis.

  Did you see what I did there? No? Ok… Also, I altered the original conversation and narration somewhat… hope you don’t mind. Then, would you look at that? All those preparations and cautions were rebuffed by a singur mistake. Let’s just hope that she learned to be more cautious, even more so than she already is.

  It was quite challenging to strike a nice bance between how lore combat (Visual Novel style) is blended with actual gamepy. Especially concerning how Kal’tsit’s actual gamepy is OP and bonkers while in lore she got injured quite badly… so yeah… I’ll need to strike a bance like this again for future chapters… or please help me give an insight…

  This is also why I adjusted the territory mechanic to be tied with the colpsal shard. I mean, it would be really hard to cover the incident if the Emperor’s Bde could just use it willy–nilly. The Royal Guard is prideful, not stupid and petty… well maybe a bit petty.

  The carbine she used was a G3KA4, a carbine version of world famed H&K G3. Also, I said retively safe since the gun's maximum range is a disappointing 200m or 656ft, at least in my fic. 200m is too close for fighting a super soldier doped up with an eldritch shard.

  For those who are curious about what assassination Kal’tsit talked about, just brush up your knowledge by rereading stages story from “A Walk in the Dust” or just go to Arknight’s fan wiki. A notable addition however is that Vincent knew that Ursus had intruded, does he know further? Eh…

  Who was the one that had spoken to Kal’tsit there and who was the other one at the end? Well… that’s a story for another time, and as for the one at the end, lore readers rejoice.

  … This is the current longest chapter (11,000 words, more or less)… so uh… do tell me if shorter chapters are preferable (usually 4,000 - 6,000-ish).

  Update as usual? I don’t know… Eeeeeehhhh whatever really, you’ll see.

  Ciao