"Mono/Dialogue"

  'Inner thoughts'

  Narration

  [Message/communication apparatus]

  Date: October 1091

  Location: Nearl’s Mansion, Margaret’s room, Kawalerielki Alliance.

  POV: Margaret Nearl

  My eyes could not be torn away from the news broadcasting before me. I tried, time and again, to blink away and perhaps this unhumorous reality would dissipate into nothing but a badly told dream. No matter how hard I tried, that same loathsome tagline kept getting brighter.

  [The Grey Serpent was incarcerated!]

  [The Lady Baroness was under scrutiny by the national council!]

  [Nyx’s was accused of colluding against the state?!]

  First, I tried to py it off as someone mixing up the script. It is not so hard, and I had gotten a brief ugh at it from such a blunder. There are times they tried always to highlight my heritage or pull my family into the maelstrom, but I never paid much mind.

  Second, I grew increasingly agitated, or even angry; furious. I asked myself, what kind of insane person would endanger themselves by spreading falsehood so btantly? Had they lost their mind in pursuit of wealth and profits that they grew eager to make an enemy of so many people?

  Unfortunately, by my third forceful admission… those were no mere accusations but sanctioned and approved by the National Council. Aunt Nyx was imprisoned under ambiguous charges and even vaguer accusations. It reminds me of yesterday when Grandmaster Ioletta told me not to make a hasty conclusion and to process the situation with a clear mind.

  I don’t understand what she meant and now I was forced to conform to this… this… gods…

  The more reputable news network failed to uphold its cim. They should have shared the news without such a btant showcase of enticing discourse at the expense of her Aunt’s name. She moved on to the next channel, and it only grew worse.

  [Nyx was convicted of a crime against the state! The silver-haired Pythia was accused of colluding and acting as a middlewoman for criminal syndicates!] Aunty will never align herself with criminals.

  [The Grey Serpent was forced to admit to unaccountable counts of murders?! Could it be that her sins are finally paid for?! Tune in for talks with experts after the scheduled evening talk show!]

  [Nyx arrested for the crime of smuggling weapons! Colborators and enterprises began cutting ties and stated condemnation of her conduct!] She was being abandoned… so easily? Despite everything and the many honest investments she made? They… ditched her without so much of a thought?

  What in the world is happening?

  [Adeptus Sprawiedliwi had maintained silence! Could it be that they no longer have use of her?!]

  [Unknown tips! Supposedly incriminating evidence had been spread in the city-wide net! Nyx’s reputation had fallen tremendously with only her hard-core fans ciming it a ruse.]

  [Investors are pressuring K.G.G.C. to remove all advertisements involving her. Reasoning that her current status could put unnecessary strain on the stock market!]

  [Experts argued that this is the right time to strip nobility of their power. The Grey Serpent’s slow process to be brought to justice was a sign that a noble family is protecting her interest.]

  [The Nearl family had stated that they would not interfere with the w, but experts bme their inaction on favoritism and nepotism!]

  [Is this the end of the War Hero’s family journey?! Mr. M?ynar refused to give a statement, and Lord Kiril denied all offers for public interview.]

  The next channel shows a live conference with Lady Ioletta being barraged by reporters incessantly. I noticed her exhausted gaze barely concealed by her make-up, and the sheer distaste a touch away from spilling off her lips. Regardless, she soldiers on amidst these people's torrential questionnaires.

  [Could you kindly expin the state of this situation? It was quite the scandal.]

  [The situation is under our joint provisionary oversight from both the Adeptus and K.G.C.C., and I guarantee the Major shall not be impeded.]

  [Could you please eborate on the suspect’s behavior during the investigation?]

  [Lady Baroness had shown affable behavior and is eager to cooperate further. We are pleased with her conduct and expect positive results in a few weeks.]

  [There are rumors that she had been accused of being an enemy of the state, was it true?]

  [I’m not allowed to share the specifics, but the National Council believes that her intervention was warranted to ensure the situation doesn’t escate.]

  [Does it mean that she will be convicted?]

  [Investigations are underway, and so far there has been no conclusive evidence. It is the National Council’s core belief that no one should be prosecuted without the backing of w and order.]

  [There had been reports of anonymous tips that corroborate Lady Nyx’s crimes, the sheer amount of them should be a substantial consideration no?]

  It was less of a conference and more of an appalling venue meant to incriminate the woman who couldn’t defend herself. It feels like watching someone make a national sport of vomiting bile and poisons. How could this be allowed? They are deliberately using rumor to stall for time and indiscreetly hoping for Lady Ioletta to make a pse.

  Surely, there exist sensible reporters among them?

  [On behalf of the National Council, I firmly state that such unsubstantiated and potentially fraudulent manifestos as ineligible. It will be an unwise action to consider hasty; uncurated, opinions as the basis for ruling under the good graces of w.]

  [Is there anything the National Council wished to add?]

  [We implore all of Kazimier to not believe such an ambiguous information. We also wish to ask for the help of the citizenry to report suspicious activity to further halt these duplicitous and snderous activities.]

  [Could you please eborate the Adeptus' current stance?]

  [That is not possible, I’m seated as the Chairmen of the National Council and thus I shall reflect the Council’s intention, nothing more and nothing less. However, I assure you, there will be separate conferences between branches involved.]

  [What would be her status as a Catastrophe Messenger? Prevalent commentaries had shown a downward trend to allow her such a level of trust.]

  [The Council is deliberating on letting her continue as her function dictates, but notably, we will emphasize keeping her under surveilnce.]

  Each sylble that left her lips rang so hollow to my ears. It almost feels like she is reading through an unseen script and is powerless to stop it. The more I listened the more aggravated I became, and my finger slipped onto the next channel.

  [K.G.C.C. issued a statement that the scandal involving her would not affect the 22nd Major and instead cimed that it is a sign that justice and security are secured.]

  … Justice? Security? Where are those words when I tried and failed to block a flood?! Where are those words when I must write letters of condolences for fallen knights?! Where are those words to comfort powerless civilians crying by the wayside after highway robbery?! What justice!? What security!?

  “Everywhere I go, all I saw was more destruction!” My hand smmed against the metallic locker, a loud bang, and yet no one would hear. The flimsy steel crumpled underneath the force of my fist, and the dent it left made me silently curse. I had no right to destroy public property, but my mind refused to acknowledge my severe pse in judgment.

  ‘Is this how ordinary Kazimierzian acted when they’re so far removed from the harshness of wilderness? Is this the Kazimierz I had tried to defend? The one where it would gleefully sacrifice those who outsted their value?’ My hand was raised once more, but I managed to keep it under control quickly enough to not add further damage to the state’s infrastructure.

  ‘Stay calm… Margaret… keep it cool… remember you have to focus, this is a chance for change…’ I hurried to try and find my terminal, I needed to contact Zofia, Uncle, Grandfather, or anyone! They must have an idea of how to counter these baseless snders.

  No… no… no, no, no… I shouldn’t burden them… but what can I do?

  No matter how long I tried to cycle through this news, no one ever defended her or even subtly implied any indication of their neutrality and oath to decency. To them, Aunt Nyx is just another party animal or scapegoat. No one, even implicitly, tried to py the devil’s advocate. All they care about is capital… capital… and more capital…

  Something feels like snapping within me. Is this the very thing Uncle was forced to contend with for years? Had I unknowingly made light of his plight? Was I the fool all along? Does it mean that my participation is meaningless? I don’t want to admit it, yet the, all in but name, kangaroo court ignites a seething fury I id dormant.

  They had abandoned the woman who bled and protected Kazimierz on her terms. She had given so much to us, and this is how she was repaid.

  I need to point out one eerie fact, these news networks were far too coordinated. The official stance was given just an hour ago, but looking at how cleanly they corroborated a topic is mighty suspicious. The more I stood trying to win the coveted Grand Knight’s title, and charter to continue my family’s legal standing, the more disillusioned I had become.

  Everything I had come to believe was dismantled with ease and ruthless pragmatism. I feel like a stranger in a nd far removed from what I know. Looking down on my palms, a singur plea was all I could muster in the face of these hardships.

  “Father, Mother, give me strength…”

  -

  -

  -

  -

  Jumping out of the window after donning my disguise and hood, I left the mansion through the underground complexes. It positively bore and tired me seeing those pedestrians moving back and forth around the mansion. They are not in the wrong, and I understand that they are just doing their jobs, but I’m not in the mood for it.

  Walking through the deserted underground section, I made haste for the stadium. I’m not in the mood to entertain inane questions. I’m fairly certain those with malicious intentions would frame their scathing remark as mere curiosity. I had seen how they pyed their games, but I never imagined how quickly they would discard someone.

  Banishing such thoughts, I continue focusing on reaching the stadium.

  Suddenly, I stopped on my feet and leaned closer to the wall. This cloak I wear made it easier for me to blend in, an annoying lesson I gained from journalists and paparazzi barging unannounced during my downtime. Voices and noises entered my ears and I subconsciously reached towards the warhammer strapped on my hip.

  The noise is getting closer prompting me to hold my breath. Rounding around the corner would be a masked group with unknown weaponry or equipment, their coordinated movement clues to me in fact these aren’t ordinary people. The way they checked their surroundings, and avoided fgging one another is but one of the indications. Among them would be a particurly rger person carrying an unmarked box on his back.

  One of their fshlights moved towards me, and I was a hairbreadth away from being spotted. Holding my breath, I can hear steps getting closer to me. My eyes came parallel with a crossbow bolt looking straight forward and pivoting left and right. Soon, the noise receded and the crossbow left my field of vision.

  I waited until their presence could no longer be felt.

  “God… that was close… who are they? Why do they look so in a hurry?” I was never one to harbor negative thoughts on the get-go, but their appearance intrigues me. Looking down at my watch, I figure it won’t be a problem to take a bit of a detour.

  My old armor would certainly attract attention from how loud it was, but luckily I copied the army’s special patrol armor that could dampen sound. It has thin shock absorbent fabric in between the joints, which minimizes the ctter.

  By keeping only certain members with certain sets of knowledge, it became very hard for them to be caught. Of course, there are risks involved should one among them abandon the group, but it is also a sign of trust with another.

  Backtracking silently, patiently, and keeping my distance from any light sources, I found myself approaching an underground clearing. Sticking close to the wall, I leaned forward slightly and what I found shocked me to the core.

  There lies numerous blood stains with the corpses nowhere to be found, with rubbles and traces of violence marring the scenery. I’m certain that a battle was fought here, simply because the smell of iron was so strong. The size of this clearing indicates that it should be no less than 100x100 meters wide, enough to house a company of knights.

  I tried to search around the area to find a dumpster hidden by the corner. Opening it slowly with my gloved hands, the inside is brimming with broken equipment. There are perhaps dozens if not hundreds of them. Arrows and bolts are scattered alongside broken swords, axes, and spears…

  ‘This is beyond stupid...’ I shouldn’t be doing this, but I had gone far too close to just look away. I still have my pride as a Knight, and my negligence could cause unwanted casualties if I just dismissed this outright. After mentally berating myself one more time, I continue this search.

  Not long after, I found a pair of bodies hidden underneath rubbles. One is dressed like a knight while the other wears an unknown uniform of grey and white. The knight’s pte armor was dented and ruptured all over the pce while the grey uniformed person suffered cerations on their body.

  I checked for their pulse, in a faint hope that one of them was still alive. I have no clue what to look for based on the scene before me. The Knight insignia belongs to those in the northern sector, but that is impossible. They shouldn’t be here because of the charter, and who is the other one? Could it be that group? The Knights assassins? How could they mustered so many men and just leave it here? Could it be that the remnants were killed by those masked people?

  I tried to search further, and-

  A crashing sound could be heard, and I locked eyes with a terrified girl. Her face paled seeing me, and she tried to run. Without waiting anymore, I make chase to expin myself.

  “Wait!” She was getting more panicked the longer I tried to, but as cruel fate would have it, she stumbled. She cried out in pain but kept trying to crawl away. I noticed her bleeding leg, and my Art fred to live subconsciously.

  “Please don’t hurt me! I don’t see anything! *sobs* P-Please have mercy!” the girl, who turns to be a Vulpo, mistook my Arts for aggression, and her cries got louder.

  “Wait! Wait! Stay calm! I’m not going to hurt you!” I calmed her down with an embrace, and slowly and gently patted her back. Her tears are still flowing, but otherwise, she doesn’t try to leave my embrace. I keep enveloping her in warmth while using my Arts to heal her injury.

  My eyes widened seeing a bck crystal on her leg.

  “You’re an infected…” The girl froze in my arms. Her heart rate increasing exponentially and I have the sudden urge to hit myself.

  ‘Curses! I shouldn’t have said that out loud.’

  “I-It’s all right, don’t worry, I won’t do anything to you. Shh… Shh…”

  “Y-You promise?”

  “Yes, I promise. I don’t think being infected makes you less of a good girl. Stop crying all right, and just stay calm… let me treat you, your leg has a deep gash on it.” Concentrating on my Arts further, I was about to truly start the healing process but the girl fearfully pulled her legs away.

  “T-treat me? But I don’t have any money…”

  “That’s all right, you don’t have to pay for it and I’m very sorry for startling you. How about this, consider this healing my apology for making your wound worse.”

  “… Really? You’re not going to hit me for not paying?” The way her eyes glistened with hope and fear truly hurt me. If Aunty is here in my pce, she would be taking the girl to a hospital no question asked and if that’s impossible, Wdirosa would be her new home.

  “… Why would I want to hit a child? Most importantly-”

  “Not every pce is a paradise like Wdirosa, Margaret.” I rise and brandish the warhammer at the sudden intrusion.

  “Who is there?!”

  “Woah, chill out… it is just me.” I could see a silhouette coming out of the darkness and spotted what appeared to be Efia’s horn. The person steps out of the shadow and pulls their hood away.

  “… Miss Kalinia?” This woman is Kalinia. I had met her time and again during wilderness patrol, so what is she doing here?

  “Yep, it is none other than me.”

  -

  -

  -

  -

  “So what are you doing here? Your match should be up in an hour, shouldn’t you make haste there?” Miss Kalinia spoke while making something in the kitchen. I was brought along to an infected community, and despite their general fear, they immediately let me in under her guarantee.

  This is a rundown underground town, filled with not only the infected but also those who had been given up by society. Everywhere I look, there is only sadness or emptiness. I don’t know what I can do for them, other than offering to heal their wounds. They were wary, but with Miss Kalinia’s coaxing, they relented.

  “I wish to avoid the meddlesome reporters, they are starting to grind my nerves.”

  “It was because of Nyx’s arrest, right?” I bit my lip and didn’t answer. The Efia chuckled at my non-verbal admission and returned with a tray of food in hand. It is several loaves of bread that were fried. Some of these are just burnt, but the girl I helped eat it up with gusto.

  “She is right about you.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You have no idea what you’re doing. Even the flimsy excuse of joining the major to ascend as Knight Primus was so unbelievably weak if you weren’t her beloved niece and that blockhead’s precious ward, I would have mocked you harsher for it. Though, I suppose you would prefer that, don’t you?” The way she referred me was… discouraging.

  “… What choice do I have? Otherwise, my family would be stricken off, and everything would be cast aside. I do not wish to see the family that had been existing for so long been swept under the rug so callously.”

  “M?ynar had been doing the same, see where it leads him?”

  “So you’re saying what I had been doing was fruitless?”

  “Depends on what you consider to be fruitless… For example, our brotherhood.”

  “Your brotherhood? You mean the group that had been going around in the wilderness and helping to keep the peace? I don’t think that’s a fruitless endeavor, at all.”

  “Yes, it managed to exist that long, but most had already left. M?ynar, and to some extent Nyx, had been a pair of motivations behind us. Tond had been doing his best to keep things right, and I heard he was gathering up his ideas on a new generation. Czcibor though, he had been disillusioned, and wanted no part with it anymore.” She levy her eyes on me.

  “The difference between us, and you, would be the driving force for us to keep going.”

  “What keep us going?”

  “Yes, are you fighting to understand people, to find the answer for your mishandled and cruelly exploited comrades, or perhaps you just want the Knight Primus title? Can you tell me, which one among these could be achieved just by winning the Major? Or perhaps your aspiration was influenced by a deep-seated longing to know what happened to your parents?” Her gaze flicked to the girl beside me.

  “For example, do you care about people like her? If you do, what can you offer them?” I was about to answer that I could fight for their basic rights. Before I remembered how Grandfather was fighting for a simir idea, he tried his best to remove chattel svery but till this day he could not.

  My silence made her shake her head.

  “See? When someone prompts you to find an answer, you end up opening up a new can of worms and make you look like an idiot. Your Grandfather's opposition was not just K.G.C.C. but also his fellow nobles, there is no such thing as stability in politics.” Her amused grin starts to make me uncomfortable.

  “That’s your pitfall, in time, I believe, you could be more than a match for M?ynar, but when it comes to politics, you’re just as lost as a tiny finbeast on the driest desert of Sargon. You familiarize yourself with like-minded people, but it subconsciously etched an idea that your comrades will always be by your side. You’re na?ve because you ck the experience.”

  “…” It’s getting harder and harder to answer her question, made worse by how she was asking the basics. She wasn’t even trying to be malicious, but if this is the problem I must face and many lives are hanging on my every act and word, I’m lost.

  I’m fundamentally broken and arrogant to think that my own supposed virtue could be a remedy for even a mady. Should I give up after all? But what is there to gain? I had willfully crushed other’s aspirations for my own. I do know how many Competition Knights were deprived of their lives by my misguided resolve.

  “How far have you been?”

  “How far have I been?”

  “Yes, how far away had you traversed these nds? Have you seen the complete chaos and wlessness of the badnds between Ursus and Leithanien? Have you seen the sheer dissonance of societal problems on how to deal with Infected in Yan? Ursus kills them, Siracusa uses them, Rim Billiton exploits them, Columbian scams them, and even the so-called Paradise barred them from entry in Laterano.”

  She’s right. I never see the world in its entirety. I had been protected by everyone who cared, all this time. I never see the world for what it is… it made me remember the words Aunty told me all those years ago.

  ‘By the end of the day, people see me as a Hero’s Granddaughter first and Margaret Nearl second. Even Miss Kalinia had kindly demonstrated how my courteous welcome was due to my Uncle and Aunt. It was never me, this is an unknown battleground.’ Unconsciously, my head was lowered and I couldn’t muster any sembnce of strength to gaze back at the Efia.

  I feel a nudge on my hand and see the Vulpo staring back at me with a confused smile.

  “Big Sis, what are you guys talking about? I don’t understand a lot of it.”

  “It is nothing, just some talks between adults.”

  “Huff! Adults are no fun! Big Mama Nyx was more fun.” Big Mama?

  “You know her?”

  “Mhm! She was very scary but also super-duper nice! She had knitted me this doll!” She proudly pced her pair of dolls on the table. These are a brown Zak and a bluish Feline, and I could somehow feel an intense rivalry between them. How odd…

  “There was that time she came by to give a lot of boxes of donuts and pizzas! We want here to stay but she said no because she has those stupid talks between adults!” Her honesty was infectious, and the both of us shared an identical smile. Turning my vision back on the smiling Efia, with one of her hands propping her chin, I asked her one question.

  “…I had asked a friend about hope, and she answered that it was fundamentally powerless. A piece of literature that functioned only to sit pretty on a cupboard or an empty library. So, can I ask you, how could I truly understand hope?”

  “Simple, when an opportunity presents itself, leave Kazimierz.”

  [END OF CHAPTER]

  Author’s Note:

  Yo there, this is me, myself, and I, the author of whatever is this fic.

  Hmm, appears that Margaret had conveniently met someone huh? Was it though?

  Lastly, the situation seems to be looking pretty bad… yeah I have nothing else to say here.

  Update numero uno of this month.

  Ciao