"Mono/Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
Narration
[Message/communication apparatus]
Date: January 1090
Location: Kawalerielki, Kazimierz.
POV: Narrator
“…” Margaret stared back at her uncle unflinchingly. Pair of golden eyes against another of its kind, but its foe felt more like a volcano on the verge of erupting. A quiet fury smoldered within those golden irises of his, she knew that her action had only sown the seeds of inferno for her family. Be that as it may, her resolve stood undaunted, and truly believed her action to be just. A small part of her wondered, which or what kind of ‘just’ does she look for?
“I was wrong, you’re the worst kind of fool in this family.”
“…”
“Do tell me, what is your endgame? Becoming a queen? Parading your honor? Chivalry? Do you have such a little thought on what sort of chaos your action would bring?”
“Kazimierz is nothing more than a rotting carcass… this country had forgotten its people. All across the borders, I had seen it with my own eyes, there is little the country had done for them. No infrastructure, and no desire to redevelop the nd devastated by way. Border Knights are locked in an endless conflict with limited support, and I saw the growing ultra-nationalistic idea inside them. If I didn't-”
“Didn’t what? Did you have a savior complex now? Perhaps ciming the dastardly role of Knight Primus had degraded your intellect? Who are you to decide their fates? On what power does this bravado was stoked?”
“I did not decide anyone’s, I merely wish to convey upon this country of what it had become.”
Their back and forth continue, each side equally stubborn to stand on their respective opinion and stance. M?ynar is disgusted by her niece's sense of justice. His old him would have appuded her, but that some old him had grown tired. His private investigations on their whereabouts had gone nowhere, solidifying his belief that this country deserve nothing from the Nearl.
Margaret sees her uncle's complete inaction to be complicit in the growing problems all across the country. She doesn’t hate her, Margaret despises his willingness to let what she perceived as evil fester within this country. The Radiant Knight, as she was hailed by the common folk and forgotten citizen of Kazimierz trudging on the nd for mobile cities overlord, believes that a radical change must start. What better than showing them that hope exists and defeating them on their own game?
While the two exchanged verbal daggers on one another, little Maria could only hide in front of the living room. She is distraught hearing two people she held dear talk like strangers, she wants to run but she can’t. She wondered why things turned like this, times like these made her painful memory resurface; a deeply sealed memory. That of her parents’ departure, and how life seems to be steadily tumbling down.
Their talks gained another intensity. Margaret stood up from her seat and so too did her uncle. They stared at each other from less than an arm’s length. He tried his best to limit the bile spilling into his words, but she was not so dense to notice the overflowing venom being stifled by his hoarse utterance.
“You’re deluded. Are you so blind to not seeing the consequences of your actions? Would you stand on trial on those who shall suffer out of your selfishness? If it is glory you seek, you’re only set up for disappointment. Glory had died ages ago, Kazimierz made sure of it.”
“Glory is not dead, only disfigured and butchered as mere commodity… Then what if I am, I do know one thing I understand Grandfather’s vision of a better Kazimierz. He did everything right, but fate was cruel.”
“Your Grandfather’s fate would not give you the right to consign many unto oblivion.” Margaret stumbled a step back, but she took another.
“The people, they need help and you know it.” His expression remains nonplussed, but Margaret sees that small flicker beneath his steely gaze. She presses on.
“You had always told me that the outside world is vast, and I agree. This is not about that however, my only wish is none other than to ensure they see my comrades’ plight. The people’s suffering. If that failed, I would not hesitate to guide the way.”
“On what or to what? Would it magically fix all the problems in this nd? Keep talking about ideals without understanding what made them intoxicatingly sweet is the most basic and banal mistake you committed.”
“It doesn’t have to be anything grand. Would it be different compared to you championing for the weak?”
“And where did it lead me?”
“…”
“Cease this nonsense, forget it.”
“I would not.” Her voice was raised unnaturally, barely a shout. Yet that conveyed the stubbornness she possesses.
‘Just like them…’ The Tenebrous Hero was just about to call it quits, there is no helping her. Unfortunately, she failed to choose the correct follow-up.
“I believe that it is right and Aunt Nyx woul-”
A hard sp nded on her face.
Margaret was shocked, she could taste the iron seeping through her gritted teeth and chaffed lip. She was stunned briefly, almost knocked off her footing. If not for her feet’s reflex, she would have fallen on the cold hard floor like a piece of leaf being torn from its bark by a storm’s gale. Such perseverance deserves recognition, but her uncle has none to give.
Maria shrieked despite herself, causing her to run like a scared rabbit; tears never stopping to stream like a flood. She couldn’t take it anymore, she wanted her old family back. Her sniffles rang loudly in the empty halls. Oh, how she wished to be trapped inside her bedroom or engrossed in reading engineering books to avoid hearing what happened a moment ago. Maria reached her room, locked it, and curled up on the bed. Chanting the names of her parents to return home through sobs.
The two bickering Nearls noticed the hurried footsteps, but their heads were immediately back on this conflict of interest. Margaret doesn’t nurse the bruise on her cheek, only staring defiantly in the face of the fabled Tenebrous’ Knight seething wrath.
To pronounce justice is understandable, to cim chivalry is commendable, but to invoke a woman’s name who had done so much for the family so carelessly stoked the fury past his zenith of limit. So he needs to draw a line, more for the woman not present in this debacle if nothing else.
“Don’t ever entertain to drag her into this mess of yours so callously. Remember all those years she had been there for us, for you.” His outstretched hand trembled. He was so close to permanently etching a wound, something so ughably easy he could do it in his sleep.
Yet the man didn’t and he exhaled, breath no different than that of a dragon dousing the embers and magma boiling inside its lungs. His hands returned to his, both palms balled into a fist before finally unclenched.
“You don’t understand the depth Nyx will go through for you.”
“…” Margaret's eyes were cast on the marble floor, his words appeared to affect his niece. As, her defiance returned; stronger than ever. His disappointment is palpable and he gives up.
“If you wish to prance like an exhibited animal, so be it… but, be warned…” He towered over her, Margaret’s mask of stoicism cracked but not broken. His gaze is cold; like staring at an ungrateful ingrate who is beyond help.
“There are lines you mustn’t cross, Lady Knight Primus.”
M?ynar said nothing else and left the living room. He gave her a disdainful gre usually reserved for helpless fools or overly eager idiots; his niece had the honor of being both. He hates how they, his torn family, still try to show any signs of loyalty for this godforsaken nation. M?ynar couldn’t even at the capacity of mere levity.
He left the room, no doubt to continue doing something more meaningful such as work. Her uncle had left the premises, she is there only with the old family portraits of old. She lets out a dispirited snort before the sting on her cheek reminds her of its presence.
Margaret felt that sting on her pristine face. She sighed loudly while facing the family photo, then she moved her head sideways to the left. There the new one was painted when times were bright. There she stood with her Father, pregnant Mother, Zofia, Grandfather, Uncle… and Aunt Nyx. She has the same cool, ft, expression, but everyone in the family knows just how gob-smacked she was for being offered a pce in it. They would have requisitioned a new one… but as, that tragedy happened and everything turned for the worse.
She decide to leave the living room, too tired to even entertain the idea of being angry. No, she has neither reasons nor rights to be angry, her uncle has his but not her. Margaret quietly left for the backyard, training should help her mind. When her hand touched the door, she realized one thing.
“Aunt Nyx… she hasn’t returned… where is she?” A huge part of her mind is afraid that her Auntie has caught wind of this. She had Zofia’s support to stay quiet, but she couldn’t rule out the fact that Nyx was beyond resourceful. Sensing that nothing could be done about it, she left for the garden.
Margaret also chooses not to use her swordstaff, more of her stubbornness is at py to prove herself free of anyone’s influence. A bid for legacy perhaps? Or just a small little things she would do to ensure that the damage could somehow be contained? Thus she chooses the war hammer, at least the one that would be tarnished is herself and not her father’s legacy.
Date: Late January 1090
Location: Terra
“Hah…” Lina sighed for god knows how many times these st few months. Her stepmother had yet to return home, her adoptive grandfather was equally worried that Nyx had perhaps crossed a line she shouldn’t have. It was supposed to be the usual celebration for New Year’s Eve, but she was nowhere to be found.
Naturally, the children were disappointed with her absence. Still, presents and all sorts of trinkets made their way to the orphanage like usual, but the kids found less enjoyment from it. For them, another one her absence only enhanced the emptiness.
“Big Sis Lina, what’s wrong?” A girl in her teen asked with worry. The older orphans always take it upon themselves to help around the orphanage. It would also work best on them, training and teaching them skills that would be useful when they finally come of age.
“It is nothing dear…”
“You’re lying.” The girl pouted, prompting the orphanage director and caretaker to chuckle.
“No, I was honest, promise.”
“Ok, I’m not leaving. Tell me, or I’ll tell Grand Mama that you’re hiding something.”
‘Grand mama…’ She recalled the nickname fondly. Nyx has been referred to as such since she looks like a superhuman who can do everything. Another reason would be that she would often die a little inside every time children called her Grandmother. Then there is her meticulous education program, she never spared any expenses to ensure that they would have a better future.
“Oh fine… You see, I was just wondering… What would Mama Nyx like to have when she came home? Just because we have the means, doesn’t mean we should waste them after all.”
“Oh, I see! Mhm.” The girl was easily fooled, and Lina found their simplicity endearing. Of course, not every orphan could be so positive. Some could still be seen locking themselves inside their room most of the time. An understandable reaction considering that a lot were not just lost children; they were chattel sves.
‘Mama never cared how expensive it was to free them, I remember the time when she hadn’t rested for weeks simply because so many children required help but there was only one of her. I couldn’t even count the many times she cried for failing, she always tried to hide it.’ Nyx is still beholden to the rules of Kazimierz, she couldn’t just break it willy-nilly because that would make things worse in the long run.
The snow-haired Kuranta had met their ilk, and to say it repulsed her would be putting it lightly. Of course, she had also dealt with strangers who were way too daring for her liking. Whether they were fearless or idiotic, sve hunters often strayed too close to Wdirosa despite knowing Silvernce's existence. The more cunning tried to be creative, and be dealt with swiftly.
So Nyx grits her teeth when shaking hands with ensvers, they understand how profitable it is to make her their customer. Equally important is how no one dared try to rub it on her face, which is an awesome ticket to an early grave, social or literal matters little. As long as each side stays silent, Nyx could be forced to tolerate them. So she always tries her best to be diplomatic, but she also never squanders a chance to tear the ground when given the slightest opportunity.
That’s for official sve merchants. Illegal? Well… you’re dead regardless, which ironically made more and more trader proceeds with the legalization of their trade. Having an official license and permits beats being dead after all. For all her power, she would be hard-pressed actually to defeat an entire nation by her lonesome, conversely, Kazimierz has little interest in wasting precious resources to suppress a single ex-mercenary with mild influence.
Either side could tolerate one another simply because the risk wasn’t worth it. They’re not like the Victorians who would gleefully tear each other out merely out of pride. Pride could never equate to cold hard cash, and Nyx has ample cash to give and receive.
Nyx hates svery but couldn’t just flip the table and call it a day. There would be way too many obstacles to solve and she knows she is not the best person for it. Just freeing them without giving them the means to survive is just hubris and ego talk, to free them without the chance and knowledge to better themselves is just hypocritical, and to upend a norm without clear pnning for the future would only result in mindless revolution with anarchy as its core.
Her existence is also a sort of a blessing; one’s suffering is another’s fortune.
She made K.G.C.C. a good chunk of revenue from the sve trade, the government got a cut from legalized transactions after all. The surge of legalization also made it easier for corporations to cheap out on bor, just buy them off and put them to work. There is also a more insidious version of freeing them before spping their freedom as debts, ergo indentured servitude.
On the surface, no one could say anything because the point of corporations is to make a profit, not charity.
Lina’s brows creased tighter the more she thought about it, and that concerned her helpers.
“Big Sis, could you stop making such a scary face?”
“Hmm? Oh, nothing, where were we again?”
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“Where did that silly girl go off to?” Immanuel is rapping his fingers on his chair worriedly. Nyx had disappeared again, and this time he might have a good idea why. The thoughts that a certain someone had a hand in it didn’t assure him.
‘No… she might not be in contact with Kal’tsit yet. Otherwise, she would have been hounded and coaxed to join her on that lonely crusade of hers… Moments such as this I hoped that Aurelia wasn’t swayed…’ His musing was interrupted when the sound of rotorcraft could be heard just outside the chapel.
Being quick on his feet despite his aging body, the old Sankta rushes outside with his guardian revolver. He spots a rotorcraft, truly unusual. At first, he was worried before relief washed over him since the aircraft was painted with a bright Cordelian symbol on each side, and someone he knew all too well was standing on the opened ramp. The Chapin holstered his gun and watched as a crowd gathered, the children were at the forefront; adults eager to meet there, in all but name, mother.
Nyx jumped down from the rotorcraft with her arms stretched wide. The children immediately rush towards her, uncaring with the kicked-up dust and visibly beaming enthusiastically. The Pythia received them all while he saw some empty exoskeletons moving about the cargo from it. He was dumbfounded seeing a huge fangbeast getting out from it without a leash.
“WAH!”
“Run!”
“Mama, I’m scared!”
“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
“S-stay back!”
“Good god!”
“Nyx what have you done?!”
“Oh come on…” That scared the children and others around Nyx, but she just smiled and motioned them to stay close. She strides towards the beast calmly and starts petting it.
The Kjeragian fangbeast visibly melted from her touch, and that prompted the braver children to do the same. The Beast cranes itself toward the children, they retract their hands quickly. That seemed to disappoint the big ball of fluff, while Nyx giggled seeing it.
“Alright, Cisalvine, sit.” The beast obediently sits on its hind leg. It towered over everyone, a good 3 meters high in a sitting position. Its expectant eyes seem to be waiting
“Roll.” It did so, and that made the children see that it was not dangerous. Cisalvine turns on its back, showing its belly to the children. Like the floodgate being opened, they dove into the soft heavenly fur. The Fangbeast expression is one of utter bliss from how much scratching and petting it receives.
Cisalvine pyfully licked their heads, the 5-meter-long Fangbeast seems to be fond of them already. The children ugh with glee and the adults watch the heartwarming scene with a smile. The militias, now assured that the Fangbeast isn’t dangerous, help unload the cargo inside the VTOL, marveling at collections of high-quality equipment that they don’t know where she got them from.
Nyx, with another as a sacrifice to the children's tackle, turns her head to Immanuel. Her eyes turned gssy, the Sankta realized that something had happened months ago. In public, she greets him normally the way she would. Her retions with Lina are only known by the children in the orphanage too. They couldn’t show their retions because of security concerns.
Immanuel leads her back to the orphanage under the guise of her Arts Teacher. Once they were out of sight, she closed the distance and hugged him tightly, of course, he hugged her as well, but the sight of her like this just set him on an uneasy note. For one, his daughter is trembling, her heartbeats are unstable, and pain is reflected in her eyes.
“What’s wrong, dear?”
“I’m sorry Dad, for being so out of it and missing the New Year’s celebration… my head has been a mess. Hectic work and contracts these st few months had been getting on my nerves.”
“Then why don’t you rest easy? Never mind that now and I’m just gd that you’re back to me safe and sound.” He carefully selects his words.
‘Something terrible had truly happened.’ She doesn’t have her usual protective and defensive behaviors. The retired executor could only wonder while hugging her trembling figure.
“Right… um… could we talk?”
“Of course, but I suppose you owed someone else a greeting first?” He tries to reinvigorate her mood by reminding her about Lina. It seems to have the opposite effect, Nyx sized up and her body froze. He was about to backpedal from his mistake, but Nyx got her words out first.
“Y-Yeah… Yeah, I almost forgot about her. Sorry, but I’ll be going there first. Love you, Dad, couldn’t keep my daughter waiting too long.” Like an ephemeral breeze, she slipped away from his grasp, completely stumping him. She walks as quickly as possible without causing arm to those she meets along the way. Her st word carried a peculiar tone… namely, possessiveness.
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The snow-haired Kuranta is hard at work, she is preparing all the books she will need for tomorrow. To be perfectly honest, she is tired of doing this every day but seeing how her Mother always commends her for it is enough to disregard the mounting fatigue. The orphanage has been expanded time and time again, now sheltering more than 200 children who more often than not could even do basic reading and arithmetic.
It goes to show how badly neglected were the countryside. This has been accepted as the norm, Catastrophe made the nd hard to settle and everyone is expected to pull their weight for the vilge. It varies from pce to pce, but those who did little work would often be ostracized and that affected the idea of maintaining proper education as a secondary or even tertiary needs.
Wdirosa is more than just lucky. Nyx had taught those less inclined for physical work to use their head. She only taught them the basics, but that’s enough for a start. Long story short, a lot of people leaving the vilge often come back as a self-made person. A few of them end up as a teacher who gets fed up with metropolitan life and decide it would be better to teach and roam the countryside.
Nyx doesn’t hesitate to reach out to her former students, and after offering them a handsome sary (which made them feel kinda bad), they fill in the school. Their expertise as lecturers and educators eclipsed Nyx’s. Make sense that she majored in 1001 ways to make a soldier or trained personnel. Thus the school and orphanage are synonymous existences. The cost of maintaining their educations and necessities was shouldered solely by Nyx.
Unbeknownst to her, Lina has been doing the same. She begged Nelka for a little bit of connection and training in commerce, and she succeeded in selling cosmetics that were being sold anonymously to Nelka’s boutique. She heard that her blend and products have been a hot topic because of their natural fragrance and minimal discomfort usually exhibited by the more capitalistic venture of Kawalerielki corporations.
Her humming stopped once she heard a distinct pattern of her Mother’s footsteps. She beamed in joy and hurriedly went downstairs. There she could see Nyx’s pattern through the tempered, bulletproof, chemical resistant, impact absorbent, lethal temperature fluctuation coating, explosive proof, Originium protected, duralumin frame, and reinforced stainless steel door. She opened the door. She swung the door wide and couldn’t wait to welcome her back home.
Only to see Nyx crying by the doorway, this is very unlike what the Kuranta had expected. The Pythia’s downcast expression lights up, but the tears cascade fiercer.
“M-Mama!” Lina was shocked seeing her mother like that. Before more were uttered, she dove at her with a tight but loving hug. Nyx sobbed but her voice couldn’t hold the torrent of joy to see her daughter. Her hands close in on her face, tracing the Kuranta like ascertaining something.
“You’re real… I thought that… I thought that… You’re real right? It wasn’t a dream right?” She spouts more gibberish in complete desperation that left the Kuranta speechless. She was about to ask why or what she meant, but seeing her like this only made her embrace the woman renowned as the Grey Serpent protectively.
She failed to see any trace of confidence in her, all she sees is just a grieving woman. Lina pulled her deeper inside gently and locked the door, despite the apparent difficulties. Her mother doesn’t show any sembnce of wanting to let go, if anything she rejects the very idea. Only when they reached the living room, did she stop sobbing.
She carefully guided her mother to sit on the couch, her mind was still grappling with what caused her emotional breakdown. Lina sat next to her, and Nyx carefully id her hands on her face.
“Lina… I dearly miss you. I’m sorry for being a pathetic, idiotic, mother. Please, forgive me.”
Her entire self is breaking down horribly. Her pupils alternated between blood red and pale pink, but Lina didn’t mind something she already knew. Her mother is unusual, but so what? She lost everything before even the 1072’s War but Nyx took care of her without motives.
‘It is alright Mama, you’re safe here.’ What she did mind was how pale she looked. Remembering that she still has herbal teas and homemade cookies made her stands up slowly. She doesn’t want to spook her. She smiled bitterly seeing her in so much agony.
“Shhh… it is ok mama, just wait here for a bit. I’ll make some tea…” Her hands doesn’t leave her, but she coaxed them to. Nyx reluctantly let go, and her body went sck. Her breathing normalized yet her gaze went empty. Without further ado, she head to the kitchen and starts making the tea. She couldn’t help but brainstormed what had happened.
Something had truly gone wrong, and the flower that had been buried deep inside the snow-haired maiden once again resurfaced. It fred, terrifyingly; a deep seated emotion long forgotten but brought forth seeing the woman she cherished so broken. It was soon smothered when she recalls that Nyx was still waiting dazedly in the living room.
[END OF CHAPTER]
Author’s Note:
Yo there, this is me, myself, and I, the author who… I don’t know for the st few days.
Here we see Nyx’s finally combusted. Holding back her breakdown ends with quite the severe fallout, good things she made it back.
I’ll be taking an unspecified length of break. My sanity took a nosedive, sorry again but I couldn’t help the stress overwhelming my brain. I’ll use either my profile or announcement chapter to tell when I’m back.
Ciao
