Operation story: 12-20

Operation

Story

Previous 12-19	Next 12-21
Characters
Doctor Amiya Ascalon Dagda Delphine Hoederer Indra Ines Kal'tsit Logos Morgan Siege W Cador Closure Confessarius Damazti Cluster Duke of Windermere Manfred Theresis Victorian Officer Victorian Soldier
Backgrounds
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Before operation

Summary Manfred's plan to use the airship as bait to destroy the dukes' main forces goes bust. Ines jumps off the ship, only to be saved by W and Hoederer, and the three reunite. The Damazti Cluster finds Amiya.
<Background 1>
Duke of Windermere	...... Did old Wellington send his entire reserve fleet here?
Victorian Officer	Yes, Your Grace. The Duke of Wellington seems to be fighting that ship... he must be sure of his victory. Their frontline forces must have already exchanged fire with the Sarkaz.
Duke of Windermere	Grr, and there's still Caster... That woman has barely ever stepped outside her demesne, but even she's not staying put this time. Just how valuable is this ship to be worth all their trouble?
Victorian Officer	Your Grace, the strategists are also recommending we obtain as much technology as we can from that airship. Whether we stand against the Sarkaz, or... other possible rivals, such an unprecedented weapon will allow us to control an even larger airspace.
Duke of Windermere	Shut them up. What "possible opponents"? They're inciting me to break up Victoria. I came here solely to bring Delphine home.
Victorian Officer	They're also saying that Norport Borough may be in terrible shape right now.
Duke of Windermere	Delphine will be fine. She's my daughter after all.
[A soldier rushes toward the Duke of Windermere.]
Victorian Soldier	Y-Your Grace...
Duke of Windermere	Haven't I said before that running inside the ship is forbidden?
Victorian Soldier	Please, take a look at the shadow of that moving plate... Something's... not quite right...
Duke Windermere takes the telescope offered by the adjutant. The shadow of the mobile plate cast by the morning sun does not resemble Norport Borough. Is this because of the structure blocking it? Windermere thinks it strangely resembles a tower. A tower? Or... A Shard?
Duke of Windermere	Is that... The Shard's shadow? How can this be? Is this a natural phenomenon? Or...? How long did you say it would take for Caster's and Wellington's troops to arrive?
Victorian Officer	Perhaps within the next two hours? A rare event indeed, for the troops of three dukes to all coincidentally converge near this area... According to reports we received earlier, a few other dukes are also planning their moves, so it would not be too surprising to see their warships on the move here. I've been in the army for many years, and yet this is the first time I've seen something like this.
Duke of Windermere	! Full stop! All units, stop immediately! Get all of them clear of the area at once! Send a red flare to warn our allies! Quickly! Now! Send a plaintext to every Victorian unit in the region! This place could well be the target of The Shard's attack!
Victorian Officer	A-Alright!
Duke of Windermere	Don't turn the ship, speed it up towards Norport Borough! I have to find Delphine before the storm comes!
<Background 2>
Red flares blossom under the clouds, and the distorted shadows return to their original state.
Manfred	Impressive work, Ines. It was going to be a simple test shot, not at our full power, but we have many other locations to choose for next time. I do have to admit I have some tiny regrets. But the Military Commission always has more than just a single plan. Inform the Nachzehrer King, it's time to rouse the troops. The storm will open a path for him.
<Background black>
Ines often says death is also a tool. She would sometimes joke to Hoederer that she might be getting a little too used to playing dead. But now, as she stands on death's door, Ines realizes that she feels calmer than she expected. She closes her eyes. A blaze abruptly bakes her face, along with an intense shockwave. The unique smell of the explosives is well familiar to Ines. Her lips curl up. Dust and smoke from the explosion engulfs her with embers still retaining the heat of the flames. These embers gather, dance, and weave together. Sarkaz history is woven of embers, but occasionally, other things are knitted from the smoldering remains. For example... Ines falls head first into a cushiony cloud of smoke and dust. A giant web of embers holds her aloft.
Ines	I never should've expected... that the two of them could come up with anything better.
<Background 3>
W	Hey, Ines. Still alive and kicking? That explosion was pretty tough, so don't blame me if any minor issues crop up. Ah man, Hoederer. Let's just bury her.
Ines	Sorry to rain on your parade, but I'm still alive for now.
W	Ugh. Killjoy. So, did you like the fireworks I set off for you? And guess what I secretly sewed into your clothes? Wow! Who would've guessed? A tracking device!
Ines	Do you think I never noticed it? Shoddy stitching, your darning skills are honestly embarrassing.
W	Grr. That was supposed to be a present for you, but well, I guess this way's fine too.
Ines	And these– Don't you know how difficult it is to keep clothes clean and tidy on a battlefield? And you still threw me into a ball of smoldering ashes?
Hoederer	You used to call my Arts embers.
Ines	Not in the mood for that now.
Hoederer	You're pretty seriously injured.
Ines	Better than being dead.
W	What?! Hoederer! You had Arts to cast all along? I thought you only knew how to chop at guys with your knife! Embers? No wonder you're so unfazed whenever I throw a bomb at your face! So, are you not afraid of getting shot?
Hoederer	I am.
W	Can you fling ashes at someone else's face?
Hoederer	No.
W	Is your permanently haggard scowl a side effect of your Arts?
Hoederer	Shut up.
Ines	...Heh.
W	How many years has it been since I've seen you in such a pathetic state, Ines?
Ines	Believe me, you'll never see me like this again.
W	Don't be too confident now, we might just bump into the Sanguinarch having a leisurely stroll on our way back.
Hoederer	...... W, can I ask you to swap your little hypothetical there?
W	What, did you develop feelings for those crusty old monsters of the Royal Court after hanging out with Manfred for so long? Hey, you should be thanking me! If I didn't bump into you scuttling around on my way back, you might've gotten recaptured by your old besties!
Hoederer	Maybe I'll head back to prison so I can at least enjoy some peace and quiet without you.
W	Be my guest, I'll even do you a solid and report you to Theresis.
Ines	Where are we headed?
Hoederer	W's safehouse.
Ines	Fine, I can force myself to pretend we're going home. And also– ...Thanks.
<Background 4>
Indra	...I wanna go back. What's taking her so long today? She injure her leg or something? We gotta help her out, she'll be so grateful that we're bound to get a few bottles of decent beer out of it. What'cha standing around for? Let's move!
Morgan	Enough, Hannah! Norport's a sea of flames right now!
Indra	Baird's not dumb, she can keep herself safe.
Morgan	She's dead.
Indra	... What're you on about? Morgan, this is no time for a laugh–
Morgan	I said! Baird's dead! Didn't you see that butterfly knife? It was covered in blood! Baird always kept that on her person, there's no mistaking it... That knife, in someone else's hand, only means one thing... ......
Indra	I mean, it might be just a misunderstanding. Maybe she lost her knife or something. She's got her careless moments too, right? Not like she never lost nuffin before. Remember that one year when she accidentally lost our carton of eggs? We were supposed to have fried eggs that morning. Sometimes she slips up, no big deal...
Siege	Hannah... McClaren is holding her knife. Baird went back just to look for him. He's deaf in both ears, so they probably... ......
Indra	... Hah! They've been friends for years. You trying to scare me? Baird probably just lent her knife to McClaren for a bit, nuffin wrong with that, right? I... ... I... I'll go ask him. He can tell us, it was just a...
Siege	Hannah.
Indra	Where's he? McClaren left Norport along with us, right? So he's definitely in the crowd. We'll just ask him, this oughta be a misunderstanding... McClaren–Where are you– McCla–
Siege	Hannah, he can't hear you.
Indra	... I– I'll kill the bugger! He's dead! When I find him, I'll smash every single bone in his body!
Siege	Hannah! That's enough.
Indra	Vina! Did you already know about this? Bloody hell, why haven't you–
Siege	Why haven't I gone and smashed his skull in for Baird?! You think I don't want to?! You think I don't want to?! Because there's no meaning to it! Rubbing out a frightened deaf man makes no bloody sense at all! Hannah, I hate it, I hate all of this, I'm a fool through and through, a self-righteous twit! Allerdale, Baird... If I hadn't involved myself in this, they wouldn't have... What did I even come back for?! What did I even think I came back for?!
Was this... a mistake from the very beginning, born of a false sense of responsibility? How does she really see them, her friends whom she went through thick and thin and all kinds of hardships with? Could it be... that this "friendship" she cherishes so deeply, was actually just an excuse to deceive even herself? Could it be, that she of all people, has gradually come to see herself as a king? Grant mercy, sow benevolence... and then, harvest hope and reverence. What exactly... did she want to achieve here? What exactly did she expect to achieve here?
Morgan	Vina, we came back because we couldn't stand it... we were just watching from the side. Because this is our street, our turf, our country. You're always charging ahead, but this isn't your responsibility. We're not following you to see what kind of person you'll become. Vina, you're just our Vina, right?
Siege	... Of course. I'm just Vina. This I swear.
<Background fades out and in>
Amiya	Where should we bring these people from Norport Borough? We can't let them fend for themselves in the wilderness, right? Besides, this is the heart of the battle.
Delphine	These townspeople can live on my mother's land, if they're willing to move. Mother has a nomadic city in the vicinity of Londinium. It's a rather tiny fortress city, but it'll be no problem to accommodate them. Got any other ideas, Cador?
Cador	Hmph. You know, Delphine? Ever since you stopped hiding your identity, you've changed the way you speak.
Delphine	I know what happened with Baird... has upset you. It upset us all, but right now, there's no need to dampen our spirits even more. I just...
???	Ah, finally found you.
[The Damazti Cluster, having appeared out of nowhere, approaches Amiya.]
Damazti Cluster	Could we please have some water to drink? That Draco... we don't like those flames of hers, so difficult to extinguish.
Ascalon	Damazti.
Damazti Cluster	Ascalon... It's been a while, hmm?
Ascalon	What did you come here for?
Damazti Cluster	We're thirsty. And to offer a greeting to the little King of Sarkaz here. That banshee speaks pretty highly of you.
Doctor	Amiya, get behind me.
Amiya	It's alright, Doctor. I've never seen our guest here in their current form, but... I know them very well, they've appeared frequently in those histories. But they're always wandering outside the Royal Court, and they're not interested in anything... except themselves. Damazti fragment, why have you appeared before us?
Damazti Cluster	So you really are a genuine King of Sarkaz, little bunny. That thing seems to have also tormented you quite a bit. Good job holding all that in your little head while not being a Sarkaz. Memory is the most precious thing to us, but it can sometimes also be our poison. So you see, we do appear to have something to talk about.
Amiya	Are you... also of the opinion that I'm not worthy of bearing the crown of "The King of Sarkaz"?
Damazti Cluster	I see that talkative revenant really put you through the wringer. Don't mind it, he's never been the kindly type.
Amiya	You're an ancient Sarkaz, so how do you think... a King should act?
Damazti Cluster	Oh, good question. We've never been one, and we don't care to bother... But we're thinking, you should at the very least be strong enough? Strong enough to... overcome any hesitation or doubt, yes? Oh, we're certain of something else though. You definitely shouldn't be asking us this question, little King.
Amiya	......
Damazti Cluster	You have a long path ahead of you, regardless of whether you're leading the organization you call Rhodes Island or following the guidance of the Sarkaz souls. Oh, sorry. We forgot that the souls won't accept you, just like how they won't accept us. We're all different from each other. However– You'll understand at some point in the future, that the passage of time is unbeatable. The Kings of Sarkaz in our memories, all walked the very same path in the end.
Amiya	Not me. I–refuse to walk that path.
Damazti Cluster	Don't be too quick to refute us, Cautus. We did think it was a nice change having a young King of Sarkaz, but it seems like you're still chained to your fate. Though we're nonetheless full of expectations for you, a non-Sarkaz King... A young King of Sarkaz who is still growing and questioning her own blood... A never before seen King of Sarkaz...
Ascalon	What are you up to?
Damazti Cluster	We... have no ill intentions. King of Sarkaz, we don't dare to claim that we're wiser than you are, and we have nothing to teach you either. We only wish to extend an invitation, we seek an opportunity to thoroughly understand a "unique" individual. Ascalon, you will understand when you've lived as long as we have. When something you've never seen before appears right before your eyes, how could you resist reaching out to it? O King of Sarkaz, please grant our perennial lives a pleasant surprise.

After operation

Summary Amiya defeats the ancient Damazti Cluster. The Lord of the Banshees' bone whistle rings throughout the Royal Court, celebrating the Damazti Cluster's rebirth into a new form.
<Background 5>
Damazti Cluster	......
Logos	What are you looking at?
Damazti Cluster	At your King of Sarkaz, Banshee.
Logos	You're facing Amiya. I advise you to carefully consider your actions.
Damazti Cluster	And you should do away with the curses in your hands. Relax. They've already won.
Logos	I'm grateful for our earlier exchanges, Damazti. I have a clearer understanding of your methods now.
Damazti Cluster	The King of Sarkaz couldn't have possibly lost to our clone that had already been fried near to a crisp by a Draco's flames. But we are glad to have experienced something new for the first time in such a long time. It's been ages since we've seen anything that has brought us even a speck of excitement. Be proud of yourself, Banshee. You've convinced us, and we'll be more than happy to keep this new possibility of yours, though we're still not very optimistic about the direction this possibility is heading. But to us, time and patience are two things we have more than plenty of. We will meet again, at the next finish line.
Logos	Where are you going next?
Damazti Cluster	We've never gone anywhere on purpose, we merely wander the land.
Logos	You've mentioned before, Damazti, that you've pretty much exhausted all possibilities.
Damazti Cluster	Yes.
Logos	But there remains uncharted territory for you.
Damazti Cluster	...Oh?
Logos	Everything on this great land is constantly evolving, while you stayed just as you always have been, imitating the fruits of evolution. Yes, you've never gone anywhere, and yet you're already complete. So of course there can be no progress in something that's already been completed.
Damazti Cluster	How persuasively provocative. And what do you suggest?
Logos	You've already guessed it.
Damazti Cluster	...... Heralding our deaths–you do live up to your name, bean sí.
Logos	From death comes new life.
Damazti Cluster	Indeed, we've never tried this before... ...... We just bid goodbye to a friend, at a place not far from here. She said that she would rather give up living than to let life wash over her. We felt her emotions, we saw her determination. She claimed it was the choice of a coward, but we felt something else. We could barely put it in words then, but now we know, that it also took a certain kind of courage. The kind of courage we've never considered before. Well, alright. Banshee, we admit it We've begun looking forward to this. This might be just an innocuous scheme of yours, a clumsy method of ridding yourself of an enemy. But that doesn't matter to us. Or maybe the souls are merely borrowing your voice to provoke us.
Logos	Need me to help you?
Damazti Cluster	How about you leave us with some decency? Though you ought to sound the death knell for us.
<Background 4>
[After a fight, the Damazti Cluster admits their defeat.]
Damazti Cluster	...... You sure are a tenacious and brave bunch. Celebrate your victory.
Doctor	This can't be your full power.
Damazti Cluster	What, are you not entertained, Doctor of Rhodes Island? Or maybe that's unnecessary? Maybe we actually understand you on a... level beyond your worst estimates?
Doctor	I trust Rhodes Island's security systems. / ...... / Do you also have a clone on Rhodes Island?
Damazti Cluster	Haha, relax, Doctor. Your ship's onboarding inspection is not as easy as it seems to slip through. Alright. Goodbye, all.
Ascalon	What are you planning?
Damazti Cluster	What else can we do with our broken body? We've stayed in our original form for... long enough.
Damazti Cluster	Tiny King of Sarkaz, where will you go next? Where will you bring these people who trust you, follow you, protect you? Will you do as Buldrokkas'tee prophesized, and enslave everything across all the lands...? Or will you prove that it is only us who have been bound too deeply by the chains of history? "Evolution," a tricky word indeed, implying an inevitable progress, though it may not be. But no matter, you will find your path, and us as well.
<Background 4>
Amiya	He dissipated...
Ascalon	No, the Damazti won't die. His other, more complete and stronger self, is probably just around the corner. This is a typical tactic of his, to have the prey let down its guard, and then come in for the kill...
[The sound of a bone whistle is heard.]
Ascalon	A bone whistle? How can this be? Logos sees the bone whistle as a lamentable tradition of the Royal Court, and has always refused to sound it as his predecessors have done. But this is indeed a bone whistle from the Master of Knells. ! The Damazti cluster... is dying.
"The elegy has sounded, the bone whistle done wailing." "I serve as a witness to a Sarkaz, the Damazti, and his cluster." "From death comes new life."
<Background 6>
Confessarius	A bone whistle. How long has it been since we've had the Lord of the Banshees grace our court to sound the bone whistle?
Theresis	...... The Damazti Cluster has died.
Confessarius	Fret not, the Damazti has only encountered a minor setback, he'll soon...
Theresis	No, what I mean is, every Damazti fragment is simultaneously decaying. The Damazti dies, and our long-lasting Royal Court will collapse. Hmph, how interesting. I think, that he himself never imagined that it would end like this. How should I describe it? A split into halves? Or the birth of two new lives?
<Background 7>
Kal'tsit	The ancient Damazti no longer exists. ...... And two newborn Damazti have appeared in this world. Sand in nature is regarded as the final state of all things. No matter how strong a boulder may be, it turns to dust at the end of time. But then again, the sand may also hold the possibility of starting a cycle of reincarnation anew.
[Closure asks Kal'tsit,]
Closure	Kal'tsit, your wounds are still healing, move another inch and I'll tell Shining–
Kal'tsit	I'm already fine, for the most part. An old friend might locate us soon... no, I should say a new friend now.
Closure	I don't want to meet any of your old or new friends. There's good news and bad news, pick one? Wait, I sure am tired. Why did I think you would be up for a stupid game? The bad news is–
Kal'tsit	Give me the good news.
Closure	The bad news is that we didn't find the entrance to the Sarkaz supply route in Brentwood. There was no underground tunnel at all, but there was a passage used for inspections... Wait, you... huh?
Kal'tsit	I said, give me the good news.
Closure	Ah... um, I... Shining–!
Kal'tsit	I like to hear positive news sometimes as well, Closure.
Closure	...... The good news is, we managed to get in touch with the Doctor.
<Background 1>
Amiya	Thank you for your assistance, Duke Windermere. We've managed to re-establish our communication channels.
Delphine	The refugees we brought have all boarded the ship, and they'll be under the Duke of Windermere's protection for the time being.
Duke of Windermere	I should be the one thanking you, Rhodes Island. You've helped the townspeople of Norport Borough escape a disaster. Not all of them, but... it's enough. Protecting the people is what we, those who bear the title of duke, ought to do. And, you even saved my daughter. She was just bawling in her room earlier.
Delphine	Mum! I was only...
Duke of Windermere	I can guess what you've all been through the last couple of days. But Delphine, perhaps you have come to better understand how those in power should wield authority.
Dagda	If I may be so bold, Your Grace, how are you planning to use your power? After witnessing the fate of the Steam Knights, I'm not sure–
Duke of Windermere	I had to make a strategic decision, daughter of Montague. You may call it a plot, and I won't deny that I signed my name on the Steam Knights' orders. But... to decide the future of this country is exactly our duty.
Siege	..."Duty".
Duke of Windermere	Yes, Miss Vina. "Duty". You understand why I'm addressing you that way.
Siege	Of course. If you'd excuse us, Your Grace. For now, I would... rather be with my friends.
Duke of Windermere	As you please.
[Siege and the rest of Glasgow leaves.]
Duke of Windermere	Now then, Doctor of Rhodes Island. I believe... we can't avoid discussing the object your operator is carrying.
<Dialogue branch starts here>
Doctor	Kyngasycath.
Duke of Windermere	I knew it wasn't my imagination.
<Dialogue branch>
Doctor	......
Duke of Windermere	That is Victoria's Realmblade, yes?
<Dialogue branch>
Doctor	It's just a tourist trinket.
Duke of Windermere	Delphine was praising you so highly that perhaps I require a re-evaluation.
<Dialogue branch ends here>
Duke of Windermere	Anyway, it's impossible to ignore her and the sword she's carrying. Delphine told me about your deal with her. Even though there were some twists and turns in between, I'm sure that deal remains valid.
Doctor	Don't tell me you're becoming a supporter of Rhodes Island.
Duke of Windermere	Of course. But I promise you that for now, I'll act as if nothing happened. We can talk this out slowly when we've returned to my demesne.
<Background fades out and in>
Morgan	Cador didn't get on the ship, he left with a bunch of people.
Siege	And Hannah?
Morgan	She's still in her room and refuses to come out.
Siege	... Let's get her something to eat. She's barely had a decent meal in Norport.
Morgan	Yeah.
Siege	What are you burning?
Morgan	A bunch of drafts. Notes I saved for writing inspiration. But I forgot where I dropped my memoir notebook, haha. Siege, you don't need it, do you? We don't need it anymore.
Siege	Sure. I...
Dagda	Siege, what's... are you crying?
Siege	No, I just... I just... ......
Heavy tears roll down Siege's cheeks, while Morgan and Dagda are both stunned in their common consensus–Vina has never shed a tear before. On the deck of this high-speed battleship, the Victorian sun is still slowly rising, sweeping the haze and evaporating the mist from last night. And this youth called Vina, with her back to the sun, is expressing her emotions without a word.
Siege	I just... got ash in my eyes.
Morgan	Norport will return to her old self, the people are still there after all. We'll get our old lives back... eventually. We just... need patience. A little more of it. Vina, I– The war is going to end, right?