Operation story: 13-12

Operation

Story

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Characters
Magdelene Freda Jittery Citizen Royal Court Junior Officer Sarkaz Mercenary Tired Citizen Victorian Boy
Backgrounds
1 2 3 4

Before operation

Summary The construction of the ritual Arts Circle is almost complete. Magdelene's greenhouse is destroyed by the Sarkaz mercenaries, while the flower-loving garrison commander helplessly tells her of his impending transfer and hints that she must leave town immediately.
I'm a fortunate woman. When my grandfather passed away in the sunlight that shone upon the greenhouse, with his favorite flowers in his hands, he had already arranged everything for me. I was going to live the rest of my life as both of us had hoped: In this town. In this tiny little greenhouse. That is, until they arrived. I was incredibly fearful that my life would be ruined... But that Sarkaz gave the order, and so my job remained here in the greenhouse. I am still the town's gardener. It has been a week since the two "Self-Salvation Corps" people arrived. Likewise, it has been a week since I last saw the Sarkaz officer who would turn the soil for the daisies in town.
<Background 1>
Tired Citizen	Good afternoon, Magdelene. Your flowers look just as beautiful as always.
Magdelene	Thanks, Henk. Have you seen Will? I'm looking for him. He ordered some flowers the first thing this morning, but he still hasn't come to pick them up even though it's afternoon already.
Tired Citizen	Will ordered flowers? Oh, they must be for Freda's birthday. He ditched right around noon. Most likely, he left to prepare whatever surprise he has in store for Freda. Don't worry. He'll remember once Freda gives him a scolding.
Magdelene	Everyone seem very exhausted. I've been hearing noises around the work site at night. Has no one been getting any proper rest?
Tired Citizen	The devils are apparently trying to show off for somebody. They're working us to the bone like there's no tomorrow, but I haven't seen any bigwigs visiting, either. You're really lucky that you were given a decent job and don't have to suffer like us.
Magdelene	......
Tired Citizen	I didn't expect us to finish building this in a month just by gritting our teeth a little. It's like a miracle! I'm willing to bet that before, the Londinium lords would've hauled all this into their museums!
Magdelene	I thought you used to hate this job...
Tired Citizen	Magdelene, the world has changed. (You should try to get on the Sarkaz officer's good side, too. You have nothing to lose, pet.)
Magdelene	Thanks for the advice. I'll think it over.
Henk's suggestions are always so sincere. But his idea has left me terrified. At night, whenever I can't sleep, I'm kept awake by the noise coming from the square, as though there's an iron hammer striking my head repeatedly. And occasionally, I'm jolted awake from my dreams by those strange rocks. I can't help but to think back on the worries of those two Self-Salvation Corps people a week ago. Perhaps the Sarkaz changed more than just the way we live.
[Explosions are heard in the distance.]
Jittery Citizen	Again? How come the cannonfire's sounding closer lately? I heard there's more than one group of folks who want to take over Brentwood. If they come to blows, it'll be a hot mess here again. What's wrong with the way things are now, with everyone getting along? I hope this isn't going to delay our work!
[A boy runs to Magdelene.]
Victorian Boy	Magdelene, finally! That devil who keeps visiting you brought others to wreck your greenhouse!
Magdelene	What...?
[Magdelene rushes to her greenhouse.]
<Background 2>
[The Sarkaz mercenaries under the junior officer's command trashes the greenhouse, looking for Feist and Rockrock.]
Royal Court Junior Officer	Are you done? I said it's impossible for those Victorians to be hiding here.
Sarkaz Mercenary	That's not for you to say. This house is clearly useless, and it's only still standing because you insisted on keeping it around. Who knows what you might be hiding here? Grr, we're all fighting to the death for His Highness, but thanks to you and how weak you are, we've been letting chance after chance go to waste!
Royal Court Junior Officer	Watch your tone, mercenary. I am still a member of the Royal Court and the commander here.
Sarkaz Mercenary	Relax. If I find any guerrillas hiding here, I'll off you immediately and apply to join the Royal Court on the achievement. Now lose that pacifism of yours. I'm getting sick of it. Their actions are a serious interruption to the Military Commission's plans for this place. If it wasn't for your setbacks on the front lines fueling their ferocity, the boss wouldn't be having us rush everything to finish our job so quick. So you might as well shut up.
[Magdelene arrives.]
Magdelene	My greenhouse...! No—
[The junior officer gestures Magdelene,]
Royal Court Junior Officer	(Shhh—) (Don't move. Just watch quietly.)
Magdelene	Nnf... nnf—
The black soil buried all of them. The daisies, roses, bluebells... Their rhizomes were all mercilessly crushed under their feet. The new buds growing toward the sunlight, too. Freda asked me to plant these seeds for the festival. She was really looking forward to it. She said it would be the biggest harvest festival in ten years. All of us were looking forward to it. But now, the new buds are no more.
Royal Court Junior Officer	Relax, your fingers are bleeding. Don't try to break free. (I'm saving your life, Gardener.)
Sarkaz Mercenary	Let her come. Better that she wants to fight. That way I can just kill her and finish this right here and now. You're too soft on this town, "Commander".
Magdelene	......
Sarkaz Mercenary	Glaring won't kill me. Ugh, what a drag. Flowers mean nothing to this war. Armories, explosives, incinerators. That's what you really need.
The very last new buds here are crushed. Grandfather, we won't have fresh flowers during next year's harvest festival... Not anymore...
Magdelene	Let me go.
Royal Court Junior Officer	......
Magdelene	I'm calm.
[The junior officer lets Magdelene go.]
Magdelene	Have you found what you were looking for?
Sarkaz Mercenary	Count yourself lucky that I didn't.
Magdelene	Then please leave.
Sarkaz Mercenary	Heh. I thought you'd have a bit more guts than those idiots at the work site. Hmph, Victorians.
[The mercenaries leave.]
Magdelene	......
Royal Court Junior Officer	Don't move. Your fingers need bandaging. I couldn't stop them. I... had some setbacks on the front lines. Soon, there will be another here to take over for me. He... He has other plans for the town.
Magdelene	......
Royal Court Junior Officer	There's an opening in the cement construction about two hundred meters to the west of the town's entrance. The guerrillas nearby blew it open. They won't give this chance up, so we need to fix this opening by 5 AM tomorrow.
What a weird Sarkaz. Why is he telling me this?
Royal Court Junior Officer	The roses can still be saved. You must find a way to plant these poor things again. If that opening piques your interest... take these roses and cut through our camp tonight. It's the safest route. If somebody stops you, tell them you're delivering an order for me.
Magdelene	......
Royal Court Junior Officer	Of course, I'd be very happy if you could stop by and put a rose in front of my tent. Some things should never be ruined, Gardener.
Magdelene	My name is not Gardener, Sarkaz. It's Magdelene.
Royal Court Junior Officer	...... Hm, then let us reintroduce ourselves. My name is Shovel.
Magdelene	Shovel?
Royal Court Junior Officer	Remember, Magdelene. Time waits for no one.
[The junior officer, whose name is revealed to be "Shovel", leaves.]
<Background black>
"What we are planting for the harvest festival represents hope." That's what my grandfather taught me. The flowers that line the streets during the festival each year are entrusted with everyone's simple wish for a bountiful harvest. There is nowhere else that needs hope now more than Brentwood. I can't leave.
<Background 3>
Magdelene	His tent should be in this direction... I have to take the flowers there as soon as I can.
[Magdelene noticed someone suspicious nearby...]
Magdelene	What's that?
[...and approaches them, who is revealed to be Freda.]
Magdelene	What are you doing here?
Freda	Magdelene! Where are you going with those flowers past curfew? That's the direction of the barracks you're going. Hurry up and leave!
Magdelene	I... It's fine. I just wanted to come outside for a walk. Right, I heard from Henk that it's your birthday today. Happy birthday! Will ordered some flowers for you, but he never came for them. If you see Will, please remind him.
Freda	......
Magdelene	Freda?
Freda	......
Magdelene	Why aren't you saying anything?
Freda	Come with me. It's not safe here.
<Background 4>
Magdelene	Huh... These flowers...
Freda	Will left them here to mourn my father. I've been keeping the warehouse locked, only occasionally lending him the key when he wants a sip of alcohol.
Magdelene	The cannons here, did Mr. West prepare them for the festival? How magnificent...
Freda	It's all my fault...
Magdelene	Did something happen to him?
Freda	He was stopped by the devils at the Sarkaz barracks just now. He came to me earlier than usual for some sort of surprise, but when he found out I was going to the barracks to report on our progress, and he said he'd escort me there...
Magdelene	But the Sarkaz shouldn't have any reason to stop Will... They've never done that before.
Freda	I don't know... I'm scared. I didn't have it in me to say no when they asked to take Will in... I've been following their every word. I gave them everything they asked for. Why did they want to take him? Why... Did I do something wrong...?
Magdelene	Maybe they only had a few questions for him. Look on the bright side. They still need him to work for them!
Freda	...... Right... That bloody thing isn't completed just yet. I am sure they still need Will. I have to stay here at the barracks' entrance and wait for him.
Freda smiles. But I'm not happy about this one bit. I know I'm lying to her. I'm sure she knows that as well. However, this is all that we can do right now. These days, we all need that tiny shred of hope to poison our minds. "Hope."
[Magdelene noticed something above.]
Magdelene	......?
Freda	......?
Magdelene	Freda... Did you see that?
There's a strange creature climbing on a house's beams. I don't know if "creature" is exactly the right word for it. It's staring at me with its black body. The terrifying being's feeble limbs are no longer attached to the beams. Finally, it lands on the flowers used to mourn the mayor before it dissipates, turning into a drop of blood, and dyes the flower buds.
Freda	Was it... looking at us just now?
Yes. It was looking right at us.