Operation story: 14-21

Characters
Previous 14-20	Next 14-22
Doctor Amiya Amiya Kal'tsit W Delphine Indra Dagda Siege Horn Morgan Bagpipe Logos Theresa Revenant's Shadow Static-Filled Radio
Backgrounds
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Before operation[edit]

<Background 1>
Summary The team encounters the rescued revenant at the top of the tower. It tells them of Theresa's ambition, and Theresa appears with awe-inspiring presence.
Amiya	We weren't imagining it!
Doctor	Heaven and earth reversed in the blink of an eye. / Strange, I don't seem to feel any discomfort.
Kal'tsit	Do not be distracted by any changes in the rules of the Assimilated Universe. Mortals were never made to set foot in this place. There is no point in trying to judge the line between the real and unreal based on our conceptions. Look up at the sky.
Amiya	The golden ocean that Rhodes Island sailed... it's hanging above our heads?! Dr. Kal'tsit, I see Rhodes Island... and the churning tides. The myriad souls call to me. They're trying to pour down and drown me— Logos is still fighting the myriad souls...
W	I don't care how above and below change. Tell me... Where's Her Highness? Doesn't seem like she's here at all. Damn, this place makes me feel comfortable — that disturbing kind—
Amiya	But the voice that called to me... That was Theresa's voice.
Kal'tsit	...The myriad souls. She's here. We have already found her.
W	Enough riddles, hag! Look with your own eyes. Other than those weird pillars, do you see any—
She stops mid-sentence. Pillar. Tower. Myriad souls. Theresa. In that instant, she understands why her soul finds this place so comforting. The myriad souls have taken crimson roots here, extending to the furthest reaches of heaven.
W	Those white pillars...
Amiya	They're Theresa's will. She's trying to stabilize the tower. She's been watching us.
W	...
Kal'tsit	Time does not flow in the Assimilated Universe, but this miracle continues to grow. It's even trying to penetrate the "sky" that we're standing on.
Doctor	Maybe it already has.
Kal'tsit	... If she could break through the limits here, that means—
[A bomb suddenly explodes.]
Doctor	...
Kal'tsit	...
Amiya	...
W	Why are you looking at me like that? I had to make sure this thing we're standing on is solid enough, right? Don't want to get it pulled out from beneath my feet when we finally get to see Her Highness. But this "sky" is more than what it looks. My bombs didn't even leave a mark...
Kal'tsit	... It's impossible to damage this place by any physical means. The "limits" of this place are set by rules beyond the comprehension of Terra and incredible amounts of information. It permits neither change nor challenge.
W	Could've fooled me. You're hiding something. Hood was right. This tower has broken through whatever "limits" you're talking about.
Kal'tsit	...
W	I know you have secrets that not even Hood and Bunny know about. You've never been here, but you're strangely familiar with many things here. You hide it well on your face, but you can't fool me.
Kal'tsit	W, don't—
W	We can't afford to waste any more time. If Her Highness has fallen asleep while waiting for us, someone has to put new batteries in the alarm clock.
Doctor	She's not as reckless as she looks, Kal'tsit.
W	Hah. Give me a hand, bunny. There's something I need to make sure... I was wondering. Why would there be shadows in this hellhole, when there's no sun and no moon?
She throws her flashbang upwards. Rather than fall back to the ground, it keeps going up. The ball of light rises from the "sky", flying towards the golden ocean, revealing a blurry shadow.
???	...
W	Over there, Amiya! That shadow that won't go away! He's here too...
Doctor	The revenant?! / He might attack again! Careful, Amiya!
???	...
Amiya	I don't sense any hostility. It's like...
W	He doesn't even notice us. Wanna do it, bunny? I've got a score to settle with him. He must know something about this godforsaken place!
Amiya	Wait, W! This is strange... he's not like the other myriad souls we've seen, lingering here rather than leaving...
W	If he's here, does it mean he's dead too?
Amiya	No. He's fine... in fact, he's never been better. He's fully at peace. I can feel it. A peace filled with sorrow.
W	What did Her Highness do to him?
Amiya	Theresa saved him, retaining the last bit of consciousness that the revenant had left. Not only that, she has brought clarity to his chaotic mind.
W	She cured his madness? She can do that now?
Amiya	I don't know what Theresa's state is right now.
Kal'tsit	Can you communicate with the revenant, Amiya? He may hold the key to the truth.
Amiya	I can try...
A dark wave ripples from Amiya, touching the black shadow. The shadow meanders and answers the King's whisper.
Revenant's Shadow	You... So, it is you who arrived here after all, in the end.
The indistinct shadow opens its "mouth". His tone is surprisingly calm, with no hint of anger. An instant of clarity had arrived after millennia of torment, soothing his fury at long last.
Kal'tsit	It is no coincidence that you are here, Revenant.
Revenant's Shadow	Theresa saved me, preserving the fragment of soul that should have disappeared. I merely followed her to this place... to witness the turning point of Sarkaz destiny.
W	Where did you say Theresa... Her Highness is?
Revenant's Shadow	She has departed to retrieve the seed from the very beginning.
Amiya	The seed... Amnannam? Isn't Amnannam already under Sarkaz control? What else is Theresa trying to do?
Kal'tsit	...
Revenant's Shadow	Originium created everything in this land. It has been utilized in many ways, but no one has truly mastered it. Except.. Her Highness. She said she would steal the fire from the source of all suffering. Our curse will become the weapon that reshapes our lives. An immaculate garden for the Sarkaz...
Doctor	Controlling Originium at the origin...
Kal'tsit	After all we've been through, I think you know what this means, Doctor.
Doctor	Theresa is fighting for authority over Originium itself.
Kal'tsit	The vision of Theresa and Theresis goes beyond the limits of all knowledge on Terra.
Doctor	I can't let Originium become a weapon of mass destruction.
There are no more questions. Kal'tsit gazes at you silently. You have been through too much together.
W	So you can talk normally, after all, not just all that crap about suffering.
Revenant's Shadow	... I was human, once.
W	...Hmph.
Revenant's Shadow	I had raged against many things in my long existence. The invasion of the Ancients, the betrayal of the Sankta, the fall of Kazdel... and my rejection by the myriad souls. Until I came here, and learned the true nature of the myriad souls. All I feel now is sorrow.
W	And you've stopped making sense again.
Revenant's Shadow	Did you not see the myriad souls on the golden ocean? All Sarkaz struggle against the injustice of fate their entire lives. There is no release, even in death. The myriad souls are only broken fragments of information that linger in this space, imprisoned in another manner by another will... But Her Highness said she would purge purgatory and bring salvation to all Sarkaz...
W	You seem to be able to communicate with this old guy, Kal'tsit. Why don't you translate what he's saying?
Kal'tsit	Is Theresa already able to modify the information within Originium?
Revenant's Shadow	This was her promise. Theresa keeps her promises... Ah, finally... Theresa.
W	What did you say? Where is she?
Doctor	Amiya, the shadow under your feet!
Shadow? How could I cast a shadow when there is no light? No, this is not my shadow!
Amiya looks down and sees the striding white silhouette through the "sky" that she is standing on. "Sky" and "Beyond Sky". Theresa and Amiya, reflections of each other.
Amiya	—!
"Amiya..." Amiya hears a whisper. She looks up, and Theresa is standing by her side. She takes Amiya's hand.
<Background 2>
[The ground trembles.]
Delphine	Damn. The battlefield... it's changing again!
Indra	Vina, the ground... it's rumbling.
Dagda	Stay at your post, Hannah! Don't get distracted!
Siege	That thing above the Shard just released some strange form of energy. If the Sighs of Kings fails—
[Horn fires her cannon.]
Horn	Remain alert! Allied command is reporting at least seven coordinates where sudden changes in terrain have occurred! Three assault ships belonging to the Duke of Abercorn reported destroyed. Communications were lost with two force recon units under the Duke of Ashworth—
[Siege turns on her transceiver.]
Siege	Order all units to stop attacking Hill C-9. Scatter to the sides, or we'll be swallowed by the waves of Originium.
Morgan	Got it! Everyone's moving! And we've got another really bad news. Looks like someone's sitting on that empty throne in the Nachzehrer camp...
Siege	The Nachzehrer King is back...
Delphine	The fog... it's getting thicker. The Sarkaz are striking back!
Siege	Horn, you and Bagpipe coordinate operations with allied command. You're more familiar with the army's commands. The other units will support us. Lose this pass, and we'll lose all the ground that we took.
Horn	Roger!
Delphine	I'll help. I'm gettin' used to dealin' with this stuff.
Bagpipe	Captain, look... the Glorious. It's crystalizing quickly. The Sarkaz are besieging it!
Siege	The Duke of Caster is still on the ship. Victoria can't afford to lose another duke in battle. We—
The sound of electrical static, then the same voice is heard over all communications channels on the Victorian side.
Static-Filled Radio	Attention all soldiers of the alliance. This is the Duke of Caster, in command of the Glorious. You see as I do how the Sarkaz tyrant has torn our motherland apart. The malice and barbarism of our foe merely serves to strengthen our resolve to defend our country. As long as our ships and soldiers... Bzzt... as long as we all do our duty... This is the resolve of Parliament—and every citizen, duke or commoner, general or soldier... Bzzt... Our foe climbs the broken bow of the Glorious once more. Originium threatens to devour our fortress. But you have not yielded, brave soldiers! Neither will Caster! ...Bzzt I shall step up to the frontlines and stand with you... Bzzt ... We stand upon Mother Victoria—
Siege	The Duke of Caster...
[The Last Steam Knight's armour hisses as he suddenly charges towards the Glorious.]
Indra	Is... is he mad?!
Dagda	The steam knight went mad a long time ago, Hannah.
Bagpipe	Did I see that right? Did the steam knight just smash into the Glorious?
Horn	No, he smashed into the almost-crystalized Stone of the Sword and Sighs of Kings...
Dagda	What is he trying to do?
Siege	...He wants to save his Victoria.
<Background fades out and in>
[The steam knight's armour hisses.]
Even the frightened soldiers in the rear heard the unusual sound from the Glorious. The armor patrols the Stone of the Sword, trampling every Sarkaz who attempts to approach it. But he could^[sic] contain the spread of Originium. "Victoria!!" He roars, he smashes the ground, but there is nothing he could do to stop the Originium from swallowing the Realmblade— And so he charged at its foe, towards the Glorious devoured by Originium.
[The steam knight smashes the Glorious.]
Originium crystals shatter. The shock sends the Sighs of Kings flying, landing at Vina's feet, before countless eyes wide with astonishment.
Siege	...
Vina pulls out the sword that had been with her for so long. She points it at the charging foe and spreading fog, not one step back. She is answered by the call to charge and the sound of blasting steam.
<Background 1>
Amiya	You...
Theresa	You've grown.
Her tone is as gentle and mild as Amiya remembers. But Amiya knows that it is not the same Theresa as the one who had once held her in her arms and told her stories all night. Amiya had so many questions that she had hoped to find the answer for when they met. But she could not say anything, ask anything. Theresa would not permit it. ...
Theresa	Shh. I can hear the questions within you, Amiya. But I can't answer them. All answers, all explanations are pale and powerless. Our reunion was the product of an accident. ... Perhaps I was looking forward to this moment too. You, Kal'tsit, W... and Doctor. You stand before me. I'm sincerely joyful for this reunion. You feel it, don't you?
Amiya	—!
Why? She should have been sure. She should not hesitate— The one before her could not possibly be Theresa. Why, then, does she look exactly the same as Theresa, not just in her appearance, but also in her expression, her eyes, and the emotions?
Amiya	You... you're not... You're not... Theresa...
Theresa	Do you truly think that, Amiya?
Amiya	The Theresa I know would never do something like this...
[A bomb suddenly explodes.]
W	Enough, Your Highness. Damn... I came here thinking I had it thought through, but I couldn't find any words other than "Your Highness" before that face.
Theresa	I remember you... W.
W	Hah. You remember me. There's no greater honor I've won in my entire career as a merc. I would have ran up to hug you, if circumstances were any different. But you don't know, and you don't need to know, how many times I've said goodbye to you already. This might sound sentimental, but... you were special to me like no one ever was. You showed a wandering mercenary sights that she never thought she would see. So, the only way I can repay you is by putting you to rest.
Theresa	Is that so...? You still call me "Your Highness". You still remember that I'm the King of Sarkaz. Then the only thing for me to do is to protect the Sarkaz.
[Theresa vanishes.]
<Background shakes>
What did Theresa just do?! Amiya turns around to see that everything has changed. —!
<Background shakes>
The white pillar has grown at a breathtaking rate. The immeasurable "tower" of infinity now "falls" at breakneck pace. Only the place the she stands upon... Only around Theresa is there eternal peace and silence.
Theresa	This tower is beautiful, Amiya. It will continue to grow forever, breaking through all limits, and hold up the heavens for the garden that will rewrite Sarkaz destiny. How I wanted you to see it... But you are not permitted here. Accidents must be eliminated. When you stand before me... You're the enemy of the Sarkaz.
No. A black crown appears above Amiya's head. "I won't allow that, Theresa!"

After operation[edit]

<Background 3>
Summary The inevitable battle begins. It's a battle between W and Her Highness, and also between Amiya and the Sarkaz King she once admired.

The roaring golden ocean smashes against Rhodes Island. The sovereigns' will sinks into the sea of infinity, then rises up again at the only ship upon the waves.
Logos	Will the echoes of the kings never cease while the voices of the myriad remains? No, it is not just the roar of the myriad souls that is causing this. That tower— It's trembling. The tremors at the root have stirred the tides. You have encountered them... I could not see the end of this tower that stretches beyond the heavens, even if I etched incantations into my eyes. Originium has obstructed my sight. Is this your way of telling me that it is not my battlefield to intervene?
The waves answer the Banshee's call. The sovereigns beckon.
Logos	I will not yield. I have promised with my song to they who have gone beyond the other side of the tower— Ever shall Rhodes Island be our terra firma; never will it sink beneath the waves.
The young Sarkaz raises his bone pen and steps towards the void, writing incantations upon the waves. The waves attempt to break free of their shackles, but the Banshee is silent. He peers up at the sky, listening to the sound of the tower trembling. He knows that King and King are clashing against one another, beyond where his eyes could see.
Logos	This is your war, Amiya... it's not my place to intervene. I can only pray for your safe return.
<Background fades out>
"I can calm the angry roar of the myriad souls..." "But the only true answer lies in cutting off the source of all our suffering."

"What is suffering to us Sarkaz?" "Is it the brief respite by the only candle in the dark mines after a long day of working in ice and snow?"

"Is it the murder of the children of a Sarkaz and a Liberi who truly love each other, committed by the fanatics of the frontiers solely out of fear of their appearances?"

"Or polishing our horns day after day, spending our entire life living in fear wearing a Caprinae disguise?"
<Background fades out>
"A Sarkaz may encounter countless forms of injustice and suffering in their lifetime..." "Injustice has become the norm, the entirety of their lives..." "Such that when they are asked what suffering is..." "They could not answer."
<Background 1>
[The tower trembles.]
Theresa	...
Atop the tower, the pure-white figure gazes down at you. "The King of Sarkaz." You have spent so much time with that Cautus girl that you have forgotten the implications of this title until now. Theresa was not the King of Sarkaz simply because of the crown. What kind of strength, wisdom and cunning does it take to convince all Sarkaz to willingly, gladly call her their king? Massive energies rush out from the tower, forming white threads and silk that stretch on and on without end, permitting no resistance.
Doctor	I have never seen Arts of this kind. / None of the stories about Theresa ever told of anything like this.
Kal'tsit	Before she was the King, Theresa was a caster the likes of which is only seen once in a thousand years. We're on her home ground. This is not witchcraft, nor any power of the King of Sarkaz that I know of. She is reconstructing and utilizing the information inherent within Originium. Observe and understand what she's doing, Doctor. Help Amiya and W resist her attacks!
Doctor	I'll try...!
W	This suffocating presence... The feeling of impending death... she truly wants to... No, there's no way! The real Theresa would never—
"The real Theresa"? She cannot help but mock the ridiculous notion. She casts her eyes at the familiar, yet impassive Theresa.
W	Sarkaz expletive, only one thing to do!
[W throws a bomb at Theresa, but it has no effect.]
W	Damn it, these strange limits she's set have made my bombs useless. We're all done for, if this thing keeps falling! Do something, hag!
Kal'tsit	Ordinary measures are of no use here, not even Originium Arts. That doesn't mean she can't be defeated. At least—
W	You mean the bunny?
She looks towards Amiya, still resisting the overwhelming Arts. A black crown floats above her head.
Doctor	The power of the King can break through the limits of Originium.
W	I don't have a clue what you're talking about, but— Right now, I guess I've got to trust you and the bunny.

W realizes that she started believing in Amiya a long time ago. As she did on the burning command tower in Chernobog, when the bunny delivered the box with the key in it into her hands... She believed that the city would stop. W looks at the girl. She almost sees Theresa.

Theresa chose Amiya. The one Theresa chose would not disappoint Theresa, or W.
<Background 1>
W	If you're all bound up in the myriad souls— I'll blow the myriad souls to pieces.
[W starts running.]
She begins to move. She never hesitates or doubts herself. The only thing she feels is excitement, the moment she came up with the brilliant idea of blowing those blasted myriad souls to pieces. As she does whenever she goes into battle.
W	Bunny! I know you can hear me!
Amiya	W, I—
<Background flashes red>
[Amiya is nearly hit by Theresa's powers.]
W	Don't turn around! Focus! Use your magic rings to link me directly to the Sarkaz expletive myriad souls!
Amiya	What—?
W	You can do that, right? I know the Confessarii did something to bind the myriad souls to Her Highness. Let me hear what the old garbage told her— Then I'll blow them to pieces. THEN I'll find a chance to talk to Her Highness.
Amiya	I'll try! Just be careful!
W	Enough talking, I'm ready—
<Background flashes>
<Background fades to white>
<Background Black>
W hears voices innumerable, but it is not as she had imagined. She thought she would hear angry roars like the revenant's, but the voices are far calmer than she expected. They quietly tell of countless lives and deaths as Sarkaz. The sigh of relief when drifting farmers finally find a land to settle on. The last pleas of Infected thrown alive to the furnaces. The futile howl of dying soldiers forced to watch their city conquered. The helpless cries of hungry children lying weakly on their beds. So many different upbringings and circumstances, all bestowed a tragic fate just because they were Sarkaz. Their joy, their anger, the emotions amplified by the span of nine thousand years— If this was what Theresa was always listening to... why? Was it the myriad souls' will that the twin kings came to be again? Was it their will that sent the Sarkaz into this war? The Sarkaz engrave their sorrows into the myriad souls, and the will of the myriad souls leads those who come after on a similar path. This is a tragic cycle. Hate ignites hate. Sorrow reflects sorrow. ...Is that all? W feels like she is being swept along by a rapid current. Her life is also amongst the voices of the myriad souls.

"I will detonate things and defend things." "I will destroy things and direct things."
"They're living, breathing people, W."
"I don't need you to tell me, Ines. Hoederer taught me the difference between people and things."
Yes, W has seen all that the myriad souls speak of. No one knows the life of the Sarkaz better than she does. She has seen plenty, from the Scar Market of Kazdel to the ships of Babel, from the ruins of Chernobog to the battlefields of Londinium. She has never contemplated the meaning within, for what she must do is far from complicated. Need shelter against wind and rain? Light a fire, build a tent. Enemies in the way? Shell them, bomb them, whatever it takes. It was never the murmur of the myriad souls that kept her going, but the tiny speck of light ahead. W keeps searching, searching, and finally finds the voice that she wanted the most.

"All of you deserve to live. Yes, you too." "I remember you, mercenary." "They gave you the code name W, didn't they?"
Your Highness... we meet again. Whether you're the real one or not, I don't exactly have a choice, do I? Now I remember why you captivated me. The King of Sarkaz, yet so unlike the Sarkaz. You showed me that the Sarkaz need not be miserable. So, let's forget the myriad souls for a while.

"W! W..."
[4]
W	No need to shout, bunny. I know you're there. You were peeking into my memory, weren't you? If Ines was still around, she would have— Bah, no time to think about that. Maybe I can't barge into a fight between Kings of Sarkaz, but I can break Her Highness free from the interference of the myriad souls.
W can feel her connection with the myriad souls with the help of Amiya's Arts. Emotions converge before her, emotions that belong to her...

Joy.

Regret.

Anger.

Relief...

The Black Crown magnifies her emotions. She recalls her past, savoring her experiences.
<Background 4>
W	Coming face to face with my entire life... interesting. Is extracting myself from the myriad souls the only way to get it to quiet down?
The emotions take shape, and she grabs the colorful object in her hand. It is her emotions, the experiences of her entire life. Intangible threads stretch from the 'self' to the chaos in the distance, the myriad souls.
W	Is this what you deal with all the time, little bunny? What you see is probably much better than this. Her Highness... she looked at me like this, once, didn't she? Thanks, Amiya.
W points her gun at the myriad souls.
W	Watch, bunny. Watch how my present's gonna surprise Her Highness!
[W blasts her gun.]
<Background 5>
Doctor	The tower... has stopped trembling.
Theresa	You... you attacked the myriad souls directly. No one has ever managed to interrupt their voices... I'm surprised at what you have achieved, Amiya, W.
Amiya	But why... why does Theresa look completely unaffected?
W	Your Highness...
[W starts walking.]
Amiya	(W, come back! What are you trying to do?)
W	(There's something I have to know...) (Maybe Her Highness will listen to us—)
She stops. Theresa sees her, and she sees Theresa's expression. Maybe, maybe...
Theresa	I see what you're thinking, W. You believe that the will of the myriad souls has warped my judgment...
W	...Pretty much? Not that I sympathize with the Victorians. I just don't think your original goal was to help Theresis make this Originium that turns all of Terra on its head. Maybe you can just pause this thing for a moment, let us get out of... whatever this place is, and then we could talk about how—
Theresa	The W I remember wasn't one to offer truces like this. You're afraid.
W	Shouldn't I be? I pick my fights too, you know.
Theresa	No... you're afraid that the beacon you have followed for so long is nothing more than an illusion. You're afraid you might be the one to break the facade. But you must face it...
W	Wha—
<Background shakes>
There is no wind in this place, but the static air begins to flow. Clouds gather and disperse by the tower, soft and light, like white flowers brought to bloom by the wind. Theresa stands in the middle of the sea of flowers, and a symbol begins to appear at her feet—
Doctor	A rhombus. / The symbol has appeared again.
Theresa	You recognize this, Dr. {nickname}.
Doctor	...
Her voice is confident. It is as though, here and now, or perhaps in the distant past... your emotions and memories had been tightly linked. You are familiar with the symbol. Why a rhombus, though? It exists everywhere in this "universe", within Originium. Most of the time, it hangs in the heavens, seemingly a harmless source of light. W and the others would not think much of an unusual "star" in the sky. But you know that this is not right. If heaven and earth could be reversed... how could this "star" be a planar figure?
<Background fades to white>
I share with you now the universe in my eyes, Dr. {nickname}. If destruction is the boundary that no life may cross, and all exploration and evolution must eventually reach an end— Then this is our only future.
Doctor	The rhombus... the symbol of Originium.
Kal'tsit	Whatever you just recalled, Dr. {nickname}, don't go any further. This is dangerous. Very dangerous. Don't look at the rhombuses. Don't let them... notice you.
Theresa	Don't worry, Kal'tsit. This tower is safe, for now.
Kal'tsit	Theresa... You took the most dangerous step after all.
Theresa	I still remember the knowledge you and Dr. {nickname} shared with me. Kal'tsit... Has the garden near Kazdel turned back into wasteland?
Kal'tsit	...I went back to check on it, once. Many storms had passed through. Active Originium had reshaped the landscape. All the entrances were covered in Originium clusters. It was impossible to tell if our experiment site had been destroyed or not.
Theresa	It's fine. Just some beautiful but impossible dreams. Let them fade away in storm. Our goal can only be achieved here.
Kal'tsit	The inside of Originium...
Theresa	You described to me how to reverse the Assimilated Universe, to utilize, even alter the information inherent in Originium. Through the Shard and the cradle that hangs high in the heavens, I finally set foot in the land where truth lies. The golden ocean sits tranquil above our heads. All information is with us, free from the restrictions of space and time. I did it, finally.
Kal'tsit	—!
Theresa	The Sarkaz retrieved the first Originium from deep within the land ten thousand years ago. It has returned to the Sarkaz, at long last. In time, Kazdel will truly become a garden free from the torment of Catastrophe and Oripathy. Will you still oppose me, despite all that?
Amiya	I remember the dream that Theresa described to me. A safe and equal home, where Originium is fully under control, and there is no Oripathy or Catastrophe, no schism between the Infected and uninfected. But soldiers are still dying on the battlefield. Innocent people are still being driven from their homes by war. Does this home still have room for people other than Sarkaz, in this plan of yours?
Theresa	...I'm sorry.
Amiya	Then Originium will not be the hope for the eternal existence that you once dreamed of. It will only become a weapon for the Sarkaz to bring even more destruction. This was not Theresa's dream.
You're right, Amiya.
Theresa	Then we must become enemies.
That's why you must keep going.
Amiya	Theresa...?
Theresa	The erstwhile King of Sarkaz, builder of Kazdel and supreme leader of Babel stands before you.
Overcome me. Vanquish me.
Theresa	I shall fulfill the King of Sarkaz's duties to the bitter end. I shall fight for the sake of the Sarkaz, as I have for centuries. All who stand before me, all who try to stop me, are the enemy of the Sarkaz.
All those dreams and promises that I could not fulfill, you can.
Amiya	No... this is not your will...
I heard it.
Theresa	...
Amiya	—Look out!
<Background flashes repeatedly>
Black tide clashes with black tide. King clashes with King. Amiya's black Arts are reduced to nothing the moment they touch Theresa. Black threads are pulled away from around Amiya, re-converging in Theresa's palm. Countless white threads rush out from Theresa's hand. They tightly surround Amiya. Like a soft dress, or a blossom whose blooming process had been reversed.
Amiya	Ugh—!
W	Bunny!
[W fires her gun.]
Theresa's silhouette fades in the smoke of the explosion. Where she had stood, the outline of a thorn-shaped crown becomes increasingly distinct.
W	Didn't work? Is that the power of the King of Sarkaz too?!
Doctor	This is the power of Originium.
Kal'tsit	...She did it. Theresa is emulating the Black Crown with Originium.
Amiya	This is far beyond the powers of the King of Sarkaz that I'm able to wield... Doctor! Dr. Kal'tsit! Behind me! I'll protect you—
<Background fades to white>
[Amiya uses her Arts.]
Amiya	Theresa—
<Background 5>
Amiya	Theresa—
[A young Amiya runs around.]
Amiya	Theresa... She promised to take me outside to pick flowers today. Where is she? In a meeting with the Doctor? Or visiting the wards with Dr. Kal'tsit? Theresa is busy. I shouldn't disturb her. I'll go to the cafeteria and get lunch for her!
The sun shines brightly on the spotless deck. The wind is warm, mixed with the smell of wilderness and flowers.
[Footsteps approach.]
Theresa	Amiya.
[The present-day Amiya appears astonished.]
Amiya	I... This is...
The Cautus girl turns around and sees her onetime self running happily on the deck.
Amiya	This is... the Civilight Eterna system.
Theresa	This is your memory. I can see it. You hear the whispers of my heart, know everything I'm thinking about. And vice versa.
Amiya	You remember it all... You were always the same Theresa... all along...
Theresa	It's been a while, Amiya. I'm very happy to see you all grown up.
Amiya	I... I'm really happy to see you again...
Theresa	Give me a little bit of time. I want to take a good look at you. I've always wanted to know how things have been for you all these years. I can see them... all the fighting and the loss that you've experienced throughout the journey. I see it all. All I want is a little more time...
Amiya	What is it that you're looking at?
She casts her gaze towards the distance, but there is nothing on the deck.
Theresa	It was such a happy time. I thought you were an unfortunate child who needed to be cared for closely. But it was you brought so much comfort to Rhodes Island. It took me a long time to realize that meeting you was the luckiest thing in my life.
Amiya	But... why me?
Theresa	... Let's go out for a walk, shall we?
Amiya	Where are you going?
<Background fades to white>
<Background 6>
Amiya	This is...
Theresa	My home, Kazdel. I always wanted to take you here.
Amiya	You told me many stories of what happened there. But Babel never made it back to Kazdel...
There was no need for questions. Amiya feels Theresa's every choice, every struggle.
Amiya	I understand that war now. You had no choice.
Theresa	We have already made a choice when we say, "There is no choice." I had to choose the path that was better for Sarkaz.
This race has been through too much hardship. Every step it takes is heavy and labored. If Sarkaz needed someone to show them a new path, she would take up the banner first; if the price of Sarkaz unity was the death of their king, she would be the one to step up. The protector is inevitably also the persecutor, Amiya. As we gain, so do we take away.
Amiya	The Theresa I knew always chose the path of peace. That's what Babel and Rhodes Island are for... isn't it?
Theresa	Babel exists because of all of you. The watchman who carries the burden of civilization, the sage who holds the key, the genius mercenary who gains free will, and the innocent child compassionate for all life. And Logos, Mantra, Scout, Ace... countless souls that shine so bright. You have overcome the barriers of race, upbringing and disease. You share a sincere friendship and unwavering dream. Through the tribulations of war and the obstacle of reality, you continue to stand together and stand by me. That was how Babel was founded. It was never I who made you members of Babel. It was you who made a clothesmaker who picked up a crown, one of countless Kings of Sarkaz, Theresa of Babel. You can achieve what I could not.
Amiya	Thank you... Theresa.
Theresa	Will you hear me tell one more story, Amiya?
Not an epic of heroic warriors protecting their home, nor a legend of a King of Sarkaz's reign. Just a story of an ordinary Sarkaz girl, who lived a little longer than the ordinary person. Born in Kazdel, she saw the few families and friends she had suffer in constant cold and hunger, trembling in fear in the darkness every night, waiting for the sun to rise again. She wanted the people around her to live in happiness, to have a safe home. She would do anything for this. She remained ever true to this wish.
Amiya	Then why... Why must we fight you?
Theresa	... Not every meeting has a beautiful ending, Amiya. I've left once. This time, we have the chance to say goodbye. You saw the myriad souls, Amiya. They struggled against fate all their lives. They don't want to be used and imprisoned even unto death. The same is true for me. You must defeat me, Amiya.
Only then can you carry on my unfulfilled dream. Only then can you release me. "Fate" should not exist, Amiya.
<Background 7>
Theresa	You have remained the good girl that I saw the first day we met, no matter how much you went through. Perhaps you would not have to bear so much pain, if you weren't so brave, so gentle.
[The two of them walk around.]
Amiya	Is this... that day? You held me in your arms, told me stories, until... Theresa... can you stop?
Theresa	I've stopped, Amiya. I'm not reading your memories.
Amiya	So... This is my own power. We are inside your memories.
Theresa	Yes, Amiya.
Amiya	I'm sorry, Theresa... I couldn't help myself.
Theresa	It's not you who should say sorry. Becoming the King of Sarkaz means carrying the emotions of the many, but the emotions that belong to ourselves are there as well.
Amiya	...
Theresa	I've lost much in my life, Amiya, but I don't have many regrets. The only regret I have is you. From past to present, I never wanted to leave you. I am happy about your growth, but I should have been there for you. I should have been there to teach you how to use the powers of the King of Sarkaz. Now, though, is your chance to prove to me, the erstwhile King of Sarkaz—
[Flames combust in mid-air.]
Amiya	—!
Heat saps at reason, flames scorching the soul. A sword forms within the flame, taking shape in Theresa's hand.
[Theresa brandishes the sword.]
Theresa	"Wrath".
Amiya	That's... my sword!
Theresa	You will hear the seething anger of that Sarkaz sovereign when you hold this sword in your hand. You have grabbed this sword from the wrath of the past which once declared war upon injustice... The sword of the King of Sarkaz shall ever point towards the enemy of Sarkaz. The sword of the King of Sarkaz shall ever slay the enemy of Sarkaz. But we have come this far, and yet prejudice lives, and hostility threatens to smother us. The Kings of Sarkaz of the past have failed. The Theresa of the past has failed—
Amiya sees it all. Theresa wandering in the darkness, seeking an answer. Theresa standing in the halls of the airship, gazing down at the battle below. Theresa waking up alone from death, no friend or comrade around her. Theresa—pointing her sword at a child. Such sorrow. Amiya could barely move under the overwhelming sorrow.
Theresa	Now, you hold a sword as well.
Amiya feels a weight in her hand. The sword, which had slain an evil god, had returned to her hand. Formless flame warms her palm.
Amiya	You... how?!
Black tides ripple from Theresa, turning into threads that lead Amiya's hand— The sword points at Theresa.
Theresa	This is my final gift to you, Amiya. Feel my power, my emotions, my will... Make them a part of you. They will be by your side... in my place.
The sword in Amiya's hand trembles, but not out of fear or excitement. She can feel Theresa's will fill it.
Amiya	...I've always remembered, Theresa. I remember every story you told me, the words you whispered into my ear. I never had the chance to tell you— I'm so, so glad that I met you. And...
The sword pierces Amiya's own chest. Amiya holds Theresa's hand tightly, pushing the sword further in. It is not that there is no pain. It is simply that all the pain has been wrapped in layer of warmth. Tears begin to fall from Theresa's face— Falling into Amiya's eyes.

The black sword shatters. A warm and gentle power surrounds Amiya's fingertips. It is sorrow... And the purest love.
<Background 1>
Amiya	I will. I will inherit the legacy of Civilight Eterna. I will become the King of Sarkaz.