Operation story: 14-9

Operation

Story

Previous 14-8	Next 14-10
Characters
Doctor Amiya Logos Kal'tsit Delphine Siege Morgan Indra Dagda Horn Bagpipe Salus Nezzsalem Duke of Wellington Duke of Caster "Shopkeep" Confessarius "Chimera" Sudaram Redsteel Guard Member Flag Officer "Trilby Asher"
Backgrounds
1 2 3 4 5

Before operation

Summary Amiya and the Doctor confront and defeat Salus once more, and the company chases after Salus' route of escape in search of the Blood of Teekaz.
<Background 1>
Confessarius "Chimera"	(Howls)
[Amiya's black Arts pierce the chimera, killing it.]
[More Chimeras appear, roaring angrily.]
Amiya	*huff*... *pant*... There's one more.
Salus	I'm afraid it won't be that easy. My cute little King of Sarkaz, you've already broken five of my pets – Shall I take a guess at how long you will hold out yet?
Amiya	You gave life to those beings of witchcraft just to use them as expendable tools to hold me back?
Salus	It did take me a bit of time to create these chimeras.
[Salus teleports to another position.]
Amiya	You're so cruel.
Salus	You go around spreading that rash of empathy everywhere, just like Theresa. When she lost to Theresis, the regent thought it would be a good opportunity to retake the Crown, but to our surprise, she had already passed it on to you before she died. Quite the well-conceived plot. Even with our eyes and ears everywhere, we were unable to detect it before it happened. Were you also fooled by her lies – "Doctor"?
Doctor	... / I have no idea what you're talking about. / I know nothing about any of this.
Salus	Poor soul. You don't even remember a thing. You desperately "serve" this King of Sarkaz. Is it the former King's manipulation, or is it because you truly love her from the bottom of your heart?
Doctor	That, I'm actually able to answer. / Enough of your sophistry. / My bond with Amiya is nothing you can tamper with.
Amiya	Qui'sartuštaj's ambition will bring even greater harm to the Sarkaz. Theresa would never allow him to usurp the crown.
Salus	Such meaningless prattle, my dear little rabbit. Just ask anyone on the streets of Kazdel and they will tell you – for us, the departure of the King of Sarkaz is the gravest disaster. Oh, right, spare me whatever you might say about fairness. The inheritance of the King of Sarkaz has always been filled with 'accidents', and Theresa's actions were no different from what we did. We all sought to make this power easier to control. Our regent believes more deeply in the connection between blood and soul.
Confessarius "Chimera"	(Hiss)
Amiya	The pain they're enduring... Are these emotions... also instilled and manipulated by witchcraft?
[The chimera attacks an Originium crystal.]
Doctor	The Chimera lashes out at the crystals around it. / Originium activation levels are increasing!
Amiya	Argh—!
<Background shakes>
<Background flashes>
Doctor	Amiya, the Originium activation levels are changing extremely quickly!
Amiya	Doctor, you... don't need to worry... I can get accustomed to... this Confessarius witchcraft. Over the last few years, I've been learning. I remember all the treatment methods Theresa taught me, as well as all the instruction I've received from Dr. Kal'tsit. I can feel the connection between me and the King of Sarkaz. It has not left me. *cough*... *cough* *cough*...
[Amiya casts her black Arts.]
Amiya	It just... hurts a little bit, that's all.
Salus	Utterly meaningless. Go now – that one is of no value anymore.
Confessarius "Chimera"	(Howls)
The crazed Chimera rushes towards you. From Chernobog to Londinium, you've encountered all forms of foes, some of which defied your wildest imagination. But the enemy before you looks like the most formidable of all. It is the product of the Confessarii's manipulation of "blood", combined with the ultimate embodiment of Sarkaz physical strength. Salus said that Sarkaz are much stronger than Cautuses, but you know that even Amiya's body is vastly stronger than yours. And yet, you still have an advantage. Something sets you aside from others, something that makes you one of a kind.
Confessarius "Chimera"	(Howls)
Amiya	––I won't let you!
<Background flashes>
The black lines of the Sarkaz King run through the Chimera in front of you. But the claws of another Chimera are about to reach your head–
Doctor	It's almost time. (Take a small step back)
<Background shakes and flashes>
Crystal clusters are violently multiplying at the position you stood just a moment ago. One after another, like flowers brought into full bloom through Arts, sharp stones tear the ground and rock wall. The same is also true for the Chimera closest to you – its massive body crashes to the ground, Originium dust kicked up in every direction, rubbing and colliding, exploding in a dazzling gold. Just as calculated, the surrounding Originium rocks have reached a critical point of collapse, overcharged by witchcraft energies.
Doctor	...
A mist of fine crystals rains down onto your mask. You gaze upon them, harboring no ill sentiment whatsoever. Originium will never harm you, and deep down, you realize this once again. But the same is not true for others. An instinctive fear swirls in the eyes of both Amiya and Salus. Amiya approaches you steadfastly, while Salus shows a hint of hesitation. And it was in that moment. Just one brief moment–
???	"Bind".
<Background flashes black>
Salus	—! My hands and feet... Banshee!
<Background flashes>
Salus is about to let out a scream. But the ensuing incantation preemptively seals her power.
Logos	Your voice is grating to the ears. You spend too much time playing with pelts, while knowing nothing about weaving a stanza.
Salus	...
Doctor	Amiya. / It's time.
Amiya	Right. Salus––
<Background flashes>
The black particles no longer revolve around you, but instead form into a sharp sword. You cannot help but to look into the face of the blue-haired Confessarius. Her emotions have almost faded away, as if already having made peace with the imminent fatal blow.
Salus	So... this is it... The King of Sarkaz's verdict.
Amiya	You...
Salus	Don't misunderstand. I did everything I could to try to survive. I failed to recapture the King of Sarkaz for the leader, and made a grave mistake. Which is why I was deceived by the cunning pest beside you. For the sake of this life, I should try to atone for my sins, is that it?
Amiya	You were willing to sacrifice yourself for Qui'sartuštaj's plot.
Salus	He is... our father. Our progenitor. Disobedience is not an option. I truly hate Qui'saršinnag. And I hate you too. Why, do you choose to resist? Amiya–– Are we not just... Chimeras implanted with hope?
[A rush of blood suddenly gushes out of her]
Amiya	...
Logos	"Obstruct".
The exploding blood mist is blocked by an invisible force. Shortly afterwards, the blood mist that obscured your view gradually dissipates, and silence falls over the entire cave.
Amiya	She got away.
Logos	She galvanized the blood dripping from her wounds. She would have no means to fully resist my incantations. Such an action would only tear her further apart.
Doctor	As long as Salus is not killed completely, she will find a way to escape, / You heard her say it herself – she sees "this life" as precious. And where do you think she'll escape to?
Amiya	Her mission is probably to safeguard the Blood of Teekaz, right? Since she could not stop us at the fake altar, she would definitely return to the real one.
Doctor	The way forward is clear now. / Logos, I assume you've already left a tracker?
Logos	I have met your expectations.
Amiya	I understand your plan, Doctor, but it's far too risky. I can't approve of what you did then. If you try pulling a stunt like that again, I... Umm, I'll get angry!
Doctor	I'll keep that in mind. But, we don't have the luxury of time.
Kal'tsit	That's right. We need to pick up the pace.
Kal'tsit stares at an object on the ground. You recognize it as the Confessarius mask left behind by Salus as she fled.
Kal'tsit	We underestimated Qui'sartuštaj. Previously, he suddenly appeared before me and Shining, kidnapped Nightingale, and revealed his intent to usurp the "King of Sarkaz". He has been lurking in the shadows for thousands of years for this moment. He would certainly not make any rash moves until goal is accomplished. He wanted others to think that he was solely after the Black Crown.
Doctor	Snatching the Crown is not the end? / What does he plan to do with it?
Kal'tsit	The "King of Sarkaz" is a neutral force. Whether it heralds the arrival of calamity or averts it depends on the wielder. Which is most likely why Qui'sartuštaj seeks the crown. He wants that authority to be vested within his own hands, to touch those secrets passed down for eons, to seek even greater power from the point of origination.
Doctor	Amnannam. / The first Originium.
Kal'tsit	Qui'sartuštaj, Duq'arael, and Theresis – while their ultimate goals may be different, they all converge upon the same destination. The Sarkaz have always been deeply influenced by Originium. I fear, however, that this influence is being directed on purpose... Or that it is uncontrollably penetrating into a deeper level.
<Background fades out and in>
Amiya	Oww... Umm, I think I'll be fine.
Kal'tsit	Your physical condition has stabilized. Logos says that the lingering traces of Confessarius witchcraft have already dissipated.
Amiya	Thank you.
Kal'tsit	You have cracks in at least three rings.
Amiya	It's nothing serious. Just some battle damage, that's all.
Kal'tsit	The rings aren't the problem, Amiya. Since the battle for the command tower started, don't you think you've been taking on too many memories and emotions?
Amiya	Hmm...
Kal'tsit	Those aren't going away. It's your own psyche that is tearing these rings apart, and no instrument is enough to contain such a torrent of emotions.
Amiya	The rings can't, but I can. I'm not just an instrument. Those emotions were forced on me by someone else, yes. But I chose to reach out to them. To experience them, to feel them. If I said it wasn't painful... that'd be a lie. I don't want to deceive anyone else, or myself, by acting as if that pain doesn't exist. But, I've pretty much gotten used to it.
Kal'tsit	It's like wading through a swamp with a heavy load on your back. Amiya, I'd recommend reinforcing those rings.
Amiya	...No. To save even more people, I need even more power. I've told you again and again that this is what I wish for.
<Background fades out and in>
Logos	Doctor, how's Amiya doing?
Doctor	Not ideal. / But she's managing to stay in control.
Logos	The solutions we have for all these problems are only stopgaps at best. That feeling of seeing yourself and everything around you sliding into the abyss... is no less harrowing than physical illness or pain.
Doctor	I can't change the fact that she's Infected. / If only I could cure her.
Logos	Amiya's[sic] is unwavering. When Her Highness Theresa brought her before us for the very first time, she was but a child. I still remember her gaze lingering on the feathers on my horns––
<Dialogue branch starts here>
Doctor	How did she react?
Logos	Without any fear. Only a friendly curiosity. Even I found myself somewhat shocked.
<Dialogue branch>
Doctor	How did you react?
Logos	Even I found myself somewhat shocked. There was no fear in that child's eyes, only a friendly curiosity.
<Dialogue branch ends here>
Logos	I was planning to take a step back like Scout and the others, but Amiya actually came up to approach us herself. That was a time when a good chunk of Babel's core members were Sarkaz. We had horns of all shapes on our heads, some more imposing than others, and there were crystals all over our bodies. I'd seen my fair share of Rim Billiton's Cautus caravans, so I knew that those timid, mild-mannered Cautuses often found it difficult to suppress their instinctive fear when they came face-to-face with a Sarkaz. Maybe that was just her nature, or she had... an exceptional upbringing. Amiya showed no sign of distinguishing between the Sarkaz and any other race. She naturally treated everyone with kindness. Which is why I was not surprised at all when I learned that Theresa chose Amiya to be her successor.
Doctor	Even though you were a lord of the Royal Court... / You were in support of Amiya inheriting the title of the "King of Sarkaz".
Logos	For me, that wasn't even the most difficult part of the decision. Doctor, I just ran into some old friends. Among them was one of my former Babel comrades, whom I killed with my own hands.
Doctor	What? / Why?
Logos	After Her Highness Theresa's death, a rebellion broke out on Rhodes Island. A number of Babel members refused to give up on the war. They and a number of Sarkaz warriors decided that we ought to take revenge, and return to Kazdel to reclaim power. But, the more extreme among them...
Doctor	They proposed to kill Amiya. / They wanted to lash out against Kal'tsit.
Logos	The team that once belonged to the King of Sarkaz turned completely away from Kazdel. They saw this as a despicable theft, an unforgivable betrayal. And Dr. Kal'tsit, along with the non-Sarkaz members of Babel, were seen as the culprits.
Doctor	... / All of them were warriors who followed Theresa. / All of them used to belong to Babel.
Logos	Many of them truly believed in Theresa, and were willing to lay down their lives for her and Babel's ideals. The man I killed almost lost his life at the hands of a Military Commission caster. I saved him, only to take his life later on.
Doctor	That must've taken a heavy toll on you. / You must still be suffering.
Logos	Logos, the Babel member, already made his choice. After the rebellion, the mercenaries and the Sarkaz warriors pretty much all chose to leave. Among Babel's official rank and file, only a few decided to remain. Babel was no more, an Dr. Kal'tsit... forbade anyone from mentioning the "King of Sarkaz".
Doctor	What about you? / Why did you stay with Rhodes Island?
Logos	It's true that I did plan to return to the Valley following Her Highness's death. Kazdel had lost its King, and nobody could predict its future. As the master of the Elegiac Court, I could not run away from my duty to my home. But before I left, Scout pulled me aside and said that he and Misery were throwing a farewell party for me. I said that drinking was out of the question, and that I didn't want to ruin my new change of clothes. But turns out, they wanted me... to help paint.
Doctor	Paint? / Interesting time to do a renovation.
Logos	They were preparing to change the landship's markings. Outcast was the one who convinced me to take the job. No idea what kind of messed-up rumors Closure had poured into her head. She said Banshee incantations are magical, and if I were to make the new sign, Rhodes Island would surely have smooth future voyages. And that came from a Sankta.
<Dialogue branch starts here>
Doctor	So did you end up making the sign?
Logos	That was Closure's job, actually. I warned my colleagues not to let her slack off.
<Dialogue branch>
Doctor	There's not any actual magic involved, right?
Logos	But since they insisted, I did weave some incantations into the paint to make the whole process a bit more fun.
<Dialogue branch ends here>
Doctor	That sounds scary. / Pretty cool of you.
Logos	The work was done in no time. After finishing, we all looked up at the sign together. Ace asked when I was leaving, so I gave them two dates– The first was when I'd be leaving the landship, that very same day; the next was three days later. Seventy-two hours is the shortest time needed to make a round trip from the place the landship was docked at and the Valley of the Banshees. When Ace heard that, he immediately told Scout to give him five days' worth of booze money. Scout wagered that I'd be back in the Valley for more than a week. As for Misery... He pulled a "welcome back" ribbon out of his pocket and replaced the "farewell" banner that he had originally put up as a joke.
Doctor	Sounds like everyone was having fun. / You were all such good friends.
Logos	I carry a lot of responsibility on my shoulders, and even if I don't want to set any of them down altogether, I still have to pick and choose what I prioritize. But, I knew from the very beginning that I made the right call. ...Doctor. I've not questioned you since you returned from Chernobog. You have no memories of the past, so why do you choose to remain with Rhodes Island even now? Why are you willing to take immense risks and dive deep into the dangers ahead?
Doctor	...
[A Sarkaz mercenary runs into the cavern.]
"Shopkeep"	Lord Banshee... Mr. Logos! Th-The road ahead has been blocked! The Doctor and the King of Sarkaz would like you to hurry up–
<Background 2>
Logos	A newly-formed rift.
"Shopkeep"	This huge rift suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The blue-haired Confessarius went through it, so we're definitely on the right track. But, right now...
Kal'tsit	The Originium is reshaping the terrain with increased frequency and severity.
Logos	I can feel it. I trust that you can as well, Amiya.
Amiya	The ground... is trembling. The Sarkaz's emotions are resonating violently with the Originium. Their rage is gathering, and it shakes this land like a storm.
Kal'tsit	When the Blood of Teekaz is used in tandem with Amnannam, the battlefield itself becomes an Arts Circle of colossal proportions. The Originium Arts of the rampaging Sarkaz are amplified, and in turn, that increased power promotes the spread of Originium. A similar situation took place thousands of years ago. The Sarkaz acquired witchcraft through Originium, and through witchcraft, Amnannam was awakened. In the centuries to follow, violent storms flayed the land, and great fissures cut deep into the earth. The Originium had almost completed its mission of devouring everything.
Doctor	You were able to stave off the end of days? / Did you manage to stop things from getting worse?
Kal'tsit	That is not something I can do. Or should. The war ended before Originium could completely engulf the land. The Elders, the Ancients, and the Sarkaz all suffered losses so grievous that they were unable to carry out any more large-scale conquests. At least, for the time being.
Logos	War knows no end.

After operation

Summary The Nachzehrer King receives an aid request from the battlefield's rear, and decides to withdraw from the front lines to attend to the matter personally. The Duke of Wellington also carries out an action that runs contrary to his plan. The battle situation immediately shifts, and the Duke of Caster's warship, the Glorious, is crushed in an instant.
<Background Black>
Sixty-eight hours into the operation...
<Background 3>
[An intense battle ensues on the battleship's deck.]
Smoke and thick fog tug and tear at one another. The deck of the Gastrell is teeming with the seeds and withered branches of the Nachzehrers. Seventy percent of the guns that once breached countless fortresses have now fallen silent. Its teeth almost completely pulled and its talons whetted smooth, the logical next step is for this prey to be dismantled and devoured. However, the Nachzehrer's throne has also been pierced by dozens of chain-ladled fortcrackers. With just one move, the God of War could be pulled from his throne.
Nezzsalem	You have proven to me... that war marches on. Two hundred years ago, no Victorian would have come even this far.
Duke of Wellington	Heh... And you, Sarkaz. You've proven that you're not just some decrepit old shadow. You are indeed a threat to this great land. Perhaps my warship should've paid you a visit sooner, after I tore Gaul apart.
Nezzsalem	You would have been afforded no such opportunity. None of you.
<Background shakes>
Sudaram	A Confessarius transmission. Yes... In the direction of the Blood of Teekaz.
Nezzsalem	...
The Nachzehrer King takes in the entirety of the battlefield. The enemy is trying to halt the storm. This might change the flow of battle, but it is hardly decisive. Even without the Catastrophe, his warriors are just as savage, just as unrelenting. Wellington is a worthy opponent, but the fetters of time will soon drag him away. He has no place among the future's wars. The true threat comes from elsewhere. It comes... from behind.
Nezzsalem	Theresis and the Confessarius have reminded me that this is not the only battlefield.
Sudaram	Will you attend to it personally?
Nezzsalem	I have already received the wars promised to me by the Military Commission, present and future. The Nachzehrers must also fulfill their pact with the Regent. But before I leave, I must sow some seeds of decay on this battlefield for me to reap upon my return.
A thick haze rises. Upon the battlefield, only the throne remains.
Duke of Wellington	...
Redsteel Guard Member	Is that Nachzehrer... running away?
Duke of Wellington	No. In a real war, there is no retreat.
Redsteel Guard Member	Wait, General! Look at the throne! There's some kind of mist pouring from it...
<Background becomes tinted blood red>
Redsteel Guard Member	*cough*... *cough*... That isn't any ordinary mist! It's... eating me from the inside! General, your body–
Duke of Wellington	Soldier, status report on the Gastrell.
Redsteel Guard Member	Damage to the cabins in excess of sixty percent. Per your previous orders, propulsion capabilities are largely intact! As for weapons–
Duke of Wellington	Remove anything that's basically unusable and discard it on the spot. Roll out the Originium cannons from the lower deck.
Redsteel Guard Member	Those are already...
Duke of Wellington	Obsolete. But still enough to kill.
Redsteel Guard Member	Yessir!
Duke of Wellington	Notify the Gastrell to retreat to G-0 high ground according to the plan, and continue to consolidate defenses there. We will also follow at speed, while ordering all current battle lines to fall back. Next, we'll send these Sarkaz over to Caster and Gododdin to handle. Any news from Shay?
Redsteel Guard Member	The captain and Lady Eblana have captured most of the Nachzehrer altars in this area!
Duke of Wellington	Yes, I saw. Her flames are... very vivid. *cough* *cough*.
Redsteel Guard Member	Medic!
Duke of Wellington	No need. ...
Redsteel Guard Member	General?
Duke of Wellington	...Heh. A battle with no decisive conclusion... will not be my last.
<Background 4>
[The radio buzzes.]
"Alliance Fleet Command Emergency Transmission–"
Duke of Caster	Three minutes left. We should be able to hear gunfire from our current position.
Flag Officer	Yes, Your Grace. Wellington's column is not far from ours, ensuring we'll be able to provide mutual support.
Duke of Caster	This battle will determine Victoria's fate.
Flag Officer	Indeed, if all goes well–
Duke of Caster	Then we'll be able to end this meaningless stalemate as quickly as possible. Those eyes truly burn with a lust for battle.
Flag Officer	Do you think he has any ulterior motives?
Duke of Caster	For two decades, my desk has been filled with intel related to him, along with its response proposals. As of late, these reports have been updating a dozen times a day. The true struggle begins after the Sarkaz have been dealt with. But at this moment... Wellington isn't the only one who needs a decisive victory. The time has come. The assault is about to commence, and he has never failed to be punctual.
[A barrage of rapid artillery cannonfire blasts the battlefield.]
Duke of Caster	Ahh, do you hear that? The Gastrell's full broadside... Such a different timbre it is compared to our ships.
Flag Officer	But after this battle, Caster's name will shine alongside Wellington's in the annals of Victorian military history–
[A warning beeps in the bridge.]
"Anomaly, anomaly. 00 and 01! Repeat! 00 and 01!"
[The comms buzz with static noise.]
Flag Officer	Drat, the comms have been cut?! Your Grace, all signals from the Duke of Wellington... have vanished. A group of Sarkaz suddenly emerged from the Catastrophe and have engaged in battle with our frontline troops!
<Background 3>
Delphine	What the hell is Wellington doing?! Acting alone at a time like this... that vainglorious fool! Has he gone senile?
Siege	Impossible. I do have a conjecture, though. Do you think he deceived Caster? Or rather, everyone?
Delphine	That... doesn't make any sense. This is the Iron Duke we're talking about. Why would he abandon the other, more easily-manipulated dukes to go ally with the Sarkaz?
Siege	It's a game of prisoner's dilemma among the dukes. How would the Duke of Windermere, a warrior, treat her foes?
Delphine	...She'd kill them all. And wipe the last speck of their blood across their seized spoils.
Siege	Before he became first among the Victorian dukes, Wellington had already been leading troops for decades longer than your mother. As a noble among nobles, Caster was used to everyone playing by the same set of rules. After spending too long seated in front of the card table, she might've forgotten that some unreasonable people, such as us gangster types, have a penchant for flipping the entire table. Hypothetically, if the Iron Duke truly saw all of Victoria as enemies rather than competitors – he'd never even give Caster a single chip to bargain with.
<Background 4>
[The battleship rumbles violently.]
Flag Officer	Catastrophe! The next wave of Catastrophes struck far sooner than any of the Catastrophe Messengers predicted – all our comms have been knocked offline!
Duke of Caster	How long for repairs?
Flag Officer	Fifteen minutes. No, we'll make it ten!
Duke of Caster	...
[A Trilby Asher enters the room.]
"Trilby Asher"	...Your Grace.
Duke of Caster	You came back on Wellington's orders.
"Trilby Asher"	Indeed.
Duke of Caster	You're heavily injured. Who's responsible?
"Trilby Asher"	Not any of the Iron Duke's men.
Duke of Caster	He... lost to that Sarkaz?
"Trilby Asher"	After the Gastrell opened fire, the Nachzehrers' advance brigade emerged from the fog. They moved extremely quickly, using already-deployed altars to destroy a small warship – Abercorn's infantry had already engaged them for a spell. We expected the Gastrell to aid this ship. But...
Duke of Caster	He retreated instead.
"Trilby Asher"	That's right. The Gastrell has turned back. All of Wellington's other ships are covering the flagship's retreat. Their casters... have also changed targets, relying on the covering fire from our ships to secure their own vessel's retreat.
Duke of Caster	What about Abercorn and Ashworth's ships?
"Trilby Asher"	Completely exposed to the Nachzehrers' assault. They expected to show up as support – but now find themselves facing the enemies head-on. Wellington's ships have completely blocked off the retreat. He's even trying to push Abercorn and the others towards the front lines. It won't be long until the remaining alliance forces are wiped out... and become sustenance for the Nachzehrers.
Duke of Caster	...
Flag Officer	Your Grace, the alliance forces dispatched to the heart of the battle has collapsed, and the Sarkaz will soon return to the rear where we're situated. The plan to cut off and encircle the Sarkaz has failed! We're at risk of getting surrounded ourselves!
Duke of Caster	At risk? No, it's already too late. What's enveloping us... is much more than the Catastrophe.
Flag Officer	...Nachzehrers!
[The officer checks the communications channel.]
Flag Officer	The signal's back online, and we've run into a large contingent of Nachzehrers... No, it's an entire army! There's another force approaching from the right... Is that their second army? They've already begun fighting. The Catastrophe is amplifying the Nachzehrers' witchcraft—!
[The alarms beep rapidly.]
Flag Officer	The Originium response is spiking sharply! Your Grace, watch yourself–
<Background flashes repeatedly>
[A barrage of Originium mercilessly assault the battleship.]
<Background Black>
Troops on the battlefield still able to receive any feeble signals at all simultaneously are sent a staticky message–– The Glorious has been confirmed destroyed.
Vina remembers the first time she saw a high-speed battleship. It was sitting on her father's desk. A small scale model, only as long as an adult's forearm. Its crystal flagpole would fall over with just a little poke. Her father pushed her touchy-feely hands away, telling her that high-speed battleships are akin to metallic monsters that conquer the land. They, like the indomitable city of Londinium, were the crowning jewels of Victoria's industrial technology. "Alexandrina, when you are older, I will take you aboard the newest battleship. You will see for yourself." Many years later, when Vina did in fact see one, it was only upon the battlefield. Be it Windermere's, Caster's, or Wellington's warship, they were so majestic that the people standing beneath them were mere specks in comparison. But at this moment, the broken warship in the palm of the colossal Originium wave before her seems to have reverted to the tiny toy she played with in her childhood.
<Background 5>
Siege	... That... Originium Wave, crushed the Glorious into pieces.
Morgan	My eardrums... are still aching–– The sound of a warship being destroyed... I doubt there's anyone nearby who didn't hear it...
Indra	The duke driving that huge thing... is dead, just like that? Grr... Hey, Dagda, you'd better not shit yourself.
Dagda	You're the one whose hands are shaking.
Indra	Hmph.
Siege	You've been quiet this whole time, Dagda. What's on your mind?
Dagda	They made an example of the Duke of Caster at this critical juncture. The Sarkaz intentions are all too clear.
Indra	What might that be? A warning?
Siege	No, it's a message. A message that the Sarkaz are about to launch an all-out attack.
Morgan	...
Siege	Inform all our comrades and prepare for the next assault–
???	The Duke of Caster's not dead.
[Horn and Bagpipe arrive at the scene.]
Siege	Horn! Our morale's completely shot right now...
Horn	That was quite the commotion just now. Nobody has ever seen anything like that before... including us.
Bagpipe	But, the captain's already sent out a bunch of old vets to tag along with you and calm down the fresh greens. Aye, looks like it's been workin' out.
Horn	Bagpipe, don't hold them to our standards, even if you're just doing it subconsciously. The Exemplars just happen to be a particularly special case.
Bagpipe	Aye. Got it, Captain.
Morgan	Horn, you just said... that the Duke of Caster is still alive? You seem quite certain about that.
Horn	Take a look – the muzzles of the Glorious's cannons have been locked on since the very beginning.
Indra	Huh?
Horn	There might be countless criticisms about Victoria's grand dukes... But holding that position for decades is no easy feat. Since the Glorious has not ceased its resistance, that means the Duke of Caster has not perished. As for the actual situation... maybe that's something a Trilby Asher can clear up for us.
Siege	He left the moment the Glorious started to run into trouble. He might be in the vicinity trying to a get in contact with the Glorious to figure out what's actually going on. But from what he told us, the Stone of the Sword we're looking for is also right there–
Horn	Siege, what's our next move?
[Delphine rushes over.]
Delphine	We've just heard back from the outpost! The Glorious has been completed surrounded by the Royal Court's blitz attack, and the Duke of Wellington has suddenly withdrawn his forces. The situation in the surrounding areas has rapidly deteriorated–– Vina, I'm afraid that... we'll have to halt our march at once.
Siege	...