Liberi Reader

Baird

Morgan's brought a few people back already. They're getting their medicine now.

Baird

Dagda and Hannah are looking for anyone who might still be hidden in the ruins.

Baird

You know the state the plate's been in these days... Barely anyone'll poke their face into the street anymore.

Cador

Bet there's a good few tucked away shivering in cubicles in some skyscraper, living off whatever scraps they can pick once it's night.

Cador

Siege, you're gonna find them all?

Siege

I know I'm obviously not going to be able to save every person.

Siege

But what matters is, we let them know an evacuation's about to happen.

Siege

Otherwise, once the dukes start firing their artillery, the majority aren't going to realize that's their opportunity to leave, and they'll just find some way to hide even better.

Cador

That's their choice. Maybe they'll end up still alive when the Sarkaz leave.

Siege

But they need to know there are other options.

Cador

Hrmph. Fine, fine. Other options...

Cador

There's a few places I heard signs of life from a few days ago... I hope it wasn't just wild beasts digging at the wreckage for eats.

Siege

Morgan, what's wrong? You look funny.

Morgan

No... I'm fine.

Morgan

I'm just... haha, just a little bit thrown.

Morgan

Old boy Strauss and Granny Amir got into a fight over a single jab of first-aid inhibitor. One of 'em blinded the other in one eye.

Morgan

Me and Amiya busted our arses getting them off each other again, but that eye's hopeless now.

Morgan

We didn't bring that much medicine in the first place, and everyone's gathered outside, and some of them are in a... an awful panic.

Morgan

They're worrying they might get infected. Some of them haven't even realized they already are Infected.

Morgan

Amiya says she hasn't been contacted by Ines on time. She needs to check on how her and the Doctor are doing.

Morgan

I... I couldn't hang around there any longer on my own. Came here to catch my breath.

Baird

You're real chummy with the people you brought back.

Morgan

I grew up here since I was a kid, after all. I'm willing to bet not even you or Hannah know Norport as well as I do, let alone Siege.

Baird

You were always wandering around town back then whenever you had nothing to do.

Morgan

Yeah. Forget back of my hand, I know Norport like my palm. Every little crease and fold and where it goes.

Morgan

Vina, I... I was off trying to find all these people I'd known for yonks.

Morgan

I tried looking for McClaren again. And it's not that he won't respond to us...

Morgan

He's gone deaf. I saw blood coming from his ears.

Morgan

I wrote a quick note for him. Should've seen it, clear as day, but... he just went and hid back inside.

Morgan

And Karsh, guy who ran the record store. Used to trick me into buying awful vinyls, just the stalest stuff. Don't know how much money I wasted at his.

Morgan

His legs, one of his legs is... nothing like a leg should look like. God knows how he shuffled over here.

Morgan

Brenda, the one doing import clothes. She always lent me these fashion magazines from Lungmen to read.

Morgan

I did some treatment on her burns for her, but...

Morgan

And Claire, Eileen, Itoh...

Morgan

I know every one of them!

Morgan

Vina, did we come back just so we could see all this?

Morgan

What the hell did we come back for?

Morgan

Vina, Vina, if all we can do is watch on while this happens, if we don't have any way to change anything, then maybe we should've just... forgotten about this place at all?

Morgan

You know I've read the heroes' sagas. Their terrific adventures and journeys, their chivalry and justice, defeating the evil—

Morgan

But anyone outside of the hero's just a backdrop to the legend. They just exist in the story so the main character has someone to talk to, a chance to grow.

Morgan

I always thought that was our kind of story. I was always so bleeding proud of myself...

Morgan

But I know every one of them! God's sakes, I know every one of them!

Morgan

Like this would be some bloody outline of monster wrecks village, hero kills monster—it's not that simple.

Morgan

This isn't some stupid—cliched revenge story.

Morgan

Vina, twenty years I lived with them in my life. They're not names for a grieving hero to check off out loud. They're not flashbacks they can stuff into an aside before they kill a villain.

Morgan

They... they shouldn't be...

Siege

Morgan, I know what you—

Morgan

Vina! Alexandrina Vina Victoria!

Morgan

Did you come back to this country to take a crown which was rightfully yours, to create eternal legends of yet another Aslan King—

Morgan

Or did you do it to come back home?

Morgan

Vina, I'm begging you, tell me, tell me this isn't going to be forever...

Morgan

You can tell me we just... need to hold on a little longer.

Tears fall from the face of someone Siege couldn't know any better.

To her memory, she's practically never seen Morgan crying outside of the video shop.

The Sighs of Kings is ever ice-cold. The Sighs of Kings is ever silent.

Morgan

I'm sorry, Vina, I don't blame you or anything...

Morgan

...I just was walking on the street, and I looked up, and it all hit me...

Morgan

We've lost Norport Borough. We really have.

Baird

Morgan!

Baird

Vina, I...

Their friends back out. The room falls silent. Like all the past liveliness and merriment that took place in here was one long hallucination.

The furnishings, same as they were, hardly different to when they left.

Nothing remains here.

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Over the prior days, Siege has constantly, subconsciously been feeling the sword named the Sighs of Kings.

Once again, out of habit, she puts her hand to the hilt.

She tries to feel some sort of energy from it, some sort of motivation. Even some kind of duty or preordained self-sacrificial destiny would be fine.

Again. And again. She is left disappointed.

What did she come back for? Just to experience all of this?

Or did all that expectation simply fall upon the wrong person when it chose her? Did this sword, and her teacher, foster too much of an illusion in her—to the point she thought she could be some kind of symbol?

Siege has never hated her own irresolution as badly as this.

Siege

Morgan.

Siege

Maybe... I came back, just so I wouldn't regret it. Just so I wouldn't realize, years down the line, that I never did anything when I first could.

Siege

I don't know where I'll go from here... but I just—can't bear this.

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Delphine

Is that a fable, Mr. Colbert?

Delphine

Are you attempting to describe Victoria?

Colbert

Fable? No, no, I don't like to beat around the bush when I talk. I'm just waxing nostalgic, as the old do.

Colbert

We have to pass the time talking about something, you know, sitting here.

'Trilby Asher'

May I just say that I pay more attention to the future, Sarkaz 'of Victoria.'

'Trilby Asher'

Taran, you make ample preparations. Presumably you've brought a considerable headcount in.

'Trilby Asher'

But on the other hand, I'd think you wouldn't want to be battling for life and death with us.

'The Brigadier'

Stay put here and behave, and nothing will happen.

'Trilby Asher'

Are you out to monopolize the technology of that airship?

'The Brigadier'

And did the Duke of Caster send you to this plate just to take a walk?

'Trilby Asher'

We can share. The Sarkaz's defense of the airship... can't be that lax. It wouldn't be an easy mission for anyone, certainly.

'Trilby Asher'

But if we work together, then this technology can belong to more than just a duke. It can be Victoria's.

'The Brigadier'

I don't care about Victoria.

'Trilby Asher'

......

'Trilby Asher'

Well, it seems you've made up your mind.

'The Brigadier'

You spoke that our goals were quite in agreement. Synergy.

'The Brigadier'

In light of that, I will trouble you as little as I can, pet of Caster.

'Trilby Asher'

Though you were dying to kill me a moment ago.

'The Brigadier'

What? Would you like me to apologize?

'The Brigadier'

Your mission failure will incur no more than a demotion in rank, while your life is preserved in any case.

'The Brigadier'

If you are insistent on commendation and promotion from Duke Caster, you are welcome to try.

'Trilby Asher'

Old Wellington's underlings are as stubborn as him, that much I have the privilege of seeing now.

'Trilby Asher'

Fine. I can stay here, and I'll yield the airship's technology to you.

'Trilby Asher'

But I stipulate something in exchange.

Seems you're about to reevaluate our relationship.

'Trilby Asher'

Indeed it does, Doctor of Rhodes Island.

'Trilby Asher'

You refused my offer of friendship, so to being a pawn you'll have to return.

'Trilby Asher'

I'll be taking the Realmblade. The Windermere girl and Alexandrina must die here.

Delphine

......

'Trilby Asher'

Given in, Miss Successor?

'The Brigadier'

I did not receive orders to intervene in this.

'Trilby Asher'

I'll take that as an agreement.

'Trilby Asher'

As long as a deal has been made, the Duke of Caster forever honors her commitments. Every single one.

'Trilby Asher'

You've no worries, 'Brigadier.' That's our foremost tenet.

......

(Ines.)

Ines

(Understood.)

Ines

Does every Victorian do that? Never ask the people in question for their opinion?

Ines

I think, Mr. 'Trilby Asher,' I just told you a second ago your metaphors suck.

Ines

And calling us pawns, that's a metaphor.

'Trilby Asher'

So Rhodes Island is hanging onto ties with the Duke of Windermere as its last thread?

'Trilby Asher'

That's not a good idea. You're on the wrong team.

Ines

We don't have to pick a team to start.

'Trilby Asher'

Then you can only—

'The Brigadier'

Wait...

'The Brigadier'

That Windermere girl... Is that illusionist and shadow Arts combined?!

'The Brigadier'

Where is she?

'The Brigadier'

Rhodes!

Ines

Impressive rapport there, Mr. 'Trilby Asher.'

'Trilby Asher'

It's a question of our tenets, after all.

Ines

The thing about honoring commitments forever?

'Trilby Asher'

No, a different one.

'Trilby Asher'

Never let the winner take all.

'Trilby Asher'

This is all meaningless now, Taran. If this lot send their message out, the dukes' main fleets will be forced to push in.

'Trilby Asher'

And at that point, the airship goes to whoever takes it down.

'Trilby Asher'

It seems none of us will be bringing home the gold.

'The Brigadier'

......

'The Brigadier'

Fine.

Ines

Doctor, careful!

Amiya

Miss Ines, I made it.

Amiya

We saw the shadows outside the door.

'The Brigadier'

Rhodes Island... The Duke would rather not fall out with you.

Ines

Didn't your actions just now amount to a fallout?

Ines

Fine, fine. Feel free to apologize.

'The Brigadier'

......

'The Brigadier'

Then may we meet again, someday.

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Delphine

Dublinn army corpses...

Delphine

They did set up people here.

Delphine

Their wounds are fresh, can't have been made long ago. Blade cuts, some seem like they're cauterized...

Delphine

Who's there?!

The room is oppressively vacant. No one responds.

Delphine grips her dagger tight.

Her mother always admonished her for not putting more energy into combat training, but being the daughter of the Duke of Windermere of Victoria, her swordsmanship reputed, she's got the confidence to take on most enemies.

Delphine

Comms station should be around here...

Delphine

I—

Delphine

Wh—What the hell...?

A tangled cord of wires comes into Delphine's view, but the device meant to attach to them has vanished without a trace.

All that's left on the table is a thick layer of dust.

Someone came and took the comms station away beforehand... long beforehand.

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