Call it a professional habit. I feel better when I know what time it is.
Hoederer
6 PM. Two days since we crashed into the canyon.
UlΕ‘ulah
Two days... Enough to do a lot of things.
UlΕ‘ulah
Do you remember, Hoederer? The three of us were on a mission to steal a Sargonian Pasha's treasure. We got the treasure, but also a hundred or so people on our tails.
UlΕ‘ulah
We hid in a cave for two whole days. We were starving but were too afraid to light a fire or leave.
Hoederer
It was Ines who stitched your wounds up. You wouldn't have made it otherwise.
UlΕ‘ulah
Ha. I said, the sun's almost up. Just let me bathe in the sun for a little bit, and I'll feel much better.
Hoederer
I must have stopped you. There were enemies outside. We couldn't risk exposing ourselves.
UlΕ‘ulah
No, you didn't stop me. Ines teased me. She found it hilarious that a Scar Market merc would miss the sun.
Hoederer
Sure, the Scar Market is under Kazdel and never sees the sun.
UlΕ‘ulah
I became the pilot of this skeleton when I joined the Military Commission's staff as a major.
UlΕ‘ulah
When I took the young ones back and forth between Kazdel and Londinium, it was like we had outrun the sun.
UlΕ‘ulah
I can't go back. None of the Sarkaz can.
Hoederer
...UlΕ‘ulah?
Hoederer
What's going onβ
UlΕ‘ulah
They're here.
Hoederer
The skeleton is moving?
For a moment, the Feranmut's skeleton seems to be moving, but Hoederer soon realizes it was not the nerve clusters or bones that are moving.
Hoederer
...Nails.
UlΕ‘ulah
The ship and pilot have always been one.
Lifebone is never merely composed of the Feranmut's skeletons. Rows of long nails are affixed to the massive frame, assembling it into a transport ship.
One of them, infused with her Arts, pierces through the critical section of the spinal column.
She and the skeleton have always linked by witchcraft.
UlΕ‘ulah
The Arts of the Royal Court's casters have connected to the skeleton. I can sense it.
UlΕ‘ulah
No need to be anxious. It's not going to wake up yet. But this little bit of connection, and what remains of the Feranmut's powers on this nail, are enough for me to get out of here.
UlΕ‘ulah
This nail belongs to me. It's linked to my bones. I'm taking it with me.
UlΕ‘ulah
What happens when a Feranmut's powers are applied directly to the human body? It's not so bad to cut loose once in a while, just like the old days.
Hoederer
The spine is cracking... No!
UlΕ‘ulah
I told you, Hoederer, that you'll regret not killing me.
UlΕ‘ulah
Or would you say that this is just another inevitable chapter of history?
Hoederer thrusts his giant sword into the space of the missing nail, barely in time to hold the critical section in place.
But even this fleeting moment is enough for his prisoner to escape her chains.
UlΕ‘ulah leaps through a crack in the ribs, disappearing into the fire along with bone and damaged nerve tissue.
Hoederer
UlΕ‘ulah!
UlΕ‘ulah
UlΕ‘ulah... the hero drifting among the shards of history, always trying to save others.
UlΕ‘ulah
Have I ever told you that the name suits you better?
I wasn't planning to escape from the front; I just needed space for my bombsβ
W
Get down!
W Squad Member
Are... are they dead?
W
Let's hope the rocks I brought down were enough to crush their skulls.
W Squad Member
What are they doing here? Are they protecting something?
W
How am I supposed to know? Do you seriously believe I can talk to monsters?
W Squad Member
Ahem... so, I guess we really did find something incredible? It's too bad Crane's team got eaten by these things.
Crane
...Not all of us.
W
You're alive! What the hell happened?
Crane
We found a cave on patrol and decided to check it for any potential secret passages.
Crane
That's when we ran into those monsters. Tire, Buckler, and Nut got eaten.
Crane
The rest of us ran for our lives. For some reason, the monsters wouldn't come this way, but we couldn't get out either, so we were stuck here, until you showed up.
W
Bloody hell. I'll skin those things and have Ines make clothes out of them.
W
What did you find inside?
Crane
Not much. I've left markers on the way if you want to see for yourself. Go that way, pass a few masked bodies, then take the right fork.
W
Masked bodies?
Crane
A few skeletons that have been there for years. Must have run away from Londinium a few years ago.
Crane
The strange thing is... they all cut their own horns off.
W
Masked bodies? Severed horns?
Crane
Their heads were all wrapped up. Maybe some tribal tradition?
A strange sight indeed. The narrow passage opens to a vast, shadowy cavern. Untouched by sunlight, the chilling cave is strewn with dusty weapons and armor.
The space is dotted with bizarre crystals. Massive patterns, reminiscent of eerie symbols, stretch ominously from the walls down to the ground.
W is overcome by an unsettling sensation, as though it is not she who gazes upon the vast underground structure, but the other way round.
Clank.
A blunt sound echoes through the cave.
Clank. Clank.
W recognizes it as the sound of bones being crushed by a heavy object.
