II
The sands of time drew back to the moments after Claudia and Olivia parted ways.
After escaping Listelein Castle, Claudia and her soldiers advanced back along the hidden passage by which they had come until they arrived at the cottage at its entrance...
“The look on that old man’s face, Colonel Claudia, it was like as far as he was concerned, we couldn’t get out of the empire fast enough,” said her second-in-command Saizo, looking back over his shoulder at the cottage. “Here, he’s still watching us. Looking at him, I’d say he’s not going to move an inch ’til he’s sure we’re gone.”
“Well, our truce with the Azure Knights doesn’t change the fact that we are enemies of the empire,” Claudia replied matter-of-factly, keeping her eyes forward.
“But the Azure Knights have moved in open rebellion against the empire. It seemed pretty clear from the way that old man talked with their commander that they’re close, so I don’t see why he had to be so short with us.”
“What about you, then? Could you work with the Azure Knights without any ill feelings?”
“I, well...” At once, Saizo was at a loss for words.
Until just two days earlier, they and the Azure Knights had been killing each other. Though, with the way things had played out, they had found themselves fighting on the same side, by rights such a thing should have been intolerable. Yet because the order had come from Olivia, the soldiers—Claudia herself included—had obeyed without so much as a discontented mutter. Like as not, the Azure Knights held similar feelings. Considered like that, there was nothing especially mysterious about the old man’s attitude.
“If you ask me, we ought to be happy that he took care of our horses,” she said. They rode on, skirting counterclockwise around a lake, until at last they arrived at the paddock the old man had directed them to. Each went to their trusty mount and led them out from inside the fence.
“I’m sorry I left you alone,” Claudia said to Kagura as the horse nuzzled her happily. Claudia stroked her cheek.
“The night’s getting on, ser. What do you say we set up camp around here for tonight?” Saizo suggested. But Claudia, hooking a foot into her stirrups to leap up onto Kagura’s back, shook her head.
“We’re close to the imperial capital here. Our best course is to get away before we’re caught up in any more trouble. And I want to know what became of the Eighth Legion after they went on ahead. You can’t fault me for that, not at a time like this.” As she spoke, her mind was on a certain young man.
“Understood.” Saizo passed along the instructions, and her soldiers all mounted up. “All ready now, ser.”
“Good, then move out.” At Claudia’s word, they set off at a gallop along the forest road, guided by the silver light of the moon.
They continued down that road for a time, until Saizo, who rode beside her, suddenly spoke. “I know it’s a bit late now, but do you really think General Olivia will be all right by herself? Looking the way she does, she stands out at the best of times...”
Claudia saw what he was getting at. If she were discovered by imperial soldiers who knew her face, there would be a panic like someone had kicked a hornet’s nest. But she replied, “It’s not a concern. On the contrary, we’d just get in her way.”
Claudia had decided that it was only fear for their safety that Olivia had pushed her away as coldly as she had. If this Darmés who was calling himself the new emperor was really controlling the dead, then there was no chance she and the others could have taken him on, even if they had remained. The last thing she had wanted to do was burden Olivia by staying behind.
Not to mention that it’s brought us an unexpected opportunity. Olivia likely thought nothing of it, but in going to see Darmés she was also going to confront the emperor. The man beneath the crown might have changed, but what had not changed was that if they captured the emperor, the Royal Army had won. That was a given. Olivia and Felix’s duel failing to produce a victor had meant, in real terms, a defeat for the Eighth Legion, but the moment Olivia had infiltrated Listelein Castle, they might as well have had a knife at the empire’s throat. Olivia simply wanted to ask Darmés questions, and Claudia didn’t believe for a second that he would go along with it quietly.
Even if he did talk, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to let her go on her way afterward—it was perfectly natural that he would take advantage of the opportunity to do away with his greatest enemy. And Olivia had neither mercy nor hesitation when someone drew steel against her. It was possible that Darmés did have power akin to the mages—the so-called hands of the gods—in which case he truly ought to be considered a serious threat. But after being always at Olivia’s side, Claudia knew with certainty that she would not lose.
“Well, I don’t know about you getting in the way, Colonel, but you’re absolutely right about the rest of us. And it’s not just me—anyone who had that waking dream of a battle play out in front of them would say the same.” Saizo’s hollow laugh drifted through the night like dry leaves. It was still a long time until dawn...
The next day, the sun was hidden behind a bank of thick clouds. They had passed through the Elfiel Canyon and started up the mountain road to Fort Tezcapolis when Claudia and the others saw a great flock of death-eater birds up in the sky. Everyone knew why death-eater birds were known as the land’s cleaners. What few knew was that they only fed upon relatively fresh meat. Even from a distance, it was clear that the birds were circling around the fort. The air between Claudia and her soldiers grew thick with tension.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this, ser,” Saizo said.
“Yes. We’ll make haste.”
Their horses picked up the pace from a steady trot into a full-on gallop. They climbed the gently sloping path through its snaking curves until they reached the top and saw Fort Tezcapolis.
I knew it... Claudia’s eyes were drawn first to the flock of death-eater birds that pecked at the corpses strewn about. Some held up eyeballs in their beaks like victory trophies, while others could be seen here and there flapping their distinctive magenta wings at one another as they gleefully fought over slimy, glistening innards. It was an everyday scene in the aftermath of a battle, but even so, it wasn’t often that one saw it up close. Even Claudia, who had thought she was used to corpses, couldn’t help but look away from the horror of it.
“The imperial army attacked? Now?” she breathed.
Saizo spat in disgust. “It’s carnage, isn’t it...?” The youngest soldier in their group watched a death-eater bird perched on a corpse. The bird let out a cry like the scraping of rusty armor, and the soldier doubled over and dry-heaved.
“For now, let’s get rid of these scavengers.” Claudia and the others brandished their swords at the death-eater birds and drove them away. Then, they set off once more at a steady pace, weaving between the scattered corpses as they took in the state of the fort. Though the style was very different, the imperial soldiers all wore armor that bore a remarkable resemblance to Olivia’s.
“Some new knight order?” Saizo wondered. Claudia could see why he thought so—all the imperial army’s knight orders had their soldiers wear armor in the same color.
“That seems likely,” she replied.
“But something’s off. The imperial army retook the fort, but left no garrison at all. Would anyone do that, normally?”
“Not normally, no.”
“Exactly. Normally, it’d be out of the question.”
“If things were normal...” Claudia looked down at a dead imperial soldier whose mouth was stretched in a horrible grin. All the others were in a similar state. Whatever this was, normal it was not. Even in death, she could still feel the madness within them.
“How can the empire even have the extra forces to mount a counterattack?” Saizo said. What with the Azure Knights’ rebellion, one didn’t have to be privy to the workings of the empire to guess that there was trouble afoot. Claudia understood Saizo’s disbelief. The fact was, they had been too optimistic—herself included. After seeing this, she had no choice but to admit it.
The question is, why were so many of our soldiers still at the fort? The bodies only look two or three days old, at most. They should have been long gone by then... The order to abandon any forts they took, with the exception of Fort Astora, had come from Olivia, who was second-in-command in the Second Allied Legion. The only one who could have overruled her orders was none other than Supreme Commander Blood himself. Given the time frame, news of the Eighth Legion’s situation had to have reached Blood. He might have issued additional orders, but Claudia couldn’t believe he would have been so stupid as to rescind any.
“Colonel Claudia, there might be survivors inside the fort,” Saizo said, requesting permission to search. Claudia thought quickly.
“We’ll divide into two groups. Half will search for survivors. Be on your guard; there might be enemy survivors too. The other half will keep watch on the perimeter. Regroup here in an hour’s time.”
“Yes, ser!” her soldiers replied as one. They moved swiftly into action. Saizo led the search party, and they made their way cautiously into the fort. The next hour passed without any further news.
It’s about time they were back... Claudia thought, shutting the pocket watch her father had given her. She had just given up on finding any survivors when Saizo came running up to her, his face pale.
“What is it?” she asked.
Saizo glanced around them several times too many, then hissed, “I have something to tell you in confidence.”
Claudia was so shocked by what he whispered in her ear that before she knew what she was doing, she had used Swift Step and was rushing toward the fort. She flew down the staircase that led below ground, then along a narrow corridor. There, under the watch of a number of her soldiers, she saw a soldier sat propped up against the wall.
“Is it true?! Were the imperial forces who attacked the fort after Lieutenant Colonel Ashton?!” She rounded on the soldier, grabbing him hard by the shoulders. He was barely conscious, but his eyelids fluttered open halfway.
“Colonel...Claudia...” he murmured. “It’s...true...”
Claudia choked, then demanded, “And Lieutenant Colonel Ashton? Is Ashton safe?!” The soldier made no answer. “I asked you a question!” she shouted.
“Colonel Claudia.” A hand closed on her shoulder, and she spun around instinctively. “The man’s already dead...” It was Saizo, short of breath. All of Claudia’s strength left her, and she dropped limply to the floor.
“Why...why was Ashton here...?”
“Ser, let’s leave off the search and get out of here. I’ve gotten the others ready to leave.” Claudia complied, standing up sluggishly. The ground beneath her feet felt as insubstantial as clouds as she made her way back out of the fort. Kagura came over to her, whinnying in concern.
“That’s true,” Claudia said to the horse. “You’re right.” Under her soldiers’ mystified stares, she leaped up into the saddle. Then, she gave the order for them to move out from Fort Tezcapolis. Scarcely ten seconds later, the thunder of frenzied hoofbeats came from behind them. As Claudia rode hell-bent down the slope, the cries of the death-eater birds that circled in the sky above the fort sounded like mocking laughter.
“Colonel Claudia, slow down! The others can’t keep up! And you’ll ride the horses to death!” Claudia did not reply. “Colonel!”
She heard Saizo, of course. And from the sweat pouring off Kagura like never before, the horse was terribly tired. But the thought of Ashton made her refuse to slacken her pace. Her fears grew unchecked until they arrived at Fort Belganna, the imperial fort they had taken after Fort Astora. It was deserted.
Here they clearly carried out the orders. So why? Why was Ashton still at Fort Tezcapolis?! She slammed her fist into the wall.
Saizo, looking hesitant, said, “We should head on to Fort Astora.”
Claudia set off at a gallop. None of their voices reached her anymore...
Fort Astora
When Lise received word that Claudia had returned, she was with Blood and a few other officers deliberating over the repairs to the fort. Twin Lions at Dawn had failed in its objective of bringing them back from the brink, but Fort Astora had originally been built as a fortified outpost against invaders for Fernest, and it still had the potential to threaten the empire. Blood’s opinion was that, after suffering its first loss of territory since its founding, the empire would have to reconsider its strategy going forward, and that was why one of his first orders after arriving at Fort Astora had been for repair work.
I’m glad Claudia made it back safe, at least. The real fight is only just beginning, Lise Prussie. Time to step it up! She swallowed her tea in a single gulp, then slapped her cheeks to marshal her spirits. “Right!”
Blood looked at her with worry, but Lise smiled at him. “I’ll go to receive Colonel Claudia.”
“Right. Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel.”
“Ser!” Lise left the room, then, with a glance at the ongoing repairs to the outer walls, she set off briskly toward the gate. The guards had orders direct from their supreme commander that when Claudia returned, they were to keep her there.
The main gate came into view, and Claudia with it. She had her arms folded and was pacing back and forth in front of it. Even at this distance, it was clear she was annoyed. The guards who had to have borne the brunt of her anger were cowering so badly Lise felt sorry for them.
“Just how long do I—?!” Claudia caught sight of Lise. Shaking off the guards’ attempts to hold her back, she approached. Lise raised a hand to signal to the panicked guards that all was well. Then, she turned to Claudia and gave a salute they could have put in a textbook for new recruits.
“Colonel Claudia! My sincere apologies for keeping you waiting, ser!”
“Is Ashton here or not?!”
Claudia, who set such store by rules and discipline, had never in Lise’s memory raised her voice without so much as returning a salute before. Up close, her expression revealed a tangled knot of anger and impatience that she had never seen before. Lise could make out none of her usual levelheadedness.
How she found out, I have no idea, but it’s clear from how she’s talking that she knows something happened to Lieutenant Colonel Ashton. Nothing more specific than that, though. So that’s where we are...
“I asked you to tell me where Ashton is!” Claudia shouted. “You will answer me now, Lieutenant Colonel Lise!” Her hand shot out to grab Lise’s collar, but Lise was faster, quickly knocking it aside. Shock bloomed on Claudia’s face while Lise turned away from her.
“I’ll take you to him,” she said, doing away with formalities of rank. “Come on.” Without waiting for an answer, she walked away. Claudia followed a few steps behind. Not another word passed between them until Lise had seen them to their destination.
“Lieutenant Colonel Ashton is in here.” Lise pushed open the door to the small mausoleum contained within Fort Astora, then gestured for Claudia to enter.
Claudia’s expression had changed completely. There was now undisguised panic in her eyes. “This is the mausoleum, isn’t it...?” she said slowly. “What would Ashton be doing here? Stop joking around.” At once, she turned and tried to leave.
“You already know, don’t you?” Lise called after her, her voice cold. “You’ve lied to yourself long enough.”
Claudia gaped at her. “I’m not lying to myself!”
Ignoring this, Lise walked over to the stone pedestal in the very back of the room. Light streamed in through a skylight in the ceiling, casting the stone in a dreamy glow. There was a white coffin atop the pedestal. Around it hung the scent of new wood.
“I don’t understand. Lise, I don’t understand what you’re saying...”
“Hurry up and come here,” Lise replied softly. “He’ll have been waiting for you too.”
Claudia’s eyes flitted frantically this way and that, and her lips trembled. She looked nothing like the heir to the House of Jung now. It took her a long time to arrive before the coffin, moving in a series of small advances and retreats that spoke volumes for her emotional state.
“Ash...Ash...ton?”
At first glance, Ashton appeared as though he were only sleeping within the coffin. But the utter absence of warmth in his skin made it harshly apparent that blood no longer flowed in his veins. Lise had only spoken with Ashton on a few occasions. But even then she had understood why it was that Claudia, who was devoted to her sword to the point of stupidity and totally oblivious to matters of the heart, had fallen for this young man.
Claudia stood frozen, staring blankly at Ashton for what felt like around five minutes before her lips began to move in time once more.
“I’m sorry... I’m sorry... I’m sorry... I’m sorry...” Over and over again, the same apology spilled from her lips. “I’m sorry... I’m sorry... I’m sorry—”
Atonement suffused every word that poured forth from her. Lise silently watched this unspeakably cruel reunion between the two. As Claudia gazed down at Ashton, one fat tear then another spilled from her eyes.
Lise went over and wrapped her friend tightly in her arms. “There’s no one here but me,” she murmured. “So if you want to cry, you can cry.”
Claudia whimpered, then began to wail. Her anguish echoed through every corner of the mausoleum. Lise gently stroked Claudia’s hair—anything she could do to ease even a fraction of her grief.
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