"Where are we going now?" Alice asked, attempting to mimic Nacht's footsteps as they traversed the terrain.
"Nira," Nacht replied, leaping down a gentle slope and landing gracefully. He extended his hand towards Alice. "Grab on. That dress will make it hard for you to jump down, and it's slippery. Don't want you to fall and crack your head on one of those rocks," he said, adding a touch of seemingly unnecessary concern.
"I … I'm fine. No need," Alice insisted, taking the leap herself. She landed next to Nacht, flashing a triumphant smile, only to feel her feet slipping beneath her. Before she knew it, she was falling, her head connecting with Nacht's foot, who had placed it on top of the rock she would have otherwise landed on.
A smirk played on Nacht's lips as he chuckled, offering his arm to help her up. "See?" he said, teasingly. Despite the embarrassment, Alice couldn't contain her laughter at Nacht's antics.
"What are you laughing for? Did you hit your head?" he quipped, but Alice just grinned, grabbing onto his arm and rising to her feet.
"I just didn't know that you could be so childish," she jested, trying to catch her breath. Nacht's expression shifted, a faint blush coloring his cheeks as he hurriedly distanced himself from her.
"I … am not 'childish'," he retorted before briskly walking away, leaving Alice to catch up, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
As morning dawned, the pair had been walking for hours until they reached the city gate. Alice came to an abrupt halt before the entrance, her gaze fixed on the imposing structure.
"What is it?" Nacht inquired, sensing the unease emanating from Alice. Her expression was a mix of sadness and fear, instantly noticeable to Nacht.
"I - I don't want to go in," Alice confessed, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
No, I can't keep dragging him along with me. Nacht has his own responsibilities to fulfill. Once he drops me off at Duke Sebastien's estate, he'll leave, and I'll have to face whatever lies ahead alone. He can't protect me forever. It's time for me to stand on my own two feet and confront my destiny. Alice thought, taking a deep breath to steel herself for what lay ahead.
As Alice stepped confidently through the city gate, Nacht followed closely behind, his curiosity piqued. "So where were you headed in the city?" he inquired, his eyes scanning the bustling market around them.
Alice explained her destination: the duke's estate atop the nearby hill. Suddenly, Nacht halted, fixing Alice with a piercing gaze that sent shivers down her spine. "How do you know the duke? Who are you to him?" he asked, his tone intense.
Alice, feeling the weight of his scrutiny, replied quietly, "I was invited to his wedding by the bride, a dear friend of mine." Nacht's next question came swiftly, probing for more information about the duke. Alice admitted she knew little, having only met him once in her childhood. The revelation weighed heavily on Alice's mind. She couldn't disclose the truth to Nacht—that she was the one betrothed to the duke by her father, the Sovereignty's king. It was a secret she had to guard closely, even from someone she was growing to trust. As they navigated through the bustling market, she kept her composure, concealing the truth behind a facade of casual conversation.
As they walked through the bustling market, Alice couldn't help but notice the increasing amount of swords among the crowd, a stark contrast to the firearms she was accustomed to. Intrigued, she turned to Nacht. "Can I ask you something?" she ventured. Nacht nodded, inviting her to continue. "Why do so many people here carry swords?" she inquired. "And you carry one too—what's the reason behind that?" she pressed further.
Nacht's response came with a note of surprise. "You don't know?" he asked, prompting Alice to shake her head. "I do trust you know the history of the Empire and Sovereignty, correct?" Nacht's inquiry prompted Alice to delve into the historical context. "Yes," she affirmed, "the Empire and Sovereignty were once united under King William Lithen Virones. However, after his death, his heirs, Queen Elise Lithen and her brother, William of the Virones Sovereignty, diverged on the kingdom's governance."
Nacht nodded in acknowledgment, elaborating on Alice's recollection. "Nira stands as a border city between the two realms, that is why you see both blades and firearms" he explained. "The Sovereignty, being more modern, embraces change and firearms and all those new fancy things. Conversely, as you cross the border into the Empire, swords and bows are the only weapons used, reflecting their reverence for tradition."
As they navigated the market, Alice pondered his words for a moment before posing another question. "If that's the case," she began, "why doesn't the Sovereignty take advantage of its technological edge and put an end to the longstanding conflict with the Empire?" she wondered, highlighting the strategic superiority of firearms over traditional weaponry.
Nacht nodded in agreement and guided her to a nearby stall. He chose two crisp apples and passed one to Alice, exchanging a coin with the vendor before resuming his explanation.
"Typically, firearms hold the upper hand over swords and bows," Nacht began, his tone measured. "But the Empire operates with subtlety. For every powerful figure in the Sovereignty, there's likely an imperial assassin watching. Their prowess is formidable; the Empire trains nearly as many assassins as warriors."
He paused, emphasizing the Empire's military might. "Even in open combat, the Empire's forces outnumber the Sovereignty's five to one," Nacht explained. "Their armor, reinforced with a special ore, can withstand bullets to an extent. Unless the Sovereignty can develop a weapon more powerful than rifles and pistols, casualties would be high on both sides."
Nacht's words painted a picture of strategic impasse. "Moreover, Nira is a very important chess piece in this conflict," he continued. "Nira isn't merely any city," Nacht clarified, his voice grave. "It's a crucial passage between the Empire and the Sovereignty. Unless you and your warriors or soldiers are up for a very long hike over the mountains with very cold and hot weather, slippery terrain, dehydration risk and buckets of rain, it will be impossible to simply cross the border and invade the other country"
He glanced at Alice, his expression earnest. "Controlling Nira means controlling the gateway to invasion. With this city under their command, either power could mobilize their forces and strike across the border without facing the hazards of the natural landscape. It's a shortcut to conquest, making Nira a coveted prize in this ongoing conflict."
The landscape and the countless infected in those landscapes. He thought, recalling his journey before meeting Alice.
Nacht's explanation shed light on the strategic importance of Nira, illustrating how its control could facilitate swift and decisive military actions without the need to navigate through hazardous terrain and unforeseen dangers.
"Duke Sebastien's like the kingmaker in this whole mess," Nacht remarked casually, his tone tinged with a touch of irritation. "Both the Sovereignty and the Empire are practically begging him to pick sides. It's like this city's become its own little kingdom, ruled by the duke's influence and power."
He shot Alice a glance, as if sharing a secret. "That's why everything's at a stalemate. Neither side wants to make a move without knowing where the duke stands. Until one of them wins him over, we're all just spinning our wheels."
Nacht's words conveyed the weight of the situation without losing the casual rapport he shared with Alice, underscoring the significance of Duke Sebastien's role in the ongoing conflict.
As Alice absorbed Nacht's explanation, her mind swirled with newfound insights. "So, this is why Father sent me here," she thought, feeling a knot of uncertainty forming in her stomach. "He wants the duke's support... but why?"
Caught in the whirlwind of political intrigue, Alice struggled to make sense of her father's intentions. "Father must have his reasons, but... to invade the Empire?" she pondered in herself, her thoughts tinged with disbelief. "It sounds like something out of a storybook, not something we would actually do."
Feeling out of her depth, Alice grappled with the weight of her newfound knowledge. "Even if we secure Nira, victory isn't guaranteed," she realized with a sinking feeling. "And with the potential for Imperial assassins lurking in the palace..."
A shiver ran down Alice's spine as she contemplated the danger. "I have to warn Father," she resolved, her thoughts already racing ahead to the letter she would write, hoping to navigate the murky waters of politics with her father's safety in mind.
Alice's gaze shifted on the sword strapped to Nacht's back, a sudden realization dawning on her. "Does that mean you're from the Empire?" she blurted out, her voice tinged with concern. The idea sent a chill down her spine, envisioning Nacht as a potential enemy.
Nacht's cold stare met hers, his demeanor suddenly tense. "What if I am?" he countered, his tone sharp and probing. "Why does it matter to you?" His words hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over their conversation.
Their footsteps faltered as they stood face to face, locked in a tense exchange. Then, to Alice's surprise, Nacht's icy facade cracked, replaced by a rare outburst of laughter. "What's so funny?" she asked, taken aback by his sudden change in demeanor.
Nacht composed himself, his laughter fading into a wry smile. "It was a joke," he admitted, his tone softer now. "I'm not bound by allegiance to any one place. I'm a wanderer, free to roam as I please."
Relieved, Alice nodded in understanding. "I see," she murmured, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. "It's just... the sword threw me off."
Nacht chuckled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "I bought it for protection," he explained, gesturing to the weapon at his back. "The roads are dangerous, regardless of where you are. And besides," he added, patting the revolver holstered at his hip, "I've got other means of defense too."
Alice nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "I suppose that makes sense," she conceded, reassured by Nacht's explanation.
Despite the logical explanations, doubts about Nacht persist within Alice. His demeanor, attire, and evident skill with bladed weapons raise suspicions. Furthermore, his mention of a special sword and dagger designed for combating "infected" beings adds to her uncertainty. How could a 'wanderer' like him possess such knowledge and weaponry? The infected are not known among the common folk in the Sovereignty. Alice resolves to remain cautious.
In the city center, a noble addresses the crowd from a platform, announcing the commencement of a special week of gladiator fights organized by the duke. These battles, fought to the death in teams of two, attract participants from both the Empire and the Sovereignty. The promise of an audience with the duke and a wish granted to the victor serves as the ultimate prize. As the noble concludes his speech and descends from the platform.
However, chaos erupts as an assailant lunges towards the announcer with a blade. In a swift and decisive move, Nacht intervenes, thwarting the attack and neutralizing the threat. Alice rushes to his side as he kneels over the defeated assassin. Removing the assailant's mask reveals markings of the Imperial assassin force, known as the SAFE (specialized assassin force of the empire)—a chilling tattoo depicting two blades protruding from a bleeding heart on the assassin's face.
"An Imperial assassin," Nacht declares, his voice laced with certainty, as he scrutinizes the insignia on the fallen foe's face. "This was a public assassination—a fear tactic commonly employed by Imperial assassins."
The exasperated noble expresses frustration at the recurring incidents of high-ranking individuals being targeted in and around Nira. "These SAFE bastards are relentless," he laments, gesturing towards the fallen assailant. "Can't even enjoy a day without fear of an attack. Guards, take the body and bring it to the coroner for examination," he commands, his voice tinged with exasperation.
As the noble rides off to report the incident to the duke, Alice's doubts disappear. If Nacht truly served the Empire, why would he turn against one of his own.
As they traversed the bustling city center, Alice's gaze inadvertently met her reflection in a nearby store window, revealing her disheveled appearance, mud clinging to her clothes and hair. It was a stark reminder of her days in the hands of her captors and her recent fall. Nacht, noticing her self-assessment, exhaled audibly. "Let's find an inn for the night. We could both use a thorough cleaning and a good rest before meeting the duke," he suggested. Alice nodded, relieved at the prospect of rejuvenation after their journey.
A Well Earned Rest
"What are you doing here?" Alice inquired as she found Nacht lying on the roof of the inn, he told her that he would go out for a bit but didn't return for quite a while so she got worried. He gazed up at the star-studded sky. He gestured toward the moon above, and Alice joined him, lying down beside him to take in the view.
"How have you been holding up these past few days? I know a lot has been thrown at you," Nacht spoke, his eyes fixed on the celestial display.
Alice smiled softly. "It's been tough, I won't lie. I've never faced anything like this before. I used to be... well, a shut-in, I guess, ever since my mother passed away," she confessed, her voice tinged with emotion.
"You can talk about it if you want," Nacht offered gently, his gaze still fixed on the moon. Alice turned to look at him, finding comfort in the moonlight illuminating his face.
A tear escaped Alice's eye, followed by a few more. Nacht remained silent, allowing her to release her emotions. "You can cry, you know. No one can see your tears. You can let it all out now," he reassured her, closing his eyes as if to give her privacy.
Those words unlocked a floodgate of emotions within Alice. She cried freely, pouring out all the pent-up sorrow and fear she had been carrying. Throughout it all, Nacht kept his eyes closed, offering her the solace she needed in that moment.
Alice opened up about her past, her voice trembling with emotion as she delved into her painful memories. "Before my mother passed away, we were a happy family—me, mother, and father," she began, her tone laced with wistfulness. "But afterward, everything changed. My father became consumed by the pursuit of power, no matter the cost. He would punish me relentlessly for the smallest mistakes, with no words or explanations, just... beatings."
Her breath caught in her throat as she continued. "A year or two later, he remarried—a woman I was forced to call my 'mother.' From the moment they entered our home, she made my life a living hell. If I didn't obey her every command, she would scream at me, punish me, isolate me... And my father... he didn't lift a finger to stop her. That's when I realized he didn't care about me, not really. Despite the beatings, I clung to the hope that he did, but … I was a fool."
Alice's voice grew quieter, her words punctuated by sniffles. "But there was Mary. She was the woman's daughter. She helped me escape from her cruelty, even though it put her in danger. 'I'm sorry this is happening because of us,' she would say," Alice recalled, a fondness evident in her voice. "Slowly, we became friends. But when 'my friend' was set to marry the duke, her mother did everything to keep us apart—locking me in my room for days, hiding the key so Mary couldn't help me."
She sighed, the weight of her memories evident. "I cried for hours, hoping for rescue. But after a while, I just... gave up."
She sighed and closed her eyes, relieved to have let everything out.
Nacht's voice barely rose above a murmur as he spoke, his words fraught with the weight of memory. "I don't recall much of who I was before," he confessed, the admission tinged with a hint of reluctance. "Just fragments, fleeting glimpses... My sister, she and I were twins," he revealed, his tone softer now, almost reverent.
"We were like two sides of the same coin," he mused, a fleeting smile touching his lips as he reminisced. "But we couldn't have been more different. She had this warmth about her, a kindness that drew people to her like moths to a flame. Me? I was the opposite... cold, distant, even as a child, I felt less emotions than … normal people, than my sister."
Turning his eyes toward the heavens, Nacht's expression softened, a flicker of sadness dancing across his features. "But now... she's... unwell," he confessed, the word heavy on his lips. "For years, I've journeyed, searching for a cure, clinging to the hope that somewhere, somehow, I'll find what we need."
Leaning back against the rooftop, he let out a weary sigh, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his burden. "Every day is a battle," he admitted, his voice laced with exhaustion. "A struggle against the unknown, against the forces that seek to tear us apart."
Closing his eyes, Nacht fell silent, the memories of the past weighing heavily on his mind, his sister's absence a tangible ache in his heart.
Nacht's voice faltered as he spoke, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm afraid. Afraid that one day, I won't know what is just. Afraid that I will turn into the monster everyone says I am. Afraid that that is the cost of saving Loriel."
His gaze drifted downward, lost in thought, before he let out a deep sigh. "Afraid that I will hurt a lot more people in the process." He opened his hands, his eyes tracing the scars etched into his skin, reminders of battles fought and lives lost.
"But even so, I already know that even if that is the cost, I will pay it, no matter what my feelings are about it. I owe her at least that much for taking care of me all those years." A bittersweet smile flickered across his lips as memories of his sister flooded his mind.
A gentle touch on his hand brought him back to the present. "You don't have to be afraid. I'm sure you will make the right decision when that time comes," Alice reassured him, her voice soft and comforting. Nacht found himself holding her hand tighter, finding solace in her presence.
As the night embraced them in its tranquil embrace, they drifted off to sleep, hands intertwined, gazing up at the vast expanse of stars scattered across the night sky, their worries momentarily forgotten in the beauty of the moment.