Things That Never Change
The statue's greatsword pierced the silver armor, and the Guard Captain collapsed with a pained death cry.
Is it... on our side...?
It's good that it took down the enemy, but...
...We may be a little too late.
The palace walls, barely holding together, finally began to crumble.
The statue's massive arm swept Haydee up, as though pulling her into an embrace.
The, without hesitation, it turned and threw itself toward us.
The instant its hard, heavy frame wrapped around all three of us...
Ngh...!
The falling debris swallowed the entire garden.
Light, sound, and form all collapsed away, and darkness settled over the void that remained.
...
It...
...It was all my...
...Aaaah...
...Princess! Guard Captain Perses, reporting back in haste after receiving word from the royal capital!
Please, you must take shelter at once...
...It was all my fault...
...
If I'd known this would happen... Someone like me...
...Princess, I am but a fool and do not know the whole truth behind this tragedy.
But there is one thing I swore beneath the heavens that I still remember.
...Please forgive my insolence.
I, Perses, swore to protect you.
Every other knight shares that vow with me, and so...
Even if we must offer everything, even our very existence, as sacrifice, our loyalty to the princess shall remain...
...Eternal.
The earth swallowed everything.
The towering walls, the burning palace, even the lifeless dead.
Everything.
...
...I wasn't the only one who saw that just now, right?
I saw it too.
If... If all of that was real...
...I see.
So that's why the ruins...
...Haydee. It seems that statue is...
The battered statue knelt before Haydee.
...Yeah.
My... guard captain.
The statue lifted the stone tablet from the altar and offered it to Haydee.
They used the rampaging Void Force within you, as well as their own bodies...
...And even the very existence of the fallen kingdom itself as a sacrifice to save you, Haydee.
...Fools.
In the end... they still fell prey toMorcerf's machinations.
...Hmph.
Haydee stared at the statue with lonely eyes, then accepted the stone tablet.
I'll take this with me for now.
...I'll come back when our revenge is over.
The statue silently returned to the altar and stood, as if it had never moved to being with.
...
...
All the way out of the ruins, Haydee and Cristelle remained grim-faced and silent.
Just as I was about to say something to break the awkward silence...
Was that enough to satisfy you?
Huh?
The ending.
You said you wanted to see a different ending.
Would you say this one was acceptable?
The ending? Hmm, who knows?
After all, I don't think we've seen the ending yet.
...Is that so?
Ufufu! I see what you mean. We still haven't completed our revenge, after all.
Then this was merely... a turning point in our tale of revenge.
...Yeah. We've let her toy with us for far too long. Now...
It's our turn to start the hunt.
Precisely, Haydee! I knew you were the only one who truly understood me!
You two are strong.
Hmm? What brought that on all of a sudden?
You almost killed Haydee, remember?
Are you two really okay with each other?
...
Ufufu! Captain! It was all merely a misunderstanding on your part!
I, Cristelle de Montua, have learned from you. Never again shall I commit such foolishness!
Haydee and I are bound by our shared vow of revenge! Nothing can ever come betwee—
...I get it, so stop clinging to me and back off.
H-how cold, Haydee! Don't tell me you're still holding my earlier sins against me...
...*Sigh* Of course not. I don't care.
I would've done the same thing in your place.
I was the one who wanted you to, after all. It's just...
...You. I let it slide earlier, but since when am I yours?
Huh...?
You said it earlier, remember? Something about me being wholly yours.
Hmm... Isn't that only natural?
As I've always said, when I rescued you, it felt rather like...
Taking in a little kitten drenched by the rain...
I told you to stop with that stupid kitten nonsense...?!
Ufufu! No need to be shy! Come here and embrace me! Accept my forgiving hug!
Kgh...! D-don't come any closer! Stop clinging to me!
Haydee scampered away from Cristelle and hid behind my back.
I felt her grip tighten around the hem of my coat.
Tired?
...My legs just went a little weak once I relaxed.
I'll be fine after a short rest, so you don't need to worr—
So your legs hurt?
Then I'll carry you on my shoulders.
Ngh?! W-what?! P-put me down!
Oh... How bold of you, Captain.
Very well! Let us take turns carrying Haydee home.
I-I told you to stay back...!
Get your hands off me...!
I'm covered in sweat and all sticky, so stop putting your hand on my shoulder!
Now that we've become true companions, surely this much is acceptable!
What does that have to do with anything?!
Besides... you're hardly better off than me! You're the last person who should be helping me!
Oh! Are you worried about me, Haydee?!
I, Cristelle de Montua... am so moved I could weep!
Th-that's not what I meant, so don't get the wrong idea!
I just... don't want you butting in and getting me hurt, too!
Ufufu! Haydee, you complain so much, yet I can't help but notice you're not actually running away...?
...Shut it!