Prologue: The Question

Who am I?

A question that I had always asked. Until now, it remains unanswered. I kept asking people for its solution, hoping they know the answer… But… They would always look at me with eyes of pity that I am sick of seeing. If they pity me, why could not they answer my question? I was desperate. I need to know..

I have no identity of my own…

I do have a name.

A name whose purpose just so I can have one.

Even though I have given by many a number of different names, it remains meaningless to me.

I do not need a name. I need to know who I am…

Who am I?

I studied the lady in front of me. She was beautiful… She has these empty eyes and a sad face that will make anyone pity of her. She had asked me a question that is very hard to answer. Who is she?

I was seated at my chair, reading the new set of papers that were placed at my desk, when this lady entered the room. She asked me a question that someone like me is not capable of answering. A question I do not have the right to reply.

She is an empty person that needs to be filled up; the impression she features.

I want to help her. Maybe it is because a feeling of compassion blessed at her innocent face. I remember.. I had a friend like her who lacks one element that incompletes her. For a short time, she was able to experience that missing element that erased her sadness and sufferings. I was grateful as well.. Because I had the chance to experience that wonderful element from her.

I stood up from my seat and approached her. I held her white hands. It was warm. If she were to find the answer to her question, these warm hands may turn into caring hands that can be used for sharing love, unlike my hands, which did nothing but to sentence death.

"I am Dlanor A. Knox. Eisernge Jungfrau's Chief Inquisitor of Heresy. " I introduced myself. Such an introduction is required from a guest like her.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I have already told you.. I am-"

I stopped. 'Who am I?'

Her question.. I do not know why it had struck me…

Who am I?

I briskly walked along the hallway. Everything was white at that place. The floor and walls were marbled, pure white and furnished. The huge windows gave a shining glamour, giving the place a bright feeling.

It isn't giving me a bright mood though.

"The hell. And I thought quitting the district would give me a break," I muttered.

A young lad went towards me and gave a salute. I had no choice but to salute him back. I continued to walk with pace, trying to escape this depressing place.

…

Now everyone's saluting me? One by one, the crowded over me to give off a salute. What a drag.

Why amI at a position like this? Oh, yeah. The current boss invited me to share my experiences as an EX-inquisitor to the young ones. I was a fool to accept that offer for a year's salary. At least it's a one year's supply of cat food for my cat. Cat food is expensive.

Back to the present. I'm now running from those students. Thye kept following me, raising their questions for me. I thought of a place where I could bum all day after I get out of here..

"Lion's won't be that bad," I said to Diana, who's perched up my head. She answered me with a meow.

Finally, I reached the exit and opened the door. At last..

Right in front of me was… Clair?

Oh, and I was going to bump to her.

"Meow~"

….

Clair sat up and held her forehead. I did the same but quickly stood up to give her a hand. Her forehead was red. I swear it hurts because I was still kinda dizzy.. But, Clair's reaction is still the same. Emotionless and empty.

"Forgive me. Are you alright?"

She nodded back and reached out for my hand. I checked her forehead for any bleeding. Gladly, it isn't. But the bump was huge. Ouch. I felt my own forehead. I could touch a huge bump on it too. That's great. Geez..

I looked out for Diana and saw her within the hands of someone lying on the ground.

"Don't tell me I also crashed with you.."

"YES. YOU had not only crashed with ONE person, but TWO."

She sat up, still caressing Diana's head.

"CAT," she pointed to Diana.

"Yeah, we KNOW."

Dlanor pressed the ice bag on Clair's forehead. Diana went towards Dlanor, purring. Dlanor patted her head with her other hand. It looks like Diana likes her.

We were seated inside the chief inquisitor's study, I think. It was the same room I had stayed in my years as Wright. Nothing much has changed except for a few furniture and those hideous portraits hanged. And the wallpaper had been replaced too. The simple white one I had was restored by a darker color. If I could remember, my study contains a bountiful pile of books and papers, which were messily all over the area. Now, the place is damn too clean. The books were lined properly in shelves and those upsetting papers were stacked in order at the table. Everything was so organized.

I rested my arm at the table, which was the new head's study table and let Diana scratch it as she likes. I leaned at my chair, cursing the awful headache I had.

I inspected the other two, who were seated at the other side of the table.

Dlanor. Her name has been known by everyone as a skilled and talented Inquisitor of Heresy. She's the head of the 7th district. She handles death sentences fluidly using her father's rules, the Knox Decalogue. Behind those innocent looks is a ruthless and merciless person, ready in anything.

I see myself in her from the days I was still the Chief Head of SSVD.

But, it seems her true nature showed up at a certain case she handled, which was my previous and last case as Wright. Most would say she doesn't have a heart but she actually has. She's a kind kid, a sport, and a true friend. Later on, Bernkastel had lost interest in her, and chose me as her new play toy. Dlanor was relieved from that case and returned well and alive.

But her master didn't have the same fate as hers. Furudo Erika was erased, but Dlanor A. Knox didn't.

Clair. It's been awhile since I've last met her. Her eyes remain empty, for the reason that she's been released as Beatrice's character. I wonder why she's with Dlanor but I was more curious to the fact that she's here. Why she continues to exist is a mystery, or rather, a miracle.

"Why are the two of you here?" I asked.

"Who am I?"

Who am I?

The question was still in my head. I tried to remember the 'me' from the past. No memories occurred. Is this the fate given to me? An empty person that has no reason of existing? An empty being that does not even know how or why she existed? If it is, I want to free myself form this fate and know who I am.

I endlessly walked nowhere in the darkness. I wished and prayed, wished and prayed and wished and prayed.

It was long before I had a glimpse of a glowing light in that darkness.

I grasped that light. Maybe… Maybe if a miracle happens, I will be able to get out of this darkness and find the answer for my question. The light kept shining inside my fist. It was warm and it gave a feeling as if it's giving me life. I held it near my chest and whispered one single question; I closed my eyes, and again whispered my question. I did it again and again and again…

I slowly opened my eyes… and then…

Next Chapter: Van Dine vs. Knox

- Willard and Dlanor begins the inspection of Clair Vaux Bernardus' case whether it is solvable or not. A battle of the rules they believe in occurs, which may lead in either wanted or unwanted results.