Ilia and the others follow the mist to the ends of the shrine, coming to a sudden pause when the mist sinks into the ground and lightning flares down from above. What appears from the phenomenon is a giant black horse with flaming blue hooves. On its back is a black rider with a giant one-handed sword, but what freaks the group about the appearance is what it is missing.

"What the? A huge headless knight?"

"Wait, this is the Taboo Knight? Was it controlling Humbert with its aura?"

"But for what purpose?"

"Kill...Kill everything… Kill... Kill... Kill... Kill... Kill… Must kill…"

Mia scoffs comically. "That answer your question, Tiese? It's completely insane."

Ilia ignores the emperor's apprentice and looks to the senior knight. "Maybe Humbert's lust for revenge resonated with the slumbering knight's insanity?"

"Sir Renly, orders?"

Renly glares at the knight and takes his weapon in hand. "Stay cautious! Attack! Let's start with the horse's legs!"

"Right!" Ilia, Ronie, and Tiese grab their swords and split up as the Twin-Edged Wings fly towards the Taboo Knight. As it deflects the wings, the attacks the horse's legs. Ronie is slow to fall back as the knight realizes he's surround and thrusts down at her. She's saved by timely arrows from Mia from the sword, but the horse still attack as it kicks a distracted Ronie with the leg she struck. Ilia watches as her friend rolls on the stone floor of the shrine and comes to a silent stop.

"Ronie!" It's Tiese who calls for her friend, while Ilia feels an unnatural emotion in her core. The sensation of fear is still present from earlier, and its an emotion she's not a stranger to. She feels...angry? Pissed? Irate? Is this because of what happened to Ronie? If so...well, Medina always said emotions are good weapons, and it is fine for Ilia to lose her cool in the heat of battle, as long as she doesn't let them overwhelm her.

Grabbing her sword again, she runs out towards the Taboo Knight. It swings it enormous sword down on her, but she parries it even if it throws her off balance momentarily. But she didn't advance alone: Tiese flanks and strikes the back left leg, the final one. Whether or not it aids them, the fact is that the horse does indeed stop moving.

And that's when Renly takes hold of his wings. "Release Recollection! Double Wings!" Throwing them in the air the twin wings become a four-edged projectile that spins at a high velocity. Directing his hand at the Taboo Knight, Renly's weapon spins down and towards the Ancient Apostle. Ilia thinks to herself that once the blade hits, the battle is over.

Then she remembers something from the previous battle. She never voiced it before, but while Mia didn't see what happened with Jaymes' ability, Ilia did. Jaymes' Release Recollection allows him to manipulate whatever his sword touches, and he usually uses it for eradication. What she saw was unimaginable. His blade of certain destruction didn't hit the Reaper, but it did hit the scythe--yet the scythe remained and slashes Jaymes in the chest. Only when certain conditions were found did the Reaper fall.

If all Ancient Apostles followed that rule, that not even the blade that defeated Administrator and Vecta could kill them, Renly's Twin-Edged Wings were useless.

And useless they were. Renly, more than anyone, is shock as the Knight shrugs off the blades after they rip through him. He barely catches the split twins as they come back, his once-determined eyes now filled with shock and awe. "H-How can it be this strong? To shrug off my attack like that…"

"Renly," Tiese cries out as she heaves Ronie on her back, "we need to fall back!"

"Damn it… But…"

"We have to get Ronie out of her!"

"...Tiese, get Ronie to a safe spot. Mia, Ilia, we'll cover her retreat." Ilia remembers Renly's command, to not be a hero, yet here he is, playing the hero to protect Tiese. He dragging Mia and ilia with him, sure, but… shouldn't they all fall back? Why isn't Renly saying it?

"Renly! You said--"

"Tiese, go!" Renly desperate stare wins against Tiese, so she gets running as the knight and its steed returns to standing, powering up with a red aura. Frowning, Renly eyes the archer. "Ilia, same strategy as before. Mia, you got a Divine Object, it's time to learn to use Perfect Weapon Control!"

Mia

Training in the middle of battle? Renly must be nuts...then again, this entire situation is nuts. Renly throws his wings as Ilia runs towards the Taboo Knight's horse. She slashes one leg and falls back as she searchs for an opening. All Mia can do is provide further distractions.

"Mia, what you hold in your hand is a weapon of immense power. Right now, it is a powerful bow, but as I'm sure you know, it can become stronger. Jaymes will have to forgive me for putting pressure on you on the moment, as I'm sure he wanted to teach you this himself, but if we're to win, we'd need to fight it with more power."

Mia understands that much. "Okay...so what do I?"

"With brief instruction... Commune with your weapon. Open your heart to it. That bow is your ally, allow it to become so." Commune with the bow? Seems...no, she won't criticize the teachings of an Integrity Knight. She heard about Renly's past from her master, how he was once unable to activate his weapon's Perfect Weapon Control and was sealed for it. It wasn't until the Clamp Crisis back at the Western Ravine that he successfully did it, so if anyone's a good teacher on unlocking Perfect Weapon Control, it is he.

Open her heart to the weapon created with the remnants of the Reaper? How? She hasn't even named it! What do they have that joins them? A bloody trail left by their weapons? Mia didn't get to the war, so she hasn't gained that, not that she could nowadays with the peace. And if the Reaper hated the people of that village, the young knight doesn't hate the empire. Her hero comes from the opposing side of the Eastern Gate, after all.

Love? Right, the whole thing in the woods was because of the love the Reaper had for the archer. Mia has lots of people dear to her heart. She loves Jaymes, platonically of course, though maybe there's an attraction due to their close relationship; her heart belongs to Arthurio, though the bastard is too dumb to recognize it; she loves Brunhild as a playful sister…

Sister...her greatest lost. Taken from her by that despicable Vecta, her big sister was her entire world, her greatest love. If love, loss, and hatred merged at any point in her life, Lipia Zancale would be the focal point. If hatred, love, and loss did the same for the Reaper, the archer is the target.

And there, woman and bow, their souls resonate, and she learns the bow's name.

Something warm comes over Mia as she opens her eyes once again. It has the destructive power of hate, the resolving power of love, and the thing that holds the two opposing forces together, loss. That power is gathering on her bowstring. "Sir Renly…"

"You think you got it?"

"Worth a shot."

"Mhm. Ilia, strike now!" Ilia slashes the fourth leg, toppling the horse again. She did it all on her own...she's truly Medina's apprentice. Now to prove she's worthy to be Jaymes'. "On me." Renly throws his blades up again and invokes their Memory Release. "Twin-Edged Wings! Release Recollection! Strike once more!" Renly's weapon strikes not once, but thrice across the torso of the knight, leaving a pointed shape on the Taboo Knight. "Mia, hit that mark!"

Mia nods as she takes a deep breath and aims. "Loveblight Bow Enhance Armament! Soul Resonance!" She draws an arrow back on the bow, and in front of it gathers a light orb of power that expands to the size of the entire front of the bow. "Fire!" A purple shaped arrow of light flies towards the Taboo Knight, causing it to discharge some power as it drops to the ground. Mia gasps at her first successful attempt at Perfect Weapon Control, but it is short-lived as Renly pushes her out the way. The next thing she hears is the sound of screaming and something crashing into the ground.

Tiese

"I'm so sorry, Eugeo… This… This is all my fault… If I hadn't done something so stupid…"

"No… That's not true. You haven't done anything wrong, Tiese. This is all my fault. You have nothing to apologize for."

"I'll… I'll be the one to rescue you this time, Eugeo! I'll work my butt off...become an Integrity Knight...and set you free. So just you wait. I promise… I promise I'll…"

Almost two years ago, that would be the last conversation she'd have with Eugeo before his arrest and death. A month or so later, she'd join the ACTF, watching over Kirito who had fallen into a comatose state and was protected by the very girl who arrested him and Eugeo, Alice. However, Tiese couldn't find the will to be angry at Alice, even after learning her mentor's fate.

The night before the war began, Alice told her and Ronie her past, how Alice was once a normal girl who commited a accidental crime against the Taboo Index, lost her memories, and became an Integrity Knight.

"There were times when I cursed such a fate. But… Kirito, Medina, and Jaymes taught me that there was something I could do… That I should do. And that's why I'll never hesitate again. I decided to accept myself as I am and move on. I'm sure there's a wide, long, and straight path meant only for you, too."

She didn't understand what this path could be, but she figured she'd find it as the war progressed. By Alice's order, she and Ronie guarded Kirito in the Supply Corps, but the ranks guarding the corps was breached by the goblins. Eldrie Synthesis Thirty-One's confusion and Renly's temporary defection lead to it, but thanks to the rebellious, eager to please Linel Synthesis Twenty-Eight and Fizel Synthesis Twenty-Nine along with the arrival of Jaymes did the Human Guardian Army manage to rally and prevent further leakage of the goblins. As for those who got pass and close to the Supply Corps.

"I'm not the enemy… Oh, Lady Tiese, Lady Ronie. I apologize for startling you."

Tiese calms down and puts her sword back in the sheath as Renly comes from his hiding space. "S-Sir Renly? Forgive our rudeness!"

"No, it's my fault for scaring you. And besides, I'm not...an Integrity Knight anymore. I ran away again. The unit that I was supposed to command must be in a panic now. I'm sure there have been some deaths, too. And yet, I can't bring myself to leave this place, so how can I call myself a knight?" Renly looks up and sees a boy sitting in a chair behind Tiese. "Kirito… That's Jaymes' friend and who killed the Pontifex? The woman we consider the Pontifex, that is."

Ronie nods. "Mhm… Sir Renly, forgive me if I'm being forward, but would you be so kind as to help us out? No matter what… No matter what, we must keep Master Kirito safe. To be honest, while we could defeat some beasts, defeating even a single goblin is beyond our abilities. But that's our mission right now. To protect him, entrusted to us by Lady Alice, Lady Eydis, and Lady Medina, at all costs. If for no other reason besides being my teacher, he's Master Jaymes friend, and we owe him this."

"Jaymes… Is he…" Renly is interrupted by a strange noise from outside the tent.

"No way! They're here already?" More noise from outside draws Tiese to the drapes of the tent, and she peeks outside. "There's smoke!"

"Tiese, are the tents on fire?"

"No, it's just some kind of strange smoke wafting in. No, wait, there are a lot of people coming out of the smoke!" Tiese gasps and slowly steps back, reaching for her sword, just for a blade to cut through the drapes.

"A goblin!"

"Ooooh hoooo! I found some white Ium girls. What a haul for me!"

Ronie and Tiese draw their swords, more so to protect Kirito than to defend themselves. And if they're capable of defending themselves, the sight of a goblin, a monster told in Norlangathian stories to ward off bad behavior, dampers their ability. "S-Stay back! Or else!"

"Heeeeee! You look tasty."

"If you come any closer, I'll slash you!" Yet no slashing was required by either girl as two familiar projectile cuts the goblin to pieces. Shocked but relieved, the Tiese barely has time to calm herself before Renly is rushing out the tent.

"Ronie, Tiese, I want you two to stay here and protect Kirito." As he disappears, Tiese partially steps out the tent watching as Renly engages a new group of goblins. What he says next removes the image of the fearful knight she has grown to know...and reminds her of another timid yet brave boy she once knew. "My name is Renly! Integrity Knight Renly Synthesis Twenty-Seven! If it's my head you want, be ready to lay down your lives for it!"

She doesn't realize how long she stood out there watching until a streak of red and black is caught by her peripheral. "J-Jaymes! You're here!"

"Sup, Tiese. Been a while. And hello Ronie, nice to see you too. Is Renly here?" Tiese shakes her head and points out to the battlefield. Jaymes nods and chuckles. "Well, I guess cute girls really can spur the might of the scared…"

Since the peace, or maybe even since that moment, Tiese has found herself attached to Renly. She has never admitted to anyone, not even to Ronie or Ilia, but she feels some guilt in being in a relationship with Renly. Not only does he looks like Eugeo in some way, their personalities are similar, and the current mission hit the mark on pointing them out. Mia's earlier tease couldn't have been farther from the truth. Is she happy with Renly? Yes. Does she misses Eugeo? Yes. But she hasn't been able to separate the two feelings.

Yet when she returned after getting Ronie to a safe spot and saw part of the ceiling start to give way, she foolishly threw herself against Renly. Was she saving the man who looks like her former mentor or the knight himself, she doesn't know, but she did it. So when she opens her eyes, finding herself in Renly's arms, she's relieved, no matter her reason.

"Are you okay, Tiese? Does it hurt anywhere?"

Overcome with emotions, Tiese rises up and hugs Renly. "Renly… I'm so glad you're safe."

"T-Tiese?"

"I… I was so worried… I don't know what I would've done if you were dead… I don't think I can lose you both!"

"Tiese, compose yourself! I'm fine! Pay attention to your surroundings!"

"Huh?"

"Hey, hey, look at you two!" Tiese glances back at Mia, whose all smiles and giggles, standing beside Ilia.

"Man, Ronie and Master is gonna hate that they missed this! And now I'm mad at Master. Where is he?"

"Mia…"

"Ilia, this could be you, but you're all boring and serious. Wasted beauty, I dare say."

"Eeeeeeek!" Tiese crawls away from Renly, hiding her face in embarrassment. Sighing, Renly gets on his feet and faces the other girls.

"The Headless Knight?"

Mia holds her bow up. "Nothing Loveblight couldn't take out. Oh, Master is really going to be jealous!"

Tiese stands up and looks around. There's the Taboo Knight, dead to rights, the only thing remaining is the broken hilt of its sword. Seems they managed to defeat it somehow, the few of them. If only Jaymes, Asuna, and Medina were present. She looks to Renly, who still has a few shades of red in his face.

"...Oh." Renly walks over and picks up the broken hilt. He puts it away and walks back to the girls. "Well, seems we're done here. Let's return to Scolea and regroup with Jaymes the sub-delegates--"

As quick as lightning, Renly clutches his chest, a pained expression appearing on his face. Grunting, he drops to his knees and flat on the ground. "Renly!" Tiese runs to his side, holding his head. He's unconscious, and Tiese doesn't see what knocked him down and out. Mia and Ilia surround her and Renly, all searching for the assailant.

"Did you see who did it?"

"No, I didn't… Wait… Is that clapping?"

"I must congratulate you girls and the servant of the usurper for your victory. A battle as invigorating as the one against the Reaper."

"Show yourself," Mia commands.

"No, no no, not yet. Not until it is time. But I will give you three a prize for making this far: a warning to your masters and false gods… Wound them, but not fatally." The next thing Tiese and her allies realize is that they're surrounded completely in darkness. Whereas the shrine let in some light, there is no light here, as if Solus herself was erased from existence. Next thing Tiese notices, ailing her vision is, is a barely visible streak of black and gray knock Mia and Ilia down. That same streak comes for her, and she feels the warm sensation of blood on her chest before her body goes limp and her consciousness start to fade. But Tiese hears one final phrase before her mind goes blank.

"As the mothers and father wills it…"