Author's Note - So this, and the epilogue, will wrap up the Tarbes arc.
I'd like to end this aside be giving some brief thoughts. The Tarbes Arc is sort of an odd duck, even by the standard of fanfiction's often bizarre pacing.
This meant I struggled to really figure out where to fit it. At several points during the rewrite, I seriously considered breaking it out to be it's own sidestory
However, given that it informs where Louise, and to a lesser extent where Leafa will be come Volume 2, and thus many of the elements of her story, I decided to keep it here.
I will probably add an author's note to the start of the Arc, telling people they can skip it, and miss little in regards to Volume 1. However, for those of you with the patience to put up with me, I hope you enjoyed it.
Best Regards, Triggerhappy/Zero0Hero
Halkegenia Online - Tarbes Arc - Chapter 9
Yui's feet slipped and slid as she walked along a muddy animal trail, leaning against Kirche for support while Antoine cleared away the low hanging branches from their path. The Count trailed along behind them, holding Euphrasie close to himself and murmuring nervously that everything would be alright. Yui could tell that he was lying.
To either side of their path, the low, sleek shapes of Dagger Dogs prowled and Vespid Knights flitted through the air, keeping watch over their prisoners. They were being taken someplace, though the Knights refused to tell them where.
All through that afternoon, Yui and the others had listened to the distant sounds of hundreds of crying Little Sisters being desperately comforted by the Shamans and Knights. By evening, the crying had subsided to be replaced with a low mournful chant composed of hundreds of small voices. For the Pixies, their Garden had been Sacrosanct, but no longer.
Night had fallen and still their promised judgment had not come. The only sign that the Pixies even remembered their Prisoners was the changing of the guards. Yui recognized a few of the Knights in this new detachment, but her attempts to get their attention were ignored. Some of the Pixies had shifted uncomfortably, giving Yui looks that ranged from conflicted to openly distrustful.
Finally, as the Garden had at last settled in for the night, it had been decided that they try to get some rest. The air that night was not particularly cold, but nor was it warm, and Yui had shivered in discomfort until Kirche had covered them both in her travelling cloak. The Germanian placed her arms around Yui, careful not to touch her injured shoulder. Opposite the two girls, the count had spread his own cloak over Antoine and Euphrasie, holding the children close as he drifted off into a troubled sleep.
Analysis The Count needed help. His strange behavior was consistent with a slew of psychiatric disorders. The betrayal of his trust and slaying his own friend had placed still more strain on an already overloaded psyche.
Yui had occupied her mind developing a possible treatment regimen before finally drifting after some ten hundred seconds only to be woken before dawn. They had been led from the Garden, marched along narrow animal trails and through thick brush, heading East.
The journey had taken another eight thousand, one hundred, and fifteen seconds. The Knights had made agitated noises at their slow progress, but without wings or magic, there was little that the humans could do to travel more quickly.
The forest had begun to change from native birch into the the flaura of an ALhfeim zone, the gaps widening until they found themselves before the edge of a cliff. Yui and the others looked up, squinting in the dazzling morning light. The cliff, as it was, was not really a cliff, but the lip of an immense sinkhole opening into a cavern. A point where the underground of ALfheim intersected with the Surface zone.
Vines and vibrant flowers found purchase among the shade of the cavern walls and water of the deepest purest blue collected in pools deep within. From the largest of these pools, towering out of the sinkhole and rising to rival the tallest of the forest trees was something unexpected, a distinctive twisting trunk capped by a spherical crown, like a World Tree in miniature.
Yggdrasil Shoot Yui thought, eyes blinking furiously as she attempted to decipher the uninteligible streams of data emanating from the shoot. It was as if . . . Cardinal was communicating via millions of unbelievably primitive low baud channels.
Hypothesis were the shoots acting as local nodes?
The Vespid Knight at Yui's side poked her lightly with the tip of her tiny needle and pointed towards a human sized staircase that had been carved into bare stone, spiralling downward to the broad lip of a circular platform encompassing the shoot's trunk.
Waiting before the lip of the pool were hundred of Pixies, Nine Hundred and Seventy Yui estimated that it had to be most of population of the Garden.
Finally, Yui had spotted Sayuri. The Vespid Knight was flanked by the senior Knights and Shamans including Kigiku and Hinagiku. Yui shivered to see her smile.
The Sisters had recoiled when they saw the beings, their voices growing louder and their chatter faster as they leaned against one another for comfort. The only ones that did not seem afraid were the four who had been born in Tarbes, sticking close together as their human caretakers were brought before the lip of the pool and made to kneel.
"Sisters!" Sayuri shouted in a loud voice for such a tiny body. The swarm went silent.
Yui closely examined the Knight, reaching out with her enhanced senses. The abnormalities that she had detected the day before were still there and growing worse. Sayuri's pulse, body temperature, and breathing were all elevated.
Query Was there perhaps some way to compromise Sayuri in front of her Sisters? If they saw how sick their leader was, it might force the others to hesitate or reassess their actions.
"Sisters." Sayuri began, speaking solemnly. "I should not need to tell you that life is very difficult for us. We are the weakest of Yggdrasil-sama's children. Always, the Gardens have been our refuge and safe havens." Sayuri shook her head slowly. "But no longer! The world has changed. Our forest has changed. New plants and animals have appeared. Two moons hang in the night sky. And Beings stock the land beyond." Sayuri's voice grew darker, the words coming more swiftly. "Though they resemble the Fae, they are surely worse. No sooner did the beings find us, then they stole away our unborn Sisters and burned my Garden. We fought back, and they enlisted the help of the Fae, and now, they have nearly done to your precious home that which was done to my own! Sisters! I have asked you to gather here today, beneath the branches of Yggdrasil-sama so that as a Garden we may witness judgment of these beings for the terrible crimes they have committed!"
The Sisters murmured among themselves, voices low. It was clear that the youngest Pixies did not fully understand what was happening. The Shamans all stood, eyes closed in tacit assent while the Knights gave nods of open approval.
"What crimes?" Kirche spoke up, drawing the attention of all of the Pixies. "Fernand was going to burn down your Garden, but we stopped him! Unless you think you could have done it on your own. Get it through that little skull. We helped you!"
"You helped yourselves!" Sayuri shouted. "You only fought back because that being would have killed you as well! Just like the Fae, your kind are full of treachery!" The Knight drew her needle, pointing it at Kirche. "You claim that you have done us a service, but you are no better! Stealing our sisters! Sending the Monster to steal more!" Each accusation came with a thrust of Sayuri's needle.
"We're sorry!" Euphrasie whimpered, "We didn't know about your flowers! We tried to bring Lily back to be with her family as soon as we found out." The Count placed his arm around the girl, protectively.
"That's right! Stop being mean to Euphrasie!" Lily shouted from among the crowd of Sisters, the tiny girl was on the verge of crying once more.
Sayuri fixed her young sibling with her gaze. "Silence Lily, you have not been permitted to speak. Little Sisters must obey Elder Sisters." The Knight recited.
Lily shook her head angrily, arms stretched at her sides and wings twitching up and down angrily. "I don't have to listen to you! You're just a . . . a big bully!"
Celandine tried to calm her upset sibling, the other Sisters stared at the sight. Soft murmurs of disapproval rose from the Shamans and the Knights shook their heads.
"See what the beings have done to them! The damage they have wrought!" Sayuri gestured. "These Sisters are already more loyal to their new masters than to their Sisters! The beings no doubt intended to use them as more spies!"
"Sayuri-sama." Hinagiku spoke up at last. Yui noted the way that the Shaman moved. There was a tenseness to her motions, her wings trembled faintly. "It has not yet been agreed that Yui was intended as a spy for the beings."
"This again?" Sayuri asked, the Knight held her needle in both hands, examining it with a bored expression. "You made your case last night, Hinagiku. The Knights agree with me, and the other Shamans cannot be certain."
"Last night, I was still tending to Botan. The attack caused her a great deal of difficulty. Tending to our Sister gave me little time to present my argument." Hinagiku took a breath and continued, voice level, "This is a judgment before Yggdrasil-sama, then let it be a proper judgment. The truth is, Sayuri-sama, it is you who brought Yui into the Garden by sheer chance. How could she be a spy if that is the case?"
The Shamans at Hinagiku's back nodded slowly, as if their Elder Sister was speaking aloud what they had been too frightened to say.
"What else could she be?" Sayuri asked slowly. The Knight began to pace, circling Hinagiku, stealing the initiative from her Sister. "The power she used to change her form is not one possessed by Pixies. That leaves only one conclusion, doesn't it?"
"What are you talking about?" Hinagiku asked, eyes following the Knight.
"You may think fondly of her Sister." Sayuri said to Hinagiku. "But you know that I am right. Yui is not one of us. It was my mistake to think that the scent of beings simply rubbed off on her." Sayuri admitted. "The Fae are in league with the beings. They must have intended to plant her for us to find."
"You yourself said that they did not know the Monster's intent." Hinagiku warned. "They made a mistake." The Shaman turned her eyes to the humans and Yui froze. Though she was speaking on their behalf, the anger in Hinagiku was plain as day. "The crime is terrible, unspeakable." Hinagiku breathed. "But if this was a mistake, then the danger has already ended." The Shaman turned imploringly to her sisters only to be met with more uncertainty. She was reaching them, but it still wasn't enough.
"The danger has not ended!" The Knight shook her head angrily. "I sau that they are full of treachery. Hinagiku, how can you doubt this fact!?" The Knight Leader's smile returned as she gently admonished her Sister. "Truly Hinagiku, in matters relating to the safety of the Garden, we must always choose caution. Is that not right, Kigiku?"
Kigiku stiffened, the Knight nodded reluctantly. "It is true. The beings know the location of the Garden. They cannot be allowed to return to their village on the mere hope that they may be peaceful."
The Shaman looked sadly to her sister, shaking her head slowly. "Then I must still ask the other Shamans, having heard what I have to say, do you still agree with Sayuri-sama?"
Words were exchanged among the Elder Sisters before a spokesman stepped forward, a small Shaman with light green hair and bottle green eyes. "Elder Sister, we must say that we do agree with Sayuri-sama. Even if the burning of the Garden was a mistake, the blame does return to these beings, and the act itself is horrific. At best it makes them a danger to all of us, at worst," the spokesman closed her eyes, "It makes them as bad as the Monster."
"And that is your final answer?" Hinagiku asked.
Looking back at her siblings the spokesman nodded hesitantly. "It is."
Hinagiku sagged slightly, "Then may Yggdrasil-sama's blessed balance deem you correct." Staring down at her feet, the Shaman balled her fists. "But let it be known I protest this rash course of action!"
"Noted." Sayuri said indifferently before spinning back around to face all of the Elder Sisters. "Then Sisters, are we in agreement that these beings before us share in the responsibility for the attacks on the Garden's. Are they to be punished?"
One by one, the Shamans gave their assent, and one by one, the Knights did the same. Yui noted that there were dissenters. Kigiku declined her vote, as did Hinagiku and a handful of the other Shamans. Among the remainder, only a handful could be called eager. Most simply appeared to be frightened.
Sayuri nodded approvingly, her twisted smile returning in full force. "And then I ask for the punishment. As Yggdrasil-sama is not cruel. Kigiku?"
"Yes, Sayuri-sama." The Knight replied.
"What do we do when a dangerous animal threatens us?" Sayuri asked rhetorically.
"A dangerous animal?" Kigiku asked. "If we could not drive it away, we would slay it." She answered cautiously. "For the good of the Garden."
"It is just so!" Sayuri agreed, a note of delight entering her voice. "Now then . . ." Sayuri began to gesture.
"Please!" The Count said. Looking up at Sayuri the man stuttered. "P-please. Euphrasie and . . . and Antoine. They may have picked your blossoms. But they are simply children. The blame for everything else lies with me." The Count pressed his head back against the ground. "You are right about us humans, you see, we truly are terrible, treacherous creatures. But not them, not the children, they haven't learned that yet. So please, please . . . Allow me to accept punishment in their stead. Or at least, punish them only for stealing your blossoms, not for the rest, not for the rest!"
Sayuri's eyes narrowed, there was something wrong, Yui thought. Again the Knight's biorhythms spiked and for a brief instant her body trembled, her wings twisting in the same involuntary fashion as she had seen with Botan the day before. The Knight realized what she was doing and forced herself to stop. A nervous hand rose to tug at her left bang. "You would place their lives before your own?" There was disbelief in Sayuri's voice.
The Count never stopped shaking, "I-I would." His eyes turned to Euphrasie. "For he- . . . for them, I would."
The Knight closed her eyes and for a brief moment she seemed conflicted, then, suddenly. "No!" Sayuri shook her head. "No. Yggdrasil-sama is not cruel, but she is not merciful either. There is no other way!" Sayuri's breathing relaxed as she made her decision, the tugging at her bang turned to gentle stroking. "Then is it decided? Do any now disagree?"
There were no protests from the other Elder Sisters.
"You'll never get away with this!" Kirche shouted. Yui blinked at the astonishingly cliche line coming from the Germanian girl. " You'll kill us, and then what? The Tristanian Crown will never tolerate this. They'll send soldiers. And they won't just burn down your Gardens. They'll burn the whole forest."
There was a collective gasp from the Sisters and a few of the young Pixies began to cry as they recalled the traumatizing events of the day before. The Elder Sisters were on edge, this was certainly not something they had thought much about.
Sayuri's expression turned hateful. "If your 'Crown' could do that, then why do you need the Fae? You're just trying to trick us!" The Knight spat angrily. "Once you're gone, we'll drive the Villagers away, and then," Sayuri hugged herself, trembling, she suddenly looked so pale, "Then the Garden will finally be safe."
"And how are you going to do that?" Kirche replied, "It sounded to me like your big snake didn't work out so well." The Germanian smirked, "Yeah, I heard your little guards talking about it. Did your monster really get blasted by the Zero?"
"It doesn't matter!" Sayuri said, barely keeping control of her temper. "There are other beasts that we can use. Lhamthanc was just the first. I won't let you beings do any more harm to the Garden!"
"Because that worked out so well against Fern-" Kirche began
"Enough!" Sayuri shouted at the top of her lungs. "That was only because I grew too lax. I allowed a threat to approach the Garden. We won't be caught unaware again!"
Under other circumstances, Yui might have been impressed by Kirche's ability to openly agitate another sapient being, but given Sayuri's current mental condition it didn't seem wise. Worse, with the exception of a handful of the Elder Sisters, the Pixies seemed intent on obeying their leader. Fear Response Closing Ranks. Sayuri was their trusted Eldest Sister and they were frightened. They didn't understand that she was plunging into madness. Her responses and explanations seemed Reasonable to them because they didn't know any better.
They were all trapped. Yui thought, horribly trapped. The bonds that should have allowed them to support and Nurture one another, had been corrupted by their fear. They didn't know what else to do but follow blindly.
Query What can I do? What must I do? Yui thought furiously, feeling her mind pushing the limits of whatever substrate was currently running her primary logic cluster. What gambit should she try? Should she confront Sayuri directly? Should she try to break the Knight? Sayuri was in such a delicate state, Yui was sure she could do it, she rebelled at the thought, it was against everything that she was. But the consequences were almost imponderable. The other Pixies might flee in terror or fly into a rage. She would only have one chance . . .
"Please, don't do this Sayuri-sama!" Suddenly, Yui's thought processes froze.
From beneath her bangs, Sayuri's gaze swept the crowd of gathered Pixies. Another voice of dissent, but from where? A figure was moving through the crowd of Sisters, her passing generating a wake of murmurs.
The one who had spoken was a Vespid Knight, but not one of the ones that Yui had met. The girl was tall, even for a Knight, with soft brown eyes and shoulder length honey brown hair. Walking forward calmly, her wings folded flush with her back, she was dressed in a blouse of sunflower yellow and black skirt. She wore no armor, and carried no weapons, not even a stinger knife or needle sword.
The Little Sisters gossiped as she passed them. None of the young Pixies knew who this beautiful wildflower girl was, but they grew immediately at ease as she passed, a sure sign that she was a Knight of their Garden.
Sayuri's eyes narrowed suspiciously and then widened in recognition. "Botan?"
"Botan?" Hinagiku repeated. "You shouldn't be moving about yet!"
Yui blinked. A portion of her mind raced as she tried to understand how this was possible. That was Botan?
Query What had happened to her? In less than eighty thousand seconds, the Pixie had been transformed almost beyond recognition.
Hypothesis some sort of Metamorphosis had occurred. Pixies no longer spawned or despawned as needed, so this must have been how the garden produced new Shamans and Knights.
The girl nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving Sayuri. "I apologize Hinagiku-sama, but Ajisai told me what was happening. I had to do something." The two knights regarded each other in silence. "Sayuri-sama, please, you mustn't do this!" Botan repeated.
The senior Vespid Knight tilted her head. "Mustn't do what?" Sayuri asked, voice as brittle as crystal.
"You must not hurt the beings." Botan said, and then gathering up her courage. "You must not hurt the humans!"
The Pixies ringing the pool all began to speak among themselves at once. The Knights standing between Botan and Sayuri rested hands upon their weapons.
Sayuri gave a displeased look, a hand rising to gently tug at her left bang. Yet when she spoke, for a moment, Sayuri sounded almost concerned. "Botan, you have only just blossomed, your body and mind are still in an abnormal state." Sayuri smiled softly. "You must still be delirious, confused, you need to rest." The girls locked eyes and slowly Sayuri's smile faded and she grew cold once more.
Botan looked among her Sisters and then kneeled before the edge of the pool. "Elder Sisters, this Sister humbly asks to share her meager wisdom."
At last, Kigiku stepped forward. "That is your right, Sister." Sayuri glared at her subordinate as if stung.
Something eased in Botan's posture and the girl bowed her head. She began to speak, voice clear and thoughtful. "Elder Sisters. You . . . we . . . are knights of the Garden, first and always. I think . . . we know it in our hearts long before we know it in our heads. Though some of us may have trouble believing it." She smiled faintly. "Our duty is to Protect the Garden and Serve our mother's balance, this must be our first consideration in all things."
Botan looked up, her gaze imploring her Sisters. "Our Garden has confronted a grave threat. Our Sister Garden was wilfully burned to the ground by a terrible Monster and our precious Sisters stolen away from us." Botan trembled faintly, the day before it would have been a sign of fear. But as Yui watched, she noted that Botan was not afraid, she was angry. Botan paused to regain her composure and to allow her words to sink in.
"It is only natural that the Knights should lead in times of danger. We had every right to defend ourselves. We had every right to take back our unborn Sisters. We had every right to slay the Monster." Botan shook her head. "But Sisters, Sayuri-sama, the Monster has been slain. Our Garden is safe. There's no more reason for us to fight!"
Slowly, murmurs rippled through the Knights, uncertainty was spreading. "No, you are wrong Botan." Sayuri bit out, the Eldest Sister's hands clenched into fists. "A Monster has been slain, but monsters and beings are one and the same! Others came with the first and took away more of our Sisters. They're monsters too." Sayuri's breathing grew labored, "And these beings," She pointed, "Are the ones that lead the Monster to my Garden and then lead it to your Garden! Because of them, my Garden was burned and yours nearly suffered the same fate!"
Yui watched as the pendulum swung once more in Sayuri's favor. The Knights and Shamans regaining some of their certainty.
"They made a mistake!" Botan said, shouting back at her Elder Sister. "Please, Sayuri-sama, the small ones are just Little Sisters, they didn't know any better. And the big one, the Count, never meant us ill. They may have endangered the garden, but they risked themselves to save it!" Botan glanced up at Yui and smiled. "We have a right to defend ourselves. But we don't have the right to hurt someone when we don't know anything about them."
"You . . . Would place your trust in beings?" Sayuri hunched forward, voice barely more than a whisper. "Hinagiku I understand, but I never would have expected this from you, Botan. You were always frightened of them before."
The newborn Knight closed her eyes, "Perhaps Hinagiku is right, maybe I am braver than I thought." Standing, Botan nodded her head once. "Sisters. I understand that you are scared. I'm frightened too. I've never not been afraid." Botan shook her head ruefully. "But this is a fear that we all understand. We cannot risk our home so easily. So instead, I ask that you let me risk myself."
"Botan?" Hinagiku questioned softly.
"Let me go and speak with the beings in the village." Botan took a step forward. "Let me speak with the Fae. Maybe I can learn the truth, and then the only one who will be in danger will be me."
"Perhaps . . ." Kigiku began slowly, "Perhaps Botan is right. They drove us off when we first tried to find our missing Sisters. But the 'Count' seems willing to speak for us. They may listen." Kigiku looked up, "Sayuri-sama, we could learn more this way."
Sayuri shook her head angrily. "No! It's too dangerous. I won't allow it. Besides, it is too late for doubts now."
"Sayuri-sama, I am a Knight of the Garden, I have a right to have my voice heard!" Botan protested.
"And you have been heard." Sayuri said. "And your words have not moved me."
Botan shook her head. "You aren't listening, Sayuri-sama." Staring up at her leader, the newborn Knight's expression grew determined. "Then I will just have to make you listen!"
Suddenly, all expression drained from Sayuri's face. The Vespid Knight's arms fell to hang limply at her sides. She observed Botan with hooded eyes. "You do know what you are asking, don't you, Botan?"
The younger Knight swallowed and gave a small nod. The Knights were suddenly speaking among themselves.
Again Sayuri's pulse and temperature spiked before crashing back down. Sayuri raised a hand to silence her siblings. "Very well, Botan-san, I accept your challenge. If you defeat me, you will be Leader, and if you are defeated you will defend my decision until this matter is concluded. Those are the same conditions I gave Kigiku."
The senior Knight gave a reluctant nod. Was that why Kigiku continued to support Sayuri? Yui wondered. Did honor compel her to side with the Eldest Sister rather than Hinagiku?
The human prisoners sat up to watch and the Little Sisters gathered close to the lip of the pool. The Knights and Shamans spread themselves out to observe. This was to be a duel between two Knights, no interference could be allowed.
Hinagiku flitted across the pool to hover beside Yui. "Yui-san." The Shaman greeted. To Yui's surprise, she detected no signs of mistrust or hostility in the tiny priestess. It was like Hinagiku didn't care at all what Yui really was. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to do more. When Sayuri-sama told us you were a spy, I didn't believe it."
"I'm not a spy!" Yui answered and then paused, looking shame faced, "But I'm not a Pixie either." She admitted. She didn't feel right lying to Hinagiku. "It's . . . complicated. But I never meant to deceive you Hinagiku-san!"
Hinagiku smiled kindly, just like she had when she had called Yui her Little Sister. "I know, Yui-san, I believe you. This is not a simple matter, but I know you have tried to be honest with me. I heard what you did for the Garden and I wanted to try and help you and your . . ." The Shaman searched for the right word. "Gardenmates?"
"Close enough." Yui decided as she looked over to Kirche who gave her and Hinagiku an odd expression.
Yui nodded thoughtfully. Speaking with Antoine and Euphrasie must have left a strong impression on the Pixie if she was willing to take a risk like this. "Hinagiku-san, can Botan really win?"
Hinagiku's eyes didn't leave the two Knights as they faced off. "Botan is inexperienced and Sayuri-sama is incredibly strong. Realistically, she stands almost no chance."
Spreading their wings, Botan and Sayuri drifted down to hover just above the surface of the water.
"You'll need this." Kigiku offered Botan her needle. The young Knight flourished experimentally, unused to the weight. Sayuri drew her own needle, taking up a one handed guard as Kigiku glided back. "The first Knight to force her opponent to ground wins. You are forbidden any magic and must remain within the cavern. Is this understood?"
Without looking away from one another, the two Knights nodded. Kigiku took a breath, raising her hand, she sliced downwards. "Begin!"
As soon as the words left Kigiku's lips, Botan and Sayuri were gone, spiralling up into the air. Both Knights had to be thinking the same thing. They wanted altitude while they felt eachother out. Botan was unsure of herself, and Sayuri was unsure of Botan.
Yui caught sight of Botan first, the brown haired Knight scanning all around for any sign of Sayuri, keeping her back to the trunk of the Shoot.
Where had Sayuri gone? The Knight Leader had moved so quickly that Yui had lost her in the clutter of the cavern walls.
Suddenly, something plummeted from the lowest branches, descending directly towards Botan. Something alerted the junior Knight and she spun in midair, catching the tip of Sayuri's needle and deflecting it across her shoulder. The two were locked together, Sayuri's wings folded back in a powered dive while Botan fought back with all her might.
The younger Knight was losing the struggle, she simply didn't have the strength to compete with Sayuri. The combatants began to lose altitude until, at the last second, Botan was able to slip free, sliding her needle along the length of Sayuri's before twisting out of the way just as she was about to hit the water. Sayuri broke into pursuit, racing after Botan as she circled back around the tree. They clashed again, and then again, bouncing back from one another after each strike.
"Our lives depend on a fight between hummingbirds." Kirche shook her head, she squeezed Yui's hand as both girls watched on.
There had to be something Yui could do to tilt the odds . . . something . . . The irregularaities in Sayuri's biorythms. A hypothesis began to synthesize.
Despite her bravery, Botan was losing. It was painfully clear that she simply didn't have the strength or speed to keep up. The new Knight's skill and bravery had thrown Sayuri off at first, but now the leader of the Knights moved in to finish the fight.
Spiraling about one another as they rose one last time, the Knights closed to lock blades. At the last instant, Sayuri twisted about, flying just above Botan who was left out of position. Then, the Knight leader shifted the grip on her needle, holding it to plunge, her intention, to run her fellow knight through.
The next moment was a mystery to the humans and the gathered Pixies. But not to Yui, who, at the critical moment had called upon the only magic at her disposal, the meager powers retained to her as a subroutine of Cardinal and accessible only in this place of the System's latent power. One of these powers, the Directed Alert Function she had used to call out to her mother from the base of Yggdrasil. With all her focus she managed to articulate a message and aim it at a single recepient.
The words she chose were crafted with care. Even so, it took all of her will to send them, like an archer loosing an arrow. She suspected what she was doing, the damage it would do, and everything about this course of action felt wrong to her. Only her conviction that it was the right thing for everyone, including Sayuri, gave her the strength to dare try.
Sayuri . . .
Sayuri thrust down, her blade tip questing for the middle of Botan's back, right between the wings.
Sayuri . . . the Garden is safe!
In desperation, Botan had folded her wings, allowing herself to plummet.
The Garden is safe! It is you that is the danger!
Sayuri had naturally been cautious, she hadn't over extended, but as she drew her blade back, the Senior Knight cringed in pain. Her sword arm and right side wings spasmed.
Sayuri . . . it is time . . . You must rest!
Botan could not see what Yui could see, Sayuri's neurochemistry going wild. But she could see the moment of weakness, and she took it.
The Young Knight extended her wings, crashing into Sayuri before she could recover, Botan entwined her arms and legs with Sayurii's own to give purchase and then delivered a brutal headbutt, dazing the senior Knight. While Sayuri was still disoriented, Botan used her wings to switch positions with her before kicking off from the senior Knight's sternum. Sayuri struck the water with a deceptively small splash, vanishing beneath the surface. A moment later, Botan settled just above the pool, breathing heavily, as the last ripples vanished.
The gathered Pixies were completely silent. The humans were silent. Yui was silent.
Botan had won. She'd won! Yui's heart raced, her eyes widening. Botan had done it! But something was wrong. The other Knights were already approaching to congratulate Botan. The victorious Knight was glancing about desperately.
"Where is she?" Botan asked out loud. "Where is Sayuri-sama?" The others all looked around, first confused, and then worried, the Knight had vanished beneath the water and had not reappeared. "Don't just stand there, help me find her!"
Yui stood up on the edge of the pool, staring down into the depths. There was so much blackness, it was impossible to see. Then she noticed something, but not in the water. At her side, the Count was staring down into the pool at a single point. Yui followed his gaze, thinking he might have spotted the Knight, but instead she found that he was staring intently at an immense white carp as it circled the trunk, no, it wasn't circling any more, Yui realized. It was travelling in a straight line, and rising up towards the surface. Yui glanced up quickly, light was spilling down from the clear blue sky above.
Hypothesis the fish must have an easier time seeing things fall into the water because they were back dropped against the sky. Another thought occurred to Yui.
Query What does it eat?
The Count's lips were moving as he mumbled to himself and then came to a decision. "Antoine, hold my coat." the Count shrugged the garment off and without another word, fell face first into the pool. The ripples of the Count's dive washed over the Knights, catching a few low fliers by surprise.
The Count sank down, two meters, three meters, four meter, five meters, the fish rose, eight meters, seven meters. The giant coy's toothless mouth opened wide, inhaling. The Count's hand shot out, snatching something from the water just as it was about to be sucked in.
The fish was at least twice the size of the count, but had no stomach for battle, it had probably been a passive only type mob meant to provide ambiance before the transition. With its meal stolen away, the carp turned away sluggishly as the Count struggled back to the surface.
Climbing ashore, the Pixies gathered around him, momentarily forgetting the Count's status as he opened his hand to reveal the waterlogged form of Sayuri. The Vespid Knight wasn't breathing.
"Out of the way!" Hinagiku shouted as she came down beside Sayuri.
The Count withdrew watching as the Shaman leaned over the Knight's still form, feeling her chest and stomach. Placing her hands bellow Sayuri's chest, Hinagiku compressed once, twice, then a third time. Sayuri's mouth opened, coughing up water. The Shaman turned her Sister on her side, letting her coughing fit subside. Sayuri sucked in a greedy lungful of air.
"Sayuri!" Hinagiku wrapped her arms around her Sister.
Sayuri looked around wildly, her eyes settling on the count. Suddenly, Sayuri broke free from Hinagiku's embrace, stumbling to her feet, breathing heavily, seemingly confused. The Vespid Knight nearly jumped out of her skin as Kigiku placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Sayuri-sama . . . Sayuri-san." Kigiku said calmly, "The duel has been called, Botan-sama is victor."
Sayuri stared at Kigiku, unable to comprehend what she was hearing. The former Leader looked lost.
"Does this mean Euphrasie isn't in trouble now?" A small voice asked from the crowd of chattering Little Sisters. Lily flitted above the other Little Sisters drifting down before the gathered Shamans and Vespid Knights. She was followed by Celandine, Iris, and Olive a moment later. Lily tugged at Hinagiku's robe, staring up with big blue eyes.
Hinagiku smiled, "Well . . . That is to be decided . . . But I don't think so." She told Lily kindly. "Isn't that right, Botan-sama?"
Botan blinked in surprise. "M-me?"
Hinagiku nodded and turned to the other Elder Sisters. "Sisters! You asked for proof of the beings' good intentions. Botan-sama swore to help them if she defeated Sayuri. I ask you, would a treacherous being have saved Sayuri's life after she had sworn to do them harm?"
This time, when the Knights and Shamans spoke, there were notes of approval and though still uncertain the spokesman from earlier gave a small nod of assent.
"Kigiku?" Hinagiku asked.
"I . . ." The Knight hesitated, looking between Sayuri and Botan. Sayuri glared at the Elder Knight as if to silence her.
"Kigiku-san." Botan said, "I want to hear what you really think." The younger Knight smiled sincerely, "This Sister humbly awaits your wisdom, Elder Sister."
Blinking in surprise, Kigiku gave a small nod. "I think, I think we should know more. I think we should talk to the Beings."
"Then it is decided." Hinagiku said, raising a hand to silence any comments. "Count-san. Thank you for saving our Sister, and thank you for saving our Garden. I am sorry that I was so hesitant to do more, but I confess I wasn't truly sure until now."
The Count nodded, water dripping from his hair. "Then why did you speak for us at all?"
The Shaman tilted her head as if in thought and then smiled up at Yui. "I . . . did have a little faith."
The Count chuckled softly. "I see." The Count looked to Sayuri. "And you Miss . . . Are you alright."
"Alright?" Sayuri asked, her voice was empty, she took a step back, hand reaching up to claw at one of her bangs. When her hand came away, she held a fistful of strands torn from her scalp. "Alright?!" Sayuri shrieked. The curious chatter of the Little Sisters ceased and everyone stared at Sayuri.
Yui observed, her senses giving her a front row seat, as Sayuri began to unravel. The abnormalities in her biorhythms began to accelerate unchecked to the point that Yui was left to wonder if Sayuri would suffer a seizure.
Reaching out, the Count offered his hand to Sayuri. "I don't rightly understand, but it sounds like you were gravely wronged by all of this, more than anyone else. Please, speak with me, I want to make this right."
Sayuri took a step back and then another. "You . . . I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU!" The Knights voice broke into an insect-like squeak. Eyes bulging, she cluthed at her throat. "This is a t-trick! You're just trying to trick me! A-And hurt me! And hurt my Sisters!" Query Were those tears? Was Sayuri crying?
"Sayuri-san . . . Sayuri." Botan said the new Knight Leader tried to get near her sister. "Please, it's alright. I understand why you feel the way you do. You've had to bear something terrible. But you're tired, Sayuri. You need time to rest. Please, I can't imagine how hard it must have been, trying to protect everyone by yourself." Botan spread her arms, smiling kindly. "You know, I've always respected you Sayuri-san, ever since I met you. So please, let me carry your burden for a while. All of your Sisters will be happy to keep you company while you rest."
The other Knights nodded and began to speak up one after another.
"Please Sayuri-san, you do so much for us."
"Sayuri-san, you mustn't push yourself!"
"Sayuri." Hinagiku said, "Sayuri, please listen to your Sisters. We're all worried for you."
Sayuri's head spun about, with each kind gesture or gentle plea to rest the Knight's pulse grew faster and her breathing more labored. Slowly, Sayuri began to shake her head. "Nnn . . . No! No no no no no!" She shouted. "You're wrong! The threat isn't gone! I can't rest yet! I'm the only one who can protect the Garden!"
"Sayuri?" Hinagiku asked, worry turning to understanding. "Please, don't you see, you're sick? You can't let go of your anger. I'm sure this is Yggdrasil-sama's way of telling you it's okay to rest."
"Then Yggrasil-sama made a mistake!" Sayuri screamed. No sooner had the words left Sayuri's lips then her eyes widened, the Knight clutched at her head.
"Sayuri?" Hinagiku asked.
"I AM NOT A MISTAKE!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, wings stretching out to the sides. She stumbled about as if in a daze. "I'm not . . . I'm not . . . . a mistake." Sayuri whispered shaking her head again. "My Garden is gone . . . my Sisters . . . why . . . If Yggdrasil-sama didn't want me . . . then why did she make me?!" Everyone, even the humans, cringed. Sayuri sounded lost, defeated. There was nothing left inside of her. Sayuri shook her head slowly, stumbling, she took a half step back. "I . . . I won't . . . I won't accept it . . . I WON'T!" Before anyone could stop her, Sayuri kicked off, shooting into the sky. A faint piercing whistle came from above and a black shape swept down from the crest of the World Tree. Sayuri's feathered dragon chasing after his master.
"Quickly! After her!" Botan shouted, "Sayuri-san isn't herself!" The other Knights swiftly gave chase, the rumbling of willow wasp wings coming from above as the mounted Knights took to the air.
Botan was just about to follow when Hinagiku stopped her. "Kigiku and the others can catch Sayuri. You need to rest now."
"But . . ." Botan began and then closed her mouth at Hinagiku's level gaze.
"Besides, there are things that need to be seen to. If the threat has ended, then that means the Shamans once again lead the Garden. And that means I will need an escort in order to go speak with the beings."
Botan's eyes widened and then she quickly nodded, "I would be honored Hinagiku-sama!"
"Hina is just fine." Hinagiku sighed, "It is what Kigiku calls me, and I think you've earned the right." Hinagiku turned her attention back to the humans. "Now then, in good faith, it's probably best that we return you to your people. It must have been quite difficult for you to travel here. I'm afraid the journey back won't be any easier. But there is a stream not far from here. That would be the easiest path out of the forest."
"If it means getting back to Tarbes, I'm all for it." Kirche groaned.
Yui was still worried about Sayuri but she smiled nonetheless. A sense of relief flourished within her. Aunt Suguha was probably sick with worry by now. Yui noticed as Botan drifted closer, coming to hover before her. There was a strange expression on the Knight's face as Yui extended her hand. Botan settled onto her palm, looking up at her curiously.
"Botan-san." Yui began.
"So this is what you really look like?" Botan cut in.
"U-un." Yui nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't tell anyone. I was scared I would get in trouble if Sayuri knew."
"You did get in trouble." Botan pointed out.
Yui shifted a little, "Are you angry?" Botan had every right to be. After all, she had been willfully deceived her.
Botan crossed her arms beneath her chest, giving the question some thought. "You bet I'm angry." The Knight said. And then opening her eyes, "I thought I'd finally be taller than you!"