January 24th, 1800

Alexandria Castle

...

— ...Take this! – thus spoke Cinna, holding of its trusted hammer, whose tip found its way upon a Bandersnatch's skull.

— Have you ran out of one liners? – said Marcus, waving his blade against the white demon's chest.

— Guys... leave the chit-chat for later – to which Blank replied, as he got cornered by a horde of the bleached creatures.

— No wonder the Queen has these for pets – Steiner's voice echoed from below, followed of a sparkling metallic noise.

— No wonder anyone has tried to invade Alexandria for centuries! No one, but the best! – Marcus took the words out of his chest – uh... What are you up to, Steiner?

— He might be bad at acting, but he's a very good knight – and so Cinna left a remark. He constantly delivered blow after blow against the Bandersnatches, one coming after another. The bearded man stood still, not minding the hammer's weight at all — what are you up to, Rusty? Glowing like that...

— There's too many of them! I have no other choice, but rely on Seiken! – said Steiner, who took a deep breath amidst the battle. A man who once devoted his life to the very ruler who has sent those beasts after him... his entire world is crumbling apart, but he doesn't care. Everyone's at breaking point right now.

— Argh! This is madness! – like Blank, all covered in belts and sweat – I mean, whose psycho builds staircases without handrails!?

— Dude, that's the least of your concerns right now! – Cinna shouted. Never that he fought for so long, and for the sake of surviving a real threat.

— I'm afraid, but that's not the least mad thing in this room either – not only Marcus referred to the Bandersnatches, but everything.

— Quiet! I need to concentrate! – from a Knight of Alexandria joining sides with thieves...

— I suppose it's time for you to use your secret Technique – ...to a rodent Knight of Burmecia, fightning alongside her proclaimed enemies.

— Yes, you could say that, Lady Freya. I'm about to show you what I learned from Seiken. My secret Technique!

— It ain't no more a secret if you speak it out loud... – said Cinna, who shruged in silence – just saying.

— Well, what are you waiting for? – asked Freya. The burmecian Dragoon moved around like a ballet dancer, manuevering her javelin like no other. And those who met the spear's tip, they fell on the ground like autumn leaves – I said to use it, not to show! This ain't a freaking circus.

— Ya heard the rat! – Cinna yelled out loud, to which Freya gave a stoic look. The one you are not supposed to laugh, or giggle at – the rat lady, I meant to say...

— Come closer, minions of Brahne! Come near the light! – suddenly, a crystal blue aura vanquishes the darkness and surrounds Steiner's sword, as if the electricity within his nerves got channeled out of the noble Knight's body throught its weapon, which connects to the beast's heart and – YOU FELL FOR IT, FOOL! Thunder... SLASH! Uh... nothing!? It didn't connect. Have... Have I done any damage?

— Sigh... Why am I not surprised? – General Beatrix jumped in from above – nevermind this seemingly endless fall, the broken bones won't be mine.

— What have I done wrong? – Steiner said, kneeling before the beast, all tired and worn out. The Thunder Slash costed so much of his.. only to end up being useless?

— Your Thunder Slash is worthless, face it. Mine, however... – Beatrix's words, raspy as the wind blowing before the wounded, are followed by the delicate sound of thunder out of the edge of Save the Queen, her family's sword, who has met young and old flesh, green and red blood. The blade connects to the Bandersnatch, who is paralyzed by the electrical discharge released, though Beatrix saw something in his eyes devoided of humanity... it was paralyzed in fear beforehand.

— Impressive – Steiner could not think about anything else to say.

— There you have it – the General stands on her feet. Both knights stare at the remains of what was once a Bandersnatch. It's hard to tell just by looking at that carcass – I do not consider Thunder Slash to be the finest of the sword Arts. I prefer to use Stock Breath and Climhazzard when it comes to take down tough guys like this one.

— It never worked for me, go figure out – Steiner looked up, watching his unnexpected comrades fighting to their lives.

— We'll discuss about it later – said Beatrix, who took a brief sight of what was happening above with her only eye – fighting alongside traitors... never expected I would do it so

— I'd rather fight alongside traitors... than stay at the side of a mother who has injured its own daughter! – despite the fatigue, Steiner has not given up. He won't surrender to a few hundred demons scattered around the spiral staircase.

— You are too stubborn to not just lay down, are you? Oh, you beat me once in a sword fight, so this ain't too much for you. Not that I feel proud of it, but it happened – Beatrix doesn't have time to find the right words to say, but deep inside, she commends Steiner's courage.

— Well, I'm not the guy who usually asks for help, but-HELP! – fortunately, Blank's cries were not unheard. Except for the monsters, they were the only ones who didn't cared.

— Hang in there, bro! – said Marcus, who rushed as further as he could of Blank.

— What else should I do, huh!? And I thought being turned to stone was awful. At least I could think things throught, reflect about life, heck, I was pretty much invulnerable, not that I wish to become stone ever again, it's just that when I'm nervous I say things that I can't really think throught because I don't want my famous last words to be utterly in vain or anything random, imagine a swearing being your last word, how would you tell the kids about tha-

— Cut the crap! – said Marcus, following the perfect cut. Right in the tongue – how are you doing, bro?

— Fine, I guess – said Blank. Shaken, but smiling. Covered in blood that ain't his, corpses lying on the floor, nothing that can get rid of that very smile. He approaches Marcus and gives him a high five – thanks buddy, but it ain't the end.

— I know. Watch out! – the heroic knee-jerk reaction of Marcus... won't be enough to avoid the bandersnatch's widened jaws.

— AAH! We're done for! – Blank faces the creature right in the eyes, filled by hunger – whatever, I'll be the first to say Fu-

— Don't say it – with a single, majestic leap, Freya lands on top of the bandersnatch, her shining javelin blade cutting throught the hound's neck. The edge of the Dragoon's spear wasn't just sharp, as Blank noticed. It wasn't just the height of the fall, the Dragoon's diving from skies afar, but there where tiny sharp blades running along the edge of the javelin like shark's teeth! They moved at such high speed and reflect light in such a way that Freya's spear looked as if it were glowing from distance.

— Thanks, madam! – Blank said. His whole body was consumed in pain, but he felt glad of being alive.

— Yeah, thanks for letting us off the hook! – so did Marcus.

— Anytime – Freya's clothes were tainted by a strong lemony scent – so... we won, as it seems.

— Wait, did we? – Steiner could not believe. For a moment, it seemed the entire world stood still – whew... I feel a lot more human whenever my chest has an opportunity to rise and fall.

— I'd call it a hollow victory. I feel nothing... – Beatrix's steps became heavier as she walked up the stairs.

— It's how everyone feels before death – Cinna took a breath – but here we are, still living.

— Yeah, living... – Blank felt as empty as Beatrix.

— What's up, bro? Feeling bad all of sudden? – Marcus left a smirk, while tapping his best friend's shoulder – no worry. The bad feeling, it'll pass.

— For sure. I trust you, Marcus – Blank felt queasy by the smell. He wanted to leave this place right away, but before his, a crestfallen figure in crimson robes stood over the edge, blood and tears dripping below the void – Hey, rat lady! Ya heard me?

— I have a name.

— Right. Freya, is it? – it was Freya, indeed. Facing the danger of falling, or was she giving herself in? Blank didn't wanted to know – lemme ask, are you a guy or a lady who wears man's pants?

— ... – Freya answered in silence, as she stared at the darkness below.

— Oh, sorry. I didn't meant to be rude or anything – the red-haired man covered in belts said, looking over the scratches made at skin – a few scratches, eh? That wasn't a real fight. Agree?... So, you are a quiet type, I see. Just wanted to say that I owe ya one. You know, for saving me.

— You own me nothing – the Dragoon said, turning her face to Blank. She stared at him with same looks given to the void – if I could save every life, I would do it.

— I heard what happened at Burmecia... My condolences – sometimes, Blank wishes he stood petrified at the Evil Forest.

— It's a thing I wish no one could see.

— There are times a forest seems to be the lesser of evils within this world... – said Blank, out of a thought he had after hearing Freya's words – isn't it funny that we had to rely on killing lives to spare another? Meaning ours?

— There was no dialogue. No other way to win, but stay alive – Freya looked behind, facing a crushed wall covered in blood. It was just a wall, but something in it hurted her inside. It didn't hurted back then, when she jumped and landed upon a beast in order to ride it towards a wall, breaking it's skull and tearing it to jigsaw pieces.

— Just saying. I'm not being the devil's advocate, just saying things.

— You better keep these only with you – once again, the Dragoon had her eyes set to the void beneath her feet.

— (Gee, she really isn't in the mood for talking) – said Blank, whispering to himself.

— Pant pant pant... You know what would make things any better? – Cinna asked, his muscles numb of the fight, though the look in his eyes belonged to someone in need of one more fight – a GIANT SPIDER BOSS!

— HELL NO! – Marcus and Blank shouted at same time.

— That's enough for today – Steiner said, putting his sword back on the sheath.

— A-actually, spiders are not evil at all – Cinna said, a bit shaken by his fellow's previous reaction – do people look at every spider and they think all of them carry on of poison? That's so stupid!

— It's like looking at a burmecian, excuse me lady, and saying that all of them are... well, carrying on of the plague – Blank replied, while afraid of Freya's reaction – it was not me who said that darling, so you know.

— As a matter of fact, my people were the first to learn about the benefits of taking regular baths – said Freya, who crossed hands while avoiding looks of everyone else.

— Really? – Cinna gets amazed by every little bit of new information he gets.

— Really. If you were given the bless of Eternal Rain, wouldn't you use it for good?

— Sure! I mean, is there any good at taking regular baths?

— As good as it is to sleep well at every night – though, Freya was unable to distinguish dream of nightmare of reality by the last few weeks.

— Well, given this sudden atmosphere of great fellowship... How about a mug of beer? – Blank said, hanging onto Marcus and Cinna's shoulders – I'll pay a round for everyone!

— YAY!

— I don't drink, thanks – Steiner said, between chants of happiness.

— Neither I do – Beatrix kept the seriousness at her voice and face – I'll go upstairs to see if there aren't any guards nearby.

— Be sure to not kill any of your men – Freya broke out her quietness state, with a frown of disdain towards the General.

— Why would I do it so? I only fight Alexandria's enemies – Beatrix replied from far above, to which Freya gave back the frown of irony instead – there's no need to fight against my troops. It ain't my intent. You stay here while I... I...

— Do you even have a plan, General? Or are you used at doing things by immediate? – at this point, the burmecian lady is provoking the alexandrian knight, without hesitation.

— I'm not careless as you think, Crescent. Well, right now, Brahne too must have labeled me as a traitor and put my trusted men and women against my side. Though, there are ways to convince someone to not reveal information...

— Who do you think we are, huh!? – Cinna yelled, his surprised look contrasting with Beatrix's soft-spoken attitude – we're workers like everyone!

— Don't be dong, Cinna! – said Marcus, trying to calm down his upset friend.

— Yeah, don't be – Blank too was upset, but not as much as Cinna – we do steal, but that does not make us rich. It's a huge misconception.

— Alright, I won't ask twice: Does anyone have a good amount of gil at pockets? Because I don't – Beatrix asked, being more polite than rude, as she went downstairs.

— Nuh-uh, I said I would pay a round for everyone – Blank holded on to his compromise.

— I'm not a bank! – Cinna had nothing to offer.

— I have nothing, sorry – so did Marcus.

— Are you relying on bribing, Beatrix? – Steiner was perplexed by the General's decision.

— I have no other option – Beatrix tossed her hair back, feeling out of her self as well.

— You do. It's called murder – the stark look in Freya's eyes revealed she didn't trusted that sudden change of heart at all – but since you are such a pure knight, there's no need for any worries.

— Not every knight is as pure and bright as their armor – and with all her heart, Beatrix listens closely to such infant's tantrums.

— I know. Very well – Freya sighed, feeling the weight of the chains of guilt. With a single claw, she takes off her Dragoon's helmet. Underneath the crimson helmet, a bag of money is found lying above her white hair – here. Take this. I am doing you a favor. After ALL you did to my people...

— I'll humbly accept it – said Beatrix, barely offering looks or any satisfaction to the burmecian – you all wait here. I'll be back as soon as possible.

— Be careful, Beatrix – Steiner salutated the General, awaiting for her return – she didn't even looked back... AND YOU!

— Me? – Cinna pointed to himself, calm and relaxed.

— You all! – while Steiner raised his voice, and with the last of his strenghts, he began to speak like a honored knight – you heard me! No more trouble. Enough misfotrtune has been brought in here. Those are dark times, compared to Alexandria's past glory.

— We won't cause any trouble, Rusty dude! – and Cinna was making fun of it.

— Yeah. There's not much we can do here – Blank said, shocked by how Steiner's voice got so deep all of sudden – is that how you treat your guests?

— We've shared same jail! – said Marcus, recalling the past few hours he stood together of the silver-armored knight – not that I'm proud of it...

— I didn't even wanted to be here, to begin with – the Dragoon said, all spiteful – these days, I've grew fond of vine. How about it, belt boy?

— Wine, so be it – Blank replied, sighing in relief – could anything in this world be any bitter than this lady? No wonder Zidane had a thing for her.

— I am not deaf – a relief that's long gone soon as Freya notices the later's speech – also, why compete if there's no competition at all?

— Who needs a crystal ball to predict the obvious? – and without hesitation or strife, she refuses to listen more of Blank's attempt at being friendly and leaves the premises with a jump – tough lady.

— What's up, bro? – Marcus reached for his fellow partner.

— Nothing. No, wait... – confused, Blank tried to put his thoughts in order – You guys don't see it? Freya... she's in need of someone. Not a boyfriend, hell no! She needs company, I mean.

— Maybe she wants to be left alone – Steiner didn't knew much about Freya, though he appreciated the Dragoon's skills at field.

— Sure. Alone with her thoughs, that's to be appreciated – so did Blank. There was something brave yet saddening about the burmecian, who has endured a lot of fights recently — sometimes, one must solve things on their own.

— I agree. In Freya's case, however... – a brief moment of silence preceedes the tin man's next steps – we'll have a knight to knight talk. Don't you dare do anything else under my absence!

— Not even breathe? – Cinna said, sharing of a goofy smile at face.

— Just... don't do anything wrong, okay? – patience wasn't Steiner's strenght at the moment – I'll catch up the Dragoon.

— Everyone's on the mice side all of sudden, right? – Blank reflected, as he and everyone looked at how fast Steiner ran to reach Freya – guys... it might sound strange, but I feel a slight mental control.

— Mind control!? – Marcus gasped after hearing those words – You've been reading a lot of fiction books, bro.

— With the way things are out of control around the world, I too would rely on fantasy – Cinna too was shocked. Not by Blank's words, but the way someone like Steiner could run so fast inside a silver armor.

...

— Pant...pant... pant... I hate staircases – Steiner was out of breath and words to follow.

— I see why – Freya was slightly impressed by the knight's doing – given enough training, humans can learn to lighten their bodies and move in mysterious ways. And before you ask, no. No, I don't need help. Leave me alone.

— Pant... pant... What's with you acting like this, Lady Freya? – Steiner could not tolerate such behavior coming from a fellow knight – that ain't like you at all!

— And who are you to have an idea of what's happening inside? – as much as Freya could not even look at his face – a man kills. Leaves clues behind. He's guilty, deserves a fair trial. This kind of simplicity is what makes Justice so beautiful. I believe in Justice. I really do. We all need to believe into something.

— Yes, we do – Steiner said, agreeing with the burmecian.

— Does God exist? Many ask. I ask: Does Justice exist alongside God? Many men kill. They leave enough destruction behind. Are they guilty? Can you judge a hundred men? No, you can't. They obey, follow a leader's orders. Justice may be blind, but it doesn't step over flowers. An act of violence keeps the system going. An act of Justice is followed of violence.

— What do you mean? – for a moment, Freya sounded less human and more like a book filled of ideas. Steiner is worried, he doesn't know what exactly is he supposed to do in this kind of situation.

— 16 million burmecians are dead. Why? – no answer. No words. Nothing. There was no reply to that answer. Silence is powerful on its own – Regent Cid said he would send reinforcements to aid my country, my people. They didn't came in time. I want to believe they didn't. That, or the reinforcements never arrived. The Regent lied...

— You are jumping on conclusions. That ain't quite like you at all, Crescent – Beatrix showed up, with new information – by the moment, they might think we're dead, but not for longer.

— So, how will we plan our escape? – Steiner was worried, with the fear of losing his head – you know what they do with traitors.

— What if we're caught? Will they peel our skins out? – so did Freya, albeit in a sarcastic tone.

— I'm working on it already – the General thought about a solution, one that resulted in less harm – from what I heard, not all soldiers are up to follow Brahne's orders anymore since she threatened to kill her own daughter.

— A soldier like you – the burmecian lady said, while referring to what she considered to be a sudden change of attitude.

— Enough innuendos for today, alright? – Beatrix turned to the Dragoon with a cold look in face – it's getting tiresome.

— It's truly disheartening to see people who care more about a single Princess threatened to be murdered by her mother, while a million folks who had nothing to do with this were simply wiped out of existence. Where's the questioning of the latter?

— You say these words... as if I never regretted my past actions. Well, I do – said Beatrix, in a sorrowful tone.

— You haven't convinced me. Words aren't your best way of convincing, General – her sorrow is nothing compared to mine, thought Freya.

— I was convinced by the Queen that the burmecians were plotting to attack first.

— And you believed that maniac?

— Yes, I believed her – Beatrix carried the family's sword at hand, their legacy. Save the Queen, no matter what... there was no salvation for Brahne's greed and disregard to living beings, or was there? – the very Queen that's about to attack Lindblum.

— Lindblum!? – both Steiner and Freya were shaken by that revelation.

— We must go there right now! Knowing Brahne, she's gonna use the Princess's eidolons at their fullest! – the tension elevated by each sentence Steiner left out of his mouth.

— Like she did at Cleyra... – the Dragoon thought to herself... could that be another chance to prevent a massacre from happening? – so be it! We'll be going to Lindblum.

— No, we can't make it in time. The Red Rose airship has already left – Beatrix said, feeling frustated as well.

— What are you suggesting? That we stay here without moving our butts? – Freya felt more than frustation.

— Let's take a better look at the situation, shall we? Three of us, to fight a whole army of Black Mages, to fight against my own people...

— Six. Aren't the Tantalus folks from Lindblum?

— And the Eidolons, Crescent? Is there anyone who can fight against those things?

— If we can get rid of the one who is about to summon them, we do have a chance – said Freya, clenching her left fist – besides, a few burmecian survivors moved in to Lindblum. I won't let them down, not this time.

— (Lady Freya is so desperate to prove herself, isn't she?) – Steiner whispered to Beatrix, as both looked at the Dragoon running downstairs.

— (Indeed. Tell me, Adelbert... what did she meant by 'getting rid of'? Is Freya up to reach that point?)

— (I don't think so) – Steiner reflected. Could Freya be contemplating murder? That didn't felt right – (I mean, if she is willing to take that decision, there'll be the likes of us to prevent that from happening, right?)

— (You bet. Brahne might be a war criminal, so do I in a way, but there are better ways to solve our issues) – Save the Queen... Beatrix's sword name meant more than the act of sparing a monarchy's life, but what she represents.