Indicisive.

No.

WEAK.

Go away! I can handle it!

I must win. I was entrusted! Orlandeau begged of me.

I can win. I have a plan. Just let me try again!

Once a bluff is revealed, it cannot be propped up again! Once a sister dies, she cannot rewaken!

Our Alma is dead and gone!

There are no second tries in this life! You are deluded!

I had to admit to that. To defeat Ajora, I had to make her believe that she was weaker than I.

I had to grate at her pride.

That was the one absolute condition I needed to fulfill.

Without that, I had nothing. And with that hesitation, I lost consciousness.

At least, in a certain sense.

I rolled in the bright explosion of sound and force, and came to my feet in a scorched land of swords and broken promises.

Ajora was laughing.

Though it was in Alma's voice, I couldn't stand it.

It was like glass broken all over my skin.

And I screamed her name as I dashed forwards on creaking legs.

The sound of me… my blood curdling scream, must have awoken something in her.

A memory of her airship graveyard, where we clawed at eachother in desperation.

I saw her glee stop cold, and her haughtiness fall away with the paling of her complexion.

The storehouse Ajora had incinerated held more than gunpowder. Many swords and other items were stored within.

An armory for one of the oldest and bravest of families of knights.

I clutched at what blades had survived the battle. I smoothly scooped up a spear broken halfway at the shaft and an oaken recurved bow. It had survived the blast not through rigidity but through suppleness.

Without hesitation, I used the bow to shoot what was left of the lance at my enemy.

With a savage snarl on her lips, Ajora ducked her head down, hiked up her skirts, and dashed towards me.

I saw the spear fly by her blonde hair as she reached down to pick up a singed staff.

I had not stopped my charge, and shot everything that could fit onto a bowstring towards my enemy. From spear, to half an arrow, to short sword. I shot it all in a hail of battered junk.

"Firaga!"

Naïve.

I lept with the skills of a dragoon.

Generally, this would have empty time of wait, but with the moon at my back I continued to fire downwards at Ajora with my bow.

Slip past the spells thrown into the air at me. One could not hope to strike a Dragoon in their element of the sky.

Fall into her like a meteor.

Of course she teleports away. But I got her away from her position. Very important.

A copy of Murasame was here, and she hadn't even noticed. She should have broken it at her feet.

Too late now.

The next Blizzaga that came flying towards me was sliced apart by an Eastern Katana quick draw technique.

These swords were made to be used by Samurai in a harmony of souls. The soul of the weapon… the soul of the weilder… in one moment. Iaido. Draw Out.

That instantaneous speed was the trump card, because it was a technique faster than the body.

Teleport was instantaneous, but I could now cleave her in two before she could register the oncoming death.

"You!" She hissed, staggering backwards from my steady march towards her. I observed her. I was waiting for her to blink. "Are there really two of you?!"

"There is only I." I promised. "And all mine delusions of innocence. Quieted now in my mind. 'Tis time to wake from this dream of milk and honey, and remember you. And all you have done!"

"W-Wait… Wait! Your sister!"

"Oh, how I grieve for my sister." I said. "That you slew."

"Don't you think it strange though? How women react to you in this life? That knight would die for you, not knowing you. A part of them is here! A link of souls! Hey! At least hesitate!"

"All hesitation is gone now. A price must be paid for every good in this world. I pay mine."

She blinked.

And in that moment I was behind her, blade flying loose before she could even finish blinking.

And I struck flesh.

I cut through a shield and into the shoulderflesh of Agrias Oaks. She had lept down from the building above. An oversight, but defense was her speciality.

"Go away." I frowned.

"This madness must stop Sir Ramza. This family's infighting is absurd!"

"I sent her, darling." Ovelia said from her place at the window. "Don't be mad at Agrias."

"Deal. Let's make a deal!" Ajora said, touching her still attatched neck with one hand. "Losing a body is an inconvenience to me of a hundred years, no more. We can settle this without the body. Spirit alone, will to will, and your sister need not be involved. But you must do something for me. Kill this mortal enemy of mine."

"What nonsense do you speak, girl." Agrias growled, still trying to stare me down with my sword lodged in her shoulder.

"I could never hurt my beloved Alma. What has come over you? Some aweful bewitching has occurred tonight. The guards and soldiers are too terrified of the superstitious and the absurd power being displayed."

"I wasn't speaking to you. Ramza Bevolue, be a better man than your other self. My dear brother!"

A transparent ruse.

No…

I can work with that.

Come, Ramza, it is time to self-reflect