[ Archaeologist camp vicinity, Walder / September 20, 0078 01:43 ]
Agito had never seen Signum show her pain. She was a Belkan: armored, sharpened, and ready to go. But Agito had been inside her head. She had seen the pain devouring her master's beautiful soul. She kept quiet, for the master would be saddened by it, but she couldn't lie to herself.
That pain was a thousand times worse than any death Agito could inflict upon her.
Agito had never really known Mistress Hayate; she had no feelings for her. But for Signum, Hayate was the Queen, the master, and the sole purpose of existence. Without any hesitation, the knights have traded eternity for a single lifetime with her. They swore to defend her with their lives… and they failed.
Signum loved Knight Vita, too, though "love" was, perhaps, a wrong word for it. Catching glimpses of Signum's fractured memories, Agito always recoiled from the boundless blood-stained darkness the Knights have walked through together. The bonds forged in that darkness were stronger than love, stronger even than family. She didn't want to know the pain when one of these bonds was broken.
As Knights' leader, Signum never forgave herself. When Agito first met her, her soul shined like a campfire, strong yet gentle. Three years ago, that fire almost died. All that remained was a single pillar, a single fiery thought.
Revenge.
She still remembered that night at the Ground Forces HQ when Shamal and Zafira entered their room wearing skin-tight black clothes she never saw before. As they stared silently at Signum, Agito had a sinking feeling in her stomach. She wasn't scared of them. It just felt like her world was ending.
"Agito," Signum said in an even voice. "We are deserting the Bureau."
"Desert the… what?"
"We were Mistress Hayate's Guardian Knights. Our honor is gone with our fealty and there is only one path left for us. The Bureau is in our way."
Agito stared wide-eyed, as Signum's uniform churned off her body, replaced by the same black clothes that Shamal wore.
"There is only one thing holding me back now, Agito."
She didn't have to name it. The fear that crept up her tiny chest raised its ugly face to her. Their promise. The one she foolishly made over the body of her old master. The one her new master was too proud not to accept.
"If you think this decision is against Knight Zest's will, please kill me now."
Kill her. Agito thought about Master Zest's face.
"What about Shamal and Zafira?"
"A Knight's oath is inviolable," Shamal said quietly. Neither she, nor the wolf-man stirred.
Kill her. Master Zest deserted the Bureau, but only after he died. Would he ever do it of his own volition? She couldn't see his face anymore, but she felt like his shadow shook its head sadly. It wasn't what Master Zest would have wanted.
Agito raised her hand. A small sun formed around her palm. The Knights didn't move. Signum stood in front of her, too proud to defend herself. Her eyes locked onto Agito's.
Kill her? Kill the one who accepted her without reservation, the one whose warmth filled her heart with joy, the only one whose presence gave her life meaning? Remain forever alone again, for she could only belong to a true knight. Master Zest knew that Signum was the last of them.
The tiny flaming fist slammed into Agito's own chest, burning away the brown uniform, replaced by the same black fabric the Knights wore.
"My old master, Knight Zest… left me to you. He would have understood… I am certain."
For a moment, nobody moved. Then Signum extended her hand to her. Her warm smile washed away any doubts Agito still had.
"Then come, Squire Agito. We have work to do."
Agito did her best to hide tears of joy.
Back then, she didn't know yet how little time the Knights had remaining.