[ Ruwella City / September 30, 0078 18:30 ]

The small cafe on the outskirts of Ruwella was empty save for a handful of patrons and a sleepy waitress when Sister Schach walked in. After checking the exits and making sure she arrived first, she walked over to an empty table furthest from the exit and ordered a coffee.

She didn't hear Signum arrive—she just looked away for a moment, and there she was, standing next to her table. The years treated her fellow knight badly, Schach realized. Signum was gaunt; her eyes betrayed exhaustion, but never stopped scanning the surroundings. Laevatein was hanging from her neck, looking like whimsical accessory but definitely within instant reach. Her wonderful hair was barbarically cut short—as a sort of penance, Schach supposed. It's not for long now, she reassured herself.

"Du hast gerufen, Schach," [1] Signum said in formal Belkan.

"Jawohl," she nodded and stumbled, recalling the half-forgotten words. "Ich war mir nicht sicher, dass du kommen wirst. Bitte setz dich." [2]

"For the sake of our old friendship, I have forfeited caution," Signum switched to Mid-Childan as she seated herself. "But I can tell you right away that you will not convince me or my comrades to surrender to the Bureau."

That was a great start.

"I… wasn't really planning on it," Schach had to steer the conversation in a different direction. "Do you have the Crown?"

"Yes," Signum nodded after a second of hesitation.

"What are you planning to do with it?"

"I will bait the Cradle, then board it with my fellow knights and destroy it."

"When and where do you plan to do that?" Schach asked cautiously.

"When the time is right," a faint smile accompanied Signum's half-answer.

"You are looking for a place to blow it up," Schach was guessing wildly but tried her best to make herself sound confident. "Somewhere with fewer civilian casualties but where the Navy can deliver the finishing blow if you fail. Am I right?"

Signum's face went blank. She looked away. The cafe around them was slowly filling up.

"Yes, you are right, Schach."

"Then come with me to the Northern Mid."

"…the Church territory?"

"Exactly. We have evacuation plans to get everyone out within a day, and the Bureau will be there in full force. You may not even have to board the ship before it goes down."

That was the wrong thing to say. She could see her balk at that.

"Is right to live just for revenge, Signum?" she asked hastily.

"I have nothing else left," Signum said simply. "What would you do if Knight Carim was killed?"

Schach found herself taken aback. Finally, she stammered:

"Saint King Olivie taught forgiveness."

"In my time, the Saint Kings taught an eye for an eye."

"And look what had become of them!"

"Do you think I enjoy any of this, Schach?" Signum's voice broke.

"Then why do you do it?"

"Schach… You also follow the path of a Belkan knight. A knight who fails to protect his lord…"

"…must avenge him or die honorably."

"That is my path now."

"But there is a third option."

Signum raised her eyebrows.

"A high lord can absolve the knight of his old oaths."

"There are no high lords in this era."

"There are. The Sovereign State of the Saint Church is the legal successor to the Belkan Empire. Signum, come with me to the Northern Mid. We can make it all right again."

"The Saint Church would… harbor wanted criminals?"

"A sanctuary. Lady Carim has spoken to the Grand Cleric. No one knows of your role in this except a handful of officers, and to the people on Vaizen, you are a hero. Come with me, please. Before it's too late…"

Signum hesitated but a gleam of a wild hope shone deep within her tired eyes.

"Can I trust you?"

Schach smiled:

"You know me."

Signum tilted her head a little as if listening to something very quiet. Her face darkened again, as she reached for Laevatein.

"No, apparently, I don't."

"W-What…"

Without a warning, Signum grabbed a patron who was just walking past them with her free hand and slammed his head into the table. She jumped to her feet as his body slid down onto the floor.

"Signum, stop!" Schach demanded but her words were drowned in shouting.

"Lieutenant Pallas of the Dimensional Marines! Knight Signum, you are under arrest!"

Schach suddenly became aware that at least a dozen more patrons who jumped to their feet were pointing staff-shaped Devices at Signum, her sword already in hand.

"No, no, no, no, no…" Schach moaned. This wasn't supposed to happen. It was all wrong. And all she could do about it was to try to prevent them from killing each other. She summoned the Windenschaft.

Signum gave her a short look of disdain and uttered under her breath: "Agito…" The next moment, she burst into flames and the brawl began.

[1] Ger. "You have called, Schach."

[2] Ger. "I have. I was not sure you would come. Please take a seat."