Act 3 Prologue
—
Setting:
1979, November
A crypt under an East German church
"—To my dearest princess, Beatrix Brehme. If you're hearing this message, either you snuck into my safe, found my will and is disrespectful enough to go through it- or I've died. If the situation is the former, please stop; I've got stuff in here you probably shouldn't look at… probably some inappropriate material depending on the date of exposure."
There was one erotic magazine featuring busty blondes in the pile of paperwork buried within the backpack.
"However, if it's the latter… hold on, I need to get drunker first, it's hard to avoid thinking if I'm too sober." Following his declaration was indeed the noise of liquid consumption.
"Hoooo! Hic- this be some strong stuff! Real Killepitsch from Dusseldorf, don't remember still having some left! My friend Walther got this for me, remember him? The man fitting to play the part of my father- hahahaha! He's actually not old at all, only twenty-four or something during Palaiologos, bloody looks like someone having a midlife crisis though! Ahahahaha!"
"Ahaa- hic—! Anyway, I… er… died by the time you got this, and I'm sorry… for leaving you so soon, my Love. Hopefully, I passed on as a hero, fighting bravely against the endless BETA till the very end; maybe I died protecting you and Iris? Now that would be the most favourable way of meeting my maker, but still… I'm sorry."
"The world has always been cruel; to everyone, but especially you, Bea. You suffered torment I cannot possibly imagine; the loneliness, the hollow, the despair… it's a difficult life to endure, and now I can't be there to support you no longer." Every point he made was exactly correct, Jürgen was always the one who recognized her most.
"However, I know you have the strength to stand back up and fight against that pain. No matter how testing it was to continue or how easy it could be to simply give up; you always chose to stride on, to not be defeated by mere destiny. So again, I believe you can continue that strenuous path without me by your side."
"And hopefully, you won't be forced to tackle that journey alone. If there is someone out there for you, I know it to be Iris who will never abandon you, Love. Seek her help, and depend on her if need be. Think of my sister as yours, Bea… or perhaps she already is, that would be the best outcome…"
"I won't beg you, Bea. I want to- but I won't. Because I know you won't join me so soon, not yet for the time isn't right. And I know you'll keep on living, even in a world conspiring your downfall. You will not be routed by my death, however grief-stricken you may be; you cannot let our dream fall into the abyss of nothingness, you cannot let me die in the truest sense."
There was a pause in his recording; however long that gap was, Beatrix didn't count.
"Alright… I think I've spoken enough, wouldn't want to jabber on for a tape no one is going to hear anyway. But if you do hear- and again, I'm really sorry in that case- but if you are listening to me; please, Bea. Live on for me."
"Oh, one last thing. Since I'm dead now, you can have all of my stuff the State has yet to burn; except for my scarf. It's my scarf, I'm keeping my scarf. Also, if you find a bible or two in the bag you found this cassette, give one to Iris if you don't mind."
Act 3 Prologue End
—
Act 3-1
—
Narration by:
Irisdina Bernhard (The Judas, the Saint)
Starring:
Beatrix Brehme (As if born anew)
Featuring:
Jürgen Bernhard (Lost too soon?)
Heinz Axmann (Unparalleled hobbies)
—
Setting:
1979, November
A secret East German church
An utterly unthinkable conception was forever painted into Irisdina's memories on the bitter November night, she was told her brother's inheritance would be left in the crypt of an undisclosed church, the inheritance she believed to be hers to retrieve in a location she thought belonged to her family alone.
However, before the Christian cross there kneeled another broken soul; the long, luxuriant locks dyed in black lingered inanimately along with the rest of her body, never once oscillating as she stooped in complete silence. Irisdina knew that could be nobody else other than her best friend, the question was how she could approach Beatrix in the wisest way possible.
After what seemed to be hours of deliberation, the soon-to-be Captain chose the humblest method of advancement, knowing the wickedness she had committed would not be easily forgiven.
"…Beato… I'm sorry…"
"… 'For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.' -Psalms, chapter fifty-five, verses twelve to fourteen."
Quotes Beatrix should have never read out, words Irisdina feared the most out of any accusations; she didn't want to hear them, she didn't want anyone to blame her for the fault.
"Beato…! That's not fair! I- I didn't know! Axmann tricked me into giving him away!" Irisdina failed to control her emotions, shouting her excuse at one who was no longer her friend; showing a complete lack of repentance.
"… 'Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.' -Ephesians, chapter four, verse eighteen." Irisdina filched irritatedly as she restricted her face's twist from revealing her inner anger, Beatrix had again quoted phrases from a book she knew nothing about.
"That's ENOUGH! You don't have the right to lecture me using words you don't understand! You're not even a Christian! You blame me for his death as if I welcomed my betrayal with open arms! You think I wanted this!? I wanted to condemn Jürgen!?"
How could the brunette act so obnoxious towards her during a time like this? Beatrix was deeply hurt, Irisdina understood that; she was probably the one suffering from the most unbearable pain. But then what about Jürgen's own sister? Of course Irisdina's heart ached at the constant thought of her mistake that robbed his life.
Then, a crisp smash echoed in the eerie church hall, breaking Irisdina's fuelled rant to refocus her sight on the cause of that noise; a bible being slammed spine down on the wooden floor by Beatrix, who still remained in her kneeling position after the strike.
"You're right, I'm indifferent to the idea regarding the existence of a god. But as someone looking in from the outside, I can distinguish your actions are that of a sinner refusing to atone."
"I—! NO! It's not like that! I-I would do anything to stop myself from that time! I… you have no idea how much I regret my own selfish desire on that day… I thought it was a clever plan at the time… like an immature child!"
Before she realized, there were transparent fluids dipping down the side of Irisdina's face. Her unstable sentiments were haste to let her grievance take on a physical form as tears she promised not to shed. It was all too painful, their tragedy born from her envy.
"It wasn't fair that you kept him at this time! Jürgen had always been with me…! We were always meant to be together as siblings! …That was all I ever wanted from life… but you took it, and I couldn't do anything to stop you..."
It was no secret; Irisdina always loved her brother, her only relative family member left. However, the young girl couldn't recognize what was the true meaning of that love, and before she knew it, Jürgen had fallen for another maiden she introduced him to. He was supposed to be her brother, only her brother and no one else's.
"I'm sorry, Beato. I couldn't let go of my juvenile dream, I grew too jealous over the years… I just wanted him to… to simply notice me! To remember his sister! Please… please forgive me! I didn't want to kill him! I SWEAR!" Irisdina was on the brink of breaking down in misery, her sorrow and guilt clashed in the confine of her fragmented heart.
"That's where you're mistaken, Iris. You informed on him, and I killed him."
"You… what?"
A revelation so parlous for Irisdina, it felt as if the air in her lungs completely chocked at her neck. Beatrix's hands were forced to commit an evil spawned by Iris's own yearning, the deed that inflicted more pain to her than anyone else.
"It was my duty as the protector of our State to eliminate a traitor to our country, there is nothing else to be said."
Only then after the whole truth was exposed did Beatrix finally move her body. It was inconspicuous at first, the poor lightning available aided by the shading of the entire room made it hard for Irisdina to see what Beato held in hand as she dusted off her clothes; but in time, there was little doubt remaining in the mind of the blonde girl.
Beatrix had nothing special with her, only the bible, a small bag and a hat; a NVA officer's hat, to be exact. When she was fully upright on her two feet, Irisdina noticed another detail about her uniform; the insignia sewed to her sleeves had a few more bars than hers, making Beatrix a Major within the military.
"Yes, I killed Jürgen… you can't take the credit away from me. I was the one who did it, it's me who earned my place in the Stasi, the right to continue his dreams."
Slowly, Beatrix confronted Irisdina face to face, the cap was hiding her ruby eyes mostly in shadows. But there was a feature no amount of darkness could erase on her face, that being the ruined makeup running several thick lines down from her eyelids onto her cheeks.
"Beato…!" She wanted to say so much, she wanted to express herself in so many ways. But Irisdina's mind wiped itself completely white as her friend walked closer, she couldn't think of anything to speak about.
"Hu… ~ufufufu… it have been fun, Iris. Our lives together, our time spent enjoying each other's company. Nonetheless, we are adults now, and we have our own paths to choose. You are a war hero of the Poland retreat, the soon-to-be commander of the 666th; and I, the commander of Ministerium's new largest Battalion, 101st Werwolf."
Following her remarkably playful sentence, Beatrix actually flashed a grin before Irisdina, smirking confidently as she adjusted the fit of her hat. However, that charismatic mien blended terribly with the streaks washing down her face. She could uphold a fake outlook, not symbolize it.
"…Beato…"
"Jürgen's death jump-started both of our careers, didn't it? Now we can move on to tomorrow, both forever regretting our horrendous sins… I look forward to it, Iris, maybe we'll meet again on the battlefield? Or a Stasi interrogation room, if you insist… even Valhalla, at a later time, of course."
Imaginary tape sealed Irisdina's mouth, stopping her from uttering any form of understandable coherent. She still said nothing as Beatrix tugged the bible into her hands; the skin of the dark haired comrade never felt so cold, same could be said for her glare which threatened to burn through the pale girl's skin.
"I see you're still wearing that necklace, Iris…"
"Yeah… it's a gift from you, Beato, obviously I would wear it." By some means, that lone idea got past Irisdina's verbal blockade.
"Then we all received something worthy to us… I'm glad, really… glad."
Following her fingers as she released its hold on Irisdina's necklet, Beatrix carefully slipped off the black gloves enfolded around her left hand. There was no surprise awaiting the blonde as she saw the perfect accessory which further emphasized her friend's beauty; the only ring befitting her.
"Beato… that makes you my sister…"
"Your sister… but myself a widow. A successful one, but still alone." She was hurt, not unforeseen.
"…I'm sorry." Irisdina's grip caught nothing except the air surging in to fill the gap where Beatrix stood.
"… 'For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.' -One Corinthians, chapter fifteen, verses three to four."
"What… do you mean, Beato?" Those quotes alarmed her, it deviated from the theme of their conversation until now.
"~Ufufufu… the Lord forgives all sins, but I too am a sinner, so I don't have to." There was no answer, only more mysteries accompanying Beatrix's departure.
Act 3-1 End
—
Act 3-2
—
Narration by:
Beatrix Brehme (As if born anew)
Starring:
Heinz Axmann (Unparalleled hobbies)
Featuring:
Jürgen Bernhard (Lost too soon?)
Irisdina Bernhard (The Judas, the Saint)
Erich Schmidt (Almost irrelevant)
—
Setting:
1980, August
Harz Forest military base
"Comrade Major, owning just one of those books is a crime severe enough for a man to be interrogated by us… and you have four… bookshelves."
"~Ufufu… haven't you heard, Comrade Oberstleutnant? (Lieutenant Colonel) That knowledge is power."
"So you seek to be strong, Major Brehme?"
"Huhu, who knows, maybe I just like to read."
Axmann leaned casually against the doorframe leading into Beatrix's new office as she organized all her belongings from bags of many different sizes and types. Having finally received her own Battalion, and along with it, her own base; the new Stasi officer was unpacking from the migration to her new den.
"Still, I must display my stupefaction as to how you even managed to collect these literatures, Comrade Major. Perhaps smuggling is a more grave concern than I expected." Axmann wandered over to Beatrix's desk, running his gloved hand over its surface before reaching for the books in her opened suitcases.
"Let's see, what have we gotten here? Brave New World by Aldous Huxley… 'The greatest triumphs of propaganda have been accomplished, not by doing something, but by refraining from doing. Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth."
From that one quote by Axmann, Beatrix was almost completely stupefied by his knowledge on the theme of that book.
"…You've read it before, Axmann?"
"Of course, it is a suitable example that a utopia can be formed while also being seen as a dystopia by its residents. It can also be a great lesson to us, Beatrix. Who does the Stasi serve? Are we here to execute the populaces? Or to protect the populaces?" Feeling as if she had taken roots in her seat, Beatrix realized it was difficult to imagine a fitting reply for Axmann's sentence.
"What the people desire is vastly diverse from what the people require, so we are here to save the population from individuals only hungering for their own benefit. We are sword and shield to the Party; the Party is this nation, then only can the nation be the citizens." Beatrix had to react fast, or this would be one more victory for her mortal enemy.
"Excellently said, Comrade Major, we can have a fruitful discussion on needs and freedom at another opportunity. Allow me to assist you in organizing this wonderful workplace for this time being, where will you like for this volume to be placed?"
"Alphabetical order, first shelf, second row." Axmann leisurely relocated Beatrix's hardcover.
"Danke." She twitched her mouth and smirked bewitchingly for Axmann. It was disgusting to every fibre of the brunette's body, but her mask of a perfect officer was more crucial than her dignity.
"What's next? …Hoh? The Bible, I see. Quite a drastic change of genre from our last, Major Brehme, a bit less exciting. Albeit I must ask, where did you receive this book from? Christianity in this country is somewhat… restricted."
"…It was from Jürgen, I found it in his crypt." Beatrix considered the Lieutenant Colonel's question thoroughly, eventually reaching the conclusion that it was too late for the disclosure to matter.
"I see, are you a Christian?"
"I… will not argue against the existence of a god, however I am not religiously interested."
"Then is he?"
"As far as I know, he is not."
"So it is Irisdina?" Flipping through the Jewish scriptures informally, Axmann found interest in the lack of answer provided by Beatrix.
"Major Brehme, I am not so distasteful as to hunt her for her belief. I can guarantee that this question is posed purely for my personal curiosity." The red haired man turned around, presenting Beatrix with a stylishly disturbing smile.
"At this point, do I really have to answer?"
"Very well then. Personally, I think if there is a god, he does not interfere with men's work."
"God is in his heaven; all's right with the world…"
"Something like that, Major."
"Oh my… and what's this? Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell… and a non-censored version too. How impressive indeed, Comrade Beatrix, you're a person of fine taste, I'll admit."
What was their conversation about at this point? Beatrix honestly admitted she didn't keep track. As Axmann continued to scrutinize her collection of books and bring up subjects which demanded her intellectual involvement, she couldn't help but feel a gesture of nostalgia washing over her. And that made Beatrix sick to the very bottom of her stomach.
This was her and Jürgen's pastime, to discuss controversial topics and share their deeply discovered opinions. Their association on ideals, their divergence on actions; they knew each other, inside and out, that was their truth and should be nobody else's.
"Well, the new decorations are coming along nicely, although it isn't a set I would recommend proudly showing to others, especially Schmidt."
"I know, he will never step a foot into this office." That wasn't a proposal or a guess, Schmidt was going to die before ever visiting Beatrix's home.
"Speaking of Schmidt, what are your opinions on working for the Moscow Sect?" It appeared to be time for the Stasi officers to deliberate on actual issues.
"It's… similar yet different, separate methods for obtaining the same goal. In the end, both factions yearn for power; you want it, they want to keep it."
"They', Beatrix? Not 'We'?"
"~Ufufu… my loyalty is to the State alone, Comrade. You should know." Beatrix grinned again, knowing her smile could shroud any lie.
"Then I'm glad you recognize to the truth, Major Brehme. What we do, we do for the Party and the good of our Fatherland." Lies, there existed only lies. No matter whose mouth those words came from, truth was merely a concept in the Socialist country.
"Overall, thank you for your visit today, Comrade Oberstleutnant. Would you like some fine alcohol for today's hard work?" Beatrix alluringly offered as she slipped her hand under the desk to extract a long slim bottle and two white wine glasses, his eyes gazed over her drink to reflect on a proper decision.
"…In that case, don't mind if I do. What brand of wine is it, Beatrix?"
"1905 Riesling Beerenauslese, one of my father's collection, before the split of Germany."
"Is that so? To think grape beverage from west of the wall still subsisted here, now that is one offer I cannot refuse."
"As you say, Oberstleutnant Axmann. Please, do enjoy."
With her steady hands gripping the bottle tightly, Beatrix elegantly poured the transparent liquor into two glasses before her and Axmann. In her heart, she couldn't cease thinking about the unfortunate waste of a good wine by feeding it to the savage of a man.
"To the Ministerium, Comrade Oberstleutnant."
"And to your new future, Comrade Major."
"Prost! (Cheers)"
The glasses clapped, soon followed by a warm perception on Beatrix's lips and tongue as she savoured the wonderful taste of sweet, fermented fruit mixed with the perfect dose of acid and sugar.
"Well then… time surely flies when we're enjoying ourselves, I must make haste to exit, regrettably."
"Regrettable… indeed." Obviously not.
"Oh, before I leave, however. There is something for you, Beatrix."
Seizing the wine glass by the stem in his left hand, Axmann reached for something tied to his waist with his right. When the man revealed an item withdrew from his belt, Beatrix was forced to hold her breath as its tip reflected a beam of sunshine shooting through the window.
"~Ara, ara…Oberstleutnant?" Beatrix reunited with a familiar firearm, Axmann's Signature all-steel Walther PPK-L.
"For you, my apprentice. A token of our friendship." The grip of his pistol was once again aimed at Beatrix after the Lieutenant Colonel twirled his firearm like a toy as always.
"…"
As if a thousand blades gored out her heart at once, Beatrix was shocked frozen where she stood. An unstoppable momentum flashed her world back one year prior, to that dreadful night when she first experienced death by her own hands.
Jürgen, she had killed him; with that gun, she had killed herself.
Now Axmann was offering her the firearm as a gift, claiming the two of them to be close enough for the term 'friend' to apply. This was absolutely repulsive for the Major, out of every man alive on this planet, there was no other being she would wish the most painful death upon.
"Danke sehr. (Thank you very much.) Mentor." But she was too committed to refuse, the awful suffering of her true self came second in fulfilling his dream.
Beatrix humbly accepted Axmann's present, she cautiously studied every inch of the PPK without letting go of the glass. Just as she recalled, the pistol was still lighter than a single feather. However, Beatrix did spot a lone modification made to the otherwise identical gun, on its aluminum slide were text stamped on after her pervious usage.
[Victory, at any cost.]
The gun mocked her, it took all of Beatrix's restrain not to leap over the desk and beat Axmann to death with it.
"Well, this was the most fantastic wine I have had the pleasure to relish in quite some time. My appreciation to you, Beatrix. But as ill-fated as it is, I must take my leave now." While she was still in a trance, Axmann already finished his drink and was stepping towards the door.
Seeing his back, Beatrix did the only thing she remembered how.
"Anything to say, Major?" Axmann turned around and met the iron sight of Beatrix's new gun.
"~Bang." She tiled the barrel up slightly, replicating the recoil of the gun after a shot.
"It doesn't actually kick that much, Major. Although you wouldn't know, would you?"
"Guess not, Oberstleutnant."
"Schönen Tag, (Have a good day) Beatrix Brehme."
"Auf Wiedersehen, (Farewell) Heinz Axmann." He tipped his hat, and left.
Alone in her new home, Beatrix almost never felt more lost and defeated. She looked at the gun, observed it closely, sensed the grip and the trigger, before finally clicking off the safety and cocking the hammer.
"…Jürgen… I miss you… so much."
Her tears leaked down slowly, past her nose and through her makeup, creating a continuous stream from her eyes into the muzzle of the pistol as she pushed it up against her chin.
"Please… give me strength… let me achieve our dream, let me see my hope."
Beatrix wanted to die; she wanted to go to where Jürgen was. But if she were to be lost on her way over, then they truly will never meet again.
"I… believe you, Jürgen… I know…my faith won't end in misery. All of this… I prepared this… for you." Eventually, Beatrix did lower the gun.
"To us, Jürgen, to our future." Then she gulped down the wine, all in one swig.
Act 3-2 End
—
Act 3-3
—
Narration by:
Beatrix Brehme (As if born anew)
Starring:
Walther Kruger (Not actually an old man)
Featuring:
Irisdina Bernhard (The Judas, the saint)
Jürgen Bernhard (Lost too soon?)
—
Setting:
1980, September
A café in Berlin
"Huum, now- what do you think is Germany's most popular beverage of choice? Perhaps beer? Most likely beer. –You know, I always thought our implied obsession for beer was a stereotype as a kid, you can imagine how I was proven wrong after entering the adult world."
"Before being overrun by BETA, Austria held the world's highest beer consumption per capita." That trivia was new knowledge to Beatrix.
"~Huhu, that is good to know."
She sat comfortably on the cushioned chair by the window, sipping on her cup of tea as waiters and customers walked pass. This café was the same restaurant she met Irisdina before becoming a Major for the Ministry, funny how much things happened in-between her visits.
"So Major, whenever you feel like, we can talk." Across from Beatrix was a friend- Jürgen's friend, to be more specific. She arranged for Walther to meet her at this café, but the girl was a bit preoccupied with deliberately beating around the bush after his arrival.
"~Ara, ara… are you perhaps booked for this afternoon? Is it bad spending time relaxing with me?" Beatrix toned her voice as she fancied, hoping to satisfy herself with a jarring reaction from Walther who was well known for his poker face.
"Frau. Brehme, please, I know you're not that type of person. It won't do anything to me." Beatrix hated to admit how she was the one caught off-guard, maybe Jürgen humbly bragging about her wasn't all good.
"…Just call me Beatrix, I don't want to remember my father's name." Shifting her weight back, the newly promoted Stasi officer finally dropped her façade for a friend.
"I'm sorry for what happened, Beatrix."
"Don't be, I'm deceiving myself into believing it all to be a dream… don't shatter my illusion, not yet."
"Did you not grieve for him?"
"I did, but I still want to believe… his hope is giving me strength to continue." Walther nodded in understanding, while Beatrix didn't know exactly how close he was to Jürgen, they were still comrades who both seen hell together.
"On that note, I'll tell you why I actually called you. Everything that has happened so far led me to procuring a Battalion of my own, but I best not trust the nameless pilots assigned to me by the Ministerium. So Walther, would you like to join me?"
The white-haired gentleman reformed his expression by the smallest of percentage, but he was in-fact considering Beatrix's offer.
"Then you want me to join the Stasi?"
"Yes, under me."
"I'm sorry, but no." The rejection didn't shock her nearly as much as how swiftly it was concluded.
"A reason?"
"I'm not killing other humans."
"Is that it? You don't want to stain your hands?" It was just a tiny bit upsetting.
"We're dying fast enough as is, I don't want to accelerate that process."
"Even though someone else will be doing it anyway?"
"I'm a pilot, I sortie to kill BETA, not us."
To Beatrix, Walther's resolve was stranger than anything else. In a state constantly under the watchful eyes of their secret police, everyone knew the MfS held absolute control over its population. That power was Beatrix goal to obtain, she scarified her own morality for Jürgen's dream. Yet here was someone unwilling to change oneself to gain an edge over society.
"Beatrix, if you don't mind me asking, what have you done for the Stasi?" An oddly unrelated question coming from the senior soldier, but she recognized chatting with Walther wouldn't hurt anyway.
"What I have done… is everything men cannot do. The only purity I have remaining is that of the flesh, this body was all I could protect…" Beatrix found her throat running dry as accounts describing her exact experience in her line of work were nothing but grim remembrances.
"So why? Why did you choose to work for the Stasi? You suffered their cruelty first-hand, you should hold a grudge heftier than any other." To that end, Walther was absolutely correct.
"Because there is something I desire… his vision, I will attain that dream even by my lonesome. I will kill everyone and everything that dares to stand in my way, this is my vow to Jürgen. I need no humanity… to become a great evil for protection of humanity."
"I remember the you from long time ago, Beatrix. Back when Jürgen was happily announcing a shy girl as his new friend… where did those days go, I wonder?"
"They died, Walther, along with him… at least for now. The old him, the old me… the old Iris, we're all gone now. I have no path to retreat on, my destiny lies ahead." The stern attitude born from Beatrix's craving for their blissful past focused her mind on their impending future.
"Is there nothing left of you? Is there only a monster inside?" The scorn that would normally anger Beatrix somehow relaxed her complex mind.
"I… what the Stasi have done to me… is unspeakable, they wanted to create a monster, and they succeeded in me. But I want to be who he was to me… to others. He taught me many lessons, he was my saviour from misery. That kindness is my silver-lining, so if I can… I want to pass on his gentleness."
It was in the form of the purest devotion for any human. To Beatrix who was betrayed by her best friend, she still held the strength to continue. She could give up so easily at any time, submitting to the raw greed for power; however, the girl aimed for the best of both worlds, while being constantly retold the futility of her notion.
"…I'm sorry, Beatrix. I'm not strong enough to support you in your ambition to obtain that dream, it's not who I am as a person. I truly am sorry for that, I wish to assist, but incapable of doing so." The second rejection came much more natural.
"I see…"
"Also, I don't want to fall for this temptation."
"What temptation?"
"You."
"…Ahhh… ha… huhuhu~ huhuhuhu…" Beatrix smiled again, genuinely this time.
"Walther, thank you for everything. How about this, I'll recommend you to Irisdina's new unit, a tactical Squadron specialized in Laserjagd. She is probably looking for pilots too, that'll be more of your specialty. And don't worry, I'm doing this as an acquaintance, not an officer."
There was no need for games, no need to pretend otherwise; Walther was Jürgen's friend, making him Beatrix's friend as well. And the girl simply didn't want to deceive absolutely everyone, she wanted to prove she wasn't becoming another monster.
"The past few years have been difficult on you, Beatrix. I can see that Jürgen passed on his legacy to you, you must miss him dearly."
"Indeed, I think about him every night… his ambition, his dream… I will inherit everything to keep his spirit alive, Jürgen lives on within me… then perhaps, in reality as well."
Act 3 End
—
Author's note
There's pretty much no information on what happened to Beatrix after Jürgen's death until Lise joined the Werewolves. In this story, things like her going to Gretel's school would have happened before him dying but after the first chapter, although that'll be brought up later too. Some events may be taking place earlier or later, but unless mentioned, the end result should be the same.
Thanks for reading.
BETA done by chad001