Notes
Viktor (the blonde imperial guard), Rick (the young man with black hair), Helen (the maid), and even Ashley (the brown hair girl with the machine gun) are Sylvia's companions that appear in the last episode.
Akiho instead, for those that doesn't remember this, is Ange's "so called" friend which betrays her in ep.9
...
2
For many Sophia was just the most impregnable and best organized settlement in all Misurugi.
Sylvia had spent almost two years to build it, organizing it along democratic but by no mean weak rules, with a regency council administering everything from food distribution to military defense.
Thanks to its influence it had even been possible to restart farms and power plants, and even to restore part of the empire's main roads, everything defended by a small but very well trained army.
Sophia had risen from nothing, on a small patch of waste land a few miles away from the ancient capital, but in a short time it had become a real town. According to Sylvia's dream, it was destined to become the heart of a new Misurugi Empire.
The girls returned to town the next day, at almost noon, and like the other times their return was met with enthusiastic greeting by the people that, thanks to the good weather and the merchant's arrival from far lands, were in the streets.
Most of them were inhabitants of the ancient capital, and one could be surprised to see them living in an unusual harmony.
After all, it was the first rule for admission in Sophia: any kind of distinction, beginning with the assumed one between humans and Normas, was banned in favor of an absolute cohesion that, according to Sylvia's mind, was the only way to build a new future for the whole world.
Sylvia was often forced to use drastic methods to enforce the rules, but for the good of of them she had decided to be inflexible, even cruel if necessary: considering what was going on, there was no time for xenophobic sentiments or selfishness.
The girl, Hilda, as she had told them, was placed after their return in the capable hands of Mrs. Carmody, the old teacher who had been entrusted with the management of a school.
Even Ashley and Mary were let off, heading respectively to the canteen and to the showers, while Ruka took it upon herself to bring her child to the store to unload the recovered materials, then to the garage for the Bulldog's maintenance.
As for Sylvia, when she stored all the weapons in the armory according to the rules, she reached the headquarters, an old apartment building that had been used since the beginning as the starting point for the growth of the entire complex.
When she entered the meeting room at the third floor, Captain Viktor, an imperial guard that had faithfully served her even before the Apocalypse, and which was now the commander of Sophia's regular army, respectfully saluted her.
"Your Highness"
"I told you many times, don't call me Your Highness," said Sylvia pretending to be annoyed. "Misurugi no longer exists."
"With all respect, my lady, maybe you can stop pretending to be the rightful ruler of this country, but I assure you that the people living here think otherwise."
"I just tried to survive. And to save the ones which could still be saved. "
"No, you have made more than that. You have brought together these people, you have given them hope, and you even managed to make them understand their mistakes.
These are qualities of a true leader. So, for us, you will always be Her Highness Sylvia I, Empress of Misurugi."
The girl sighed, concentrating on something else.
"If I may, Your Highness, who is the girl you brought with you?"
"Her name is Hilda. She comes from Enderant. She said that she has been separated from her mother shortly after the Apocalypse, when their village was attacked by raiders. They took her and brought to Misurugi, then the people of Dolkin freed her and took her with them. "
"I've heard really bad rumors about Enderant. The most complete anarchy reigns out there. Some cities have been able to reorganize and hold fast, but the rest of the country is full of human and Normas killing each other. "
"And if it goes on like this, I fear that soon the same thing could happen here."
Noting his lady's worried, almost captivated expression, Viktor frowned: something very serious must have happened to disturb even a strong and determined girl like her.
"What do you mean, Your Highness?"
Sylvia then told them what she had seen in Dolkin, shocking even one as strong and determined as Viktor, who very much like her in the past two years had seen firsthand the low point reached by mankind.
Yet, when the story ended, Sylvia noticed something strange in his elderly general's expression, as if that kind of stories wasn't entirely news for him.
"Have you already heard about this?" she asked.
"Beyond the mountains, towards Gallia. I thought it was just merchants' story tales. They spoke about small and large settlements decimated or disappeared in just one night. The remaining bodies were mummified, as if the killers drunk them all their organs. "
"This doesn't quite seem the style of common robbers."
"If the stories are true, I'm afraid that anyone could be the culprit except for common robbers. But what on earth can justify such savagery? "
Sylvia stood silent for a long time, while shivers ran through her back.
"We cannot do otherwise. We'll increase the alert lever. The watch must be in its place day and night, inside and around the settlement. "
"Yes, Your Highness."
"But please, be discreet. It is already hard enough to maintain the order, the last thing we need is uncontrolled panic. "
In that moment, shouts and yells came from the open window, and leaning the girl noticed a small crowd gathered in the central courtyard, in front of the building.
"Here we go." She snorted leaving the room, closely followed by her advisor.
...
When Sylvia and Viktor reached the center of the protest, it was already on the brink of turning into a brawl, and for some reason they weren't surprised when they found themselves in front of an brown haired young girl with dark skin and a fiery expression.
At her feet was a young woman, in a rather bad shape, that she had seemingly beaten using the crowbar in her hand.
Upon the arrival of the Commander, the second most common epithet that Sophia's inhabitants used to refer to Sylvia, the people immediately left an opening, leaving her and responsible facing one each other.
"I should have known that you were the responsible, Akiho" she said confidently, despite the fact that the girl was five or even six years older than her. "What is it this time?"
"It's time to end this!" the girl screamed angrily. "We humans are tired of starving while these Normas parasites and their useless relatives gorge themselves like pigs!"
"What is that supposed to mean? Everyone here receives the same rations, whether they are humans, Normas or Norma's relatives. "
"Lies! I saw it! I saw the attendants in the kitchen! They're all Normas! And every time they see another Norma, they fill her pot immediately! "
"If it's true, they'll be reprimanded. But to be honest I doubt it. I eat with you every day, and I've never, ever seen a plate filled more or less than mine.
I just think that this is you talking big as usual, coupled with your stupid fanatism that has no more reasons to exist.
You, me, all of these people. We are all Normas now. Rather, we are all humans. Human beings. Whether you like it or not. "
"Bullshit! Do not compare me to those parasites! You've never been caught by a Norma! I have experimented it on myself, and I know what they're capable of!" Just then in her eyes appeared such a deep terror that she looked as if she was going to wet her pants. "I saw their demonic eyes, their destructive madness, their evil belief to be right above anything. How can you say that the Normas are the same as us? This is beyond logic. "
"No," Sylvia said curtly. "The true fact that baffles logic is that, after all this time, there is still someone like you believing in those things.
And to return to the food problem, because this was the issue at hand, I repeat that this Norma favoritisms exist only in your head. But if you want to get some extra food and eat it on your own no one will stop you. "
"But you're the Empress! Our guide! Is not one of the duties of the Royal House to provide for all the needs of its people? "
"Provide for the needs does not mean to please all your whims. The time of milk and honey is over. Now if you want something you have to work hard for it, as it should be. Do you want to eat more? Grab a shovel and dig, or take a bow and go hunting, without waiting for food raining on you from the heavens. "
Akiho looked around, taking notice with fear that not only the Normas, but even those who till then seemed to agree with her, were now silently staring at her .
Having said that, Sylvia turned to go from where she had come from, and then Akiho lost her mind.
"You cursed Normas' friend!"
But she didn't have time to raise the crowbar, because Sylvia in a second was in front of her, hitting her so hard with his knee that barely a moment later Akiho was on the ground, throwing up everything she had in the stomach.
"I'm tired of your bullshit, stupid whore. If I find you making a mess again, I'll send you back in the hands of the same persons from which I saved you.
And then you will see how far can go the anger of many Normas that people like you have stirred up for centuries. "
At that point, Sylvia went, saluted with a respectful bow by all presents.
"It is the third time that she caused problems since she arrived," said Viktor walking a few steps behind her. "Are you sure it's a good idea to show such indulgence?"
"That girl has been sodomized, raped and almost lynched by the parents of certain Norma little girls that she denounced." she said almost sorry. "I want to give her a chance.
After all, she was also friends with my sister. "
"Friend !? I was there when she incited the guards to hang noble Angelise. "
"After I whipped her.
You are an exception, Viktor. You have seen the truth long before many of us. But I, she, and everyone else ... we were different. Monsters.
I promised to myself never to do the same mistakes. "
But then, Sylvia shook herself up, and Viktor almost struggled to recognize her.
"But you're right.
This is really the last chance. If she causes other problems I assure you that she'll be sorry. "
"Do you really mean to give her back to those who almost killed her?"
"There's no need to go that far. But I'll have her assigned to some hard work, and you can be sure she'll eventually calm down. "
"You always know how to be just but resolute, Your Highness. A most rare quality, even among the rulers. "
"Or maybe just very naive," she smiled. "Sometimes I think I should do like my sister, a bullet in the head and who cares."
...
Sylvia tried to take some sleep in the remaining hours of the night, but her rest, as well as short, turned out to be not easy at all.
Images, scary, of Dolkin appeared in the dream as ghosts from hell.
She could almost see them, those responsible of that carnage, attacking the village, burning houses, and drinking blood and organs of the inhabitants and of the animals, leaving behind nothing but destruction and death.
And the awakening was no better.
She had just managed to fall asleep, when the sound of the door slamming forcefully made her jump with fright.
"Your Highness," said Helen, her faithful maid since the old times, appearing in the doorway as white as a ghost. "You must come at once."
"What happened?" she asked, dreading the answer already.
A few minutes later, she was in the meeting room again, this time in company with her entire board of regents.
Besides Viktor, there were Mrs. Carmody, which in addition to managing the school was also responsible for the refugees, Mr. Stouble, representing farms and other agricultural activities around Sophia, and Rick, the young but very capable fruit merchant, who had become responsible for the food resources' management.
"We've heard it from the farmers arrived today in town for tomorrow's market," said Viktor. "And one of our patrols has confirmed it.
The village of Bodani, on the other side of the capital's ruins, has been attacked during the night.
We don't know who did it yet, but the stories of the farmers mention explosions, bursts of automatic weapons heard even at great distance and strange lights coming from the sea.
We tried to contact them by radio, but no one responded. At this point we have to assume that they are all dead."
All those present lowered their eyes.
"It may be possible that they could be common robbers?" asked Stouble. "Rather than those who attacked Dolkin?"
"We cannot rule it out. I have not found someone willing to accompany me to do some recon. But we should also keep in mind that with the destruction of the gang that was operating nearby there are no other groups that we know of on this side of the mountains.
But considering that the witnesses clearly speak of something that came from the sea, we cannot rule out the possibility of some gang coming from beyond the borders of Misurugi."
"But how could that be possible?" asked Mrs. Carmody. "Now that the mana is gone, with our current technology it should be impossible to navigate along the coast without being spotted."
"And certainly they didn't come from any other land beyond the ocean" said Rick. "For all we know the Apocalypse destroyed anything that could able to do such a thing."
"And what do you say about that strange vehicles used by the Normas during the war?" suggested Stouble. "If I remember correctly they didn't require mana to work."
"Considering Sophia's actual situation" remarked Mrs. Carmody sadly. "If the voice that the Normas might be responsible spreads we will have a general uprising."
"The Normas are not the only ones able to drive those things" Viktor cut her off. "The para-mail. As I said, there are no certain answers."
The Council members then turned their gazes to Sylvia, which seemed almost trying to shy away from them.
"Your Highness, I must ask you to consider the idea of abandoning the settlement, at least until we could establish the real nature of these aggressors."
"Leave Sophia !?" thundered Rick. "Are you crazy !?"
"He's right, Viktor" said Mrs. Carmody. "This settlement is the most protected of all Misurugi. Where else could we be safer than here? "
"It is clear that whoever is responsible for these attacks possesses a technology so powerful and destructive that it makes possible for him to wipe out entire villages leaving no survivors at all.
But we also know that it tends to attack only the big towns, where it can have many victims.
Sophia is well defended, but it is also a tempting target. If we stay here we are all potential targets."
"We'll be in danger even if we leave" replied Stubble. "At least here we have some defenses."
"That may be useless. The escape galleries are not ready yet. If the enemy attacks, there would be no way to escape. We would be trapped. "
"We stay." Sylvia murmured, her eyes looking the table and her fists strongly clenched
All ones, again, turned toward her.
"Your Highness ..." said Viktor
"It took two years to build this place, and I believe in its defenses. I will not risk the lives of all these people sending them into the fray looking for a deceptive security. "
"But ..."
"As long as we are here we have the anti-tank emplacements, automatic cannons, even anti-aircraft weapons. Out there we would have nothing but ourselves."
For the second time, when Sylvia looked up, not only Viktor, but all of her advisers almost didn't recognize her.
"We are not Dolkin, or Bodani. We are Sophia. We're the embryo from which the new Misurugi Empire will rise. And anyone who tries to attack us, will know that we are no easy prey! "
No one dared to object.
After all Viktor was the only one in that room to think that there was more hopes of salvation outside Sophia's, but he had served the imperial family for far too long to challenge his Empress's decision.
"As you wish." It was the only thing he could say.