"Now that I think about it, why didn't Mink, Reide, and the rest of the higher ranks tag along? They're all huge Estalcia hero fanboys," Anyachi says as she and Selene walk through a hallway.
"Oh yeah, you wouldn't know about it, since you've been stationed here today," Selene tells her.
"Know what?" Anyachi asks, confused.
"The Supreme Kings deployed all of them to go aid Staria with their war against Guillovoire," Selene says.
Anyachi stops walking. Her expression tightens.
"They deployed soldiers of my battalion without contacting me?!" she snaps, her voice rising.
"Calm down, Anyachi, you're steaming," Selene says playfully, fanning her with her hand.
"They wouldn't do this to the first, second, or third battalion leaders. They don't value me because I'm a female," Anyachi mutters, clenching her fist.
"Calm down, Anyachi, I don't think that's it," Selene says, though her laugh sounds forced.
"What else could it be? Why didn't you contact me when it happened?" Anyachi asks sharply.
"I was ordered not to tell you until they reached Guillovoire," Selene says quietly.
"Damn those old bastards!!"
Anyachi slams her fist into the wall. The impact echoes through the hallway, leaving faint cracks behind.
Selene flinches slightly. "Uh…"
"I'm heading over to the sword containment room," Anyachi says, already turning away.
"Why? The hero's sword is heavily secured," Selene asks.
Anyachi raises her fist slightly. "Because it's the only place that can withstand my punches."
She walks off without another word.
Selene watches her leave. "Oh…"
---
"Look at me… crying isn't going to solve anything. I just have to hold my head high and hope Eunice is alright. She's strong, and Dad's there to take care of her," Miura says, wiping his face.
"I should be worried about myself. I know I survived the first piercing, but can I survive a second? God, I'm horrified," he adds, forcing a crooked smile.
Knock. Knock.
"Sir, please, I came to drop off the beverage," a soft voice calls.
"Oh, it must be the same girl from last time," Miura thinks.
"Yeah, come on in," he says.
The door opens. Miura glances at her, then quickly looks away.
"Woah… now that I look at her, she's really pretty," he thinks, a faint blush forming.
"He must not want to make eye contact with me after what I saw earlier… I have to apologize," the girl thinks nervously.
"I'm sorry for entering so abruptly last time, FORGIVE ME!!" she blurts, bowing deeply.
"Uh—s-stop it, what are you doing?!" Miura says, startled.
"You're not angry at me?" she asks.
"Why would I be?" Miura replies.
"Because I interrupted you and Mrs. Anyachi's love-making session," she says innocently.
Miura freezes. "Ehh?!! We weren't having a love session, we were fighting!"
"On a bed?" she asks.
Miura pauses. "...Yeah—now that I think about it, without context, that does look bad," he admits.
"Pfft—ha, ha!" she laughs.
Miura looks at her… then starts laughing too.
"What am I doing? If the headmaster catches me here, I'm done for," she thinks.
"She's even prettier when she laughs," Miura thinks, completely distracted.
"I need to go," she says, standing abruptly.
"W-wait, what's your name?" Miura asks.
"It's Liah… my name is Liah," she says, flustered.
"I'm Miura—"
"Ok!" she cuts him off and runs out.
"Nice to meet you," he finishes quietly, lowering his hand.
"That's the first time a man has asked for my maiden name genuinely… I could die of embarrassment," Liah mutters as she hurries away.
---
"Stupid higher-ups, not recognizing my worth… do they even know how much I've done for this nation?" Anyachi mutters.
Her fist slams into the reinforced wall again. A heavy thud echoes.
"You know you could break your fingers doing that."
The voice comes out of nowhere.
"Who?!" Anyachi snaps, drawing her sword instantly.
"Where are my manners… do you see me now?"
From the shadows, Slayde and Eroica emerge, fingers intertwined.
Anyachi doesn't hesitate. She moves.
In a blink, her blade is already at Slayde's throat—but he disappears, reappearing a few steps away.
"Weren't you taught to let your elders speak?" Slayde says with a smile.
"I wasn't raised in an ideal home. Excuse my manners," Anyachi replies coldly, resetting her stance.
Her eyes scan the room quickly.
"They're moving through shadows… a shadow-type testament. Rare. That's how they got in."
"I see it now."
She lunges again, faster this time, but shifts her target mid-motion. Her blade slices toward Eroica instead.
Steel flashes.
Blood spills.
"Fuck!" Eroica shouts, clutching her hand as she stumbles back.
"So you caught on that quickly… impressive. I wouldn't expect less from the Fourth Battalion Leader, Anyachi Velheim," Slayde says.
"Eroica," he calls.
"Yes, Slayde!" she replies.
"Go. Aid Vicoe. Clear the hall."
Anyachi's eyes narrow. "So there are more of them…"
"But Slayde, I can—"
"Go. Your job here is done."
"...Fine."
"You really think I'll let you leave?" Anyachi says.
Wind coils tightly around her blade as she bursts forward with explosive speed, her strike aimed straight at Eroica, but Slayde steps in and catches the blade with his bare hand, the force sending a ripple through the air.
"Go," he says calmly.
Eroica smirks and disappears into the shadows.
Slayde moves instantly, his fist crashing into Anyachi's guard and sending her sliding backward across the floor. She steadies herself quickly and lifts her gaze.
"You know, for someone strong, you're pretty dumb too," she says.
"Oh? And why's that?" Slayde asks.
"You just sent away the only person who could've saved you from me."
Slayde chuckles. "You don't need to worry about that."
"And why's that?"
His grin widens. "Because I'll be using your lifeless body to open it."
---
"Can't believe we're really guarding the Hall of Heroes," one guard says.
"Yeah, it's been my dream to come here. I could die from joy," the other replies.
"You're going to die to something else."
A hooded man stands at the gate.
"Stop there! Identify yourself!" one guard shouts.
"What is the dead doing with my identity?" the hooded man mutters.
Needles appear between his fingers. He leaps forward and flicks them out with precision. One guard dodges, but the other is struck cleanly.
"Are you okay?" the first guard asks.
"Yeah, it pierced my armor, but I'm—"
His body ignites instantly. Flames erupt from within as he collapses screaming.
"Aaarghhh!! Help me! It burns!!"
"Oh my God… this is art," the hooded man says, stepping forward.
He crouches before the trembling guard.
"P-please, spare me!!"
"Do you believe in our personal lord and savior?"
"Y-yes! Hail Estalcia!"
"Wrong answer."
A needle pierces his forehead. His body explodes from within.
"A shame you don't know the name of the lord," Vicoe says, walking past the bodies.
More guards rush in.
"Stop right there!!"
Vicoe spreads his arms. Needles form again between his fingers.
"A bouquet of sacrifices, my lord! Please accept it!" he shouts as he charges forward, cutting through them one after another. Their weapons, their testaments—it doesn't matter. He overwhelms them completely and pushes straight into the building.
---
"That's as far as you'll go."
Selene stands at the entrance.
"Oh my… a beautiful sacrifice has appeared for you, my lord," Vicoe says.
"The only one getting sacrificed today is you, freak. You're going to pay for hurting my subordinates!!" Selene snaps.
She pulls out a star-shaped hairpin. It transforms into a long, shining golden sword in her hand.
---
"What's this ominous feeling?" Miura mutters as he gets up from his bed and opens the door.
At that exact moment, a shadow distorts.
Eroica emerges.
Their eyes lock.
Without hesitation, she begins moving—slipping through shadows, closing the distance rapidly, knife in hand, her killing intent clear as she prepares to strike.