Part 11

Lancelot makes an unexpected move as darkness begins to cloud Cradle.

But you and Ray grow closer.

"Sorry, but-- she's mine."

.

Chapter 1

Meanwhile, as Kiera and Ray were heading back to the Black Army's headquarters--

Jonah: These macarons are really quite good.

Kyle: Hey, hey, are you really eating that sugary junk at this hour?

Kyle: Don't you know anything? Energy you don't expend gets stored in your body.

Jonah: What are you trying to say?

Kyle: Well, to put it bluntly, you'll get fat.

Kyle was staring with open disgust at the macaron tower on the table, the treats piled precariously high.

But Jonah simply gave him a withering smile.

Jonah: Me, get fat? Do you realize who you're talking to?

Jonah: This body simply doesn't gain weight like that. Besides--

Jonah took another bite of the macaron he was holding, his smile full of satisfaction.

Jonah: Today I worked hard enough to require a massive amount of energy to replace it.

Jonah: The documentation I had to draw up, the subordinates I had to train--

Jonah: Yes, this simply doesn't count.

Kyle gave a loud, theatrical sigh, looking for all the world like he was about to say something more, but then--

Kyle: Hmm?

There was a loud clatter, and footsteps echoed through the room.

Lancelot appeared, and paused as he noticed them.

Jonah: King Lancelot?

Lancelot: You're still awake? At this hour?

Lancelot's voice was as deep and as disaffected as ever.

Yet his face was drained of color, leaving him looking almost ghoulish.

Jonah: You look pale. Did something happen?

Lancelot: No.

Lancelot turned as if to walk away again, but Kyle caught him by the arm.

Kyle: Your hands are like ice.

Kyle: We need to get you to the infirmary right away!

Lancelot: Let go.

His voice was so commanding that Kyle flinched, letting go immediately.

Lancelot: I'm just a bit tired.

Lancelot: I'm going to bed.

Lancelot glanced at them once more, his cold glare demanding silence.

Then he turned his back on them both and strode out of the room.

As soon as Lancelot stepped into his room, he slumped against the door, a hand against his chest as if in pain.

His expression twisted, and he gave a soft gasp.

His blond hair fell forward, only partly obscuring the uncertainty trembling in his eyes.

Lancelot: Before they get wind of what I'm doing--

Lancelot: I need to do this, myself. I need to--

destroy it all.

.

Chapter 2

Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Magic Tower, deep in the Forbidden Forest--

a man sat alone in a room rarely entered by anyone.

???: Hmm hmm hmm hmm--

He sat in front of a glass chess set, one hand raised in the air, conducting in time to his humming.

He was the most powerful man in the Magic Tower, and he reached slowly towards the knight piece.

Senior Disciple: Excuse me, Lord Amon!

A disciple burst into the room, clearly out of breath and Amon paused, his fingers just shy of the knight.

He sat still, only his eyes moving toward the young man.

Amon: You're extremely noisy. It pains me to hear it.

Senior Disciple: Oh! I'm so very sorry!

Senior Disciple: But something happened, and I need to inform you immediately.

Amon: What?

Senior Disciple: We spotted Alice in the Forbidden Forest just now!

Amon: Alice--

Amon: the women from the Land of Reason that everyone's talking about?

Senior Disciple: And there was someone with her! It was the King of Hearts, Lancelot Kingsley!

Amon: Lancelot?

Senior Disciple: Yes! And the moment he spotted us, he used his magic to take them both away!

Senior Disciple: Almost as if he was trying to protect Alice.

Amon: Alice is capable of nullifying magic.

Amon: She's an obstacle to the Red Army, to their leader, Lancelot-- and to us, here in the Magic Tower.

Amon: He has many reasons to want to destroy her, but no reason to protect her.

Senior Disciple: Yes, my lord, I know that, but--

Amon: Are you certain you saw right?

Amon: After all, the former King of Hearts was closely linked to the Magic Tower, and that link still exists.

Amon: In secret, of course.

Amon: Or are you trying to tell me--

Amon: that Lancelot is working to destroy that relationship, and betray us here in the tower?

The disciple shrank back at once, his lips pressed together, looking for all the world like he wanted to run away.

Amon's lips, just visible under the hood he wore, curved upward in a strange smile.

Amon: I see.

Amon: The Red Army should be working towards absorbing the Black Army as quickly as possible.

Amon: And when the two armies have become one--

Amon: it is up to seize control of the entire army, and gain full control of the whole of Cradle.

Senior Disciple: Yes, that's right.

Amon: Until then, the Red Army, and Lancelot himself, are very important pieces on my board.

Amon: But a piece must only move where the player wills it.

Amon: Correct?

.

Chapter 3

His voice was devoid of emotion as it echoed through that large, empty room.

Amon: Find out what Lancelot is up to. Now.

Senior Disciple: Yes, my lord!

Amon: And if he is, in fact, trying to betray us--

Amon: do not stop until you have killed him, erased him, and wiped him out completely.

Senior Disciple: Your wish is my command, Lord Amon.

The disciple bowed and turned to walk away, but Amon stopped him with a casual word.

Amon: I forgot something.

Senior Disciple: Yes?

Amon: You can get rid of Alice. Now.

Senior Disciple: I'm sorry?!

Amon: Used wrongly, she could greatly disadvantage us. It would be better for her to be gone.

Senior Disciple: But-- Alice is a woman--

Amon: And why is that a reason to stay your hand?

Amon's tone was so casual he might have been talking about the weather.

The disciple nodded dumbly and hurried out of the room.

Alone again, Amon reached out toward the two glass king pieces.

He lifted them up to stare at them, one in each hand.

Then he squeezed slowly, until the pieces were crushed in his hands.

He opened his hands again, watching as splinters of glass fell like rain, sparkling in the dim light.

Amon: The king is just another piece, after all.

The shards of glass made an uncomfortable, grating squeak as they were crushed under his bootheel.

Amon: I will seize the entirety of Cradle for myself.

Amon laughed, the sound deep in his throat, as he leaned one elbow casually on the armrest of his chair.

Amon: Oh dear-- the kings are gone, and now it's game over.

---

It was the day after Lancelot had rescued me from the Forbidden Forest.

(Okay, now let's see. I've swept all the corridors.)

(The kitchen is sparkling clean. I think I'm done!)

Cleaning was a great way to distract myself from my thoughts, and it made me feel better to see the end result, too.

I smiled to myself, and then as I glanced out the window I remembered Blanc's letter.

(I never turned up, in the end. I hope he's not too worried.)

(I wish I could go see him right now, but I doubt anyone is going to agree to that after what happened yesterday!)

I frowned to myself, trying to figure out a way to make things work, when--

???: Um--

(Hmm?)

.

Chapter 4

I turned around at the voice, and found one of the black soldiers standing behind me.

(Let's see, if I remember correctly--)

(you're one of the soldiers in Seth's troop, aren't you?)

Kiera: Hello! Can I help you with something?

Black Soldier: Um--

Kiera: Yes?

Black Soldier: Kiera-- would you like to go out for dinner tonight?

Kiera: Oh, what a great idea!

Kiera: We should invite Seth, too-- the more the merrier, right?

(I wonder who else we could get to join us!)

-

Ray

-

An image of Ray's face flashed through my mind.

(I'd love it if Ray would come with us as well.)

Kiera: And not just Seth! Let's get--

Black Soldier: That's not what I meant!

The young soldier cut me off, his voice flustered, and I blinked at him in surprise.

Black Soldier: I meant, I'd like for us to go to dinner together. Just-- just you and me.

Kiera: Oh!

Suddenly it was abundantly clear what he'd meant, and flushed in confusion.

(I don't know what to say. I've never known what to say at a time like this!)

(I appreciate the thought, but-- I'm going back to my own world soon, and--)

I bit my lower lip for a moment, trying to think of how best to break it to him gently.

Kiera: Well--

The words wouldn't seem to come, and I swallowed hard.

(Waaaah!)

At the moment I felt a heavy weight on my shoulders, and I jumped in surprise.

I turned to find Ray standing at my side, his arm draped casually over my shoulders.

Kiera: Ray?

His voice was calm as he spoke, but he was looking at the young soldier, not at me.

Ray: You look like you're in the middle of something, but let me just say this.

Ray: Sorry, but-- she's mine.

(Whoa, hold up a minute!)

My heart skipped a beat as I stared up at him in open disbelief.

Black Soldier: I d-didn't know that! I'm so sorry, King Ray!

Ray: There's no need to apologize.

Ray: Just remember that from now on. That will be all.

Black Soldier: Yes, sir!

The soldier bowed quickly to the both of us, and then turned and hurried away.

As I listened to the sound of his footsteps fading into the distance, my heart gradually began to slow down again.

(But now I REALLY don't know what to say.)

Ray's body was warm against mine, and I began to feel unbearably hot.

Kiera: Hey, Ray?

Ray: Hmm?

.

Chapter 5

Kiera: Can you let go?

Ray: Sure.

Ray dropped his arm away from my shoulders again, the movement casual.

When I turned to face him, his expression was as calm as ever, and somehow that gave me the courage to speak.

Kiera: I don't remember becoming yours.

Ray: Yeah, I don't remember it either.

Ray: But--

Ray: it just felt like the right thing to say.

Kiera: What does that even mean?

Ray: Who knows?

I didn't know what to make of his casual words, or the nonchalant shrug of his shoulders.

Ray: Should I not have said it?

Kiera: No, it's fine!

Kiera: Thanks, Ray.

Ray inclined his head just once in response to my words.

Silence settled between us, but instead of the usual calm it brought me, I felt awkward instead.

I hastily searched for something to say that wouldn't sound stupid.

Kiera: Have you finished training?

Ray: Yeah. But I'm on duty today, so I'm about to go on patrol.

Kiera: I see.

Ray: What about you?

Kiera: I was just thinking about how I didn't get to see Blanc yesterday. I wish I could go see him today, but--

Ray: Uh-huh.

Ray frowned a little, his gaze dropping away thoughtfully for a moment.

Ray: Hang on, I'll go find someone who can go with you.

Kiera: What? Really?

Ray: Well, I can't shirk my duties, but--

Ray: if I remember correctly, Fenrir's off duty today.

Kiera: Then I can go myself and--

I'd wanted to tell him I could go and ask Fenrir myself, but before I could finish, he reached out and ruffled my hair, the casual gesture stopping me mid-sentence.

Ray: Don't go thinking you can do things by yourself, okay?

He turned and walked away, and I found myself staring after him even after he was gone.

Soon I could hear the sound of him talking to Fenrir, their cheerful voices riding to me on the breeze.

I reached up hesitantly, smoothing my hair where he's messed it up.

(Why do I always get so worked up when it comes to you?)

Fenrir agreed to go with me to visit Blanc's house, and we set off.

We walked together through the Central Quarter, side by side.

Kiera: Fenrir, I'm sorry to drag you along on this. I know it was your day off.

Fenrir: Hey, don't even worry about it! I needed to pay a visit to Blanc's place myself anyway.

Fenrir: Now, we just turn this corner-- and here we are! This is Blanc's house.

(Wow! This is amazing!)

I stared in awe at the beautiful two-story house, its pale blue roof like a reflection of the sky overhead.

Kiera: It's adorable! I love it!

Fenrir: I thought you'd say that. Yo, Blanc! You here?

Fenrir stepped up and knocked on the door, and moments later it opened.

Blanc: Hello, Kiera. I've been waiting for you.