An emergency meeting-- |
Gathered hurriedly in a small conference room in the garrison were officers of the Order of St. Iris. |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"You've got a very secluded room." |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"We can't have other people hearing us. Especially not the nobles of St. Iris." |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"Aye. This is the sort of thing that would alert the Allied higher-ups and take notice. I couldn't believe my ears either." |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"So the knight's sword that was seen did indeed had a blue rose design on it?" |
![Story Finchley.png](/images/1/15/Story_Finchley.png) Finchley |
"Yes. Information from the Out-Siders, no doubt." |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"The Bluerose Sword - I believe only one person has ever been granted the honour to carry this sword in St Iris." |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"Former Knight Commander Bluerose...? Never thought I'd hear that name now." |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"Mary, your previous Knight Commander, Bluerose is officially reported as PKIA, what do you think about this?" |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"Whatever do you mean, Blackfriar?" |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"About her generation and her age? Senior?" |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"Ah. Not many of your generation know much about her." |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"Neither I nor Finchley were knighted in Bluerose's time. We only know of her presence through records and anecdotes." |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"But you know a lot about her. She's a legendary knight, the youngest knight-errant ever to be appointed Knight Commander." |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"..." |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"I know more than that. Knight Commander Bluerose is a very special person to you. Apologies, but I had to do a little research into your past." |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"It's fine. I know you looked into the official records, but most of what's in there is true." |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"...That individual had always been free-spirited. It was quite common for her to wander off on her own to clear the Mist, and then return as usual." |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"And the day she disappeared, was one of her usual antics just like that." |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"So no one saw her die." |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"Yes. But after that, we didn't hear of any sightings in different parts of the country." |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"And it was kind of expected that she were gone." |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"Did you notice anything suspicious about her before she disappeared?" |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"She left a will. She left a will appointing me as the next commander of the Order. She also politely left a formal letter of recommendation with it. It was as if she was leaving the Order to me." |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"I suppose there's good reason to treat her as deceased." |
![Story Finchley.png](/images/1/15/Story_Finchley.png) Finchley |
"Is it not possible that she really needed to leave the Order? Like you, Sir Mary?" |
Conductor |
Mary was active in the Resistance before she joined the Special Steel Squad. They were not an enemy organisation trying to destroy the SSS, but our objectives were not compatible with each other. |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"Anyways, I am not sure." |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"One thing I can tell you is that the Bluerose is no longer among us. That's a fact. Regardless of her safety." |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"But as for the Bluerose Knight who was sighted, I don't think it was Bluerose." |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"If she were alive and had disappeared of her own accord, I don't think she would be wandering around St. Iris now, and dressed in a way that we, the Knights, would be able to identify." |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"That's what I meant." |
![Story Finchley.png](/images/1/15/Story_Finchley.png) Finchley |
"So you're saying that we should instead go for the train of thought that it's an illusion of the Bluerose Commander this time, manifested by the Phantom Mist to fool us." |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"The location where the Out-Siders caught sight of the target is also a restricted area that has been abandoned due to large quantities of Phantom Mist. I have no doubt that it is an illusion, or an impersonator trying to imitate the legacy." |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"But even if the Bluerose is a fake, we can't let our guard down. If we have to fight, a fight to the death is inevitable." |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"That is why I have called you in, Mary. This case needs to be conducted in secret with a small number of skilled train knights." |
Conductor |
Bluerose was said to have been an immensely supportive Commander. But she was considered too impulsive, so she's not popular with most of the upper echelons. |
Conductor |
Hence if this information leaks out now, the Order of St. Iris could be thrown into chaos. Considering the impact on the Allied Forces, this should be handled privately. |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"Very well. In that case, I would be the right person for the job." |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"Then, Mary, if two teams are to take charge of the situation, please choose one more person to accompany you." |
Conductor |
Even with a small team, the Phantom Mist area to be searched is too large. Three of us can't even split up in pairs. |
Conductor |
And if we're going to go after the Bluerose, we need to team up with someone we can trust with our lives. |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"I'll work with Finchley." |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"I have been working with her all the way from my Zeroth Generation days, through the Out-Siders and on to the SSS. In the Order of St. Iris, there is no one else I would trust my life to but Finchley." |
![Story Finchley.png](/images/1/15/Story_Finchley.png) Finchley |
"Sir..." |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"I only choose the right people. Finchley, you can trust me with your life, can't you?" |
![Story Finchley.png](/images/1/15/Story_Finchley.png) Finchley |
"Of course. I would trust Sir with my life anytime!" |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"Good. I'm counting on you, Finchley." |
![Story Blackfriar.png](/images/5/54/Story_Blackfriar.png) Blackfriar |
"Then Mary, please choose your most trusted companion." |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"The one I trust the most, yes." |
Mary crossed her arms and smiled. Apparently, she already knew who to ask from the start in her mind. |
![Story Mary.png](/images/8/82/Story_Mary.png) Mary |
"Then of course I would choose--" |