I open my eyes to find big black irises staring back. Idali's long blond hairs are tickling my cheeks to so I blow on them which pushes them away for a little bit only for them to fall back down.

“How are you still alive?” She asks with a pale face.

“Pretty sure I'm immortal.” I playfully reply.

She hangs back and extends her hand out. I grab her wrist and let her help me up. I wince as dozens of agonizing wounds scream at me. There are dozens of holes in my limbs, a few of those lines of light pierced through bone and like the rest came out on the other side.

My worst wound seems to be the small hole in my belly while the most painful waves come from my left side where my cuirass was mangled. As I'm no longer bleeding, it seems my sister took care to deal with the wounds as she drew the blood they shed.

The skyship now has a large gaping jagged breach where its bulbous weapon laid, on top of the tears to its hull from the crash. There are pieces of flaming wreckage spread around.

The destruction seems to have crippled the ship but it does not appear thorough enough for me even though the actions I took leave me with a bitter taste in my mouth. Regardless of my reasoning, the fact remains I began this slaughter and intend to see it through.

“The others?” I question.

“Wounded, but alive.” She replies.

I grit my teeth and make my way towards the mound of turned earth which has several weapon impacts on it. Once around, I find Rowland on his back near three piled up torches. His expression is twisting from the large bleeding gash on the right side of his chest. The Templar is applying pressure to it with a roll of bandages.

“Shit, Rowland, how'd that...” I pause as I notice a second wrecked hexagonal-sphere. “Did not notice this one circling around us.”

“We took care of it.” Rowland says with a thin smile.

I inspect the area to make sure there are no other creatures while enumerating how many I took out in my head. I compare the number to that of the survivors of the frenzy I witnessed from atop the hill.

“That was the last of them, as far as I've seen.” I declare. “Why did you wait so long to heal him?” I ask the Templar.

I kneel by Rowland's side and place a hand on his chest to use what little flow I've left that isn't supporting my heart to stem the bleeding. He makes a tight grimace but nods in thanks.

“It has only been a few minutes and we're out of energy, Jessica Freepath.” The quiet temple guard responds with a tense tone.

“The fight's over.” Idali speaks up.

I turn to her with a confused frown. Rowland straightens up in surprise while the talkative mute stops moving entirely to stare at me with wide eyes. I stare at them in turn with an annoyed expression.

“What?” I ask.

“Barely a minute passed between the moment they attacked you and the explosion that ended the fight.” Idali explains. That's definitely a biased statement.

“Shit.” I swear and stop pouring energy into Rowland's wound to reinforce the constructs sustaining my body with my regenerating flow. I'm still on my battle-high, the crash is going to hurt.

“This is insane, how could you so easily defeat these things in so little time?” The Templar questions.

“Easily?” I repeat with a chuckle. “This might've been the hardest fight I ever fought.” In terms of danger at least, not emotionally.

They stare at me with clear disbelief so I shake my head and walk past the Exemplar's dead horse to pick up my umbrella. Then, I recover the claymore but end up leaving it where it is because the point is bent.

I head back to the skyship, welcoming the waves of pain accompanying each of my steps as signs that I am alive. Every time I raise or lower my foot, the twisted steel of my cuirass groans. I stop by the hexagonal-sphere I split in two and turn over each half.

Their insides are filled with partitions and parts have circulatory systems with transparent tubes that seem akin to veins. There is no obvious center, no brain I can recognize, but the presence of crystals scattered across the body reminds me of the Rykz cores.

My fiddling around causes a few silver sparks to arise from some of the creature's 'organs' which convinces me to grind each of these things to dust. I turn back to Idali who is watching me from afar.

'Give me your flow.' I write with my energy.

She glimpses to the upturned mound of dirt to make sure neither is watching and sends me a dozen portions of mostly black flow. I integrate the energy into my reserve to make it my own, turning it golden.

Then, I extend my hand out and set fire to the corpse. It takes a while to catch but, when it does, an acrid smoke arises with crackling sounds. I bring the total of energy powering the fire construct to two and walk away.

The closer I get to the skyship, the more corpses of these creatures I walk past and set fire to. After five, I have to wait for my energy to regenerate, it does so at a rate of a little less than two an hour.

“What are you doing?” The Templar calls out.

I turn to find him standing on the mound of earth they rose to serve as a shield, staring at the burning corpses with a look of horror. I shrug and turn back to the skyship, still unsure of how to dismantle it.

“I asked what you're doing, Jessica Freepath!” He bellows.

“Making sure they're all dead.” I coldly reply.

“If they're injured, honor commands we take custody of them!” He yells.

I turn to him with a flat expression, ignoring the stretching pain doing so causes my left flank. My shredded cloak does naught to hide the mangled portions of my cuirass. The Templar winces at the sight of me and opts to walk over to speak face to face.

“At least explain.” He says. I decide I may as well if only to avoid having to end this man as well.

“I cannot allow any of them to live and tell this day's tale, their bodies and the ship itself must be destroyed because we have no idea of their capabilities.” I explain with somber determination. “They present a danger to all species.”

“You've not explained why that is. What is it you witnessed before we arrived?” He questions with a shaken expression.

I throw a glimpse around and hesitate by fear that, somehow, the creatures could still be listening in. In the end, I decide that if that's the case they've recorded the fight and as such the fact I could evade their scans is of minimal importance and something they would have deduced from the words the Templar just spoke.

“Upon crashing their skyship, they began slaughtering each other for what seemed to be parts they needed.” I explain. The man makes a puzzled frown. “They engaged in cannibalism. Then, they each acted as if naught happened to deploy these weapons I destroyed and fix their skyship.”

“That's, what if those were too injured from the crash to make it?” He hesitantly questions.

“Whatever the case, it remains a fact they lied to us when I asked.” I coldly establish. “Not to mention they learned to speak within moments by manipulating us to keep talking or that they had far more interest in Vuskyt than in us. Either of those signs underlines how extremely selfish they are individually and as a species.”

“Still, there is no certainty that everything they told us were lies.” The temple guard says with a concerned frown. “Executing survivors of a battle harms the Empire's honor and reputation.”

“Does it?” I challenge with a smirk. “Nobility hasn't had any qualms hanging surrendering rebels and their families, I've been told Lisilese prisoners are executed once negotiations fall out.”

“Those decisions are made because there are special circumstances surrounding the Lisilese.” The Templar argues. “These creatures shipwrecked, it is unwise to judge their entire species by a single crew and offend them all with your actions. We should send for Exemplar Siegfried to receive his advice and for Miss Uhla so she can heal our injuries before making a decision.”

“Rowland, weird girl!” I call them out.

“At least use my name.” Idali throws me a dark look as she comes over while supporting the overly tall wounded bastard. “Is this about how useless we were?”

“What? No, you did fine.” I deny.

“It took all we had to handle a single one.” Rowland mutters.

“You did fine, these weren't opponents you were prepared to handle.” I tell them with an empty expression so as to make them understand I'm not one they should seek reassurance from. The two's expressions tighten. “I'm going to destroy everything here, gear and potential survivors. If you have a problem with that, speak now.”

“I don't.” Idali says.

“I trust you.” Rowland says.

“Since neither of you seem willing to think for yourselves, then let me show myself worthy of that trust. They did not attack first, I did.” I utter with a sharp glare that causes him to flinch. “They could have been saying the truth about everything even if they lied about their cannibalistic behavior, there are obvious reasons for them to conceal this. Yet, I slaughtered them while conscious of all of this. What's your opinion now?”

“That I trust you, but wish for an explanation.” Idali responds with Rowland nodding.

“I need more.” The Templar repeats with a darkening expression. “Far more now that you've told us you struck first.”

“Whatever opinion I formed of them during the short while could be mistaken, and not represent their species. I do not believe I'm wrong but that fact is undeniable.” I tell them with a twist in my gut.

“Then, why?” The temple guard presses.

“If you want one reason, it is because they were too powerful.” I say. “Had I not taken the initiative, there is a very good chance their first strike would have killed me.”

“You dealt with them in tens of seconds.” Idali protests.

“It took everything I had and it was a close call.” I coldly establish. “Their reflexes are beyond that of even Rykz. Do you believe the Empire could defeat an army of these creatures if they came prepared?”

“Not easily, no.” The Templar admits. “But that is further reason for us not to antagonize them.”

“Is it? What if they wish for lands to conquer?” I counter. “They shipwrecked which means they were likely at their weakest, what treaty could we sign with such creatures who can travel the skies and still retain such offensive capabilities after crashing? How would we enforce anything? No, the best outcome is for this place to be their graveyard and for none of their own to learn of their fate.”

The Templar, almost frozen in place, starts paling as my words make it through his brain. As he mulls through this, I feel palpitations in my chest and my strength leave me. I drop down on my ass and start panting.

A moment later, Idali flashes to my side and starts ripping off my cuirass' straps. My chin falls and my eyes find blood pouring from the shredded steel in my left side. I experience sharp pain from that side. I quickly realize that my fall forced a jagged chunk of my armor into my flesh and chuckle.

“Stop laughing you idiot, you're going to make it worse!” Idali snaps at me.

“What if they recorded everything here and sent it back to their own with something equivalent to a beacon construct?” The Templar presses.

“Can't you see she's injured?” Rowland reproaches.

“You two clearly mind far more than Jessica Freepath does.” He waves aside their protests.

“If this massacre is enough for them to justify an invasion, then that was their intention to begin with so they would have found motivations to do so no matter what happened.” I assess. “After all, I am no more representative of humans than I am of the Empire.”

“... My earlier reasoning does work both ways.” He acknowledges. “But I have an official status.”

“Are you not prepared to sacrifice yourself if they demand reparations?” I ask with a crooked smile.

“I am, but I would have preferred if that decision rested in mine hands.” He coldly returns. “In the end, you've forced us on a singular path of action which is to destroy all that remains of them.”

I wave him off, considering the conversation over and feeling a crushing weight on my shoulders. I did not wish for this slaughter but I am not a woman to shrink in front of what she has to do.

Their interest in Vuskyt does confirm one thing I've suspected, the Rykz' process in creating this metal heavily involves flow. It is likely impossible to create the material without the use of constructs.

Idali finally manages to unstrap my cuirass and pulls it off. I feel a chunk of steel slide out of my flesh and experience a brief moment of relief before a pang of pain causes me to clasp my fist.

After she helps me bandage my side, I spend the next several few hours burning the remaining corpses including those the creatures killed themselves. During that time, the sun rises and every last fire in the area flickers out.

I spend the entire morning waiting for my energy to regenerate so that I can destroy the skyship with a massive fire construct. I do not enter it and I forbid them to because it may still be partially active. To give them something to do, I send the three patrolling for live creatures who might have escaped me.

They thankfully don't find anything, not even a set of tracks or a broken branch from one of the flying creatures. It isn't perfect but I believe the creatures didn't have time to organize an expedition and that, if any made it out, it'll be quickly found because of its peculiar shape.

“I'll have gathered twenty portions by nightfall.” I tell them once they return. “It won't be nearly enough but I can't leave. You can return if you want, Siegfried might want to see this with his own eyes.”

“I'm...” Rowland starts.

“Going, you need healing.” I cut him off.

“So do you.” He says with a scowl.

“Should we test which one of us is in better physical shape?” I offer with a glare.

“He is.” Idali comments from the side. “I'll stay.”

“Let's go.” The Templar snaps to Rowland and departs without waiting.

As the two fade away, I stomp over to the claymore and settle down to start repairing the bent point with a shaping construct. Once that's done, I burn more energy to repair my cuirass which costs me all the energy I've so far regenerated.

“Weren't you stockpiling energy?” Idali asks.

“I am, but it's going to take at least a day and a half.” I reply while shaking my head. “I'll start the fire tomorrow and keep feeding it until the skyship turns to charcoal.”

“How are you?” She questions while settling by my side.

“Honestly?” I return. She nods. “I wish I hadn't had to do this, or really any of what I'll do to the Empire.”

“Then what do you want?” She presses.

“Right now? To grab Lance and go east with her to find Celyz.” I say with a sad smile. “But the fact is that I love battles, I merely wish people were different so I wouldn't have to carry it all on my back.”

“There are those who follow you, or would follow you if you gave them a chance as Jessica Freepath or Elizabeth Vil.” Idali argues.

“That's the fucking problem, I don't need servants or soldiers, I need people to wish for their own damn freedom instead of locking chains around their own necks.” I snap. “And these things, they fucking had to land here.”

“If they're as strong as you claim... then it's a good thing they did even though it's hard for you.” The blonde notes with a gentle expression.

“Don't you give me that pitiful face.” I groan at her. “They could've been dealt with by anyone with a brain and an army or enough access.”

“Hah!” Idali chuckles. “Nobles with brains.” She murmurs.

“Khhh.” I barely manage to restrain my laughter. “That wasn't going to happen, huh.” I remark as I spin my umbrella with a smile. “Lucky me.” I sourly add.

Idali proceeds to engaging me in lighter subjects as we wait for the sun to slowly go to sleep over the next ten hours. I take the first round of guard so that I can sleep all morning the day after.

Once she's packed and asleep in the small travel blanket I carry everywhere in my pouch, I settle with my back to the fire while gazing to the night thinking of Celyz and sometimes Leomi but not often because while she helps me deal with my darkness the memory of how we parted ways yet angers me because I truly wished she'd let me be there for her.

Sadly, my oak also evokes some frustrating emotions from me as I do not know how she came to allow Idali to accept the covenant she made. I even come to doubt whether she knows me well enough to understand how much it disgusts me that she's obligated to obey my orders under threat.

Spending so much time mulling over these things, alone, doesn't do anything for my mental state. I end up spending the latter half of my shift swinging the claymore at a tree to the point where I collapse, heart beating so fast it feels like it's tearing itself apart. I wake Idali once I recover and go to sleep.

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