Scarlett’s mind raced as she made her way to the palace entrance. As furious as she’d been at Sander, she couldn’t allow that to consume her thoughts at present. Istar’s appearance had certainly been unexpected. The girl had been jumpy – her speech rushed as though she were in a hurry. Still, she managed to explain the situation. She’d overheard Gobryas speaking with an officer, and according to the princess, her fiancé had given the man the go ahead to burn down Kur, seemingly under the direction of her father, the king.

The whole thing was very sudden and odd, to say the least, but the disturbing nature of this turn of events was not entirely unbelievable to the Lunar Knight; after all, the king was mad, wasn’t he?

In any case, she felt that under no condition could she allow this to happen, and so after ordering Sander to stay put, she’d marched off towards the palace entrance. When she finally arrived, however, she found herself standing behind a writhing crowd.

“Huh?”

Scarlett stood on her toes in an attempt to peer over their heads, but she couldn’t make out what was happening at the entrance. What she could see, was that the door was shut fast. She frowned. She had a very bad feeling about this, and somehow, she was sure that this wasn’t unrelated to the planned ‘purge’ Istar had mentioned.

“You can’t leave.”

Scarlett clenched her fist. It was the last voice she wanted to hear right now.

“Piss off, Neptilia.”

“Wow, someone’s cranky.”

Scarlett spun around to face the other knight. Beside her, Basil stood, smiling merrily. Neptilia had a smirk plastered across her face that made the hairs on Scarlett’s neck stand on end.

“What’s going on here?” Scarlett asked impatiently.

“Straight to the point, huh? Didn’t you hear? There’s some kind of outbreak, probably your disease. I guess you’re immune since you were exposed already but they don’t know that. They’re locking everyone down inside.”

“And then burning down the source of the outbreak.”

Along with everybody in it. It was unspeakable.

“So, what, you’re rushing to their rescue? You’re going to take Babel on alone?”

Scarlett hadn’t thought it through. Her head was pounding with rage. She just knew she had to do something.

“Typical of you, diving in headfirst. Superheroes aren’t real, Scarlett. Not that I’d care, but are you trying to get yourself killed?”

“…”

She was without a response.

“It doesn’t help to be a goody-two-shoes when all it does is put you out of action for good. Live today, save lives tomorrow, y’know?”

“You’re really pissing me off,” Scarlett said, looking her straight in the eyes.

“Oh, come off it. You’re just angry with me cause I slept with your boyfriend before you.”

“What the hell’s it to you?”

At that moment Basil stepped between them. “I think I’ll leave you ladies to your chat. We can’t leave for the time being anyhow.”

“Should I not accompany you?” Neptilia asked.

The emissary shook his head. “I’ll be alright, thank you.”

As he left, Neptilia turned to Scarlett with a grin. “Well, as I was saying, that’s it, isn’t it? Oh, and don’t get so full of yourself that you start thinking I did it to spite you. I have enough pride to take charge without the need for validation from your disdain.”

Scarlett really had been thinking that was the reason. Was she so predictable?

“And don’t go blaming your boyfriend either. He was clearly lonely, and I got him drunk.”

“Ugh, now isn’t the time for this.”

Neptilia scoffed at her. “Wow, all business, huh? Well, like I said already, wherever you’re off to, you aren’t getting there.”

“How can you say that? Aren’t we protectors of justice; from different factions though we might be?”

“What is justice to you? Saving people at any cost?”

“Doing the right thing.”

“Pah,” Neptilia snorted. “Listen to yourself. The right thing? How old are you?”

“Old enough to know that being a cynical bitch doesn’t help anybody.”

“What’s ‘right’, huh? What does ‘right’ mean to you, Scarlett?”

Scarlett’s eyes hardened.

“When someone looks up at you after you do something for them, and you can see in their eyes, though they can’t find the words to say it, that it means everything to them. That you’ve somehow made a difference no one else did or could. That they’re eternally grateful, but you expect nothing in return.”

Neptilia examined her curiously. “Alright. I’ll help you.”

“Huh? You actually agr–”

“Pfft, like hell I agree with your uptight moral principles. I’m just tired of listening to you harp on. Oh, and don’t sound too surprised, I’m not doing this out of any sense of obligation either, or because I like you. I just don’t enjoy the idea of being trapped in here against my will – I’m bored, to say the least. Besides, if you go out there and die, who will I be able to lord over?”

Scarlett gritted her teeth. She hated this girl, absolutely and undoubtedly; such a thing was not in question. However, there was no way she could refuse the offer of help. Disagree though she might, in every respect, with Neptilia’s values, she could not deny that her point about facing the might of Babel alone was, indeed, entirely valid.

“Alright then, you nihilist, I’m not going to stand here and argue in circles with the likes of you whilst innocent people could be dying. I will say this though; the next person that gets under my skin is going to find themselves run through with a lunar blade.”

Neptilia smirked. “There’s the temperamental bitch we know and love. Lucky for you, sunshine, I know another way out of this castle.”