Trinity Cluster 4th "Long live the Queen"

2025.04.14

Several hours before Wang Sia's appearance...

In the city of the Light Castle, Giotto Sansta paced impatiently along the new train station platform. Beside her stood Rucheel, representing the Underwater Resource Business Federation; Wu Xiaohu, her pet, who also served as an ambassador of Academy City on behalf of the HANADA Group; Hugh and his daughter, Hachisuka, dressed as casually as she could manage. Giotto had tried to ignore her daughter's audacity, but it was impossible not to be infuriated by it. They were at the newly inaugurated train station of Light Castle City, which finally connected her kingdom with Academy City, one last display of benevolence and unity meant to send a message of peace. It had been her daughter Aleksandra's idea, to ensure Giotto’s image remained positive in the eyes of her subjects and the ambassadors of other kingdoms and cities.





And it had worked. Thousands of people had gathered to witness the departure of the first high-speed train connecting both cities in a journey of just over three hours. It was a spectacular advancement, one that Giotto had always opposed, feeling it undermined her position of power by opening her borders to anyone.

—This is nonsense —said Giotto, exasperated—. Hugh! Isn't this nonsense?

—I would not dare contradict Her Majesty, Majesty —said the general.

Giotto shot him a glare that could have melted stone. The man, accustomed to his queen’s temperament, did not even blink.

—It will be good for everyone, Mother —said Hachisuka.— But, why is the cat in here?

—He is my loyal servant now. My pet, I would say. And he is happy. Are you, Wu Xiaohu? —Giotto Said.

Wu Xiaohu nodded, blushed. He was enjoying the company of the queen, and he has bowed to her and pledged loyalty to the throne. It was almost “love”. But, for Giotto, he was just a cat. A clown cat, indeed.

—Are you happy now, Mother? You have a pet animal and a train, similar to a toy. You’re like a kid again —said Hachisuka, laughing.

Giotto did not reply, but she growled. She had no desire to go through with this. She was maintaining the façade of a defeated sovereign and a pacifist mother until the return of Gill Lapis, but in secret, she had prepared her entire army for the arrival of the Conqueror. If Gill Lapis intended to take her world from her, she would personally defeat him and humiliate him not only before Protopaterpolis but before all the worlds.

The train arrived. It was a new model created by Goliath, named "Aki" for some reason Giotto had completely ignored out of sheer disinterest, despite Goliath’s repeated attempts to explain it to her. The railway infrastructure had long been built up to her kingdom’s mountainous border, but Giotto had prevented its extension into her city for a long time. That was why, in the three weeks following the eclipse’s end, the automatons of the HANADA Group had been able to complete the rail installation.

Giotto clutched her spear. She wore her war attire because her daughter Hachisuka had told her it was the best way to display their strength, if the two of them dressed differently, they would illustrate what the kingdom had been and what it could become in the future. Hugh knelt before his queen.

—Everything is ready, Your Majesty —said the general.

—I know. We won’t be gone long —said Giotto. She rolled her eyes as the rest of her entourage boarded the train and leaned toward Hugh—. Thank you.





They had known each other for many years, and Hugh had been her support, her executioner, and her pillar from the beginning. Though they were queen and vassal, he was the closest thing to a friend Giotto Sansta had. And he was the only one to whom she had entrusted her will. If anything happened to the queen, it was the general’s duty to deliver the testament to her daughters.

The passengers began boarding. Distinguished members of the Light Castle's upper class traveled in second class, as the first was reserved for the queen. But all the other carriages were filled with people whom the HANADA Group had invited aboard—ordinary people, as their technology was meant to be accessible to everyone.

Once Giotto was seated in her luxurious compartment, the train departed. Seated across from her was Rucheel, clad in the same minimal clothing as always. Wu Xiaohu had placed himself beside the sharkfolk, out of deference to the queen. Hachisuka had gone to the locomotive, at the front of the train, to see everything up close. In Giotto's carriage, there were many automatons from the HANADA Group, all dressed as train staff. They served a snack fit for a queen.

—The journey won’t be too long, but the scenery is spectacular —said Wu Xiaohu, pointing at the windows—. We’ll cross the mountain range in less than fifteen minutes. There, we’ll be able to see the elegant underground structure created for the delight of the passengers.

—What will we see if we’re going through a mountain? —said Giotto.

—The panels will display distant landscapes, as they’re connected to cameras installed in the Underwater Resource Business Federation, so for nearly forty minutes, we’ll experience what it’s like to travel underwater. It’s… spectacular —said Wu Xiaohu.

—It is an honor to have been allowed to participate in this project, Queen Giotto —said Rucheel.

—The honor is mine, Ambassador —said Giotto, smiling.

Rucheel dismissed the train staff with a wave of her hand and began eating. Soon, the three of them were alone in the compartment, completely silent. Minutes passed without anyone saying a word. Giotto could feel the tension. She wasn’t comfortable with the sharkfolk so close. Nor with her spear beside her.

—Now that we’re alone, Majesty, shall we stop pretending? Why did you agree to complete this railway network? What do you hope to gain from this? Even more power? Do you intend to usurp another throne? —said Rucheel.

—Speak to Her Majesty with more respect! —suddenly shouted Wu Xiaohu.

Both Giotto and Rucheel were taken aback.

—Do you know who you’re speaking to, little cat? —said Rucheel, baring her teeth.

—I’m not a cat! —said Wu Xiaohu.

—Calm down, Wu. The ambassador is right. We’re alone, and we’re allies, aren’t we? Then let’s drop the masks. You answer first, and I’ll answer your question: Why did you accept my daughter Aleksandra’s proposal? —said Giotto.

—Because with her on the throne, your kingdom will weaken —said Rucheel—. And with this alliance with Academy City, we will finally free ourselves from the yoke of the Sansta family.

—Too honest —said Giotto.

—Now it’s your turn to answer —said Rucheel, bringing a piece of bread to her mouth.

—It suited me. I...—Giotto caught herself lowering her gaze. A sign of weakness. In front of an enemy. But in reality, it was exactly what she wanted to do. It wasn’t part of some elaborate plan, just the simple truth. Giotto was afraid. The threat of Gill Lapis was imminent. And she was the one who had provoked him.—The war is not over, Rucheel. But not with you. I sought help from the wrong person, and now it has turned against me. That’s why I connected Academy City with my kingdom: because if I provoke a world-scale war, the least I can do is have my allies within reach. —That is also too much honesty, Your Majesty,—said Rucheel. —Yes. But it’s also the truth,—said Giotto. —Tell me everything, Giotto. That way, I can help you when the time comes. We also have an army,—said Rucheel. —Are you addressing the queen informally?—said Wu Xiaohu.—How dare you! —My old enemy, Wu, is also one of the few people I respect enough to allow such familiarity. I will tell you... everything I can. I hope you’re ready because I’m about to shatter everything you know about the world,—said Giotto. —Try me,—said Rucheel.





The train entered the mountain tunnel. The walls lit up with underwater views—beautiful coral formations, schools of fish swimming, even parts of the ruins of ancient cities submerged beneath the sea. For thirty minutes, Giotto spoke nonstop, explaining to her enemy and possible ally the entire situation, including the threat of Gill Lapis and the impossibility of victory if they remained divided.

—I’ve had time to reflect, Rucheel. I’ve made mistakes. With my kingdom, with my decisions, and even with my daughters. But I have opened my eyes. Never again,—said Giotto. —Your Majesty...—said Wu Xiaohu. —Not now, cat. I want to make amends to my daughters. I want to do things right. I want to ensure that when I pass the throne, there will be no one like you threatening my family’s sovereignty,—Giotto told Rucheel.—No offense. —None taken. That is what a mother should do,—said Rucheel. —Are you a mother?—said Giotto.

—Your Majesty, forgive my interruption!—said Wu Xiaohu, standing up. —What is it, cat? Didn’t I say this wasn’t the time?—said Giotto.

Wu Xiaohu pointed at the ceiling lights in the carriage. They had turned red. —That’s not a good sign,—said Giotto.

The two women stood up. Giotto instinctively grabbed her spear. The door to the front of the train burst open. Hachisuka rushed in, her eyes wide with alarm. She was accompanied by four combat automatons from the HANADA Group, but not the most powerful one, the one called Robo Maeda.

—Mother! Are you okay? Something is destroying the train!—said Hachisuka. —Explain,—said Giotto, gripping her spear tighter.

Hachisuka fiddled with the cables of one of the carriage panels and managed to project the view from the exterior cameras. A tentacled creature, human-sized but with the shape of a woman, was tearing apart the train’s carriages one by one from the rear. Fortunately, they were all cargo carriages, so there had been no casualties.

—We have to do something,—said Giotto. —Allow us, Your Majesty,—said one of the automatons, revealing multiple weapons from within its body.—We are prepared for any contingency. —I will go with you. I am the Queen, after all,—said Giotto. —Where are you going, Your Majesty?—said Wu Xiaohu.—Leave it to the automatons! —Not a chance. Some things must be done personally,—said Giotto, looking at Hachisuka. Her daughter shook her head but smiled. And that smile gave Giotto the conviction she needed.—And this is one of them. —Then we’re all coming with you,—said Hachisuka. —It’s pointless to try and dissuade you, isn’t it?—said Giotto.





Without waiting for an answer, the group advanced, the automatons leading the way with Giotto close behind. Her heart pounded wildly—it couldn’t be a coincidence that a monster attacked the very train she was on, on the one day she left the safety of her kingdom.

The closer they got, the louder the noises became. Eventually, they reached a carriage that had no roof and was missing the rear half of its walls. There stood the creature. Up close, it was even more grotesque: it resembled a woman, but her hair and limbs were tentacles—multiple where her arms and legs should have been. Her eyes were two empty, colorless orbs. And she screamed from an all-too-human mouth as if something were tearing her apart from the inside.

—What are your orders, Your Majesty?—said one of the automatons. —Shall we attack?—said Rucheel.—We have the numbers. —It would be better to detach the carriage and move away from that thing. Fighting inside the mountain doesn’t seem like a good idea,—said Hachisuka.

Giotto raised her spear toward the monster. The creature didn’t move. The automatons charged in unison. The monster lashed its tentacles at them, but the automatons’ strength and relentless assault tore the tentacles apart as they advanced. Yet, the creature’s regeneration was unnervingly fast, and the automatons soon realized it wasn’t as easy to kill as they had expected.

—Take care of my daughter —said Giotto, tearing part of her dress for better mobility. Wearing armor had been an excellent idea.

—Mother, what are you going to do? This train has weaponry; we can use it against the monster — said Hachisuka.

—I agree, Your Majesty —said Wu Xiaohu, moving to the side of the train that still had some walls left. There, he found a terminal and used it to contact the locomotive—. Alright, yes, yes! I have visual confirmation! Permission granted! Fire!

A cloud of elongated, three-legged red automatons emerged from the train's sides. These were Goliath HANADA's favorites, the most heavily armed ones. The automatons swarmed toward the monster, which had already taken down three of the five warrior automatons. As the monster struck them down, the small flying automatons exploded, scorching parts of the beast, making its regeneration slower.

—It works! —Hachisuka exclaimed, jumping in excitement.

Suddenly, a crimson lightning bolt tore through the air, obliterating nearly half of the automatons on impact. The monster fell to the ground, wailing in an almost sorrowful tone. Yet, it was still regenerating, albeit much more slowly. A cloud of smoke rose, covering the rear of the train car and filling the tunnel.

—That was a bit unfair, wasn't it? So many against one, how cowardly —a new voice spoke through the smoke.




Giotto frowned and took a step back. She would recognize that voice anywhere.

—Lapis —she whispered. The hand gripping her lance trembled, nearly causing her to drop it.

All eyes turned to the figure of the young man emerging from the smoke. His hair was grayish, his clothes black, and his gloves crackled with the same crimson energy as the lightning that had destroyed the automatons.

—Did you throw me a welcome party, Giotto? —said Gill Lapis. His gaze landed on Hachisuka. As he did, he raised an amused eyebrow. Then, he looked at Wu Xiaohu—And with clowns!

—You're not welcome here —Giotto said.

—Funny how things change, right? Before, you wanted my help. Now, you want me gone. And yet, I don't think that's going to happen —said Gill Lapis. He kicked the fallen monster, making it roar in pain.— Soon, it will be ready again. But that was just the prelude. The real show is about to begin. Gill Lapis glanced over his shoulder. In the air, magical symbols were forming, ones Giotto had never seen before.

—Runic magic —Hachisuka whispered, eyes wide.

—You recognize it? —Rucheel asked.

—I've seen it in books about the Sacred Ruins. It's very ancient magic, from when… when my ancestors usurped the throne. It's not from this world —Hachisuka explained.— That creates portals, doesn't it?

—Very clever, little princess. Very clever. Perhaps I have a place for you among my minions —Gill Lapis said, clapping slowly.

—I knew it! —Hachisuka exclaimed.

—Portals? —Giotto muttered, an idea forming in her mind.

—Yes. They connect to other worlds. But it's one-use only and takes weeks to prepare the ritual. So, someone must be doing it, but from the other side —Hachisuka said.

—Your daughter is truly your heir, Giotto —said Gill Lapis.

—Shut up, will you?! —Giotto shouted. The queen knelt beside Hachisuka and looked into her eyes. In her daughter's gaze, she saw fear:  the same fear she felt, but for a different reason. Hachisuka was terrified because she knew who Gill Lapis was. She had told her about him herself. Giotto, however, was terrified because she feared for her daughter's life.— Hachisuka, listen to me. I want you to take this —Giotto said, cupping her daughter's hands. She reached to her neck and pulled something out from beneath her clothes, something she had kept hidden. Into her daughter's hands, she placed two intertwined silver rings, beautiful and old.





—Mother, are these…? —Hachisuka asked.

—These are the wedding rings I married your father with. I want you to have them. The queen of Light Castle must wear them on her wedding day —Giotto said.

—No way —Hachisuka whispered.

—Your Majesty! What are you going to do?! —Wu Xiaohu asked. Rucheel shook her head and gestured for silence.

—Hachisuka, listen to me. I want you to take care of your sister and rule together with wisdom, love, and care. And don't let this one —Giotto pointed at Rucheel— take the throne. Don't let the sharks devour you. Be strong. And speak with Hugh; he knows what to do.

—But, Mother… —Hachisuka protested.

—Wu Xiaohu! From this moment on, you serve a new queen! —Giotto declared, standing tall once more. Tears welled in Wu Xiaohu's eyes as he retrieved a briefcase from beneath a seat and pulled out two pistols.

—Let me go with you, Your Majesty! —he pleaded.

—No. Your heart is noble, even if you're a cat. Obey your queen —Giotto said, locking eyes with Gill Lapis.— Protect the head that wears the crown. You serve the throne, remember that.

Gill Lapis began laughing. With a snap of his fingers, the symbols behind him opened a portal. Inside, a raging electrical storm crackled, and from its depths, a massive blue sphere approached, carrying someone atop it. Giotto charged at Gill Lapis, lance aimed forward. The monster, still weakened, flung its tentacles upward. The creature's body coiled around Giotto's legs, but she used her lance as a battering ram, dragging the beast with her as she advanced.

—This is for my world, you wretched scum! —Giotto roared. Gill Lapis conjured a massive sword in midair, black, adorned with crimson inlays. With it, he impaled Giotto from side to side, his smile never wavering.

—MOTHER! —Hachisuka screamed. Rucheel caught her with an arm, stopping her from running to her doom. Giotto grabbed Gill Lapis by the chest with her free hand. Then, anchoring her lance into the ground, she wrapped her other arm around the monster's tentacles.

—I love you, Hachisuka —Giotto whispered, with blood in her mouth.

And with one final kick, she hurled herself into the portal, dragging Gill Lapis and the monster with her. As they passed through, the portal shattered into a thousand pieces. The train sped away, leaving the smoke behind. Wu Xiaohu collapsed on all fours, sobbing uncontrollably. Hachisuka couldn't move; words failed her. Rucheel stepped forward, picked up the lance, and knelt before Hachisuka.

—The Queen is dead. Long live the Queen —Rucheel said.

Hachisuka clutched her mother's lance and held it close.

—Let's go home —said Hachisuka, the new queen of Light Castle.