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.