"This is by far the stupidest thing I've ever been involved with," Macario stated firmly.

"...You coming?"

"[i]Yes[/i]. Freakin..." Macario grumbled, before coming along.

---

Macario hadn't seen so much red staining the ground in his life. Things were fine at first, but then Chester rolled in and...the carnage.

As the Crimson Company returned to their camp, reveling in victory, Macario wanted to know when it'd be over, but he had a feeling it wouldn't be so simple.

---

Stooping down, Lina repeated Kuhn's question, "Who did this? I thought there was a festival going on?"

The girl muttered, "This is...normal."

"...What!?" Lina gawked.

"It happens every year...just not this bad. Such is fate." Slumping, the girl collapsed, wallowing on the ground.

Blinking in bewilderment, Lian turned to Kuhn, stating, "This isn't right! This is supposed to be a festival! What's going on here!?"

"Cause and effect is the natural order of things." Looking over, Lina saw tall woman with long hair streaked in black and white, a crinkled cigarette in her hand, yet to be lit. Her face was somewhat wrinkled, indicating her middle age, and she wore a loose white, long sleeved shirt and long green running pants. As Lina stared, she continued, "If 'effect' is fate, then 'cause' is human actions."

Lina tilted her head. She kiiiiinda got it.

The woman came over, clapping her hand on Lina's shoulder. "My name's Kobicha. What brings you two here?"