Shiro Kawabata
To: Eris Reinhardt
From: Shiro Kawabata
Subject: Re:Reply
”Hey, looks like somebody’s got her head firm on her shoulders. Good guess, as expected of a princess! Glad to hear that you’ll soon be discontinuing your murderous rampage, but judging from my sources, you’re currently in the midst of battle and probably won’t even have a chance to look at this message. I’ll be bringing a friend too, ‘cause who said only three could be a crowd? See ya there.”
With his reply sent, Shiro got up from his seat and stood in the center of the desk arrangement. During the time that he was preoccupied with messages, Ken had continued to spur the conversation between Aaron and himself.
”I-I’m sure there’s some underlying cause for her to lash out like this. Although she didn’t speak too highly of our raid party during the battle, she doesn’t strike me as somebody to purchase an Outlaw Declaration because her mood dictated as such.” The club president rubbed his chin in an attempt to deduce a reason, but he soon came to a dead end.
”Well, since she is your friend, I highly suggest you stay out of this one. Not because I don’t have faith in you to stay alive, this is just a fight she needs to wage on her own. Kinda like how a protagonist goes through a hectic conflict, at the end of which he or she has a revelation and sees things from a new perspective. At least, that’s what I believe is the case.” After Shiro chimed in, he crossed his arms and began to mull.
They were currently sailing through dire straits. The very image of the young Strykers was in peril thanks to the infighting all of the involved characters had propagated. Just then, an incessant ringing began emanating from the student. He and Ken quickly exchanged glances before the latter caputed the attention of his club members,
”Would you all mind stepping out for the time being? We have some important matters to attend do.” A few murmurs floated between the students as they shuffled out of the room. Just like that, the club room had been seemingly transformed into a command center. The president turned to Shiro and gave him the go ahead. He returned the nod and accepted the voice call.
”Drauni, this is Moon. You’re on speaker. What’s your report?” He was fully aware that he had just exposed his identity to Nyx, but since they never
visibly crossed paths, it was fine.
There were a few seconds of heavy breathing before a shrill voice
”MOOOOOOOOOOOON!!! I’M SCAAAAAAAAAAARED!!!” A small breath escaped Shiro’s lips as he supported his temples.
”Really? Sounds to me like you’re having a blast. And judging from the explosions in the background, literally!” He replied wryly, exacerbating the situation in spite of the Stryker’s emotional distress.
”He’s like this often…” Ken whispered to Aaron from the sidelines.
”Alright, Drauni, calm down and speak slowly. E-nun-ci-ate. What’s happening?”The Stryker regained his composure and spoke in lieu of the progressively devolving battle.
”A-alright. I managed to gather fifteen Strykers from our raid group and placed them at all connecting streets to the gate. So far, no players have been able to pass our blockades.” As Drauni spoke, Shiro envisioned the layout of the city in his head. For a first year, the kid knew how to strategically place resources quite well. He would surely scale the ranks of the Strykers, if he ever managed to suppress his sheepish demeanor.
”But there’s been a recent development pertaining to the battle.” Shiro raised an eyebrow at this new information. He swore he heard somebody shout “Fatal Acceleration” in the background, but it was hard to discern the war cry over the song of blades.
”A third party who may be affiliated with Arms Slave just made an appearance. He has a pretty unique ability, and seems to be turning the tide of the ba- Crap, we’ve suddenly got a flood of players making their way to the gate!” Moon, who was planning on keeping viewers to a minimum, now understood that his efforts were in vain. The boy who lacked a serious complexion clicked his tongue. Subtle irritation exhibited itself as Drauni continued to annotate the generating situation.
”Diverting remaining members to the gate! They’ll hold off the players, but I don’t think they’ll be able to stave them off for that long. Are you able to dive?!”Moon digested Drauni’s plea for help and looked over to Akane. The girl calmly read his expression and relaxed her stature on the desk. She suddenly became still since she had just entered DGO.
”Ken, mind holding the fort while I’m away?” Ken gave him a slow and nervous nod, unsure how to react to this foreign face of Shiro’s.
”Aaron, I’m sorry that there isn’t much to do right now, but I'm going to back on my word here. Things aren’t sitting well with me, and I’ve got the feeling your friend’s about to get into some deep shit.” The boy made his way over to a vacant desk and took his seat, then proceeded to enter DGO.
Paper Moon stared blankly at his friend’s corpse, his utterly solemn gaze downcast. He was able to catch the tail end of the battle, but was only a mere moment too late. Perhaps he could have been the voice of reason in this entire ordeal. He could have, by the grace of time, made an appearance and forcibly blared the voice of reason into both of their ears. But unfortunately, Fate was ranked an echelon above Time, thus it ultimately had jurisdiction over the proponent of the hourglass. Strawberry watched from the front of the crowd that had came to a halt before the city gate. Arms Slave didn’t strike him as a person to willingly sacrifice his EXP on a whim, so he must have seen some ultimatum before he bit the dust.
Right now his IRL counterpart was probably sufficed with the turn of events, but contrastingly, the rogue was not. He fixated narrowed eyes on the princess’, burrowing down into her very being comprised by series of repetitious code.
”So, are you content with this outcome? Well, are you?!” His voice hadn’t hit the intensity of a bark just yet, but agitation was clearly woven into every word. Although he didn’t wholly agree with that the Sweeper should have incited the Berserker further, he felt the need to shoulder a fraction of his rage.
”Did you seriously take every minute factor into account when you arrived at this resolution? You, as a primary representative of the Ebony Strykers, valued your own personal vendetta over these people?” Paper Moon threw out his hand back at the bystanders watching in unanimous silence. He didn’t intend for a riot to break out among the players. No. He wanted to permeate that impertinent mentality, while he simultaneously tried to step out of his own by even going so far as to speak in this manner.
”These people saw you fly into the battlefield, defend their new haven, and best a dissolution singlehandedly, yet you willingly tarnished that image they held in such high regard! You went ahead and abided by your own will, no matter what outward appearance would take form of the black kingdom after this event. I’m not even wholeheartedly devoted to the Strykers, but I have friends in their numbers. I think of those close to me before I set myself on a course that may put them in the line of harm. Did you do the same?” He noted Nies Hellum the two Sweepers passed her on their way to the scene. What did she think of this requiem? Did she believe Eclipse Princess’ actions were just? The anger in Moon’s voice suddenly died out as he recollected himself. His furrowed brows had eased slightly.
”...But I don’t entirely believe you should walk away after this. These people need you for what lies in theirs, and now, yours and my path. You should take a chance to rethink your values, and find out where your allegiance truly lies. For your sake, and theirs. You brought upon yourself a weight to carry when you decided to wield that blade. Now decide what that blade defines.”Most of the raid group began to usher the players back into the city, all of whom complied after witnessing the spectacle. The remainder began to carefully gather the bodies of the Sweepers who fell to Eclipse Princess. A zephyr blew past the two, still locked in their staredown.
@Lucius Cypher@KoL@Mega Birb@Caits@RoflsMazoy
Member
