Because I Am Surtr

Before victory, sacrifice is worthwhile because it is a necessary price, a ladder to success.

However, once victory is in hand, all sacrifices turn to pain, as the drive that sustained the heart dissipates with the accomplishment of the goal. All fortitude and strength will then crumble in the wind like clouds in smoke.

She was afraid.

Or rather, she was experiencing post-fear.

Horrific visions flashed through her eyes: snowfields, ruins, rioting crowds, blood, and the familiar faces, gradually turning ashen, that filled her field of vision.

She wanted to scream, but the sting in her lungs prevented her breath from escaping. She stared wide-eyed out of the darkness, her dim sight seemingly concealing some indescribable, colossal terror.

She could no longer hear what Alina and Surtr had said afterward.

She didn't know if the two had parted on good terms or bad.

She only felt herself falling into a cold, abyssal chasm, falling, falling, endlessly plunging deeper.

—Until a sliver of light pierced the endless void.

"You look quite pathetic, Little Talulah."

Alina unfastened the drawstring of her woven bag. The Dragon Girl who appeared before her was curled up like a shrimp from a cold storage. Her shoulders, which seemed broad but were actually slender and weak, trembled. The Dragon Girl, drawn by the light, looked up, her face already tear-streaked as she gazed at Alina.

"A... Alina." The cotton cloth sealing the bag rolled to the side. The Dragon Girl's voice was both aggrieved and timid. The once formidable Reunion Tyrant was now like a wounded little beast trapped in a snare, unable to resist either in spirit or in strength, leaving her to be manipulated by the Elafia hunter as she pleased.

"Know you did wrong?"

"Wuwuwuwu..."

"Al is gone. She doesn't intend to judge you. She said there's no law in this world that can judge you. After all, Little Talulah, you are both the heir to the Dukedom of Ursus and a royal descendant of Victoria. Even if you truly blew up this city, your status and bloodline would provide you with political asylum and diplomatic immunity." Alina extended a finger, idly playing with Talulah's hair. "Little Talulah, you're truly remarkable. So many people died because of you, and you don't have to pay any price for it."

"J-just stop teasing me, Alina..."

"Call me Teacher."

Talulah's shoulders gave a violent shudder. Then she hunched her neck, looking at Alina with a pitiful expression.

"Teacher Alina..." the Dragon Girl's voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

"Al said she won't judge you either, as she's a party involved and needs to avoid suspicion. Therefore, before taking you back to Rhodes Island, those who were harmed by you will deal with you." Alina's fingertip slid from Talulah's forehead, tracing her smooth brow, her straight nose, her pale lips, and then curving slightly upward at her jawline.

Wherever her finger passed, a blush bloomed.

"The Reunion Movement no longer exists, and you are not responsible for it. However, whether you can gain the understanding of Mr. Bodegard and Miss Yelena depends on your own actions. As for me..." She tilted her head slightly, gazing at Talulah before her. Though a gentle Elafia, the girl now possessed an oppressive aura akin to the fiercest Lupo.

"Disobedient children need to be educated. Don't you think so, Talulah~ stu~dent~?" Her voice trailed off with a long, drawn-out syllable.

Talulah felt as though she were about to die here.

She wanted to flee, to struggle, but her hands and feet were completely useless, as if she had transformed from a Draconic into a Casters, utterly unable to resist before a predator, only able to resignedly accept her fate. To accept being completely devoured.

—Perhaps the ropes were tied too tightly. Even though they were merely strips of cloth that even a child could easily break free from.

So she turned her head, her body tensing at first, then relaxing. From her slightly reddened nose, she softly hummed a weak syllable.

"Yes..."

Miss Surtr left Alina's room and the corridor outside. As she left, she closed the two doors outside the corridor, lest any strange noises emanate from within.

After all, it was a clinic, and disturbing others was not good. Miss Surtr herself didn't care, but it wouldn't do to frighten some of the Ursus flora.

"I thought you'd stay a bit longer. Leaving already?"

A clear, cool voice came from not far away. As expected, Yelena was quietly waiting by the wall outside the corridor. She seemed to be in good spirits, or rather, she had been in good spirits all day.

"No need." Miss Surtr waved her hand. "I've changed my mind. Since Persephone has taken over this city, it means she will secure certain benefits for Rhodes Island here. And whatever those benefits may be, time will inevitably pass—I will likely be staying in this city for a few more days. During this period, it's better to hand over the 'local specialty' to someone suitable to look after."

—She had selectively forgotten her boastful declaration of 'educating' Talulah in the basement. The tragedy of a herbivore otaku was evident here.

"Is that so." Yelena obviously had no way of knowing the inner thoughts of a certain unpromising individual, but her steps became lighter.

Seeing Surtr walking out of the clinic, she naturally followed beside her, almost linking arms.

She seemed a little hesitant.

"Actually, you could have stayed in the room a bit longer. Can't you tell? They both... respect you..."

"Respect, is it? I know. After all, I've taught them many things and provided some help before. I can tell that much. That's why I'm leaving, to give them some private space so they don't feel constrained."

"..."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm just a bit curious. Can stones actually talk?"

"Certain Originium Arts can indeed do such things. Why the sudden thought..." Surtr wore a perplexed expression, then quickly realized. "Oh, I remember now. I recall there was a cadre in the Reunion Movement named Mudrock, and she seemed to use this kind of Originium Art... I remember she's also Sarkaz, and quite prett— Hmm?"

Yelena stepped on her foot.

So she instinctively reached out to support Yelena.

"Be careful when you walk. Your internal organs haven't regenerated for long. Your balance system might be affected."

Yelena: "..."

Surtr felt confused.

She felt Yelena's gaze on her was like looking at some inorganic object. But it wasn't indifference or contempt; instead, it was filled with an emotion she couldn't understand at all—she felt she might need to ask about it. However, at that moment, the two had already walked to the clinic's entrance.

She saw a convoy parked on the street outside the entrance, with several drones circling them. Everyone who got out of the vehicles was wearing uniforms and had Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals beacons on their shoulders—ah, she remembered now. Azazel Clinic and Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals had a cooperative relationship. The two had already established a considerable connection during the Kazimierz City incident.

And since the Rhodes Island convoy had arrived here…

"Sister Surtr!" She saw a short Caster girl jump out of the convoy. A genuine smile spread across her face when she saw her, and she ran towards her, waving cheerfully.

Ah… it was Amiya. She was supposed to arrive too.

So Surtr smiled back, opening her arms to welcome the Little Rabbit's charge and the ensuing hug.

She didn't notice Yelena's and Amiya's gazes colliding in mid-air.

It took over half an hour to change the censored words... I deleted some content (:з」∠)

The Trident River Campaign is a Game of Thrones reference. The Baratheons, symbolized by the stag, defeated the Targaryens, symbolized by the dragon, here. To put it simply, the stag toppled the dragon ().