Silence filled the fortress.
Seawater slapped against the heavy steel with faint, scattered sounds. Sweat dripped from the foreheads of the kneeling soldiers as they trembled in fear, hearing nothing but their own heartbeats.
Thump, thump.
Several dull sounds rang out as flesh struck steel.
The few who had risen instead of kneeling just now fell to the ground, one after another.
No one spared them a glance. Everyone lowered their heads even farther.
Even their sense of time seemed to grow sluggish. Perhaps only a moment passed, or perhaps an entire era, before that icy gaze slowly withdrew.
Clang!
The Scepter in Cora's hand struck the platform heavily with a resounding clang, like a hammer striking an anvil, sending sparks flying.
"Ceremony concluded! Rise!" Her steady voice rang out.
This time, there was no hesitation or uncertainty. The soldiers rose in perfect unison, their dark gun muzzles and cold Iron Prostheses gleaming chillily.
Elliot glanced at an elderly priest nearby and nodded to him. The priest bowed slightly, and the loudspeaker on his body issued a string of mechanical-sounding commands.
The Machine Priests below all brought their arms together before their chests in salute, then led the soldiers away in orderly waves in every direction.
Only after the last soldier had left did Elliot slowly turn to look behind him.
Lady Camilla withdrew her arm from Cora's side and let out a satisfied series of ticking sounds.
Only then did Elliot turn back toward Lady Camilla. His imposing solemnity swiftly faded, finally revealing a measure of weakness.
"What exactly is going on? The Old Duke... what exactly did Father do?"
Lady Camilla gazed deeply at Elliot, then looked toward the furnace fire. Suddenly, her body trembled.
Elliot froze. Following his intuition, he activated [Spirit Vision].
The points of light