The townsfolk were free. She allowed her gaze to peel away from the nasty scar in the sky briefly and scoured the borders that recently had the barricade removed and noticed the stampede. There was no time to organize them better, logic did prevail though and the people began spreading out taking routes that were inconvenient but assured safety, the perimeter was long enough after all. There probably weren't going to be too many casualties, grave injuries were likely though. All in all, if they could all handle whatever abomination was now peeking through the crack in the sky, this could easily be considered a victory. For the moment, all she could deduce was that this demon was larger than others she'd faced, but the upside was that it seemed like it was alone. The size only meant he'd be easier to hit... Even rifts had silver-linings right?
There was a brief exchange about some staff that Konstantin had recovered, Nerva didn't see merit in the suggestions of the three-limbed Joyan or the Holy Knight angel. Her reasoning had reached a very similar conclusion, resonating with the older man. She was curious about the weapon regardless. If its pieces had the luck to be spared from further wreckage in the battle she assumed was going to ensue, she made a mental note to collect them. More of the town was destroyed as the abyss-dweller descended with little regard for the structures and homes made by mere humans. At least that took the edge off the destruction she had been responsible for. She suppressed a shudder and noticed the bold leader finally take charge.
From what she could gauge, it was almost like Nerva was a puppeteer and the demon was reduced to being a puppet. Much like he had tested them today, she held back now, to attempt fully grasping Nerva's capabilities. It wasn't easy to feel sympathy for the cruel predators of another land, but Nerva handled matters like it was child's play. It didn't take him long to mop up this alleged elder-demon and as a result the rift sewed itself shut. Her hands fell off her hips as she waited a second to ensure that this truly was the end. After all the crashing sounds, the sudden silence of the desolate town felt deafening, it was broken by Nerva's offer.
Does he even need the people he's collecting? she thought. It was for a noble cause, he spoke of it as such. An elite task force then? To take down the invaders? she thought. Surprisingly, the man had succeeded in justifying his means to Kazi too. She couldn't hide the rueful smile that tugged at her lips as he walked away from them, having given his reasons. Given everything they had witnessed, she couldn't fault him. She just had a very different take on the matter.
The Shimada intended to follow too... But for reasons that starkly contrasted with the others. Nerva's philosophy risked the people they were supposed to protect, sure it could be justified by saving a larger number, but that meant they weren't performing their duty as they were meant to. In her head, today proved that there are always other ways. Destroying the town would've been easy and efficient, but not right. Since there were resourceful people around, a town survived. Someone needed to stand by Nerva and curb him when he made such callous choices again.
Nerva seemed to have the my-way-or-high-way philosophy and it had earned him more enemies than friends no doubt. From where Akira stood, that meant he was short on resources that would allow him to find more elegant solutions to the dangers posed. So here he was, gathering his men, forming his elite, lethal task force. The wars always rage, how a person fights them defines who they are. Becoming stronger and winning at any cost was one answer, but certainly not the only one. There had to be better ways to empower humanity than to create an elite force that was willing to do whatever it took... Perhaps she was still too idealistic,
Unsurprisingly, the Sokolov followed too, given what Adelaide had shared, his loyalty to the Holy Knights had to be dwindling. She lingered by Tsuru's side he had made no move yet. She teetered too, wishing to dull the aching blow of abandonment he no doubt felt. It seemed, morally the two of them stood on the same ground, but there was going to be a fork in the roads they took to practice their duty. As painful as it was, she wished he didn't join alongside her, out of her selfish interest and surprising loyalty towards the faction that had been so reluctant to offer her basic respect. He had just been promoted and they needed a leader like him.
The Shimada couldn't put him or what they shared above her own duty though. Relaying the specifics of what Nerva did to the Council was more imperative than ever, even if it was at grave risk to herself. Nerva shouldn't be allowed to make decisions that could impact regions of the kingdom all by himself. Additionally, he would no doubt find himself needing aid eventually, but more importantly he would need someone to hinder him when he took that step too far.
Wordlessly, she went and collected the pieces of the staff as a distraction and so she could assuage her curiosity and study it. She twirled it in her fingers for a moment. She noticed the trickling bunch that tailed Nerva become smaller, till only the two of them were left there. She turned so her penetrative gaze rested on her ex-partner and steeled her heart. '
You belong with the Knights. I never did, right?' She walked towards the vague direction of the specks, her alleged allegiance now temporarily cemented.
~Exit~