Chapter 32 - Seperation

 Although a bit surprising, it wasn’t incomprehensible. The weapons needed to come from somewhere, and most Alvanian knights would have an easy enough time gaining access to the armory where they were held. Although the few Earthen knights enlisted were under harsher scrutiny, it stands to reason that a regular knight wouldn’t have much difficulty smuggling weapons. Motive wise, for many of the knights this rebellion was the first time they were exposed to the living conditions in Tervana. Many seemed to want to ignore it, but evidently a few knights felt sympathetic for its residents.

Tetsuo had already thought about this multiple times since the rebellion had begun to form, so when he saw Roscoe he wasn’t surprised by the action, but rather the perpetrator. What he wasn’t expecting however, was for Roscoe to be standing in his room waiting for him. When Tetsuo had opened the door he saw him sitting in the window sill waiting for him. His hair was tied back revealing a scar on his forehead Tetsuo had never seen before. He looked at Tetsuo with what seemed to be disdain. In his hand was a gleaming dagger that he twirled sporadically. Tetsuo could loosely make out the writing on it, recognizing it as a dagger from Remes.

Quietly, Tetsuo shut the door behind him and sat down at his bed side looking up at Roscoe. The moon cast a marvelous shine across the side of his face, giving him almost a surreal look. Tetsuo laid down and spread his arms out across his bed. He shut his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Well. I’m waiting. Go on and do whatever it is you came to do.” Tetsuo began to measure what he could do if Roscoe went for the strike. He could try to move and grab the knife, he could try to kick him back, he had some options. They’d be hard to act on given his eyes were closed. Fighting him at all would be hard. Part of him didn’t really want to do it anymore. Even if he beat him, Remes would just send more. Maybe the only way to protect Bianca for certain was to let them finally do him in here. They’d stop hunting him, and she’d never be at risk again. He had to make sure she’d be okay if he gave himself up.

“Wait, before you–!” Tetsuo opened his eyes as he felt an impact strike his chest. His blood went cold and his heart sank, until he saw Roscoe sitting in the windowsill still twirling the knife. He looked down at his chest and saw that he had thrown him a robe. Tetsuo felt his body de-clench as he sighed with relief.

Without making any noise Roscoe slipped out of the window and climbed onto the roof. Sensing he wanted him to follow, Tetsuo slid the robe on and joined him above the building.

The sight from the rooftops was unfamiliar. All of the time Tetsuo spent in Tervana was on the ground, so he never noticed how close together the buildings were. It was easy to see the roofs affixed at slight contradictory angles thanks to the clear sky that night. A few were in disrepair, some clearly falling apart with one as far as being caved in. 

Roscoe had already begun travelling across the rooftops, bouncing like a grasshopper from building to building. Tetsuo followed him leaping across alleyways, wondering where he was taking him. They traveled in silence, not uttering a word, as they crossed scenes of Earthens gathering, laughing, and cheering on the end of the kingdom. Bars were lively and stores were bustling, filled with new life. Even before the rebellion, Tetsuo had never seen Tervana so alive before.

Roscoe stopped at the edge of a rooftop overlooking an Alvanian camp. Tetsuo, watching his step, made his way over to the ledge. Roscoe gestured for him to remain silent as he flipped up his hood. Tetsuo mimicked him and watched.

There were three guards monitoring a few tents laid out in front of a decrepit looking building. While the sign read ‘Flowers’ it seemed the knights were using it as a temporary stronghold. Around the perimeters of the camp, Tetsuo spotted what seemed to be rebels creeping in surrounding it. They drew weapons and silently made their way towards it. One of the knights seemed to have noticed and was beginning to ready their lance.

Tetsuo was surprised as one of the rebels shouted, “EARTHENS! THEY’RE ATTACKING!” Their plan confused Tetsuo since they had just sacrificed their advantage of surprise. Quickly Alvanian soldiers ran out of the tents and building. Ten stood guard, defending against the rebellion force that must have totaled at least thirty. The fighting began as metal struck metal, stealing away the silence of the night. The combatants became intermingled with each other as the combat became messy. Small blasts of fire struck friend and foe alike, and some forces from both sides began to retreat.

Roscoe nudged Tetsuo, pointing to a cloaked rebel treading through the combat. A knight attempted to stop them, but another rebel clashed with the knight, letting the cloaked rebel carry on. They quickly ducked into the building, largely unnoticed.

Roscoe held the ledge of the building, producing a small platform made of stone. He gestured for Tetsuo to stand on it, so he did so. The platform descended along the side of the building, placing Tetsuo back on the ground. He looked up and Roscoe pointed for him to follow the figure into the building. Tetsuo mirrored the path he had seen the rebel take, weaving through combat and into the building.

Within he could see the cloaked figure rummaging through piles of weapons, most likely looking for more Ficium to supply the rebels with. Quietly, Tetsuo did his best to sneak behind them, hoping to catch them by surprise. As he stepped, a floorboard he stepped on creaked, causing the rebel to quickly spin and throw a stone at him. Tetsuo dodged to the side, keeping his eyes on the rebel's face. The rebel's eyes grew wide as she looked at him in shock. Tetsuo felt the same way once he recognized her eyes within the hood.

“Bianca..? What are you doing here?”

She took a deep breath before turning and returning to searching through the chest. “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m getting Ficium for my rebellion.”

“Your rebellion?” Tetsuo shook his head, before continuing. “Look, can you tell me what's going on here?”

“Why should I? You weren’t interested in helping Earthens before, but now that I’m doing it you are?”

“No that’s not it… I’m just confused! Why are you part of the rebels? You’ve only been here for a few weeks.”

“Maybe that’s exactly why I started it. So I wouldn’t become like you or the rest of Tervana. Letting Alvanians throw us to the side like trash, while we pray for them to make us a way home!”

“That’s not what happened!”

“Of course you’d say that…” Bianca slammed the chest close loudly. And turned to face Tetsuo. “You’re a knight right? So go on. Arrest me.”

Tetsuo’s trembled. She walked up to him and held her hands out submissively.

“Well?”

“I c-can’t. Bianca I can’t arrest you!”

“Oh my g–!” She pushed Tetsuo aside and made for the door of the building. “If you're not gonna help, then at least do your job! Or something! Anything! Just stop doing things for me!”

Tetsuo struggled trying to find the words that would appease her. “I-I’m sorry?”

Bianca sighed and pushed open the door. She looked back at him again, her face wincing in pain. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry… I make you the worst version of yourself. Just forget about me and live your best life, alright?”

Before she could start crying she flipped her hood back on and turned away. She hesitated in the doorway. Tetsuo could see her legs trembling below her cloak. Quickly she ran out and exited the building, leaving Tetsuo alone in the flower shop. He stuttered a response, but couldn’t quite make out what he wanted to say. Her words left him thinking if there was even anything left to be said.