Before Then

Warui: He walks with Zay.

Warui: Did Malia give up on the experiments?

Zay: Unfortunately for her, she was ordered by the commander to hold off on them.

Warui: Did the beehive go too far?

Warui: I mean, I didn’t exactly enjoy it.

Warui: But I see why we did it.

Zay: Beehive?

Zay: Listen, kid, that woman’s antics are some sick shit I’d rather not be involved in.

Zay: Mercer simply requested that I bring you to him.

Warui: The experiments haven’t worked at all.

Zay: I heard.

Zay: I honestly thought it wasn’t the best idea in the first place.

Warui: Was there a better way to figure this out?

Zay: Not figuring it out might’ve been better.

Zay: I wouldn’t be spending an afternoon escorting you if that were the case.

Zay: And the weapon appeared on the battlefield without you trying.

Zay: I doubt we’ll be able to force it out of you.

Warui: Maybe I’d...

Warui: Have to see something like Avelorn... again.

Zay: He approaches the door to Commander Mercer's office with Warui and knocks while watching Warui's face.

Zay: That isn’t very appealing.

Two hours earlier

Commander Dirk: In his office, he addresses the two Crown Wardens.

Commander Dirk: You two told Mercer you were assuming custody?

First Crown Warden: Leaving Warui with the Army meant the experiments would continue.

Commander Dirk: Did anyone outside this post ask you to intervene?

Second Crown Warden: No, sir. We read the account.

Commander Dirk: Had you spoken to Warui?

Second Crown Warden: No, sir.

Commander Dirk: Then you start there.

Commander Dirk: Their attempts at recreating the unknown weapon have already been put on hold.

Commander Dirk: Speak with Warui at the Army base with Commander Mercer present.

Commander Dirk: No removal until I review your findings.

Back at Commander Mercer's Office

Warui: He sits down in front of Commander Mercer’s desk.

Commander Mercer: The memorial for our fallen comrades is in three days.

Warui: He nods.

Commander Mercer: I know the last week has been tiring for you.

Warui: It’s completely fine, sir.

Warui: I asked to find out what this is.

Commander Mercer: He watches Warui for a moment.

Commander Mercer: The Wardens read the Avelorn report.

Warui: Oh, is there something wrong?

Commander Mercer: They requested custody of you. They're coming to speak before that goes any further.

Warui: What? Where do they want to take me?

Commander Mercer: There’s no transfer that’s been agreed to.

Door: It opens.

Tirian Soldier: Commander, the Avelorn report is now en route to the government.

Tirian Soldier: The Crown Wardens have also arrived

Commander Mercer: Thank you.

Commander Mercer: Show them in.

Tirian Soldier: Of course, sir.

Crown Wardens: The two wardens walk through the door.

First Crown Warden: Warui Reiki.

First Crown Warden: I’m sure your commander has filled you in by now.

Warui: Yes, he has.

First Crown Warden: Okay, good.

First Crown Warden: Your experiments have been put on hold.

First Crown Warden: May I ask if you want them to continue?

Warui: Well, I want to know what happened.

First Crown Warden: What have the experiments involved?

Warui: I-I guess I’d call them stress tests.

Warui: They kept me awake.

Warui: Tried things that irritated me

Second Crown Warden: What happened when you wanted one to stop?

Warui: Oh, we...

Warui: We’d stop.

Warui: I wouldn’t say immediately, though.

Warui: But I also wanted to figure it out.

First Crown Warden: Would you agree to another stress test?

Warui: ...Not necessarily.

Warui: But I don’t want to be taken somewhere else because of them.

Commander Mercer: I’ll propose this.

Commander Mercer: The attempts at recreating the appearance of the weapon will remain suspended.

Commander Mercer: It also seems to be in Warui’s best interest to remain in familiar surroundings.

Commander Mercer: Until Lionel Dirk reviews your findings and comes to a decision, I'll stand Warui down from combat drills and deployment.

Warui: Training too?

Commander Mercer: We don't know what brought that weapon out of you.

Commander Mercer: I want to focus on managing that risk.

Commander Mercer: You can still attend lessons.

Commander Mercer: Anything that doesn't put you under physical strain.

First Crown Warden: We'll take this up to Commander Dirk for review.

First Crown Warden: For now, this remains provisional.

Commander Mercer: Thank you.

First and Second Crown Warden: They get up and exit the building.

Warui: Commander, what am I meant to do while being stood down?

Commander Mercer: Take some time.

Commander Mercer: Think about what happened at Fort Avelorn.

Warui: That's all I've been doing since the operation.

Commander Mercer: And you'll continue to do that.

Warui: Am I able to mention this to everyone else?

Commander Mercer: I'll allow it

Twenty-five minutes later

Warui: He sits on an ammo crate in the training grounds while staring in the distance, his eyes not fixated on any one thing

Warui: A scene replays in his head

Past

Warui: Bastards.

Zay: Kid.

Zay: Calm yourself down.

Zay: You aren't helping.

Warui: We're getting out of here.

Dark Red Object: A sword-like object with vein-like structures suddenly appears in the heads of two soldiers holding their muskets toward Zay's squad as their bodies stiffen up.

Present

Warui: He exhales deeply through his nose.

Past

Tunnel: The screams behind Warui stop.

Zay: Your hands are dirty.

Zay: Why hesitate?

Present

Warui: He clenches his jaw.

Past

Avelorn Soldier: Tell your commander-

Warui: He grunts.

Warui: Just put them down-

Dark Red Object: The sword-like object covered in vein-like structures suddenly emerges from Warui's chest.

Dark Red Object: It tears through the front of Warui's uniform and shoots forward.

Warui: His body jerks forward and he shouts.

Dark Red Object: It drives straight into the Avelorn soldier's head.

Avelorn Soldier: His body is carried backward with it and crashes into the front wall of the town hall.

Present

Warui: He stands immediately when the Avelorn soldier's body crashes into the wall.

Warui: Tch.

Warui: He balls up both of his fists.

Warui's POV: He looks down.

Warui's POV: He sees completely different clothes and stone flooring.

Warui: He lifts his head up immediately and looks ahead of him

Warui's POV: He sees the Army's training grounds

Warui: What the hell?