Chapter 20 - Strange Scenery Thecto Sis: Hah… hah…! Balaeno: Thecto, are you okay? Thecto Sis: I'm okay…! [BANG!] Fail Urus: Thecto, stay low! Let's duck into that alley! Thecto Sis: Okay…! [BANG!] Man: Break down the door! Man: We know you’re in there! [BANG!] Thecto Sis: (Why…? Everything was totally normal just a minute ago.) Thecto Sis: (Everything changed in the blink of an eye. Or…did we all fail to notice?) Thecto Sis: (Was all that anger hiding beneath their peaceful, mundane lives, ready to explode this whole time?) Thecto Sis: (Airio… Where are you, Airio…?) Balaeno: Thecto. Thecto Sis: …Balaeno? Balaeno: Want me to carry you? Thecto Sis: I'm okay… I can still run…! Balaeno: Understood. What would you like me to do? Thecto Sis: Huh? Balaeno: Tell me your wish and I’ll make it happen. Thecto Sis: …Stay by my side… Balaeno: Understood. Imperial Soldier A: Where do you think you're going!? Imperial Soldier B: You look like ghosts caught in a trap, you’re acting exactly like criminals on the run! Fail Urus: Gh…He's not feeling well! My friend has a chronic illness… Imperial Soldier: Is that so? Let's see his face. Thecto Sis: Hah…! Fail Urus: Don't be rough with him! Imperial Soldier: I'm not being rough! I'm maintaining peace and order! Which district are you from, kid? Thecto Sis: …E…Ecolina… Imperial Soldier: Ecolina? Ever heard of it? Fail Urus: It's not a district in the Imperial Capital. It's a village near the border. Please, just let us through… Imperial Soldier: Near the border? That's suspicious. Fail Urus: Suspicious? What's suspicious abou- Ah…!? [The soldier grabs Fail’s face.] Thecto Sis: Fail! Imperial Soldier: You have the face of a child, but your eyes are too mature… Aren’t you an adult playing pretend? Fail Urus: Huh…? You're the ones saying that? Imperial Soldier: …Excuse me? Fail Urus: How are we supposed to look carefree when we live in a world that’s actively falling apart…? Imperial Soldiers: Gh……… Thecto Sis: Fail… Fail Urus: The only reason we smile and laugh is because people like YOU want us to pretend to smile and laugh. Fail Urus: Because you demand that we at least pretend to be happy, that we act out a little charade for you. Fail Urus: What the hell’s up with that…? You call us pitiful then demand that we act carefree… Fail Urus: And yet look at what you're doing to us now… Don't fuck with us…..is this how we’re supposed to live…? Fail Urus: *Crying* Ah…It's nothing. I'm sorry… Please… forgive me… Imperial Soldier: …You… Fail Urus: …Could you please step aside? I just want my friend to rest… Imperial Soldier: Ah…………Fine. Come this way… Echo Knight: Watch out! That’s a Federation child soldier! Imperial Soldier: What…? Balaeno: Oh……… Echo Knight: You lot, stand back! Echo Knight: Get him…! Echo Knights: WAHHHH…! Balaeno: Targets confirmed. Commencing elimination. Thecto Sis: Balaeno…? Balaeno: I'll stay by your side, okay? To be continued...