Chapter 25 - Impatience Airio Sis: …Haa… I'm tired… Echo Knight: You did well, Airio. You've been running around all day. Suncia Panthera: Good work. I'd like to let you return to the barracks, but I need you to remain on standby at the palace tonight. Airio Sis: Yes, sir. Echo Knight: Why don't you go get something to eat? Everyone's eating over there. Airio Sis: Thanks. I'll do that. I am hungry now that you mention it… Airio Sis: ……… Airio Sis: (I'm exhausted… Not physically, but…) Airio Sis: (I heard so many people screaming and shouting in anger today… I felt like I was going to drown in it all…) Airio Sis: (And yet… why do I feel so empty, as if none of it was even worth it?) Airio Sis: (Aren't we pushing too hard? Aren't we forcing something that shouldn’t be forced?) Airio Sis: (Maybe we should’ve let those feelings simmer in people’s hearts instead of stroking the fire that intensely… Maybe they would’ve been able to accept things more peacefully.) Airio Sis: (Or… maybe this is how things are supposed to go during emergencies…?) Airio Sis: (Those screams, that anger, won’t stop playing in my head… I was supposed to be protecting people, but I feel like I hurt them instead…) Airio Sis: (…It made me sad…) Echo Knight A: …Don't you think we should tell Airio? Echo Knight B : But… Echo Knight B: Ah, Airio. Airio Sis: …Good work. What’s that about me? Echo Knight B: Remember that boy you were trying to protect when we went to Ecolina Village? Airio Sis: …Thecto? He's my twin brother. Echo Knight B: …Your twin brother… Is he still in Ecolina Village? He hasn't come to the capital, has he? Airio Sis: …Why do you ask…? Echo Knight B: …There was someone with a severely injured shoulder amongst the people we’ve arrested… Echo Knight: I thought he looked like that boy from the village. Airio Sis: Huh……… Airio Sis: …It wasn't him. Thecto's not very strong physically. He wouldn't be able to make a trip that long. Echo Knight B: Oh, I see! Then that's a relief. I must've imagined it then. Echo Knight A: See? I told you. Echo Knight B: Sorry. I just thought… what if it really was him somehow… Airio Sis: Haha… Airio Sis: ……… Airio Sis: …I'm gonna go check. Echo Knight B: Airio… Airio Sis: The people who were arrested…where were they taken? Echo Knight B: I heard they’re in prison, but it’s packed way past capacity so it's a total chaos down there. Do you think one of them could be your brother? Airio Sis: I-I don't… I don't know, I don't think he could be there, but…! Airio Sis: If my brother… if Thecto’s here… I did things today that I would never, ever do to him… Echo Knight A: Wha-! But it was to keep the capital safe! Blame the Federation spies-! Airio Sis: I-I know! But…! Sorry! I'm gonna go look for Thecto! Echo Knight B: Want us to help!? Airio Sis: Ah… Airio Sis: …It's okay! I'll go alone! Airio Sis: Thank you! Airio Sis: (The reason I couldn't say, "please help me"…) Airio Sis: (Was because I couldn't possibly save Thecto then discard everyone else who’s been dragged down there.) Airio Sis: (It feels wrong…I can’t just save my own brother and leave them all behind…) Airio Sis: (But maybe now’s not the time to be thinking about that.) Airio Sis: (I thanked them because I knew they were only trying to help.) Airio Sis: (I feel like I'm drowning. Not just in everyone else's emotions, my own heart is being tossed around in every direction.) Airio Sis: (Thecto… Thecto, please…) Airio Sis: (Please don't be in this capital.) Airio Sis: (Please…tell me you had nothing to do with what happened today.) To be continued in Season 3...