“Lady Selia, we’re almost through the tear!”
“Yes, hold on tight—”
The battle vehicle’s engine roared as it sped through the wasteland, then flew through the tear in space. For a moment, Riselia felt her field of vision contort. She held on to the back of Schwertleite’s seat and peered out the windshield.
“Look. It’s the sea…!”
Far off in the horizon, they could see the Seventh Assault Garden and the capital.
…We made it back. We’re home!
Riselia picked up a pair of binoculars and peered through them. There was a massive Void tear in the skies above Camelot, and a black shadow was trying to emerge from it, swirling like a leaden cloud.
“There really is a Stampede going on…”
Swarms of Voids filled the sky. The event of six years ago flashed in Riselia’s mind—of the last time she saw her father, Edward Crystalia. Of the days she spent in the shelter trembling, with Regina hugging her shoulders.
But then, a sound pulled her out of her thoughts.
“—ghteenth…toon… come in. Eighteenth pla…come in…”
It came from her earring-type terminal.
Communications are back online?! Right, because we crossed the tear…!
They automatically entered the Seventh Assault Garden’s communication range.
“This is Excalibur Academy’s eighteenth platoon. Platoon leader, Riselia Crystalia speaking—” Riselia touched on the earring, trying to respond. But sadly…
“Come in…teenth platoon…!”
“We’re being jammed!”
The Voids must have been causing EMP barrages.
“Sakuya, is there any way you can use telepathy?” Riselia asked Sakuya, who was on the roof, on the off chance it was possible.
“No, I can’t.”
“…Right.”
The Sakura Orchid people were thought to have all manner of mysterious powers, so she was hoping this wasn’t entirely impossible.
“Master, I will attempt to improve communications.”
“Huh…?” Riselia turned to look at Schwertleite in surprise. Her clear, glass-like hair was glowing faintly.
“P-pretty…” Riselia could only stare, enchanted.
“…lia…Riselia! Goodness, answer me already!” The voice suddenly became clearer.
“…Fenris?!”
“Riselia Crystalia, what in the world are you doing?!”
Riselia could hear Fenris Edelritz’s shrill voice in her era.
“I-I’m sorry!”
“Where are you right now?”
“In the wasteland near the Seventh Assault Garden. I’ll, uh, I’ll send your our coordinates.”
Operating her terminal, she transmitted the battle vehicle’s current position.
“You must have been outside the city on a mission. Are you up to date on the situation right now?”
“A Stampede, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. We’re being attacked from both sea and sky, with multiple Void Lords assaulting us. And they seem to be acting in an organized manner, like human military units.”
“Multiple Void Lords…” Riselia gulped.
“We’re overwhelmed with all the data coming in right now. We’re in dire need of Miss Elfiné’s Holy Sword.”
“Miss Finé’s Holy Sword…?”
“Yes. I assume she’s with the rest of your platoon?”
“No, she isn’t…”
She was working in Excalibur Academy, also known as the capital’s anti-Void information bureau.
“She’s not with us. Are you saying you can’t get in touch with her?”
“What?” Fenris replied in surprise. “We haven’t been able to contact her for a while now. We were sure she was working with you…”
“…”
Riselia got a bad feeling. She held the utmost respect for Elfiné, and knew she wasn’t one to flee from the battlefield. Something must have happened to her. Maybe she was attacked by the Voids when she was all on her own, or perhaps…
“We’ll search for her as soon as we return to the Seventh Assault Garden,” Riselia said.
“Yes, we ask that you make it your top priority. We’ll open Gate 2 in Area VII for you.”
“Understood, thank you.” Riselia nodded and turned off the transmission and looked down at the communication terminal.
“Miss Finé…”
Her message history was full of messages Elfiné had sent them over the last few days, all of which arrived at once when they returned to the Assault Garden’s transmission range. She checked each message one by one.
…She was worried sick about us.
But then, her finger paused over the terminal. The last message was at 19:00, Imperial Standard Time.
“If it’s yesterday, this must mean it was before the Stampede began…”
So she went missing regardless of the Voids…?
But then her terminal rang out again. It was a call from Elfiné.
“Miss Finé…?”
“—Oh, you finally picked up. I guess miracles do happen…”
As Riselia picked up the call, the voice on the other side responded nervously. This wasn’t Elfiné’s voice.
“Who is this…?”
“There’s no time, I can’t answer any questions now.” The voice on the other side cut her off. “Come to the Seventh Assault Garden’s agricultural development block’s Plant 04. Right now.”
“Eh, wait—”
But before Riselia could ask anything else, the call suddenly cut off.
“The agricultural development block’s Plant 04….”
This was the location of a Phillet laboratory.