The Weight of a Heart

Campaign: Chaos in the Capital

Chapter 14 / 2-1

The Weight of a Heart

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The Other's Assassins

Summary

The prince and his allies become locked in a fierce struggle with Harle, who traps them with a magical weapon. The heroic efforts of the combat androids set them free, but it comes at the loss of their hearts. Feeling responsible, Mascula then closes off his own heart.

Dialogue

Imperial Capital

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Former Sol Alberia - Before the City Walls
Scanning forces defending city walls. Current numbers: 100...200...300...400... Looks like they brought out all hands and the ship's cook to say hi. Ah, the distinguished dignitaries of New Alberia arrive at last. Welcome! Your journey must have been terribly exhausting—might I make you some tea? Stand down your forces and open the gate, Harle! There's no need for any bloodshed! I'm so relieved your disposition remains as it ever was, dear Prince. And hello again to you, noble Paladyn! It has been FAR too long since we chatted. I get the impression you are not entirely convinced that your war is just. Stay your tongue, dog! My heart beats ever for New Alberia! Well then, let us begin the festivities. But be warned: We are the Black Ravens, and you will find no gates open to you in this place, invaders! How DARE you call us invaders! Ooo, that jerk knows JUST how to push my buttons! If you won't stand down, Harle, then we will take the city by force. Oh, ENOUGH of this! ...Loyal soldiers of the Empire, give these traitorous caitiffs the hell they came for! CHAAAARGE! Glory to the Empire! Haaaaah! For the prince! Haaaaah! Activate the device. Uwaaaargh! Wh-what the—?! IT BURNS! IT BUUUUURNS! All units, fall back! Secure the wounded and get them to the rear as you go! He's using some manner of magical weapon to form a wall of energy that burns all it comes into contact with. They got us boxed in here like a bunch'a fish in a...a box! And I can't even fly us out—this magical barrier contains a top as well as sides. I got no interest in bein' BBQed by some damn magical doodad, so let's think up a plan and fast! The barrier is closing in! Ruuuun! Graaagh! Stay calm, everyone! Move surely and quickly to the center of the space! We have to find some way to escape from this... The device generating this field is located a short distance over there. ▷If we can cut it off somehow, we should be able to escape!◁ But the device is located beyond the barrier itself! We cannot reach it! We have to do something, or else everyone here is going to... Maestro is...sad? Then I am sad. Lives...must not be lost. Huh? What?! Androids, stop! This isn't the time to act on your own! Command denied. Switching to attack mode. Target: Field-emitting device. Impossible. They mean to... ▷They're going to cross the barrier and disable the device that makes it!◁ Affirmative. Commencing operation. Pe...ace. For...peaCE... Stop. Your armored exterior may let you pass through the barrier, but it will destroy your internal components! ▷She's right! Stop! DON'T DO THIS!◁ Analysis of device complete. Serious damage sustained. We must! We must! Commencing deactivation. Serious damage sustained. Continued operation impossible. Passing operations to parallel unit. I am...dying...dying...shutting down. ▷Laxi, you have to stop them!◁ I know. All units, fall back! Command denied. Passing operations. Device shutdown at 50%... 60%... Damage has reached critical levels. Passing operations... Pass complete. Shutdown imminent. I am...dying... I am...afraid... Shutdown at 70%... Shutdown at 80%... My heart is...is growing colder. Am I...dying? I...don't want this... No matter. It must continue. 90%... 95%... 99%... 100%. Field emitter shutdown...complete. Are you happy? If Maestro is happy, I am happy. But this...is the end. I am...sAaaAAaaAAAd... FareWeLl...Maestro... Be WeeeeEEEeell... The barrier is gone. What about the androids?! Exterior wounds can be repaired, but their internal systems are badly damaged. Loss of all hearts that were produced via system malfunction confirmed. They lost their hearts?! ▷They were all so...afraid.◁ ▷This is all my fault. If they'd never gained hearts, they wouldn't have experienced the pain of death.◁ ▷This all happened because of my heart.◁ Mascula, this is NOT your fault! ▷Thank you, Luca—but it is. All of it is because of me.◁ ▷I'm...sorry.◁ Mascula? ▷......◁ Laxi, where'd he go?! What happened to Mascula?! He has shut down his ego circuit—and I fear he is the only one who can retrieve it. Mascula... Sorry to be blunt, boss, but Mascula there is gonna have to wait. All them androids gave their lives what to save ours, and we can't let 'em throw all that away 'cause we're upset. Correct. The androids' final wish was for you to proceed. ...I understand. We move at once.

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C-Captain Harle! The New Alberian forces are headed this way! Let them come. The stout walls of this castle are more then enough to defend— S-sir, the walls! They've fallen! Oh? ...I see. It would seem that to enjoy this battle fully, I shall need to invest the whole of my abilities.