Do I need to do the obligatory disclaimers for this after all of the other shit I've ghetto-translated? I GUESS SO JUST TO COVER MY ASS!!
- MY MOON IS NOT REALLY VERY GOOD AT ALL I just have an arsenal of tools to get a PRETTY OKAY jist of what is going on - enough to extrapolate things and turn it into something readable. Also ty to Alison who helped out with a few lines and parts I just went ??????? at.
- Since these are novels and not artbook things, there is a little more extrapolation because of the format a lot of novels like this is in. Aka I merge and reword some things so it looks more nicely weaved together in English.
- HOPEFULLY NOTHING TOO HUGE IS COMPLETELY WRONG? :V But the points get across.
This post covers:
- Dio and Lucciola's entrance
- Elaboration on a formerly unnamed character (the dead Guilder Alex shot)
- Some extra Guild interaction
- The first battle with Claus
- More extra Guild interaction (WITH A BATH SCENE. TARA HAS A NEW FAVORITE SCENE U GUYS.)
Night had fallen, and the Ruins of Avalon shone beneath the moonlight. Its stony surface once vivid with colors of public murals, one honoring Sir Galahad, was now covered by the green of the ivy that had grown over it for the last few hundred years. Another mural pictured a cross floating in the sky, crimson petals raining down, and a king being crowned. An image representing Anatoray and the usurpation of the throne; even under Guild control, the more arrogant wealthy class were said to have continued keeping records of such events. The territory of Galahad, once belonging the Guild, was burnt by the troops of Anatoray's emperor, the once fertile plains turned into a barren land. The remains of the square in front of the palace was overgrown with grass, and lined with white columns.
A corpse was laid aside, the moonlight shining off of open, vacant eyes that saw no more, and Dio Eraclea crouched down, reaching to grab a stiffened hand and finding it cold. When he let it go, it simply dropped lifelessly back to the ground. He reached to pick it up again.
"There's nothing quite like a corpse, huh, Lucciola."
His own eyes were widened slightly, shining with curiosity.
"Lucciola?"
His loyal follower was busying himself checking the star-shaped aircraft that had been shot down. Opening the front cover, he leaned his head into the cockpit to take a closer look. With a matching cloak to Dio's, it shone silver in the moonlight. Abandoning the corpse, Dio crept up behind Lucciola.
"I'm surprised Lucanus was defeated."
"It is unfortunate."
"Is it? I didn't like him very much. He was foolish and violent, and told Delphine everything that I did."
"It was his duty."
"Hahaha, you're too kind, Lucciola."
For no specific reason, Dio hugged his arms around Lucciola's shoulders from behind.
"... Lucanus was too hasty."
"And Delphine passed up Coccinella in favor of him. Really, the sin here is her's."
Lucciola's delicate fingers moved over the console. "Playing back the recording," he muttered as Dio shifted his body.
"Of the last thing Lucanus saw, huh?"
The recording showed a military vanship making an emergency landing. Not long after, its guns aimed and shot toward the camera, controlled by a man who crumpled over a moment later, defeated from a single blow of one of the the machine's manipulator arms. An explosion followed just a moment later. The view then moved from the rubble remaining from the explosion to the sky, and then, eventually, to the streets of Norkia. It showed the roof of a house built over a waterway. An identification of the usage of Claudia came from nearby, before the roof was smashed in so the machine could enter a narrow interior with a disheveled looking bed. It moved to the underground waterways, and a lightweight vanship suddenly thrusted forward, helmed by a calm, yet strong-looking pilot. A rear-end collision with the vanship caused the camera to jerk around violently, and Dio gazed at the monitor with almond-shaped eyes lit up with interest.
"Hm~ This boy isn't getting killed so easily."
The vanship exited the underground waterway, and almost like a horse, it lept from the waters and into the air, moving to the ruins nearby.
"He's a little rough, but not bad. Courageous, too. What do you think, Lucciola?"
"He simply seems reckless, to me."
"But there's a talent there. If I were teaching him, he would definitely be a lot better..."
"Do you think so?"
"He managed to escape from Lucanus in such a machine."
After the vanship made an emergency landing in the ruins, a man in a cloak could be seen raising a rifle from the corner of the screen. A gunshot rang out, and the image of the landscape was knocked to its side, the camera not moving again. However, the video kept recording. The pilot of the vanship climbed out, and in the navi seat in the back sat a frightened-looking girl. Eventually, a crimson vanship could be seen landing within in the camera's view.
"And here we are in the same place. Let's replay the video."
They watched it again as the man in the cloak issued some sort of instruction to the female pilot with short hair.
"Zoom in."
The movements of the man's mouth could be seen on the screen.
"Their destination ... haha, I could make that out well enough."
Dio tapped Lucciola on the shoulder.
"Let's head back as soon as possible. This will be a good present for Phalaena," Dio spoke while typing the self-destruct code on the console. Lucciola stood aside, watching the silver hair of his master flutter in the wind, shining in the darkness.
He let his outstretched arms fall to his side.
"Lucanus is dead, Phalaena."
Dio lifted his arms once again, repeating that motion and letting them swing back and forth as he paced around the Guild warship commander. The moon's light shone softly through the large, glass windows that lined the walls.
"Is that so..." Phalaena bit his lip. "How did he die?"
"It's better that you don't know that."
Phalaena gave Dio a sharp look. "If you know, perhaps you can be the one to report this to Delphine." And then he averted his eyes. He didn't like the maestro's younger brother. He was capricious, strange, and yet quick-minded; he never knew how to go about dealing with him.
"Lucciola and I took care of his body, though it's clear that what happened wasn't an accident. About that..."
Dio sat down gracefully upon a simply-designed stool. With the press of a button, a chessboard rose up from the polished floor.
"Lucciola, come sit down."
Letting his partner have the first move, Dio kept an eye on Phalaena.
"I also saw the granddaughter of house Hamilton."
Heat rose to Phalaena's cheeks. "That's the reason Lucanus was...?"
"Lucciola noticed her. She's aboard a ship not registered with the Guild, now."
"The same unregistered ship that appeared in Minagith?"
"I don't know!"
While moving the pieces across the board, Dio began to laugh, remembering something.
"That guy..."
"What is it?"
"Hey, Phalaena. I have a small request."
Dio's tone changed to an imperative one to assure that the commander, braced as he awaited his order, would take it without question.
"If you move to take the girl, I want you to promise that you won't sink that ship right away."
"I am unable to make such a commitment."
"Did you not hear me?" He glared at Phalaena, eyes narrowed.
"... Understood. If that is what you desire."
"0400 hours. Coordinates 336-57-889."
Lightening his tone of voice again, Dio smiled at Lucciola.
"Lucciola, that was a good move!"
Lucciola silently stared down at the board.
"Look at that maneuvering, Lucciola! It's terrible."
While having a chess match with Lucciola, Dio kept his eye on the many images being projected from the starfish outside.
"He's not able to control all of that power."
He muttered an order to Phalaena to close in on Claus' machine.
"Is that pilot a matter of concern?" Lucciola asked as he glanced up from the board, having been gazing down at it with his brow furrowed as he considered his next move.
"Hahaha, that acceleration is especially a mess! Really, who flies like that?"
Claus' machine spiraled into the air, and then quickly moved into a nosedive. Firing its machine gun, he tried to hit the starfish as it approached the Silvana. The starfish caught fire.
"Delta unit being fired upon..." Reports of the battle flowed in.
"How unexpected."
"It seems to be beginners luck."
"It's not that. You know a sky like that one is never that sweet and forgiving, Lucciola."
Lost in that thought, Lucciola advanced his pawn forward. Dio immediately countered with his knight.
"Ah..." Lucciola tried to concentrate again.
"It's useless, Lucciola, if you can't focus."
Dio kneeled down to the floor. Claus' machine was trying to shake off being pursued doggedly by two starfish from behind, the distance between them beginning to narrow.
"That won't work."
The starfish fired its needle gun. Claus' machine broke off to the right just in time to avoid it... then it swerved to the left, and the right again.
"Rolling scissors..."
As Dio watched, Claus' machine suddenly rose at a steep angle.
"Keep the camera on it!"
It began to turn in what looked to be a huge circle, rolling back upright and getting behind the starfish.
"Amazing! He went from a scissors to an Immelmann turn! This guy, he can control that aircraft after all."
The machine fired, but missed.
"But, he's not very good at shooting."
On the large screen, Claus' face reflected regret. Lavie looked as though she would be sick at any moment.
"Hahaha, I think I'll go take a look at those faces myself."
Dio looked up at Lucciola with mischievous eyes.
"I'm tired of chess, shall we head out for a little bit?"
"I'm here, Immelmann. Now I'll teach you the proper way to fly," Dio murmured happily as he watched his target move through the wind.
"Leave this one to me, Lucciola."
"As you wish."
Dio kept his aircraft following closely behind Claus'. It suddenly changed direction, though didn't alter its angle, allowing Dio to get a better look at at the ship itself.
"You're at a total loss as to what to do now."
The electrical pipipipipi sounded as he locked on to the machine with the starfish's guns. Dio pulled the trigger, speaking a simple onomatopoeia.
"Baaaaaang!"
... but the trigger had its safety on.
"Now, that's once you've been shot down."
"Lord Dio..." Lucciola's reproachful voice sounded from the intercom. "You're just toying with him?"
"Hahaha, I'm being completely serious right now, Lucciola."
Dio was losing sight of Claus' machine. It descended quickly in order to avoid what would have been a fatal Claudia system hit. By the time he caught sight of the machine again, it had picked up zooming speed.
"Not bad."
The amusement vanished from Dio's face as, suddenly, Claus' machine looped around the Silvana to swoop down toward Dio from behind.
"Lord Dio, it's under us."
"I know!"
Claus fired the machine guns. The starfish swerved to the left and the right, narrowly avoiding the attack. But, such a move would only buy Claus a few extra seconds. And he didn't understand the concept of strafing very well.
"What a bold imitation, Immelmann."*
Dio stared into the monitor. But, Claus' machine guns had gone strangely silent.
"Why did you stop shooting?"
Dio tightened his lips.
"I was going easy on you. But playtime's over, now."
"You could have shot me..." Dio muttered, cold eyes sparkling.
He targeted, as Claus' machine tried to avoid it with a scissors.
"I already saw that move."
Dio removed the safety from his weapon.
"I wish I could have had fun with you for a little more, sorry."
Dio gazed at the vanship in his monitor. He wondered whether to shoot or not to shoot, but eventually he moved his finger to the trigger. Just as he did so, a red unit came swooping down between them, shaking his aircraft.
"The engine cooling system has been hit," Lucciola's calm voice spoke.
Not missing the chance, Claus' machine moved out of the targeting system's range.
"That craft... what?"
Dio's eyes narrowed, following the red aircraft as it disappeared into the clouds.
"You can have the red one, Lucciola."
"I humbly accept," Lucciola's submissive voice responded through the speakers.
"Now you're making me mad, and I'm usually really nice, Immelmann."
Dio put his finger back on the trigger, staring at the machine through the monitor like a creature ready to attack and devour its prey. The pilot desperately swerved from left to right in another scissors move. But as Dio had noted before, such a move was wasted now that he was aware of it. However, the response from the navi was strange. With each movement, their head would simply knock back and forth.
"Lucciola..." he spoke, and then remembered that the two of them had separated their craft as he increased the magnification on the monitor himself. He could see the top of the navi's head jerking back and forth. It was a girl wearing a pair of goggles, her eyes closed and her face flushed.
"Looks like she had a red-out."
A term meaning she had lost consciousness when too much blood rushed up to her head too quickly. Staying behind the Silvana, keeping a safe distance from its centrifugal force, Dio looked amused.
"No wonder you couldn't shoot, Immelmann."
He turned on the PA system with another laugh.
"Baaaaaaang! That's the second time I've killed you, now."
Just as he said that, the words "Exit Strategy" suddenly blinked onto his screen.
"Our time is up," Lucciola announced. "But we're still engaging. What shall we do?"
"We'll return as well. I'm a bit tired from flying for so long."
"As you wish."
"Besides..."
"What is it?"
"It's really hot in here from the cooling system getting hit."
And I'd like to have another match with Immelmann again, Dio thought. Only next time in the same type of primitive aircraft that he piloted, flying to his heart's content.
"Make sure you live until then..."
Dio smiled innocently, sweating from the heat in the cockpit.
"Principal Dio. I'd like to request this matter of Lady Delphine privately, but..." Phalaena spoke nervously, as Dio leaned back in the ceramic white bathtub. "I don't think you want to bother the Maestro with such trivial things."
"I don't intend to report it to her. I'm just going to incidentally be there to play."
"It won't be a patrol?"
Lucciola tilted the celadon pot in his hands, pouring hot, flower-scented water on Dio's bare skin.
"My going there will be a secret from my sister."
Phalaena quirked an eyebrow, weighing the advantages, disadvantages and dangers of keeping such secrets, and keeping the Maestro's younger brother in his pocket.
"And if Delphine becomes concerned?"
"My sister will be doing as she pleases to find what she's searching for, right? I have no interest in any of that."
"Acknowledged. As for everything regarding the Rite of the Covenant..." Phalaena let out a sly laugh. "I'll make sure we obtain the Exile key. So watch my performance closely."
"I'll make the effort if I feel like it." Dio waved a hand to dismiss him. It was a decent idea to begin with, but Phalaena would begin to formulate a plan to make best use of this opportunity.
He felt a sick feeling in his stomach. To obtain the trust of Maestro Delphine, who held every power in their world, those chosen to compete against one another would soon have to fight in a terrible competition. To be made willing to trample on and sacrifice everything. Just like ants. And much like ants to their anthill, they would never again return to the Guild Station.
"Hey, Lucciola. When I'm up in the sky, that's when I feel the most happy."
Lucciola gazed fondly through the steam that had begun to rise from the water.
"I feel the same."
"That's why you and I make such a perfect match, Lucciola."
"I am unworthy."
Dio suddenly launched himself up, jumping out of the tub and splashing water all over the place. Caught off guard, Lucciola hurriedly grabbed for a robe to cover him up with.
NOTES:
- idek about that first paragraph the Avalon and then Galahad naming scheme for the ruins/that territory was easy enough to get. It sounds like the temple was Guild-owned long ago and taken over/razed by Anatoray's forces (the markings in the stone outside and inside in the series are pretty elaborate with that vibe) Since the ruins were part of the Prester's 'earth' instead of in the sky like current-time Guild, it was probably something that happened when the Guild was still somewhat mingled with the rest of the people in ways. EITHER WAY some shit went down between the Guild and Anatoray there long enough in the past (since the growth is said to be a couple of hundred years old).
- I like that we have a name for dead Guilder-- and not just a name, but how they tied it into giving us a little more Guild interaction (between Dio and Phalaena) as a result.
- I love trollass bitch Dio so much. LUCANUS DEAD? Oh well. TELL PHALAENA ABOUT IT? Be difficult. Though Phalaena's "DO YOU WANNA GO REPORT THIS TO YOUR SISTER THEN :D?" was like. Oooh low blow.
- "What a bold imitation, Immelmann." - pretty sure this is referencing when Dio aimed at Claus the same way in the scene just before. NOT POSITIVE but I am pretty sure it's referencing Claus mirroring some move to try and land a hit on Dio.
- Overall not really much of a change from the series so far. Only a few things and lines moved around to trim it down I guess, not including the extra scenes.
- Dio and Phalaena are talking about the upcoming trip to the Horizon Cave in the last scene, and Dio's plan to GO HANG for any potential confusion. Some of that dialogue came off as super weird.
- omg THAT BATH SCENE THE END OF THAT BATH SCENE WHY SUDDENLY STABBING ME IN THE HEART WITH DIO AND LUCCIOLA FEELINGS?? Best extra scene ever poor Dio feeling SICK AT THE THOUGHT OF THE RITE COMING UP a-and then him and Lucciola's exchange and fffffffffnnngh my babies. MY POOR SAD BABIES. ;3;
- Dio you just don't give a fuck about leaping nude out of bathtubs do you. My hero.
- MY MOON IS NOT REALLY VERY GOOD AT ALL I just have an arsenal of tools to get a PRETTY OKAY jist of what is going on - enough to extrapolate things and turn it into something readable. Also ty to Alison who helped out with a few lines and parts I just went ??????? at.
- Since these are novels and not artbook things, there is a little more extrapolation because of the format a lot of novels like this is in. Aka I merge and reword some things so it looks more nicely weaved together in English.
- HOPEFULLY NOTHING TOO HUGE IS COMPLETELY WRONG? :V But the points get across.
This post covers:
- Dio and Lucciola's entrance
- Elaboration on a formerly unnamed character (the dead Guilder Alex shot)
- Some extra Guild interaction
- The first battle with Claus
- More extra Guild interaction (WITH A BATH SCENE. TARA HAS A NEW FAVORITE SCENE U GUYS.)
Night had fallen, and the Ruins of Avalon shone beneath the moonlight. Its stony surface once vivid with colors of public murals, one honoring Sir Galahad, was now covered by the green of the ivy that had grown over it for the last few hundred years. Another mural pictured a cross floating in the sky, crimson petals raining down, and a king being crowned. An image representing Anatoray and the usurpation of the throne; even under Guild control, the more arrogant wealthy class were said to have continued keeping records of such events. The territory of Galahad, once belonging the Guild, was burnt by the troops of Anatoray's emperor, the once fertile plains turned into a barren land. The remains of the square in front of the palace was overgrown with grass, and lined with white columns.
A corpse was laid aside, the moonlight shining off of open, vacant eyes that saw no more, and Dio Eraclea crouched down, reaching to grab a stiffened hand and finding it cold. When he let it go, it simply dropped lifelessly back to the ground. He reached to pick it up again.
"There's nothing quite like a corpse, huh, Lucciola."
His own eyes were widened slightly, shining with curiosity.
"Lucciola?"
His loyal follower was busying himself checking the star-shaped aircraft that had been shot down. Opening the front cover, he leaned his head into the cockpit to take a closer look. With a matching cloak to Dio's, it shone silver in the moonlight. Abandoning the corpse, Dio crept up behind Lucciola.
"I'm surprised Lucanus was defeated."
"It is unfortunate."
"Is it? I didn't like him very much. He was foolish and violent, and told Delphine everything that I did."
"It was his duty."
"Hahaha, you're too kind, Lucciola."
For no specific reason, Dio hugged his arms around Lucciola's shoulders from behind.
"... Lucanus was too hasty."
"And Delphine passed up Coccinella in favor of him. Really, the sin here is her's."
Lucciola's delicate fingers moved over the console. "Playing back the recording," he muttered as Dio shifted his body.
"Of the last thing Lucanus saw, huh?"
The recording showed a military vanship making an emergency landing. Not long after, its guns aimed and shot toward the camera, controlled by a man who crumpled over a moment later, defeated from a single blow of one of the the machine's manipulator arms. An explosion followed just a moment later. The view then moved from the rubble remaining from the explosion to the sky, and then, eventually, to the streets of Norkia. It showed the roof of a house built over a waterway. An identification of the usage of Claudia came from nearby, before the roof was smashed in so the machine could enter a narrow interior with a disheveled looking bed. It moved to the underground waterways, and a lightweight vanship suddenly thrusted forward, helmed by a calm, yet strong-looking pilot. A rear-end collision with the vanship caused the camera to jerk around violently, and Dio gazed at the monitor with almond-shaped eyes lit up with interest.
"Hm~ This boy isn't getting killed so easily."
The vanship exited the underground waterway, and almost like a horse, it lept from the waters and into the air, moving to the ruins nearby.
"He's a little rough, but not bad. Courageous, too. What do you think, Lucciola?"
"He simply seems reckless, to me."
"But there's a talent there. If I were teaching him, he would definitely be a lot better..."
"Do you think so?"
"He managed to escape from Lucanus in such a machine."
After the vanship made an emergency landing in the ruins, a man in a cloak could be seen raising a rifle from the corner of the screen. A gunshot rang out, and the image of the landscape was knocked to its side, the camera not moving again. However, the video kept recording. The pilot of the vanship climbed out, and in the navi seat in the back sat a frightened-looking girl. Eventually, a crimson vanship could be seen landing within in the camera's view.
"And here we are in the same place. Let's replay the video."
They watched it again as the man in the cloak issued some sort of instruction to the female pilot with short hair.
"Zoom in."
The movements of the man's mouth could be seen on the screen.
"Their destination ... haha, I could make that out well enough."
Dio tapped Lucciola on the shoulder.
"Let's head back as soon as possible. This will be a good present for Phalaena," Dio spoke while typing the self-destruct code on the console. Lucciola stood aside, watching the silver hair of his master flutter in the wind, shining in the darkness.
He let his outstretched arms fall to his side.
"Lucanus is dead, Phalaena."
Dio lifted his arms once again, repeating that motion and letting them swing back and forth as he paced around the Guild warship commander. The moon's light shone softly through the large, glass windows that lined the walls.
"Is that so..." Phalaena bit his lip. "How did he die?"
"It's better that you don't know that."
Phalaena gave Dio a sharp look. "If you know, perhaps you can be the one to report this to Delphine." And then he averted his eyes. He didn't like the maestro's younger brother. He was capricious, strange, and yet quick-minded; he never knew how to go about dealing with him.
"Lucciola and I took care of his body, though it's clear that what happened wasn't an accident. About that..."
Dio sat down gracefully upon a simply-designed stool. With the press of a button, a chessboard rose up from the polished floor.
"Lucciola, come sit down."
Letting his partner have the first move, Dio kept an eye on Phalaena.
"I also saw the granddaughter of house Hamilton."
Heat rose to Phalaena's cheeks. "That's the reason Lucanus was...?"
"Lucciola noticed her. She's aboard a ship not registered with the Guild, now."
"The same unregistered ship that appeared in Minagith?"
"I don't know!"
While moving the pieces across the board, Dio began to laugh, remembering something.
"That guy..."
"What is it?"
"Hey, Phalaena. I have a small request."
Dio's tone changed to an imperative one to assure that the commander, braced as he awaited his order, would take it without question.
"If you move to take the girl, I want you to promise that you won't sink that ship right away."
"I am unable to make such a commitment."
"Did you not hear me?" He glared at Phalaena, eyes narrowed.
"... Understood. If that is what you desire."
"0400 hours. Coordinates 336-57-889."
Lightening his tone of voice again, Dio smiled at Lucciola.
"Lucciola, that was a good move!"
Lucciola silently stared down at the board.
"Look at that maneuvering, Lucciola! It's terrible."
While having a chess match with Lucciola, Dio kept his eye on the many images being projected from the starfish outside.
"He's not able to control all of that power."
He muttered an order to Phalaena to close in on Claus' machine.
"Is that pilot a matter of concern?" Lucciola asked as he glanced up from the board, having been gazing down at it with his brow furrowed as he considered his next move.
"Hahaha, that acceleration is especially a mess! Really, who flies like that?"
Claus' machine spiraled into the air, and then quickly moved into a nosedive. Firing its machine gun, he tried to hit the starfish as it approached the Silvana. The starfish caught fire.
"Delta unit being fired upon..." Reports of the battle flowed in.
"How unexpected."
"It seems to be beginners luck."
"It's not that. You know a sky like that one is never that sweet and forgiving, Lucciola."
Lost in that thought, Lucciola advanced his pawn forward. Dio immediately countered with his knight.
"Ah..." Lucciola tried to concentrate again.
"It's useless, Lucciola, if you can't focus."
Dio kneeled down to the floor. Claus' machine was trying to shake off being pursued doggedly by two starfish from behind, the distance between them beginning to narrow.
"That won't work."
The starfish fired its needle gun. Claus' machine broke off to the right just in time to avoid it... then it swerved to the left, and the right again.
"Rolling scissors..."
As Dio watched, Claus' machine suddenly rose at a steep angle.
"Keep the camera on it!"
It began to turn in what looked to be a huge circle, rolling back upright and getting behind the starfish.
"Amazing! He went from a scissors to an Immelmann turn! This guy, he can control that aircraft after all."
The machine fired, but missed.
"But, he's not very good at shooting."
On the large screen, Claus' face reflected regret. Lavie looked as though she would be sick at any moment.
"Hahaha, I think I'll go take a look at those faces myself."
Dio looked up at Lucciola with mischievous eyes.
"I'm tired of chess, shall we head out for a little bit?"
"I'm here, Immelmann. Now I'll teach you the proper way to fly," Dio murmured happily as he watched his target move through the wind.
"Leave this one to me, Lucciola."
"As you wish."
Dio kept his aircraft following closely behind Claus'. It suddenly changed direction, though didn't alter its angle, allowing Dio to get a better look at at the ship itself.
"You're at a total loss as to what to do now."
The electrical pipipipipi sounded as he locked on to the machine with the starfish's guns. Dio pulled the trigger, speaking a simple onomatopoeia.
"Baaaaaang!"
... but the trigger had its safety on.
"Now, that's once you've been shot down."
"Lord Dio..." Lucciola's reproachful voice sounded from the intercom. "You're just toying with him?"
"Hahaha, I'm being completely serious right now, Lucciola."
Dio was losing sight of Claus' machine. It descended quickly in order to avoid what would have been a fatal Claudia system hit. By the time he caught sight of the machine again, it had picked up zooming speed.
"Not bad."
The amusement vanished from Dio's face as, suddenly, Claus' machine looped around the Silvana to swoop down toward Dio from behind.
"Lord Dio, it's under us."
"I know!"
Claus fired the machine guns. The starfish swerved to the left and the right, narrowly avoiding the attack. But, such a move would only buy Claus a few extra seconds. And he didn't understand the concept of strafing very well.
"What a bold imitation, Immelmann."*
Dio stared into the monitor. But, Claus' machine guns had gone strangely silent.
"Why did you stop shooting?"
Dio tightened his lips.
"I was going easy on you. But playtime's over, now."
"You could have shot me..." Dio muttered, cold eyes sparkling.
He targeted, as Claus' machine tried to avoid it with a scissors.
"I already saw that move."
Dio removed the safety from his weapon.
"I wish I could have had fun with you for a little more, sorry."
Dio gazed at the vanship in his monitor. He wondered whether to shoot or not to shoot, but eventually he moved his finger to the trigger. Just as he did so, a red unit came swooping down between them, shaking his aircraft.
"The engine cooling system has been hit," Lucciola's calm voice spoke.
Not missing the chance, Claus' machine moved out of the targeting system's range.
"That craft... what?"
Dio's eyes narrowed, following the red aircraft as it disappeared into the clouds.
"You can have the red one, Lucciola."
"I humbly accept," Lucciola's submissive voice responded through the speakers.
"Now you're making me mad, and I'm usually really nice, Immelmann."
Dio put his finger back on the trigger, staring at the machine through the monitor like a creature ready to attack and devour its prey. The pilot desperately swerved from left to right in another scissors move. But as Dio had noted before, such a move was wasted now that he was aware of it. However, the response from the navi was strange. With each movement, their head would simply knock back and forth.
"Lucciola..." he spoke, and then remembered that the two of them had separated their craft as he increased the magnification on the monitor himself. He could see the top of the navi's head jerking back and forth. It was a girl wearing a pair of goggles, her eyes closed and her face flushed.
"Looks like she had a red-out."
A term meaning she had lost consciousness when too much blood rushed up to her head too quickly. Staying behind the Silvana, keeping a safe distance from its centrifugal force, Dio looked amused.
"No wonder you couldn't shoot, Immelmann."
He turned on the PA system with another laugh.
"Baaaaaaang! That's the second time I've killed you, now."
Just as he said that, the words "Exit Strategy" suddenly blinked onto his screen.
"Our time is up," Lucciola announced. "But we're still engaging. What shall we do?"
"We'll return as well. I'm a bit tired from flying for so long."
"As you wish."
"Besides..."
"What is it?"
"It's really hot in here from the cooling system getting hit."
And I'd like to have another match with Immelmann again, Dio thought. Only next time in the same type of primitive aircraft that he piloted, flying to his heart's content.
"Make sure you live until then..."
Dio smiled innocently, sweating from the heat in the cockpit.
"Principal Dio. I'd like to request this matter of Lady Delphine privately, but..." Phalaena spoke nervously, as Dio leaned back in the ceramic white bathtub. "I don't think you want to bother the Maestro with such trivial things."
"I don't intend to report it to her. I'm just going to incidentally be there to play."
"It won't be a patrol?"
Lucciola tilted the celadon pot in his hands, pouring hot, flower-scented water on Dio's bare skin.
"My going there will be a secret from my sister."
Phalaena quirked an eyebrow, weighing the advantages, disadvantages and dangers of keeping such secrets, and keeping the Maestro's younger brother in his pocket.
"And if Delphine becomes concerned?"
"My sister will be doing as she pleases to find what she's searching for, right? I have no interest in any of that."
"Acknowledged. As for everything regarding the Rite of the Covenant..." Phalaena let out a sly laugh. "I'll make sure we obtain the Exile key. So watch my performance closely."
"I'll make the effort if I feel like it." Dio waved a hand to dismiss him. It was a decent idea to begin with, but Phalaena would begin to formulate a plan to make best use of this opportunity.
He felt a sick feeling in his stomach. To obtain the trust of Maestro Delphine, who held every power in their world, those chosen to compete against one another would soon have to fight in a terrible competition. To be made willing to trample on and sacrifice everything. Just like ants. And much like ants to their anthill, they would never again return to the Guild Station.
"Hey, Lucciola. When I'm up in the sky, that's when I feel the most happy."
Lucciola gazed fondly through the steam that had begun to rise from the water.
"I feel the same."
"That's why you and I make such a perfect match, Lucciola."
"I am unworthy."
Dio suddenly launched himself up, jumping out of the tub and splashing water all over the place. Caught off guard, Lucciola hurriedly grabbed for a robe to cover him up with.
NOTES:
- idek about that first paragraph the Avalon and then Galahad naming scheme for the ruins/that territory was easy enough to get. It sounds like the temple was Guild-owned long ago and taken over/razed by Anatoray's forces (the markings in the stone outside and inside in the series are pretty elaborate with that vibe) Since the ruins were part of the Prester's 'earth' instead of in the sky like current-time Guild, it was probably something that happened when the Guild was still somewhat mingled with the rest of the people in ways. EITHER WAY some shit went down between the Guild and Anatoray there long enough in the past (since the growth is said to be a couple of hundred years old).
- I like that we have a name for dead Guilder-- and not just a name, but how they tied it into giving us a little more Guild interaction (between Dio and Phalaena) as a result.
- I love trollass bitch Dio so much. LUCANUS DEAD? Oh well. TELL PHALAENA ABOUT IT? Be difficult. Though Phalaena's "DO YOU WANNA GO REPORT THIS TO YOUR SISTER THEN :D?" was like. Oooh low blow.
- "What a bold imitation, Immelmann." - pretty sure this is referencing when Dio aimed at Claus the same way in the scene just before. NOT POSITIVE but I am pretty sure it's referencing Claus mirroring some move to try and land a hit on Dio.
- Overall not really much of a change from the series so far. Only a few things and lines moved around to trim it down I guess, not including the extra scenes.
- Dio and Phalaena are talking about the upcoming trip to the Horizon Cave in the last scene, and Dio's plan to GO HANG for any potential confusion. Some of that dialogue came off as super weird.
- omg THAT BATH SCENE THE END OF THAT BATH SCENE WHY SUDDENLY STABBING ME IN THE HEART WITH DIO AND LUCCIOLA FEELINGS?? Best extra scene ever poor Dio feeling SICK AT THE THOUGHT OF THE RITE COMING UP a-and then him and Lucciola's exchange and fffffffffnnngh my babies. MY POOR SAD BABIES. ;3;
- Dio you just don't give a fuck about leaping nude out of bathtubs do you. My hero.
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