"Xeros, this design of yours...I don't think it can be done. I mean, in theory it is possible to remove Creation's influence temporarily in an area, but the energy consumption needed to power the system would eclipse even the Elysian Ray's demand. Forget about making this mobile, The only way I would be able to implement something like this is if I install aura veins around the city and have a whole division of our magi continuously supply it with power. But even after all that, you'll only have a few minutes at best before the mass collection of aura short circuits the machine and blows it up. Are you really sure about using our resources on something like this?

"Hm...I understand where you're coming from, but unfortunately I don't think it will work on any of the Rulers. Their power, as well as yours, doesn't come from Creation around us per say, but rather the lingering traces of Cosmos that still contain her authority. We use Creation's authority to mold our world, not Cosmos's, and using Creation to try and remove her authority would be like trying to force your own body to go against you. It just won't work.

"Alright, alright. If you say so, then. I doubt you'll ever need to use it in the first place though. I mean, who would even dare to try and invade us of all nations?"

Ceraphina, former Chief Engineer of Nox Caelum

———

Luxanne

As much as it pains her to save that vile, old woman, Luxanne cannot allow even a single resource to slip through her fingers. If it means protecting the lives of everyone who still calls this place home, then Libevich shall be dragged away from the jaws of death no matter how many times it takes. There shall be no rest for that hag, and unfortunately the same is true for Luxanne.

The defensive line up front is still holding well, but it's only a matter of time before the gate is breached. The mounted weapons are too busy fending off the Seraph descending from above to provide supportive fire, and even within the capital complications have started to arise. Supply routes are being ambushed, war machines rolling down the streets are suddenly caught within pitfalls and traps, and factories that provide resources and ammunition are all being raided by rebels who've refused to evacuate despite the danger.

The enemy isn't just Polus: It's also within. They're the people of the slums grown tired of being treated like filth. They're the dregs of the outskirts dragged away from their communities and forced to serve. They're the weary and lost tired of spending their every waking moment slaving away in this smog-ridden city. They are Caelum citizens like any other, but they have become disillusioned with their lives and the promise of enrichment Xeros once so fervently spread. Now, instead of protecting the land of their hearth, they would rather watch it all burn. Just like the Luxanne of the past.

That's why she can't bring herself to harm them. She knows full well their pain, their wrath, and even now there's a small voice within her chest begging for her to give up and let this nation be consumed by ruin, but this place is still her home. Hope still exists for Nox Caelum. A future still exists, but that is only possible if they succeed in driving back Polus here.

The rebels must be stopped, and Luxanne will do so without using the violence nor cruelty that Xeros has staked his adherence upon. She will not be like him. She will be different and prove that her mother's ways are not wrong.

An explosion erupts from below, smoke rising up into an ashen plume from one of the Archon district's workshops. Luxanne quickly makes her way to the edge of the upper layer and jumps off without a moment's notice, shooting a bullet below and manifesting a soft, pillowy cloud that allows her to glide through the air. Yells of resistance plague her ears, every corner of her vision filled with toppled buildings and fire-wrought fumes, but even though the destruction seems endless, she mustn't let herself be consumed by futility.

"One by one, Luxanne..." she whispers to herself. "Quickly, precisely, then move on. Again, and again. You can do this."

She crashes down onto the pavement near a crowd of the rebels throwing fire bombs at the workshop's entrance. The engineers are fending off the mob as best as they can, but they're quickly subdued by the ravenous wave of bodies.

"ATTENTION, CITIZENS OF NOX CAELUM!" she roars to the crowd. "CEASE YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS AT ONCE AND YOU SHALL NOT BE CHARGED WITH MUTINY UPON THE DISMISSAL OF THE EVACUATION EDICT. HOWEVER, IF YOU CHOOSE TO CONTINUE, YOU SHALL BE DETAINED AND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE UNDER THE ARTICLES OF STATUTE. PLEASE COMPLY AND EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY."

The rebels turn around and quickly begin to encircle her surroundings, gazes consumed by adrenaline and fury. Well, she expects as much. Hate is not released so easily, but she wants to at least give them a chance to reconsider even if it is a hollow wish.

"I recognize that girl," one of the dissidents says. "Commander Luxanne in the flesh. Hehe, shouldn't you be out and defending us from those Polus knights instead of dealing with us? Or maybe...are you scared? After all the privilege you've been given after serving as Xeros's dog for so long?"

"I will repeat only once more," Luxanne sighs with a shake of her head. "Cease your transgressions at once and you will be forgiven. Otherwise, I will be forced to restrain everyone here until the evacuation edict has been released."

"Restrain, huh? That's a funny way of saying we'll be killed. I'm honestly surprised you didn't start the moment you saw us."

"Do you comply?" Of course they won't, but at least they won't be able to say she didn't warn them.

Someone from the crowd awkwardly throws a firebomb right at her feet. "That's our answer."

"...Then so be it. I shall do my best to lessen your sentences to the fullest extent of my ability."

The rebels rush at her in an instant, fully intent on overwhelming her with numbers, but Luxanne doesn't give them the chance and quickly leaps into the air. She swiftly fires a shot at the crowd, and the bullet transforms into a large, heaping pile of ooze, covering everyone from head to toe in the sticky substance. They hurl a slew of rather unflattering curses at her and attempt to lunge forward, but their movements are slowed by the slime and causes them all to collapse into one pile.

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The members of the workshop begin to trickle out, confusion settled across their faces, and the leader pushes past to personally thank Luxanne in person. "Appreciate the assistance, ma'am. The name's Barker. Cid Barker. I'm the chief in this here workshop."

"Pleased to make your acquaintance Mr. Barker, but I really should be go-" Luxanne begins to say.

"Oh, Oh I get it. I really do," he interrupts. "Today's just been a, well, crazy day and I have no doubt in my mind that you have a ton of things you need to be doing. I just really wanted to thank you, especially for not turning this place into a bloodbath. It wouldn't sit right with me if I had to watch my fellows be slaughtered with how the city usually treats rebels, so I'm mighty thankful that you handled it more peacefully."

"I...I'm glad you understand," she murmurs. "The last thing we need is for all of us to be divided, and spilling our people's blood is the last thing I want to do. For now, take those people inside and try to keep them out of danger. If Polus does somehow make it in the city, do you have a way to evacuate without going into the streets?"

"The shop has an underground route to the outside we usually use for hauling materials."

"Good, take that route and bring everyone with you. The ooze will fall off by itself in a couple of others so don't worry about trying to get it off."

"Will do, ma'am. Good luck out there."

"You too, Cid. Stay safe."

With those parting words, Luxanne sprints off and searches for more gatherings of rebels. They're all over the place, in every layer and every street, and as she liberates more workshops, Luxanne can't help but feel that something's odd about their movements. There's too many of them, and they're much too organized to be a crowd of random people utilizing the invasion as an opportunity to break free from the nation's control. Furthermore, a couple of groups have somehow managed to get their hands on chemical substances and crude machines you can't obtain even if you raid a weapons depot. She should have suspected something after seeing the firebombs, but who could have possibly expected there to be so many?

She stops and confronts a group of rebels near a munitions factory in the freedmen district, but something's different about them. Unlike the regular dissenters, the mob is dressed in armor similarly to the exo-suits normally worn in the army, but these plates are less thick in nature. And instead of a bronze coating, their shells are covered in a vivid lilac. Giant saws and blades are held within their hands, and in the very center of the crowd, bellowing out orders to the armored congregation, is a tall, auburn-haired woman in black robe.

"Hm? Here so soon?" the woman says, turning around to face her. Has Luxanne seen her before? Those features are oddly familiar...but from where?

The rebels quickly move to the front and form a barricade around the robed woman. "I have received reports of your interference, but I really did not expect for us to meet so soon. You seem a lot more determined now. I’m happy for you.”

That voice and gentle tone...it can't be. It's been ages since the two last met, and though the woman is one of the few people amongst the upper echelon who actually understood Luxanne, it's impossible for her to be standing here before her. After all, she's supposed to be dead.

"Ceraphina!?" Luxanne gasps. "That can't be right. You're-"

"Dead?" Ceraphina chuckles. "No, I'm not. And I won't be until Xeros receives his due retribution."

There's so many things Luxanne wants to ask, so many years she spent mourning her death, but only a singular question eventually leaves her lips.

"Are you the leader of the rebels?"

"I am."

"I-I see." Luxanne pulls out her gunblade and slowly points it at the former Chief Engineer of Nox Caelum. "By my authority as Acting General..."

"Luxanne, please," Ceraphina says. "Just listen to me for a moment."

"...I demand you to cease your transgressions at once..."

"I know you despise Xeros as much as we do. Don't you remember all the drinks we shared? All the...nights we spent together?"

"...If you comply, you shall not be charged with mutiny upon the dismissal of the evacuation edict..."

"This is our chance. We can finally bring him down, Luxanne. You can finally be free."

Luxanne's voice begins to quiver, eyes tearing up as she gazes at Ceraphina's now-hardened face, but nonetheless she continues. She has to continue.

"...Otherwise, I will be forced t-to restrain everyone here and you will all b-be held accountable under..."

"LUXANNE, LISTEN TO ME!" Ceraphina pleas with choked breaths.

"I CAN'T!" Luxanne sobs. "I-I will find a way to kill Xeros eventually, but I can't let you do this. I can't let this city be burned to a crisp, Ceraphina. This is my home. I despise how it's been mangled and transformed into some twisted shell of itself, but it's still my home! I won't let Polus take this place away from me!"

The two fall silent. Time slows to a crawl, and an eternity seems to pass before Ceraphina finally breaks the silence.

"So, what now? Will you capture me? I doubt Xeros will spare the others even if you bring him my head," she mutters.

"You know I could never do that!" Luxanne says. "I can't let you burn down any more workshops, but I'll make sure you and everyone else that wants to will be able to leave the city. I'll find a way to make sure Xeros doesn't notice, so please...just lower your weapons."

Ceraphina glares at her and spits on the ground. "You're right. This is our home, and that's why it has to be destroyed. It's too late for this place, Luxanne. Everything's too dirty, too corrupted by Xeros's drivel. All we can do is let this place burn so that we can rise from the ashes."

She slowly steps toward Luxanne, her blade still raised but now overcome with a soft tremble. Luxanne wants to yell out at her, to beg her to stop moving closer, but her throat refuses to loosen.

Eventually, Ceraphina stops right in front of her and pushes the blade away. Luxanne reluctantly complies and the two wrap themselves around each other in a warm, gentle embrace.

"And we can do it together," she says, gently caressing Luxanne's cheek. "Home is where the people make it. As long as we're here, we can rebuild. We can create a new nation free of Nox Caelum's legacy. I've been watching you for so, so long Luxanne, and I don't want to see you suffer anymore. All I ask is for you to trust me."

The voice in her heart is getting louder. It's stifling, tight and full of sweet promise.

But it's not enough to make her give in.

"Ceraphina..." Luxanne murmurs. "I can't."

"...Ok. I get it," Ceraphina says with a sad smile. "Even so, I can't stop either. I hope you can forgive me."

"What?"

Ceraphina walks away and steps towards a lanky man dressed in a tattered, shredded suit. He looks as if he's just suffered from a large explosion, and a strange mask covers his face with a red rose covering the left eye, and he exudes an uncomfortable presence that Luxanne is not really sure how to describe. It feels dangerous, yet loving at the same time.

"Mr. Rose?" she says. "Please call for your benefactor."

He bows and lets out an eerie chuckle. "But of course, Madam Ceraphina. Any special request?"

"Don't kill her."

"That shall be arranged."

He disappears into a nearby building, and after a moment, an ethereal light suddenly bathes them from above. Luxanne looks up, and there, armor wrapped in a hue of celestial light, is Lorelai—the Throne of Heaven herself.