Re:War (Discontinued)

Chapter 31: Remember Me?

After picking up everyone from the inn, we had lunch. I worked up an appetite from a whole morning of running about.

Of course, with the effects of the 'voice candy' still in play, I continued playing the part of Raifalia. Or Lilith. Whatever. And as much as I hated to admit it, I was getting used to dressing up the way I was. I had a feeling this was going to come back for me sooner or later.

I relayed the information I got from Clyde to the others, careful not to let the conversation get overheard. According to Archer, Clyde stayed here all the time to gather information. But he had to keep himself in check to avoid suspicion, hence he has his Puppets do the relaying for him.

"Master, the church is nearby, isn't it?"

"Yeah. I passed by it earlier on, it was big."

"Big is an understatement," Duke added. "It's almost thrice as big as the hall in the base."

"Alice wants to go!"

"You do realise Mary is there right? One false move and she'll kill us," Fiore cut in.

"But Master is disguised...."

"Why not?" Faye smiled. "It's not like she recognises you or anything. It's worth going."

"Fine, I'll bring you there later, just behave yourself."

"Alice is not a child anymore!"

"You're 12, Alice."

She pouted.

But in a sense, she was right. All the Puppets that were with me were around 11 to 13, with the exception of Scarlet being my age.

Speaking of which, how is she doing now...? Iona and Citra must miss us too... At least Scarlet will be happy to see Citra alright.
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My own voiced had finally come back, meaning I could finally wear my own clothes again. Thankfully.

"Fiore, you coming along?"

"I'll pass. I hate that place. Nothing but nonsense and people blindly believing in some stupid god. I'll wait at the inn and pack up."

"Alright, you follow Archer's group then. We'll be back in a few hours."

"See ya," he waved. "Make sure you don't listen to their bullshit too much, your head will go weird."

Alice took my hand as we walked.

"You always like to hold my hand, don't you?"

"Alice can't?!"

"N-no, that's not what I meant. Just commenting."

"Alice was worried Master doesn't want to hold hands anymore.... Alice just feels safe holding Master's hand," she smiled. "Remember what Master said? 'I won't hurt you, if you want to hold my hand, go ahead.' Alice still remembers!"

And there. The first three times she used the words 'I' or 'you' in the whole 5 years I've been with her. And it was to quote me.

I petted her head. "I remember that too. Speaking of which, you always speak in third person, why's that?"

"Alice doesn't know. Alice just remembers being told to remember Alice's name."

"By who?"

"Ruira."

"Your sis huh.... sorry I haven't been able to look for her."

"It's okay! Alice knows Master will keep his promise!"

"Can't say no to that. Come on, let's hurry on."

A few minutes of walking, and I once again stood in front of the church. It was way different from how I remembered it. The place was in ruins, nuns and monks dead in pools of blood, fires everywhere, and, as if it was happening right before me, the scream that was cut short by my blade.