Cantarella was expecting a letter to arrive before the clock strikes high noon. While she has no such thing as the ability to see the future, she was certain that a skillful man like Captain Brant won’t need more than four days to complete a mission like this one.

It has been three days since Brant left for her request. He still had a day left, when considering the outstanding skills and talents that the captain possesses, today would be the correct day for her to receive reports regarding the issue.

Unfortunately her anticipation missed the correct timing with a little margin, since the process to secure the safety of delivered information caused amounts of delay. It was fourteen minutes past noon; she was still correct. She received a letter with a clear seal of the Fisalia family just before the tea time following lunch.

The seals were handcrafted with a supervised handcrafting process – Cantarella herself directed every part of it. She made less than ten to ensure the secrecy, and less than five were distributed so far. The Rover, who helped her liberate Imperator from Leviathan’s schemes, acquired one of them. Brant had one of the others. Each seal had a different pattern and color, so she could notice the sender of themessage at the exact moment she saw the seal.

She opened a letter softly. Captain Brant began the letter with sentences of his favorite style. She wasn’t able to hide smiles while reading it.

'Breezes are getting hotter and more humid, Lady Cantarella. It seems we are expecting a new season to arrive. Although we always welcome a new friend as Ragunessi, it is hard to see another one leaving. Let us, however, embrace the sorrow from losses and begin a fresh journey with new opportunities. I feel even the cold running my veins after overcoming this challenge you requested.'

Cantarella didn’t prefer the first paragraph, but it was bearable enough. Even at a glance, half of them were far from ‘mission’, however she knew the Captain’s personality. This kind of introduction was indeed normal for him. She decided to skip nothing in the letter.

Three days ago, she asked him to investigate ill movements among the Order of the Deep. She told him about a faction of people who were dreaming to revert the changes around Rinascita. They were getting large in numbers but desperate in their minds; actions were required before they lost control of themselves.

Captain Brant agreed with the reasons she told him. While none of them were fabricated or different from the facts, they were not everything in her thoughts. She had some other motivations, and in fact they were the most important factors driving her to actions.

It was surely out of logic and common sense to declare a national emergency because the situation was not favorable; it will cause unfathomably large damage to property, society and people. Preventing the hassle was one of her priorities without a doubt. Cantarella just wanted to get rid of the extremist due to her personal reasons as well.

It was very, very personal. It had few connections with the safety or future of her homeland. Cantarella knew her actions fit well to her position as a head of the family; she did public works for her private interests. She would gladly continue to do so.

'After conducting research based on information you provided earlier, I actually discovered the existence of a faction full of lunatics in the order. I’m heavily shocked by two points; how great their numbers are and how poor their judgment is. Please take a look at the length of this letter and the enclosed list behind. We have a lot of names involved.'

She recognized a lot of names on the list, but names were not the only thing she noticed. She could find their ranks, birthdays and even current locations on it. Some of them were in high positions in the order. Some of them were responsible for running local sects, and the other some were carrying duties of preaching on weekends.

'I had conducted some small research on individual members after my showdown against the Bishop, but none of them knew who initially began the idea of forming the faction. It is unfortunate news, but I think you don't need to worry about it. They can’t gather people nor move in public. I’m sure their power is insufficient to continue their plan on declaring emergency or occupying streets.'

She raised her eyebrows with interest.

'Lady Carlotta in the Montelli family seems on the move to strike their leadership. Although her intervention is not confirmed as true, it is true that the number of people in meetings is rapidly decreasing. I heard last week that they couldn't even get enough people together.'

She even felt a bit sorry about them. It seemed they had no chance to escape their doom – How could they stand against the sharpest bullet of the Montellis? Cantarella was one of the people who knew best how dangerous Carlotta could be. The executioner was one of, if not the toughest opponents the Bane has ever faced. Considering the firepower she could bring to the field, confronting her was equal to confronting the entire battalion. She was at this level even though she still had a couple of flaws; It was clear that her skills would only get better as time went on.

While there was no solid evidence about Carlotta’s moves, Cantarella was quite sure about that. She didn’t know any other person who can silence preachers this efficiently; no witnesses, no traces and even no rumors. Since it was the same to Brant, the letter did not contain any more words of concern.

Brant concluded the letter with affectionate concerns and wishes for her good health. He seemed to know about her recent conditions despite her efforts to hide it. Her smile was especially bitter at that moment.

Cantarella leaned to her sofa. She thought it was safe to close her eyes for a while. She felt tired due to fatigue from the work of a decade, but this time she didn't try to shake it off. She couldn’t find a moment to feel comfortable since she became the Bane, but this moment seems like a good moment for her to grant herself a break.

She slowly fell asleep as if she was being carried away by the waves. She didn’t resist this time; she felt her body floating around. She could even hear the faint sound of undulating waves. It was a sound that can now only be heard in memories.

“...Is someone there?”

The sound of waves, however, was not the only thing she could hear around the dreamscape. She could recognize a voice; a familiar one which she can’t forget, and which she can’t hear again unless she is in dreams.

Of all the others, that was the only voice she couldn’t ignore. She refused to fall asleep completely, and regained control of her consciousness. She knew whose voice it was. How could she forget?

“Annis?”

Something strange and unexpected happened. She was still in dreams, despite being clearly sane at the moment. She realized she was dreaming, but she didn’t wake up on her sofa in the castle.

“Of course, Cantarella. Who else would I be, if not your friend?”

She has never thought she could meet Annis again before. A reunion like this could be only found in legends. Annis died more than a decade ago; Cantarella recited a eulogy in her funeral, as a new head of the family. It was simply weird when thinking Annis here was not one of the Tacet Discords, but a reflection made through her dream.

Cantarella has grown up a lot since she passed the trials. However, Annis didn’t change a bit; she looked exactly the same as at the moment she could remember. It was unfortunate but obvious, since she is no longer alive. She was planning to ‘revive’ the victims of the trial from her teenage days, but she had no such abilities of resurrection either. She could only free the survivors from the eyes of the order. Nothing could be done to those who already lost their lives.

Except for one single point, Annis now in front of her was identical to Annis in her memories; the voice. Unfortunately, Cantarella couldn’t tell what her voice used to be like. Annis lost her vocal cords before she passed the second trial. She didn’t have enough time to remember it. They usually communicated by writing.

“Good evening, Annis. I’m not sure if this is the right choice to greet you, though. It has been fifteen years, right?”

“My dear, It is rude to ask me the time. How could I know about it? I’m just happy to see you again after all of those events.”

She nodded slowly; she didn’t need to count how much time had passed since then. What she needed to do was to savor this miracle until she ran out of time.

“You changed nothing, my dear. The same as your dying day.”
“You changed too much. Unlike me, it’s not easy to match your present to your past.”

If Annis survived the trials with Cantarella, she would be a wonderful woman. She might be a worthy opponent in games. She might be taller than her. So many things could happen, yet nothing could be seen since she will never be old. She would get no chance to change; once again, despite the vitality, she was dead.

“Did you come here because I wanted to see you, or does this kind of miracle exist somewhere in this appalling world?”
“You are alive, Cantarella. Not me. That is your thing to discover. It won’t be bad to have time for discussion, though. Just like we did a long time ago.”

Annis cackled with joy. Cantarella felt the same as if she had gone back to her teenage days. Just hearing that sound made the dream worth it.

“Miracles happen for reasons. I’m here because you wanted me. Otherwise – I mean if you don’t want to see me specifically – there will be no possibilities for you to see me here.”
“Well, you have a point.”

Legends say Tacet Discords born from strong desires and wishes sometimes show clear ego, reasons and emotions just like existing lives. She wouldn’t be surprised even if Annis here was one of them. The possibility was wide open, but what will be the point of arguing about it? Cantarella was dreaming. Anything could happen in dreams.

“You are still you, Annis. That’s enough for me. I will ask no more questions about how you really are.”
“Thank you. It settles my problem as well… so, how are you doing these days?”

Cantarella found the question difficult to answer. Not because she couldn’t understand the meaning, but because she could do so. She hesitated since she understood.

Young girls who decided to participate in the trial of the Fisalia family had their own reasons and missions. It could be anything, money, fame, success… but after they realized how dangerous it was, they shared one same goal to achieve; to survive, to return home with as many people as possible.

They wanted to remain friends, to share stories of daily lives with each other. They tried their best to save each others’ lives. Saving the half would suffice if saving everyone was not allowed. Saving three would be enough if six couldn’t make it. She didn’t care about the numbers; she just wanted to save as many as possible. Someone should be freed from this shackle, and return to their families. Everyone there deserved it. The idea alone protected Cantarella from nightmares.

Annis didn't look puzzled and didn't repeat the question either. She just nodded as if she knew how Cantarella felt. She was the most energetic and confident girl among them back then. She never lost her smile, even after she lost voice through the trial. Furthermore, she seemed able to smile for her beloved friend after losing her life.

Cantarella struggled to hide the smile on her face. Annis would notice what she was doing anyway, but she didn’t have any other choice.

“I know you’re trying your best to bring our friends back. Although I couldn't enjoy the benefits of your tolerance, I appreciate it. But, you know… I’m worried about you and nothing else. I think the burden makes you exhausted.”

“It is an exchange of my freedom and their lives. Don’t you find the cost quite low?”

She shook her head slowly but clearly.

“I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. You’re doing great. I just want you to live your own life after finishing it, not bound by anything. You deserve it as well. Do you have someone trustworthy? Make some friends, partners, husbands….”

“I understand everything, but what do you mean by husbands?”

“Ah, You can take my share.”

She lost her word for a moment. What is this girl talking about?

Cantarella just shrugged, not answering anything specific. She was fine with one husband and one wife. It would be better for her to have one of each than two of the same. She didn’t have to decide immediately; she still had a matter to deal with.

“Let me decide after the finale is over, okay?”

“No objections. Your face tells me that your success is near you. After that, however, please look around yourself and try to find your lost childhood. Would you like to do that for me?”

She could find determination and empathy in the eyes of her lovely friend, despite everything that happened to them. Annis only exists in this dream, during this night; but their promise will remain. She was going to disappear like bubbles after the sun rose, however their oath at the final night wasn’t.

“Yes, I’ll do that for you.”

“Promise me, as my sister.”

Cantarella took a deep breath, nodded, and raised her little finger towards her old friend. Annis was asking her to make another oath. She was going to accept it as The Bane, as a head of the Fisalia family, and as a woman who has a name of Cantarella Fisalia.

“I promise, sister.”

They began to laugh at the same time. The dawn was approaching slowly, but the reunion was just beginning.