Tsukiko had just begun her frantic activity and abandoned it halfway, realizing that it was all in vain.
-- There are so few of us left. And yet, we imagined that this time, we would face a formidable enemy... We read the notes, knew about the spheres' effects, and assumed that the guards would be... Similar. I even drank the purple potion. I was afraid that my will was weak and that I might end up being... A weak link again. But no. How could they have fallen under the spell? They are not to blame in any case; I know that they would have resisted to the end if they had a chance.
Tsukiko gathers all of Celiaad and Dillion's belongings, closes their eyes, and pauses thoughtfully. They must not become puppets of the palace again after death... But this operation was performed by others before. Well. Shimizu cuts off the hands of the fallen comrades. Perhaps that will be enough.