The battle was over.
Smoke and burning debris filled the Moon Kingdom's artificial sky, drifting past the shattered glass of the upper chamber. In the plaza below, the last of the enemy mobile suits lay in pieces—three scythe-wielding machines, their once-invisible frames now exposed and scarred from beam fire.
Nura's Lunaris Gundam stood among the wreckage, armor dented and scorched but still operational. The other two Lunaris units that had fought beside him were in similar condition—standing, but heavily damaged.
> Ralvern: "All hostile units confirmed destroyed. Repeat, the infiltration team has been eliminated."
Nura exhaled sharply, his hands loosening from the controls. The weight in his chest wasn't relief—it was the tally he knew was coming.
They regrouped near the command hangar, dismounting from their Gundams to make their after-action report. Ralvern's voice was grim as the list came in.
> Tactical Officer: "Casualty report: seventeen dead, thirty-two injured. Most were from the outer security ring. Three Lunaris units took heavy damage but remain salvageable. No civilian casualties among the chamber personnel—thanks to the interception."
Nura kept his arms crossed, silent, listening to the murmurs around him.
> Pilot #2: "I've never seen mobile suits like those before. That invisibility system… it's beyond anything the Earth Federation ever fielded."
> Pilot #3: "Yeah, and those voices over open comms—kept ranting about 'Holy Judgment' and 'witches.'"
Ralvern's expression hardened. "That's the part that bothers me. This wasn't just an attack—it was ideological. Whoever they are, they believe they're carrying out some kind of… divine mandate."
Nura finally spoke, his tone low. "And the way they fought… they weren't testing us. They came to kill."
The hangar went quiet at that. Somewhere beyond the walls, the distant hum of repair crews filled the air.
---
The heavy blast doors to the command hangar slid open, and all conversation stopped.
Stepping through was a tall woman in regal silver-and-white robes, her long golden hair flowing like silk under the hangar lights. A crescent-shaped diadem rested on her brow—the unmistakable symbol of Moon Kingdom royalty.
Queen Guinevere herself.
Beside her, walking with calm grace despite the faint scorch marks on her armored sleeves, was Morderia.
Nura straightened instinctively, eyes narrowing. His mind flashed back to Moon City—to the quiet café where she had sat across from him, speaking in a measured tone, listening to his story. She had never mentioned titles, never hinted at being more than a high-ranking official.
But now… seeing her standing beside the Queen, the truth struck hard.
Princess… Morderia?
The Queen's gaze swept across the hangar, her voice carrying with a calm authority.
> "I have been briefed on the infiltration and the casualties. I have also been told of the actions taken by your pilots—especially the one who intercepted the threat closest to the chamber."
Her eyes landed on Nura, and for a moment, he felt as though she could see right through him.
Morderia's own eyes met his briefly—no words, no smile, just quiet acknowledgement. But in that look, Nura could tell… she remembered everything from that day in Moon City, just as he did.
Ralvern stepped forward. "Your Majesty, Pilot Ferius Nura was the one who engaged the final enemy near the chamber and ensured the safety of all present."
The Queen inclined her head slightly. "Then you have my thanks, Pilot Nura. The Moon Kingdom owes you a debt."
Nura didn't reply at first, still processing the revelation. The woman who had encouraged him when he was just another hopeful recruit… was the Princess herself.
And she had been in danger today—danger he hadn't even known he was protecting her from.
---
Nura finished his report, his tone steady but his mind still replaying the battle.
"They weren't like any mobile suit I've seen before. Completely invisible until the last second, faster than Federation Scorpio's, and their pilots kept repeating the same words—'holy judgment,' 'seed of witches.' They meant every word."
Ralvern's voice was grim. "They weren't just raiders. That was a coordinated strike with a specific objective."
Before Queen Guinevere could respond, her attendant—a young officer in silver Moon Kingdom uniform—rushed in, breathless, holding a comm tablet.
"Your Majesty—urgent transmission from the outer relay. It's from Mercury Kingdom High Command."
The Queen's expression sharpened. "Put it through."
The officer hesitated. "…They've declared war on the Moon Kingdom."
The chamber erupted.
"What?!" a senior officer shouted. "We have no dispute with Mercury!"
"They were here with an envoy two months ago!" another protested.
Queen Guinevere raised a hand to still them, though there was a flicker of shock in her eyes.
"Repeat their message."
The officer read it word for word.
> "By order of the Mercury Kingdom Sovereign, and in accordance with the Will of the Faith, we, the people of Mercury, hereby declare Holy War upon the Moon Kingdom, in judgment of your harboring of the Seed of Witches."
Gasps and angry voices filled the room.
Ralvern's jaw tightened. "Seed of witches… exactly what the infiltrators said."
One commander slammed his fist on the console. "They're declaring war over a superstition?!"
The Queen spoke, her voice calm but heavy with conviction.
> "If Mercury wishes for war, then we will defend ourselves. But know this—I will exhaust every possible path to peace before I allow my people to be consumed by needless slaughter."
There was silence at her words, though the tension still throbbed in the air.
Morderia stepped forward, meeting her mother's eyes. "Then we prepare for defense—and for talks, if they'll listen."
Nura stood there, absorbing every word. Camelot… Holy war… witches… now Mercury… What the hell have I stepped into?