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Language:
English
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Published:
2025-09-06
Words:
100
Chapters:
1/1
Kudos:
2
Bookmarks:
1
Hits:
47

competitive defiance

Summary:

Veyle reflects while she lets Marni strike at her.

References the manga's chapter 31 (current as of writing) depiction of events of the game's chapter 21.

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:

Veyle tolerated Marni.

She was the kind of follower that would do anything against the world that discarded her, for the sake of praise.

Perhaps that likeness was why she allowed her to follow so eagerly.

But here she was, turned against by humans again. 

(And yet she couldn’t hate her for it.)

Veyle could, should easily fire another bolt to interrupt the dramatics playing out.

But she refuses to flinch while the axe falls unto her, giving Marni a chance to fail.

The thudding resonance jerks at her consciousness;
it soon passes.

…After all that, she was almost disappointed.

Notes:

I guess I’m throwing my hat in the ring for this character dynamic now. Except it’s with Eveyle, because she has thoughts too. At this point I don’t think the manga is going to explore her much more (though showing her dark outfit swapping with her was technically a new direction), but Marni did deserve the extra time and care.

I didn’t know if I could write something meaningful about these two when Marni’s moment is about opposing her, but I guess Eveyle really did kind of just let Marni turn and land a hit, even when she could have shot her like Alear before and after. I think that’s worth something. Also she was crying about it, which was admittedly more so Veyle fighting back, but it got through while the other was conscious for it.

I am very curious as to how the next chapter will be paced with its major moments and what they may do differently with the already-broken-off helmet.