[Edelgard grips the sheets, cold sweat gathering on their brow.]
[He& #39;s watching her, watching all of them, occasionally writing something in his notebook. She& #39;s caught glances of it before, but the text is incomprehensible to her. He never speaks directly to them, but happily >

< discusses them with his coworkers, always referring to them by numbers.
The only time he ever addresses her, is when she& #39;s the only one left. And the second crest has taken. But he still speaks of her as if she& #39;s an object.
& #39;A shame we still haven& #39;t figured out how to >

< compensate for the strain... but no matter. Thirty years is more than enough time for you to fulfill your purpose.& #39;
A sickening grin splits his face, and Edelgard only wishes she had the dagger to plunge into his heart, then and there.
& #39;You should be honored, 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 >

< 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺.& #39;
Something about this dream was different. The way he& #39;d called her title, the sound of his voice...
𝘞𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯?
To her utter horror, the scientist& #39;s appearance shifted before her eyes--]
[Edelgard nearly launches herself >

< out of bed in a blind panic, barely suppressing a scream.]