### EFFERVESENT, THE BULWARK

> **[ARCHIVE OBSERVATION FEED]**

The figure appeared at 04:17.

Verg had been asleep. He was not anymore.

“Okay. That's a knight.”

**CLASSIFICATION:** UNRESOLVED

“He has a sword and a shield.”

**CLASSIFICATION:** UNRESOLVED

“He's wearing a crown.”

**CLASSIFICATION:** UNRESOLVED

Verg stared at the monitor. “What part are you struggling with?”

The first sphere appeared beside the figure's head. Then another. Then several hundred.

They drifted around him, glowing green.

Verg leaned closer. “Are those bubbles?”

**NEGATIVE.**

“Good.”

**OBJECT COMPOSITION UNKNOWN.**

“Less good.”

Something struck the knight's shield.

Every camera went white.

When the feed returned, the landscape behind him was gone.

The knight was still standing.

So was the shield.

The bubbles began gathering around the point of impact. The damage disappeared.

Verg stopped smiling.

A signal entered the station.

There was no identifiable source. There was no identifiable language.

The system translated it anyway.

**FOR HE IS EFFERVESENT, THE BULWARK.**

**THOSE WHO FEAR HIM CALL HIM THE BUBBLE KNIGHT.**

Verg stared at the words.

“The Bubble Knight.”

The knight turned his head.

Toward the camera.

Verg went very still.

“…That's absolutely what I'll call you.”