Episode 9 –
[details=spoiler]In the aftermath of the battle, a funeral service is held and fallen friends are mourned. Claire had to officiate as Nina, but I know she would have preferred to stand with her friends. She vows never to fly again. The service was very sad and very emotional.
The friends later visit a memorial for their dead comrades, and more tears are shed. Chiharu is still blaming herself for Mitty’s death, and Ari comforts her as best she can. This brings on another round of crying and Ignacio watches from the nearby trees, flowers in hand, but unable to approach. He later brings the flowers back to Nina. She meets with the Council of Four and listens to strategies for the future. Will they join with Levamme against the Sky Clan?
That night, Kal can’t sleep as he relives the battle and all the deaths. He ends up running through the forest, screaming, and trying to flee from these memories. He ends up at the memorial and finds Claire there. He says her name and she runs from him, but he chases her and grabs her arm. Kal tells her that he’s glad that she’s all right, and Claire tells him that she’s leaving the school. She tells Kal that she’s been lying to everyone and apologizes. With tears in her eyes, she tells Kal that they shouldn’t see one another anymore. Kal just hugs her and then sweetly kisses her. He tells her that he loves her and wants to be with her forever.
Kal asks Claire why she’s so sad and she asks him if they met before - perhaps during the Wind Revolution? Claire asks Kal if he’s really Karl La Hire and he pretty much admits it. Claire already knew it, telling Kal that she loves him, but will never see him again. Claire tells Kal to forget about her, but suddenly the sirens go off. They are being attacked again and in the light from the explosions, Kal takes a really good look at Claire and suddenly sees Nina in her face! Now, he knows the truth!
Claire sadly admits that she is Nina, and saying goodbye, she runs away. Kal just screams – how can he possibly love his enemy? The next day, Luis tells Claire that he needs a favor. He needs her to play her role as Nina. The other trainees are still traumatized over the loss of their friends. Ari is released from the hospital and rejoins them. They tell her that Chiharu still isn’t doing well and that Kal has locked himself in his room.
Ari visits her brother, but he just wants to be left alone, and she can see he’s exactly as he was when she first met him – “like he hates everything in the world”. Rebuilding of the city has begun and the trainees help out. Ari hears the people taking about going back, but then a carriage appears with Nina. She’s come to give a speech and a crowd gathers around. Ari recognizes her as Claire too. Nina encourages her people and assures them of their future. They will endure and continue with their journey. As Nina returns to her carriage, Ari realizes why Kal has locked himself in his room.
Ari runs to the carriage to speak with Claire, but a soldier stops her. Ari looks up to see Ignacio! He whispers to her to push past him and Ari does so. She tells Claire that they should fly together again, and that everyone loves her. Another soldier pulls Ari off the carriage and Nina stops him. Nina exits the carriage, and kneeling, takes Ari’s hands. Claire apologizes to Ari and tells her that she can’t fly or even see anyone ever again. And seeing Kal will only make him suffer and remember the past. Nina says goodbye to Ari and leaves in her carriage.
Ari tries to talk to Kal again. She tells him about her father and how he once lost a baby son. She tells him how her mother died and how poor they were – things that had led to the revolution. As much as the imperial family was hated, her father took Kal in and raised him as his own. Ari wants Kal to think about that and see if he can get over his hatred of Nina. Meanwhile, Luis praises Nina for uniting the people. She almost collapses and Luis asks Claire if she’s all right, but she no longer wishes to be called by that name. She will only be Nina Viento now.
When Ari brings dinner to Kal, she sees that he hadn’t touched the lunch she left him. Ari tells him that she is quitting the flight school. Ignacio had been coming up the stairs and overhear this. Both boys are stunned by her decision. Even after she fully heals, she won’t be able to use a throttle. Ari has decided to become a mechanic instead.
Ignacio approaches and tells Ari not to interfere, as he breaks down the door to Kal’s room. He grabs Kal from the bed and telling him that he’s pathetic, Ignacio punches Kal in the stomach. Throwing Kal over his shoulder, Ignacio carries him outside. The other trainees are surprised to see Ignacio in a guard’s uniform and wonder if they should stop him. Ari tells them to leave it to Ignacio. Ignacio dumps Kal into the lake, and then kicks him in the face. Does he know who Kal really is too? I know Ignacio cares about Claire and doesn’t want to see her hurt.[/details]
