act11mini

Yucatan, you've seen everything I did the last two days—

I've never seen such big machines before. They look so clunky, but they run so smoothly.

And there were nice even streets all the way here, and stations everywhere, and the sheer stuff in the shop windows makes my eyes spin.

They don't even use candles for lighting this dinner party. It's electric lights...

Yucatan, Kjerag doesn't have any of this.

And I think we SHOULD have all this.

It just takes trains, pretty cities, stores in rainbow colors! All we've gotta do is build them!

And then our kids can grow up around it all, and then when they're big, they can study abroad, they can go be tourists... wherever they want to go, they'll be able to.

Um, you said 'kids'...

...Uh.

N-No! I didn't mean THAT! W-What are you thinking?! I meant, um, you know, Kjerag's future children...!

Calm down, calm down, Rus, it's not on my mind, it hasn't been—

What? You've never thought about us having kids before?!

I have... no, wait, not in that sense!

Ahem.

Basically, we need to do more, for the future, before we can rest.

That's what that stupid, horrible Enciodes thought as well, wasn't it?

All that roundabout crap was a little too complicated for me, but the railroads and factories that dipshit built... Kjerag's changed a lot thanks to them.

Rus...

What are you laughing at...?

Q-Quit patting my head! You're gonna mess my hair up!

Here, Rus, hold still. I'll sort it out for you.

I can't stand you... We're outside right now, you know!

Sorry, I couldn't stop myself.

You're right. These are things we should have.

Things we will have.

Of course!

But I never expected you to say it... or compliment Enciodes for once.

Ha, don't be stupid, Yucatan! I'd never say anything nice about the Silverashes!

I'm just being realistic here. Enciodes might make me sick, but if this is what he's been seeing all this time, then I can slightly understand all the stuff he's been doing.

I admit he's got a little skill, that's all. I'm magnanimous enough to say that.

It's true. Enciodes has finesse.

Besides, I hate that stupid Gnosis guy by his side way more than I hate Enciodes!

If it wasn't for that bastard pulling his pretend betrayal and scheming against us...

Under the circumstances, it was definitely a decent plan. Each side to their own, and none of the blame on him.

I don't care! What are you defending him for, Yucatan?!

I'm not...

(Glare)

Alright, that was my bad.

But it's been so long since it all blew over. When we make deals with the Silverashes in future, we're bound to run into their people again... When are you going to let go of your grudge, Rus?

When death pries it from my cold, dead hands.

Ugh.

Look, it's apples to pears! I'm not going to wreck Ratatos's business, but don't count on me forgetting what they've done!

...*sigh*.

Not that the Matriarch seems to mind at all anymore.

How, exactly?! That bitch might act like she doesn't care on the surface, but truth is? Her grudge runs deeper than mine!

Did you forget when we were kids and went out to play and we didn't call her along, and then Grandpa caught us when we came back and we had to write lines for a week?

I'll still bet anything that was Ratatos's revenge! She DID that!

You know we were playing outside for far too long, and that's why we were punished. We can't place the blame on the Matriarch.

Come on, you've got way too much faith in my sister!

You know, though, speaking of...

Yucatan, have you ever gotten the feeling she kind of admires Enciodes?

Not like she's said it, but I can vaguely sense it.

Hmm... I agree, actually.

If it wasn't for Enciodes's methods afterwards being too extreme, the Matriarch might not have reacted the way she did.

You think so too? Say... you think the reason she put me onto this one was—so I could see all this?

Before we left, I asked her if she would've wanted to go to Victoria in those days too, if she had the chance.

Really... I know how she's been thinking.

Ratatos! Ratatos!

Ratatos! If you're there, answer me! I've been yelling forever! I bet you're just pretending you can't hear me again!

Why are you ignoring m... huh? What are you staring at?

Why shouldn't I ignore a little scumbag who doesn't even invite her sister?

Who're you calling a scumbag?!

A little runt who sneaks out to play all by herself and still wants me to cover for her, that's who.

*cough* I'm... I'm sorry, that was my fault that time.

Next time I'll bring you! I'll get Yucatan to watch out for us!

Forget it, I'm busier than you anyway, and Grandpa's health is... whatever, who cares. Just don't stir up trouble for the next while, alright?

Also, stop depending taking advantage of Yucatan. You're practically bullying him.

How am I bullying him?

Because I said you are.

So. What do you call me?

Ratatos...

Huh?

The Firstborn! My elder sister!

That's better, dear sister.

Hmph...

Hold on, are you trying to trick me again? Don't dodge the subject. What are you looking at?

Just some periodic intel reports, nothing special.

Grandpa lets you do this stuff already? He really trusts you...

Because I'm capable of handling it, unlike my darling little sister.

Why you...!

Fine, I'm not picking a fight with you.

What kind of news is there this time? I mean, you've been staring at this forever...

Doesn't look like anything special...

Hm? The Silverash Firstborn's already left Kjerag?

He went to study at Victoria... Wow, he's great at excuses. I bet he couldn't stand it in Kjerag any longer, so he just ran to somewhere else!

Is that what you think?

That's what everyone says. If we can stay, then who'd want to go somewhere they don't even speak the same language? I know I wouldn't.

What? Ratatos... the Firstborn, what's with the funny look?

Stop. Put your hand away. I'm not at the point I need YOU to worry for me.

You bitch... I was being nice!

Enough. Thanks for being nice, then.

*sigh*...

It just fills me with something. It was all for the Silverashes' current situation, and him being able to push past his worries. That's what let him make a decision like this.

What decision?

The decision to abandon everything.

Enciodes... you really are a callous man.

That's what she said back then.

I forgot all about it, but when I saw her and that stupid Enciodes in the fire... I don't know why, and it was so many years ago, but it just instantly came back to me.

That's when it clicked. Ratatos wasn't occupied with any of the thoughts we thought she was.