act14side

Sir...

By now, Enciodes should have proposed his idea for the Saintess to lead the Tri-Clan Council.

The meeting hall, at this moment, should be utter chaos.

Enciodes, in the end, this is the step you took after all.

You're the one who understands Enciodes the most. Only you can stand in the way of his ambitions.

The wind's picked up. It's going to snow.

A massive snowflake sticks against Gnosis's shoulder, only for the frigid wind to pitilessly, immediately blow it off.

Kjerag's snowstorms are far from rare. They only need the clouds to gather thick enough, waiting just for a turning point.

And once the equilibrium of the air that supported those clouds is smashed, and loses its bracing power—

Does Enciodes seriously mean for the Saintess to become Kjerag's queen?

Impossible! This is Enciodes we're talking about!

But he seemed serious about those ideas he spouted just now...

No matter how you put it, think how incredible it'd be if Kjerag could unite under the Saintess's leadership! Kjeragandr's land really should return to Kjeragandr!

The whispers amongst the bystanders come together, and momentarily, the roar of the wind outside the window is covered by the voices.

...Enciodes, do you have any idea what you're saying?

I'm clear as could be.

Let us lay everything out in the open.

I originally held that, so long as results were had and the Silverashes' sincerity was clear to you all, you would discard your prejudices, and hand in hand with me, lead Kjerag forward.

If the three clans could act together, then regardless of any difference in earnings—

A country's stance upon foreign trade versus a company's stance upon foreign trade are completely divorced concepts, and the results obtained will be a world apart.

Maybe my pace was too fast, and led you to believe instead I was planning to submissively hand Kjerag to outsiders?

As if you weren't? Enciodes, Karlan IS NOT your theater to act in! Kjeragandr will punish you for every lie you've spewed!

In that case, that Karlan still permits me to stand here is my greatest proof.

Leave it at that. I know full well I can't change your thinking, but I don't plan to alter Karlan Trade policy because of your shortsightedness either.

Karlan Trade values Kjerag's mines and factories, but they aren't the totality of the company. Letting them bring the company into stasis is far less worth it to me.

If we let an eye for an eye go any further, then in the long run, we'll have spent excessive energy on uniting our views, and it'll have given outside threats a chance to hijack.

Like you, this is in no way what I want.

Therefore—

I ultimately resolve to hand over all executive power to the Saintess.

It will be for the Saintess to determine. I can accept this arrangement, and I believe all present can too.

A heap of nonsense!

Who would believe words like these from someone trampling on the faith of Kjeragandr?!

Trampling?

I know that's how you see it. Many harbor prejudice towards the change Karlan Trade has brought.

But labor is the very foundation on which Kjerag was stood.

Forget not that should they still have work at noon, the Browntails' people pass on kneeling in prayer to Karlan.

And if things are busy, they certainly do not take the monthly visit to Karlan to hear the teachings.

Ha. Enciodes, pulling some hamfisted strawman like this isn't one bit persuasive.

What next? Are you going to say that everything you've done to Karlan is by Kjeragandr's counsel?

'Kjeragandr,' Page 1, Line 1.

'Her tears are the ice eternally unmelting, Her back the unbreaking mountain, Her breath the cold wind of winter, Her smile the warm light of spring.'

'When She awakes, shall the mountains summon Her, and the sky cast down lustrous spectra.'

No one has ever said that the Holy Mount can truly stand for Her.

Mt. Karlan's uniqueness is owed to the Vine-Bead Court being situated on it.

If you denounce me for harm of the Vine-Bead Court's interests, I will readily concede that. Besides, I have brought my full good faith.

And in addition, 'those who toil will hold power, and those who idle will suffer.'

I have never gone against Her teachings.

Utter, utter tripe!

The Vine-Bead Court is Kjeragandr's representative upon this land, and the Saintess of the Vine-Bead Court Her Terran speaker! How do you think you can change this with a mere few utterances?!

Great Elder, will the Vine-Bead Court suffer these wild lies?!

Naturally, I have to protest what Mr. Enciodes says.

However, day in and day out, the scholars wage countless disputes over interpretations of Her words. The Vine-Bead Court is not a place of outlawed dissent, by any means.

Who is right, and who is wrong? Far be it from you or me to have the final say, Arctosz.

Page 3, Line 5.

'In the beginning, Kjerag had but one untamed settlement, so until She lifted Her head from amidst the mountains.'

This time, following Enciodes's start, some nobles present notably begin to recite alongside him.

'She became as human, and lived in survival with the untamed. Yet they feared Her might, and honored Her as Divine.'

'More came to gather at Her side, and so was Kjerag born, and She, its first ruler.'

'Under Her guidance, did Kjerag flourish and thrive in bountifulness.'

Arctosz, tell me. What does Page 321, Line 1 say?

'...After She held the kingdom for three centuries, there came one sudden day when She passed the ruler's title to Her helper, and vanished amidst the blizzard.'

'Henceforth, Kjerag was given unto the people's hands.'

Everyone, we are all of Kjerag, and all Her people.

It is exactly as I said before—

If there is someone able to determine how we should proceed, then it is not I, nor you, nor Ratatos.

This someone must be Her speaker, the Saintess.

That we do not trust each other won't matter.

The Saintess will determine for us, and show us towards the future.

Or do you mean to admit, somehow, that you don't trust the Saintess to make the fairest ruling, that you don't trust Her speaker upon the land?

In an instant, the attention of every noble there focuses onto Arctosz.

You...! Enciodes, how dare you!

Enciodes, if you're hoping this level of provocation will rouse any reaction in us, then that's far too disappointing of you.

The Saintess was born a Silverash, that we all know.

But her character is equivalently common knowledge.

She is still Kjerag's Saintess. From the moment she received the glory and duty of Kjeragandr, the people of Kjerag have been witness to her every word and action.

Her conduct has been impartial, ever since she took up the title. As things stand, how can we be skeptical of her simply for her common birth?

It's like you just said. Kjeragandr was broad of heart, and resolved to give Kjerag's future to Her people.

But you. You, Enciodes, choosing only now after all this time to bring up Kjeragandr, expounding on Her virtue and benevolence. Is that not out of some ulterior motive, really?

You are the one disrespecting the Saintess, Enciodes, coming in with sophistry to coerce and take advantage of her people!

That's a grave accusation, Ratatos, far graver than your criticisms of Karlan Trade.

It seems our continuing this discussion further will only add to the maelstrom of conjecture. Given so, we may as well ask the Saintess to come here, and we'll set things straight in front of her.

Hmph, no objections. With all three clans gathered here, I expect there won't be any room for your tricks.

Well, then. In the interest of fairness, may we trouble the Great Elder in our humble request of the Saintess?

So be it. I'll go and ask her. Exercise patience, please.

I think it might be snowing outside.

What's so strange about that? The snow never stops falling on this mountain.

Something's different.

...So, Enciodes proposes the three families hand their power to me, for me to decide Kjerag's future?

Indeed.

What do you think of it, Enya?

I...

Well met, Great Elder.

Enya. Here you are.

I imagine you've probably heard about the assembly's affairs.

If you mean the transferral of power, yes, I already know.

There's been progress, then, if you've come for me now?

Keen ever since you were little, young one.

It's reached the point where the clans' views clash like fire and water.

Before this Council convened, Silverash gave me a hint or two... that under the current situation, the plan he'd suggest may well deescalate.

It seems you don't approve of my actions last Council after all, Great Elder.