act15mini

Or do you propose that we break from tradition and imitate those tribes that set trials for their Snowpriests, rather than wait for the call?

No.

I... can try to divine their will.

Ragna...

Yes, I'm asking you to entrust it to fate.

I won't take any questions. Just think of me as someone who goes back on her word.

Then I won't stop you from trying.

...Very well, if the clan tree raises its branches and lets you sail through, I won't stop you.

We await the answer of the dead.

Weren't you going to Čappat? I thought you southerners were always in such a hurry.

Like when your tourists come to visit. Their, er, vehicles just drop them off somewhere empty, they all stand around a while, and then the vehicle takes them away again.

You're right, I <i>am</i> concerned about Professor Mary.

But my best bet for now is to gather as much information about Sami as possible, to make things smoother for the rescue team.

Plus, I want to spend more time with Gitano.

At Rhodes Island, they always say that nothing can rattle her except losing at cards.

So I never thought I'd see her looking so gloomy...

What about you, Typhon? Isn't your client down south in Čappat getting impatient?

No idea.

Huh?

I don't actually know who the client waiting for me there is, or what they want me to do.

Probably another one who wants me to help deal with a problem quietly.

You can tag along next time. It's amazing what they'll do to keep things secret.

Like, leaving a message on a wooden board in a hole in a tree. When it was just about removing a dead hornbeast.

The shadow was no longer near the beast, but that just makes them even more scared. So they look to me to take care of it.

Sounds like people trust you a lot.

So do they really keep their distance from you just because they think your bow brings bad luck?

Isn't that just like... Oripathy?

Oripathy? Of course not, it's nothing like that.

Do you no longer respect Simone because she has Oripathy?

But me... I'm not sure I've fully tamed this bow, to be honest.

Hm... but you're the one holding it. If it's not working right, wouldn't that be like when my drones malfunction? You can feel when something's wrong, right?

Of course I can keep an eye on it, when I'm awake.

But what about when I'm dreaming, and my consciousness leaves my body?

Do you southerners have a saying like this? 'The more people speak of doom, the clearer it casts its shadow.'

You don't? Alright.

When I lived in Arges's cave, no one knew of me or my weapon.

But things are different now. The more I help chase the shadows out of Sami, the more people begin to talk about me.

So who can say when misfortune will suddenly catch up with me?

I'm sure your bow will be fine! We've journeyed all this way together with no problems, haven't we?

Although I guess the plural of anecdote isn't data...

Oh, what if you let my colleagues in Engineering analyze it? Maybe they could come up with an explanation I can actually understand.

And they might be able to help you.

My friend Mayer, for example, knows a lot about dealing with dangerous objects.

And we're super close, so I'm sure she wouldn't mind me filling her lab with potentially risky weapons, haha...

But research can take a long time, huh. I can't exactly take your weapon from you for years.

(Hm...?)

Thank you. You're a hard worker.

But I told you not to touch my bow.

This is for me to deal with, and only me. That's what Arges said.

...What are you doing, Magallan?

Huh?

Let go.

Magallan lets go without even thinking about it. The splash brings her back to her senses, and she stares at the ripple on the surface of the water.

Wh-What did I just throw in there?

The flagon the Ursus trader gave you.

You were scooping up muddy water from the marsh with it.

I taught you to filter mud and sand with clothes, but... I don't think you forgot. You didn't look right.

Oh! You're right! I somehow got distracted again!

I need to get it back... It was a gift.

You don't dare reach out, do you?

Yeah.

Give me your hand.

You know a way to deal with this situation?

...Phew.

I feel calmer now.

That was amazing! With just a vine around my finger!

Oh, you have one around yours too.

Yeah.

But you shouldn't try to get it back.

Remember what Simone said? Be careful.

Alright...

Strange... That was a defense meant specifically for demons.

Could Simone's warning have meant...

...The dead have answered.

Most want to be buried.

One... remained silent.

Silence means there is no objection, at least?

We must respect the wishes of the dead.

...Very well, we'll hold a funeral as usual.

Be careful when you get on the boat, Magallan.

Thanks!

This is how the wetland tribes do it.

The boats are launched once night falls. The river carries them to their final resting place, where they will sink into the water along with the boats.

Only then can the dead be freed from the shackles of the flesh to walk free amongst the trees, and travel with the flowing water to find their bloodline.

However, this funeral is also our farewell to our homeland.

Which is why we will also bring our belongings and travel along with the dead.

...These boats will carry the dead home, and the living away from it.

Can Typhon and I come with you? We're not part of your family or tribe or anything.

Of course you can.

In fact, I'd appreciate it if you did.

I've long known that I'm just a lone wanderer, far from Sami... Still, it's painful to have to ride in a boat by myself while saying goodbye to my last blood kin.

...At least being able to hold a funeral will comfort the tribe.

Both the living and the dead.

What is it, Typhon? Need a hand?

No.

It's just that your hand is so cold, Gitano. Like you've been standing in the freezing wind for a long time, and the best you could do was rub your hands together.

There's something I've been meaning to ask you.

What did the dead tell you?

Or rather, what was the 'silence' in your divination?

The horn has been blown. Don't look back.