act15mini

Fate has instructed us to move forward. What was left behind will eventually return to us.

Row.

There is no more talk. The shaman's song can be heard from the head of the fleet.

The dead follow their ancestors, as their names are read one by one.

A breeze rings a string of bells on the boat carrying the bodies.

The ceremony has begun. The fleet will not turn back.

...I'm sorry.

The fourth time, I still saw the ceremony.

The fifth time, I asked... Lazal.

Lazal, there's something I want to tell you.

...Or maybe it's something I wanted to hear you tell me.

The road away from that blizzard was long. The river never thawed.

I lived away from Sami, sailing with a boat of iron. It was so firm and steady that I couldn't help but dream back to how our clansmen dragged their boats across the river.

Many lost the strength to pull their boats. Some lost the strength to pull even themselves forward.

...Too much was lost on that path. I dared not turn back.

But in the end, that's all there is to it. I dared not turn back.

We made opposing decisions, and even took up arms against one another, but the reason I never came back wasn't because I resented you.

...But perhaps none of that's important to a warrior stationed in the north.

The leaves in the urn are almost burnt up.

So please, tell me...

Why do you—

Why do you still refuse to answer, brother?

Darkness, fog, darkness.

An empty crystal ball.

Why do I see nothing?