act16d5

The haze is the blood of a city.

I once saw the silhouette of the moon made indistinct, leaving only a round mark as if carefully carved high above, the moonlight along its pierced boundaries flowing into the sky, smearing whole.

I once saw the home I loved taken by a sea of flames. I was forced across the hard mountains, from one peak to another.

I've seen the victims of famine gnawing away at each other. In times of fighting drenched in blood, taking place within a hair's distance, people can seem like nothing ever happened, look ahead of them, and walk on.

I've seen that long, long road. I used to puzzle over why everyone would choose the same path, why death is predestined, why we are only numbly walking down ways that will meet again.

I've seen the barrens and the verdant mountain waters. Seen friends who stumbled down once and so never climbed up again. Seen the looks in parents' eyes in that brief, brief moment they wanted to abandon their own.

—I've seen you.

I recognize you.

The look in your eyes. The lofty, ice-cold, solitary look in your eyes.

More than a Catastrophe's onslaught, than your mother and father abandoning you, than struggling in starvation on the brink of death, it puts sorrow for you in me. The greatest of all sorrows.

Are you looking at me, or are you looking at yourself?

I remember—how I once asked you this.

Stay away! Get back!

It—it bit off my hand—ha, haha—why can't I feel any pain at all, why—

Gkhaa!

Eek—stay away!

Are you okay?!

Why did you only just come?! Why did nobody sound the bell?! Where'd the vigilant monk go?!

You know we trusted you, so we did what you said! Why! Why did my husband have to die?! How can you make up for that?! How?!

We'll talk when we're safe.

Waaahhh—mama, mama! Give my mama back!

Gkhaa!

Whoa, there! Even less close for comfort!

M-Mister, mama, mama—

Gkhaa!

Let's ignore this fellow for now! There seems be something disastrous afoot outside! Young lady, hold on tight, we're going to slip out of here!

Gkhaa—! Gkhaa!

Another one?!

I can't—I can't deal with this!

Gkhaa—!

Gkh!

Where the hell did they all come from?!

Damnit, there's no way I can hold back this many—

Gkh...?

Though they may figures in a painting, there is no need to slaughter them all... observing such a scene only serves to inspire outbursts of sorrow.

Lava, I am here to watch this place. Thou would best hurry to take others to refuge.

You...

Worry not for me. I have traveled many times here. I have had all manner of thought on the future, anxieties indeterminate—

—but for that in front of me, I have never been one moment nor fraction irresolute.

Leave this to me.

Alright. Keep going east. When you're done, find me and we'll converge.

Understood!

Gkhaa!!

I am here! None shall come forward!

Those who pass this line—shall be cut down.

Waaahhh—

Ow, ow! My dear young lady! Might you be able to stop pulling on my hair!

Mamaaa—mamaaaa—

Gkhaa!

These cretins only keep gkh-gkh-gkhing! How can things so bent on chasing you not spit out a human word or two?!

Gkh...

...DON'T... RUN...

Good heavens, I was only joking! You need not! You absolutely need not—!

*whimper* Mister, l—look in front!

Eh?

Yaaagh!

A—Are you that fortune-teller...? Where are the other two heroes?

Behind you, behind you!

Gkhaa!

Why did you bring it over here!? Think of something—think of something!

What can I possibly think of?!

Lead them away from here, away!

I... I'm...

*whimper* Waaahhhh, mama, mama—

Oh, just stop crying! Stop! Stop crying, girl!

Agh! Those things are looking at us! Get out of here, get out of—

Gkhaaaaaagh!

Huh...?

Y-You used your fan?

Hide yourselves further away.

Gkhao? Gkhaa—

In one move...?!

Ao!?

A-Amazing...

Ow-Owie, it hurts so much, it hurts so much—just what are these things, and how can they look so soft, yet be so hard when striking them?

Oh, stop goggling at me. The proverb puts it well; even a cornered burdenbeast will bite. Here, we'd best just hurry on our way!

Gkhao...

Man alive, Nothing, your kickboxing work's not bad, but you've never done a rescue business like this, eh?

Deal with the enemies in front of you without checking movement on your whole perimeter, and sooner or later you'll give yourself grief.

Ah, ahahah... that was quite dangerous just now! My apologies for the grief I gave you, benefactor. Only thanks to you am I safe and sound.

Alright, quick, go and get everyone left into shelter.

Er, what about you, benefactor?

Me? Don't you mind, I walk light as a feather. They won't ever notice me.

(Can the single skill of light-footedness really explain that?!)

And then... how do we cut down these Ink Spirit numbers fast...?

Eyaah! Wh—what's that fire in the garden?

Hoo! This blaze soaring skyward makes quite a spectacle!

Ho? Could it be that the name 'Lava' held this exact meaning?

Lavaaa.

Confirm the extent of all enemy scatter in the vicinity for me.

This big of an arena?

I'm worried about the surrounding buildings getting caught up, so I've been sort of keeping my Arts tied down...

...but there's just too many enemies. If we keep dragging this out, I'm concerned casualties are going to end up tough to estimate.

Roger. Special times, special methods, right.

I'll find a high vantage point. You focus on casting.

I'll help you sort all the ones outside your Arts range. I guarantee I'm not gonna miss a single one.

Good.

I'll submit the mission report afterwards... after all, it's not just the Infected that Rhodes Island helps.

Infected...?

What's up?