act16mini

At that moment, I felt no regrets about anything. As if being able to see it was more than enough.

But I still want to know why I so longed for that light at the time. What exactly is it to me?

'At the time'? Ray, you mean...

...Ray? Are you asking me? Why?

You quickly realize that Ray is not looking at Amiya. Not at all.

The Feranmut. My hallucination. Over ten years ago, I saw it in the Grinning Valley.

At the time, I was with a team of hunters. There was a sandstorm. It was dark, and we got lost.

I was still pretty short, so I could only see the people around me and their hunting crossbows. After some time, I couldn't walk anymore, and I couldn't see anything clearly.

In the end, all I remember seeing was a huge shadow.

And... a ray of pure, white light. It was narrow, but it penetrated the sands.

I heard a gentle whisper that drowned the howling winds.

All of a sudden, I wasn't afraid anymore.

Maybe it was just a dream that I had. The only thing I remember after it was waking up in a tent I'd never seen before.

But even if it was just a dream, I want to see the hallucination that has been with me all this time...

...Amiya.

Amiya?

Doctor, I...

Ray is gone.

Sorry. Just now, I...

...I saw it.

You saw what?

...I saw a Rhodes Island that was freshly dug out and covered by a canvas.

Its large shadow moved slowly through an Originium-covered wilderness in Rim Billiton.

The Sarkaz engineering team all had their faces covered to conceal their identities. Their vehicle was loaded with cannons, while architectural Arts forged blades.

The sandstorm was fierce, and the road ahead was dark. A long convoy followed Rhodes Island's tracks and marched onwards.

This is going to be a long, long road.

But... to save everyone from their hardships and to prevent an even crueler future, this is our greatest hope.

In the sands... the engineering team and a local team of hunters walked past each other...

I saw... her helping the trapped hunters, even though they were complete strangers...

Hold on, Amiya...

Whose eyes... did you see all that through?

'Because I think it would be so nice if everyone could make it back to their own home.'

Right, Amiya. This landship has its own name. What's more, there's someone here who knows the meaning that was bestowed upon this 'Rhodes Island' when it was given this name.

Have you asked the Doctor? No, it's not because you're young that the Doctor didn't explain it to you.

The Doctor simply thought it should be us and those who come after us to define what kind of ship Rhodes Island is. It's fine if the old definition gets left behind in the past.

...At the very least, I think that line of thinking can at least partially be found in the Doctor's silence.

Because that is also how the Doctor sees the Doctor.

Knowledge cannot define the 'Doctor.' The Doctor thinks that the Doctor knows nothing. Memories cannot define the 'Doctor' either. The Doctor's memories could never again be found across these lands.

Amiya, do you trust the Doctor?

Right, I do too, and one of the reasons I chose to trust the Doctor is because the Doctor reached a hand out to you back then.

War, perseverance, civilization, hope. The extraordinarily long stretch of time, the burning stars, and the fated future. There are many, many thoughts so heavy they are unrecognizable within the Doctor's mind.

But the Doctor made a very simple wish.

The very first coordinates that the Doctor picked out of that vast loneliness.

Amiya, this is your home. Perhaps one day, it will be you who will decide what 'Rhodes Island' means.

Right, it's only natural to feel scared. Ah, this may be very hard, but I really do hope that you won't fear giving the wrong response.

Don't be afraid. The idealistic path is unending. That's why it can't be walked all the way to the end by any one person.

No matter when, and no matter why, if you're scared, you just need to find the people you trust and take their hands.

Huh? You're scared already? In that case, you can take my hand right now.

Until that day...

...Doctor, can I do this?

Do you trust me?