act16side

No, Velliv, the dream of becoming torches in the cold night is doomed to failure. For all of us.

But, serving a functionary a hot cup of tea... that's something we can always do.

'This world is hostile to beauty...' May those who reject this aphorism find success.

It is time for us to move on to our next task as well. Now that the riots have subsided, let's convene the foreign envoys.

The Revelation is clear, I will do what I must.

I often think back to what happened that night.

At first, it was just an ordinary cleanup mission, just another group of Sarkaz raiders.

We tracked them down as they made their escape, and came upon the place.

Unusual, but there were no signs of hostility.

Only... traces of those men locked in their own time.

I received that emergency request for aid... I left you.

I abandoned you.

The distress signal wasn't from very far away. The round trip would be half a day at most.

I even rushed back early...

I remember the mottled texture of the tiles under my feet. I remember the sensation of cold rain falling on my face.

I remember your black horns. And your tightly closed eyes.

And Andoain, who had gone missing.

But... it was just a cleanup mission.

It was just another cleanup mission!!!

Why did it have to happen like that? Where did it all go wrong?

If I had never left... If I had stayed there, if I had been with you, would none of that have happened?

At least... At least it wouldn't have been...

That by the time I arrived, everything was set in stone. It couldn't be undone.

It's an awful feeling. Truly, unbearably awful.

That the only thing I could do was watch...

I should've been there to shoulder the burden alongside all of you.

That's not true, Fiammetta. You don't have to shoulder anyone's burden.

No, that is my choice.

I don't care what power he was lusting after, what secrets he was trying to uncover, what answers he was trying to find.

I don't care about his ideals, his lofty cause, who he redeemed, or who he guided.

I will not forgive him.

Not because of my beliefs, not because of Laterano, not because of the Pontifica Cohors, and not even the time that I've lost...

I will not forgive him, because––

Andoain, you betrayed the people who trusted you.

My old friends.

How come you're here in one piece?

How come even His Holiness can't...

How come...?

How come... you're asking me that again... The path was never there in the first place. What good does it do groping around in the nothingness?

Is this your penitence?

Penitence? No, I have nothing to repent... Where can I repent? There is no light, no path. Those who suffer must continue to suffer, those who grieve must continue to grieve.

There is no salvation, no paradise. This is Laterano, and it is the only thing that belongs to us.

If the light has always been a lie... No, not a lie... It's real, but not as we wished...

There has never been a light... let alone illumination...

What are you babbling about, Andoain?

Have I given up? Why would I be here if I had given up?

With a barrier this thick, how am I supposed to embrace them? How am I supposed to embrace them?

Maybe I am nothing more than a swindler peddling false hope... who deceived myself into believing it...

I don't understand. What is Its judgment? Where does It want me to go? Its very presence has already blocked my path...

Where shall I find my path?

Andoain! Wake up! Look who's standing in front of you!

Who... Ahh... Fiammetta...

Why are you losing your mind again?! Where did your honey tongue go, your righteous air? Have you lost your spine?!

How am I supposed to convict a husk of a madman? Take a good look at who's standing in front of you!

...I'm in Laterano, Fiammetta. I'm above the Basilica.

I'm glad to see you all again... No, I'm not glad at all.

Are you trying to get in the way?

You still dare to get in my way?!

Apologize, Andoain.

Right now. Get on your knees and apologize to Mostima and Lemuen!

Do you think you did nothing wrong?!

I have made countless mistakes.

You're still pretty damned smug, aren't you?!

God forbid.

Listen up, Andoain. I don't give a damn what your beliefs are, nor do I care if all your beliefs have gone to shit.

Lemuen forgave you. Mostima forgave you. Yvangelista XI forgave you. Even if all of Laterano forgives you... I will not.

I'm so sorry, Fiammetta.

I'm not the one you should be apologizing to.

If I had the chance, I'd probably do the same thing all over again.

Are you for real? You'd say that in front of Fiammetta?

And right now, you're not...

Very good, Andoain.

Take out your gun.

You know that won't accomplish anything.

You think I care about accomplishing something?! I in malam crucem! You think that if I kill you right here, Lemuen gets eight years of her life back?! Or that Mostima gets the whole rest of hers?!

Pedicabo ego te et irrumabo! Accomplishing something!

I want revenge for the sake of getting my goddamned revenge! Do you get that, Andoain?

Are you so completely obsessed, Fiammetta?

So what if I am?

I'll say it one more time, Andoain–– Take out your gun!

Obsession, is it?

This is your obsession.

What's wrong with a little obsession?

I don't care if it's irrational, meaningless, or futile - when I make up my mind to do something, I do it!

Why do you think we fight?

Those empty platitudes of yours - did you think they weren't a form of obsession too?

Why are each of us here, if not for our own obsessions?

A shot rings out.

However, the target was not Andoain.

Before he realizes it, his gun had left his hand.

But he feels at ease.

For his gun will forever remain in Laterano.

He may never say it, but how can anyone help but love Laterano?

Those peaceful days, those joyful times, those happy moments.

But because of this 'love', he has had regrets, guilt, shame, and doubts.

He may never become a true Lateran.

But in this moment, when he thinks about his gun staying here forever...

At this very moment, under the glare of the faces looking at him...

A kind of peace floats to the surface like a bubble, then pops.

He walked ten thousand miles on the path of faith and doubt.