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Eugh... What is this—disgusting floor? What's happening?

Is it the Sea Terrors?

Thiago.

...Amaia.

What's going on? Didn't you say those Church of the Deep cultists wouldn't show up? They've made a complete mess of the place.

Thiago, I came to say goodbye.

What?

It's about time for me to, and the opportunity is hard to come by now. That's all it is.

I don't understand.

Thiago.

The Inquisitors are here. A whole three of them.

Jordi's in their hands.

Gah—!

Don't, Thiago. Jordi came back by his own will. And what can you do against three Inquisitors?

Does he know what it means to be found by the Inquisition?!

You've told him so many times that I'd be shocked if he didn't.

But that's how people are. Reason might tell us to take every advantage and avoid the opposite, but people are so complicated, and you can't judge that so easily. I wouldn't call Jordi a fool for his choice.

Now's not the time to argue over morality—!

This is his nature we're talking about. Character, not morality, Mayor Thiago.

There's a certain beauty in human nature. Even time can't deny that.

What are you getting at?

Do you hate the Inquisition?

I...

The Sea Terrors have blanketed this town, but remember, Thiago, remember.

Remember that rainy night, when the Penal Battalion charged into town, breaking down doors. The unending screams drowned out the pitter-patter of the rain.

No, stop...

And now?

The sea's brand is spreading across town—have you heard any screams? Have you seen anyone being senselessly slaughtered, or hunted down?

You haven't.

Right now, all that remains in Gran Faro—

—is stillness.

I never knew... that the ocean was so vast.

The sea breeze blows past.

Jordi cannot believe what's before his eyes. He had always thought the sea's horizon was the sky's end.

Not until witnessing this boundless expanse of waves for himself does Jordi—the Ægir—have a sudden question.

Why has humanity never desired to explore this?

...How could we ever determine our position out here? It's not as if the moons are signal beacons, or the stars could be read like a map.

Um, why can't we read the stars like a map?

Ask a professional astronomer and find out.

Then... if Ægir really is under the water, then how big is it? Bigger than Iberia?

There's a handful of genuine Ægir over there. How about you ask them?

They seem like they have their own worries, though. They're all so solemn.

Shark, what are you listening to?

...The wind.

There's an offering of kin mingled with the sea breeze. It puts me... much at ease.

She gets more like this the closer we are to the sea.

Even though in Sal Viento, she was so...

Do you know why?

I could guess, but it would only disturb your judgment. We have a battle before us.

Did you ever attempt to return to the sea, after your narrow escape to shore?

Of course. I failed.

There was no end to them. They surrounded me. I ran out of strength before I could even swim far.

I tried so, so many times.

But you're still alive.

We are all well aware of the changes in our bodies, Skadi. You included.

Shark may have suffered some injury, but none of my Hunters are so fragile.

And she's the same as us.

'Specter.' Once a victim of the Church of the Deep. Originium, absent in the ocean, has affected her in a whole host of ways.

Why bring along such an uncertain element?

We are going home. It does not concern you.

Home? But circumstances in Ægir can hardly be better than in Iberia.

Raise your lantern, Inquisitor. Let's prepare to greet our first enemies.

Oh. They've come.

One final question.

Are there really only three Abyssal Hunters?

If there were others, I would have long since found them.

...What compels you to ask?

(Ominous slithering sounds)

Is this ship's course true?

Undoubtedly.

...Then the Sea Terrors are becoming more explicitly hostile as we approach the Eye of Iberia.

Perhaps it is already their nest. Fighting them aboard this ship would waste far too much time.

Skadi, Shark, defend this vessel. Keep an eye on the primitive signal navigation facilities while you're at it.

I will enter the sea.

I'll go with you.

You are stronger in the sea, but so are they. And we cannot bleed down there; the risk is too high.

Wh-What's wrong?! Are there monsters attacking again?

No, I can't see any! We don't know what's happening under the water, but—

That muffled booming! What's going on down there? Is she fighting below?

No.

She's just... moving. She's faster in the water.

...How can anyone move faster through water than air?

Habit, I guess. Or maybe it's a skill.

The Sea Terrors are following her. She's opened up a passage.

Irene, take Breogan's descendant and continue to steer.

Pick up speed before the enemy surrounds us.

They've left. The seas won't be peaceful.

If you worry for them, we'd best hurry and finish up our business.

Gran Faro is only an outpost to recapture the lighthouse. Retaking it is all that matters.

I'm surprised that Iberia can already exploit Ægir technology to resist the encroaching nethersea brand.

Regardless, the rate of its evolution is faster than any one scientist's genius. If we seek victory, we must use whatever we can.

Even an army, I see.

...This is an plain, unremarkable town.

Perhaps there are more strategic locations waiting for the Inquisition to recapture them, one by one. More favorable battlefields, grander walls and fortifications.

But, sometimes, it's fine to start with what's at hand.

However many Iberians are willing to fight to the death against the waves, that is how many soldiers we can field.

Let us begin the cleanup.

(Unabated slithering sounds)

Hey... Are we still not there yet?!

A-According to the nautical map, we should be able to at least see it by now...