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As for you, Lord Carmen, I hope you can put aside your prejudices against the Ægir. Use your—

—I'm so very old now, Kal'tsit. Let's get to the point, shall we?

I've aged past the inclination to win every argument, as well as the strength to uphold glory through speeches.

There is no greater glory than survival, and no one sees the situation clearer than I. You may rescind your words. The Inquisition is willing to fully cooperate with the Abyssal Hunters in finding the lost dreadnought.

The golden... dreadnought.

I have no objections.

I would've thought contact between Ægir and Iberia would give you pause.

Contact? Ah... if you could breathe underwater, if you could visit our cities without the aid of equipment, then I would not mind showing you a true display of Ægir's technology.

We look forward to it, Madame Consul.

A Tercio of the Penal Battalion will immediately shore several dual-use warships at Gran Faro, establish a camp, and clean up the harbor in preparation.

Dario, Irene, go with the Abyssal Hunters. Prioritize securing a sea route to the Eye of Iberia. Pass your judgment on arrival.

As you command.

Kal'tsit, should...

Should time be of the essence, I will prioritize reestablishing contact with Ægir.

A voyage to the deep sea is a treacherous affair to us all, but for you, it will simply be a trip back home.

You will find that ship, and you will find a way back to Ægir. I leave the details to your discretion.

Perhaps it will be far in the future when next we meet.

So long as you remember our words. We hope that once you've returned, you will be able to reevaluate all that Ægir has suffered.

Then let us make haste. We will—

Ah—

Sorry, Dr. Kal'tsit. Uh, ever since the part about the lighthouse, Jordi's been—

The Ægir, perfect. I have much to ask you.

Wait.

Who are you?

I... I'm a resident of this town, my name is Jordi.

There shouldn't be any Ægir in Gran Faro! Our dossier says there are records of collusion between the Ægir and the Church of the Deep!

Who are your parents?

My... my parents were lighthouse technicians. They gave their lives for the Eye of Iberia.

My house is filled with dusty blueprints, I... I may have never actually seen the lighthouse, but...

I want to. The meaning of my homeland... the meaning of my parents' lifelong struggle... I, uh...

You may not. The Inquisition must first interrogate you.

And why should I consider protecting a feeble civilian in a melee?

What if he were a descendant of Breogan?

What? But he looks nothing like the photographic records of Breogan.

Even if it's true, we should be demanding he turn over what's left of his family's legacy, and let the Inquisition take over the research.

High Inquisitor!

What is your name, Ægir?

...Jordi. Jordi Fontanarossa. My uncle told me that—

Then you should know what awaits you for voluntarily appearing before the Inquisition.

I... I know.

Irene.

Yes, sir!

Seize him.

...And take him with you.

Yes... Er, what?

That was what you wished for, was it not?

Thank you, Lord. Nevertheless, my greatest hope is to see true, enduring cooperation between Ægir and Iberia.

Even the longest journey starts with a single step.

Then we don't have a moment to lose. We will let the Eye of Iberia gaze upon the desolate sea once again.

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.