act17side

They are weak, but don't get hurt. Weakness is often bait.

...Shark?

Hm?

Take care of her, Skadi. I still have trouble getting used to how she is now.

I know.

Monsters?! Where did they come from?

This way!

Oh, er, right!

They're relatively few in number, but surprisingly coordinated. Is someone leading them?

And how could they have just popped up out of nowhere? Where are they hiding?

Is it... this way?

(Getting closer... there's someone here!)

One falls, another takes their place. We give our lives only to buy time.

No one here can stand against a High Inquisitor. All who resist are doomed.

In death lies hope. Do not squander it.

Yes... we must hasten our departure. But it is a shame to abandon the closest outpost we have to the Eye of Iberia...

We need but one to reach the Eye... Who goes there?!

(Crap!)

Liberi! Don't let him get away!

Tch.

Gran Faro will be no more. Is this really what you want?

Our interests are aligned. This shouldn't have to happen.

You're the only one who can stop the both the Inquisition and your own people.

I'll kill you, Amaia. Soon.

My, my... I thought we were on a first-name basis, Ulpianus.

Perhaps you intended to make your move once we'd arrived at the lighthouse? But you know full well that's not our destination.

We're going someplace further, and it's there that we'll make our choice.

Aren't the Abyssal Hunters all of one mind? Why haven't you gone back to your squad?

What are you thinking?

You never saw what I saw.

Ah, yes... the oldest story in the book. They never saw what you saw, either.

Did you lose trust in each other?

Ægir is united by the bonds of blood.

I chose to go into exile in order to achieve our common goal.

Uh huh...

Stay away from them, Amaia.

Even on dry land, Gladiia, Skadi and Laurentina can wipe this town from existence with little more than a shrug.

Hmph.

The hand that Amaia has placed on the book moves ever so slightly.

Unperturbed, she smiles back at the provocation.

You're right. Thank you for your concern.

I need that ship.

I must reach it before Gladiia. They cannot return to Ægir knowing nothing of what's going on.

Finally shook them off!

How can they be hiding this many people? Is this town some kind of clown car?

There's nothing but barrens to the north.

So where are they coming from?

Hm.

A pleasure to meet you, ma'am.

You must be the Abyssal Hunter that Kal'tsit mentioned.

Is this your work?

Iberia is not always so messy. I beg your pardon.

Gladiia is quiet for a moment.

In her long years on dry land, she has seen how weak and backwards the terrestrial states are, but also the strength of the Inquisitors at Sal Viento.

Kal'tsit's words echo in her mind as she thinks on how to live alongside those above water.

The silence lasts only a moment.

I am Gladiia, Technology Consul of Ægir, and the Abyssal Hunters' Chief Designer of Warfare.

For the first time, she speaks to a land-dweller as a representative of Ægir.

Her counterpart nods, sheathes his rapier, and strides over the silent carcass of the Sea Terror.

Carmen, High Inquisitor of the Iberian Inquisition. I see the legends of Ægir hold true.

You're different from the others.

I have a few more years under my belt.

Where's Kal'tsit?

She's speaking to another guest from the ocean in the chapel.

Gladiia turns to walk away when—

If you've come to speak to the doctor, I'm sure she's shared the same information with you.

...Perhaps.

What do you think of her suggestion?

We can talk after I've confirmed she's unharmed.

We have no reason to harm someone who wishes to protect Iberia from the bottom of her heart.

So you say.

I've seen more foolishness in my brief time on land than I have for half a lifetime.

If it's been such a brief time, how can you be so sure?

The worst of times brings out the worst in people. Iberia's current reality is far from gilded.

Regardless, I'm not here to debate.

If she's in the chapel behind you, then—

You'll never reach the Eye of Iberia without the Inquisition's help.

It was not destroyed in the Profound Silence. If the Stultifera remains afloat, then the Eye of Iberia is the only way to find it in the vastness of the ocean.

What Iberia can offer, I can achieve on my own with only slightly more effort.

I suppose I have something to look forward to then, Gladiia.

How many left?

Four or five, maybe. Some have departed to seek sanctuary elsewhere.

Very well. Burn these documents. We don't have time for them.

Gran Faro... I once called this place home.

You are still bound by such distractions?

No... no more. Burn them all.

The Inquisition must not find them.

We embrace this knowledge, and promote harmony through enlightenment. The Inquisition, in their ignorance and selfishness, calls it heresy.

Let's go. We will find a way to reestablish contact.

We too will embrace the ocean, someday.

(Are they gone? Is this one of their hideouts? And here I thought it was just a struggling restaurant. It's only two blocks from the chapel, for crying out loud.)

(They're burning their papers? I have to put the fire out!)

(The flames are too strong. I have to save what I can—)

Yowch, that's hot!

Whew... are these blueprints? Some sort of equipment...? The stamp of approval has been burned to ash.

Historical records of Iberia... theses on ocean currents...

What are they planning? Breo... gan? Royal shipwright?

And what's this? A drawing of that statue in the square?

Put that down, Liberi. Let it burn as it should.

You—