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I see it.

I see Alfonso heading to the great hall every day. He's named it 'Iberia.'

He's moved the mirror from his bedroom to the hall, and spends day after day examining himself.

Ever since the head chef and young Jamie were executed, he and I are the only ones left.

There you are.

How long was I asleep? Feels like I barely got any rest before I found myself awake.

Uhh... Not long... But...

No need to force yourself. I know it hurts when you talk.

These lowly monsters leave plenty of blood behind, so let's use that to write instead.

I nod. In the corner are buckets, filled with the blood of our quarry.

Time passes too slowly. I barely slept at all, but my dreams felt even longer than all the decades behind us...

Is it time we gave up then? It's been a long, long while since young Jamie and the old chef left us. Should we follow them?

We should give up.

My consciousness blurs more and more, like the feeling of being entangled right before waking from a dream.

It is not just my flesh that is changing, but everything about me. Everything that makes me a living being.

We should give up. We should end ourselves before we're devoured. The infinite, boundless ocean. The sea breeze. The waves. The whispers.

...Chief Mate, this is our ship. Our ideals.

Sooner or later, we'll lose even the strength to walk. But that won't happen to her. Not the Stultifera Navis.

That cigar-chomping engineer was right. Even if we all die, this ship will never sink.

Today... is just another twenty-four hours in one long, unending day.

... (Scrawls some words using the blood of Sea Terrors)

Don't... give up?

Hah! Look at what you've become. I can't even see your sea-blue eyes anymore. Wouldn't you rather be set free?

(Scrawls) I am your chief mate.

For... your sake...

Hush, easy now.

Thank you, Garcia. No matter what you turn into, the bond between us will never change.

(Nods)

But I know. He is looking at the mirror. Because even someone as strong as him... has finally succumbed to the monsters.

We have consumed their flesh and blood. At first, we started fires to cook them. Then, we were forced to devour them raw.

Even the most powerful Inquisitors were awed by Alfonso's strength. He was the object of so many young sailors' admiration. There was nothing he couldn't do.

But he has held on long enough. Soon, he too will become one of the monsters.

He is worried. He is furious.

If he cannot even tolerate the slightest monster within him, how can he tolerate me?

Trash. You're worth even less than the weed that washed ashore in Sal Viento. That woman was merely creating a smokescreen.

The ocean boasts no changes to speak of.

......Gla-dia......

...I want to see. Are you free?

Friends are here. They are trapped. Need help. Should be returned to our kin's embrace.

Many friends have died here. But Parents. Will not let them die. I must save them.

Even if you can speak with that ugly mug of yours, that's no surprise to anyone.

Return to the great sea. No need to fight.

We go, together—

I've already grown tired of your prattling. Time to end you.

...Gla-dia, will you prey on me?

If you feed on me, will that make you stronger? More full of life?

Will it help the scales on your neck grow and spread, and return you to your proper form?

Abyssal Hunters are bound by blood.

The Seaborn contorts its relatively slender form. It is—

—biting off parts of its own body.

I sever... this flesh. Consume it.

If you need more, I give you more. I will give you everything.

Gladiia stares blankly at the fleshy mass on the ground.

She is shaken.

But not because of the Seaborn, or its behavior.

However, this moment of distraction convinces the Seaborn that Gladiia has accepted its proposal.

...We will meet again soon.

The Seaborn leaves, the Gladiia does not pursue it.

Because she smells the scents of Shark and Skadi. The Seaborn will not escape.

She turns around, and heads towards where another smell is coming from.

The smell of the sea... and of blood. The smell of Hunters. Aboard the ship? And I didn't notice it until I got this close?

Impossible!

What... What do we do now?

Never expected there'd be people alive here. I thought we'd get the ship back just by killing some Sea Terrors. The Captain made it sound so simple.

What are you looking at, Specter?

The mirror.

Did you know, Skadi? Even as we speak, when I look at myself in this mirror, I start to remember so many things that I'd forgotten.

A darkened dome. A hundred-meter tall sculpture. An aquamarine-colored opera hall. A waterfall pouring crystals of ice. What is this place, Skadi?

...Your home.

My home... I remember now.

Writhing flesh climbing all over that statue. It collapses with a thunderous thud.

I remember these things, but... But I've never experienced them.

Dunno. I only know it from hearing you talk about where you used to live, which fell into ruin long ago. Long before I met you.

Maybe you only saw the report later on.

Can we save the chatter for some other time?!

Were we planning to chase down those two Seaborn, or are we seizing control of the ship while they're not around and, uh, sailing it back?

If the survivors haven't managed it in sixty years, somehow I doubt we could figure it out ourselves.

Just be patient. The squad leader will figure something out... Ugh.

Specter! What's wrong?

Just... a little dizzy.

I just remembered... what they did to me. I...

Wait.

I saw her just now in Gran Faro...?

She was willing to talk to me. She was full of hypocrisy, blowing hot and cold, but she...

She's here.

What... You mean more survivors?

No, an enemy. One who can cross the sea and board this vessel, which is more than enough to identify them.

Let's split up. Where will you go?

I...

I am an Iberian Inquisitor. It is my duty to ensure that this ship returns to Iberia's hands.

I'll go after that— after Alfonso!

(Slithers away hastily)

Gahh—!

Oh, don't you worry, Garcia. We'll catch up soon enough.

When those ignorant Ægirs wounded it, it went up through Victoria, and past Bolívar. From there, it could only climb up onto the deck, then dive into the sea.

This ship is not at its beck and call.

...Leithanien. When we were young, we visited that country along with some other officers. Do you still remember?

The twisted faces of those Kurfürsten were enough to turn stomachs. But they understood how to respect Arts, which was a mind-boggling revelation...

Hmm...?

Today's been a good day. We saw quite a few living people. Hope they get out quickly though.