act18d3

Now quick, come in, come in. I knew that you would make it here.

How?

What can I say...?

Hmph. No need.

Do you carry that case everywhere you go, wandering singer?

Yes.

Then would you mind if I asked another question?

Go ahead.

What is inside this case?

A saxophone.

Ah, very well, a saxophone... a wind instrument. Quite good.

May I have the fortune to hear it? Music... this city has not heard music for a swathe of years.

Oh, no, beg pardon... I realize asudden that a wandering singer takes coin for her song.

This does stump me. You see, I fear I cannot proffer much tip to speak of.

Yet look at this old building. Humph, taking care of it is quite the challenging task, when currency stands for little here, none will collect it, and none will use it.

But I can spare energy to prepare you a luncheon. Wandering singer, what say you? Would you will to perform a little something or other?

It is in my power, at least, to invite you to eat your fill, though it may not be any gourmet delicacy...

I see you are fallen silent... Ah, might I guess: you prefer dance, rather than song?

You see, you are wearing a dancer's dress... you are talented. It has been too long since last we had a friend with such brilliant luster as you.

(...Sickening.)

If you want to listen to something, you can let me sing for now.

I came to ask a question. The person standing by you probably knows. I don't think you can escape the issue anymore.

Were my—people, here, and you, once familiar?

We naturally were.

I was not asking you.

Gladiia turns her head away, and does not speak further.

We aren't.

Oh...?

Because I have no idea now if this person is the one I originally knew.

Oh, oh...

This, too, is normal. All people may change. Seawater beats against dry land, and can turn the coast into sand, given time.

So. Your arrival, was it not her who willed it?

—Wasn't it you who wanted me to come?

Were it merely my bidding, you would not show here, correct? I am only a stranger.

I simply ask; did she will you to come, or not?

She didn't. I came on my own.

Hmm, you are not lying. I can hear when lies are told... but you are honest.

You keep asking, and I still haven't even said anything. How can you be this obnoxious?

Be calm, be calm, singer. It was not my intention. A little prudence does us all good.

Then my turn to ask.

This city's people all have great trust in you, but what happens on the seashore—

—is absolutely not normal.

Scrap-begging. Sea Terrors. The ocean.

Where are you from? You know something, don't you? What have you and her hidden from me?

Ah, hah-hah. Yes, indeed, I know a good deal more than others.

Indeed, I know of one who wants to meet you.

Meet me? Since I'm a wandering singer?

The one who cares for music is me.

Though it may invite some disbelief, the one wanting to meet you is not me.

It is a friend of mine. I bid you here on his request.

Who? He wants to meet me?

Come with me. You shall know when you see him.

After all... you have a friend here too.

'You wish to meet her, do you not?'

The bishop's tone makes light of it, but Skadi remains calm.

The hunter secretly grips the case's handle tight. Only fruits of progress in material science and Rhodes Island earnestly investing vast funds are to thank right now, that she does not crush the handle of this specialized 'saxophone case' apart.

Please, in here.

As for you.

Come too. The time for your reward, too, is come.

Skadi glances at Gladiia briefly, and does not say much.

Skadi follows over to the figure of the bishop. Unsure as to why, she's felt the whole time that the bishop has a very odd gait. Like his legs are lame, or his joints are missing.

The three descend the stairs. Shockingly, below the chapel's graves lies a cave, the staircase winding downwards by its wall, circling and circling, as if walking into some colossus's esophagus. Without a ray of light, they feel through the path on pure sense, at risk of falling into the abyss at any time.

Regretfully, I will not light a lamp, but this should pose you no trouble, should it?

I have heard wandering singers to be quite agile by and large. Neither city nor barrens are too friendly, and those going afar easily come to suffer. One must learn the basics of protecting themselves.

Wealth cannot buy music, yet music can serve as wealth. So long as a fine song is sung, one will not starve wherever they go...

I used to yearn greatly for that sort of life, likely because I am no good at what it demands... Once I set down roots somewhere, it is very hard for me to up and leave again.

The bishop seems to talk in soliloquy, because the two others utter not a word while descending.

We are here.

Don't tell me we're...

Correct. On the seafloor.

Led deep and deeper by the staircase, they finally set foot on flat ground. Even Skadi feels challenged to breathe in the sealed-off damp, until they emerge into a shaft of light, and the open scene before them reinvigorates the hunters.

The massive karst cave is filled with twisted equipment. From a hidden place above, daylight illuminates as it penetrates the ocean, permeates the cave, the faint blue making where it lies clear.

That's—!

How could this be.

Specter's body floats in a vat of water, as if dead, or perhaps sound asleep.

Untold thoughts flash through Skadi's head.

Why is she here? Did Gladiia do this? What if Specter is dead? How could Gladiia allow Specter to die?! Could she truly be—

And that is your friend, isn't it?

You are called Skadi? I have not been the one following your affairs. They have handled you very well...

Especially the ones by your side. They have handled it all well, letting you uphold your mental state under such emotions.

Skadi's eyes open wide.

What?

They have had no time to attend to you lately, but by the humble grace of your leader here, you have come, practically as a gift to me.

Skadi turns in anger to Gladiia, but finds no one behind her.

Gladiia is already pacing for the bishop, her step free of concern in its lightness. The speed she takes pride in, the speed rumored amongst the Abyssal Hunters... seems to be in this silent, single step.

I am surprised you step forth first... and not that minstrel. What are you waiting for? Why did you not kill me before?

Would you be so stupid?

You unhallowed things, and your eternal condition... Your fine sense of ego, expressed without meaning. Would you be just as unconcerned if this experiment, her life, vanished here?

Confirming your results gave you confidence. Your satisfaction grinned in your words, yet you wouldn't let me see where you took her. I imagine you cannot let her die yet.

Out of us few, I'm sure her life is the one you place most importance on.

I've destroyed your experiment grounds—

To little surprise, it was your doing.

—Specter is highly valuable. Out of all the Originium infection tests you've conducted on the Abyssal Hunters, only this one specimen tells the tale.

The original sin of terrestrial lowlife beasts can be effected upon those unholy bodies of yours. Is it not so very interesting?

The looks on Skadi and Gladiia's faces both change.

Although... I must say, you have wrought too much damage on the site we three are in. Having committed so much refined, liquefied Originium, having applied Ægir technology... all of it, never to be seen again.

She is highly valuable indeed. My one mystery is how she fends against an Originium infection of such scope... Her spinal cord, diluted, would be enough to infect a small country.

Things have changed now. Thank you for placing her in my hands, unhallowed thing. I will lead the other two... I will discover all your final secrets.

I will prove my own success. My research. Our enemy's secrets. As well as weaknesses...

You will lead off by dying here.