act18d3

If anyone wants to know the difference, then let them listen to me talk. I will settle for giving them a hard time.

Is this how you used to be?

Perhaps, Dr. Kal'tsit.

Besides, I finally have some old friends here with me, not some landlubber that I wouldn't know how to talk to, even if I wanted to talk. You know, they haven't even seen seaweed before.

You could teach them.

You still have a lot of new friends at that place you can now go back to.

In the future, your colleagues will need you. I will need all of you as well.

We need you.

Besides—

Kal'tsit says something.

Specter laughs in return.

Well, don't come home too late!

This doctor is never late, Specter.

Let's go, hunters. We'll leave the rest to her. She can take it.

Wait, Captain. I still have something to tell her.

Lady Kal'tsit.

Deploying without any approval again, Skadi.

At least you knew well enough to talk to Engineering and get them to prepare that case for you. They contacted me straight away.

You're doing much better than before.

I didn't expect you to actually come help me...

I told you, I'm a woman of my word, and that goes no matter what it is you are up to.

Now go home to Rhodes Island. Enjoy your vacation.

Kal'tsit glances at Skadi.

She doesn't say anything but starts smiling.

All of us have things that are simply beyond our abilities. Even Dr. {@nickname} struggles from time to time.

Our technology is not yet able to cure your infection... And neither can you.

But, Specter, not being able to eradicate it doesn't mean you can't defeat it.

You can't exterminate shadows, but you can make them your friend.

Skadi...

There isn't much you can do about your dark fate... but you can learn to work alongside it.

Perhaps only you can wrestle tooth and nail with it till the end of times.

Oh, it's you, singer! You are back!

Yes.

Huh? Where's your sax... uh... saxophone?

No idea...

Oh, don't worry. I'm sure you left it somewhere around here. I'll help you look for it.

Also, about your harp. You dropped it yesterday. I've been holding onto it for you.

It's yours now.

I can have it... Just like we promised? Does that mean you've found your friend? That's great news, singer. I'm so happy for you!

But... you look really tired... You look more tired than you were last night. Are you hurt?

I... It's okay. I'm just a little dizzy.

Well, okay. I didn't see you, and I was so worried you ran into some kind of trouble.

Something really amazing happened just now. Did you see that? There was an explosion, then another. Like, bang bang bang, boooom! The mountain over that way kept shaking, and then it suddenly came crashing down!

I thought our house would come crashing down too.

Are you all okay?

We're fine. The only problem is that all our food is still inside. It's already rotten. Erm, we'll probably go hungry for a while again.

It's all thanks to the Inquisitor. She was the one who told us to leave the house and to stay away from the coast and the chapel up on the hill.

She helped you.

Yeah, she's such a nice person. She protected us the whole time.

Ahem.

Got a sore throat?

*cough* *cough*— Y-You wretch! No matter, I will let you off the hook just this once. Tsk, you're a lucky one, Ægir. The High Inquisitor didn't take you away.

You've been waiting for me.

I knew you'd be back... I have something to tell you.

Still haven't given up?

What...? Why are you in a fighting stance? I haven't even drawn my weapon!

W-What I'm trying to say is... I'm sorry I was so harsh with you before.

Hm?

I'm not the kind of person... who doesn't apologize when she's done wrong. I may be an Inquisitor, but when an Inquisitor makes a mistake, she needs to reflect on it all the more.

When you first stepped into the town, I saw you right away. I could tell you were an Ægir, costume or no. You are different.

At the time... I was angry, and my passions were inflamed. I thought I had finally found the answer. The evil outsiders, the culprit who brought this misfortune to us—

I thought that by dragging you out here and defeating you... I could right the wrongs and solve our problems. I thought it was that simple.

But I am no match for you, and what could defeating you change anyway?

The real threat that this city and all Iberia faces is not a single Ægir or two.

You've grown...

Much thanks to you...

I can't think the way I used to think anymore. What happened here has left me bewildered to the point that I'm not sure how I'd judge anything again.

I am an inquisitor. It is my duty to eradicate the threats that Iberia faces in order to uphold its order.

—You are a threat, but are you our enemy?

Then we have the people here. Should I protect them, or should they be eliminated?

And what if I can't make sense of it? What, then, is my reason for taking up the sword? It will leave me directionless, stuck in the same spot, just like the people here.

Then—It was you and the locals who helped me see things clearly.

I can't save the inhabitants... It probably sounds strange, but once I realized this, I made the decision to protect them.

At the very least, at that very moment and right now, I know what is right and what is wrong.

As for you, you did the right thing. You protected this place... for the time being, at least. That is much more than I have ever done for these people.

You did the right thing too.

Huh?

What I did was no different from what you did.

What do you mean, no different...? No matter, you are just as terrible at giving comfort as you are at disguises.

You wanted comfort from me?

What do you...? No, no thank you.

Good. I don't have any for you either.

So, you found the answer you were looking for?

I don't need it anymore.

I've asked too many questions. I found my answer, and once I calmed down, I realized those answers meant nothing really. Just like you, I know which way I am headed now.

Oh? Seems we're both ready.

It's about time I get going, and I know it's time for you to go as well. You have gone free, so you must've come to some kind of agreement with the High Inquisitor.

Well... Goodbye.

As long as we're still chasing the same goal, perhaps we will see each other again somewhere.

Huh? Did the Inquisitor leave? What a shame. I want her to see what I'm making.

What's this...?

It's the seaweed alcohol you taught me to make! Uh, is this looking okay? Are the pieces too big still?

They are way too small.

Huh? Let me try again. It's okay. We don't have any food left, but we still have plenty of seaweed. If we run out, I'll get some more from Uncle Fireplace.

You will get better.

Once I'm finished... Uh... You'll be gone by the time I'm finished, right? You came here to tell me this, didn't you? You are leaving.

Yes, I'm leaving.

(Subconsciously kneads the seaweed)

Right, you're a wandering singer. You wander, only stopping once in a while.

Will you ever come back? I... I want to listen to you play your harp and sing some more. Grandma Petra and Drywall, they do too.