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Skadi watches as the locals fall unconscious, and she picks up the suitcase she'd laid for a second on the floor.

...Gr—Greetings.

Hm? There's another one.

Don't—Don't hit me... I'm not very much like them. I know you're good.

You can understand what I mean.

You only came here following Bench.

*Whimper*... Woodframe, Woodframe...

He ran, I followed.

You bear no ill will towards us.

All I ask is he gives what's mine back.

Huh?

B—Bench... what did you take?

All shiny... all shiny... hard... it hurts... *whimper*...

That's not for you to eat! Pull it out of your mouth, quick!

I'm sorry, Bench tends to just grab at things he's never seen before. He doesn't understand these are things he shouldn't grab.

(Receives necklace)

Ugh, it's covered in spit... It's gotten your hand dirty.

It's fine, as long as I have it back.

We don't often see unfamiliar faces here. Did you come from the outside?

I came from a city elsewhere in Iberia.

It's very rare I see people from other places.

Your clothes... are very strange too. I've never seen material like this before. Does everyone from the outside dress that way?

Only wandering singers would.

Wandering... singers? I overheard you talking to Sheetmetal, but I don't know what that is.

Like me, they travel everywhere, occasionally stopping over, playing the harp, singing a song.

What about the case? What's inside it?

A saxophone.

What's a saxophone?

An instrument.

Are you really a wandering singer?

Mm.

(Quiet mutter)

So what did you come to do, then? Was it sing?

I came to find someone.

Who? Also a wandering singer?

Yes. She is a fellow of mine. We are colleagues.

Did she come to Sal Viento too?

Correct. Have you seen her?

You haven't told me what she looks like yet... oh, well! I said it just before, but you're the first time I've ever seen anyone like you.

I'll go and ask others. Can you guide me?

Guide? That trap... was my making. I thought you would've known.

I don't care.

You don't fault me? I thought you would at least have... reproached me some.

Let's go. I'm in a hurry.

Alright...

Agh!

Why—Why did you suddenly stop...? I knocked against your case. Ow...

I forgot to say. What's in my case is useless to you.

Apart from this, anything you might want, I can give you once you help me find her.

Er, I was only curious... Was I that apparent?

As plain to see as the trap you made.

Wow... singer, you not only have a pair of nimble hands, but a pair of formidable eyes too.

Ninety-eight...

Ninety-nine...

How do I ask questions here?

Huh? How do you usually ask them on the outside?

(With a thump, she sets down the case she was carrying.)

With this.

Um? The saxo... saxophone? You use instruments to ask questions?

Yes.

Slam slam, boom, kapow.

The sounds this instrument makes are quite bizarre.

It's very effective. They all usually open up straight away.

If they still don't talk, I can change angle, and go for another round.

Then I have a feeling that won't get you anywhere here.

Possibly.

(Strokes case)

In that case, the two just now. They already got talking.

Sheetmetal? They shouldn't even know of musical instruments. The people here usually keep themselves to themselves, and don't pay attention to anyone.

And they, er, talk very infrequently. Even if they knew, they wouldn't understand how to reply.

You've paid attention to me.

Probably because I'm a little odd. I'm not too like everyone else.

You talk a lot better than they do too.

Do I really? I'm so happy. It's all what Grandma Petra taught me.

Oh, if you want to find someone else to ask, I can bring you to Grandma Petra. She's the oldest one of us all here, and knows about the most too.

Alright.

Come, singer, let us walk through here.

Here?

Ninety-nine, ninety-nine...

Ninety-nine.

Do you mean them? You can ignore them, they're just standing around. They make it a bit of a squeeze, but it'll be alright even if you bump into them. They won't react, really. Will you, Tableleg?

Wha? She jumped—clear over their heads? H—How did she manage that? She didn't so much as touch anyone beneath her.

Do all people from the outside walk about like this? How magical!

Made it!

Grandma Petra! Graaaandmaaaa Petraaaa!

Don't shout! Are you trying to shake my ears apart?

Hee-hee, grandma, you're so very lively today! You're still—er, are you basking in the sun?

The sun... keh, where do you see the sun? I've been waiting all these years and I still haven't seen the sun. Anita, what are you getting up to? You're always scrambling about, doing this and that.

Around here, could anything important even happen?

Grandma Petra, I'm fine as I am. Someone else wanted to find you.

—Huh, where'd she go?

Skadi stares fixed at the alley's other end.

There's no one to be seen there. At least, it seems so.

How did you get over here all of a sudden?

Someone's watching.

That so? Where? I can't see anyone around.

They're hiding very well. Not well enough, is all.

Why are you so grim? Aren't you a wandering singer? Shouldn't you be very used to people staring if you perform?

...You're right.

Then let's make our way over! Grandma Petra's in alright spirits. You might really be able to ask something or other.