act18d3

The girl closes her eyes and lets go as she is told.

The force gripping onto her leg quickly disappears. She can hear all sorts of tiny trinkets splashing into the water. Just before she herself touches the surface of the sea, a force pulls her upward and sends her back to dry land again.

—She lands face first.

*cough* *cough* *cough*.

It's not easy to control the strength and angle while I'm dealing with a person.

I-It's okay. I'm fine.

(Smells herself)

My bleeding's stopped.

Why are they still so excited? Have there always been so many Sea Terrors here?

Are these the same monsters from last night?

More or less.

I've never seen them before.

You should stay away from this place for a couple of days. Now go back.

Singer.

Stop tugging my skirt... You aren't a child.

I just want to say... I think I know what it is that I want now. I want to hear you sing.

Oh...

And that's because... I don't know what songs are like. I heard you humming in your sleep, but I didn't understand it.

Alright.

Singer, will you do it? Is this what it means to make a promise?

More or less.

(Frowns)

My harp.

Huh? Oh yeah, singer, where did your harp go?

I'll go look for it...

Okay. I'll help.

So does this mean you'll come back with me? G-Great!

Is this something to be so happy about?

Hey, Drywall, good morning!

Sheetmetal...

Oh yeah, where did Sheetmetal go? You never go anywhere without each other.

Sheetmetal.

Are you looking out... to the sea?

Does this mean... It was Sheetmetal who got the red seashell last night?

*Sigh*...

Woodframe, my condition got worse.

My chest is bloating like it's about to blow.

I don't even want to eat. Leave me alone.

*Sigh*...

Singer, welcome to our home sweet home again!

Ugh... agh...

Your grandmother...

Grandma Petra is still sleeping. She's been lying down ever since we got back last night.

She's probably tired, getting so worked up like that. I didn't expect her to run out and talk to the Inquisitor like that. She was different.

You're right. That was very amazing. She fought off the Inquisitor.

Hmn... ha...

She fought off.. the Inquisitor?! Singer, if the Inquisitor catches you saying that, she'll be really mad.

I don't care if she does.

But if she wants another go...

She won't come to you looking for trouble again, right?

It doesn't matter to me whose trouble she's looking for.

(Strokes case)

Oh, yeah, why don't we go look for your harp?

Hold on.

Eh?

You got stuff on your head.

Whoa! All this green, slimy stuff... W-What is this?

That's seaweed.

Did it get on my head when I tripped?

Probably.

Is this stuff... useful in any way? Looks kinda like seagrass. Can I use it as bedding once it's dried? Grandma Petra's back is hurting her, so this will come in handy.

Give it to me.

Take some seashells and use them to grind up these seaweeds. Don't wash off the slime.

Add enough seawater to completely cover the seaweeds. Put it all in a jar and seal it up, then wait half a year.

You can drink it once the liquid's greenish color has faded. That's when it's fermented.

Singer...?

What's wrong? Is there something you didn't understand?

No... I just don't think you've ever talked to me this much in one go.

Yeah.

Don't throw away your seashells either. Wash them and lay them out to dry. You can use them to drink alcohol and such.

Alcohol? What's that?

It's written right there. This place used to be a bar, a place for alcohol.

So this word means alcohol!

Alcohol can supposedly bring happiness and help us forget all our worries.

Does it work?

Not at all...

It does taste pretty good, though.

Did you drink this stuff often back home...? Back in Ægir?

Not exactly.

I would drink something similar before dances.

It must have been very fun. Oh, I get it now! Alcohol doesn't bring happiness, but we drink alcohol when we're happy!

Does everyone outside, uh, drink alcohol? Is everyone out there always so happy?

Not necessarily.

I get it. They definitely aren't as happy as I am now. Singer, thanks for teaching me how to make alcohol. I really wanna drink it with you right now.

Your hand movement is wrong.

If you grind it like that, it's not going to grind up very well. Try a different angle. Use the sharpest point and follow the seaweed's pattern.

Control your rhythm and your breathing... Make your hand and your whole body one with the sea breeze that's brushing against your skin.

Like that—One stroke, and it's shredded.

You are staring at me. Do you still want another go? Now that there's only one of you, it'll be over very quickly.

No... I don't think I will.

This is yours.

Hmm?

This is my harp.

Sheetmetal found it.

He saw you drop it outside last night.

Oh, that's great! Singer, now we don't need to go look for your harp!

He brought it back to our house... and... and he told me to give it to you.

That's all he said before he left...

Thanks.

Huh? Oh...