act20side

He ended up going up to get surface-dwellers to fix the railway.

Yeah, I didn't expect him to go this far to avoid fixing the dome.

So I thought, forget it, the Originium vein takes priority.

If he's so reluctant to repair it, just let it be; there will be more chances in the future.

Little did I know there would be no more chances.

This isn't your fault. If anything, it's Stitch's for running away.

But if this dome is so important to him—

He'll regret it for the rest of his life, if he doesn't seize the opportunity.

Why are you so against repairing the dome?

Because of the job my teacher left me.

Teacher? Job? Didn't Catch say your teacher went missing?

It wasn't... a sudden disappearance.

Though he didn't tell anyone else, he did leave me an assignment.

I have to win everyone over with my dome design, and make the dome of Zeruertza my own.

Only then will he come back to find me.

Otherwise, he'll never come back.

Your last name is Canvas too. Are you related?

No, I changed it later.

Eight years ago, I survived an Originium vein explosion. I had no home to return to, but my teacher took me in.

So your Oripathy...

Yes, that was when I caught it.

On the surface, people with this disease are called the Infected and cast out from society.

That's not the case among the Durins, but we can't fully cure it, only keep its symptoms in check.

It's the same up there.

So I changed my name to that of my mentor and studied architecture under him.

I hear he was pretty famous?

Of course! Finch Canvas was the design representative of Zeruertza.

Surface-dwellers would call our style 'minimalist'.

We oppose elaborate and flashy designs, seeing them as the unchecked spread of desire, the product of a slothful life.

At this rate, we will inevitably be swallowed up by our own desire.

That's why we advocate a lifestyle that emphasizes the true nature of things.

True nature?

How things are in their most natural state. We oppose all unnecessary functions, trying to keep things the way they are.

This is our rebellion against a life of desire.

Like the simple design of your room?

No, my style is not exactly the same as that of my teacher.

My style came from his, but in some ways, we go in opposite directions.

Allowing the city to welcome destruction while looking its best is a luxury that comes only from our excess productivity. It is arrogant and wasteful.

One's time is limited, and my clock is ticking!

You're Infected too, Gavial. Don't you understand?

You only have so much time left. You need to spend your efforts on something more meaningful.

Of course. That's why I study medicine, so I can heal myself and people like me.

But if that's how you feel, why not seize this last chance?

You think I don't want to?

Do you see the sketches here?

They are proof of my failure over the years!

I made proposal after proposal, only to see all of them rejected!

After that, I couldn't even come up with a passable sketch.

I don't know who is the problem: the Zeruertzans, or me.

All I know is that the mere sight of the dome fills me with fear.

It's like a cage that my teacher has locked me in, trapping me forever.

Even if it's my last chance.

I can't do it anymore!

Even if I came up with a new plan, there's no hope of it getting through.

And you tell me how I'm going to come up with a new plan that can pass review in such a short time?!

I'm not coming with you, Gavial.

I'm a failure.

Tell Master Edge that if he wants the dome fixed, he can have Catch do it.

He'll undoubtedly do a better job than I can.

Alright, I get it now.

All the more important for you to come with me.

Haven't you been listening?

Yep.

But you're the one who's got to explain it to the gang.

Ugh...

Stitch is in danger. Stitch is in danger.

Protect Stitch. Protect Stitch.

Hey, where did these bots come fr—

Stop right there!

Eh, now that you mention it, this is starting to ring a bell.

A few years ago, I participated in a couple Dome design contests with him and Catch.

Master Finch had just left not too long before that, and our rising new stars both wanted to prove themselves with their Dome renovation plans.

Catch was an incessant one at the meetings. He kept selling his ideas and the advantages of his design.

As for Stitch, all he ever did was lay his designs on the table before standing aside. It seemed kind of like he would rather we see his ideas for ourselves instead of wasting his energy to explain them.

Some preferred Catch's detailed way of thinking, while others acknowledged Stitch's confidence, even egotism toward his own work. Both of them were undoubtedly rising stars.

This rivalry continued for several years, and neither of them was able to truly obtain the recognition of the majority and get his designs passed.

Until one day... when Stitch stopped showing up.

Finch actually brought it up to me before back when he was still around. He told me he was worried about his student's future.

But those problems you can fix by talking sense into him. He has to think things through himself and set his ego aside. Only then will he hear another opinion.

Otherwise, forget Catch. Not even someone as strong as Gavial could do anything about him.

Not even if Gavial really wanted to help him from the bottom of her heart?

If there was a way around it, Finch would've tried it a long time ago.

But... who knows? Catch and Gavial couldn't be more different, personality-wise. If the two of them tried to help him together, a miracle might just happen.

*sigh*, these are Zumama's friends. It's such a pain when I can't just wreck them.

Hmm? Okay, you guys know Zumama, right? I'm her friend.

Zumama... Confirming identity. Zumama's friend: Gavial.

Zumama told us we can't hurt Gavial.

We won't hurt Gavial.

What?!

Haha, I saw you guys chumming together and thought you were really hitting it off. Didn't expect mentioning her name to actually do anything.

Gah!

Help me surround him, won't you?

We cannot allow Zeruertza's citizens come to harm.

Relax, I'm just taking him where he should be.

Understood. We trust Gavial. We will help Gavial.

Out of my way!

Stitch Canvas, I've got something to ask you.

I have nothing more to say to you!

You've said plenty, but in the end, do you hate the people of Zeruertza?

No, you don't have to answer.