act25side

I know...

Hehe... you already know what you're afraid of, yet you're still able to keep yourself from thinking about it.

Not letting Theresa and Theresis appear in front of you, even your subconsciousness is practically begging for it.

The same goes for your own determination, Kal'tsit, you think people will treat you gently, and so that pair of siblings won't talk to you like this.

How strange. You were so cold before that I never imagined you would seek the warmth of others. From such a perspective, you really have become weak.

Spring is chilly here, I'll catch a cold soon if I stay out any longer. We should go somewhere with a warmer spring.

Shall we go inside?

...Sure.

Snow...?

Hm...? A rare outsider. Are you heading for the sacred mountain?

Pilgrims as young as you rarely make it up here, but why aren't you continuing your ascent? Legs got frostbite?

Sacred mountain... are we in Kjerag?

Kjerag? Where is that?

Is that where you're from?

I wouldn't consider it as such.

It's one of the most spectacular mountains on Terra. I once saw a group of destitute refugees settle and rebuild their lives in that paradise free of Catastrophe.

Oh, it must be a beautiful place then.

Terra... it sounds so small. That's where you're from?

Yes.

...I come from Terra...

And you?

Toward the mountain. We're born with this one goal.

Born with it?

We frolic among the trees on the mossy plains in our youth, and learn from the rocks, and in our prime, we began climbing the mountain.

We did so much groundwork at the foot of the mountain, weaving strands of dawnlight into ropes, or preparing a pair of shoes that won't be contaminated by the darkness of the night.

And then, we begin climbing the mountain.

The road is long and full of obstacles, and we only harvest resources from the valleys. Fortunately for us, the sacred mountain is merciful, and feed us with death, so we dedicate our long lives to this mountain path in return.

It must be an exhausting journey, coming all the way here.

Exhausting? No, no, no.

The snow does not mourn its melting. This is all from the self-flattering efforts of others, while we are just climbers.

What is this sacred mountain called? And what should I call you?

This mountain is called 'time,' and us? We are just insignificant lives.

Time is such a grand thing, isn't it? You should be well aware of this.

Will the mountain change? Has anyone reached the summit?

I don't know. What I mean by that is—maybe.

Try shouting at the abyss of time. The response you'll receive is a gift from the sacred mountain.

Time will not give you an automatic answer, but it will respond. Our predecessors called this response 'fate.'

And fate is the echoes of the cries of life.

Have you never done this before?

Well... it seems like there will be a blizzard tonight.

I should go prepare dinner, and find a place to set up camp... do you need a place to rest? We can go together, girl.

Sure... old man.

I'd like to know, what's there to fill your stomach?

Perhaps we'll be having 'despair,' child.

Maybe you can finish your prayers before dinner. Do your shouting before the blizzard blots everything from sight.

I...

Louder!

I—

You will become yourself.

Kal'tsit. Your judgment is rational. For this I feel sorry.

Sorry for what?

It's only myself...

Because I am your time.

I single-handedly caused your distrust towards humanity, your pessimism, your dismay, and your impatience with no way out.

However... however, from her and on her, you saw a possibility.

Out of your tendency to be overly cautious and anxious, you suspect that this feeling is merely a misjudgment caused by your irritation... after all, the world is breaking out of your knowledge and control. And the new you was only born not long ago.

And yet you've considered it many times before, how much easier it would be, if you chose to trust them instead.

——I am your time. Kal'tsit, you omniscient fool——

You forget the little details, you are not a chosen savior. You should not be. You're not always right either.

Even if you've already made up your mind.

You know better than anyone else how limited time is. And there isn't much left.

You should try giving up. And choose to trust someone you can believe in.

You are not trusted because you are 'Kal'tsit,' nor do you become 'Kal'tsit' because you are trusted.

You are the echoes of a valley, water dripping off a cliff. Your responsibilities weigh beyond what your abilities can bear, and now at least, there are people to share these responsibilities with.

What you have lost and gained in this short period of the past few centuries far exceeds your former days, so long they were that you could only use for progress and evolution.

Everything is about to end, Kal'tsit, and you know this. Will you stay your passivity, your pessimism, your apathy?

Don't forget your original question. Don't forget the answer that you nearly had.

Go on. AMa-10. The meaning of your existence is more than you yourself.

...Let's stop here.

Indeed.

Indeed... this is enough.

And the Doctor?

Calming down elsewhere. I do intend to spend some time with you alone.

I have a question for you, AMa-10, Kal'tsit.

For the past ten thousand years... have you really lived on this land?

Yes.

It seems you've changed quite a lot. We haven't interacted much, but you shouldn't be your current self.

What did you choose?

I've seen wars lasting several millennia, the rise and co-existing of nations, and people growing from their misunderstandings and conflicts.

But in the end, they all scattered to the wind just like the sands of Sargon. But in the blink of an eye, history has already given birth to new children.

I've seen the cycle repeat too many times. The cycle itself looms large and weighs heavy, and I'm fully aware that time is running out.

And then, I ran into a unique opportunity.

I once met two Teekaz, who were closer than any creature in any era, to the truth of continuing civilization.

But now, you are all as fragile as the trash on an asteroid belt, so how can you possibly talk of continuing—

——Wait. You are saying...

The black crown still remains on Terra?

'The Lord of Fiends.' As the ancient Teekaz called it.

Teekaz...? Those odd endemic lifeforms?

What a fluke, I had thought it would have been left behind on...

...The black crown. I dislike the shape it takes on the physical plane, a crown? Leaves a bad taste.

A crown points to royalty. This ancient imagery implies power.

In this downward trend of collapse, where the misunderstandings over ideology and race push surface civilization toward self-destruction, within an extravagant mirage of peace and unity—

The most direct method should be to use those powers to reshape the will of all living beings, and fuse them into a singular form.

What can a false leader made of memories, emotions and knowledge even achieve?

Don't underestimate Amiya.;Don't underestimate Rhodes Island.;Don't underestimate us.

Doctor, are you alright?

Just needed a breather...;......;This thing has gone too far...

Perhaps I have underestimated you, but that does not affect the ending already set in stone.

You want me to believe that such a tiny piece of heritage is enough to change fate?

'Heritage' is humanity's sole achievement ever since our ancient ancestors learned to use tools and fire.