act26side

Of course you don't. You can't empath with me, can you?

Oh, don't look like that. I was just trying to scare you a little. His Holiness is pretty kind, all things considered. No need to worry too much.

I'm not worried.

Whatever punishment I receive, I deserve...

What's that sound? Is there someone outside?

Whatever it is, it's none of your business.

Stay put. I'll check it out.

Huh?

Strange. There's nobody here.

You're really letting your guard down. It hasn't been that long.

The way you talk still makes me want to punch you.

I'm wondering how you operated in Victoria. Did you spend all your time making enemies for Laterano, Oren?

I resent that characterization. No one takes his job more seriously than me.

Speaking of job, you're ready on your side, aren't you, Serpilia?

Maybe?

I need a less ambiguous answer.

We move at dawn, if there are no complications.

(Strange... Serpilia hasn't come back yet?)

(Things seemed to have calmed down outside...)

(Wh-What's that sound?)

S-Serpilia? Is that you?

Oh! Mmph...

Shh.

It's me.

Raimund?!

Come with me, Fortuna.

Finally outside.

Why are you here, Lemuen?

There was a bit of trouble. I ran into someone unpleasant and let him get away... it sounds even worse when I put it that way.

I came because I heard a commotion over here.

I'm surprised you would make a threat like that.

Threat?

Wasn't it?

Then what did you mean?

I was only telling the truth. Correct judgment is based on the truth of the present situation. I don't need to threaten anyone.

I think I get it...

But there is nothing more unpredictable than people. Even we fail to understand our own thoughts sometimes, and it's not unusual for our actions and thoughts to contradict one another.

Experience tells me that things rarely develop in the most logical way.

Setting that aside... the situation is more complicated than I expected.

We need to exchange information, Federico.

You mean the monster we saw was the missing Sarkaz by the name of Hyman?

The state that you saw her in was different from what I saw. And if that's the case...

She has gone from being impossible to communicate with, demonstrating no capacity for thought beyond feeding instinct, to being able to communicate in a limited manner.

Evolution.

That is a reasonable hypothesis.

She has undergone a transformation. During a mission, I read about a religious cult that operates on the Iberian coastline.

The Church of the Deep.

You seem to know a lot about them, Federico. Have you seen similar creatures on previous missions?

Rarely.

But you have. That makes things easier to explain.

I had reason to read up on it a while ago... we may be working with the Iberian Inquisition concerning that cult.

They've caught His Holiness's attention. I didn't expect to run into them here...

It's a difficult problem.

Difficult and dangerous... I doubt I would've gotten the upper hand if that visitor was trying to do more than slow me down.

This is irritating... I really need to get back to form. Even Serpilia will start looking down on me at this rate.

Back to the situation at hand, are you sure you should have told Gerald all that?

He has a right to know.

Alright. What's the plan now?

Investigate.

What?

Fires don't start on their own. Something is not right with the fire at the sacrarium.

And the flower... No, I can't be sure yet.

First, I need to find what caused the fire.

Sorry to wake you at this hour.

It's okay. A lot of us couldn't sleep anyway.

I've let everyone know. We can leave at any time.

But didn't you say we were leaving in the morning? What changed?

Is it because of the fire?

I guarantee you it wasn't Raimund who did it. We don't need to—

No, I don't suspect him.

Then...

We have a situation. I'll explain later. But we can't wait until morning.

Still no word from the team we sent out?

No. It's strange. They might have run into trouble.

Should I take a few guys and check it out?

No, we'll go together. Make sure everyone sticks together. No one wanders off on their own.

I'll scout ahead. Have the old folks come with me. You take the rear guard with Raimund, alright?

Something's not alright. I can see it on your face.

What's going on? You're anxious. Why?

Because of the Laterans?

Nothing gets past you.

You're always cautious, Reed.

Stop. That's not my name anymore.

Sorry, I just...

Gerald cannot finish his sentence.

He realizes why his old friend could tell something was wrong at a glance. He realizes he had his hand on the hilt of his dagger.

He is turning from Gerald the Hunter to the mercenary he once was.

Sorry. It felt too much like our Kazdel days.

Maybe I'm overthinking it, but I have a bad feeling about this. Call it a hunch, but we should leave as soon as possible.

Yes, as soon as possible. Take the ones who are ready. We go now.

Like I said, you're the boss. Your call.

But the last time you had a hunch, it was about finding a place and having a better life.

We'll find it. I swear.

I believe you.

You found this place for us.

I hope it goes smoothly.

I'm sorry, Eileen, but I can't take you this time.

Will you blame me for it?

What would you think if you could see this?

Who's there?