act26side

Gerald, are you coming to ring the bell with me or something?

Is that weird?

It is. I asked you once before to help me ring the bell, and you were having none of it. You ended up sending Raimund instead.

I guess that did happen.

I thought you didn't like the sound.

Can't say either way. After all these years.

After all these years, you still haven't gotten used to it.

You'll have to forgive me. That sound doesn't carry good memories.

Clément... do you still remember Eileen?

Eileen...

How could I forget? If the two of you hadn't saved me back then, the bandits would've thrown me down the canyon long ago.

Haha, she was the one who insisted on saving you. I didn't want to stick my neck out.

You're not supposed to say that to my face.

Hahaha! Sorry, sorry.

We set up camp last night. Didn't get the greatest haul, and it wasn't easy to handle either.

Raimund bled his game while I lit the fire. I was watching that tiny flame gradually sputtered to life, and I don't know what came over me, but I suddenly started thinking of Eileen.

Gerald...

To be honest, I hadn't thought of her for the longest time. It was only when she came to mind that I realized...

I can't even remember her face.

She was always a bit of an outcast among us. She once told me that seeing the flowers all over the monastery and hearing the sound of the bell would set her heart at ease.

There aren't many flowers to look at these days.

Sadly true.

Eileen loved the sound of the bell here. Up until the day she left us, when she insisted on waiting until the bell rang to close her eyes.

So that's why you don't like it.

Maybe I'm just afraid... Afraid it'll be a harbinger of bad news.

If only we had enough medicine back then, her injuries might not have taken a turn for the worse, and it might not have come to that...

There are no ifs.

I hope she finds salvation.

Yes, we all do.

Gerald, is it true that you've decided to leave?

Yes.

I didn't think it'd be this sudden...

I should've told you earlier, but never had a chance.

It's probably going to be hard on Raimund and Fortuna for a while. Those kids have always gotten along. They're not going to take it easy.

Raimund's too young. He was so little when he first came here, he doesn't remember a whole lot. He doesn't yet understand what it means to be Sarkaz.

But he will understand. He will come to terms with it.

Perhaps that is the Sarkaz's fate.

Fate isn't a pleasant word.

Hah, you have a point, but I can't find a better one.

Alright, I should go visit Eileen.

We'll be walking different paths from here on out, so I guess this is where we part ways.

Wait... Gerald!

I, I'll go with you! It's only a slight detour, and won't get in the way of anything!

Oh right, look! The blooming season just started, so we can pick some flowers to give to Eileen!

I'll go with you...

No, Clément. You're confused.

I'm... what?

This isn't the path meant for you. You go up those steps over there. Keep going up, the scenery is prettier from up there.

Will you get to see that beautiful scenery?

Go ring the bell, Clément. Don't waste time. That is where you belong.

Take care, brother.

What are you talking about, Fina? This has nothing to do with Seniora Lemuen!

Liar! Who else could fix up a patron firearm for you? Only that Lateran.

Why would you think that?!

How can you tell if I'm lying or not? Fina, do you get how I'm feeling right now at all?

I really wish I could understand, Tuna, but I just don't get it anymore!

The halo says you're telling the truth, and that your pain is no less than mine!

But if that's true, how do you still have the heart to sit there baking pizzelle? How can you spend time around those Laterans like it's nothing?

I just don't get it, Tuna...

Fina...

It's because... I want everyone to live their best lives.

What do you mean?

We don't actually have a choice, do we? Even though Avus Stefano never said it himself, and nobody talks about it with us, I've always known, deep down in my heart.

Laterano will let us back in. I overheard them saying that our monastery is actually a very powerful building, and Laterano absolutely will want us to go back.

I also know that Patruus Gerald and the others... They, they might not be able to come with us...

But I still want to try my best! If I can get the Laterans to understand that Gerald's people are all good, then maybe–

Maybe what? They'd agree to let us all live together in Laterano?

I get it now... Is that why you're always so willing to chat with that Lemuen woman? You think you're putting in a good word for them?

Did you beg her? You think we have to get on our knees and beg for Raimund's people to not get left behind, is that it?

Fina...

You're trying to get them to change their minds. So what do you have to show for it?

I... I'm still working on them...

You're wasting your time.

Wasting it on a hope and a prayer, Tuna.

How are we different from Raimund? Or Caroline?

Raimund can do way more than I can... and Caroline is a lot smarter than me.

See, you get it.

They're splitting us up. They've accepted us as their people, but at the same time, they're looking down on the ones we truly belong with.

I can't accept it. I'd rather not go to Laterano at all.

But, Fina... Didn't we agree that one day, we'd leave the wastes and go to Laterano together?

That we'd go live in a world without hunger or cold, a world filled with flowers rather than empty barrens as far as the eye can see?

That's just childish dreaming, Tuna.

Do you really think so? You think it's just an empty dream?

I'm not as optimistic as you are. All I know is, ever since those Laterans showed up, the air in the monastery has gotten weirder and weirder.

It's true, our lives here have been incredibly difficult, but I've never resented that!

I love listening to Avus Stefano's sermons, and Patruus Gerald's stories about the past.

Sometimes, when we didn't have enough food, Caroline would slip us a couple extra pieces of jerky, or Amita Nina would give an extra scoop of the thickest veggie porridge to Raimund, and we'd get together and share it.

I was fine with that.

Fina...

But what about now?

Everyone always talks about how good Laterano is, but all I've ever seen of it is those people messing up our lives!

I understand you need to vent, Fina, but you can't blame Seniora Lemuen for that!

Am I venting? Okay, maybe I am.

But, have you heard what everyone has been talking about in private? Have you noticed that Patruus Gerald and the others are coming by less and less?

While you've been busy delivering food to Lemuen, while you've been busy making your stupid pizzelle... Do you have any idea what Caroline's people have been eating?

You don't know anything.

What...? Wait, Fina, what are you saying?

What's going on with Caroline? I didn't know...

Yeah. You don't know anything at all.

It's not your fault, it's mine. If I didn't see it with my own eyes, I never would've known how bad the situation actually is.