act27side

Dr. Ceylon told me everything. It's not your fault.

Your little brother and sister must be hungry. You should go home.

Er...

Thank you so much... what's your name?

Call me Adele.

I'll remember... little ones, don't you have something to say to Adele?

Thank you, Adele!

The mischievous boy reaches around the little girl's neck and pats her opposite shoulder.

Huh? Who's there?

The girl looks hesitantly at the troublemaker next to her, who pretends nothing has happened, but could not hold back his laughter.

They chase each other into the shop, into the open arms of their mother, then run back out like frolicking beastling, while their mother tends to dinner being cooked on the stovetop.

Adele breaks out in a smile.

That's so nice to see.

Mr. Enis, do you know one Mr. Pelipper?

The Volcano Museum needs obsidian for its research. I heard you may be able to acquire some...

Damn, he just can't keep his mouth shut, can he...?

Could I buy some from you?

You helped me so much, I should repay the favor.

I dug these up around the volcano three months ago. They don't look great, but maybe they'll be useful for your research.

Thank you very much!

However, I must ask you to stay away from the volcano. If you know anyone else who is mining for obsidian, please also tell them to stop doing so.

Mount Siesta has entered its active period. Even if it hasn't erupted yet, Originium activity in the area continues to increase.

There is a risk of Oripathy infection without professional protective equipment.

Well, I...

There is laughter coming in from outside, as the two children chase each other on the streets, as their shadows stretch in the setting sun.

Enis gazes at his siblings as they go further and further away, and subconsciously touches the spot on his chest where he was scratched by Originium.

Alright, I promise I won't go anymore.

And thank you for playing with my siblings. That should have been my responsibility as big brother.

It's okay. They're very cute. I had a good time too.

By the way, your siblings said that your father has not been home for a long time?

He's a, er, adventurer? Traveler? Explorer?

It's not like he's gone off the grid or anything. He sends postcards and money back on a regular basis.

You can be present without actually being there. However...

By the time we get a letter from him, he's already off to the next place. All we know is that there's someone out there, going from one corner of the land to the other.

Sometimes I want to see for myself where he's been.

Harley raised us here while running the shop. But she says that life is a journey, and everyone chooses the sights they want to see.

If you don't mind me asking... why are the three of you all different races?

Well, we're not blood-related...

All three of us were adopted.

Oh...

No need to look at me like that. It's not exactly taboo.

People come and go every year, some seeking a new life, some seeking romance.

Many leave in disappointment when they find that life here isn't all it's cracked up to be, leaving behind children like us.

I can tell your siblings love you.

It must seem strange to outsiders, but for me, family is family. Ties of blood aren't that important.

I don't know what my birth parents looked like. Maybe they abandoned me, or maybe they loved me, and got into an accident.

My new parents didn't hide anything from me. The little ones will be told the truth too, once they're a little older.

Adele looks at Harley, working in the shop, and Enis's siblings, who are already shadows in the distance. Everything is warm and peaceful, like a dream.

The obsidian feels heavy. She turns sideways and wipes away a teardrop from the corner of her eye.

And how long were you planning to hide it from me, Enis?

—Mom?

Alright, I admit, I have thought of remaking this place into a hot springs resort...

I promise I won't try to do it behind your back! I won't do anything without your permission—

Once you've gotten everything in order, once arrangements for our future have been made the way you wanted.

Then you'll leave your mother and siblings behind the way you clear a drunkard out of the bar, and find a place to wait for Oripathy to take you?

Is that the journey you've chosen for yourself?

...You knew?

I was waiting for you to tell me.

Mr. Enis, you're already—

I...

Well, blame me and my fat fingers... I got scratched by Originium when I was digging for obsidian at the volcano.

I thought I was good at climbing...

Yeah, I learned my lesson...

No, the only thing you learned to is to hide things from me, and you're not half as good as you think you are at it.

You've got that look on your face that says 'I'm gonna finish everything, go far away, and tell my blissfully ignorant mother everything in a farewell letter after I die.' You think it's cool.

I... I...

Now you've got that look on your face that says 'I can't even say that's not what's going on'.

I-I didn't think it was cool. I just felt like it's what I have to do as a big brother... as a part of this family.

After all, w-we're not...

Even if you didn't do anything, you'll still be their brother, and my son. There is no bargaining in love.

If you insist on bargaining with me about this, young man, let me tell you that you'll be working off your debt for a <i>long</i> time.

Oh, sorry, I thought some background music was in order for a scene like this.

Name's Byrd. Traveling troubadour.

Our resident singer now.

You can afford a resident singer?

No, but this one only wants to be paid a story.

Your Kazimierz story was wonderful. It helped a great deal in understanding the folk tunes of those parts.

Can I borrow your guitar?

Let me play a song.

The evening mist covers the town ♪

The rising new moon makes it look like a new place ♪

My favorite place exists only in my sweet memories ♪

I have nothing but my sweet memories ♪

So you came here.

How far can you see from here?

It's all dark... just empty seas.

Not being able to see means you can imagine!

There's actually an island on the far side of the sea, and everyone who leaves Siesta lives on the island.

I'm a little scared... when we grow up, will our parents and Enis leave us...

He won't!

Enis says we're an adventure team!

A team doesn't leave each other. We'll go back to Old Siesta, and many other places...

You can't tell there's something on Enis's mind?

What? How do you have something on a mind?

You're an idiot.

The girl stands up, gazes at the direction of the volcano, and yells with all her strength.

Hey—Old Siesta—

I miss you—

Will you stop being angry?

It's a loss for the Obsidian Festival that your performance was not part of it.