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Ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump...

Not this sound, not this sound.

The fluffy creature lowers its head and continues following the path ahead.

Are you looking for your home, or your friends and family?

Do you know where to find them?

The fluffy creature turns its head, staring inquisitively at Adele.

Adele, where are you?

I need to you help me with some data, can you come to the museum now?

Adele looks at the expectant creature in front of her.

Ah... Professor Keller, I-I... I'm sick today!

I feel dizzy, and I have a headache too. Also my legs hurt... I feel terrible...!

Terrible? Adele, what's wrong?

Do you need to go to the hospital? Do you need my help? Do you have medicine on hand? I... How's your body temperature, are you feverish?

No, Professor Keller, I'll be fine... I'm at the hospital right now!

With no reply forthcoming, the fluffy creature stomps the ground impatiently and turns to leave. Adele rushes to keep up with it—

A car speeds by, frantically honking at Adele who's just taken a step forward.

Honk~~ Honk~~!

Ugh, my ears...

Adele? What are you doing here? Weren't you...?

P-Professor Keller... I-I...

(I must have been pushing her too hard, if a girl like Adele feels the need to fake an illness to rest...)

Adele...

If you're feeling overwhelmed, you could take a day off to rest.

Turning its head to confirm that Adele is no longer following, the fluffy creature skips off and leaves the street.

Professor Keller, I want to take some time to relax here...!

What if I told you that I want to offer you a job with stable pay that isn't detrimental to your health? I'll even provide special lodgings for you.

Don't worry, I can guarantee the working environment and conditions, as well as medical services. You just need to pay a portion of the rent to the government...

Heh, even you can't go on, can you? I don't know what those government people are on about, but I know this much at least. These things take a lot of money, not a mere hundred or thousand gold certificates.

With this money, I might be able to buy a decently comfortable bed, eat a nice meal, and it may even save my life if it comes to it. But it can't build what you're promising.

...I can do it.

Doctor, if you were to say you'd build us a cheaper hospital. Frankly, I'd be really grateful, and I'd actually believe you could do it. But saying that you'll provide jobs, homes and healthcare...

Just look around you. It's been so long and this place is still undeveloped.

I beg you to place your trust in me. I'll stand by my words.

So, if there really was a place like that, would you be willing to move there? Would you be happy with it?

Frustrated, Ceylon feels her heart hammering in her chest, its beat pounding in her ears.

What was that? Sorry, I missed what you said...

I said, even Mr. Pelipper, our boss back at the old mines, only got us so far with all of his wealth and power.

Doctor, we don't know you, and you don't owe us anything. We'll be grateful even if you just come to treat us once in a while.

The fluffy creature trots ahead, Adele following closely behind while Keller walks apologetically beside her.

After hesitating several times, she slowly opens her mouth.

Did you know, Adele, Siesta's layout remained the same even after it moved... There's a coffee shop down this street.

Adele continues hurrying along the path without stopping, as if chasing after something.

...Katia, Magna and I met at that coffee shop.

Adele stops moving and squints into the distance, trying to spot the shop.

Is it... that one over there? I can't see the sign clearly, Mock...?

Mockingbird Café.

Keller sighs in relief and changes her tone.

I was just a student back then, knowing little about the world besides what I read in books.

Katia and Magna burned... Two young flames, with eyes even brighter than obsidian.

My parents... What were they like back then?

Brilliant... Interesting, and very attractive.

Of course, some people thought they were weird. Not professors or scholars, they were more like two vagrants chasing after volcanoes.

They liked bright clothes and accessories, believing that they granted courage. They would sometimes camp beside lava flows just to feel the movement.

Eh? Pfft, I thought they'd have banned that kind of thing!

They did. They banned me from doing it. Because I once followed them to collect some liquid from a sulfuric acid pool and accidentally stepped in a pit of boiling water.

Katia managed to drag me out. I hadn't even felt the pain yet but my shoes had already split like garlic cloves...

I gave Magna quite a fright. Even though it was an accident, she kept trailing after me from then on, fearing that I'd just fall into another hole somewhere when she wasn't looking.

The fluffy creature seems to realize something, turning its head to look Keller up and down.

As if worrying for her, it butts her ankles and even tries to eat her shoe heels, so that she can walk more comfortably.

Just like Mutti worrying about me getting hurt.

Magna? You couldn't compare her care for me to what she felt for you.

Sorry... I was lost in thought.

After you were born, I came to visit you occasionally. I thought you looked so much like your parents...

You doing the same work as them now feels like... It feels like a part of them has never left, that they still remain here.

...If only they were still here.

Following the salty scent of the sea carried on the breeze, the fluffy creature begins scampering away. The towering cranes of the undeveloped plate peak over the horizon as Keller hurries forward and turns her head.

Adele!

Magna once said we are like tiny little ants standing on this vast landscape, talking big about how we plan to conquer it.

Look at the both of us now, Adele. Two little ants standing here, facing this building dozens of times bigger than us.

I used to think I would be just like before, feeling infinitesimally small and amounting to nothing.

(Whisper) But it's only now do I realize some things are too hard to say aloud.

Professor Keller, what do you—?

Nothing...

Adele, how can I tell you...?

You can still see a little bit of the old Siesta from here. Mount Siesta is over that side.

Who knows when it will really erupt?

The creature carrying a miner's lamp slows down and stares blankly in the direction of Old Siesta.

The waves wash over the distant gravel, the surface sparkling like brilliant gems.

Once it erupts, once the museum is ready, my work will finally be done.

I'm sorry, I've taken up so much of your time, Adele...

It's alright, Professor Keller. There's no one else who can tell me about my parents anyway.

I'm really happy to know these things...

Keller stands and brushes the dirt off herself.

Are you leaving now?

Maybe I need to buy some courage, like in that dream you mentioned.

Goodbye, Adele. See you tomorrow.

Rest well and don't tire yourself.

Adele glances at the creature still staring blankly at old Siesta.

Bye, Professor Keller!

The fluffy creature stands motionless on the beach.

Did you find the place you were looking for?

Adele sits down next to the motionless creature.

Let me guess... You're a miner who wanted to return here?

The creature shakes its head from side to side, pulling its gaze from the ocean to Adele opposite itself. Its clear eyes look up at her.

It chews on an old signpost as it steadily paws at the ground.

Ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump...

Slowly, it turns to leave the area.

No...?

No no no! I'm just an old man who likes collecting pretty rocks. I can't do what you want or help you at all!

Mr. Brown, those workers said that your father owned the mine, and that they all worked for you for many years. Even after the move, you still helped make their lives better, under the table—