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Pushed my luck a little... and they finally put me in my place.

Helena, if... if I were to leave this town, would you come with me?

...What'd that guy say to you?

Nothing... Just proved once and for all that he's still a good-for-nothing bastard.

But that good-for-nothing bastard is the reason you left Laterano without a second thought, first set foot on Columbian soil, and joined a war that took nearly everything from you.

The ideals he painted back then were so mesmerizing, so tempting... To be a hero, to lead our people to end the war, to build a new paradise, beyond Laterano.

You know how it is for young'uns with their heads in the clouds. Always following whoever shows the most confidence when peddling their dreams.

I know, Woody, I know... But I ain't even saying you were tricked.

I'm just saying you don't have to be ashamed of your past. It don't matter where your journey started, because it brought you here.

Those mistakes made you who you are.

Sure, you can look back every now and then, but don't you ever regret it.

Helena...

Care for a dance, Woody? I can teach you.

When I was eighteen, some awkward fella taught me these steps. He was a complete fool, through-and-through, but that didn't stop me from loving the dance.

Actually, I already know how to dance...

Oh? How come I never knew that? Since when?

...Since I was little. And of course you didn't know. I never told you.

Where'd you learn?

...On my way back to the dorms.

Wanna give it a go, then?

...It'd be my pleasure, ma'am.

Why didn't you just walk away when you got the order to vacate them?

When you're disobeying orders, might as well go all the way.

Tch... What a drama queen. Even the squads that showed up later could tell you were staying behind to make sure it didn't get out of hand.

So how's your forehead doing? Didn't expect our own people to wear kiddie gloves with the crowd but show no mercy to their coworkers.

I'm fine, just a scratch.

And at the end of the day, we were the first to disobey orders... I didn't know what to do at that point either, so I just went back to the basics. Made sure that nobody got hurt.

Well, you did a damn good job, Teacher's Pet.

By the way, there's something I've been meaning to tell you all day, but never got the chance...

Hm?

Happy New Year.

Let me check... Sorry, but it's already past midnight.

Eh, so what?

I suppose it's not important. Maybe it just sucks that... I wasn't the one to say it first.

Happy New Year.

The heavy iron door shuts tightly, and the mechanism springs into place with the sound of a dull collision, sealing off the smell of ink coming from within.

An intoxicating smell.

With just one whiff, people will start having wondrous delusions. All their desires can be at their fingertips, and all their regrets can be made right.

What... do you really want?

And what... do you regret?

...Sylvia.

Top of your class again? ...Golly, how did someone like me give birth to a kid as smart as you? I couldn't be more proud of you, Sylvie.

Are you serious, Sylvie? That's the best financial institution in all of Columbia... Goodness gracious, I can't believe my daughter actually made it! I'm so, so proud of you, I really can't say it enough!

Sylvie, are you sure you want to work in a bank back home? You know... I don't want my position to get in the way of what <i>you</i> want, especially with a decision as important as this one.

...I'm so proud of you, my daughter.

*cough* *cough*... *cough* *cough*... Go, Sylvie. You can always find another job... I... I'll be fine...

No matter... No matter what you do... Your mom... will always be proud of you.

Even... when I'm no longer here...

You're my pride and joy... forever and always...

Mom...

I.... I hope... you'll always be proud of me.

It is a magical smell that can even twist the threads of time.

Within it, a tiny infant picks up a kite that will not take flight for decades, and a sickly old man sees the honeyed candy he longed for when he was three.

Nobody can resist its temptation.

New Year's came and went, but the freezing wind and snow continue to nip at Davistown, leaving not a shred of warmth.

Amidst the crowd outside the plate waiting for their ride, Miles drowsily thinks to himself—how long has it been since he's waited for a bus like this in the cold.

So what kind of place are you headed to in the frontier, old man?

...Somewhere warmer than here, at least.

Don't worry about me. They showed me mercy by allowing me to be buried along with my old neighbors.

I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...

What's done is done, kid. Best to just move on, and stay out of trouble.

Right, I just remembered. The last time I was waiting for a ride like this, it was to head to a nomadic city to attend my little sister's funeral.

It was a cold day just like this one. Helena, Woodrow, and Leone... They all stayed with me while I waited for the convoy to show up.

I was holding a bouquet stuck inside a vase from Helena's diner, and wearing an old suit Leone lent me. Freezed my ass off for hours.

Weirdly, I can even clearly remember how long Woodrow's beard was that day. But everything after I got on the bus is just a blur, like looking through a layer of frosted glass.

I think I went to a huge city, but it also seemed smaller than Davistown. I think I cried a lot, but it also feels like I didn't cry at all...

After that, it's just me hopping on a bus back to town, and my friends helping me get off.

I actually do remember what happened after that. I went to Helena's place and started drinkin' and drinkin'. Got pretty sloshed, but I somehow still remember everything I said that night.

The convoy to the frontier has arrived! Hop on the bus, people of Davistown!

'Even my precious baby sister's gone. All I got left is Davistown, and I'm gonna follow her to the grave, dammit.'

'You hear me, Leone? I'm gonna dig my grave here! And when the time comes...'

Don't you act like I've forgotten, Miles!

You told me, 'when the time comes, stuff my body into the plant's furnace, and see if... my ashes can... make the people here sneeze...'

The engineer throws his head back and takes another huge swig.

As soon as you finished talking, the town was perfectly fine, but I was the one who got the mother of all sneezes.

Haha... Hahaha...

Back then, nobody laughed. Nobody could laugh at all. But now, it seems so damn funny. What do you think?

Don't just sit there all quiet! Drink, Miles, drink!

Sorry we're late.

Woodrow, Helena... Where's Leone?

Right before we left, he said he needed some time to figure things out. Said he'd be back later, then popped open another bottle.

...But we're out of time.

No big deal. If anything... maybe it's better this way.

Tch, damn weather... Why does it have to be so cold?!

Well, once you're on that bus, you can kiss this weather goodbye.

Woodrow!

Ain't nothing wrong with what he said.

I'm sorry...

*sigh*... Stop apologizing, Jessica. This whole damn time, it was the bank's fault, Blacksteel's fault, and sometimes, even our own fault. But you... you never did nothing wrong.

So stop blaming yourself. We weren't expecting much from you in the first place—

Miles realizes his mistake the moment the words leave his lips, but before he has a chance to explain himself, the convoy leader has already grabbed his arm.

If you had something to say, you should've said it earlier! Now get on, you're the last one!

Jessica, I...

If we wait any longer, I trust you'll take personal responsibility for any Rusthammers or Catastrophes that show up?

Now get a move on!

Don't take it the wrong way, Jessica. That's not how he meant it.

I know... But, he's not wrong either...

I've done so much here, but in the end... I never actually accomplished anything.

...Nothing changed.

Who is it? Oh, Woodrow? Or is it Helena? Stop rushing me, I already said I'm over it. I'm gonna go see Miles off—