act29side

These spires are not for you to meddle with.

If you dare suggest destroying them again, I'll throw all of you out at once.

...Something isn't right.

The sunset outside the window... disappeared?

The sun's not the only thing that's gone.

Ugh....

How very brave of you.

However, don't even try to touch my shadow again, unless you wish to be dissolved by it.

Herr Fremont's shadow...

It's fractured into... innumerable silk strings...

Droste. Lower your Arts.

Do not probe those shadows. His true form is hidden inside. You're not yet strong enough to stare directly into his soul.

Oh? So you've figured out who I am?

Then you must also know that no one who's been thrown outside by me has ever managed to climb back alive.

If you're brave enough, feel free to see for yourself.

There is nothing out there whatsoever. I assure you that were you to leap outside, you wouldn't even have time to scream. Your mouths, vocal cords, and limbs would all perish in the darkness.

I've never even heard of Arts like these.

...'Exile.'

I've heard it spoken of in legends, but was never sure how much truth there was to it. Until today.

You've been hiding in Leithanien for so long now. Why choose now to reveal your identity?

Herr Lich?

A Lich?

You mean... Herr Fremont is a Sarkaz?

Hoh, a Sarkaz.

Aside from the immortal bastards of the Royal Court, very few these days have been able to deduce my identity.

You say I've been 'hiding'... That's a good way to put it, little lamb. When you put it like that, I've stayed in this country for far too long, haven't I?

I never meant to hide my true identity. It's only that I've grown used to being cooped up this spire, with my head buried in the literature here.

It's you people who forgot who I was.

And all of you keep bothering me with Leithanien's messes. Sometimes it's the wolves bickering with the lambs. Other times, it's two deer locking antlers. Haven't you wasted enough of my time?

Now scram, and tell Grimmacht that I don't care anymore. Once I've recovered what I loaned from the Genesis Horn, the Liches will be gone from Leithanien for good.

And if it's not too much to ask, get the hell out of here and never set foot in my holy temple again!

The Genesis Horn cannot be allowed to descend.

Did you not understand a word of what I just said?

I am no match for you.

But that doesn't mean Leithanien's Gesatzswächter will give up so easily.

And what about you, my lovely doe? Do you also seek death?

Let her leave.

Herr Fremont. Surely there is still room to negotiate?

You can stop trying.

Hm? It's you.

Hello, Droste... Nein. I should call you Frau Hochberg.

Allow me to reintroduce myself.

My name is Michael, the personal envoy of Her Majesty Grimmacht.

So you're another Empresses' Voice?

I am not.

An Empresses' Voice serves both Kaiserinnen at once.

While I belong only to Grimmacht.

...Can I take that to mean that we're enemies?

The last time we met, I already told you that we might walk different paths.

What are you dawdling around for, wolf cub? Hurry up and throw them out of here!

...Right away.

Herr Reiner, Frau Hochberg. These are Grimmacht's orders.

I am to assist Herr Fremont and ensure that the Genesis Horn makes its advent on Zwillingstürme.

But why?

First, because this was Grimmacht's promise to Herr Fremont.

As a show of gratitude to the Liches' contribution to Leithanien over the past millennium, and to foster a continued, long-lasting friendship, we will help Herr Fremont retrieve what once belonged to him.

Second, if there's anyone who has the right to use the Genesis Horn, it can only be my liege.

Your liege.

Singular.

...Don't let him get to you, Droste.

It doesn't matter if it was Grimmacht or Ewigegnade who wished for this. There's no reason for you to get involved.

House Hochberg has already sacrificed too much for the conflict between the Witch King and the Twin Empresses, and for the Güldenesgesatz.

I will see you out of here safely... even if I must put my life on the line.

What's going on?

Why is the spire... shaking?

It's not the spire that's shaking. It's the ground beneath us.

The shadow is fracturing. Something is trying to make its way through.

Is there something underneath the campus's plate?

House Urtica's secret chamber... Those stupid sheep barged into my underground space!

Fremont, you fool! You've been in Leithanien for far too long. You've contracted the stupidity of these bighorn sheep!

Thank goodness... The legends were true. The old man was telling the truth.

All these enchantments and Arts devices... Every last one perfectly preserved.

This is living history! Not even the greatest history books were able to go into such fine detail about the situation!

Wait, this is...

A silhouette emerges from the darkness.

Followed by another, and another.

Their robes, hoods, and masks have not changed at all in the past twenty years.

A silhouette he could not be more familiar with emerges from the nightmare that's plagued him for his entire life, and steps right in front of him.

Welcome back to your territory—

—Graf Urtica.

Professor Hoffmann!

What is it, Franz?

Look what I just found... This is an Arts scroll that's been missing for ages!

And this! It can't possibly be the brass instrument used by Herkunftshorn himself, can it? There are treasures here far more valuable than I ever imagined!

My... My head... It hurts, verdammt!

Why now, of all times? When it's the most dangerous...? No, I can't fall here.

Professor... Hoffmann... Please go...

I... I'll... protect you...

Franz? What in blazes are you talking about?

Lessing was right. I can't keep running away.

All this time, there's always been someone protecting me.

All the people by my side... first it was that lady, then the respectable Gendarmerie, then Herr Czerny, and... him. All of them, more willing to sacrifice themselves than I.

But this time, I'll do it.

I'll kill myself here. I still have the Voice of Mundane they love so much... That should be more than enough to blow this chamber of evil to smithereens.

Grab what you want... while you still can... Go... Hurry...

It's time you got some rest, you silly child.

What... did you say?

My life's work is about to be realized, but how am I supposed to accomplish all this without you?

This is the second time.

Someone holds a brass instrument up high and violently strikes his head.