act30side

Come, Rosalind, let's learn how to pray to Kjeragandr.

Close your eyes, put your hands before your chest, and call out Kjeragandr's name silently in your heart...

Good job, Rosalind.

You're Mama and Papa's sweetheart, Rosalind.

Mama could never regret giving birth to you, no matter what people might say.

May Kjeragandr bless...

The Kjeragandr looks even bigger up close.

So that's what She looks like.

Hm...

Pray... to Kjeragandr...

What did Mamochka teach me again?

No, I can't remember. I mean, it all happened before I was three.

I guess I should start praying—

Close my eyes... what do I do with my hands again?

Stretch your right palm out flat and place it before your chest.

In Kjeragandr's presence, we close our eyes that do not truly see, and bow our overly proud heads.

Drive stray thoughts from our minds, and recite Kjeragandr's name in our hearts.

Come, child, after me.

Okay!

Leto closes her eyes again.

Her vision goes dark, but her senses seem to vastly expand in an instant.

Behind her, the old devotee begins to praise Kjeragandr's name in his raspy voice.

Kjeragandr, grant us springs that quench our thirst, and fruit that sates our hunger.

Kjeragandr, grant us ice and snow that freeze Catastrophe.

Kind and gentle Kjeragandr, watch over us and Kjerag.

The sensation of wind brushing past her cheeks seems to grow with the chanting, the snowy wind roaring in her ear.

A sense of familiarity, rising from a place that Leto does not know, takes her down memory lane.

(Kjeragandr...)

(I'm not your follower, and I don't need your blessing.)

(But if you really do protect your believers, please, protect Mamochka.)

(I wouldn't have come if she didn't ask me to.)

Hm, no, that's not good enough.

What?

Kjeragandr!

Kjeragandr—!

Please, protect my mother! She's a devout follower of yours!

She told me how great Kjerag is! I'll see how great it is for myself!

What's that about?

Is that what Kjerag prayers are like?

Phew...

Ok, that's good.

What are you doing, girl?

Praying, of course.

I mean, it's better to pray aloud, isn't it? Make sure Kjeragandr can hear me.

Uh...

Don't want to leave behind any regrets, you know!

Oh, and thanks for teaching me!

Well, I suppose Kjeragandr is hardly one to be picky about petty details...

No need to thank me.

Kjeragandr sounds like a pretty nice lady!

Just like you, batyushka.

Leto removes her hand from her chest and takes one last look at the imposing Kjeragandr statue, before turning around to descend the steps.

The old devotee sees her face clearly for the first time.

The visage before his eyes, under the sunlight...

The curves of her cheeks, the height of her nose, the shape of her lips...

A sense of familiarity washes over the old man.

It's... you... You're...

What?

No, it's nothing...

I've seen plenty of tourists in my time, but no one who's done what you did.

Really? Did I do something weird?

What's your name?

Rosalind. It's Rosalind.

Rosalind...

How old are you, Rosalind?

Me? Almost twenty.

Are you Kjerag?

You can tell?

You look like...

Yes, you really do...

Well, you called it. I was born here.

But I spent my whole life in Ursus. This is my first time back.

I guess only half of me is Kjerag.

You grew up in Ursus?

Ursus...

Ursus... that's good too. Yes.

Why have you come to Kjerag, then?

Alright, stick to what you're doing.

No, actually, that's enough. Too much is suspicious.

The girl? It's a long story. I'll tell you over dinner or something. Talk to you later.

Alright? Satisfied?

For now.

Are you sure the Trilby Asher didn't find anything else?

No need to be paranoid, Gnosis.

The Duke would not stay put if things had gotten to the point that you fear they have.

Don't forget the troops stationed in the foothills. Craigavon is no pushover.

A Trilby Asher showing up on the train indicates that they've sensed something.

I have had dealings with the Trilby Ashers. On the surface, they are the groveling servants of the nobles, armed with nothing but silvery tongues.

But we can't ignore the fact that they grew up in the embers of an empire at war.

Karma catching up to the two of you, maybe?

If we're talking about karma, then you won't get far yourself.

Of course I won't. Why wouldn't we suffer payback for delivering a young girl to a Victorian spy?

She will distract the Trilby Asher. That's why we need the Victorians to believe that she is important.

Do not forget that there will be many eyes on this place, with Kjeragandr's statue complete and the ceremony about to begin.

We must all be careful.

I don't need you to remind me.

Relax, I'll be careful. It's not a game we're playing here, after all. The Browntails couldn't pull out if we wanted to.

Or rather...

If I showed even the slightest hint that I wanted out today, I'm plenty sure I would suffer an 'unfortunate accident' tomorrow.

...I see no reason to engage in speculation about the impossible.