act33side

The nomadic city of Kazdel, Kazdel

Let me through!

This area is off-limits.

What happened?

Are you with Babel?

N-No.

Then it's none of your business.

The wall of Royal Court soldiers prevents Odda from passing.

But he sees several familiar, crying faces in the scattering crowd.

Those students? Hm... I think I can take this alley here...

Excuse me, do you know what happened?

Someone beat another guy to death. He's dead, too. Are you trying to join the racket?

Babel again. What is Her Highness thinking?

Shut your trap. You owe everything you eat, everything you wear, and the roof over your head to Her Highness.

Shh...

Well, it's simple enough alright! A teacher beat the father of his student to death!

A Teacher? How could...?

All the man did was scold him a little! And it was the teacher who was telling the kids all sorts of awful things!

That's not true...

You're a Babel shill too? Kids these days...

Hey, what are you doing?

Odda squeezes through the crowd and sees some familiar faces lying on the ground.

He finally finds the source of the commotion, the 'Teacher' lying in a cloud of dust.

Teacher! What's going on?

I... I didn't mean to hurt... his father...

Hang in there! I'll find a doctor!

No... over there... him...

Odda looks in the direction that the dying man is pointing, and sees an injured child crying by the lifeless body of his father.

Odda runs through the burning streets, carrying the injured child in his arms, and pieces together the whole picture from what he sees and hears.

It began when an agitated teacher accidentally killed an agitated father, before he was set upon by the angry crowd and fell in the dust of the streets.

The turmoil dragged everyone in: Civilians, Babel, mercenaries, even the Military Commission.

Like a chain reaction, clouds of dust were stirred up in various corners of the city.

It wasn't until artillery from an unknown source blasted through a wall of Babel's office building that the Royal Court troops finally quelled the riot.

It began with an accident and ended with a shell that caused more damage to Babel than anything in the past eighteen years, since the end of the war.

The kid is hurt and needs a doctor. Don't make me do this the hard way.

Whose side are you on? Babel? The Military Commission?

Neither! I just need to get him to a doctor. Now get out of my way!

My dad...

It's too late for him... I'm sorry.

Go. But don't trust outsiders so easily... Sarkaz. Not in this chaos.

Thank you...

Odda can feel the child's breathing grow weaker as he continues on his way.

Running through the streets, he seems to feel someone brush past his shoulder, but sees no one.

Was I imagining things?

Stop right there! Not one step closer. There are patients inside.

This kid needs medical attention, now!

But... oh... I didn't think there was anyone still willing to bring patients here.

Alright, I'll take it from here. I'll try to give you some extra medicine before we leave.

Leave?

Her Highness made the decision, but we all know what's happening. We're not welcome in Kazdel anymore.

Where are you going? Outside the city? Aren't you afraid of the dangers in the wastes?

...Yes, I am.

But if this city no longer welcomes us, then we respect its choice.

I want to join Babel. I can help care for the patients, or protect you.

Is this the one who started the whole mess? Will he live?

Don't think so. Lost too much blood.

Then what are we even doing here?

Just follow the General's orders and don't ask questions. Who'd have thought something so minor would need Their Highnesses' statement?

Ugh...

Is he trying to talk to us? There's nobody else around.

Probably just seeing things before he dies. No Banshee would sing an elegy for such a sinner.

It's... dangerous...

Go...

They can't see me. My Arts hide my presence.

Who... are... you...?

A student.

I came from far away, following in the footsteps of my mother, to find answers in this wandering city, and her two rulers.

Did you... find...?

I'm afraid the city doesn't have the answers ready yet.

But I found you. The ideas that you advocated were very interesting.

I was with you when you taught those children in that basement, learning about the city and Babel.

Of course, no one noticed... except Ascalon.

The... boy...

Has been brought to Babel where his injuries will be treated.

Do you regret your end?

No... the boy defended me...

He understood... what I tried to change...

I'm sorry... about his father...

I sympathize. It was not your intention to cause this tragedy, but fate has played a cruel joke on you.

I hear... crying...

It is your elegy, calling your fading soul to the other side.

Fear not, hesitate not. The myriad souls welcome you with open arms. Let my song take you beyond.

Thank you...

The young Banshee's song soothes the mind of the dying man.

The gentle song echoes through the crowded streets of the city. Banshees respond to the song of their young kin, adding their voices to the harmony.

It is an elegy that commemorates the passing of an ordinary Sarkaz.

'You were talking about the future of Babel in the lesson, but you didn't get to the end. What were you going to say?'

'I believe... that Babel will die someday. I hope I'm wrong.'

A song. Another Sarkaz has passed on in the turmoil.

There is no longer any place for Babel here. I will lead them and leave this city.

Theresa... we love you, all of us...

I know. But Babel has no choice.

But if you leave...

My people have made their choice. Neither I nor Theresis can change it.

We cannot abandon hope. But the best course of action, right now, is to avoid conflict.

...Hatred will swallow us like a flood.

You've always known... Theresa, our hero, our King.

Gentle requests and gradual changes will not sway the minds of the Sarkaz drawn here by Kazdel's rise.

Laqeramaline, I...

Perhaps what I say will disappoint, even hurt you, Theresa.