act36side

They won't leave and they won't find a way to fend them off. So how are they still living here?

And haven't you guys ever wondered why we couldn't find an ink spirit 'nest'?

What's more, they can come back to life endlessly. It's as if... this whole place is fake.

Oh? What an interesting theory.

Dawn? When did you...?

Please, do go on.

Where we come from, legend speaks of a 'lunatic magician,' who used his tremendous magical power to create a dungeon.

All sorts of monsters live within it.

But their existence isn't isolated, but interconnected. They prey on, exploit, and sometimes form symbiosis with one another...

They're all part of one ecosystem.

No matter what kind of man this lunatic magician is, I can tell just how amazing of a feat that was. As for this place...

Someone who could create such a vivid, life-like world must be amazing as well.

But...

(Drooling and smacking its lips)

I wonder... why didn't this person design a more complete ecosystem when creating the ink spirits?

Where do they build their nests? How do they reproduce? How do different variations communicate with one another? And what's their relationship to the people who live here?

I'm so curious about all this, but I don't see how all the pieces fit together. Why did that person make things this way?

And there's one more thing I noticed.

They hid away a basket of hawthorn berries, but never once ate from it.

...Hawthorn?

(Whispers) Hawthorn, is it...

(Whispers) I never noticed.

Sorry, what was that?

Nothing, just thinking aloud is all.

But... I see now.

The connection between all things, which you deem important, serves as a mutual affirmation of one another. I am your mirror, and you mine. This is the 'truth' as you understand it.

Marcille, how come I don't understand a word of what those two are saying?

Uh... Umm... I'd love to agree with you, but I <i>think</i> I can understand them a liiiittle bit...

*burst of laughter* Interesting, very interesting.

You are right. All things adhere to logic. As with all the other myriad forms of life within a painting, so too must ink spirits have a place to come from, and a place to go.

I suppose rootless weeds such as them would be flaws in reality.

There have been a few who were able to discern that they were in no more than a painting, but... It's been quite a while since someone explained their reasoning with such conviction.

Perhaps this can be seen as another way of saying 'the mountains are but mountains, and the water is yet water.'?

After saying that, for some unknown reason, she turns and looks up at the sky.

He has seen the truth beyond the veil of wonder, no?

Huh?

What's happened to this painting?!

I painted a perfectly good landscape on this! Why is it all like this now?

The ugly ink blots, the water stain, and the blotches of red and purple... Did someone sneak into my room?

Could it have been...

No, this time it isn't the work of my 'lovely sister'...

How interesting. Perhaps there is an unruly spirit roaming the wilds with a penchant for artistry.

Whoa! I think the whole mountain shook with that thunder.

Oh dear. It seems you've made her truly angry.

What? Who? Who's angry?

And no wonder, what with all the ink spirits you lured over, and how you got them so drunk they can barely even stand. This is the first time I've seen them like this.

Dawn, what are you talking about?

Look! Up there! Someone's... falling out of the sky?!

Uhh... more like flying... and she looks pissed! Maybe she's the magician who created this place?!

Awawawah! Laios must have made her mad with his blabbering!

What?! But I didn't say anything wrong!

No need to panic. She's not here to harm you, just... consider it a unique way to send you on your way.

The ink spirits are simply her distracting thoughts, and as such, I hope you understand why she didn't feel the need to organize them properly.

Hey! Be gentle with them! They've just eaten, you can't lift them upside-down like that!

Gkh—blurghh—

Quick, take this bottle and fill it up with that jam! Don't let it go to waste!

Get—out—NOW!

Wha-wha-what?

How are you drawing with that sw—

—orrrrrrrrdAHHHH—

—Ow! My butt!

Eeeek!

How did we... Are you guys alright?

*cough* *cough* *cough*...I'm here. Still alive.

I'm alright too.

Hmm... I can smell the sea.

Are we close to the coast?

I don't know, but at the very least, we've gotten out of that place. Probably.

No, wait, I didn't even have time to say goodbye to them!

I guess things really did work out thanks to Laios's love of monsters.

Wait, Marcille, your mouth...

Why's it all black?

You couldn't stop yourself from trying some earlier, could you?!

Mmwuh? ...Wait, it's the same with you guys!

Puh! Pfah! Pfeh! Pfoo! What is this <i>taste</i>?

What did we just eat?!

...Looks like this painting's got to go.

I thought they were an amusing bunch. Not going to try some? There are some hawthorn berries here too.

Not even a bite?

Absolutely not!