act39side

Two weeks ago

Beginning recording. My sandboard is heavily damaged, and I can't find the materials I need to repair it nearby.

As for my water reserves... They can last me one more day, at most.

Thankfully, the next supply point is only half a day away.

...This many messages? Really?

How long have I been letting them build up?

It's been a while since we received any news from you, Operator Thorns. Remember to report your position when you have the chance.

By my calculations, our mission routes will overlap a bit. If we can find the opportunity to meet up, I've got some spare supplies I can share.

Hey Thorns, how's your trip to find super-ultra-cool sword techniques going? Any good news?

Forget it... I'll reply once I'm done walking.

This region between me and the supply point... All the map shows is a name.

'Mar Pálido'... The Pale Sea, huh?

Hopefully it's not a real sea.

Out in the open wilderness, sand rides along with the wind, bringing with it a salty, finny smell.

Sunlight pokes through gaps in the dark clouds, while long-dry riverbeds boast only a few bushes and shrubs.

Some rustling among them proves that this so-called wasteland is not completely devoid of life.

The young man pulls out a rope and ties together a few planks. Once done, he steps atop them and takes a leap.

All of a sudden, the wastes come to an end. A great cliff has sundered the earth.

As he looks down, Isidro sees a pallid white sea.

With all his strength, he climbs down the cliff. Once he touches down onto the pale 'sea', he reaches down and sticks a hand into the bone-dry 'seawater'.

...Salt crystals?

There is no water here. There is only pale salt, studded with countless skeletons. The remains of whatever unlucky creatures were swallowed up by this place.

But the only thing on his mind is that somewhere, in some nook or cranny he cannot see, there is something flowing, rushing.

He stops sliding on his makeshift sandboard and reaches for the sword at his waist.

That's odd...

How can there be anything alive here?

The ground beneath his feet shudders slightly, and the layer of salt slowly subsides around him.

The trembling intensifies as an indentation in the salty ground approaches him at high speed.

There are fins in a Salt Flat?!

A gigantic beast breaches the salt, catching him off guard. Its sail-like dorsal fin looms overhead, and its pointed, armored snout is shaped like a colossal lance.

It barrels into him, and he is thrown off his feet. His organs feel like they are being rearranged as he arcs through the air, before he slams into the ground and blacks out.

As his consciousness fades, he sees the giant finbeast dive back into the salt, leaving no trace in its wake.

(Good thing... it wasn't hungry...)

*Cough* *Cough*... Just my luck...

That damn alguacil doesn't know when to give up. He even chased me all the way to this blasted land where nothing grows!

*cough* Mierda... Ran too fast, all my water spilled.

What now...

Urgh! Pleh! Bleh! This is just salt! Ptooey!

Without water, I'm not gonna make it to the town of Aarón...

Huh, what's that...?

A gust blows past a pile of salt and dust, revealing two motionless legs sticking out from beneath it.

...Just some other unlucky soul who wandered into the Salt Flat without knowing what he was getting into.

Your bad luck is my good fortune though, amigo. Hehe.

A full bottle of water! Excelente!

*Glug* *Glug*... *Glug*... Hah...

Let's see what else you've got...

The hell're all these bottles and canisters?

Urgh! What in the BLAZES is that smell?! It stings!

Well, whether it's medicine or poison, it should still fetch a pretty penny... Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals? Whatever, mine now.

Huh? Foreign money? What, you expected find a money changer out here? Not even fowlbeasts shit here!

Buuuut... I might have a use for it later. Mine now.

The girl sifts through the man's wallet, finding only a few silver reales alongside some foreign coins and a meal voucher with 'Rhodes Island Cafeteria Soup Ticket' written on it.

At the bottom of the wallet, a glimmering gold coin catches her eye.

She reaches down to grab it, flipping it a few times as she retracts her hand.

On one side, there is a circle split by a horizontal line. On the other, an inverted triangle.

It's heavy... Must be pretty pure.

Wait, I feel like I've seen these patterns before... Aren't they what Juana's looking for...?

Shame. Why're you even lying out here dead anyway?

Well, you've been so generous, I can at least send you off on your final journey, amigo.

Here, have a proper burial.

A thief is nothing but a body hollowed out by greed. They take from others for their own benefit, but satisfaction ever eludes their grasp.

The moment she hears a sword being drawn, she knows it is too late to run. She looks behind her, her body trembling as her muscles refuse to move an inch.

A cleric of the Inquisition walks towards her, his handcannon and rapier decorated with ghastly bleached bones, a deep contrast to the usual solemnity and grace of his colleagues.

All in Iberia know the sheriff's name, but also know how close to madness his mind runs. None dare call him by it to his face. Behind his back, they only ever call him by his title:

'The Alguacil'.

The unreasonable, unfeeling, uncaring Alguacil. The Alguacil that inlays his weapons with the bones of criminals as a warning.

The Alguacil that will chase a criminal to the ends of Terra and back.

I have come to free you.

W—Wait a sec, this is all a big misunderstanding!

My head hurts... And my mouth's full of salt...

No! I don't wanna die! Mercy!

Hmm...?

Aaahh! Save me!

What's going on?!

Why do you struggle? Your death will free you from the eternal torment of sin.

O Most Holy Señor Anastasio, please let me go! See reason, please!

Someone forced me to do it, really! I... I swear on my life! I don't even have it anymore, honest!

If you don't believe me, search me! I don't have any compass! I-If you let me go, I'll take you to them!

If others may impose their greed upon you, then so too will your greed corrupt others.

All who have been tainted by avarice shall receive judgment.

AHHH! Someone, save me! Anybody!

The Alguacil's rapier sweeps across her face, but before it presses against her neck, a black sword swoops in from behind, knocking aside its point.

A golden liquid drips from the black sword's edge, sizzling as it eats away at the salt on the ground, an acrid scent spreading from the splash.

Run.

Th-Th-The dead guy's alive!

I am currently arresting a criminal who has stolen a forbidden relic from the Inquisition, señor. I did not mean to disturb you during your repose.

You're with the Inquisition?

Before you shield this vermin from justice, I pray you first ascertain if all your belongings are still on you.

What?

My wallet...

Your swordsmanship is impeccable. It should be used to shelter the innocent, not harbor criminals.

Geh... Mierda.

...What is this?

Isidro pats down his body. In the depths of his pocket, he feels something small yet hard.

An irregularly-shaped piece of metal. At first glance, it looks like detritus from a factory, but careful examination reveals the fine alchemical symbols etched all across it.

The layers of rust on it appear to have once been some kind of liquid, but even so, it shows a gleaming luster under the sunlight.

And it seems we have discovered where Señorita Pascuala hid her ill-gotten gains. Hand it to me, señor, then leave in all haste.

This is... a 'compass' filled with Corazonix? I thought all the products of alchemy were destroyed.

Oho... And here I thought that none sinless in Iberia would yet recognize it.

The Alguacil turns his rapier toward Isidro, his severe expression shifting towards quizzical.