act42side

No one's paying any attention... all I need to do is set it off—

Vannini's arm finds the barrel of a gun, preventing it from moving down any further.

Don't let that thing go boom, girl.

Stand up, slowly.

R-Reverend Gun-knight...

Those tools and all, you work at a firearms workshop?

I have ten minutes. Explain yourself, girl.

What are you up to here? Or should I say, who are you trying to cover for?

Let's go, El.

What about Master Pag?

Magister's sleeping. His vision's been getting worse, and the doctor wants him to get plenty of rest.

We shouldn't wake him if we're careful.

There's something I need to tell you first, Vani.

It's so weird when you talk all serious like that...

Ahem. Listen—

If you get caught, just give me up to whoever it is, whether it's the Pontifica Cohors, the executors, or the gun-knights. Don't worry about me.

I came in the middle of the night, kicked your door open, and forced you to make bombs and stand guard for me.

You're an innocent little angel who doesn't know anything!

Wha?

That's my condition for letting you come with me.

Just because I'm shy doesn't mean I'm a coward!

Haha. I know. And I'm glad you decided to help me.

The Curia seems to be taking that ceremony very seriously. Who knows what punishment they have in store for somebody trying to bomb it?

Besides, Laterano is very different from how I remember it.

But...

No but's or what about's! I can handle this on my own.

Besides, Penguin Logistics company culture says, never share the glory when you can hoard it all for yourself!

(Shakes head)

I-I came on my own.

Interesting girl.

Old men like me don't get a lot of chances to talk to the youth. Unfortunately, the ceremony is about to begin...

If you won't talk, I'll have to hand you over to the executors of the Notarial Hall.

Stop right there, Patrizion!

Don't think I don't recognize that sanctimonious face of yours just because you're hiding it behind a hunk of sheet metal!

*pant* *pant* My... my legs...

Pag?

What do you mean? Is something going on with the Holy City? Would you care to explain, or do I have to guess from your meaningful glances at one another?

This is not related to our investigation, Sister.

At this time, I have not determined that you need to know more.

In any case, Arturia, you'll have to come back with us.

I don't dislike you. In fact, I am rather fond of you. But if your actions will bring harm to Landen Monastery, then I-I'll pull no punches!

May I ask you something, Sister Hildegard?

Huh?

You love the monastery and Laterano, don't you?

Or should I say—how did you establish an emotional connection to Laterano as a Liberi?

Well... I've lived at Landen Monastery for a long time. I was brought up by the brothers and sisters there, and we worked together to make bread and beer, doing our best to keep the monastery solvent.

I belong here. Of course I love this place.

If you're asking why there are so many Liberis in the Holy City... you've read <i>The Saints' Travels</i>, haven't you?

Don't tell me you only used it to make your paper dragonfly...?

According to <i>The Saints' Travels</i>, the first encounter between the Liberi and Laterano began with a herd of burdenbeasts.

Many years ago, a group of Liberi were scattered by a herd of burdenbeasts while seeking water in the wilderness. The animals carried grain on their backs, forming an orderly procession as they traveled into the distance.

The Liberi spent great effort to hunt the burdenbeasts. They never imagined that these creatures of the wild could move in such orderly manner, so they followed the beasts.

Then, the Liberi saw the halo-bearers in the fields, singing as they guided the herd of burdenbeasts into the assembly of pearl-white buildings behind them.

At a time when the Liberi still lived naked in the wild, seeking water and game, those people had learned to tame wild beasts, and build cities safe from Catastrophe.

More importantly, the Liberi found that those people had a confidence and optimism that was alien to the Liberi.

Because of their halos, and 'empathy'...

Uh-huh.

From the moment of their birth, they could feel each other's feelings and understand one another. They rarely knew conflict, and they were able to overcome crises that would destroy any other race.

They created the perfect order, naming it the Law.

I can understand that feeling.

Even as the Curia cut off funding to the monastery, even as its buildings fell into disrepair, even as I fretted over the monastery's books...

The Sanktas of Landen Monastery never seemed to fear that there might come a day when we would have to close our doors.

Their confidence and optimism let them accept the presence of the Liberi nearby, learning from them and becoming part of the whole.

Yes. Over the ages, the Sanktas have almost completely assimilated the Holy City's Liberi... other than the halo, which can never be shared.

We are too special, able to take in everything... like a concerto with a clear main theme.

Laterano has never been just a warm, cozy little cottage for the Sanktas, Fede.

After you escaped, you went searching for a 'missing pregnant woman' from a nomadic abbey, but there have been no such recent reports of a missing person in Notarial Hall records.

Explain yourself, Arturia.

A poor mother has gone missing in Laterano. A little incident that no one has paid any heed...

But, by chance, I had once touched the note of her heart while playing in the wheat fields—

And I discovered where she went.

Do you mean...?

Patience, Fede. Wait and see.

We've come this far. You don't need me to explain it to you.

Is this the girl you took in?

You'll have to forgive, <i>Reverend Gun-knight</i>, that I don't have the adoption papers on me.

What? If you can take in a Liberi, why can't I take in a Sankta?

She's a good girl. You know, you are the only Sankta I've ever had a real problem understanding.

That mouth of yours...

How long has it been since we last met, Pag?

I forget. Never thought much about it. Didn't think I would need to.

Back on topic: Your apprentice just attempted to—

On my orders.

Why?

An act of protest. Is that so hard to understand?

The Curia shut down over a hundred firearms workshops overnight. My livelihood for decades, the shop I counted on for my retirement, all gone in the blink of an eye.

When I heard you were throwing some party here, I thought I might force the Curia to hear the voice of this humble citizen, in front of all these honored guests.

I should have done it myself, but I'm old, and my legs and eyes aren't what they used to be, so I had the girl run this errand for me.

I thought you had gone into a different line of work, Pag.

Screw that.

Why should I? When you still have the nerve to use that gun I made after you exiled Gia from Laterano?

I just gave up being a dedicated supplier for you gun-knights.

True.

And how exactly do you plan on dealing with this?

We're caught red-handed attempting to bomb the Shrine of Nurtury and sabotage the Nativity.

Will you once again 'escort' your friend out of Laterano, as a gun-knight sworn to protect the sanctity of Paradise?

One who just happens to be a Liberi as well.

This has nothing to do with you being Liberi, Pag. If you have indeed violated the Law, then I have no choice but to suffer another parting.

And yet... I see that no harm was actually done, was there?

Take your apprentice and go.