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(Nods)

(Casts a glance)

You have my word.

Alright.

Thank you for your understanding.

Let us welcome the birth of a new life together in Laterano. It will bridge a gulf and bring new meaning. This birth will be a great achievement.

This is why I have come... Our Lord has guided me to where I should be.

Welcome to Laterano... you are needed here, all of you.

Whatever it is you're after, I'm sure I can't help you.

I haven't said anything yet!

Alright, Seniora Sankta, what do you want? Do you need your guardian gun fixed, or you want some custom ammo?

Go out the door and turn left. You might just find one of the last Firearms Workshops in Pagus Michaelion that hasn't shut down yet, if you can get there before the functionaries.

I signed the handover documents from the Seventh Tribunal ten minutes ago. I'd be violating the Law if I did anything with this stuff now.

What if I said I wanted to make an explosion that would shake the city?

Not interested.

Come on! You're Master Pag, the King of Gunsmiths! If anyone would want to see an explosion, it's you!

Don't butter me up with a title you just made up on the spot.

I know what you're afraid of, Master Pag.

All I need is a little help—lend me some equipment, some of your expert knowledge—to help me figure out what's going on in Laterano.

I'm really anxious about all this.

My boss always says nothing gets in the way of Penguin Logistics completing our mission, or the after party!

Uh...

You don't need to DO anything. That way, you won't be violating the Law, right?

Get your guardian gun away from my collection, Sankta.

Besides, I know this gun. I made the damned thing—

Haha. Recognize it, don't you?

Then you also know how powerful it is.

I got Dr. Paola to make a new pair of glasses for you, magister! She admonished me to no end, she says it's your punishment to keep wearing those antiques of yours...

Here, try them on! Uh—

Wh-Who's this? What's going on, Magister Paganini?

Hey, if it isn't the quiet little girl! Look how fluently you can gab now!

What was your name again? Vanheim? Vannessa? Oh, I know—

—Vannini!

See? We still got our teamwork!

I remember now! You're El! You came to pick your first patron firearm...

Magister Paganini never lets me bother the customers when they come to the shop. But there was such a ruckus outside that day, I couldn't help but peek...

Magister Paganini found me out, though. I don't remember much else because I was so scared he was going to yell at me... sorry!

Oh, so that's why? You were afraid...

(Nods)

Weird, I thought you looked happy.

What brings you here today, El?

(Winks)

Vani.

The Seventh Tribunal came today. My workshop is...

I'm not officially a gunsmith yet. I don't actually work for this shop. It's not against the Law, strictly speaking.

Can I help this customer, Magister?

Gotcha, Senior Nurturer!

Where did you go? Romya said you were hiding from us. Is that true?

Of course not.

Then let's play Halo!

Father Andoain is very busy. How about you guys play with me?

Your Eminence.

I have some private matters to attend to. I'll be back soon.

No need to be nervous. I have your leave request on file. What I really should ask is, what are you doing here with the children when you're supposed to be on leave?

I thought I had enough time for one round of Halo.

And then? Did you think the children would let you go so easily?

I'll think of something.

I've heard you're completely incapable of saying 'no' to the children.

Who could ever imagine that the first Nurturer the Matriarch nurtured, one whose diligence and piety are beyond question, was once a criminal who violated the Law?

I'm only attending the family gathering of a friend I've not seen in a long time, Your Eminence.

I told you, no need to be nervous. I'm not worried about you burning Laterano while blowing a balloon or baking a cake.

I'm just curious. Why is there such a stark difference between how the Matriarch sees you, and your profile in the Curia's records?

The Matriarch has never overlooked or denied my sins, Your Eminence. She simply places more importance on my understanding with her.

It was before she became Matriarch. Our paths crossed by sheer chance, when I was taking refuge from a Catastrophe in an abandoned nomadic abbey.

The Matriarch may be blind, but her sense of hearing is impeccable. She caught a faint cry coming from the basement, in the midst of the deafening roar of Originium dashing against the distant mountains.

A mother, lying in a pool of blood in the shadows on death's door. She attempted to intimidate the Matriarch and protect her own child, but all she managed was an expression of great pain.

The mother you and the Matriarch first brought to the Holy City? Her injuries were such that even the most determined physician would have given up hope.

What made you think she would live?

I didn't... I didn't even think she would last the night. But the Matriarch had faith in a miracle, as though it was an inevitability.

The Matriarch wanted me to believe too, believe that the poor mother would find salvation, thanks to us.

And she did... at first, without medical training, all I could do was empathize and be by her side, caring for her in what ways I could.

You lingered in a stranded abbey for three months, for the sake of a <i>miracle?</i>

...Laterano needs a miracle.

Then you're much more rational than I thought, both of you. Perhaps I should see you in a different light.

Certainly, if it convinces the Curia to offer greater support for the Shrine of Nurtury.

So rational it's almost boring.

Hurry along now, Nurturer Andoain. At the very least, I hope to see the Nativity through without a hitch.