act42side

It may have been an absence of opportunity, rather than a personal lack of ability, that has prevented you from playing a more important role.

Be more confident in yourself, boy!

'Boy'...

Reverend Patrizion, I've always felt you did not like me much...

I still remember the first time Aurela and I went to visit you. It was not you, but Fiammetta, who had just came home from school, welcomed us.

I mean, I don't like you.

Aurela was my best student, exceptionally talented in armored combat and firearms. But she had too much of a character, and an extreme way of doing things...

While you, on the opposite, were too weak... And yet, these are your own choices.

I'll just say this again, I wasn't home that day because my armor broke and needed fixing!

Besides, if we're going to make it personal between us, you're the one who's holding a deeper grudge, right? I personally expelled Aurela from Laterano, after all.

When it comes to that... I only blame myself.

You're right. I'm too weak, and have nothing to my name.

I couldn't help Aurela defuse her anger, even though I was right there with her. And so, she hurt the shackled Sarkaz in the abbey, and ultimately leveled her gun at her own people.

And after she made that terrible mistake, I...

I didn't even manage to see her one last time, Reverend Patrizion...

I... I really can't do anything...

Then think on what you can still do right now.

Now?

The Summit of Nations is still ongoing, and the Seventh Tribunal has lots of business on hand. You will be temporarily created cardinal, as the Curia has decided.

Alright.

What?

Handshake review complete. You now have access to cardinal privileges and permissions.

W-Wait, so fast? I... I still haven't...

Cardinal Amos, in the face of calamity, Laterano must strive for efficiency.

So, there will be no welcome tea and cake for you.

With the gun-knight gone, Amos pulls out a chair. He opens his terminal, and his privileges have indeed already been updated, as Patrizion said.

Everything happened so fast he needs some time to adjust... and he suddenly realizes something.

He taps on the file explorer, and scrolls all the way down, finally arriving at his target at the bottom.

He opens the document, his finger pausing on a signature confirmation page.

Aurela, I finally...

Newly created Cardinal Amos sees a smile on his face reflected on the terminal screen.

It is a little ridiculous, he thinks.

Uh... th-this is...

It's Laterano. We're finally back.

No, something's off... those strangely colored shadows... look at their shapes!

They're projecting... the Shrine of Nurtury?

What's going on? Has Laterano changed, or do we have brain damage?

Watch out! Behind you!

(Praying)

A creature with a halo? What?!

There's more and more of them! Wait, stay back, I don't need an extra halo on me—

Nice shot! They don't dodge bullets. We should be fine.

Why do you look so dazed? Let's clear a way out... what's wrong?

I-I...

You're... fallen?

Our awakenings may have influenced others to wake up as well. But there are also more of these halo-sporting creatures.

Those creatures dragged the awakened into the strangely-colored projections, and then vanished together.

They did not even manage to retaliate. And the Sankta who shot at those creatures... have fallen?

Fede, I'm afraid my joke from before was no joke at all. These things are... considered Sankta, and thus our people?

How strange and chaotic their hearts sound... what should I listen for within the mess? What should I share with them?

Ah... they can't feel our emotions either, and are anxious over it. They desperately want to share theirs, but they can only resort to brute force.

Like an infant yet to grow a halo—no matter what they want to express, they can only cry and grab at their parents' sleeves... Yes, they are our people, just too immature.

Immature, but powerful.

The Law grants an infant a halo when it speaks its first word because language represents rationality's awakening.

And rationality refers to a Sankta finally gaining the capacity to be conscientious of both their people and the Law.

Why would the Law deem a pack of nonsentient creatures as 'Sankta', and also compel them to use brute force to intervene in their people's fates?

Anomalies only continue to multiply. Currently, the only individual we may cooperate with is the Doctor. Being present already, the Doctor must know something about the current situation.

Arturia, are you certain the Doctor remembers the sound of your strings?

The Doctor was almost present at every of my few performances on Rhodes Island.

A pity the Doctor was never my intended audience, but I ought to be glad the Doctor seemed to have been listening carefully every single time.

Only your first sentence contained actual information, Arturia.

Haha. Sure.

Well then, Fede. I will guide the Doctor with my cello.

A sudden notification beep interrupts the two.

Here and now, of all times...?

Federico checks his communicator.

Hello...? Can... you hear... me?

Aurela... former citizen ID... LC0073458.

A group of errari Sankta and war refugees... currently north of the Lateran City... three kilometers out...

Requesting permission to enter the city.

This is the place. Enjoy some rest.

I thought I was going to the Notarial Hall or the Basilica, to be questioned about Arturia's escape.

The gun-knight who brought you here has other business to attend to. He asked me to tell you not to worry about the Arturia case.

Long has Landen Monastery served the Holy City dutifully. There will be no excessive penalty just because a single prisoner escaped.

Phew... that's good to hear.

It was for another reason that you were brought here.

There are so many—

Would you prefer a quieter location?

No, what I mean is... why is everyone in this nursery Liberi?

Hildegard scans around the room and sees Liberi in all sorts of outfits, sitting or standing. There is little conversation, only the steady ring of the comfort bells.

Hundreds? Thousands? Too many to count. An entire city's worth of Liberi seems to be assembled here.

Since when did this nursery become so large? No, more importantly, why are all these Liberi here?

Don't tell me... you have a room full of Perros, a room full of Felines, a room full of Lupos...?

An astute observation.

We also have rooms for fallen angels and Sarkaz.

You're... awfully forthcoming.

The Shrine of Nurtury has nothing to hide.

At the conclusion of the Nativity, the Curia announced that the Sankta will share the halo with all races. The simplest method is to do it race-by-race.

Do you mean we can have halos too? We can feel each other the way Sanktas do?

As you felt the arborbeast's heartbeat at the Nativity.

Why?

Why what?

Why do we need halos?

So you brought me here, not because of Vannini, but because... I am Liberi?

Yes.

I'll get a big ol' light over my head, like yours?

Go on in, Pag.

Huh. Sounds like I don't have a choice. And it also sounds like a wonderful thing, doesn't it?

At least it'll be good for your eyes.

More than that, I think!