act42side

Something's wrong, Doctor. I recorded the route we followed to come here...

From the Shrine of Nurtury to the Tower of Revelations, then on to the Notarial Hall in Pagus Michaelion, which means the Sunset Chapel is up ahead—

Federico mentioned this route to me once during a chat.;It's the route the monsters are following to gather up!

And then there's those unusual scenes of destruction around us. They keep being mapped onto here, which means the chaos in Laterano is still ongoing.

We've been walking alongside them in a whole different dimension.

The moment you become cognizant of this, you see the stillness of the city begin to break. Motion blossoms across the scene in stutter-freeze frames.

Battle. Explosions. Prayer. Chanting.

You see Exusiai.

You see that hallowed monstrosity—

You cannot tell if this scene has arisen because of your presence, or if she has deigned to allow you to see it.

You should be able to clear your thoughts this way, in a safer manner.

The place you seek is ahead. The location of PCS...

As well of the destination of the 'Sankta' pilgrims—

The countdown has begun, {@nickname}.

Seriously, not even time for a breather?

Keep it quick, Fiammetta.

I'll cover you while you're reloading.

What's with the look? We've fought together before. It's not easy to forget how you do things.

Gratias.

Hey, Mostima, mind explaining to me what the hell just happened?

I was kicking a monster's ass when I stepped in one of those weird light puddles on accident, and...

<i>Stolide!</i> My boot sprouted a halo outta nowhere!

It's one of the Shrine of Nurtury's projections. If you don't feel like being turned into stuff your brain can't even process, then stay away from it!

And how're we supposed to do that...?

It's spreading way too quick. It'll kick us out of Pagus Saint Marcel before that pack of monsters even gets here...

None of us can stick around to play defense at that point!

We've stuffed the big pipe organ in the Sunset Chapel full of explosives. Our friends from Leithanien added some self-igniting enchantment on top of it.

Even if nobody's around, it should still be able to blow these freaks to kingdom come.

The one they used to play the dirge for the city-wide memorial service?

That's the one.

Sweet. It's had to listen to hundreds of years worth of prayers and sobbing. It's time we play it something with a bit more pep.

Let's get out of here, Patia. Our spent shells have started getting halos.

The Tower of Revelations in Pagus Ecclesia and the Notarial Hall in Pagus Michaelion have been lost. The Sunset Chapel in Pagus Saint Marcel is the last stop before they reach the Basilica.

If our bombs don't stop them, then we really are screwed.

Hah, if Federico and Andoain were right, and the procession really is headed for the Basilica... I think it's too early to throw in the towel.

I've been a Legatus for a long time now, so I've got experience with getting places quickly.

If we can't stop them from rushing right over, then...

Why not just remove their destination?

Look, Mostima, there's a big difference between blowing up a pipe organ and incinerating the entire Basilica!

Hey, if boots and Sankta can both have halos, I don't think there's <i>that</i> big a difference between the organ and the Basilica.

Fine, you're right. Since we can't block or kill that giant monster, we can at least think of a way to make the road not exist anymore. She'll never be able to reach her destination.

You sure we're talking about the same thing here?

Let's go! Withdraw to the plaza in front of the Basilica!

*sniffle*... *sob*...

Wh-What's wrong, Romya?

Stop crying! You're giving me a headache!

Don't be like that, Hugo.

Why do we need to take care of these crybabies, Sister?

Can we leave Laterano? This place isn't anything like what Aurela said...

Not as nice, right?

Yeah!

I think so too.

So we should be glad we came to see for ourselves. Otherwise, how would we have known Aurela lied to us?

We were rather lucky this time, weren't we? Once Aurela comes back, we should give her a good talking-to!

R-Right, Sister.

Let's continue with the story, children.

(Shakes head) I-I'm scared...

No need to be afraid. Listen. We can still hear the bells, right? The bells of the holy city will protect us.

*sobs* ...But those sounds are so loud and scary.

Hugo, Giselle, do you hear them as well?

(Shake heads)

Nueda gathers the children to her side as best as she can. She takes note of the fear twisting the faces of the Sankta children, their halos flickering like mad.

(Is it empathy? That monster's empathy, the procession's empathy, an entire city's worth of empathy...)

(We're so far away, and yet...)

All Nueda can do is stay silent.

She is no Sankta. What she is dealing with is not a gang of Singas mercenaries. The complex and mysterious knowledge floating around in her mind is of no use.

She cannot even say how she got to this point.

Think quick, K'uk'ulkan.

What can you do to calm the children who followed you all the way from Bolívar, to console the children who had just been plucked from a terrifying dream—

At the very least, allow them to feel a modicum of tranquility.

East of the east of La Unidad♪

Laterano, holy city of white♪

Romya, i-it's a hymn...

Senior Nurturer taught it to us...

Sister Nueda?

You all know the words, right?

There, the earth hides no bombs♪

There, the fields share wheat most bright♪

Abode of our Lord, font of parental love♪

He hears our prayers, He grants our wishes♪

All shall bask in His love♪

The K'uk'ulkan thinks back to the past. The gravely wounded nun closed herself off from the world as she sang, until pain and night melted away into her song.

The K'uk'ulkan sings once more this song she has sung a hundred thousand times before. It no longer matters who wrote it, or if the Laterano within it will answer.

She does all she can to calm her nerves so that she can sing in tune. Slowly, the voices of the children join the chorus, echoing out from the room, blending with the distant peals to form a radiant glow.

All shall bask in His love♪

At the very least, they still have this song.

It might be of no use, but at least...

Nueda reaches under the hem of her habit, holding her axe tight.

R-Reverend?

I can ask our blessed companions to sniff out her position.

There was a time when, with her gun-knight armor and custom rifle, she would break the guardian gun kill record over and over. Finding her will take time.

The procession can't wait, Velliv. Focus on your work. I'll handle this myself.

It's been ten years. I'm surprised this private frequency still works.

I wanted to ask the folks at the Notarial Hall to delete it a long time ago, but I keep forgetting. Guess I've gotten old, haha.

The real surprise is you, Aurela. Why didn't you take off your armor when you left Laterano?

Without it, how am I supposed to settle things with you... Magister?

*sigh* You really hate me, don't you?

It seems the saint was right. The best motivators for the errari to return to the holy city are hatred and loathing.

Heh.

So you're saying this mysterious 'Fall' that affected all of Terra brought out their bad side?