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(Unknown language) Where is this place?

(Unknown language) 'Terra'.

(Unknown language) We are not alone, my friend.

Did you see the latest news, Miss Koshelna?

Lots of mines have shut down, and they've put troops on high alert all across the city.

My parents were called in for an inspection... I can't find them.

Stay in the classroom for now.

I will help ask around for you. I'm also interested in knowing what is going on.

She calms the child down, and then takes the newspaper from their hand.

Over a few short days, countless rumors have spread across the city, but the most alarming one is—

'Our Originium vein has disappeared. If we can't get any energy out of Mother Earth, how are we supposed to make it through the winter?'

Originium... I shall unravel this mystery.

Only the blood burning within our breasts can see Ursus through the winter chill.

Once we've tidied things up here, it'll do as everyone's new abode, Hierda.

Thank you all for your help!

Good thing you got supplies from our friends at the monastery, otherwise finding a place to stay wouldn't have gone so smoothly.

We were worried you had... abandoned us after heading back there...

Oh, I'm sorry. The road back was rather rough-going, and I heard lots of news I could barely even believe along the way.

It's mighty hard to imagine, yeah. The Originium veins, Laterano...

The Sanktas at the monastery sure had a lot to say about your return! Wouldn't stop telling us all about it!

Huh?

When that calamity was going on, they wanted to go back to Laterano, but a Catastrophe stopped them.

Their halos were shattered, and all they could do was stay here and pray, for themselves, and for their brothers and sisters who had already left...

Then you showed up right in front of them, a girl who disappeared without a trace three years ago!

You brought them hope, Hierda!

Oh my, did I?

I really don't want to let everyone down... Maybe now that we have a fixed shelter, we can help even more people.

But we still need to take some necessary security precautions.

With us pulling out all the stops for our work, we're bound to attract people up to no good. You'll be in danger.

Honestly speaking, we might be able to find a better way to do this—

Hierda shakes her head.

I need to see her.

She must be somewhere here on this land...

Hierda looks out into the distance, despite knowing the vast wilderness will show her nothing in return.

She sees something streaking across the sky.

A shooting star?

Anyway, Originium should not be a source of despair.

I would like to pray for all Infected who suffer—

Err, will praying... actually do anything?

Maybe not.

But when we pray, we will think of each other.

Our bonds bind us together. We are not alone.

The Iberian coast, a cliff by the sea

A Seaborn clings tight to the sharp rocks.

The sound of distant naval barrages is carried over by the sea breeze, but the Seaborn does not care, focusing its efforts on climbing.

(Excitedly flaps membranous wings)

(Unfolds creases enthusiastically)

The Seaborn finally arrives at the peak of the cliff.

What greets it is a boundless expanse of dry land, and a flash of light up amidst the heavens.

A shooting star?

The Seaborn shifts its body in confusion in response to the momentary distraction, and its appendages brush against something.

A shining black rock rolls off the cliff, dropping straight down into the ocean.

The Seaborn tries to see what it was, but it has already been engulfed by the billowing waves.