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Saintess...

The clerics who followed the sinner Adso in betraying the Vine-Bead Court have all pled guilty. They are currently being kept in another one of our estates, awaiting your judgment.

How do you intend to... punish them, Great Saintess...?

The great hall is deserted. The seats lie bare, even though they are full most days.

Only a single young cleric sits before her, awaiting her word with bowed head.

I have heard of what happened during the unrest.

They were led astray by Adso, and did much wrong.

But I believe their hearts were always focused on defending Kjerag.

Them stepping forward to confront the intruders is atonement enough. There is no moral nor logical reason to sentence them to heavy punishment.

Have them go about the lands of the Three Clans. It is their duty to help the people complete this winter's farmwork. They are also to examine themselves, and ask how the scriptures they recite every day can be put into practice.

Once spring comes, they may return to the Court.

Yes, Your Holiness...

Is there anything else?

Great Saintess... If I may be so bold as to ask you for guidance...

During your Pilgrimage, did you hear Kjeragandr's will?

Why do you ask?

Have you forgotten that we should not demand She show Herself?

The cleric lowers his head even further, hesitantly speaking further.

The people believe that when the Victorians invaded, She worked another miracle and scared them into retreating.

I don't know why, but... I feel like it was more of a... wave goodbye...

I think, maybe around the time that Catastrophe happened, Kjeragandr had already left us.

If you wish to punish me for my impiety, Saintess... I will also...

Matthew... You are Matthew, correct?

Can you tell me why you decided to join the Court?

When I was younger, my parents had five children to feed, and our fields were not up for the task. They decided to send me, the youngest, to the Court.

They would save on having to feed one more mouth, and I would be fed by the Court as well...

I studied hard, of course! I have been carefully reciting the <i>Kjeragandr</i> these past few years, studying all Her teachings.

But I have seen Kjerag change a lot since then.

There are too many things I have never heard of, things that not even the <i>Kjeragandr</i> can explain.

I had thought that, as long as we had enough to eat and a roof over our heads to keep out the wind and snow, we would live out our days in happiness.

But why is it now, when we have those things, that we become even more lost...

Saintess, could it be that the people of Kjerag have strayed too far from the road She has shown us?

Which led Kjeragandr to... leave us...

When has Kjeragandr ever shown Her people one specific road to follow?

When the first peoples came to these mountains, using their picks to split the frozen ground and their axes to hew trees for homes, they could never have imagined...

That today, the people of this land have fixed their gazes beyond the stars.

But equally, Kjeragandr has never promised us a land of purity, eternally free from disaster.

We will face ever greater dangers, seeking our way through all kinds of trials.

Until one day, we arrive before Her, and we ask Her our questions about ourselves...

But Your Holiness, Kjeragandr is our greatest sage, our teacher, our leader... Does She truly have no commands for Her people?

It is not a command, per se...

But consider for a moment. The most important wisdom Kjeragandr gave us has already been written in our scripture long ago, has it not?

Remember the path you walked, and let not yourself forget;

Fear the blizzard that has yet to come, and let not yourself be arrogant;

Clutch your bows and arrows, pickaxes and hoes tight, and let not yourself be careless;

Love your brothers and sisters, love your neighbors and friends, and love the rocks and hills, the grass and trees, as you would love your own siblings.

Heed these words, and no calamity shall prevail over you, and your home and hearth will be safe forever more.

Still busy, Elena?

Director Silence?

I heard you're still handling the observation data from before. Hope I'm not disturbing you.

I'm recalculating my models using the data I got on Mount Karlan.

If all goes well, we should be able to get the precise location of where that extraterrestrial object fell on Kjerag. It beats running across the mountains looking for it.

This is a major discovery, and it's all thanks to your courage and determination. You've done well, Elena.

You don't need to praise me for doing my job, Director, it's kinda embarrassing...

Oh, right, heard anything new about Carolin?

(Shakes head)

We still haven't managed to find her, but our investigation over the last few days found a lot of definitive proof that she was in Kjerag as a spy.

I'm sorry, but we have to admit... those accusations against her were true.

I remember the time I worked with her. Her face whenever she talked about the sky... I don't think you can fake that sort of passion.

I don't understand why she would...

'Ideals' and 'future' are beautiful words, weightless and romantic, without form or substance.

But the people who are the vectors of those concepts... They are still weighed down by the gravity of reality.

I hope that one day, you'll have the chance to ask her yourself.

Ah, I almost forgot. I read your report.

Core nation academics could never get past the theoretical stage when discussing Feranmuts, since they never found any real proof of them.

Most people write those creatures off as mystical mumbo-jumbo.

But now, you managed to find actual Feranmut biosignatures in Kjerag. These incredibly rare observation data might even lead to a massive breakthrough.

It will be a significant step forward for you to be the one to publish this discovery.

Thanks, Director.

But... I don't really have plans to publish it at the moment.

Oh? Is there something else you're worried about?

I... Oh, forget it!

Leaving aside the fact that this was a complete coincidence and I only stumbled across this stuff with the help of two friends, I haven't discovered anything amazing at all!

Besides, our current understanding of Feranmuts can barely even be considered superficial. I can't imagine publishing this would bring about anything except even more of a headache for Kjerag...

If a thirst for knowledge is a scientist's greatest friend, then a thirst for quick results is their greatest enemy.

Eagerness for success, eagerness for leaving behind your name in the books, even eagerness for an answer, something to prove you're on the right track.

But I won't rush things this time.

I'm not in a hurry to prove myself to anyone. If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong.

The people of the past made lots of mistakes as they explored Terra. Why do I need to try and be a 'wise woman' who hasn't made any?

I've still got plenty of time. Before I head off, I need to recognize that I don't know a thing about Terra.

An impressive outlook... I respect your choice.

Oh, shucks, I'm not impressive at all...

Honestly, I just want more time to make sure this survey is the best it can be. This way, I won't make a fool of myself publishing a half-baked paper—

Oh! The calculations are done... Got it!

We'll find it at...

Is he still not back yet?

I thought you still had some recuperating to do before you could get out of bed.

No need to worry about me. You don't know a thing about a warrior's mettle.

It seems he had his way in the end.

The two of them look around. The vast office feels more spacious than ever, much of its former decor having just been moved out. Their conversation echoes slightly in the empty space.

Hardly the first time.

I was curious to see how he planned to clean up this mess he left behind.

But it seems the plan was to just dump it all on you.

It sounds like you have your complaints about him as well.

Would you believe me if I said I am fighting on your behalf?

I never actually expected him to return.

It's the same story every time. He always has his ways of getting everyone to do what he wants... Whether they're his enemies, or friends and family.

Never caring what others think, always making his own schemes, giving tasks nobody wants to do to the people around him...

...Then shouldering the hardest part himself.

You're the last one still putting in a good word for him.