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It was not I who taught you, but rather, it was you who taught me the meaning of life.

As for the name of Kjeragandr, and the form that represents Her, those are creations of men.

But I do not believe them to be lies. The name of Kjeragandr is how the power you wield manifests itself. Nothing more.

I think... this is the Kjeragandr you seek.

'And so She said: my path is, in the end, your path...'

People tried to confirm Her appearance, but ultimately, they were only attempting to see clearly who they themselves were.

But the paths people walk are for the most part not level roads. Most of the time, they are like confused burdenbeasts, circling about the same place, over and over...

The people of Kjerag once brought you back among us, and so our faith was steadied...

Kjarr... Will you come back?

Enya...

I think... I can't stay by your side, this time around.

...But you promised me.

You told me that you wouldn't just leave all of a sudden, that She wouldn't simply spirit you away...

Enya... Listen to me, Enya.

I'm afraid I have to break my promise this time... but I never meant to lie to you. Never.

You are my friend. Out of countless years and countless people, my one and only friend.

I wanted to accompany you forever, until the end of your days... I even thought I would be the one left behind, to endure our separation.

But... what happened?

What could possibly have happened to force you to leave?

There is no such thing as an eternal union. Parting is simply a matter of time.

And my time has come... That is all.

I just didn't want the day to come so quickly.

Things happen at their most suited hour.

You are unlike the other children who call out my name. You are not some helpless girl waiting for my answer as you are pushed about.

...I started out the same as them.

But now, you walk the path of your own choosing.

You were able to find the solution in your own heart. You have braved great trials I know nothing of, experienced great danger I could not help you with. And now, you stand before me.

You are my Enya. My sweet, sweet Enya.

You are the little burdenbeast who managed to jump the fence. You have a heart that resists all discipline and a bright, witty mind. You are the first Saintess to come pray with resentment and bitterness in her heart.

The snows of Karlan are tall and far, as pure white as stacked clouds. The wind blows from deep ravines, gently sweeping by the great land of Kjerag.

Snowflakes fall from the wind's embrace and melt with spring. They travel through Karlan's streams into the lake, then seep into the depths of the earth.

From there, the sun's rays lift the water, the mists returning to the horizon. They pile up into clouds, before turning into the next round of snow.

Their hands refuse to let go of each other. The warmth as they lean upon one another lights a spark in their bodies.

Go, Enya.

...But where?

Go drive away the last of the darkness, and usher in a new tomorrow.

The illusion disappears, like waking from a dream. The cave is still as gloomy as it was earlier. The Saintess of Kjerag turns to the massive statue.

...Drive away the last of the darkness, usher in... a new tomorrow.

Broken clumps of snow spiral around her, before being dispersed by the wind.

A single snowflake remains in the palm of her hand. A perfect, flawless hexagon.

It does not melt, nor flit through the air. It simply waits quietly like a guardian, unmoving for eons.

Not even asking me my opinion before giving this to me... You <i>know</i> I don't like taking the spotlight...

You're just so willful...

AHHHH—!

Thank goodness, you're finally awake!

Did I... pass out?

You did! Both of you did when Enya touched the statue. You've been out for about five minutes.

I didn't think it would be that short a time...

Did you... see it?

I did!

I had a terrible nightmare. I was chasing down some game, when my illness suddenly got a lot worse. My entire arm turned to stone...

But then I saw someone who looked a lot like Kjeragandr, and she cured me in my dream.

Then she comforted me, telling me the stone disease isn't Kjeragandr's punishment, and that I'm not a bad girl...

Saintess! Could she have... been Kjeragandr Herself? We... We found Her, right?

We did. That must have been Kjeragandr you saw.

What are you two talking about? How come I'm the only one who didn't see anything?

Don't worry about it.

She simply gave each of us the answer we needed.

Enya... I...

Maybe... Maybe I need to revise my hypothesis and calculations.

If it wasn't a special vein of ore that protected Kjerag from Catastrophe for a millennium... Add to that all we've seen in this cave...

Though I still can't bring myself to believe in things like Feranmuts, which are completely incompatible with our scientific system...

But... having eliminated everything false, then the only possibility left must be the truth, no matter how absurd it may be.

Enya, could you tell me...?

The Kjeragandr you saw... What was...?

The Saintess stretches out her hand, softly stroking the perplexed woman's head, treating her like any other devotee who has come to her for confession.

I can't explain what the Kjeragandr in our hearts is, in scientific terms...

But as a scientist, how could you possibly fear the unknown?

I would never—

Kjeragandr might not be something completely incompatible with science.

Perhaps you have discovered a little corner of a field that science has yet to set foot on?

...Oh, shoot.

What is it?

When we were climbing the mountain, the Catastrophe warning went up another level.

Basically, within the next three hours, there's a seventy-two percent chance Kjerag will be hit by a second Catastrophe.

Enya, we need to go and tell everyone to evacuate right away—

We won't make it in time...

...I still have one last thing I must do.

Wait, where are you going—

Elena and Joanna follow along behind Enya, the three of them running through the passage they came through.

At the entrance of the cave, they see a familiar figure once again.

They are unsure why, but in the short time they were away, the old man seems to have aged ten years.

I saw...

I saw Her, and Her footprints in the snow...

I was... an unforgivable, faithless man... all along...

The elder of the Vine-Bead Court falls to the ground, as if all the strength has been sapped from him.

...I once endured the tangling of love and pain alongside a friend, as we waited for daybreak to wash over the mountains.

The road we walked was far longer than the road leading up Karlan.

You...

The Saintess's finger traces out a shallow arc across the old man's forehead, from left to right.

Her fingertip streaks across his graying brow, anointing him with unmelted snow, like how the most pious of Kjerag clerics would dispel spirits and make prayers for newborn babes.

I still remember her. The girl who would ask me to teach her, even when it came to darning clothes.

How the living should be saved, how order should operate... You did not know, but She... was also learning from you.

She watches all you do. She wishes to walk with you, whether you walk down the right path or the wrong.

She never meant to deny you.

Her Saintess has heard your confession, and in Her name, absolves you of your sin of disbelief.

By Kjeragandr, you walk with Her.

Unstoppable tears flow from his aged eyes. They seep into the earth, like fallen snow.

I must admit, I once looked down upon you, and upon Kjerag.

That battleship behind you is the result of over a decade of painstaking nation-building.