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I didn't know you had it in you, Elena.

Sorry, Director Muelsyse... was I too hot-headed?

A little bit... maybe?

I was just angry at how science has to explain for perceptions that are completely unscientific, no matter where we are...

We have to recognize that science can be a very distant thing for a lot of people.

The people and the things that trouble us are part of this land. It's not something that we can ignore.

Like Silence said, 'Science is a clear, incisive look at every one of us.'

I know... but this is just so absurd—

Never mind that for now... let's get the data we need.

Data, data... it's not like we'll find anything...

Wait... this graph—

Elena picks up the scattered papers, and notices the shape of a certain curve on a spectrogram.

This is impossible...

What is it?

This machine is used to study the Starpod's structure, by bombarding it with high-powered particle beams and observing the resulting electromagnetic radiation...

But I just realized that the data obtained between 3-4 A.M. on December 7th is identical to the data from the same period on December 4th.

An unusual coincidence?

No... it's impossible.

Just like how no two snowflakes are completely alike, atmospheric electromagnetic radiation is constantly changing.

There is only one possibility, if the exact same waveform is displayed during the same time period on two different days for an entire hour...

Someone altered these data.

Falsifying data to support a hypothesis? But people don't usually pull shenanigans like that until way later in a project...

Got any idea who might have done it?

December 7th... the day before the Catastrophe...

The one on observation duty was... Carolin.

Could it be...?

Angry shouts pierce through the metal walls.

Give Mount Karlan back to us! Back to Kjerag! Back to Kjeragandr!

Get off Kjeragandr's land!

There they are! The unclean who defiled Mount Karlan and the faith of Kjerag!

This iron house of foreigners has angered Kjeragandr!

O Kjeragandr on high, forgive our sins...

The sound of praying and sobbing, mixed with angry shouting.

The sounds weave into a rope, connecting tearful, fearful and angry faces, surrounding the newly-built observation station.

The steel door remains unmoving. A wizened voice cuts through the crowd.

'Remember that the wind wrapping the mountains does not come from nowhere.'

The wind continues to roar. The old woman walks across the snow to the tightly shut door, her voice clearly heard by the others.

'It is Her breath, sweeping down from the snow-white peaks.'

'It is Her ever-vigilant watch, rising from the deepest valley to the highest cloud.'

'It will drive out the miasma of evil, and the parasites that hide amongst the rocks.'

'It brings all the sounds back to Her ears, so that She will hear, and the mountains bright and clear—'

Wait... is that door moving?

Yes! They're opening the door! Our protest worked!

Open up! Open up and hear our voice!

Listen to the true voice of Kjeragandr's people! Listen to the voice of Kjerag! You are not welcome here! You must leave!

Outsiders off Mount Karlan! Go back where you came from!

Outsiders off Mount Karlan!

Outsiders off Mount Karlan!

The cries grow louder and clearer. Someone stretches out and waves toward the sky.

Is it the result of sincere prayer? Or did the combined force of their invocations cause steel to tremble?

The door opens.

All breaths are abated in the silence.

That garb... are they from Clan Silverash?

The one behind them... the Edelweiss? Did he come to send these outsiders away?

He'd better. They were the ones who brought those people in, and they should be the ones to pick up the mess. But... something about his expression...

Clear out the protesters. Avoid casualties.

Put down your weapons! Back off!

We're not backing off! Why are you telling us to go away? The ones who should go away are...

Keep your hands off me!

Edelweiss! Whose side are you on?!

Whose side do you think they're on? Their weapons and shields are pointed towards us... isn't it clear enough who his friends and enemies are?

A blizzard is coming.

You should leave before the road is completely blocked.

No need to worry about the dangers along the way. Clan Silverash's guards will ensure your safety and bring you back to...

Ugh!

Grandma, wait, don't—

The old woman forces her arm through the guards' ranks.

Her movements are swift and without hesitation. The cold snow splashes upon the Liberi's face.

May Kjeragandr forgive your sins.

Pity and resolute mercy congregate upon the wrinkled face.

Her cold finger touches Gnosis's forehead, leaving behind a simple curved line.

A Kjerag ritual, intended to drive the evil out of a child afflicted by fever.

May Her miracle drive out the miasma of evil, and the parasites that hide amongst the rocks from you...

Remember that the winds of Kjeragandr have visited upon your stubbornness before.

Now, you send Her away.

Go home, madam.

There is no change in Gnosis's expression as snowmelt flows down his face.

The winds on the mountains are harsh. Don't catch a cold.

Kjerag. The beautiful paradise, clean and pristine beneath the wind and snow, pious and pure under divine protection.

The faith of its people is firm as the mountains, never wavering... or perhaps, a single flake of snow is all it takes to begin its collapse...

'What do you think of the Catastrophe? Will it shake your faith in Kjeragandr?'

The faith of Kjerag isn't so weak! The people of Kjerag have never wavered, even before the toughest trial!

I'll set out for Mount Karlan once the Catastrophe is cleaned up and my leg is good again.

The sun of Kjerag will drive out all corruption and evil, and those who bathe in it need fear neither pain nor illness, nor the Stone Disease...

Kjeragandr is great, Kjeragandr is kind. She will never abandon Kjerag. Everything will go back to the way it was, once we clean up the snow...

Of course! It's all the fault of those Rhine Lab people!

Everything started going bad when they came! Kjerag doesn't need no observation station! All we need is Kjeragandr's protection!

Drive them out! Give me back my peaceful life... and my mom and dad...

Is there anything I can help... wait, you're Victorian?

Get your pitchforks! Who let this one into the village? Columbians and Victorians, is everybody making their homes on our turf now?

Get lost! You're not welcome here!

Phew... this will be tougher than I thought.

Do you need some help?

Hi... I'm fine, I'm just short on film. I don't suppose I'll be able to find any here...

Let me see... you can get this model from the central mall in the Silverash domain.

Nice pics. Are you a photographer from Victoria?

A reporter, to be exact.

Good timing. May I get an interview?

Who? Me?

How do you view the Catastrophe that just occurred in Kjerag? How do you view your faith, when Kjeragandr no longer protects Kjerag from Catastrophe?