act46side

What are your thoughts, Mr. Silverash?

Enciodes looks down at the pushed piece of paper and picks it up.

Black and white, neat and clear. There is no deception; even the names of the squad leaders are listed on the paper, a perfect show of sincerity and pomposity.

I have no reason to refuse, do I?

As you said, this is exactly what Kjerag needs right now.

The supplies will keep the people fed, and the doctors will help us win more battles against illness and death.

As for trained soldiers... I'm sure I do not need to expound upon usefulness.

To the question that was interrupted, Madam Ambassador...

Kjerag vowed to protect the safety of each and every researcher at the station when it was first established.

That vow has not been broken. I'm not sure why you are so eager to reach the conclusion that Kjerag has lost control of the situation.

The Vine-Bead Court and Karlan Trade will uphold our end of the bargain. May I ask you to continue to trust in Kjerag's ability to deal with our own problems?

As for whether the incident at the observation station was an accident, or instigated by those with ulterior motives... I believe that time will tell.

Very well, Mr. Silverash. I look forward to your show of competence.

But I must remind you how important the project is to Columbia. We believe it to be of paramount significance to all Terra.

Therefore, the Columbian side will deploy any means necessary to protect our scientists and their findings. <i>Any means necessary.</i>

Indeed. I, too, believe that the scientific exploration taking place in Kjerag belongs to all of Terra.

The Empire of Victoria will do our part to maintain Kjerag's stability.

Of course...

I'm sure we're all of one mind on this matter.

The sun shines in through the window, past the shoulder of the Columbian ambassador, and upon the chest of the Victorian ambassador.

He stands up from his chair, his back perfectly straight. The discussion seems to have come to a close.

Such a wise decision. It seems all of us have gotten what we wanted.

...Phew.

Is the meeting over?

How long have you been waiting?

Half an hour. I made good use of it going through four reports while I was waiting.

Take a seat. If you want a drink, help yourself.

Thank you, but I've already helped myself to the tea that you kept on top of the shelf. It has been there for a little too long.

There's finally time to ask you. What's the situation at Rhine Lab?

They have no insights into the Catastrophe. As expected.

Our people demonstrated enough restraint. There weren't any real attempts at violence. Most satisfied themselves with reciting the <i>Kjeragandr</i> as they held hands.

But I noticed that there were a few people at the front who shouted the loudest, only to disappear into the crowd when they saw the soldiers.

Are you concerned?

I'm concerned that this may only be the first incident.

The observation station is not the only place where conflict is happening. There have been protests and rallies in the domains of the other two clans. Strikes at our factories as well—I'm dealing with it.

Someone understands that they can use this Catastrophe as a weapon. They know the power of the people's will.

A trick that you've deployed before. But the weapon is not in your hand this time.

Hm...

You skipped the part where someone threw snow in your face.

...Is that important?

It's the only thing that's <i>unexpected.</i>

Did you expect Columbia and Victoria to sit you down for a game of good cop/bad cop?

Yes and no.

The Columbians' attitude is aggressive, but at the end of the day, it's continued cooperation that they want. The most important thing, for them, is that the observation station delivers results.

As for the Victorians... they're more anxious than we thought.

I saw Harold's caravan. I'm sure he's wandering about the streets, telling neighborly stories with his 'old friends'.

His wandering should take him to Karlan Trade headquarters in another twenty minutes.

I suppose you've already signed and received the goods. And I don't suppose we had a choice.

The Paleroches and Browntails will find out soon. As for how they'll take it... let's just say you should be prepared for the Tri-Clan Council.

Getting cold feet?

I'm used to it.

This nonchalant attitude of yours is why people hate you so much.

Thank you for the compliment.

At the end of the day, however, none of us expected this Catastrophe to happen.

You can act as unflappable as you like, but don't tell me this disaster hasn't actually fazed you.

I don't think you're actually that thick.

...I know.

With risk, however, comes opportunity... it's the first Catastrophe that Kjerag has seen in a thousand years. Perhaps it's time for certain things that have lasted a thousand years to change.

Enciodes looks out the window. It has started snowing again, covering the land of Kjerag in white.

The mountain winds continue to blow. They call it the breath of Kjeragandr, Her messenger.

It walks every inch of Kjerag, bringing all its sounds back to Her ears.

She will tell right from wrong, good from evil, friend from foe, piety from falsehood, medicine from poison, and mirth from tears.

She will pass judgment.

There's one other thing that you should know.

The avalanche caused by the Catastrophe destroyed the train station at the foot of the mountain. Strangely, and fortunately, there were fewer people inside the station than expected.

It was only in later interviews that we learned that someone had shouted about a bomb in the station, causing the crowd to flee.

Who?

We don't know, yet.

But the researcher who disappeared from Rhine Lab remains unaccounted for.

If they are one and the same, then she had not cleared the borders of Kjerag when the Catastrophe occurred. She should still be somewhere in the realm.

I see.

You're the only one I can count on for this, Gnosis.

Find this woman, without triggering a response from Rhine Lab.

You're finally starting to look serious... should I ask why?

You'll learn soon enough.

But ideally, one should not have to rely on trick plays in the game of chess.

'When the winter nights were long and there was no food to be found, She walked into the forests to look for seeds...'

No, not this one either.

The word 'Catastrophe' doesn't even exist in the Old Kjeragi language. Is it possible that we truly have never been struck by a Catastrophe before?

Or, maybe the ancient people couldn't tell Catastrophes from normal disasters, and mixed their records with others...

'The snowmelt flooded field and pasture... the crops fell to an untimely winter tide...'

No, no... none of these sound like Catastrophe.

I remember there's another story that she used to tell...

'When the cold winter night froze the Heart of Karlan, the enemy from afar came across the ice.'

'The warrior stood vigil with weapon in hand. At dusk, he saw a terrifying abomination in the mirror-like ice... Radsorn.'

'The warrior ran back to his clan to warn the others, but...'

No one but the warrior could see the creature. Nobody believed his words. And so the warrior began to live in fear.'

Elder Adso? When did you...?

I came after morning prayers. I did not wish to disturb you, so I remained quiet... but I could not resist the urge to speak when you recited a familiar section of the scriptures.

I apologize for disturbing you.

It's alright... I just thought you were still handling matters of court.

The light is dim. From Enya's vantage point, sitting on a high ladder, the Great Elder's robes seem to blend into the color of the floor.

She cannot see his expression.

You must be very busy after taking over as Great Elder. Is everything going well?

You think too highly of an old man like me, Great Saintess. I have spent most of my life here in the Hall of Writings, and I hardly ever step out of the Vine-Bead Court, not to mention dealing with matters of court...

My only claim to this position is my age, and apart from that, I can only do my best...

You're too modest. I haven't had many chances to speak to you, but I understand that you are a man of great learning.

You flatter me... the more I study the tomes, the more conscious I am of my own ignorance. We all are, compared to Her.

But I heard that you had been studying the scriptures for two days and nights without rest, so I came to see if I could share the burden.

It's good timing. I... also have some questions that I would like to discuss with you.