act48side

What?

She's boatsick.

A rare occurrence.

I-I'm not. M-My legs are just tired from all the walking and buckled a little...

What do we do?

Take the luggage onto the boat. I'll go and get something.

Take her into the cabin. The waves are not strong today and the boat should sail steady. The Delphi Canal treats those with good intentions kindly.

We'll go to the main crossing once we've delivered her, to see that Sargonian ambassador... can't let the Astynomos' heads-up go to waste, can we?

I'll come with you, Master Xanthos. I must keep an eye on you.

...Bring the passenger's luggage first.

...They weren't listening to me.

(Whisper) You're missing the point! They've got a vendetta against you!

(Whisper) It's not too late to switch your nationality to Columbian! Don't—

Please be careful. This is very important.

Hey— You—

Forget it. Let's get on the boat.

It's really heavy. What is it?

It's...

Movie figurines from Wrankwood that we're planning to sell here. We've even got ones from the latest hit, <i>Lady Dupont</i>.

But there are no cinemas in Athenius.

That's the point. You want to sell shoes, you do it in a country where everybody is barefoot.

Did you say 'the Delphi Canal will treat those with good intentions kindly', Master Ferryman?

(Nods)

The source of the Delphi River is on Mt. Hymnoi, flowing through the plains between the Minoan mountains, past the former sites of Athenius and Corinia from before they became nomadic cities...

It helped our warriors fend off the iron hooves of the Sargonian raiders.

It has been turned into a canal now, but it continues to nurture singers and debaters, and the culture of Minos.

Yes, the Delphi Canal will treat those with good intentions kindly... except Sargonians.

Perhaps there are Sargonians who understand and love Minoan culture.

The last Sargonian who introduced herself with those words was the sister of the Shahanshah, Malla, Queen of the Far Shore.

She burned every Minoan city but the Three Poleis to the ground, closed the temples, banned the plays, imported Sargonians, and assimilated Minoan culture in every way possible.

She brought the darkest age upon our country. She showed her 'understanding' and 'love' by bleeding the heroic blood of the Minoans dry.

Is this 'ambassador' from far away another shameless noble who seeks to be the next Queen of the Far Shore by trampling Minos underfoot?

Listen—

Hey, is it tipping again—

Ugh—

Whoa, eek! Ugh—!

Help—!

*sigh*...

Hm...

Never mind all that. Have an apple. It'll settle your stomach.

So you had gone to get an apple.

Th-Thanks.

Keep your eyes closed and don't look at the water. You'll feel better that way.

I'll be fine. I want to see it.

Leaning against the side of the boat, Titi forces her eyes open.

The sun is hanging high above. The morning mist of the Delphi Canal in autumn has completely dissipated, and the last cool touch of the wind brushes against her cheeks.

I know the blade of vengeance and the decapitation of the conqueror are core themes of Minoan drama.

But I've seen more thought-provoking expressions as well.

I will see each and every one clearly with my own eyes.

I came to Athenius to—

To what?

Look there...

Even though I feel like I'm gonna throw up all my internal organs, I still...

This river and this city... they're so beautiful...

I think I'll love this place.

I am honored to hear you say as much.

We're here.

I wish you a joyful and safe trip in Minos.

This is the true harp of Kereseira.

The priestess of Endymion reaches out her hand to brush away a corner of the fence running around the burdenbeast pasture, pulling out a few overgrown blades of grass, revealing a harp built into the fence itself.

The simple instrument has nearly become one with the pasture. Not far away, the burdenbeasts leisurely munch on the radishes the priestess had brought along, humming in satisfaction.

...Its coloration has darkened, the paint on the base is mottled, and while the decorative elements are still there, their surfaces have burdenbeast bite and hoof-polishing marks. The whole thing looks like an ornament in the corner of the field.

I shouldn't question you... but this... I find it rather hard to believe...

You are a specialist in your field, and no doubt have a repertoire of techniques and standards to confirm it. You may examine it in detail.

If you say so. The wood used for the harp's body is definitely from the firs that grow near the site of old Athenius. As for its design, it's simpler than the one I brought.

The strings are far too new, though. These are metal strings, only popularized in the last few years...

The original strings snapped a long time ago. I replaced them recently.

I had also tried using traditional beastgut strings, but... No matter the type, the result was always the same.

Legend has it that the day Old Athenius fell, Kereseira's harp fell silent, never to sound again.

Metal, beastgut, once a month I would come here to try and play it, but I could never make it sing again.

...However you put it, it's the harp Kereseira used—

Assuming what you say is true...

The Sargonians aren't occupying Minos anymore. Why keep it hidden in a field?

Why, when I suggested holding the ceremony at the First Temple, no, even before that, when the Astynomos agreed to conduct the exchange for this relic—You're a priestess, you must have known.

Why didn't you bring it out earlier?

A harp that doesn't sing is merely a beautiful piece of wood.

It can be a fence in a field, or a toy for the burdenbeasts, but what it cannot be... is the centerpiece around which to gather everyone together for a ceremony celebrating the completion of a temple.

This makes no sense. Even the fake we brought plays notes that move the soul.

Which is why it is merely a fake. As for the harp before us, if you don't believe me, try it for yourself.

You may touch it. No need for reverence. I understand your hesitation.

If you can make it sing... If you can create a miracle, then you may consider it the harp you brought along, and use it to complete your trade.

I make you this promise, as the current keeper of the harp.

I... Sorry, but I've got one more question: why me? Sure, I need the real harp, but the First Temple also needs it...

I am a priestess of Endymion Temple, Kyría Mashayer.

We are the hierophants of revelation. For the people, we interpret dreams, decipher visions, and divine the future.

Sometimes, we will offer some comforts of our own accord, but most times, we will be passive, deferring to established facts and heroic wills.

Words flow from my lips, but they are beyond my control. Like how the things appearing before my eyes are not necessarily a pleasure to see.

We might call coincidence fate, but when true fate approaches, all our witticisms and pontification lose their meaning.

Do I have the power to allow the sun to shine, the rivers to flow, to dictate all from high to low?

You carry the harp of Kereseira—counterfeit though it may be—and it has appeared in Athenius. This can only be an omen. The events of the past few days stand as proof.

But what is most important is your character. It is because it is you, and not your fellow countryman, that I expect your spirit to resonate with the harp.

...I...

First, try singing heroic odes to it. Try playing it. Give your heart to it, and speak to it.

Then, perhaps, you really will be able to make it sing, and bring about a miracle.

She's finally gone... All that mysterious claptrap, sheesh...

What, ready to play already? You really believe her?

She is a priestess of Minos, and Pallas's friend. I doubt she'd lie to me about this.

Also... If we really can bring the real harp to the ceremony at the First Temple... It'll sure beat running all over Terra with a fake harp strapped to my back.

It doesn't really matter if this is the 'true fate' the priests speak of, or if it's some kind of test from the Minoan people, but I have to give it a try.

And how're you going to do that? All that 'give your heart to it', 'bring about a miracle' baloney, what's your methodology here?