act4d0

Simone... You have to understand. I, Magallan, believe in exploration. I believe in explorers.

One day, our footprints will cover this entire land.

...You have put your hopes in a future that may not come to pass. Will you not be disappointed?

No big deal. An explorer spends her whole life discovering, and her whole life being disappointed.

No explorer's discovery is purely her own. Every one of us stands on the shoulders of all the explorers who came before us. Every discovery is connected to a long and storied past.

Like, I'm only here in this ice field because of a story I heard as a child.

But I know in my heart that even if the thing I'm looking for doesn't exist, everything I do still has meaning.

Even if it's just some empty, disappointing, imaginary meaning.

Oof, this heater is a little too powerful... burned my hair last time. Oh well, on you go!

...I see.

Yep! Welp, here I go!

Let me go in your stead.

Huh?

Simone, you came here looking for someone, right? Our outpost here doesn't hire anybody!

I already found her.

Huh.

You mean me, Magallan?

The environment has deteriorated to the point where our messenger was unable to inform you in advance.

Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am a Rhodes Island Operator, codename 'Santalla.' I am here to retrieve you. Of course, you can keep calling me Simone.

Let me go in your stead.

Wow...

Nope. It's too risky!

That's what I should be saying to you.

Nope nope nope. I'm the field specialist here. It's my responsibility.

Don't underestimate me.

Huh.

Tell me how to do the repair, Operator Magallan. And let me take care of everything outside.

Okay, okay, I got it. Here, take this!

What is it?

Just press this button and I'll come out and get you! And take this, and this...

Heh heh, thank you...

I truly found the right person. I don't need them, Magallan.

You do! I can't let you go out there without...

No. Operator Magallan... trust me.

The land, she trusts me too.

We spend our whole lives discovering, and our whole lives being disappointed. Right?

Foolish Sami. What will this resistance accomplish?

You are indeed impressive. We cannot escape this storm.

But what does it matter? Ursus will crush you, swallow your cities, devour your land!

Witch... we will not kill you.

We will die, but you will live. You must live. You must see the land stained with blood!

Take this. A gift from the dead! Take it, with your eye!

Scream! Cry! Then live!

We die in glory! You live in ignominy! Forever!!

Witch!

Indeed. How was it I always felt this world would die?

So long as there are children like this, the world will find a way to flourish.

Rest assured, Magallan. There are some things that are beyond you. Let the adults handle it. It is good for us too.

'...Listen ♪...'

'...Flourishing life blooming white, buried black seeds deep in the night... ♪'

'Sing out, pretty girl. Cry out, pretty girl ♪'

'The snow hears your song, the blizzard keeps you warm ♪'

——Snows of the Northlands, do you hear my song?

Magallan... I want you to follow your dreams.

There. That should stop the snow.