act7mini

You're all used to avoiding the subject.

It's hard to kick your habits. We don't talk much about... our homeland at Rhodes Island. Besides, each of us has a different impression of that incident, and sometimes even about that whole area.

I've talked to Weedy about it. Both of us are Ægirs who grew up in Iberia, and I've come to realize the Iberia in her eyes is totally different from the one I see.

That's nothing strange, no? If you are not allowed to discuss the incident, then the only thing you will remember of it is the small fragment that you saw with your own eyes.

They... are taking the chance to piece the fragments together, from the people.

Hm, there's only the two of us now. I could talk about it, but... I'm afraid to do that. It's like something has my throat blocked.

I'm worried that as soon as I talk, the shadows cast on the path here will charge toward me.

And I say that even though I know it's just shadows cast by the Originium lamp.

Shadows... What a fine analogy. They skillfully redirect everyone's attention away, such that they fear the shadows rather than the enormous truth that lies behind.

It's so cold... but I'm sweating.

In the past, I would never even imagine that I could stand here and talk to you about this.

Everyone feels that way.

I suppose this pitch-black, sealed-off building is protecting us.

There's a dead body here, and we don't know what lies ahead. But this keeps me even more at ease than a wide open space.

The walls here give us a false sense of security, a sense that everything's under our control.

You're right. At least there isn't another pair of eyes staring at us.

Now I'm not sure about that.

Stop trying to scare me...

Okay, okay. I'll stop. Back to the topic of the disaster. The Inquisition isn't actually to blame for that decision. The decision to not talk about that was made by the Ægirs who came ashore.

Huh?

I guess it was a form of self protection.

Self... protection?

Do you know why the Ægirs came ashore?

I... don't know. I thought we were meant to be here to begin with, though it seems most Iberians don't agree with that.

I'm not too familiar either.

Yeah... but you know more than we do, at the very least.

It's funny. The history slowly disappeared from the Ægirs' memories, and we are the ones who still remember any of it.

My ancestors were taken away by the Ægirs some hundred years ago. They wanted the 'toxic' ability that we are born with.

Why... is that?

They kept extracting the toxins for experiments. They were trying to figure out whether these subterranean toxins could be used as some kind of weapon...

What were they trying to attack with that?

I have no idea. How could I have seen it? From my elders tell me, it was an enormous, terrifying monster that doesn't exist on land.

It's from the sea...

All I can say is that's extraordinarily likely.

I thought about asking the Doctor or Dr. Kal'tsit... or even the hunters directly.

Once, I happened upon Operator Skadi. This question immediately rose to the top of my mind.

I doubt she'd tell you...

Right, I don't think so either, and I didn't ask her in the end.

I'm not sure I have the courage to find out the truth...

Just like the Ægirs who came ashore, it took them several hundred years to forget that fear. That's how they could finally put down roots with their minds at ease to slowly become a part of Iberia.

No one would cast aside a new life they earned for themselves to fight what could be an endless war. Especially not when nobody knows when that disaster would actually strike, and when it actually strikes, everything could still be futile.

Even I wish that I could live a new life, even after the Doctor has taught me so much.

In that case... perhaps we should turn back, then?

We can still make it.

Perhaps.

You're still going straight ahead...

Oh, you're right. I'm still going straight.

Thinking back, after all these years, I haven't once thought of giving up my abilities to use my toxin.

Perhaps I've never managed to break free of the souls of those Ægirs who enslaved my ancestors, and, deep down in my heart, I believe that the toxins in me will get the enemies they're meant for.

How far down have we come?

I lost track.

Me too.

This tower is deeper than I expected... Uh, taller. The confined space here is disrupting our senses.

Oh, I think I'm hallucinating.

What did you see?

(Blinks)

A light up ahead.

And it's slowly floating upwards.

(Quietly) Switch your light off!

Amid the darkness, there is a white light swaying not far away.

Blue Poison makes sure this isn't a reflection of their lamps. Is it an illusion, or is it real? Which scenario is more dangerous?

(Let's get closer. Slowly now, don't surprise them.)

(Is it a threat?)

(Prepare for combat...)

(Franker at the ready.)

(Okay, we'll be making contact soon. There's a corner up ahead. Watch my hand. I'll knock three times. On the count of three—)

A bolt whizzes through the air.

It strikes the fuzzy white light. No, not quite. Just as it was about to strike the object, its trajectory curved to the side.

It's no problem. No one can see it. The bolt split in two soon after it was shot, one in the front, and one in the back, capturing the white light.

The very next moment, the white light suddenly expands.

Franker, maximum power!

W-Wait!

Amplifying microwave—

I mean no harm!

Hm?

*Cough*... Oww... hit my back... what a shockwave...

Please don't do that again...

If it's mercy you want, you should stop casting, Caster.

Uh, you mean my light? N-No, you're mistaken. This is just for lighting up my surroundings.

I defended myself on reflex. Please believe me! I don't want to hurt you at all!

No wonder... it feels kind of warm... and bright... Nothing about it makes me feel sick.

Glau, don't let your guard down just yet.

Her Originium Arts are not to be underestimated. This seems a little special, even.

Hm...

P-Put it down, please! Could you also move your bolt away from my neck...? Just a little, please?

I... I'm too scared to even breathe now... *Whimpers*...

I can lower my crossbow.

But you need to drop your staff too. If you try anything funny, believe me, your reflexes are no match for my bolts.

Okay...

The light extinguishes as soon as the girl throws her staff away.

Originium lamp.

Alright.

So that light was yours...

Are you after us?

No, that isn't what I meant.

I was waiting down below. There's no one else here, and when I saw your light, I thought maybe somebody decided to check this place out, so I started climbing the stairs to meet this guest.

You said you've been here for a while. Who are you?

Oh, I forgot to introduce myself... Um, my name is Aria.

Well, Aria, are you an Iberian?

Yes. Why, is it obvious?