act7mini

Yes. Just a little something I still have to take care of.

But don't worry, it'll just be a little detour to take care of some personal matters. I won't be gone for long!

But...

It's fine, it's fine. I'll be acting on behalf of myself and nobody else, so I won't make any trouble for Rhodes Island... And, I'll talk to Dr. Kal'tsit myself after I get back!

That's not what I'm worried about though...

Well...... If you say so, Cliffheart. But make sure to stay safe, no matter what.

No problem!

Hmm? Courier!

Good day.

Yo. Haven't seen you around in a while. Did you just get back?

Mm. This time, there were quite a lot of things that needed to be done, and the whole process took longer than expected.

Matterhorn and that young lady, Cliffheart, were with you as well?

Matterhorn did come with me, but we did not bring the young lady along.

(Speaking of which, I haven't seen her since we came back...)

Oh? Sorry, I must've misunderstood something.

Not long ago, I saw the young lady packing a large bag of cold-weather mountaineering gear, and she was dressed for the job too. I assumed she was heading back with you.

Climbing gear... and specifically for snowy mountains? Are you... absolutely sure?

No doubt about it. To tell you the truth, it's a hobby of mine as well. We talk about sweet deals on climbing gear a lot, which can save a whole bunch of money!

If I'm remembering things right, your country's full of snowy mountains, right?

Oh, yes. Yes it is.

(Lady Ensia, surely you didn't...)

(...decide to climb up the mountains alone just to deliver Lady Enya a letter? Knowing Lady Ensia, that IS something she'd do...)

(That can't be it, can it?)

If I get a chance, I'd like to take some time off and head over there myself. I've never tried climbing snowy mountains before, so I'll definitely be asking for advice from the locals when the time comes, heh.

(Damn it... I can't get it out of my head!)

(I have to find out for myself... I should've known, there's no way Lady Ensia would have given up just like that!)

(If it really is true, I have to stop her!)

Pardon me, but I must get going!

Huh? Wait, why are you running?

Ah, sorry, but some urgent personal matters came up—

Kjerag welcomes one and all! I promise I'll take you sightseeing when we get the chance!

Take this road... and then head to the west...

Ah! There it is!

That little snow-white summit... So that's what the peaks of Kjerag look like from a distance, huh?

Welp, can't really tell how hard that mountain is to climb from this distance. Might even say it looks kinda cute, that holy mountain of ours.

But I know that's a really tough peak to summit. Those who haven't tried it themselves will never truly understand.

Like us Silverashes.

Outsiders could never understand...

My, that's rather unfortunate. Do you see Matterhorn and myself as outsiders too, Lady Ensia?

Though it is true, hearing it does make my heart ache somewhat.

Finally, I've caught up.

Courier?!

Thanks to your unfamiliarity with the terrain, you spent a lot of time taking this part of the route cautiously. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to catch you.

Wait, wh-why are you here, Courier?!

I thought I—— Erm...

It's too late to stay silent now. 'I thought I didn't tell anyone' is what you wanted to say, right?

Urgh...

After realizing that I wouldn't help deliver the letter for you, you prepared all this cold-weather mountain-climbing gear and took on a mission that would put you closest to Kjerag.

After finishing the mission, you'd let the rest of the team head back to Rhodes Island first and take a little detour to 'take care of some personal matters.'

Such is my Lady Ensia, you certainly do act with great decisiveness.

But, I still ended up getting caught...

The fact that I saw so many hints but still failed to see through your plan makes me the stupid one.

Ugh.

Lady Ensia, are you planning to scale Mount Karlan again with only your bare hands?

Or, do you plan on barging into the Saintess's residence to deliver your letter, with no consideration for your own safety?

Have you considered what would happen if you made a fuss before the Vine-Bead Court?

Ever since I was little, every time I'd try to sneak out to play, you and my brother would always catch me. I never thought I'd be able to keep anything from you two.

You're exactly right. That is my plan. Since I faced down Mount Karlan once, I can do it a second time.

I can't allow it. It's too dangerous!

But if I'm powerless, what else am I to do?!

I'm always powerless... Powerless to stop the rift between my brother and Enya from growing wider and wider. And I'm expected to just let it happen!

On the day that Enya left home, I was hiding along the side. I knew she didn't want to go, and we both thought that big brother would protect us, but he didn't lift a finger... He didn't stop those people from taking Enya away.

I thought my sister would cry, but she didn't.

When I saw her walk out that door, in my heart, I wished that she would've cried out.

Master SilverAsh... also suffers his own hardships.

I know. Even though the two of you never tell me anything, I'm not stupid. I can see it.

Ever since he came back from Victoria and founded that company, even you and Uncle Matterhorn have been getting busier. I understand.

I don't want to blame my brother. But, Courier, have you ever seen the Saintess of Kjerag?

Lady Enya? No, you mean, the 'Saintess.'

Correct. The Kjerag Saintess.

I have, on one occasion. From a distance.

At first, I was so excited to finally get a chance to see my big sister, but... the only thing I saw was the Saintess of Mount Karlan, standing there as if frozen in ice. From where I stood, there was nothing of my sister.

Ever since then, I knew that Enya could not possibly have been living the life she wanted atop Mount Karlan.

We may have difficulty understanding each others' points of view from our current positions, but... I think Lady Enya is a different person now, you can't look at her like you did then.

The Saintess is very important to Kjerag, and honestly, Lady Enya's situation may not be so bad. She stands to be the master of an entire religion, the very faith of Kjerag...

That's not the same. Not at all.

You can say that the Saintess is noble, exalted, capable of being detached from our feelings. But our relationship is so much more important— we're literally sisters!

As siblings, if we never try to understand each other, or even worse, end up becoming enemies one day, what are we going to do then?!

I can't just wait until that day finally comes. I'm scared... so I have to do something.

Even if, even if it's something as simple as asking Enya how she's doing...

And, what if it's not what you want to hear?

Then I'll just climb up that damned mountain. Lie, cheat, or steal if I must, I'll take her from that place!

I'm serious. I'm gonna do it!

Pfft. Hahaha.

Good grief, how can you make something like that sound so simple...

Hey, this is a symbol of my determination! Why are you making fun of me? That's uncalled for, man!

The determination to lie, cheat, and steal, huh?

Uhhh... That's just a worst-case scenario.

That's true. I can only pray that the worst will never come to pass. Just thinking about you climbing up the mountain to kidnap her... Ughh, just thinking about it is giving me a headache.

Looks like you won't change your mind no matter what I say, right?

That's right.

I'm not joking. If I say I'll do it, I'll do it!

Even if I insist on stopping you, or reporting this matter to Master SilverAsh—

Even if my brother objects, even if he wants to lock me up, I won't give in. You'd better not underestimate me, because it's not that simple to shut me down!

*Sigh*...

I guess that settles it then. You've always had that streak in you, you'll do whatever you set your mind to, and nobody can tell you otherwise. If even Master SilverAsh can't do anything about it, what can I do but surrender?

You mean...

Hand that letter over to me.

I'd rather not live with the constant worry of wondering when you're going to do something foolish. It's better for me to help you figure out a solution, not to mention safer too.

*Sigh*... You're really putting me in a rough spot here, Lady Ensia.