Глава 14

'Wiš'a', and 'del', right? Del means home, that I know. But Wi... wiš'a...

It means to 'Wish'.

To wish... for a home.

Yes. Kazdel's destiny—could you witness it, in my stead?

But... I... you... Theresis...

Kazdel's future is in your hands. Not mine, nor Theresis's.

You'll understand when the day comes.

Haha... Alright! Wiš'adel... Wiš'a—del...

It's engraved onto my brain forever. I'll never forget it!

I like it. Sounds so much better than the names Hoederer threw at me from his dictionary.

Kal'tsit, Amiya, and you in the hood. Heard that? Call me Wiš'adel from now on. And you'd better not get it wrong.

Also, I just decided to head down to the Military Commission later and bomb my name out with explosives. That way, nobody'll ever forget it.

Or maybe the roof's better. I want the flames to spread so far you can even see it from Londinium...

Wiš'a...del.

I know what you want to say. I'm not crying.

I'm shaking because... hehe... hah...

*ahem* Why's everyone all quiet now?

You.. I... can't find the words to say...

Go, Amiya.

Before she vanishes completely... she'll be happy with you by her side.

Even if she'll never admit it herself.

Doctor, we may be standing against Theresa now, but I have to admit she has achieved something beyond the limits of my imagination.

I believe you as you are right now, should already have some conjectures in mind even if you're missing your past memories.

It has something to do with that mysterious person.;...Priestess...

Theresa, our mission is far from being over, yes?

Have you already handed the first Originium to him?

...Theresa, this difficult problem you're leaving us with is truly—

Kal'tsit, things don't always go the way we want. All we have done is to do what we should, nothing more.

Doctor, your appearance before me right now is proof I've won our earlier bet.

Theresa...;You still hide so many secrets.

Hah. Doctor, allow me to instill a little bit more suspense.

You're still not ready, even now, even if all of you've surpassed me—

See the ocean waves billowing?

We don't have much time left.

I always knew our reunion only meant another parting.

My dear Kal'tsit, since we're all clear about our respective endings, why should we go through sorrow yet again?

Can you come closer?

Theresa stretches out her hand and touches the ends of Kal'tsit's hair.

Ah, here you are. I hope my staunch and strong Kal'tsit isn't shedding any tears this time either.

You're always like this.

I'm a very fortunate soul, Kal'tsit.

Every time I leave, I do so with my dearest friend by my side...

Thank you.

Theresa... she's disappearing...

She's what? Bunny, what kinda nonsense is that? Isn't Her Highness with us right now? I'm even hugging—

Wiš'adel, haven't you achieved what you wanted to do...?

You met, defeated me, and finally, killed me.

It's time to let go.

I will leave without a trace, and no longer exist anywhere you can see.

Theresa, do you mean that the Originium will no longer bear any traces of you?

Yes, I won't allow Originium to become our cage.

All that I've strived for, is just to free the Sarkaz completely.

The Sarkaz should be free, in both life and death.

'Destroy something, to create a ladder...' Even if what I end up destroying is myself.

You're so... different from the Theresa I had in mind.

Dr. {@nickname}... This is our 'first' meeting, isn't it?

What bits have you heard of me... what kind of Theresa do you have in your mind?

A founder of Babel, a faultless idealist?

Or a cold, calculated King of Sarkaz, a schemer who instigates war?

No, neither.

Both are roles that others need you to play.

Is that so...

I didn't think we'd get the chance to say our farewells so peacefully.

This is...?;I've never been here before.

A friend bid farewell to me here, a long time ago.

I witnessed my friend's death, and from here I began walking towards my own.

...I like this place.

But it is also somewhere I cannot reach or visit, ever.

It only perpetually exists in the memories of the void, unreachable throughout my whole life.

Dr. {@nickname}, what kind of person do I seem to you right now—?

Someone who would do everything and anything for the fate of their people.;Someone always chasing after a lofty ideal.;I... don't know.

Is that so? Quite the interesting answer.

You and me, past and present, what is gone, and what is to come...

Time seems to hold no meaning here. Perhaps we have already said something similar at some other point in time.

But what you say isn't completely baseless.

I was once warned about my future, but I was clear this was my path to tread.

I wouldn't give up, no matter if I lived or died, regardless of place and time.

However, the very same words coming from you hold no irony at all.

Thank you, Doctor.

What defines a lofty ideal? Who ought to define it?

I exacted violence on other races for Sarkaz freedom. I renounced the belief I once defended with my life, and stood against all of you...

The Rhodes Island of today has already stepped out of Babel's shadow...

Though it has abandoned some concepts Babel once adhered to, for the Sarkaz.

You fly peace as your banner, but employ violence to help our oppressors bring back suffering to the Sarkaz.

But at the same time, I can't deny your own lofty ideals, just like how I can't deny my past self.

Perhaps you believe you completely comprehend what 'lofty' means... but for me, the phrase still weighs too heavy.

However, thank you, Doctor.

I can sense you're not lying right now.

But if you're still going to give a perfunctory reply at such a moment... my disappointment will only grow.

Of course, a little loss isn't surprising at all. I really want to know your answer, Doctor.

Doctor, don't give up on finding the answer. If you're still just following Rhodes Island's ideals as you go—

I worry if you're ready enough to handle whatever it is that you encounter in the future.

Just keep going, like how I hoped you would in the past.

...To be honest, I can't give you a proper evaluation.;You're still a conundrum to me.

You're cautious, still hostile and wary toward me just like you were back then... of course, we stand now on opposing sides like we did before.

But no matter. You merely haven't had enough time to figure out each and every single enigma there is.

A pity we always have our chats when the clock is ticking down so fast.

I heard so many stories about you on Rhodes Island.

You've done so much.;You still have many regrets.

My mission is over.