Глава 15

The auditorium is...

Huh? Is this not the place?

You're back too?

The auditorium is this way. Follow me!

I came back as soon as I got word from the Messenger.

So many people... it's like everybody's back...

The internal layout is being continuously improved, but people still get lost all the time.

We're going to put some signs up.

I couldn't believe it when I first heard that HQ was being moved to a nomadic plate... didn't have the access level to find out what exactly happened in the incident.

All I heard is something about Originium, and that the ship was abandoned and everyone was evacuated.

No need to worry. Like the Doctor said, we'll dig the old ship out.

Uh-huh... I saw Amiya on my way here. I asked about Dr. Kal'tsit.

She didn't go into details, only told me not to worry—

Before I got the chance to comfort her.

Red still harbors hope.

She is hiding in the shadows in a corner, the bag holding her baby tooth in her pocket.

Red wanted to sneak it into Kal'tsit's pocket when she came back, but it was someone else who did.

She wants to hear about Kal'tsit today. She knows that the Doctor and Mon3tr have been working on something in secret.

Uh... Dr. Warfarin? I thought it was the Doctor's presentation.

No need to look so nervous.

I'm simply here to give a talk on a paper. Medical Department's routine.

Dr. {@nickname} is currently busy with something else, and there is no one more suited than I.

This paper was co-authored by one of my patients, by the name of Chloe.

In the recent incident on Rhodes Island, she helped us complete a critical piece of Oripathy research.

Not only did this research turn the tides at the time, it also provides guidance for every medical worker with an interest in Oripathy moving forward.

Usually, this is the time when I talk about the authors, their biographies, their achievements...

When it comes to Chloe, however, I'm not sure where to start.

Her resume is largely a blank sheet. To be honest, I hardly took any interest in her past in the three years that I cared for her.

I left only a few comments in her file—

Oripathy patient from Victoria. Not always diligent about following doctor's instructions. Makes atrocious noises in the ward with her handmade clocks...

She was the one who proposed the key hypothesis of the experiment, and the one who provided a precious sample.

The sample was herself.

She asked me to harm her, in order to obtain more accurate data from the objective changes that occurred to her.

Few of the operators at the presentation have ever seen Dr. Warfarin so serious.

More than a few thought about sneaking out quietly at first, when they found out that she was the one presenting.

At the end, however, they all stayed, out of respect to Chloe's sacrifice, and because they all wanted to know what exactly happened to Rhodes Island.

As her doctor, I could not approve of her choice.

As a member of Rhodes Island, however, I am indebted to her courage—

'Her condition was unusual, special. Perhaps she had a chance to escape the despair of Oripathy, to live on in another way.'

'Perhaps she could have escaped death.'

I-I've made my choice.

You want to go back to the land that belonged to you?

Yes.

You know what this means. You will face death once again.

Death has always been the conclusion to life.

In this place, I've seen so many 'gods' that I could not even fathom, and learned so much from them.

I want to go back and tell my people...

The end may be destined, but they need not live in fear of death and disintegration.

Perhaps I can soothe the fear that Originium brings them.

Is this all you want?

Yes.

The Cautus looks at Priestess with firm eyes. The miracle maker takes her hand.

Come with me, then.

I will take you home.

Is there anything here that you will miss?

The Cautus shakes her head.

Will I ever see you again?

I'm not a prophet. I can't see your future.

Priestess takes the Cautus's hand, and they walk into the shadow of the megastructure.

They walk towards the silent conclusion of countless civilizations, the cradle of new hope.

'...Our joint research has validated a key conclusion.'

'A change is occurring to Originium, the nature of which we have yet to ascertain. It has already had a chain effect on our patients.'

'We have empirically demonstrated the existence of new symptoms of Oripathy for the first time since the large-scale infection incident in Victoria three years ago.'

'This will take Terra's Oripathy research into a new direction. Whether this is for the better or for the worse remains to be seen, as we continue to accumulate case studies and data.'

The Cautus smells wind and sand as her eyes adjust to the light.

There is no doubt about it. This is her Terra. She is home.

She can still feel the warmth in her hand, but she is alone.

You're gone...

I can't believe there's someone else in this forsaken place—

...seek help from her... she looks even weaker than us...

I know it hurts... I'll find help... wait for me... hang in there...

The Cautus sees someone run towards her frantically.

H-Hello, could you contact the nearest hospital—no, it would be too late—

Would you happen to have any suppressants? It looks like you're Infected too...

The miner grabs Hierda's hand like a drowning man grasps at a straw.

She does not have any suppressants, nor does she know how to contact the nearest hospital.

But she does not want to take hope away from her brethren.

Is there any trouble? You can take me there.

Maybe I can help.

Maybe.

Thank you! Thank you so much!

My brother's over there!

Hierda is stunned by what she sees as they hurry around the hills.

A massive Originium crystal is stuck in between the walls of a vast canyon.

Hierda can see something sealed within the crystal.

A ship?

What... is that?

We found a new vein here, and we wanted to give it a try before we registered it...

I mean, look at how rich the color is! Besides, there might be something even more valuable within...

But listen, there's something not right with this place! It's like someone's watching us, and my brother got infected from a wound he picked up in an accident—

(Screams in pain)

It looks really bad. You know as well as I do that he's about to disintegrate... there's nothing that can be done.

I-I can't just leave him here. We have thirteen siblings waiting for us at home—

Listen to me. Run, as far away as possible.

B-But...

Don't look back. Run.

I've dealt with this before. Leave it to me.

(Mumbles with great difficulty) Go...

I understand your pain. I know the terror that overtakes us when the light fades from our eyes...

I've been there.