Глава 15

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.

(Mutters in shock)

All I can do is walk with you to the end.

The Cautus holds the hardened hand of the dying, trying to give him one last sliver of warmth.

May your pain be eased, even just a little.

My pain... it-it's gone!

The Cautus does not understand what happened—The rocks are still spreading on the body of the dying.

But the color of the black rocks becomes increasingly pure, and they begin to glow orange.

H-How did you do that?!

They don't hurt any more. Why...?

The shocked man tries to move, and finds that movement comes naturally, as though the accident never happened.

Except for the Originium that continues to grow.

Perhaps there will come a day when it replaces his flesh and blood in its entirety.

What will become of him when that day comes?

I feel myself recovering. This is amazing...

H-Have I been freed from death?

He looks at the Cautus girl, only to see the same shocked expression in her eyes.

—Did you grant my wish? Or is it...

She does not see the one she wants to see, but catches a glimpse of a figure on a distant peak, gazing at them.

The figure turns around and leaves.

—This paper means a lot to me personally.

Chloe's efforts reminded me why Rhodes Island exists, and why Kal'tsit is committed to our path.

Unlike any period in its history, Rhodes Island today is not only a pharmaceutical company that fights the pain brought about by Oripathy—

It must deal with the Originium problem at the source too.

We brought hope to those who had lost it. In turn, they repay us with hope.

This paper is Rhodes Island's salute to Chloe, and a promise on our part—

—A promise to Kal'tsit.

You arrive after Warfarin's speech has concluded.

Thank you for doing the presentation on my behalf.

Chloe deserved to be honored.

She was a patient who saved her doctor.

You look happy. Are you done on your end?

We've made progress.

Yes, Dr. Warfarin.

With Mon3tr's help, we managed to identify some key pieces of information in the vast amounts of data that Dr. Kal'tsit left behind.

You mean...?!

Let Mon3tr tell you herself.

Dr. Warfarin! I found a way!

My connection to her was severed, but her bio-identification signals and neuron data are still stored inside my brain.

Plus the neural network I had shared with her, in theory, all we'll need is a life support device powerful enough to—

Slow down, slow down! What exactly are you getting at?

What I mean is, although it's a purely theoretical possibility...

By using the power of the Sarcophagus...

We can bring Kal'tsit back!

I knew Kal'tsit wouldn't go so easily...

But the Sarcophagus? The one that was on Rhodes Island?

We can't go back to Rhodes Island for a while.;There is only one other Sarcophagus accessible to us.

Ursus.

It's like we've come full circle.