fuze

Sure.

But... wait... there's something I still need to do...

What is it?

I don't know, but... Originium...

Originium? What's that? Did you have a dream while you were out cold?

I mean... have you ever heard of Originium?

You can't expect other people to understand what happens in your dreams.

Sorry... it's just that the word left an impression on me.

There's no point in dwelling on it. It's better to just focus on Registan Square. You should come with me.

Your cas— I mean, scientists, the best ones—

No, it's nothing.

I'm just happy that I'm visiting your homeland.

A place with no catastrophe, no war, no tragedies.

No... tragedies?

Shuhrat? What is it?

Do you remember Oregon?

Shuhrat—

Tell me, what do you think of Oregon?

O-Oregon? A good place for artists, with nice museums, orchestras...

What about Baghdad? Lebanon? Moscow?

Shuhrat, listen...

Did you think that without Originium—

No, no!

—Without Originium, there won't be any tragedies, Berman?

(Forced smile) Of course not, Shuhrat.

Perhaps it would all happen again, absent Originium. But don't be so hard on a dying patient's dream.

Maybe you should go and see the places that I talked about. See what happened to my home without Originium.

There's no need. I take it that no less blood was spilled there than Vedunien that autumn.

It's not the amount of bloodshed that matters.

Ha... you're one to talk now, Shuhrat.

Go.

The Arts have failed. You can no longer tell me what it looks like beneath that blue sky, nor can I experience it again through your narration.

Go, before I turn to a pile of dust. Bring my first and final crime to a painless end.

What is it? You wanted to talk to a man who achieved nothing?

Perhaps there are less tragedies in this world... these lands... than you think.

Then what did I see in Vedunien? What did you see in the places that you talked about?

Chaos.

Chaos is just that. Sometimes it brings destruction and other times, it guides you through it.

Chaos doesn't always end in tragedy, unless...

Unless no one takes action?

Perhaps, Shuhrat. But it's too late.

Too late.

Does the soul linger after death?

I know little about this topic.

It's fine. I'm just thinking... if it does, do you think my soul can visit the Samarkand of your memories, and see the blue dome above?

If you wish...

...I'm not opposed to telling you how it looks, of my own volition.

Am I still worthy to hear it?

Don't leave this world without achieving anything.

The haggard man's eyes go wide, then he laughs feebly.

Perhaps the reason that you don't like to talk is you're too smart. Smart people are good at offending others.

Fuze shrugs and begins to describe the plaza and the nearby buildings, in as much detail as possible.

Berman raises his wand, and a lifelike model of Registan Square begins to form before the desk.

...Looks just like it. Almost identical.

Good to hear.

Where will you go?

The water tower. I'll stay in town a little longer, finish what you could not.

Go. Take Vissel home. Let him spend his last moments with his granddaughter.

I will. Goodbye.

...Take care.

As the door locks behind Fuze, Berman raises his wand with what little strength he has left.

There is no music, only the sound of doors and windows sealing.

The wand falls to the ground, but Berman could no longer hear it. He feels the blue dome of the model, imagining the sky of the same color, the sky he hasn't, and won't be able to see.