mostma

You know, one of my dreams is to live in a different city.

Then you're not just a happy-go-lucky girl, are you?

Anyway, it wasn't until I went to Laterano that I became interested in sculpting, and began to pursue it formally.

In my heart, I always wanted to come back here.

But Lateran sculptures aren't the same as the ones here, are they?

...I know that.

When I began to seriously study sculpture, I also began to regret not studying Deeproot sculpting while the town was still around.

The past can't be changed, though. I'll continue the tradition here with Lateran techniques.

Unless somebody knows a better way.

So you're hoping Susan succeeds?

...You must be joking. I won't let five years of hard work go to waste.

The largest rock over here.

Gotcha.

Anyway, if you want to help, you can start by cutting the rocks down to the required size.

In Lateran terms—

Blow 'em up!

*sigh* I knew it. Just don't go too far and turn it into a heap of rubble.

Don't worry, I'm an explosives expert!

Time has taken its toll on the streets, which are filled with mud and scattered bricks and rubble. The marks left by Catastrophe are everywhere.

Even the most experienced Messengers avoid such places, but Mostima steps inside without hesitation, stopping only to tighten her hood.

She has gotten far too used to such environments in the span of just two years.

Five years ago, she would not have gone to such lengths. Indeed, she might not have stood here at all.

In the two years that she has been a Legatus, however, she has seen too many places and things that she had never seen before.

When she set foot in the place, she already had an inkling of what Susan was talking about.

The answer to the scent might be a simple one.

You think so too, don't you?

Mostima comes before the statue that stands in the middle of the ruins, carefully removes a broken piece, and takes a sniff of it.

Then, she bends down and picks up a handful of soil, and takes a sniff from it as well.

It is as she thought.

The secret to this 'scent of the town' is simple—

It is a mingled scent of the soil and the stone used in sculpting.

And there is no great secret to why the townsfolk found it familiar. It has the freshness that the vegetation left in the soil, and the unique mineral scent of the stone.

The townsfolk have lived side-by-side with these scents all their lives, which combined to become a scent that brought back memories to the people who lived here.

Can't say it's that pleasant.

Then again, we've been all over, but we've never smelled a smell quite like it, have we?

Explosives, set.

I've done the math. You'll get the result you want when it goes off!

You really know what you're doing, don't you? Couldn't tell at first glance.

I told you, I'm an explosives expert!

Let's get started! Boom!

Lemuel's math was on-point.

The massive rock cracks into several pieces as the explosions go off.

The only thing she neglected was the nature of the stone.

By the way, did I tell you that these rocks emit a large amount of dust when detonated?

Lemuel cannot open her eyes in the thick dust that fills the entire area.

I-I can't see!

What the...?

Mosti—

Shh—

I can't see! Melissa, help!

Look out! There's a hole in the ground—

Huh? Whoa—!

Lemuel's foot finds nothing but empty air. Her body instantly thrown off balance.

As she is about to fall into the hole, a hand grabs her arm and pulls her back.

Thanks, Melissa—

Gotta be more careful, El.

Mostima?!

Hearing the familiar voice, Lemuel rubs her eyes and forces them open.

But she sees no one before her.

*cough* *cough* Mostima?!

Melissa? Was Mostima just here a moment ago?

Melissa? Where did you go?

What's going on?!!

This scent...

Yes, that's it... mm... oh...

It's exactly what Deeproot used to smell like...

This is the scent alright.

I didn't think it would be so simple.

It's the simplest things that leave the deepest impression.

I... have to thank you for finding it, Mostima, Susan.

It's me who should be thanking you, Melissa.

Without you, I would still be going around in circles.

Well, it's a little too early to celebrate.

If the secret behind the scent is so simple, there's no reason why I can't use it.

Now ain't that a cunning move.

You didn't think the townsfolk would pick you just because you discovered the scent?

No, I'll sculpt the best statue!

I don't know how to thank you, Mostima. You helped the town discover that familiar scent, and brought vitality back to the place.

You flatter me, Mr. Mayor... I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

But I'm curious, Mostima.

Five years ago, all you did was follow your squad leader Andoain, without saying a single word.

Why did you come today to do all this for us?

When she arrived on scene, what she saw was a gravely injured Lemuen, and a crazed Andoain who had committed the act.

She sensed many emotions in that instant—bewilderment, hysteria, alongside relief and acceptance.

It put a doubt in her heart, but did not stop her from acting.

To stop Andoain, she had to knock the Lock and Key from his hand with her patron firearm. She left with Lemuen after retrieving the Lock and Key.

They returned to Laterano, accompanied by Fiammetta.

After that, the Lock and Key were taken from her, and she was put under house arrest.

She did not regret her fall. It was what Andoain saw in the Lock and Key that she was more concerned about.

She made the bold decision to break into the Curia.

Miss this chance, and the secret may elude her forever.

Infiltrating the Curia was not easy, but she succeeded.

Thinking back now, the white-bearded old man must have had a hand in it. He would hardly have allowed Mostima to keep the Lock and Key otherwise.

Whatever the reason, she was once again in possession of the Lock and Key.

The Lock and Key did not react when she took them from Andoain.

This time, when she touched them again with questions in her heart, she walked into a fantastical plane.

There, she saw—

A gap in the past. A cross-section of the future.

She has a pretty good guess as to what Andoain saw.

When she saw what she saw on that plane, she immediately understood why Andoain went mad.