slchan

Hah! One more!

Jump!

Safe!

That was a hard cliff.

Almost halfway to the top. I'll take a break here.

Is that... smoke? Why would someone start a fire out here in the middle of nowhere, in broad daylight to boot?

Could it be a distress signal?

Hard to gather firewood with my leg like this. Hope a hunter passes by and sees it...

Better be a human and not some wild beast...

Who's there?!

Don't worry, I'm just a mountain climber. I saw the smoke and thought it might be a distress signal.

Oh... thank goodness.

Someone actually came.

Is your leg hurt?

Yeah, I took a fall off a steep slope.

What's a Sankta doing on this mountain?

Ah, I'm from the Notarial Hall, and I'm executing a will of the deceased.

The instructions were to seek out a Sankta who left Laterano many years ago. I learned that he's living on one of these mountains.

I was searching around these parts, and, well... you can guess the rest.

The Notarial Hall sure works you hard, huh.

You know of the Notarial Hall?

Yeah. I'm with Rhodes Island. Have you heard of it?

Rhodes Island—ah, Federico.

My sympathies.

Haha. It's okay. We call him Executor, I think he's fun.

As long as you're not on a mission with him.

Could you help me get down the mountain?

I'll rest and recover in the town there before proceeding to execute the will.

You're continuing your mission?

Yes.

Alright, grab my hand.

So the Sankta came after all.

Samara, is it? I've been wondering... you Notarial Hall people seem just as busy as our operators, always on the move.

Why do you go so far for someone who left your city?

The law binds us, even if they've left Laterano.

The law...? You mean like in <i>Kjeragandr?</i>

<i>Kjeragandr?</i> Ah, you're from Kjerag, aren't you? I should have realized.

Yes, faith in Kjeragandr binds the people of Kjerag together.

Hm... there are subtle differences. From what I know, followers of Kjeragandr believe that Kjeragandr protects the people of Kjerag in subtle and mysterious ways.

For us, our faith is in the law of Laterano itself. We believe that there is a set of rules that binds us together.

We care for each other, understand each other, and hold ourselves accountable to each other.

That's how the Notarial Hall came to be, because we believe that all of us have a duty to do what we can for our people.

Kjeragandr's faithful care for each other too, but we're more subtle about it, because we believe that Kjeragandr has a plan for everything.

That's what you believe? Interesting.

This is my first real exposure to the Kjeragandr faith. I'd love to sit down and have a chat with you, if I had the time.

Unfortunately, I have a mission to complete, but thank you for helping me here, Ensia.

Once I've executed this will, maybe we could catch up—

Would you mind telling me more about the will? I might be able to help more.

Oh?

The mountains around here are steep, and dangerous for novice climbers. My mountaineering experience could be useful.

Of course, if it's classified or something, I won't push it.

Well, there's nothing particularly confidential about it.

Are you sure you want to do this, though?

It's no trouble. My field assignment is already done, and I've got some time before I have to return to base.

I wouldn't be climbing here otherwise.

In that case, I don't think I have the luxury of turning you down.

A renowned gun-knight, Reverend Regis, passed away recently.

In his will, he asked the Notarial Hall to find his brother, a scholar by the name of Legis, who left Laterano forty years ago after a rift between them.

A rift?

It occurred so long ago that it's unlikely anyone other than the two brothers know what happened. All we know is it had something to do with conflicting views on war.

His Holiness the Pope supported Reverend Regis's position, and Reverend Legis chose to go into exile.

Reverend Regis knew that Reverend Legis would not return to Laterano as long as he was there, so his hope was that Legis might return after his death.

If Reverend Legis is already...

He included instructions to bring back a token of Reverend Legis's, so that the brothers may be interred together.

To reunite a pair of estranged brothers...

I'm totally on board!

Any other details to go on?

I asked around and nobody had much contact with Reverend Legis, with the exception of a hunter by the name of Tiana.

I wasn't able to find her, so I started searching the nearby mountains.

A hunter?

Ah... that explains a lot.

Oh?

(Whisper) Maybe you didn't notice because you were injured, but we were followed.

(Whisper) What?!

(Whisper) I thought it was bandits looking for their mark, but now it seems likely it's the hunter you were talking about—

(Whisper) Head down.

Tsk.

Wait here.

I'll go after her!

Is there a signal here? Oh, thank goodness, I can reach one of the nearby nomadic cities.

Executor Samara reporting in. I need assistance.

Oh... Your Eminence?

She's a fast climber.

But I'm not too shabby myself!

Stop right there!

Hmph.

You're Tiana, aren't you?

Just a hunter passing by.

Drop the act. You wouldn't have tailed us for so long if you were just passing by.

You know why Samara is here.

You're Sarkaz?!

So what if I am?

Why would a Sarkaz—

Whoa—

You can move, I'll give you that.

Well, you sure can't shoot!

You think so?

(Wait, she's not aiming for me.)

(Could it be—!)

Too late.