sntlla

Forsaken, you say...

I'm truly very sorry... I only remember the ceremony where we bid the old tree farewell. Everything about our days when it yet lived, or the people we've lost, they are beyond me.

She, too, belongs to the past now.

Just like the old tree.

...It's alright.

So I take it the business about delivering a message was an excuse?

I do apologize...

I don't blame you. My clan has experienced so much displacement, and much was lost, including our past with people like you.

If there's anything you need, just say the word.

She honestly hopes that others might remember her, but what would happen if they do?

What would an outcast of the past change?

The wind of Sami has taken with it her story...

Let it leave, then, along with her regret.

You would excuse my rudeness, Alma of the birchbranch.

I am an outcast of Colddeath, daughter of the Santalla tree, Simone. By our rules and customs, I should never have returned to the clan.

But I still want do something for the clan before I leave.

If, of course, you would allow it.

How do you know my name?

I... I see.

You were... a part of the clan.

Well...

As you can see, we are still in the midst of migrating, and there have been trivial issues that require our attention along the journey. However, we have been able to manage, thus they need not concern you.

But our home... I'm talking about where we lived after we moved to the woodlands. We were unable to hold a ceremony to comfort our ancestors before we left there.

Because of the disaster in the north?

Yes... Certain phenomena were about to pollute our shelter, so we were in a hurry to leave.

Our clan still doesn't have a new Snowpriest, and our shamans are feeble against the disaster.

You're also a shaman, aren't you?

I am capable of performing a shaman's duties, yes.

Then may I entrust you with this matter?

You will not be disappointed.

I'm very sorry, daughter of the Santalla tree. You offer your earnest assistance while we fail to recognize our sister.

It doesn't matter anymore, Alma. We all ought to leave stories from the past behind us.

Farewell then, leader of the Colddeath clan.

May we meet at the other side of Sami's spine.

*sigh*...

A strange one indeed. Perhaps she was once Grandpa's student?

If Grandpa were still here, he'd probably ask me to be confident and humble a leader as her.

(Pulls out the amber pendant that she carries with her)

If you had came across something like this, how would <i>you</i> deal with it?

The shaman stares in a trance at the pendant left to her by a departed friend. A gift she got as a child, from a young apprentice shaman she used to play with.

She still remembers that she was a Feline.

And her eyes were exactly like the visitor just now...

Ah, Santalla, you're back.

Mhm.

You have enough hands here?

We'll manage.

Then I have something else to attend to.

Some clansmen reported that the collapsal paradigm was approaching where they lived at the time. If the collapse has been heading where we are now, it will be a problem.

I need to look into it.

Are you going alone? Isn't that... risky?

Having more untrained hands isn't going to help.

I was trained as a shaman. I know how to handle corruption, and I'm the only one here with the power to solve it.

It will be fine.

Well...

I should report this to the office right now, at least. They need to send a few shamans, preferably Snowpriests, to come help us.

There's also Typhon. After she returns with the expedition team, she needs to to go take a look there.

Where is the last expedition team set off now?

They should have made their way across the forest as we're talking. It's just some mountain paths they will have to walk before they enter the icefield.

Then we need to contact them. Better safe than sorry.

I'm already making calls.

Well then... take care on your journey, Santalla.

My apologies for the additional workload I just imposed on you.

It's no problem at all.

Did Santalla leave already?

Dude, you sound like you've never worked with her before...

Sami's oddities are still way out of our league. It's not like we can solve anything without troubling her.

How are the Infected doing?

They are being very cooperative and calm. For the time being there's nothing that demands our attention.

Phew....That's good to hear.

Then I need to ask you to lend a hand, Norma. We need to send an urgent telegram to Čappat.

A few days later...

This is the place.

Is there a signal here?

(Operates the communicator)

Might not be the signals...

Demons?

Naturally, there is no response. A giant shadow somewhat resembling a clan tree approaches.

The shadow of Colddeath's clan tree is wandering about in daylight?

No prominent signs of hostility, but definitely not peaceful

This is an omen of disaster.

Let's give the Columbian way a try...

Next up is...

(Takes out a mini calculator)

(Presses a few buttons without looking at the numbers)

The results are completely inconsistent...

Ugh...

As long as the corruption lingers, any solution is futile.

O ancestral spirits of Colddeath, pray forgive my neglect.

I will be back soon.

Without a clan tree, there's no sanctuary from the corruption.

In that case... the old tree shall shelter its people one last time.

Santalla takes out a dead twig of the old tree—her last tribute to it. She cuts her own finger, and the blood drips onto the dry twig before falling into the ground.

Heed me, O the Eternal, and return the unfaltering tranquility to the land.

When Santalla's blood hits the ground, it turns into clear water. Under the influence of her Arts, it quickly turns to frost and spreads.

Clean frost swarms over the dead branch, which seizes the chance to burrow into the earth, attracting the gaze of the past.

The gray fog shrouding the rising moon begins to disperse. However, the vegetation still grows gradually more yellow and listless.

The past is both a blessing and a curse.

Not good enough...

Santalla looks around before landing her eyes where the clan tree has taken roots.

She picks up some twigs and leaves. Untainted by the corruption, Sami’s primal vitality lives on within them.