level_act17side_05_end

We're almost at our destination.

What? You'd never would've reached the Stultifera in one piece without me. The children of the sea would've ripped you apart, crushed you, or bound your limbs as they dragged you off to their nests.

You're not like Quintus.

What might could you be talking about? My skin? This sack of flesh?

None of that matters.

What are you trying to accomplish?

And what are YOU trying to accomplish, Hunter? Your kind already loathe your enemies while simultaneously doubting the purity of your own blood. But still... you pretend to be calm.

What are you trying to get out of me?

Silence. A wise choice. Ægir are not a sociable lot, it is known. But it seems there are exceptions.

Or, are you just a bit of an unpopular grump?

I can answer your question. Quintus wouldn't, nor will other humans. But the Seaborn will. Like Heralds, we come to understand things. We are not limited by the way humans think.

I don't need your riddles.

Hmm...

Before coming here, I was in the midst of translating a literary classic from Ursus. It was about race and nations. About history. I was putting it into Iberian and Victorian.

Take a look, Mister Hunter.

Ulpianus's gaze follows the woman's hand, his eyes subconsciously drawn towards the ocean.

A pitch-black sea. Dense with dark clouds. Oppressive. And yet, a vague outline of the starry sky is visible.

Even the Ægir rarely look out across the ocean from the water's surface. Different races, different countries. The land is fractured in every sense, and its conflicts are neverending.

But when you look over the boundless sea, do you see anything representing those divides?

Tch... These damn monsters!

Jordi! Are you alright?!

(Slithering sounds, rubbing against the wall)

G-Get away from me—!

Seems like activating this facility has made these poor creatures realize that this place doesn't make a very good nest.

High Inquisitor!

Keep ascending, Ægir. Your hands are for wielding tools, not fire and steel.

The plan is unchanged. Go with Irene and find what the Inquisition and the Hunters are seeking.

I, I know! Please be careful!

Do you really think we can find that ship?

It can only pass through Iberia.

I don't understand... If it is a place like Rhodes Island, why hasn't it tried to return in sixty years?

We too are lost, unable to find a way back home. Is that not so?

(Sounds of stirring, slapping the water)

The children are increasing in number.

...Are you alright?

Me? Why do you ask?

You didn't speak a single word on the way to Iberia.

Have you always seen me as a chatterbox, Skadi?

Skadi stares deeply into Specter's eyes.

When she'd finally found Laurentina on land, her eyes were clouded over.

Then she saw it in Sal Viento. A fragment of Laurentina as she was. But it was short-lived. After returning to Rhodes Island, she seemed to have fallen back into the abyss.

But now, Skadi begins to find herself unable to distinguish which corner of Specter's mind she is currently dealing with.

She has an ominous guess.

One that has always swirled through her mind.

What's the matter?

No need to overthink this, Skadi.

And the same goes for you, my sleepy little mermaid. We don't have much time. You will awaken.

Will I?

You will.

For the time being... Go with Shark and take out the small fry. Their numbers are endless, so remember to adjust your breathing and conserve energy.

You should already know that I prefer it that way.

...Must we be in such a hurry to perform again? The storm is not yet ready.

Heh, but it seems our dance partner won't be kept waiting.

Tch, there's no end to them.

Doña Irene!

You're still alive! So that flash of light was from the High Inquisitor's lantern after all!

Um, he wanted us to continue on... But what exactly should we do? Keep searching for the ship's location?

I was originally planning to wait for the technicians to arrive, but seeing how you got this big fella started all by yourself—

Hiss... Hiss...

—Make every second count!

Thiago? So you're finally seeing clearly.

Why haven't you fled? The Penal Battalion and that Inquisitor have been lying in ambush in town.

Then why haven't your proud townspeople returned?

The Inquisitors have already taken away all the confused, directionless residents of Gran Faro, and you already know what's going to happen to them.

You know all too well.

But I can't sit by and watch Gran Faro go up in smoke. I have to do whatever I can.

You? Fight the Inquisition? Fair enough, Thiago. But that will only hasten the town's demise. Iberia will never tolerate an act of treason.

While we welcome all into our fold, but the weak do not have that right. This 'determination' of yours is but a sick joke your mind is playing on you. You understand nothing. Who do you think you're talking to?

Who? If I'd cared enough to investigate, you would've been flushed out by the Penal Battalion long ago.

Tell me then, what can people like you offer Gran Faro?

In the end, this town is... a mere human settlement.

What we seek to offer up to this land is of a much higher calling than your meaningless baubles.

(A slithering sound emerges from cracks in the building)

You've been followed.

Hiss...

Hah, these Sea Terrors have pretty sharp senses.

An outsider? We will allow it. Your flesh and blood shall become nourishment for our wounded. We all give back to this land.

Tch, the nethersea brand has already reached this far. The walls, the stairs, it's all over the place!

Are you still not done yet? They're getting closer!

Almost there!

How does this make any sense? Even after all these years, the signal-receiving devices are still operable... But why? How?

Oh, the logs—

—Woah, there it is! Now let's take a look—

Hiss...

Ugh—

(Their numbers are exploding! They're moving through the nethersea brand, as if they've merged with the ground entirely!)

(At this rate, even Maestro and the Hunters won't be able to stay in this branded place for much longer...)

(Rough sounds of slithering across the floor)

Damn it— Underneath us! Jordi!

Wh-What?!

Continue.

Ah, um... Okay...

Abyssal Hunters!

You're too weak. Swarms like this require swifter movements. Spare yourself the energy to breathe.

Like so.

Urgh...!

How much longer, Ægir?

Th-There are no records in the logs of how to operate these information terminals, so I'll have to keep searching—

—There's some data here... I don't understand what it means, but it keeps popping up!

Keeps popping up? Even if that's from the Inquisition's last attempt, that should've been years ago!

I, I'm not sure. I assumed the data loss was caused by a power outage, b-but—

If my hypothesis is right...

There's a ship that's been sending signals to this lighthouse for decades!

What...

How far away it is?

I know, I'm looking... Ugh, where are the navigation records—

What is it?

...It's very close.

How can it be... so close?

Waaaah!

Wh-What happened?!

I'm afraid the underground portion of the tower has been swallowed up by the nethersea brand.

We need to make our decision, now!

Decision? What decision? If we have the means to locate the ship, then we will go.

No! We should eradicate the Sea Terrors to ensure that the Penal Battalion's reinforcements can arrive safely!

Impossible. You will merely wear yourselves out before the stronger prey can even join the hunt.

Or do you mean to say that Iberia has hundreds upon thousands of people willing to hold the line to their dying breath, like the High Inquisitor below us?

No, but—

Opportunity waits for no one.

Have you confirmed the coordinates?

Ah, um, I can determine an approximate range, but I don't know why it's spinning around, or if that means—

It is being kept afloat by aberrant ocean currents. See that square surrounded by Seaborn? That's what the ship looks like now.

But, that ship is the only vessel we have.

You can have it. We don't need it.

No.

Go with them.

High Inquisitor?! What did you just say?

The Eye of Iberia has already been activated. There should still be some working safeguards in place.

Lord Carmen will arrive to purge the evil remaining along these shores. We don't have time to waste on these endless hordes.

Th-Then, I'll stay with you, sir!

No. You ought to accompany them.

You should go see the ocean.

I...

What saved your life, what let the rescuers find you... wasn't me. It was the Scriptures you hold in your hand.

Make the right choice. Do not bring shame to Iberia.

Understood, High Inquisitor.

I will become Iberia's eyes, and return the Stultifera to our country's embrace.

Then go.

I look forward to seeing the moment you pass down the correct verdict.

Yes, High Inquisitor!

You should leave too. Go with them.

Sir... I don't want to. I want to stay here.

It's too dangerous.

I don't know a single thing about that golden vessel. The best I could do is bask in its magnificence, but... I don't think that's where my duty lies.

I, um, this might be a strange thing to say, but I... I only felt my own worth when I was exploring this lighthouse, so—

Please, let me stay here.

Exactly one hundred down. But nothing has changed.

They're like stars in the sky.

Breaking the encirclement would be simple, but defending the lighthouse? How long would we be slashing away?

What a fine, colorful carpet they make as their carcasses dissolve.

A carpet of life... Ah, this must be the most beautiful carpet in the land.

(True, the nethersea brand is spreading, which means...)

Your weapons cannot burn them, but mine can.

That's only a temporary solution. Cauterizing the tips of the seagrass won't stop it from growing.

It's good enough. Grab your people and get out of here. Steer the ship out, or you won't be able to get your bearings.

You realize what that means.

You don't need to tell me, Ægir.

Very well. Do your best to survive, High Inquisitor.

Shark, Skadi!

That's the ship...

Yes.

After so long spent waiting on land, we are finally about to return to Ægir. We...

Gladiia's words slow to a halt.

Her hand caresses her neck. On her well-concealed skin is a patch that is rough to the touch.

The ship is right in front of her eyes. —No, don't be hasty, Gladiia. The ocean is still dangerous. Otherwise, it would not have trapped the three Hunters ashore.

But without a doubt, her heart is smoldering.

They've left.

That's right. Which means we're stranded here until the Penal Battalion's reinforcements arrive.

You've done well, Ægir, so you've earned the right to answer a question.

Ah, o-okay! I swear to answer truthfully!

Did you make your own decision to leave the shore, and come here with us?

You're just an ordinary person. Janitor or whatever, you are no warrior. Few can wander out to sea, let alone witness a battle against the Sea Terrors.

Yet... Look, your expression doesn't shake at all under the light of my lantern. What are you thinking? What do you want?

I can't even remember ever seeing my mother or father. Everyone always told me I'm an Ægir, and that we came here to repair the lighthouse. But it's all ruined.

I... Before all this, I didn't know a single thing. I was lost and confused. To be honest, when the Sea Terrors came, Thi— Someone told me to leave as soon as possible. But...

Truthfully, I didn't even know where I could go.

Because I'm an Ægir, all I can do is keep my head down as I trudge through life. And, um... just so you know, I'm actually a chapel nurse, not a janitor.

But that doesn't really count as work, does it? All the things Mr. Elysium talks about, the way he acts... Maybe that's what it really means to live life upon this land.

That's why... I felt like this was an opportunity.

Are you not afraid of death?

I don't think there's anyone who isn't, sir.

I should be frank with you. The nethersea brand has already completely engulfed the coastline. We don't have much time left.

Oh.

Lord Carmen and Dr. Kal'tsit may have their methods, but I'm not so optimistic.

When the others left, we were basically condemned to death.

Is... that why you insisted on me going with them?

It's too late to regret it now. You chose to defy me, of your own free will. But even if you die here, your death would be by no means meaningless.

You're not shaken.

Haha... Just a little bit, maybe. But even if I went with them, wouldn't I still have nine-to-one odds of dying?

As long as I stay here in this lighthouse, I can at least feel like I've already—

Don't be in such a hurry to give up.

The Eye of Iberia should have its own defenses. Go start them up.

Ah, alright. But, where will you go?

Now...

We are alone at sea, far from our homeland.

Again and again we arrive on this little reef, the weight of our lives and of our vessels so much heavier than the place itself.

...Hiss...

(Swarms of slithering sounds)

Between the ocean and Iberia, there is no such thing as justice... or evil.

Only sword and lantern—

Only me.