level_act29side_01_beg

Meine Dame, you should rest.

Just how many times have you repainted this already? If you're reworking the piece, then why not...

Why not have me contact the art gallery and ask them to delay the exhibition?

You've been so much more spirited since that musician arrived. But to jump straight back into painting when you've yet to fully recover from your illness, only to work on... this piece...

Is this a... night sky? The blacks are so intense I can't make anything out.

What a truly unforgettable shade of night. I see your painting will soon be complete.

However, the intense emotions fueling your tireless endeavors are also wearing down your body, and you're in no shape to go on.

So... would you like me to continue my performance?

Alright, I've heard your answer.

As well as your pain, regret, remorse, obsession... In your heart, Leithanien died alongside you that night. The very same night reflected in your painting.

Then allow me to play you a dirge, albeit more than twenty years late.

Leithanien's capital, Zwillingstürme, city center

Listen.

Every day at this hour, this city is filled with all kinds of music.

Students stopping by the instrument shops on the way home from school, discussing which of the new instruments has a more stable circuit.

Pedestrians getting off work, slowing their pace as their coins jingle into a instrument case in front of a street artist.

Young lovers clinking together glasses of wine in restaurants, and stoves steaming in warm homes.

Every scene as touching as the last.

Evenings in Zwillingstürme have always been a source of inspiration for many great musicians.

Hmm... Then shall we add a few more pieces to the program for the celebration?

Every year we begin with the Güldenesgesatz, and then perform the same routine classical pieces after. Surely the people are becoming less and less interested by the year?

As ever, the program is up to Your Majesties to decide.

Then let's have a chat with the conductor and the principals after this.

By the way, I recall you mentioning that you brought a young lady to see me.

Ja, Your Majesty.

This is Viviana, Werner's daughter.

Pleased to make your acquaintance, Ewigegnade—Your Majesty.

Ah, even better than expected. Are you still getting used to Leithanien after your return from Kazimierz?

I am grateful for your concern. Leithanien is... far more elegant and beautiful than I remember.

No need to be so formal. Cora and I often meet outside the Spires for a chat, like the one we're having now.

You must still be in mourning over Werner's recent passing. If we had the luxury of time, I'd much rather you have a chance to relax in the city first.

You mean, before you appoint me as—

An Empresses' Voice.

As you've heard from Cora, this was Werner's request.

I am... truly honored by the opportunity.

The nobles prefer to send me their youngest sons when they're about ten years of age, but I believe you're fully qualified for the position.

And after meeting you in person, I'm even more sure of it.

You praise me too highly.

Modesty is a virtue, but so is the courage to speak your mind.

While I'd be more than glad to fulfill your father's request, I'd also like to hear your own thoughts on this.

How do you truly feel about yourself, about Leithanien, and about the future before us?

Your Majesty, I was not aware that you would be entertaining a guest.

It's fine, Brandt. This is the time I told you to come over, after all. Tell me about your findings in Sturmland.

Their copy of the Güldenesgesatz was stolen from the Kurfürst's spire.

The thieves are most likely part of the same group behind the Kurfürst's assassination, who call themselves the 'Echoes of Herkunftshorn.'

Herkunftshorn... The Genesis Horn. Now that's a name I haven't heard in a long time.

...The Witch King's remains.

I interrogated one of their men. They have sent the copy to Zwillingstürme.

To this very city...

Cora, how many years have we done Das Kaiserinnensfest?

This year will be the twenty-third, Your Majesty.

So he's been dead for twenty-three years now.

How many of these people working tirelessly in his name have even seen him with their own eyes?

It's something I've always found saddening. Just what is it about the Leithanien of today that fills them with so much resentment?

Resentment has never been rational, Your Majesty.

Perhaps I should call off this year's event.

If they really intend on using the Movement to cause chaos in the capital... I don't want anyone who came for the celebration to come to any harm.

We still have three days to go.

I will find them and retrieve it.

I should have dispatched several Voices to work on this together.

...Allow me, Your Majesty.

The Empresses' Voice represents the glory and majesty of the Kaiserinnen, so if they were to suddenly show up across the city, they will naturally attract the attention of both civilians and the enemy.

But I... Or rather, what the people know me for has nothing whatsoever to do with this matter.

An interesting proposal.

Your Majesty, I believe we shouldn't let an untrained—

Brandt Reiner. I'm sure you and Viviana will be enough to solve this problem for me.

...Ja.

Also... Another Voice has just brought back a couple of interesting pieces from Kreis Wasserland. Ask Hildegard if she would like to come by my tower for a listening session.

After all, you're going to go see her after this, yes?

...Ja, Your Majesty.

Grandmaster Ioleta has taught you well. I have a feeling you'll be my favorite Voice.

Danke schön.

Anyway, I don't need an answer today, but I'll allow you to act as an Empresses' Voice in the meantime. Of course, any new Voices will only officially enter the Spires after the celebrations are over, as per usual.

Until then, I'll be anticipating your answer.

My true feelings...

Sadly, our meeting has been as brief as a sunset.

Ah, hold on.

It's time. Do you see it?

The... fountain in the plaza?

Beautiful, no?

It is not simply water splashing along to a melody. The flowing water is itself the medium playing it.

I've heard that many of the buildings and streets in Zwillingstürme are themselves instruments.

Back in the day, I took a bit of time to figure out a way to keep them stable for decades. It seems that was time well spent.

So you designed them personally?

Viviana, no matter what choice you make in the end...

I do hope you'll fall in love with this place, as I have.

Until then, let Zwillingstürme's afterglow bring you some solace.

...The afterglow.

She had often imagined what kind of city Zwillingstürme would be like.

She had a good guess from the novels and poems she read as a child.

She understood what it really looked like from the news and foreign television programs.

But only now does she stand in the center of the capital for the first time, experiencing the city's lights and shadows, its sounds and scents.

Colors out of a classical painting.

The timbre of accordions playing.

And the fragrance of marigolds.

It's just like a living poem... Surprisingly, the evening in Zwillingstürme is exactly how I imagined it.

You didn't need to involve yourself in this.

Her Majesty never gave me a chance to excuse myself before they spoke about it. Which means I was already involved.

Besides, there are things I'm curious about too.

You want to uncover the truth behind your father's death.

Not just that.

I also wish to... find myself, within the darkness about to descend upon us.

Then, are you already prepared to step into the night?

Before I returned, I gave away my entire book collection to a friend of mine.

She, too, had just returned to the homeland that once expelled her, and carried with her a certain conviction.

I'm sure you'll laugh at me for saying this, but back then, I imagined countless times how she must have felt at that moment.

And now, I think I have the slightest inkling of that feeling.

You have concerns about Lieselotte's decision.

The Empresses' Voices chosen by Ewigegnade have always been qualified, and I will not question her judgement in that regard.

Frau Viviana Droste is an excellent caster. I've seen recordings of her skilled manipulations of candleflames and shadows.

But... her experience in handling actual crises may be lacking. After all, all of her experience in battle has occurred on artificial stages.

Brandt Reiner.

Your allegiance no longer lies with the Hochberg family.

...No one is more aware of that than I, Your Majesty.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have simply stood there with a blank stare that night, twenty-three years ago.

I lost the right to choose long ago. The blade and Arts of a Gesatzswächter belong only to the Güldenesgesatz and to Leithanien.

The Güldenesgesatz, and Leithanien.

What if you could only choose one?

The Güldenesgesatz defines Leithanien. In over a thousand years, the two have never diverged.

The Movement's melody was created by Leithanians, and it's hardly impossible to alter it.

Herkunftshorn certainly did.

Bearing but one part of the responsibility necessarily means abandoning the others.

Think it through, Brandt. No one in this land can refuse to make a choice forever.

I will... carefully consider your words.

There is one more thing. Ewigegnade wanted me to ask if you were free to listen to a performance by the Empresses' Voices.

I will be.

Lieselotte will probably have fallen asleep by the time I head over, though.

Michael.

Your Majesty. First things first, I don't want to go to the spire next door for dinner on your behalf anymore. I'm sure you know she doesn't like me at all.

Enough of your jests.

Continue keeping an eye on the happenings in the city.

Do you need me to 'cooperate' with the Gesatzswächter and the... unofficial Empresses' Voice? Or the opposite?

I already told you.

'Continue,' right? Got it.

Did you see that just now?

Frau Seemann, she... and those black paintings too.

How horrid!

Everyone's saying that it's a curse from His Majesty...

Move, all of you. Don't crowd in here.

The road ahead is closed, and the gallery will not be opened to the public today.

Send a reply to Graf Josef. The Gendarmerie will bear the costs of the gallery's damages.

Ja, Captain Loris.

Right, did you save the contact details of the fräulein who lost her necklace the other day? That girl's the editor-in-chief for the <i>Kunst der Zwillingstürme.</i>

Please ask her to leave some space in their next issue for a presentation on, well, Frau Seemann's 'posthumous work.'

A... presentation?

Invite the critics to use their imaginations.

Frau Seemann was creating a new work with her blood, sweat and tears, and unfortunately ended up also giving her life to the canvas and succumbing to exhaustion—Her final piece is certainly deserving of some sort of praise.

'Unfortunately, this incomplete masterpiece will not be exhibited to the public, as per her final wishes.'

I can only hope for the article to have no mention of His Majesty's name.

So... what do you think is the actual reason for Frau Seemann's demise?

Who let you in...?

Wait, the C-Candle..!

Technically, the title issued by the Kazimierz Knights Association no longer belongs to me after retirement.

I don't care what the Kazimierzians think!

A few years back, when they were hiding you in the snow, I wrote a few letters of protest to the Nova Knightclub! And when I later found out about your retirement, I drowned myself in drink for a few days, behind the Captain's back.

So that's why you were slacking off back then?

But I'll overlook it, for the sake of our distinguished guest.

Guten Tag, Vizegraf Loris Bordin.

A pleasure to meet you.

Pym, pass the order: this lovely lady is the gallery's sole visitor of the day. Tell the men to keep watch outside, and not to interfere with her movements.

R-Right away, sir!

When Frau Löwenstein greeted me earlier, I had no idea Their Majesties had actually appointed another special envoy.

I hope you can keep this a secret.

Please rest assured.

Although... this is such a small accident, so why did it spring the Kaiserin's secret envoy into action?

An accident? Is that the conclusion of the Gendarmerie's investigation?

We did the forensics, and Frau Seemann did indeed die from exhaustion.

According to her attendant, she went without food or rest for multiple days on end.

I can't help but admire her spirit. Such a dedicated artist is hard to come by, even in Leithanien.

This work must have been extremely important to her then.

Frau Seeman has not presented a new work for more than two decades.

She then suddenly decided to work on this painting, even notifying the gallery in advance that would personally unveil it today, on the first day of the exhibition.

I'm sure you know what happened next. When the audience arrived, they were greeted only by the artist collapsing in front of her painting.

What about the painting itself?

Was it... completed?

A difficult question to answer.

You'd better see it with your own eyes. I can only say that its subject was... an unexpected surprise.

Is this a brochure for the exhibition?

<i>Der Tod des Hexenkönigs</i>—Did the artist title her work before completing it?

To be honest, many of the visitors came rushing here just because of the name.

I'd have thought Leithanien would find it quite unwelcome.

I'm guessing you haven't been here for long?

Mhm. I only just returned a little while ago.

No wonder. You may not be aware, but the fall of His Majesty is an enormously popular subject these days. Even counting operas alone, there are over a hundred depicting how the Kaiserinnen miraculously triumphed over their enemy.

How careless of me. So the actual protagonists of these stories are Their Majesties.

Haha. In Leithanien, you're free to create anything, so... this is probably the result of the people revealing their true feelings.

Frau Seemann may have also wanted to take the celebration as a chance to add a bit of luster to this national holiday, by working with such a classic theme.

But even so, you said her painting was an 'unexpected surprise'?

It's up ahead, just around the corner.

Once you've had a look, I think you'll share my hope that this was just an accident.

An attack?

Please wait here while I check the situation.

I could help you out.

It might turn out to be just a couple of drunkards on the streets breaking in their new wands, and I'd rather not bother you with something so trifling.

Captain! We triangulated the source of the noise, and it's coming from the alley over there—

Have you sent anyone over?

The 2nd squad went in, but no one's come out yet.

...Are they still in there?

It was the strangest fellow we've ever seen. He definitely heard us rushing over, but it seemed like he was still trying to break into the gallery instead of fleeing.

Could this be something big? Do you want to bring a few more men along, Captain?

No need for that.

Like I said, it's nothing major. Just some crazy punks stirring up trouble for us to vent their frustrations.

Right, that lady you fancy... the competition knight, what was her surname?

Can...Candle... Droste!

...A name I've never heard of.

Tell the others to keep the chase while we return to the gallery to make sure Frau Droste hasn't come to any harm.

A noblewoman with the Kaiserin's trust is far more valuable than all the works and secrets in that gallery combined.

Footsteps?

Is there someone up ahead? Isn't the gallery closed off to the public?

So this is the painting.

And the subject is... the Death of the Witch King?

No, this isn't <i>Der Tod des Hexenkönigs</i> at all...

This is... ugh...

Black and disorderly, the lines twist into infinity.

<i>Der Tod des Hexenkönigs</i> sitting at the center isn't the only thing to have those twisted lines painted over it—every other painting on the wall sports the same look.

The black spirals resemble vortices, breaking out of the frames one after another and filling the entire space.

The lines seem to twist and burrow into her eyes, erupting into a series of mournful sobs in the depths of her mind.

Her consciousness is pulled, deformed, fractured, and plunged into chaos.

Shadows sway behind Viviana. She can hardly control her Arts. She wants to preserve herself, to escape.

This terrifying power needs no concrete descriptor, image, or sound to remind anyone of what it is.

Much like its title, it forcefully crams itself directly into its audience's cognition, reflecting its very meaning into their minds—

'The Witch King.'

What a beautiful piece of art.

A calm voice can suddenly be heard in the center of the exhibition hall.

The noise comes to a halt, and the black spirals retreat into the paintings.

This painting...

There's no obvious trace of Originium Arts... so why?

Arts aren't the only thing that can affect the mind.

Something need only be true enough to tug at one's heartstrings, be it a picture or a melody.

But please, don't fear it... feel it.

...It's very intense.

A rich and deep emotion flows in these seemingly messy brushstrokes.

It's... hard to keep looking.

That's because you're looking at a person's soul.

She put both the Witch King in her heart and her very life onto the canvas.

Frau Seemann... What connection did she have with His Majesty?

His death changed her entire life.

As a young woman, she revered the man on the throne. She was in love with a symbol, a god.

And then that god fell right before her eyes.

She was confused, bewildered by his mortality. She lost her love, her purest emotions, and very nearly her ability to create as well.

She was... trapped.

And only when her life was nearing its end did she realize this.

You speak as if you were her.

Her innermost emotions resonated with my melody. I went into the depths of her soul and heard her cry for help.

Cry for help?

It's the same everywhere you go.

Many people are trapped in whatever fateful moment changed the course of their lives, walking along an endless spiral staircase.

Just like...

...Your father. And you as well.