level_act39side_st01

'Salt is sacred. It is within the tides, within our tears.'

He strains his eyes in the dark waters, searching the lake bed for the faint glint of metal.

He slowly paddles forward, inch by inch, fingers outstretched in the silt, but all they find are strands of waterweeds.

The frigid waters flow past his skin and hair. Confusion sets in. He does not know how he will find that golden coin.

'Don't look with your eyes. Let the water's flow tell you where to go.'

A voice from ashore cuts through the water. He cannot see the person's face clearly, but that gentle, friendly tone sounds reassuring.

And so he closes his eyes, feeling the water rush past him, and painting an image of the lake bed in his mind's eye.

There. A solid metal disc, embossed with a complex design, resting atop some wafting weeds.

He strokes its face before grasping it in his hand. He swims away, the stranger's face getting ever clearer as he gets closer to shore.

'Did you find the coin, my boy?'

He unfurls his fingers, the gold coin resting on his palm. The circle on its face is bisected by a straight line. Somehow it resembles some distant horizon, one he has yet to reach.

Urgh...

What's that smell... Finny... Salty...

Mm... hmph...

*Sigh*...

(Sticks out tongue) Bleh...

Don't lick my face, little guy, or I'll hit you.

Mmph...

Forget it. I won't have to deal with you much longer.

Hey, chaval, your food. Eat up quick! Boss wants to see you!

She won't be seeing me today.

Isidro pulls down the canvas hammock hung up in the room, wrapping it around the hard bread and half-full canister of water on the tray.

He then kicks open the chest by his side, revealing a tunnel below it.

He had been digging away at it for a full week.

The strange-looking animal crawls up and nips onto his pants. Isidro watches its saliva soak into the fabric and sighs.

I'm definitely not coming back here.

(Whistle) Javier, can I get that blade I left here last month?

Javier!

Eh? Oh... Sorry, Teach, wasn't listening. You here for the blade?

What else? Not your sweat-stained pecs, I'll tell you that much.

You all need to stop it with the jokes, Teach.

Oh, don't be like that. Seeing you sharpening knives in the early morn is pretty much part of the landscape by now.

Look, you've drawn in a crowd... Though I don't think they're here to get their knives polished.

(Leers) Hey there, Javier!

What a pain in the— Here. Your blade.

We don't have much metal left for repairs, so I used other things to fix it up. You'll have to make do with it for a while.

Shell and bone? You're a real dab hand.

Wanna test it?

Got anything tough I can chop up?

I did have a hunk of dry bread... but I just gave it to the kid locked in the shack.

Waste of a perfectly good loaf.

Hey, hey, move it already! Don't you lot have anything better to do in the morning? Stop blocking the damn way!

Rus?

Oh, it's you. And here I was, thinking it was the harsh glare of dawn in my eyes.

I don't have time for you and your nonsense. Quick, Javier, let's head inside and talk!

Sounds like it's not for my ears. I'll be off then, Javier.

Seems like the fun has ended... See you tomorrow, Javier!

(Quietly) Hmph...

You need to talk to Juana. She's gone mad! She's going to send us all to our deaths, and you're the only one in her crew who can keep a cool head!

And how is that new?

Over all these years, <i>every single one</i> of her decisions looked crazy at first, but turned out to be exactly what we needed, right?

Getting in touch with that caravan a decade ago was a huge gamble too, but here we are, making a good living selling antiques we dig out of the salt flat.

Nobody took her side back then. Everyone was too scared of those money-grubbing merchants leaking the location of our fleet to the Inquisition.

But Juana got them to see what the real value of the deal was, and made them an offer they couldn't refuse.

This is different, Javier. Totally different.

Doesn't matter, Rus. She's our boss, and I'd say she's earned our trust.

She wants us to go back out to sea. You really going to back her on this? You <i>really</i> think this is a way forward?

'Cause it's not. We're all just gonna end up in a watery grave.

Show a little faith. She found the compass, and a caster to fix it up. Everything's going to plan, no?

Even if you don't give a damn what happens outside your kitchen, you must've noticed the finshit you've been getting to cook with lately, yeah?

Look, here are the bills for the wood she's been buying up. All to fix those rotten old ships, all to head back out to that sea of hers.

You <i>know</i> how expensive wood is. All that coin could've made our lives much cozier. You wouldn't be slaving away every day pickling saltfin livers for garum, I can say that much.

Just go talk to her, afore she's done too much damage.

Been hearing some real nasty talk around town. Folks're getting restless.

Fine, I'll have a chat with her.

But don't forget, Rus. Without that 'loca' Juana, our grandparents, our parents, us...

None of us would've been able to live out here in the Salt Flat.

Strange...

Where did that cook go? The one always sitting outside.

Mierda...

Are they trying to take me back?

A man turns the corner, aggression apparent in his footsteps. Isidro quickly hides himself in a shadowy corner.

But the man walks right by him, swearing up a storm as he goes.

Idiots! You blasted idiots!

Just you wait and see, that puta's going to get us all killed!

Clear your head, Cesc. You've been eating that girl's herbs on the sly again.

My head's clear as day, it's yours I'm worried about!

I can't be the only one with a problem with how she's leading us, can I?

You're all just too yellow to say it. Cowards, the lot of you!

Vete a la mierda. If you're going to spew shit, do it at home.

But am I wrong, Teach?!

Don't tell me you trust that loca too?!

Have you been taken in by her saltdamned lies too, like Javier?!

Cesc...

Hey, cool it! He's just a little upset!

Say that again.

Say. That. Again.

You know I'm right, Javier.

All those years of licking her boots. Shouting 'aye aye, Captain!' at all her shit.

We all know you're a loyal beckbeast.

So put down that knife of yours and go crying to Mamá like always.

You—!

Javier grabs Cesc by the collar and lifts him up, slamming his back into the wall.

Javier's face is calm, but the fire in his eyes burns bright, nearly bright enough to sear holes into the target of his ire.

Are they going to start a fight...?

If they do, I may as well make a break for it.

Urk...

Don't you ever spew that sort of finshit again. Not even in your sleep.

You hear me, Cesc?

Cesc can barely breathe as Javier presses into his neck. Nobody dares approach the two, only silently passing them with their heads lowered.

The people in the sheds lining the street shut their windows tight one after the other. In a flash, the street is empty.

Ugh...

Let him go, Javier! He's learned his lesson!

(Whispers) Not here, Javier...

ANSWER ME!

(Nods furiously)

*cough*... *cough* *cough* *cough*—!

Now run along home, chaval. Remember what you learned today. Remember it well.

*Sigh* The hell was that, Javier? You've never been that reckless.

Reckless? No. He was just making it clear to everyone where he stands.

Rus, I...

Relax, just bring him a little something tonight. He'll accept your apology.

Yeah. Thanks, Teach.

Javier watches the woman walk away as he stands in the middle of the street.

A stray headscarf lies at his feet, having fallen off Cesc's head as he ran.

Javier picks it up, pats off the dust, and walks back to his shed, closing the door lightly behind him.

Good, everyone's gone.

I was afraid I'd have to wait for them all to take an afternoon siesta.

Tch...

Why did I even <i>try</i> escaping at night last time? That's when these guys are most active.

(There. That's my way out. Just need to head down.)

(Only two guards. Gotta knock them out.)

Ahem...

(Hmm...?)

Say, Anna... Ever thought about going someplace else?

I kept some of those old coins we've been digging up. File off the king's face, and you can barely tell the difference from the new ones!

We could leave the Flat behind. Go to Rim Billiton, Columbia... Anywhere you'd like.

No, José. I was born and raised here. Never even thought of leaving.

You really want to stay and follow the boss out to sea?

She's the boss.

The sea'll swallow you up...

I ain't afraid. She promised us.

Well, what scares <i>me</i> is that that promise might turn out to be a fleeting dream.

If you're that scared, then go. I ain't gonna stop you.

...I was kinda hoping you would.

(Are they done yet?)

If you don't wanna leave with me, then at least...

At least what?

(Can't this guy take a hint?)

Could you, uh, give me a...

(Stop mumbling and spit it out alr—)

Stop mumbling and spit it out already!

Unable to bear watching the man stumble over his words any longer, the woman knocks him flat before sandwiching his face between her hands, kissing him hard.

Isidro furrows his brows before looking away politely.

Mmmf... Anna...

Oh, just shut it!

(At least they didn't notice me.)

Phew...

Need to run faster... If I'm not out of here before dark...

Based on the last few times, I'm definitely going to be—

A giant helm wheel rolls past his face before coming to a halt, stopping just short of crushing his feet.

You shouldn't keep a lady waiting, you know.

Now be a good boy and come back with me.

You shouldn't be here.

Still not given up after all these attempts? We might not have enough spare medicine to patch you up if you end up wounded again, you know.

How did you know I was gone, Señora Juana?

I made sure nobody was following me.

It's my job to be aware of what's happening in my fleet. You can't hide from my little eyes and ears.

Besides, did no one ever teach you not to ask a lady a question she'd rather not answer?

The young man does not reply, silently thinking of the sword that had been faithfully at his side for years. If he still had it, perhaps it would even the odds.

But it had shattered. Just like the freedom currently within arm's reach, it had died in these salt flats, snapped in two.

Isidro clenches his fist, grits his teeth, and grabs onto whatever is left of his things.

The lady lightly draws her sword, her stance relaxed.

Out of my way!

Ngh—

After a few sword strokes, the unarmed man falls defeated, face in the salty sand. He could not protect even the last of his belongings.

As Juana ties him up and heaves him over her shoulder, he feels something in his heart silently shatter.

Ah, youth. Never knowing when to give up. No matter how many times you're beaten down, you're already dreaming of the next attempt.

If you're that desperate to leave, then fix that compass for me.

How many times I have to say it? Only an alchemist can fix it, and I'm no alchemist!

Oh? Then care to explain where that gold coin of yours came from?

...I stole it.

You are a terrible liar, joven.

On its face is a mark only a few know of: the mark of the long-lost school of alchemy. The knowledge they passed down helped countless fleets find treasure in the seas.

But after the Profound Silence, their disciples were imprisoned, and their works destroyed.

So tell me, why are you holding onto that coin, despite all that happened to them?

I don't know anything about any of that.

Oh, what a stubborn young man. How about we change the question, then?

How did you dig that tunnel of yours?

...The bread you gave me was really hard.

What a clever boy.

My oh my, I really must thank you!

You've worked so hard keeping watch over him. Why, if you hadn't informed me right away, he might have actually gotten away.

Yes, I know, he's not the best-behaved prisoner, but that's why we have you, isn't it?

You really are our cleverest, sharpest-witted, most amazing little...

Nene.

Mm-ph!

(Spins excitedly)

Don't get too excited now. There are still many difficult duties ahead of you, and you mustn't take them lightly.

(Quickly falls flat on the ground)

I have faith in you, of course. Alright, off you go now. Don't let that boy learn who you are.

Mmph!

Come in, Javi.

Pardon me, Señora Juana. I hope I'm not interrupting your time with Nene.

Mmph...

Don't give me that look. I've got a little something for you too.

My, what a fine little ball of bone... Did you carve it?

Sí. Out of bone shards that broke off some of our older weapons. Else they'd have gone to waste.

I wanted to give it to Rus as an apology, but he won't open his door for me.

Oh... I did hear about that. You shouldn't be so hasty, Javier. As our fleet's bosun, Rus has every right to question my plan to go out to sea.

And you attacking one of his men right in front of him can be seen as a rather harsh warning.

Considering your recent promotion to main chef, best keep a low profile. Some things are better left unsaid.

I think <i>he's</i> the one who needed that advice.

Just let him be, Javi. I don't pay it any mind, so why should you?

Because I know our boss isn't a madwoman playing around with other people's lives.

Well, aren't you sweet?

If we do get that compass fixed, can it really tell us how to avoid the sea monsters and find what we need?

Of course. I would never lie to you, Javi.

The Salt Flat won't be able to support us for generations to come. While the sea is a nigh inexhaustible font of resources.

Now that we have both the 'compass' and an alchemist to fix it, this is a chance for us to turn our lives around. We can't afford to miss it.

But aside from you, none of us have even seen the sea, or experienced that age of gold and plenty.

I've been living in the Flat for as long as I can remember, but the old cook said that only a century ago, this was fertile soil.

What if that bountiful sea of yours has already become just as barren as the Flat after the Profound Silence?

And this magic compass of yours... can't guide us back to the past.

'The tides will wash away my footprints, and the wind will scrub away the foam from the waves.'

'But the sea and the shore will stand, forevermore.'

What...?

Just an old poem, Javi. Unlike the land, the sea is tenacious. Though it may be infested with strangely fleshed beasts, it is still abundant with precious lifelines, waiting for us to find them.

It was once ours, and it can be ours once again.

I want to believe you, I do.

But these rumors... You have to prove yourself in front of everyone, show them you're not talking nonsense.

I will.

Oh, right. I did as you asked and went by the shed. There really is a hole in there. I'll fill it up tonight.

What should we do about the boy? He can't stay there anymore.

Don't worry, I've already found a place for him.

But where? If you mean my place, then no.

Don't you worry your little head over it. You'll see on your way home.

Damned little brat, this peg-leg you sold me is pure garbage! Two days and it's already split in twain!

Eh, it just needs a bit of spit, polish, and glue and it'll be good as new.

You sack of finshit, how about I rip <i>your</i> leg off and use that instead?!

H-Hey, settle down now! I'll take the leg back, no need to get violent!

I-I-I've got a knife! Don't come any closer!

Javier! Right on time! Help me catch the little wench!

Out of my way, idiot!

Tch... Troublemaker.

Ow! That hurts!

Give him back his money.

Let me go! I'll tell Juana you've been bullying me!

Use your head, chica. This isn't somewhere you can run your mouth. We're not like those cowards in other towns.

If you mess with us, we won't bother locking you up or putting you on trial. Left hand or right hand? Choose the one you want to keep.

H-How dare you! If it weren't for me, your boss would never have gotten ahold of that compass!

Care to try your luck?

Err... Fine, I'll return the money! But you gotta give me back that peg-leg!

Not on my life. If it's stuck to my leg, it's mine.

Y-You're no better than a pack of bandits!

I'm glad you've finally come to an accurate assessment of us, señorita.

Haha... Slip of the tongue is all... Here, the money. And, uh, adios.

What was the boss thinking, letting a dastardly little girl like that aboard our crew?

She's got her reasons.

I heard that kid ran off again. Why not just break his legs and be done with it?

And now she's gone and strung him up here, ordering us not to touch a hair on his head. Seeing that grumpy face of his pisses me right off. You don't know how much I wanna give it a good punch.

Hey, don't go, Javier! I was just thinking out loud!

Hey!

You've been running around all day. Want some water?

Cloudbeast got your tongue?

I won't surrender to you lot.

If that's how you want it, chaval.

Just here to give you the bad news. I'm afraid you're going to be out here like this all night.

...Whatever. I don't care.

Good to hear.

The dawn light falls upon the coin, and a stray ray reflects onto Isidro's eyelid, causing him to blink. The light wanders, and the circular marking on the coin begins to ripple.

He begins to feel discomfort and hands the coin to the man ashore, though the man is in no hurry to receive it. Instead, he grabs onto Isidro's legs and lifts him up by the feet.

The boy struggles, and the man ashore begins to speak:

'If you have nowhere to go, my young friend, you can come with me.'

'They call me Aulus, and you have my thanks for finding my coin.'

The rays of the setting sun seep through the cracks of the salt ship's frame, shining onto Isidro's eyelid. He blinks in discomfort.

People walk by, and none can resist snickering at him as they pass.

He feels a little dizzy. The faint laughter causes his cheeks to flush, though it might just be an effect of being hung upside down.

Out here in the Salt Flat, simple tents and ramshackle shacks are put up one after the other.

Enormous salt ships are berthed on either side of the road, like a herd of slumbering seabeasts.

Upon their masts hang great sacks for gathering rainwater, flapping in the wind as they await clouds to pass overhead.

Upon the road, people walk shoulder to shoulder, laughing and squabbling, until all of a sudden a quarrel breaks out, which soon escalates into a chaotic all-out brawl.

And in the quieter corners, some are pulling their lovers in close for an intimate kiss.

These guys really are a bunch of barbarians.

Why'd I'd even come to such a lousy place?

Good question, Pascuala. How did <i>I</i> end up in this den of thieves?

*Cough* *Cough*

Not too sure myself...