level_act42side_04_beg

Why are you leaning against the wall in a weird pose? I thought I was looking at a statue.

You could have heard my joints crack if you came in earlier.

I should pay a visit to an artificer, see if I can't get some cushioning for my waist.

I'm not sure the gun-knight armorsmiths take into account the special needs of the elderly.

Young gun-knights need it too! It helps mitigate the recoil from our guns!

The Nativity is tomorrow. How are preparations at the Shrine of Nurtury?

The mother is in stable condition. Andoain has taken good care of her. She will give birth to a healthy, beautiful infant tomorrow.

Wiš'adel and the Kazdelian delegation, the Twin Empresses and the Leithanian delegation, the delegation from the Ægir Institute of Development Planning, the Tianshi delegation led by Yan's Envoy of Ceremonial Rites...

Tomorrow, all the visitors to the Holy City are invited to the Shrine of Nurtury to witness the birth of a new life.

Why did you need me, then, if everything is in order?

Our newest cardinal...

Lemuen?

She came to see the Matriarch. I'm wondering—

Did she 'happen' to pass by as she was investigating the bombings, 'drop in' to take a look, and then propose to provide help to the Shrine of Nurtury on a 'whim'?

At first, I thought she came because of the attack on Andoain. But when I saw the look on her face after she saw the Matriarch... it is clear that she has suspicions.

I thought I quelled those.

Lemuen possesses a keen edge that few others have, especially when focused on a single matter. There is certainly no better fit for a cardinal of the Seventh Tribunal.

At the same time, there is also no worse fit. More often than not, she relies solely on her own judgment when it comes to where she will focus her attention.

Do we need to be on guard against her?

You make us sound like some evil organization plotting to overthrow Laterano.

Who is to say?

For some, the future that we usher in will overturn life as they know it.

Our empathy, our kindred and family, even the concept of 'Sankta' itself... existing limitations will be cast aside.

This should have been the predetermined end of Laterano's path, but the path has gone on far too long.

Some people take the accidents that happened in the process as the norm, and now they can't accept the predetermined end.

That is correct.

We should prepare early.

I'll deal with Lemuen. You head back to the Shrine of Nurtury and get ready for tomorrow's ceremony.

May the Lord's blessings be with this city.

The red-headed Sankta runs through a forest of white and blue, like a tiny flame flickering in the rain.

That cloud on that comfort bell is almost the size of Croissant's van... and a cradle large enough to hold two cargo containers...

The clouds hanging upon the comfort bells seem to block out the sunlight, and the hands holding up the cradles reaching towards the clouds.

In this place, every living thing appears small and insignificant.

Huh?

What the heck...?

It feels so empty and quiet, but more than half of these nurseries are occupied...

Children, outsiders, even Fallen Angels... the Nurturers are busy. Looks like they've been living here for a while.

Didn't they say most of the facilities are empty and will only open to the public when that ceremony is done?

That's not true at all!

I have to recover the bombs!

I thought I could stop the ceremony by blowing up the venue, but this place is full of people...

To think I went through all that effort to slip past the guards...

...I wish the girls were here.

Texas could've knocked out all the guards and dragged them outside, or Croissant could've barged into the rooms and packed up everyone inside...

Or I could just get the boss to do a meet-and-greet opposite the ceremony to draw everybody's attention...

Ugh, forget it. There's no time, I gotta get to work...

I'll take these bombs apart and think of another way—

It'll be easier if you cut the blue wire first.

Whah...?

When did you get back?

El.

An entirely unremarkable apartment, except for the fact that its roof offers a perfect view of the plaza in front of the Shrine of Nurtury.

Is that why you chose to hide here, Arturia?

Another happy reunion.

And much sooner than I expected.

You did not attempt to conceal your trail.

The paper dragonfly was a clear clue. I saw you use such musical Arts more than once in Zwillingstürme.

Well, I hate to admit it...

But you've learned a whole lot of my secrets, Fede.

Wait, you...?

Did our executor here not tell you that I am his beloved <i>soror</i>, Sister Hildegard?

Huh?

You are my distant relative. And that does not impede me from exercising oversight over you.

Before I brought you back to Laterano, on the outskirts of Zwillingstürme, I warned you—

I will increase my vigilance over you in order to determine the subjective motivations and possible objective consequences of your actions.

And I will shoot to kill if I find anything suspicious.

I remember the sunset that day.

So hardheaded he's fun, isn't he, Sister Hildegard?

You were always cooperative, Arturia. That's why Landen Monastery gave you a degree of leeway.

You deceived us!

I apologize, Sister.

I hope my impertinence will not be detrimental to you or to Landen Monastery.

Why did you leave Landen Monastery without permission, Arturia?

Look at this shrine, Fede.

So vast, so full of vitality. It reaches into the clouds, surpassing even the eponymous twin towers of Zwillingstürme in Leithanien...

Is this the 'grace' and 'authority' that Laterano wants to build?

Look at the haloless outsiders being guided inside.

What are Laterano's plans for them?

What have you found, Arturia?

Do you remember our short stay at Rhodes Island before returning to Laterano?

I met a mysterious guest there, who told me that there may come a day when Laterano is no longer a warm, cozy little cottage for the Sanktas.

Fede, Sister Hildegard. Look at what lies before you. Do you not suspect that the day has come?

What has become of the Holy City that we were so proud of?

Wh-What do you mean?

You are ever vigilant, Fede. You must have noticed something, no?

Otherwise, you would have greeted me with the barrel of your gun.

Are those bombs?

They look pretty powerful.

Sis! You're walking again?!

Uh-huh.

Hooray!

Was it you that I saw on Via Jovita, and that Amos saw outside the firearms workshop?

How did you manage to make so many bombs despite the Curia's strict control of explosive materials...? You're as good at this as ever.

Hehe.

Alright. Spit it out, El. What are you trying to do?

Blow up the shrine?

Stop the Nativity?

Or sabotage the whole Summit of Nations?

Stay back, sis.

A massive pillar cuts the light and shadow open. Lemuen stops in her tracks, keeping her distance from Exusiai.

That's a cardinal's cassock you're wearing, isn't it?

Does it look good on me?

Totally! It's so cool!

It was a little loose around the waist when I got it the day before my creation. I had to stay up all night fixing it.

Ugh, I wish I wasn't wearing this for our reunion.

Did you come back by yourself, or do you have friends with you?

Hah, you're pumping me for information now?

You're a simple girl, after all. You're not in a school, and this isn't a graduation ceremony. Did you really just decide to liven things up like this on your own?

Who's behind you, and why did they put you up to this?

I...

Hey, let's try this—'Apple pie with mayonnaise!'

'Had a slice, want another.'

You remembered!

When we had a fight that wasn't going anywhere or a secret we didn't want to share, that's our password to set things aside.

I can feel your emotions, El. Agitation, impatience, worry, not even knowing how to explain...

But my job is to capture the culprits who are trying to sabotage the Summit of Nations. I will file a request with the Curia to personally handle the follow-up to this case.

The Sankta sisters stand off against one another, neither making a single move, nor speaking a single word. It is Lemuen who finally breaks the silence with a sigh.

*sigh*...

In that instant, Exusiai flies toward her and hugs her tightly.

Now that's the reaction I know from an El in trouble.

I missed you, sis!

It's been a while. Have you grown?

Of course not! I was almost an adult when I left Laterano!

You don't have to talk like you're my mom, sis.

Is that what I sound like?

Did you tie your hair yourself? It's coming loose.

Let me tie it for you... still careless as ever.

Of course, I'm not as good as you at that.

What are you doing here, anyway? Don't tell me you knew I would show up?

Just reviewing the shrine's security measures... I thought it was remarkable enough to see the Matriarch praying for a pregnant Sarkaz...

And then I ran into you.

(Matriarch... pregnant Sarkaz... praying...?)

(Could the Nativity be...?)

So you don't know what's in this shrine either?

Oh, is it <i>your</i> turn to pump <i>me</i> for information?

Who taught you to do that?

I didn't turn bad, I promise! The people who're supporting me now—they're a good influence, I promise!

I'm not alone, and I'm not being used.

There's a lot that's wrong here, but it's hard to explain... I need more time.

I'll come home after I've done what I have to!

Lemuen ties one last knot with the string, then pushes up slightly so the strand of hair on the side of her sister's head will not come loose so easily.

The next instant, she finds that her arms are empty.

I'll leave the disarming of the bombs to you, sis—I mean, Your Eminence!

Lemuen hears the ticking of bomb countdowns in all directions. She looks in the direction where her sister disappeared, but is in no position to give chase.

She never changes, does she?