level_act42side_09_end

(Gah—)

I can only provide first aid right now.

Andoain, unrestrained usage of luminescent Originium Arts has irreparably damaged your optic nerves.

I do not have the ability to heal these injuries. Once conditions allow for it, you need medical treatment.

Don't worry.

The path ahead has already revealed itself. We don't need eyes to see the way.

Follow the cursor running along the ground... This maze is too complex, and I cannot maintain my Arts for very long.

Let us go.

It's here.

Even if this is not the source of the calamity, what lies behind the door may be able to give us answers.

Follow me, Arturia.

Federico does not receive a response.

Ever since he caught up with her outside the Shrine of Nurtury, she has been exceedingly cooperative.

But now, the black-haired Sankta stands several steps behind him, gracefully drawing her bow across her cello's strings, with no intention of following him.

I really do intend to escape this time, Fede.

Andoain is hurt, and you're alone. There's no better opportunity than this, is there?

We have arrived at the door to the truth, Arturia. You know that your actions lack meaning.

Truth...? Meaning...?

Perhaps.

You really are the best of the executors, a walking law book, the first saint from outside the ranks of Pope... Truly worthy of the code name <i>Executor.</i>

Your rationality, your callousness, even the doubts you hold about these two traits of yours are all in service to the continuation of the Law.

If that is what the Holy City itself is, maybe you're the only one who can understand Him, haha.

As for you, Senior Andoain... You'll have to forgive me. It was never part of my plan, but when you were using your Arts earlier, I inadvertently touched upon the whispers of your heart.

It is complex, more complex than those of many people I know. But... not particularly unusual.

An overly inflexible melody leads them to all become adaptations or repetitions of the same tune. They say—

Your beginning and your end both lie in Laterano.

But you may find yourself alone at that point.

Ah, I beg your pardon, if you have taken offense.

(Nods) Arturia, this 'offense' you speak of, was it not a chance for me to perform a different sort of confession?

As for those last words of yours, I would rather treat them as a blessing. They stand as proof that I have reached the end.

Ooh, what an interesting answer.

Arturia turns away.

Not everyone is so obsessed with the truth and meaning behind Laterano.

At the very least, I'm not that interested.

I got a little peek at Him just now. Behind that door lies... a machine, right?

Yes.

In that case, the answer is bound to be boring.

Think back to our time in Zwillingstürme, Fede.

A calamity of similar scale struck the city, and in the chaos, the people lost their way or struggled and raged... At this very moment, there are millions of hearts in Laterano that demand appreciation.

If you turn away now, Arturia, it means you will have to face our enemies in this maze alone.

You need someone to lure them away, don't you?

Your patron firearm is lost. You have no way to defend yourself.

Perhaps I can find a way to turn them into my audience?

Don't worry about me, Fede. The Lateran <i>did</i> designate me a dangerous element.

Situation assessment: high-risk. Probability of survival: low. Executor's decision... You may leave.

Hah.

Time waits for nobody, you two. If you don't plan on leaving yourselves, no need to see me off.

Well then, farewell, my beloved little frater.

...All that pontificating just to say you want us to go help the Curia?

Full marks for listening comprehension.

No way.

Eh?

It's not our responsibility, Mostima.

Half of the people here were kicked out of Laterano by the Curia in the first place. Maybe it was because they Fell, or because of Oripathy...

As for the other half, they chose to leave Laterano, whether out of despair or doubt... not that it really matters.

Hah, then why come back now?

Because our halos started acting weird and breaking. Is that so hard to understand?

We're not a part of Laterano anymore. Alieni, even.

Doesn't matter if you chose to leave or if you were forced to, we all cut our connections with this city. But even after all these years, its changes still affect us, and they just never stop...

<i>Spurcissime!</i> Damn this stupid halo, damn it!

Sounds like there's no way to resolve all your complaints, even if we got every Notarial Hall executor out here.

That's why we came back, to settle things!

Did I tell you to save anything?

What?

My sob story is that I Fell during an accident in the line of duty. After that, I became a Legatus, mostly so I didn't have to stay in Laterano all the time.

I'm one hundred percent Alienus too.

There's no-one else who understands you better right now, amici.

Maybe the glitchy halos got you seeing Laterano in an extra-bad light, spurring you to come back...

If you came back out of hate, or pain, or despair... then you'd best come with me to block that procession.

Because the people who caused that hate, that pain, that despair? They're in that crowd over there. Go ahead, use bullets, explosives, whatever. Get your revenge however you like. Just make sure to give them a hard time!

You're all talk, Mostima.

Drat, you found me out.

But something's gotta be done. Besides, you're already here, aren't you?

Hey, Nueda.

Yes?

Keep going down this alley, then find an empty house to hole up in. It's not a good idea for a lone nun and a bunch of kids to run around the place.

This place is a decent distance from where the procession's headed. Monsters <i>probably</i> won't come running here.

Are you and your friends also going to help save Laterano, Patia?

Heh, us Pathfinders aren't that noble.

But our leader's chosen to wade into the depths of this disaster. We can't exactly sit back and watch, can we?

He told us the place he was going wasn't suited for numbers, so we'll do what we can out here.

As for you, Sister...

I will protect the children, no matter if they are from Laterano, or Bolívar.

(Fervent prayers)

These freaks started chittering like mad the moment the Tower's big bell stopped ringing... It's pissing me off!

I don't care what your sales pitch is, I DON'T WANT A STUPID HALO!

(Fervent prayers)

I swear, these <i>faex</i> just keep coming and coming...

You've got three seconds to get out of there, Fiammetta.

Three seconds?! Hey, how am I—

How was that? Got you in the nick of time!

Do you think everyone can go as fast as you or something?

Never mind. The situation up ahead's a complete mess. Even the Tower of Revelations's bell has gone silent. We've lost Pagus Ecclesia.

They'll be in Pagus Michaelion soon... If that monster can flatten one of our barricades with a single stomp, I don't think the Notarial Hall's defenses will be much use.

Blocking them's no good. If we can't use more destructive methods, we might not be able to slow them down at all.

Agreed.

So, where're your reinforcements?

Let's get moving, amici.

I'm sure you've all been to Michaelion before. Might have been for the firearms workshop, might have been for the Notarial Hall.

The last thing many of you fallen angels did before getting kicked out of Laterano was probably handing over your guardian gun to the authorities.

Then you would've seen those gun-toting statues around the doors of every workshop... Hmm, come to think of it, the Notarial Hall's got a pair of cannons at theirs...

Wait, we don't have the right permissions to get those statues to fire—

That's something for Lemuen to solve.

Alright, get those statues knocked over and their guns pointed at the street!

Let's make up for all those gunshots we haven't heard over the years!

Mmph...

Holy smokes, your skin can stop bullets? Talk about thick-skinned!

Man, an entire volley didn't even scratch you...

Last time I felt like this, I was gaming with the boss. He went around back and cranked the difficulty up to max, couldn't clear it even after spending all night on it... Sure was discouraging!

Discouraging? Hardly. What I see is that your attitude and emotions are unaffected by the shattering of your halo.

Stand atop my shoulder, child.

Huh?

From the Tower of Revelations to the Notarial Hall in Pagus Michaelion, every lamp along the road has lit up...

Our newborn comrades are bringing light to this city, little by little.

Like our journey countless eons ago.

For the sake of true paradise, we crossed treacherous ravines and traversed barren wastes, searching for the slumbering silver mounts.

The only difference is that this time, we are certain He is there.

Salvation is our inevitable endpoint. Laterano shall never fall into night.

To move onwards is the only choice this city has now.

Yet you still wish to resist an entire procession, an entire race, an entire city by yourself?

Ah, I finally get to hear life's most relaxing sound. Now <i>this</i> is Laterano!

Say, if I really am on my own, then where'd that explosion come from?

I might not know who I'm fighting alongside, but I'll leave the monster-hunting to them. As for what I'm gonna do...

I'm gonna keep you company the whole way through!

What exactly is calamity? What exactly is the future?

And why exactly have you decided what you're doing is salvation, or the only choice?

Hmm, going to go help her?

No need. She's just dealing with a stubborn child.

Who's stopping the procession from advancing?

Mostima and Fiammetta have banded together with a group of fresh returnees. As for Andoain and Federico, we don't know where they or their group are.

Fia...

Once more must I stand against those I hold dear. Life is such a fickle thing.

Reverend Patrizion?

Just focus on your own work, Velliv.

I've managed to build a rapport with the enlightened creatures, and I've shown them our route. Our empathy's become stronger and more distinct, almost like it's not even empathy anymore...

If it is as the Matriarch—no, the Saint said, then this is what empathy should really be.

Which means what she showed us before was true. Calamity really does exist, and only through these extreme methods can Laterano be saved.

But right now...

The dream has collapsed, after all.

This chaos is only temporary. Continue onwards. We can no longer be stopped.

We must ensure the Saint reaches the Basilica. That way, she can continue with the Nativity after it was so rudely interrupted.

We still have time to make an even better Laterano... to take care of everything that stands in our way.

(Bzzzz—Bzzzzbzzzzz—)

What is it?

It's been a while, you old bastard.

You'd best stop right there. I have your throat in my sights.

A while indeed... Aurela.

In the deepest depths of the Basilica, at the end of the labyrinth, the final door opens wide for Federico and Andoain.

Behind the door, a cold machine, shaped like a ring, sits in the dead center of a platform. A strange red glare seeps out of its innards, sweeping across every inch of the room, accompanied by an audible buzzing.

Sure signs of 'calculation.'

Your Holiness?

Beneath the platform, the old man stands in silence.

He stands with his eyes shut tight, his robes covered in a thick layer of dust. There is no reaction as the pair approach, not the slightest hint of movement from him, as if he were an unseeing, unhearing rock.

But...

But his cracked, peeling lips still quiver. He mumbles to himself, yet cannot utter a single sound.

The sitting Pope, Yvangelista XI, stands silently before God.

Clear signs of aphasia and neurodegeneration. Preliminary judgment: His Holiness's body and mind are on the brink of collapse.

But the dream covering the city has crumbled. Why is he not awake?

Maybe he came here for the same reason we did.

He just hasn't found the answer he's looking for yet.

Interactive simulation 31: failed.

Prior emergency response mechanisms: expired.

Retrieving suitable list of names:

Yvangelista XI... expended.

Federico Giallo, Andoain Agathangelos... signal stable.

Judgment: able to assist in bringing the Transfiguration to completion.

'Suitable'?

Does it have something to do with your title of saint? But why me, then...?

Suitable candidates are particular individuals situated on the edge of the calculation model.

Required as samples for participation in interactive simulation, to verify model integrity.

His Holiness discussed my sainthood with me several times, but he never elaborated on the details.

Perhaps he was also unsure as to what the true duties of a saint are.

But if the Law sees us as 'suitable candidates', entrusting us with a specific duty... Then saint or not, we are now responsible for It.

Interactive simulation authorization: released.

Bottom-level data region authorization: released.

PCS authorization released. Permission to enter granted.

Federico Giallo. Andoain Agathangelos.

PCS will synchronize any necessary prerequisite information with you.

Now, approach.

The machine's voice echoes around the room. It is steady, unvarying, untarnished by emotion or gender, yet it still contains an indescribable sense of might and authority.

Now that I've come this far, do I still seek answers from Him?

Maybe He seeks answers from us. Since we are 'particular individuals'. His 'samples'.

Situation assessment: unknown. Risk assessment: unknown. Executor's decision... We proceed.

The two Sanktas walk side by side past Yvangelista XI, toward the cold machine, toward two shining ports.