level_act47side_05_end

A small sandbeast in the forest caught my attention. My knowledge told me that this creature usually makes its habitat in the barrens.

The frightened beast escaped into the bushes. I pursued it through thorn and briar, driven by curiosity, and found myself gazing upon an unexpected landscape...

Do you see it, Fenny?

Yeah!

The great desert and the sky, pink where they meet on the horizon. It's totally different from the pictures in the textbooks.

It smells sweet.

Heh, that's your mom baking cupcakes. They'll be ready soon.

Tell me again about your adventures in the eastern wasteland... no, tell me about the city in the sky!

There's no rush, Fenny. We have plenty of time, and plenty of adventures to talk about.

You'll see everything that I've ever seen, when you grow up and your feet become quicker, I promise.

Stop spinning tall tales to my clients!

Don't blame me for you being boring, trainee. They like my stories better.

My job is to take clients to see places that actually exist.

You think only the places that your company marked exist? What about the things I saw in my youth?

I told you, you shouldn't just read from your tourist manual. You need to walk a path that no one has ever seen—

And achieve nothing in life, get laughed at by the neighbors, and spend my old age spinning tall tales to children?

I believed your stories—the flying beckbeast, floating city, golden-pink deserts... they'll always be precious memories.

But you believe in your stories too much.

Ferne! *cough* Come back here!

Congratulations, Miss Ferne Barn. Your application has been approved. You are now the owner of an independent travel agency.

Thank you. It's a big first step, even if it's a one-woman company!

One woman? I thought there was another name on the application...?

Martin Barn, my dad. Passed away last year.

I'm sorry...

No need to apologize. I wouldn't have decided to start my own travel agency, if not for him.

Even if we won't be able to travel together, Martin Barn will always be an important part of this company.

I'm sure he'd be glad. Have you decided your first route? I can recommend a few popular spots.

Hm... is there someplace that no one's ever gone before?

Most of my peers think my slogan of going into the unknown is just a gimmick. Only my clients and I know how many wonderful sights we saw, and how many amazing things we did together.

Our destination was Propeller Paradise. I wanted to see what the future would be like, while my client had an ambiguous wish.

I swear I didn't mean to sabotage Rhine... my client wasn't in good shape, and you were the only other Banshee I knew of—

No need to apologize. I'm not here to put you on trial. I just wanted to know who you and your client were.

I'll be happy to read your autobiography, if you ever publish one. But right now, time is of the essence.

You're worried about the hearing? I don't think the investigation is complete yet, since they keep pushing the date back.

The trial will come sooner than you think.

Tell me about your Banshee client, as succinctly as you can. When did you meet? Why did you come here? And... how is her health?

It was two months ago, in the Bleached Wasteland...

Brrr... it's really cold at night. The sand's black, completely different from what dad said.

The outskirts of the Bleached Wasteland aren't as scary as the stories say. My flesh hasn't been ripped from my bones, and I haven't heard the ghosts of the dead wailing.

Wait, what's that shadow on the slope? Don't tell me there actually <i>are</i> ghosts here...

Is this... Columbia?

'Guide.'

Gui-*cough*... guide...

Are you alright?!

Pulse and breathing, normal. Doesn't seem like dehydration... well, can't hurt to try.

Am I... back in the Convallis?

No... I haven't seen her yet... do not mourn me... I must not roost...

Calm down. Do you remember your name?

No...

Where are you going?

I...

You're in the Bleached Wasteland, in Columbia. Do you remember what you're here for?

Wasteland...?

No... she's not here...

What are you looking for? Maybe I can help. Ferne's Tours will fulfill your every wish, even the ones you think won't come true, and our prices are fair and reasonable!

My dad always said that if it hasn't come true yet, there's always a chance. He also said... ma'am? Ma'am!

She's lost consciousness. Feather horns... what's this Banshee looking for, and how did she get lost in the Bleached Wasteland?

What are these floating symbols? What language is this? And these golden patterns carrying tiny leaves... is this her Arts?

The leaves are moving... pointing towards D.C.?

Her memory got fuzzier and fuzzier. I didn't know what was wrong with her and I got desperate.

You can't stop time.

It's a symptom of age? But her memories...

I've seen this before in the Convallis. It goes hand-in-hand with death.

If a Banshee who's starting to lose her memory showed up here, then perhaps...

It's her last wish to keep what's left of her mind together.

Do you mean...?

You're trying to fulfill her dying wish.

She came all the way to Columbia, walked through the Bleached Wasteland on foot, just to fulfill her final wish?

What is she looking for? An object, a truth, or someone she cared about?

I see...

Every cop on Propeller Paradise is looking for you. Rhine needs to give everyone an explanation.

This delayed hearing is extremely important to you, yet you came to look for a guide you've only met in passing, asking about her client...

Unless you already know who she's looking for, or—

Is it you she came to Columbia for?

Thank you for caring for my mother, Ferne.

She must still be somewhere on Propeller Paradise! I'll help you look for her!

We're out of time.

Please come with us, Director Lunorey.

A few more minutes, please... wait, your uniform... it's not Tannen who sent you.

The Maylander Emergency Management Council? Your new uniforms look just like the old ones.

The Council has completed its investigation concerning the flight of the illegal device that occurred last night. Please accompany us to verify the findings.

Please communicate any objections that you may have, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and waste of time at the hearing.

The investigation is complete... then why hasn't the hearing started? We've been waiting for seven hours!

The hearing is delayed, but the trial has already begun.

I can understand if a scientist doesn't like to talk. Have YOU forgotten how to speak too?

I remember how I was on the shortlist for promotion. The next day, you transferred an official of the same rank over from HQ.

He was young, superb... made all the candidates uneasy. We climbed over each other to prove to you that we were the best one for the job.

Same old story, isn't it?

In the end, you were the one who got the promotion.

I was supposed to get it!

Nothing is ever 'supposed' to happen, kid.

You really think the chief executive of Propeller Paradise is an important post? No, people will only remember the one who gives the opening address.

It doesn't necessarily have to be you.

Gordon has his eyes on the Kuranta behind Gustave. The spikes on the Savra's tail rise up on their ends, swaying conspicuously. He is on guard.

He knows that Gustave is intentionally agitating his competitiveness, but after so many years at ATAO, he just can't stop himself from provoking his competitors.

In order to leave ATAO, he took on tasks that were not his job, pulled strings everywhere, and bowed his head to Gustave, his tormentor.

He must not stop now.

What do you think Rhine's device is, Mr. Consultant?

Mm. Maybe a variation of a floating botanical unit?

Excuses—

No, no. Floating botanical units are electrical cables in the sky. Light weight and mobility are paramount.

What did I see on my way here...? Two empty slots on the tree's internal activator.

My guess is—

Oh, anyone can tell it's waiting for two 'keys'.

It doesn't look like the tree will fully activate until a second Rhine Lab section director is present. Unless someone else sneaks into Propeller Paradise unnoticed...

What do you mean...?

People might have many theories and speculations about this device because of its appearance and the Rhine name, but I see nothing more than a flying 'tree', Mr. Gustave.

Are you done? We're not here to write Rhine's paper for them.

The delayed hearing has bought us time. But the reason Nasti concealed the tree's existence, how Ferne sneaked in, and my side hustle... everything needs an explanation.

Enough. Impatience is a sign of fear, and questions are a sign of incompetence.

Our consultant here has already given us the answer.

What is it?

Rhine's device is pretty low-risk, but also invites all kinds of speculation. Therefore, our definition of it can be as big or as small as we want it to be.

What else do you need me to do, sir?

Do as you're told.

All you need to do is what you're told.

Stop pushing!

P-Please, let me through, I have something to ask the desk...

Don't waste your time. They don't know when the hearing is.

I just want to know if I should come forward to the investigation...

Listen, we're impatient too. No one can do anything to move the hearing process forward, unless you're actually involved in the case.

Uh...

Let me guess. You took out a 'Sky Loan', didn't you?

Yes... there were six grocers like me back home. We spent our days betting drinks on the direction that tumbleweed rolled, until two years ago...

The sky, the Starpod, life free of Originium, a brand-new frontier for Columbia... I didn't understand a thing that the TV and newspapers said, but I saw the light that night.

I sold my shop, abandoned my wife, took out a huge loan, and went into Propeller Paradise without ever looking back.

I've already heard a dozen stories like that today. Take a banner and go join the protest instead of hanging your head here.

Aspen looks down at the protest banner in his hand. The fabric is silver, a reflective material commonly used by flying machines.

Lucky Cystybeast's furniture uses the same materials too. Aspen does not understand how it became so popular so quickly. The sofa reflects his face whenever he walks past it. It is patently absurd.

Yet the sight of the silvery fabric also causes his heart to leap, as though the future is really in his hands, and luck is really on his side.

I'll make it... I'll make it through this hearing.

Even if I'm put on trial and thrown in jail, I'll make sure the name Lucky Cystybeast and my exhibits stay on Propeller Paradise, where everybody can see them.

Things will turn out fine. Lucky Cystybeast will bring me luck!

He's never been late before... was he delayed by the protests, or did he get lost on the way?

The structure of Propeller Paradise is certainly complex, but it's not so hard to understand if we see it as a massive Wrankwood film set.

I remember the pioneer-era classics that you starred in. People still think your metal body was some kind of special effect.

You have a good memory.

Transportation on the levitating layer is very interesting. The combination of steel wires and ball pods seems like some sort of amusement park.

I apologize for the delay. I had to make a few rounds to humor these three stooges.

I haven't had a chance to greet them yet.

No need to be nervous. Young Maylander agents always attract too much attention. It takes someone with a calmer demeanor like you to play the part of a secretary. But I can't help but feel like you're starting to go too far with this seriousness thing.

Tannen isn't an easy customer, is he?

He has... a personality. It's not hard to read.

Good work.

Your timing a few days ago was impeccable. A single squad eliminated two major risks before the exhibition. I'll be sure to make a note on your annual assessment.

I'm flattered.

The suspension of Propeller Paradise's administrative and engineering functions has created plenty of room for Maylander to operate.

Gustave's desire to work with us is clear. He has already sent people to deal with Rhine's devices, and he intends to personally instruct his subordinates.

I guess all that's left is a hearing to placate the public?

You have questions about the delay of the hearing, don't you?

It's not like Maylander to stall.

Since when did you pick up an impatient streak? Everything happens in due course. We're not only here to investigate.

Such a beautiful, futuristic city. I leave Columbia for a few months, and all sorts of new stuff pop up.

How long will it take to make a full round of the levitation layer?

Less than an hour by ropeway.

Very good. I would like to enjoy a nice view of Propeller Paradise before the hearing.