level_main_16-11_end

The tracks end here. Up ahead is...

Hah, I don't think we need to go any further.

What...?

What happened here?

<p=1>Far North, Ursus</>

This village is the closest to where the miners abandoned their vehicles. I thought we might be able to ask around...

Hard to tell if anyone's still alive. The burn marks on the fence look recent.

We're one step too late... again!

Amiya keeps walking, until the quiet ruins are plain in view.

The fire has long gone out. The bare branches in the surrounding woods cannot even hide the twin moons. The ruins are a sickly black in the pale moonlight, a far cry from what she imagined the village would look like.

Amiya feels a brief daze, then worry, as memories of a similar scene flash back into her mind.

Mantra, we—

(Shakes head)

I'll take a team and search for survivors.

I'll go too.

We'll be fine, and we'll be back soon.

No, let's go together and split up over there.

I think I see someone...

Hello! We're a rescue team! We're here to help!

Do you live in this village? What happened here—

<i>Govno</i>! <i>Govno</i>!

Again!

I did say we were a rescue team, didn't I? Was my Ursine weird?

No, he's just... afraid. I can sense it.

He must live around this place, though, if he showed up here.

Should we follow him?

(Shakes head)

Let's not. We don't want to frighten them.

Who's there?

Oh!

Careful—

I-I'm sorry!

I wasn't, following you, on purpose!

Your clothes, they're like hers, so...

Our clothes? Do you mean this symbol?

(Nods)

What's the name of this woman you're talking about?

S-Serafina...

Raidian's real name.

Is this Serafina a short Liberi with four arms?

You... know her?

Yes! She's our friend, and we've been looking for her.

What's your name? Can you take us to Serafina?

I'm... Vetochki.

Follow me.

A fire, broke out. The others are, outside the village.

Serafina was, helping us. Without her, we couldn't have, gotten here.

You're miners from the Central Mining District?

Yes. You're here, and you say you'll help. Thank goodness...

Now, we can live—

Here we are. Just ahead!

Who's there...?

Dyadya Volya? You still, have a fever... don't sit, at the door!

I'm fine. No fever. The wound on my leg doesn't hurt anymore when I tie it up with clothes.

And who are these people?

They know, Serafina...

We come from the same pharmaceutical company. We've come to help—

Amiya?

Amiya... it's really you!

How did you find this place?

It's really you...

We finally found you!

She runs up to her colleague and gives her a big hug.

Perhaps she should not be showing her emotions in front of others like this, but she cannot decline the opportunity to let her guard down.

Nothing beats the joy of reunion, and the comfort in seeing someone whom you have been worried about for a while.

I wasn't sure when the girl said your name, but now—

I'm so glad.

Is everything alright, Raidian?

I'm fine. Sorry for making you worried.

Team Raidian, all nine members accounted for.

Thank goodness...

How did you find this place? Did someone find the markings I left behind?

A wise course of action.

Mantra! I knew you would be with them.

The Doctor, Mon3tr, and I came when we lost contact with you.

The Doctor is with a researcher that we found, waiting for her to wake up. We'll meet up once communications are restored.

The Doctor is here in Ursus too?

I think we all have a lot of questions to ask each other...

...Rankin left with part of the group after the fire was put out.

The ones here were unwilling or unable to follow, or villagers who lived here to begin with.

I regret not being able to stop the events...

So that's what happened...

Is this Rankin linked to Reunion?

No... as far as I can tell, he never made direct contact with Reunion. He simply believed there was a Reunion position on the Ursus-Kazimierz border.

I've heard fugitive Infected in the Far North talking about it. Does Rhodes Island have any intel?

(Shakes head)

You mean these people have nothing to do with Reunion? They're just flying a banner that they happened to come across?

Who might you be?

Eloysius Gorchekova, Sergeant of the Imperial Guard, Vanguard Battalion. You can call me Eloysius.

What is the Imperial Guard doing here?

Eloysius came to investigate rumors of mutated Infected in the Central Mining District. She helped us get into the district.

It's a pleasure to meet you, Gospozha Raidian.

I am happy for your reunion, but time is short and I'll cut straight to the chase.

Were there any mutated Infected in this group of fugitive miners?

Mutated?

I'm sure you understand what I mean, as an operator of Rhodes Island.

No... at least not the ones who stayed. We did not find any so-called mutated Infected when we examined them.

That's strange... there's certainly something abnormal about these people. If there's nothing out of the ordinary with the ones who stayed, then we must hurry to catch up with the ones who left.

Did they tell you how they planned to proceed to the border? Or any other clues they left behind?

I don't think I'm obliged to report anything to you.

I assure you that my sole purpose here is to discover the truth about the mutated Infected and bring about order.

Deity Grypherburg seeks to protect the interests of the Infected.

I'm afraid I'm not convinced.

At the Tashkent Mines, at Chorna Prison... I never saw a single noble who stood up for the interests of the Infected.

Ah... so you're Ursine too? Third Army, I take it?

That was a long time ago.

Very well... I accept that you have legitimate reasons for your dim opinion of this nation.

Regardless, I am loyal to the motherland, and what you're trying to avoid lines up with what I'm trying to avoid, to an extent.

The miners who left are headed towards the south. They will inevitably pass through Grypherburg on their way to the Kazimierzian border.

Whether they realize it or not, whatever their actual intentions are, they'll be treated as insurgents attempting to attack the capital, once they are discovered.

Only one end awaits them, in that event.

I thought you were going to ask a question, not make a threat.

I'm just stating the truth. I would not have to be so solemn if Gospozha Raidian here would be frank and honest with me. I need to know how these miners left, and why they fled.

Hiding the truth won't do you or them any good.

I see only a group of Infected who are only trying to survive. No one is in any position to denounce them.

You just won't listen, would you?

Gospozha Amiya, we've traveled together for a while now. Could you perhaps help me persuade our strong-minded Liberi here?

There's something even more urgent before that, Eloysius.

The miners and villagers here are in a dangerous situation. They have no supplies and nowhere to go. We can't just abandon them.

We must ensure their safety before talking about the next step.

You don't have to worry about the villagers. I was planning to seek assistance from the Grand Duchess for the rebuilding of their village anyway. Her Imperial Highness has always been generous on such matters.

These miners, though... they're not a problem that a letter will solve.

If you cannot offer assistance to them, then Rhodes Island will.

Very well, I'll help you one more time, for the sake of our cooperation.

We take the miners to Grypherburg.

What?

Yes. We go to Deity Grypherburg and report to His Imperial Majesty the truth about the Infected mutation in the Central Mining District, turning these miners into witnesses.

This will give Grypherburg a reason to protect them, and intercept rather than eliminate the ones who left, until the investigation into the Grand Duchess has concluded, at least.

And after that?

I'll persuade the Chairman to request that His Imperial Majesty grant amnesty to these Infected, then ask Rhodes Island to intervene on the grounds of medical assistance.

Or maybe you only need these miners for now, and you'll have no further use of them after you bring the Grand Duchess down.

Otherwise, you have no reason to spare these Infected. I know Ursus. Whatever warmth the Tsar wants to bring to this cold soil... the Infected will never be part of it.

Take that back.

I'm just stating the truth.

How dare you—

—Maybe that's true for Ursus, but I've seen enough of Eloysius that I'm willing to trust her.

Amiya?

Sorry, Eloysius. Raidian's simply expressing her concerns. I'm sure we all know how Ursus has historically approached the Infected problem.

(Nods)

Very well... thank you for your trust, even if it's only towards me.

The Guardswoman bows at them exaggeratedly, and casts one last provoking look at Raidian.

...I have one final question.

Are you authorized to do this, <i>Sergeant?</i>

Maybe you've been away from Grypherburg too long to know the weight that the name Gorchekova carries there.

On the name of my house—

You don't need to worry about anything else, other than providing medical assistance.

...You're telling the truth.

Of course I am.

Even if the plan works, we must get the miners to agree first.

Yes. I'll go.

I'll explain the situation to them and ask what they think.

There you are, Vetochki...

There's something that we need to tell everyone. We have a choice: leave here and go to Deity Grypherburg together—

Grypherburg?

Mama said, black locusts, and cherry trees, grow on the streets, of Grypherburg.

The sky, is bright, the fowlbeasts, build nests, they don't, fly away.

...There's spring there. That, Grypherburg?

Yes, that Grypherburg. Do you want to go?

Yes! I wanna—

*cough*!

She is so eager that she lets cold air get into her throat, causing pain from the dryness.

I know you do. But what about the others?

I've never, left the mines. I...

We have to ask the others whether they're like you, if they're willing to trust us and go to Grypherburg.

I-I'll ask. I know, they will!

Before you... came back, Darya said, we can't, get away.

Even if we, wanted to, go back, people outside would, stop us. They'll... burn us, to death.

I'll tell her, it's not, like that.

You're right. It's not like that.

Darya! Darya?

Darya! We'll go, to Deity Grypherburg! Serafina has, a way!

We'll all, go!

...Darya?

The girl is sitting straight with her back against the wall. Her eyes are closed, exhaustion upon her young face like shadows.

She still breaths, but she is not doing any more than the minimum required to live.

No... we can't... stay here...

Come with me—hang on, I'll carry, you!

Darya...!

Probably just tired. Let her rest, we'll find others—

Vetochki looks around, hoping that her friend's silence is just a coincidence.

Dyadya Volya...

She walks over and shakes them one by one, only to find that their backs are all straight and stiff, just like Darya.

Some are kneeling while others are standing, but they are all facing the old woman with bowed heads inside the house, as though they can hear nothing else.

Vetochki looks up, and a word slips from her mouth.

...Babushka?

Raidian follows Vetochki's fearful gaze.

An ancient voice fills the space in the direction that they are all looking.

Welcome...

The one who Ursus remembers.

The figure's face and eyes are concealed by a hood, but somehow, Raidian has a feeling that the figure is not looking at her.

What did you say?

Sorry for the interruption, but you're taking too long.

Everyone! I have a proposal that can ensure your safety, to the greatest extent possible.

<i>Sergeant—</i>

Leave the Far North with us and come to Deity Grypherburg.

The State Council will protect you, as long as you are willing to testify against the Grand Duchess.

His Imperial Majesty must know what happened here. Ursus must know what happened here!

Once everything is settled, Rhodes Island, where this lady you all know came from, will provide further treatment.

Now, anyone willing to come with me—

They're not listening.

The electrical signals coming from them...

'Meditate.'

Suddenly, a strange coldness penetrates Raidian's cerebral cortex, virtually nailing her to the ground.

She is unwilling to offer any further warnings, even if she was just about to do so just a moment ago.

What...?

Even the most chaotic electrical signal should have been benign to her, but now she turns it into a knife to keep herself lucid.

Raidian shuts out her sensations with Originium Arts, attempting to break the shapeless restraint.

What are you—

Argh—

We must—go!

Take—everyone—leave!

'Mantra... is this the name you go by now?'

Mantra, I sense cold and... pain?

A vortex, inviting me to step inside...

Amiya, do not look! Do not listen!

I—I—

Ahh!

Shut out your senses with Arts, Amiya.

Same for you, Elysium. Stay here while I find out what's happening.

Mantra!

Stay back! This is not normal. They can't hear us speak—

Whatever it is...

It's calling to me.

And I must face it.

Mantra closes her eyes, and begins to picture the closed space in her mind like a mental blueprint.

She steps into the house. She will find and anchor each active consciousness here, awaken them and make them 'hear'.

At least, that is what should have happened.

No...

There is only...

Silence?

Red.

Piercing red.

Red, like the blood on the snow, encroaching upon the retina.

Then, she opens her eyes.

<color=#FF4200>(Hums)</color>

<color=#FF4200>What makes us equal?</color>

Perseverance.

Faith.

Pain.

<color=#FF4200>No, no, no. It is love.</color>

<color=#FF4200>What needs to be saved?</color>

The soul?

The soul.

The soul!

<color=#FF4200>Yes, yes, yes. The soul.</color>

<color=#FF4200>It is not our body that needs to be saved, but our souls.</color>

<color=#FF4200>Love and the soul are one and whole. Love makes us endure, makes us believe, makes us persevere.</color>

<color=#FF4200>And we shall meditate and share in the pain of others.</color>

<color=#FF4200>Make love pure, save the soul.</color>

<color=#FF4200>For you, for him, for all who endure pain...</color>

<color=#FF4200>Desire not your own life, decide not your own death.</color>

I endure.

I believe!

I persevere...

<i>Gosudar-batyushka</i>—

<color=#FF4200>'Gosudar-Yurodstvo!'</color>