level_main_16-16_beg

(Yawns)

Look sharp. We're on shift for another two hours.

<i>Blyat</i>... not a damn mangler in this ice and snow.

Hey... did you hear something?

What—

The soldier turns around, only to see a crossbow bolt punching through his friend's skull.

Huh?

Ah! Ahhhh—!

Rankin! We got the ones below! Let's go up!

Wait! Don't be rash! Come back!

The miners are gathered under the outpost, gazing at the flashing warning light above their heads.

Watch your heads!

Mmph! Ugh!

They saw us! They're pulling the ladder!

We'll have to do this the hard way.

Take all the explosives and come with me, Team 3. We're blowing the outpost door, whatever it takes.

Don't stop if I fall. Take my place.

Team 4, Team 5, keep shooting and cover us!

The rest of you, don't let a single soldier get away.

You got it!

On my mark—

The searchlight catches them, and it is immediately followed by a hail of projectiles.

Rankin continues to push forward towards the outpost, raising his crossbow and taking aim at the vexing searchlight above their heads.

Argh—!

Suddenly, Rankin feels a sharp pain on his forehead, and the left side of his field of vision is covered in red.

Blood streams down. He hears a ringing in his head.

Rankin? Rankin!

Not a step back! With me! Push forward!

Damn it. We're dead anyway if we go back! Might as well take a few of them down with us!

The cries around him seem so distant. He can hear the sound of crossbow bolts finding flesh. He can hear the sound of bodies hitting the floor.

He must not fall. Not when victory is so close.

He wills his limbs to move with the last bit of strength he has left, once again raising his crossbow, aiming at that loathsome light above. He pulls the trigger.

They're weakening! Keep up!

Now, ready—

The door's blown! Charge!

The miners' voices feel more and more distant. It is all Rankin can do to keep up.

No one notices him in this battle of life and death.

He leans against the rubble and heads upwards, one small step at a time.

His senses are returning, and his body is getting used to the pain.

He walks over bodies that were alive just a moment ago. The spiral staircase leads to an aperture at the top, where the most beautiful aurora of the Ursine night shines through.

He remembers sitting in the mine elevators, gazing up at the only light above.

Finally, the last step. He finds himself standing amidst the aurora, beneath the stars, with friends.

Rankin?! Are you alright??

...I'm fine.

Rankin wipes away the blood on his forehead and takes a look at his brothers and sisters around him.

Half of us didn't make it...

...But we did it.

We did it...

In the distance, Deity Grypherburg remains hidden behind the thick taiga. The vast, frozen icy lake seems to taunt them for their foolish challenge.

We climbed from the dark mines to the surface, and now we stand atop the Army's outpost.

We will cross the frozen lake and forest, and plant our flags in even more places.

Rankin's eyes burn bright as he tries to communicate his vision to the others.

Their faces are bright with the joy of victory too. They have waited for this day for far too long.

Nikto, we finally—

Rankin turns around, but does not see the familiar figure.

...Nikto?

*pant*... *pant*...

I ran away when the first bolt left the crossbow.

It's no shame to be afraid. It is only the most foolish of fools who do not know fear.

Rankin is mad. Everyone who follows him is mad.

I wanted to pull them back. But if they want to die, let them.

I can't die yet.

From cobbler to tutor, to being adopted by a count. I didn't do all that just so that I could die in a place like that.

Die, and it's all over.

I must survive.

Volgrad is just ahead...

...Start over, Nikto.

<i>Blyat</i>...

What the bloody hell is that...?

A torch!

We should light a torch, so that the others will know we've succeeded and come to meet up with us!

Yes... you're right.

Light the fire.

A dull thud coming from the distance shakes the icefields, and makes their eardrums and hearts tremble.

What's that?!

O-Over there!

They look in the direction that he is pointing, and see a massive battleship rising on the horizon, so massive it is hard to tell whether it is a ship or a nomadic city.

The taiga is leveled in an instant, and the stars are veiled by red light.

Snow and tree trunks are torn to pieces and sucked into the sky.

Only now...

Only now do they understand what they are dealing with.

Ursus.

They are dealing with Ursus.

I see...

So this is what it is...

Raidian?

I just got a message on a public channel.

It says that the Ursine ore veins are near exhausted...

The Armies are trying to cover it up. At least one army is already here in the Far North...!

Did the Doctor's team send the message?

Uncertain, but likely. This is a warning from the Doctor.

The mines becoming exhausted... could it be...?

But I don't understand. Ursus wants to cover it up? Do they plan on killing everyone in the Far North who knows about it?!

...I knew it.

The rumors of the ore veins running dry were true... That's the source of all the unusual events. That's what they're trying to hide!

You don't look surprised.

It was the worst-case scenario that I projected, until now.

But now, there is reason to believe it's true. And I have no doubt some of the Army brass are capable of doing such things...

The Far North is the most dangerous place on Terra right now. We must leave, immediately.

We haven't made contact with the Doctor yet—

They sent us a warning. They're in a better position to be informed than we are.

There's no guarantee that we would find them if we went back now. We would only be wasting our time.

Mon3tr can protect the Doctor. They're less likely to be targeted than a large group.

But if the Armies have come to cover this up on the government's behalf, how can we be sure that Grypherburg is a safe place to go?

You still don't trust me.

...We do need to make sure that...

'Kal'tsit.'

The name once again came to the government's attention not long ago. This mysterious figure has left too many unusual traces on Ursus, and across all of Terra.

Information about her is considered top-secret in Ursus. For this reason, some of us harbor hope that she can answer certain questions that Ursus is facing right now.

...Who are you, really?

Perhaps a re-introduction is in order...

Eloysius Vasilyevna Gorchekova, Lieutenant of the Tsar's Battalion, Ursine Imperial Guard. I answer to... Chairman Islam Witte of the State Council.

My orders are to investigate reports of mutated Infected and associated incidents in the Central Mining District of the Far North, and...

...To make contact with Rhodes Island.

I know it's a little late to claim sincerity, and it's true that I had intended to keep this a secret.

Whether you believe it or not, however, I can tell you that I could have dealt with you in Bresk, if I had any ill intent.

This is not the sort of cooperation that Rhodes Island seeks, but I can understand your position.

Let's set the argument aside for now... what's your plan, Eloysius?

I have vehicles on the southwest shore of Lake Neva, about ten kilometers from here.

It's not much, but it should be enough to take everyone away from here.

I can hide them in a village outside Grypherburg, then find a way to get you inside the city under the government's protection.

Mantra said that the people here are still under the influence of the Yurodstvo. We need to free them from its control first.

She can find the Yurodstvo, but not a way to deal with it?

I have no desire to witness a tragedy, but my duty comes first. I must ensure that someone is alive to bring word back to Grypherburg.

If you insist on getting everyone out of here safely...

I can give you one hour, no more.

Understood. I will make it quick.

I think I've made a breakthrough.

Mantra carefully projects her perception into every corner.

She identifies one little fluctuation amidst all the numb, unmoving thoughts.

...Babushka...

Let's go... let's leave here... alright?

If you stand up, everyone will... follow.

We'll go south, to Deity Grypherburg, or... anywhere, just not...

Just not here.

...Okay?

Vetochki takes a knee before the illusion that she believes to be her grandmother. She takes the hands that do not exist to Mantra's eyes, and rubs her cheeks against them.

It is only when she sees the tears on the girl's face that Mantra realizes how frightening this trust is. The girl continues to do so, even without getting any response.

Mantra remembers Raidian's words.

'Vetochki's parents were executed for organizing a strike. Her grandmother is her only family now.'

'It seems as though everyone in the mining district knew Nadia, including the guards.'

'They sought her assistance more than they sought the medical team's. They sought comfort when they were in pain, insight when they were lost, and found a strange peace in her words.'

'...I should have noticed that something wasn't right. I thought she was just a respected old woman.'

Please, babushka...

Mantra watches the girl before her, and gently makes her own voice appear in the girl's mind.

She believes you will find peace here.

Once all hope is gone.

Who—

Vetochki.

Vetochki turns around to see the Phidia standing behind her.

Y-You know, my name? But I never, told you...

In this place, at least, you should be able to express yourself clearly.

But you're talking in the same way that you usually do, which means that you've not been seriously affected...

Perhaps there's still a way for you to wake up.

What?

Is Nadia your family?

Yes, she's... she's my babushka.

And my only, family.

Are you sure?

Of course I am. She's my, babushka.

Your babushka wants everyone to endure their pain.

So that they have no desire to live, nor choose to end their own pain and die.

No, no—babushka wouldn't!

She's just tired, like everyone... Everyone's just, tired.

We want to live. Of course we do! But there's always people, who don't want us to...

Always someone...

Who?

Th-The Patrol Units.

You defeated the Patrol Units.

Th-The guards, and, the people, in the lab.

They're not here.

I, I—

Who else doesn't want you to live?

The black... monster...

And... and...

Why? I... I can't remember...

Let me ask again.

Are you holding the hands of your family?

Turn around, Vetochki.

Vetochki does not want to turn around. As long as she does not do so, those cold and withered hands will forever remain the way they are.

Tell me. What do you see?

Don't turn around. Don't turn around. Don't turn around.

She keeps telling herself.

But she turned around.

Babushka is in front of her. Babushka is singing a lullaby.

I... I see Babushka Nadia.

No. Look more closely.

Babushka is in front of her. Her hands are cold.

I... I...

What do you see?

I see... circle. I see—

Red.

Vetochki frantically shakes her head.

Why...

Why is it always red?

Babushka sitting, babushka standing, babushka, colors ever-changing.

Babushka lying in a pool of blood, deciding that Vetochki may die.

Brrr. Is this what autumn is like in Ursus? I would hate to see what they call winter.

An open-air party, with no lawn or picnic table? What are you inviting us here to see?

Entertainment you don't get in Kazimierz, no matter how rich you are.

A few lives and deaths, big deal. I doubt those miners we saw on the way could give us a show that measures up to knightsports.

The knights fight every year, but Breskenoy hasn't seen a single death sentence in a decade under the rule of the current Grand Duchess! This is a truly rare event.

Death sentence? Who's the criminal?

A miner couple caught in the act, plotting to organize an Infected strike.

My, my, how awful...

Yes. It was such a horrendous crime that the Grand Duchess apparently wept when she signed the death warrant.

But there is no precedence for humane death sentences in these parts. It's easy to bury them in the nearby swamps, but it would be such a waste of a rare death sentence, wouldn't it?

Which is why we're here.

The procedures start with whipping. I heard paying guests like us even get to pick the whip, add blades to it, soak it in brine...

What if they died sooner than planned and their rocks exploded in front of us? I had this dress made just for this trip, you know.

That won't be a problem! Their infection isn't that bad. It would have taken them years to die if they didn't commit their crime.

As for the party and picnic that you asked about, you'll see it soon enough.

Now, let's get ourselves warm by the fire.

Are they still breathing?

Th-The woman's still babbling treason...

Is the man dead?

Cut his tongue out yesterday.

Why not cut the woman's too?

Th-The guests yesterday said no.

They wanted to hear her scream—

Did she?

No! Not even once. She keep repeating her 'petitions', saying things like 'for the other children who died in the mines'...

Couldn't understand a word of it! She must be mad.

Wouldn't have tried to start a strike if she wasn't.

*sigh* Cut the woman's tongue too.

Yes, sir!

And that kid. She was standing there yesterday too, wasn't she?

Yes. The constable wanted her to stand there and watch, until her parents breathe their last.

Then send her back to the quarters once they're dead.

I'm afraid she has to go down to the mines with her mom's lamp and ID. She was born in a mine, you know, which makes her a miner too.

...Does she have a lamp? Do you see a lamp in her hands?

N-No, sir!

Then send her back to the quarters once it's done, <i>mudak!</i>

Vetochki... here, take these. Butter, minced meat, chocolate... Good girl.

Uh...

D-Don't get any wrong ideas! It wasn't my husband who sold your parents out! I earned these myself, pushing the carts in the mines!

There's only you and your babushka now. Take care of her, alright?

Tell her she doesn't need to return the scissors she borrowed. Come find me if you ever need anything...

I'll do what I can to help.

*sigh* My kid would be around your age, if she had lived.

She said some other things, but I never answered.

Was it because I couldn't talk, or because I had already walked away and went home?

All I know is that I saw red—

Red dripping on greyish-white plastic.

I thought I was back outside at that place again... but no.

It was babushka.

Argh—ahhhh!

Ugh...

Yesterday, and today. I learned that the red inside a human body isn't endless. It will dry up. It makes people hurt. It brings death.

So I tried to stop the red that was flowing out, with my hands, like the game that I played with my friends when I was little.

'Whoever picks up the most water has the most happiness.'

'Whoever bags the most winds has the most freedom.'

*Sob* *sob*—

No—no, no!

I can't keep it.

I must keep it.

I can't—

Babushka...

Babushka.

The cold body sinks into the plastic, into the mud, before my eyes. I look up and see 'it'.

A pale, standing shadow.

I cried—

'Babushka Nadia?'

I'm here.

...You told me to, endure, and forgive.

To survive, yes.

Must we still, endure?

Endure, and share, other pain, only leads to death now.

Do we endure... for nothing?

Desire anything, and you will only sin. Your suffering soul needs eternal peace.

Come, child. Come into my embrace.

...Did you forgive too?

I forgave.

We must accept the life that Ursus has granted, as we accept the death that Ursus has granted. We must not choose. We must not struggle.

Did you forgive? For killing mom, and dad... your own, child.

Yes, I forgive.

'I forgive'?

No...

Then... no.

You're not Babushka Nadia.

Babushka wouldn't, forgive like this. Not forgive for peace.

She won't forgive. She won't endure. She's dead... buried.

You're not her.

I am.

I am—

I am?

■■, submit to ■■...

Or... ■■ destruction.

Step back, Vetochki!

Sh-She's not! She's not, Babushka Nadia.

No, she's not.

But if, she's not, babushka...

Who is she?

The light of Arts floats around Mantra. She has made the foe reveal its true colors.

But it is not yet over. She must continue to build a barrier in the cognitive space, to isolate herself and the entity before her from other people.

In the meantime, she continues to communicate the truth.

'Yurodstvo.'

This is the Yurodstvo that you asked about. It is a demonic creation that has been given this name.

Perhaps it was once human. Now, it is a far cry from the concept of human.

I don't understand...

You don't have to.

I never understood its true nature, even though there was a chance, however minute, that I might have become it.

You saw it at the wrong time and called to it. That's all.

The wrong time?

So... it was wrong, from the beginning?

It's not your fault, Vetochki.

I'll take over from here.