story_fuze_1_1

Name yourself, stranger.

...Fuze.

That accent... are you Ursine?

You could say that.

What is it?

The water tower is broken. I want to fix it.

Can't you fix it yourself? What does it have to do with me?

The problem is with the pump's Originium circuit. I understand engineering, and you know Originium Arts.

...A well-armed, masked Ursine? Here to fix a water tower in a Leithanien town?

Mr. Berman...

Oh, it's you. What's with this man?

Vissel and I were attacked by needleflies when fetching water from the river. Vissel got hurt, but we made it back alive thanks to Fuze here.

Vissel got hurt? Is it serious?

He's still alive... that's all I can say. His granddaughter is by his side.

I see. Go on.

We invited him into town, and that's when he saw the broken water tower. He tried to fix it and found that the problem was with the Originium circuit, not the mechanical components...

I see.

I-I'll be going.

So you asked him if he knew anyone who knew Originium Arts, and he brought you to me.

(Nods) I'm hoping you can help your subjects.

I'm not their lord.

He said the Baron built this water tower many years ago. I asked him where the Baron lived, and he brought me to you.

You heard him call me Mr. Berman, not Baron.

Very well... Mr. Berman. This is a facility that makes people's lives better.

People used to go to the river to fetch water all the time. They managed just fine.

Maybe it was the water tower's pumps that created a space for the needleflies to make their nest.

All I know is that Vissel wouldn't be at death's door if the water tower was fixed earlier.

What difference does one death make?

You think his death doesn't matter?

It's not just him.

Him, me, this whole town, all of Leithanien... all of it is irreversibly moving towards decay and death.

The difference between needlefly and old age is no more than the difference between arriving at your destination by burdenbeast or by foot.

...Ridiculous.

Where are you going?

To find others.

There's no one else in town who knows Originium circuits. Whoever brought you to me must have told you.

Then I'll research it.

Why are you so stubborn about this? Over a bunch of people whom you've just met?

It's not about who, but what. Goodbye.

Wait.

I have a few books on this topic that I bought when I was young.

You spent a lot of time looking for them.

It's not an easy thing, looking for books.

'Originium Circuit Theory and Applications', from Victoria. Wasn't easy to find a book that wasn't in Leithanian at home.

You must have question marks written all over your face behind that mask, Ursine. You don't know why I refuse to fix the water tower, but allow you to borrow my books.

I have a theory.

Which is?

You want to prove that fixing the water tower won't change anything.

It's not that complicated. I'm just curious.

I thought you had completely lost interest.

Even a rock would be curious about why a heavily-armed foreigner wants to fix a water tower for your neighbor.

Either I fix it or I don't. That's all there is to it.

No... what I'm curious is what this person has experienced, which has made him so stubborn about something that shouldn't have anything to do with him.

Would you like to stay over for the night, Mr. Fuze? Perhaps we can have a chat over dinner.

Thank you for the invitation, but I doubt we have much to talk about.

I suppose you're right.

...But I would still have liked to have a chat.

Shuhrat— What is it?

Sorry. Got lost in thought.

Fuze looks around him.

It is the corridor of Rhodes Island. He would not call it familiar, but it is not unknown to him either.

He has his hands around the back of his head, leaning against the wall outside Elias Kötz's quarters at Rhodes Island, waiting for 'Blitz' to come out.

It'll be a little longer. I haven't gotten used to Rhodes Island razors yet.

That's fine, Kötz.

Where were we? Oh, the festival we saw at Leithanien.

There were a thousand casters at the festival. They stood silently like statues on the plaza before the opening ceremony.

They were waiting for a single note from the concertmaster. The cue for them to raise their Arts Units in unison was so quiet it was almost inaudible ...

Come on. A reaction would be nice, you know.

It's hard for me to imagine it. Leithanian is too different from anything that I know. Imagine, one thousand robed, masked figures holding wands, standing on Registan Square...

Registan Square?

The landmark of Samarkand. You should know.

I see. I'll continue.

One thousand beams of Arts light shoot into the night sky. Colors clashed in the clouds and burst open, turning the entire sky into a colorful sea of flowers...

Application of evocation-conversion Originium Arts?

You know Originium Arts?

The result of extra lessons in Dossoles.

Coal, oil, gas, even nuclear fusion... it's all been replaced by Originium. I had to learn from scratch—

What is it?

Something wrong with the razor. One moment—

Fuze wakes with a start. He had fallen asleep on the desk, his faced buried in the book he was reading.

Tsk... my back hurts. And my head's groggy...

'Festive scene witnessed by the author while visiting Leithanien...'

No wonder I was dreaming about it.

Something fell out... a bookmark?

I should return this with the book.

Press the switch there for me, please.

Not working.

Looks like we need a few more books from Berman. Could you fetch them for me?

I'm sorry, Mr. Fuze. Mr. Berman...

What about him? Don't tell me he does illegal stuff in secret. You were really nervous the first time I visited him.

No, not at all! He's not a bad person. It's just... well... we don't go there unless we really need to.

...Fine, I'll go myself.

Let me see... 'Practical Manual of Home Appliances'? Isn't that a little too simple?

Just because it's simple doesn't mean it can't help. I'll take this one.

Of course.

I'm curious, though... why would there be an Ursine who knows machines, but not Originium circuits?

That's not important right now.

Why don't we set the water tower aside for a moment and talk about our own lives?

There's no need for that.

Well, I'll start if you don't want to... starting with that water tower.

The water tower was the first step of the Baron's dream. He wanted to help the people here live better lives. He hoped this place could be a 'model town.'

In the end, the only thing he achieved was tap water for the townsfolk.

The Baron wanted to build a factory in town, get investments from bigwigs from the capital, make this place a center for the arts... but all his efforts ended up futile or unnoticed.

His final attempt was the boldest, and it came closest to success. He wanted to move the entire town to a mobile platform. He had an agreement with a Vedunien factory, and paid a large amount up front—

Then, Their Majesties visited their faithful Zwillingstürme.

Is that your story?

...My father's.

I was young then, still working on my university thesis about telepathic and perceptive Arts in Vedunien.

At the end of it all, the only thing I could remember is blood. Blood of the common folk, of nobles, of the Gendarmerie, of the Kurfürsten, and of my teacher.

I barely escaped with my life, clutching the charred thesis. The first thing my father asked when I came back was how I was doing. The second thing he asked was how the factory was doing... I need not tell you the answer.

Your father died a broken man, and you never inherited his title.

I gave it up, because I realized it was all meaningless.

...Do you know what the biggest difference between you and your father is?

I'm all ears.

He at least managed to give the townspeople tap water.

If we talk about the issue at hand, your neighbors will have running water from tubes again tomorrow.

Then let's assume your work here will be done. You'll leave, not pausing for a moment.

I'm sure there are many people as stubborn as I am in Leithanien. You can see for yourself.

No. I only learned this recently. You're one of a kind.

One of a kind?

It's nothing. I wish you luck in your studies.

And if you see Vissel's granddaughter, tell her to bring him over before it's too late.

'Bring him over'? What do you mean?

Exactly that.

This looks like a good place.

It's really dark here.

Looks like it's going to be a long time before we can go back to that place where everything doesn't run on Originium.

I didn't know you were the kind to get homesick.

Of course. You remember the day we first came?

I remember. We were investigating the Magnethill No.2 site and ended up landing on Reynell's golf balls.

Speaking of home, what was the name of that landmark in Samarkand... Registan Square？

Yeah. The building with the blue dome. I can almost see the crowds on the square, the cars driving by, and the patterns on the three buildings…

Fuze looks up from his book.

Sleep seems to come to him anytime, anywhere now. He often falls asleep halfway through a draft, and has to chase the remnants of the dream out of his mind after waking up.

The dreams were too clear, too real.

Sometimes, he even wonders if Terra was just a really, really long dream after he hit his head at Magnethill No. 2.

(Yawns)

I can't sleep now. I need to go to the water tower... or borrow another book from Berman...

What did he say about Vissel's granddaughter? Tell her to bring him over?

Thank you for bringing Vissel over while he still draws breath. Where's his granddaughter?

In bed. She's exhausted.

Why do you have the townspeople send the dying to you?

I asked around. People were hesitant at first, but they eventually told me that you've been doing this for a long time.

Let me guess... you suspect I'm taking advantage of the dead?

I am a bit skeptical, assuming what you told me is true.

What do you mean?

It's hard to believe someone so melancholy could be that bad. Especially when they can't put in the effort to do anything.

...Now you've offended me, Mr. Fuze. But that's fine.

You haven't answered my question.

Then watch. You'll understand.

The sleepiness strikes again. Fuze bites on his tongue to prevent himself from falling asleep.

Berman gazes down at the old man's clouded eyes, and places one end of his staff on the old man's forehead.

The tip of the staff begins to glow.

(Mumbled muttering)

Levine, it's you... you came back... you really came back...

No, don't apologize, no need to say anything... we'll go home.

Here, an apple from the backyard... you wanted one when you left, but there wasn't any on the trees that year. I saved this one for you...

There is no apple on the old man's hand. Berman is the only person standing before him.

Who's Levine?

Vissel's only son. He left the town more than a decade ago, after contracting Oripathy.

What did you do to Vissel? Is he hallucinating?

Of course not. That's beyond my reach.

All I can do is alleviate their pain, help them relax, cause them to dream when it's neither the time nor place to do so... a midday dream that I cannot interfere with.

Sounds like a doctor administrating anesthetics to a patient in pain, except there's no syringe.

If that's how you understand it, it's not my place to say any more.

Drug abuse ruins lives.

Is it abuse to let a dying person leave in peace? Shuhrat—

This is the most meaningful thing that I can do for someone, Mr. Fuze.

Perhaps Vissel wouldn't be dying if you had done something about the water tower earlier.

You're the one drowning yourself in 'medicine' instead of helping the dying.

Ha, me?

I've seen too many tragedies. The more I see of them, the more I'm convinced that I'm right.

Catastrophe, intrigue, war, Originium, even minor accidents... the life and will of man is ever fragile before them, like dust in the wind.

And soon I'll be gone with the wind too.

Berman unbuttons his shirt and reveals the Originium crystal formations in his abdomen.

On the way back from Zwillingstürme, I found that I had a little black rock by the side of my ribs, one last parting gift from Vedunien.

It has almost consumed me, and so I decided to commit a crime for the first and last time in my life.

Crime?

There is a lot of complicated preparation to be done in order for my Arts to work on a healthy and uncooperative mind. I'm sorry for doing this to you.

It began as curiosity about what this quiet man of action talks about in his sleep, so I did something to the book and bookmark that I lent you.

Then, I heard you talk in your dream, about something beyond my wildest imagination... a blue sky, sky without a single trace of Originium.

I don't expect to go with you to that place without Originium. I don't even expect to become friends with you. After all, you don't like people who don't talk about practical things, do you?

And so, I must use my Arts... so that we can finish this last midday dream together.

I'm sorry to make you stay with a dying patient in his final moments, but he has been alone for too long.

Berman points his wand at Fuze before he could react.

Fuze is overcome by sleepiness.

He hears the flows of an undercurrent, pulling his drifting consciousness below the surface.

Shuhrat! Wake up!

*Cough,* *cough*...

Good, you're awake. Lucky for you, you saved yourself a bit of pain. Grab your gear. We're leaving.

Where are we?

Magnethill No.2. The tremors have passed. You seem to have hit your head.

There's nothing unusual in the labs. Doc and the others have already left. Investigation into any possible connections to Levi will have to wait until next time.

Mm... hm.

Do you have any vacation plans?

Vacation?

You forgot that too? You really did hit your head hard, didn't you?

I need some help picking out a good place to relax.

How about Samarkand? I hear Registan Square is beautiful.

A place where I can lie down for a whole day, thinking about nothing.

Sure.

But... wait... there's something I still need to do...

What is it?

I don't know, but... Originium...

Originium? What's that? Did you have a dream while you were out cold?

I mean... have you ever heard of Originium?

You can't expect other people to understand what happens in your dreams.

Sorry... it's just that the word left an impression on me.

There's no point in dwelling on it. It's better to just focus on Registan Square. You should come with me.

Your cas— I mean, scientists, the best ones—

No, it's nothing.

I'm just happy that I'm visiting your homeland.

A place with no catastrophe, no war, no tragedies.

No... tragedies?

Shuhrat? What is it?

Do you remember Oregon?

Shuhrat—

Tell me, what do you think of Oregon?

O-Oregon? A good place for artists, with nice museums, orchestras...

What about Baghdad? Lebanon? Moscow?

Shuhrat, listen...

Did you think that without Originium—

No, no!

—Without Originium, there won't be any tragedies, Berman?

(Forced smile) Of course not, Shuhrat.

Perhaps it would all happen again, absent Originium. But don't be so hard on a dying patient's dream.

Maybe you should go and see the places that I talked about. See what happened to my home without Originium.

There's no need. I take it that no less blood was spilled there than Vedunien that autumn.

It's not the amount of bloodshed that matters.

Ha... you're one to talk now, Shuhrat.

Go.

The Arts have failed. You can no longer tell me what it looks like beneath that blue sky, nor can I experience it again through your narration.

Go, before I turn to a pile of dust. Bring my first and final crime to a painless end.

What is it? You wanted to talk to a man who achieved nothing?

Perhaps there are less tragedies in this world... these lands... than you think.

Then what did I see in Vedunien? What did you see in the places that you talked about?

Chaos.

Chaos is just that. Sometimes it brings destruction and other times, it guides you through it.

Chaos doesn't always end in tragedy, unless...

Unless no one takes action?

Perhaps, Shuhrat. But it's too late.

Too late.

Does the soul linger after death?

I know little about this topic.

It's fine. I'm just thinking... if it does, do you think my soul can visit the Samarkand of your memories, and see the blue dome above?

If you wish...

...I'm not opposed to telling you how it looks, of my own volition.

Am I still worthy to hear it?

Don't leave this world without achieving anything.

The haggard man's eyes go wide, then he laughs feebly.

Perhaps the reason that you don't like to talk is you're too smart. Smart people are good at offending others.

Fuze shrugs and begins to describe the plaza and the nearby buildings, in as much detail as possible.

Berman raises his wand, and a lifelike model of Registan Square begins to form before the desk.

...Looks just like it. Almost identical.

Good to hear.

Where will you go?

The water tower. I'll stay in town a little longer, finish what you could not.

Go. Take Vissel home. Let him spend his last moments with his granddaughter.

I will. Goodbye.

...Take care.

As the door locks behind Fuze, Berman raises his wand with what little strength he has left.

There is no music, only the sound of doors and windows sealing.

The wand falls to the ground, but Berman could no longer hear it. He feels the blue dome of the model, imagining the sky of the same color, the sky he hasn't, and won't be able to see.