story_swllow_1_1

I am dreaming.

In the dream, it is the day my mother first brought me to Rhodes Island. She took me, a young child, to the huge landship to meet one person after another.

Their faces are blurry, their voices distant.

I had a feeling that my mother had made an important decision.

I was too young at the time. I naively thought that nothing short of death could separate me from my mother.

Until an adult led me away, while my mother stood there and watched.

I turned around to look at her, but I couldn't discern the emotions in her eyes.

So, uhh, GreyThroat... Is that what you go by now?

That's right. And you are?

Umm... Do you really not recognize me?

Sir, you're bringing news of a Catastrophe. Though the situation isn't particularly urgent, I don't think we have time to play guessing games with one another.

Fair enough. After all, it's been so many years, and you were still so young back then.

Here, this is a photo I took with your parents. Does it jog your memory?

In the photo, the man in front of me looks as old as I am now. He stands next to my mother and father with his arms folded. There's a date in the lower right corner, and it's not long after my eighth birthday.

There are a few words written on the back of the photo: 'For Ian Caldwell.'

Ian Caldwell... My father's student. I remember you. You used to stop by our house often.

Righto. That's me.

You've changed an awful lot.

So what should I call you? GreyThroat, or...

GreyThroat's fine.

Sounds good. Anyway, I'm here for one other thing, besides warning you about the Catastrophe.

I'd like you to be my bodyguard.

Leaving Rhodes Island to be... your bodyguard? That's unrealistic.

And even if you were my father's student, why did it take you so many years to find Rhodes Island and me?

I only ran into you again a few months ago, during the Catastrophe that struck the Winterwisp Mountains in the north of Leithanien.

...In Wolumonde?

Right, the Catastrophe that tore through Wolumonde. Had it not been for you and your team, things could've gone a whole lot worse.

Unfortunately, you were already evacuating when I saw you, and I was rushing to the scene. You looked familiar, but I didn't have time to actually confirm it was you.

After that, I found out from the Catastrophe Messenger information network that it really was you.

And what does that have to do with me becoming your bodyguard?

You weren't this distrustful when you were a kid. Have they been... treating you alright on Rhodes Island all these years?

Your mother... I met her after the incident that took my teacher's life. She was looking everywhere for a place where you would be taken care of.

And she came to you?

The other way around. I offered to take care of you and your mother for a while, but she turned me down.

She did? Why?

Maybe because I could barely support myself at the time.

Your parents treated me well, even letting me stay at your place for a while. So, I've always felt bad about what happened.

Also... I've seen how you interact with the Infected.

You...

You rescued an Infected somewhere near the Winterwisp Mountains outside of Wolumonde.

Something like that should have been a piece of cake for Rhodes Island, but when you were helping the Infected—

Heyo—

Oh, are you chatting with a guest?

Just about done. What's up?

Who's this?

Blaze, Rhodes Island elite operator. Blaze, this is Ian, one of my father's students.

Blaze saunters over off-handedly and leans against the wall.

Umm...

According to our estimates, a Catastrophe will hit in roughly three to five days. I'll be staying in the area for about a day or two.

If you've made up your mind, come and see me. I'll be staying in a town slightly north of where Rhodes Island is anchored.

...Mm.

Sorry for interrupting.

You don't seem sorry at all.

Oh, really?

Yes.

C'mon, don't be all stony-faced like that. You're still young, y'know. You won't get wrinkles by having more expressions.

...What on earth brings you here?

There's a party on the deck tomorrow night. Wanna come?

Oh wow, this is rare. You're actually considering it?

I thought you'd blow me off like usual and say, 'I'm not going anywhere with you.'

And each time, you'd come over five minutes before the party started and drag me there anyway.

See, you get it after all.

Or, are you hesitating... because you've decided to accept Ian's offer?

For the record, I just happened to overhear your conversation when I came in. Wasn't trying to eavesdrop or anything, sorry.

Don't worry about it.

Because I seem more genuinely sorry this time?

Something like that.

Jokes aside, what do you think about his offer?

There's no way I'll accept it, but I should at least have a talk with him.

When is Rhodes Island leaving?

Seeing how the Catastrophe alert puts us at risk in about three to five days, we're probably setting off in the next twenty-four hours.

No worries though, there's enough time. Even if your chat with the dude takes longer than expected, I'll buy you some time by talking the engine guy into having a few drinks in the boiler room.

Glad you decided to come, GreyThroat.

Want something to drink? The townspeople are preparing to evacuate, so everything's cheap right now.

...I'll pass.

Let's circle back to our conversation about my mother. Did she leave anything behind, or... did you learn anything about her during your time as a Messenger?

...Unfortunately, no.

I tried looking for her but with no success. That said, I could search more efficiently with you as my bodyguard.

I still don't get it.

I understand why you're looking for a bodyguard. Maybe your old one has resigned or passed away. Whatever the case, you urgently need a new one now.

But why me? Because of the rescue mission in Wolumonde? Or because you want to help me out and make up for what you couldn't do for me in the past?

If you insist on putting it that way, then yes, I'd like to help you.

Remember what I never got to finish saying on Rhodes Island?

While you were helping that Infected man back in the Winterwisp Mountains, your hands were shaking the whole time, and your whole body was... emanating terror.

I knew in that instant that... we were exactly the same.

How so?

Have you never wondered why I'm a Catastrophe Messenger now when I used to be your father's student?

Because I also lost a few of my kin in the unrest that took your father's life...

From then on, I'll feel nauseous whenever I see those hideous Originium crystals in the flesh beneath my scalpel.

Whenever I think of the Oripathy medicine in the bottles, I can't help but think we'd be better off investing resources in diseases that can be cured, rather than throwing them away at this incurable disease.

You get along pretty well with that Blaze girl, right? But when she was leaning against the wall, you couldn't control your urge to shift away from her.

...It's just a subconscious reaction.

I can tell, GreyThroat. You've been living an oppressive life all these years on Rhodes Island.

I hope you can find another place that suits you better. Stop forcing yourself to walk on a path you could have avoided.

I was raised on Rhodes Island, Ian. I'm not enough of an ingrate to cast aside the Infected for such a petty reason.

You'll still be helping them, just in a different way.

Helping people avoid Catastrophes by nipping the very source of infection in the bud. How is that not helping them?

Sure, they might have raised you, but that doesn't mean you need to heed their orders forever. That's blind obedience, not gratitude.

What do you mean?

With their days numbered, the Infected have no choice but to cling onto a belief or hope. It doesn't matter whether they have to sacrifice or become violent for it.

But the same can't be said for us. So, we don't have to adopt the same belief as them and force ourselves to live in a place where we're made to feel fear and hate.

Some not-so-distant memories are coming back to me.

Before I can weave those memories into words, a commotion suddenly comes from outside the window.

What's going on outside?

Seems like... a conflict has arisen during the evacuation process?

I'll go take a look.

Out of your responsibility as a Rhodes Island operator?

No, because it's the right thing to do.

(*shrugs*) I'll tag along.

What's going on here?

Over there... In the forest...

Is there a Catastrophe cloud?

Sir, is the Catastrophe about to strike?

Don't panic. It's still pretty far away. I have a portable reader with me; just give me a moment...

It's coming sooner than expected, which is in six to twelve hours. It's still a storm.

Th-Then, what should we...

Evacuate immediately. Bring only essential items with you, as your safety is your top priority. Have you contacted the caravan? Can you reach them now?

No response from the caravan, but everyone here has a burdenbeast cart.

Forget the caravan and use your carts to evacuate the area first.

Yes! Thank you so much, sir!

GreyThroat, can you contact Rhodes Island?

...No problem. I've already sent over a text.

Uwaah... Mom... Dad...

Hold on, what's that child doing crying in the middle of town with not even an adult around?

What's wrong, kiddo? Why are you crying?

Waaaah... uwaaah...

Calm down, alright? Where are your parents?

Uwh... Mom and Dad... They're... they're....

I'm too scared to go back... Waaaah...

Excuse me, do you know what's going on with this child?

...Isn't that one of those Infected kids from the woods? What're they doing here?

Alas, the Catastrophe cloud is coming soon, yet their parents don't even take care of them.

As soon as we hear the kid is an Infected, Ian and I step backward at the same time.

The child starts crying even louder.

The woods? What's that supposed to mean?

The Infected here are driven out to the nearby woods. That's a relatively merciful way to handle them.

The people inside those woods are...

I already sent someone over to notify them.

People will naturally take action during times like these. They can see the Catastrophe clouds too, so they're not going to stick around, even without a warning.

But they have no idea it could strike so soon. If they're delayed by a few hours...

I step forward and approach the terrified child again.

Hey, buddy... What are your parents doing right now?

Mom's bedridden... and Dad's outside finding herbs for her... Waaah...

Do they have communicators with them?

Communi... caters?

Something like this. It rings, and you can use it to talk to people nearby.

(Shakes head)

Sir!

What is it? I'm busy!

About this child's parents...

None of my business!

We still have six to twelve hours before the Catastrophe strikes! This child's mother is bedridden and the father is out searching for herbs. Would you mind helping me notify them?

You first said we had three to five days, but now it's become less than half a day. How can I be sure the Catastrophe won't come the moment I head to the woods?

...Ian, we need to notify the Infected left in the woods.

The nearby Originium is already in the middle of activation. The closer you get to the eye of the Catastrophe, the more likely you'll be exposed to Active Originium dust.

Letting a healthy person walk toward a Catastrophe without any inhibitors and proper protective gear is tantamount to murder.

Besides... they're just some Infected, right?

Ian, you...

We're exactly the same.

...No.

Hello? Blaze, you busy?

That's right. I'm in the northern town. There's a group of Infected in the woods here who has no idea when the Catastrophe is going to strike. I need inhibitors and protective equipment, ASAP.

...What? Do you need to get the engine guy drunk?

Up to you, as long as it doesn't cause any delays. Over.

You don't think Blaze is going to show up?

You've been dealing with the Rhodes Island folks way longer than I have.

Indeed, some of the Infected do have a virtuous character, but only because they've always been that way.

However, the Infected are generally a group of dying people.

What lies at the core of their souls is despair. In order to survive, they'll become more violent, depraved, and unpredictable.

That's why... you chose to step away and stop dealing with them.

That's right. I chose to step away.

I can accomplish a lot without dealing with them.

I can still save a lot of lives from Catastrophes and prevent healthy people from becoming Infected. That's the choice I've made.

'It's all about saving more lives'?

So, you're no stranger to our motto. Heard it in Wolumonde?

Unfortunately, I'm not qualified to be a Contingency Contract Messenger yet.

Thank goodness for that.

I don't agree with everything they do, but...

They're just trying to save more lives.

What about the lives of the Infected?

They, too, count as lives, but... their lives have been corrupted, so they are shorter and more dangerous. We must prioritize healthy people before them.

You'd better not let Blaze hear you say that... No, don't you say that in front of me ever again.

You mentioned 'blind obedience' just now.

Not too long ago, someone told me the same thing.

If you only follow orders, if you rely on everyone else to tell you what to do, that can only end poorly.

How so?

Most of the sheep who blindly take orders aren't actually dependent on anyone. They just haven't started thinking for themselves...

And those who have no direction in life, they're just empty machines looking for a sense of accomplishment, and meaning.

You activate, and perform your function, you input a goal, you achieve your goal, until you consume everything around you, and you consume those you serve.

I'm not like that.

You're inexperienced.

He was also an Infected, Ian. He wasn't even part of Rhodes Island, but an enemy.

I'm not sure if I was blindly following orders back then, but now... I know exactly what I'm doing.

I've spent years on Rhodes Island, groping around in the dark. No matter what, that's where my friends and the people important to me are. And among them are both ordinary people and Infected people.

Ian, aren't you also running away from the Infected?

When we found out that child was infected, and when Blaze first walked into the room... you looked even more scared than I was.

Maybe we were the same at some point, but not anymore.

At the very least, I no longer feel fear and hatred toward other people.

I'm here!

The inhibitors and protective gear.

Got 'em all here. Does this gentleman here need anything?

No need. He's not going in.

I see. Anything else you'd like to say to him?

Yes.

Ian, if I came out of these woods infected... would you still want me to be your bodyguard?

This is no laughing matter. You can't conceal your fear as your voice is trembling.

That's right. I'm scared to death, but I'll never let it get the better of me.

Answer my question, Ian.

The answer is no. If you got infected, I wouldn't want you as my bodyguard.

I know this sounds harsh, but... nothing will change my attitude toward the Infected.

Even if you've never had a proper conversation with an Infected?

...That's right.

Alright. I guess there's nothing more to say.

Rhodes Island... has taught you well.

I'll take that as a compliment.

Wait, GreyThroat! Hold on!

The child's parents lived on the outskirts of the forest. Upon hearing our warning, the haggard man carried his wife on his back and ran out of the woods.

Meanwhile, their child was still sitting in the town square, clutching their knees to their chest.

In the end, Blaze and I spent two hours spreading the news of the Catastrophe to every corner of the woods that could possibly provide shelter.

Four hours after Rhodes Island set sail, the Catastrophe struck the empty town and the woods.

By then, I was dozing off in the dorms, having completed the routine disinfection and check-up.

In the dream, it was the day my mother first brought me to Rhodes Island. She took me, a young child, to the huge landship to meet one person after another.

Amiya had an amicable vibe that drew people to her. I willingly opened my heart to her even though she was an Infected. As for Dr. Kal'tsit, I didn't see her often, but every decision she made was convincing.

There's a big Feline who only knows how to shed blood everywhere. The two of us just went rampaging through some woods I'd never seen before.

There was Phidia who didn't talk much and whom I only met briefly. Also, there was a white Cautus, whose icy aura dissuaded me from approaching.

I knew that my mother was on the verge of a mental breakdown, perhaps already past the breaking point... In any case, she was not completely lucid.

But still, she entrusted me to Rhodes Island.

Countless times, I've wondered how I would have turned out if she had left me somewhere else, probably a place without the Infected.

However, right now, as I gaze into those indistinct eyes, I see a light in them that always flickers but has never gone out.