This village is the closest to where the miners abandoned their vehicles. I thought we might be able to ask around...
Eloysius
Hard to tell if anyone's still alive. The burn marks on the fence look recent.
Eloysius
We're one step too late... again!
Amiya
......
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.
Amiya
Mantra, we—
Mantra
(Shakes head)
Elysium
I'll take a team and search for survivors.
Amiya
I'll go too.
Elysium
We'll be fine, and we'll be back soon.
Amiya
No, let's go together and split up over there.
Elysium
I think I see someone...
Elysium
Hello! We're a rescue team! We're here to help!
Villager
...!
Elysium
Do you live in this village? What happened here—
Villager
Govno! Govno!
Villager
Again!
Elysium
I did say we were a rescue team, didn't I? Was my Ursine weird?
Amiya
No, he's just... afraid. I can sense it.
Elysium
He must live around this place, though, if he showed up here.
Elysium
Should we follow him?
Amiya
(Shakes head)
Amiya
Let's not. We don't want to frighten them.
Amiya
Who's there?
Young Infected
Oh!
Amiya
Careful—
Young Infected
I-I'm sorry!
Young Infected
I wasn't, following you, on purpose!
Young Infected
Your clothes, they're like hers, so...
Amiya
Our clothes? Do you mean this symbol?
Young Infected
(Nods)
Amiya
What's the name of this woman you're talking about?
Young Infected
S-Serafina...
Amiya
Raidian's real name.
Elysium
Is this Serafina a short Liberi with four arms?
Young Infected
You... know her?
Amiya
Yes! She's our friend, and we've been looking for her.
Dyadya Volya? You still, have a fever... don't sit, at the door!
Haggard Miner
I'm fine. No fever. The wound on my leg doesn't hurt anymore when I tie it up with clothes.
Haggard Miner
And who are these people?
Vetochki
They know, Serafina...
Amiya
We come from the same pharmaceutical company. We've come to help—
Surprised Voice
Amiya?
Raidian
Amiya... it's really you!
Raidian
How did you find this place?
Amiya
It's really you...
Amiya
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.
Amiya
I wasn't sure when the girl said your name, but now—
Amiya
I'm so glad.
Amiya
Is everything alright, Raidian?
Raidian
I'm fine. Sorry for making you worried.
Raidian
Team Raidian, all nine members accounted for.
Amiya
Thank goodness...
Raidian
How did you find this place? Did someone find the markings I left behind?
Mantra
A wise course of action.
Raidian
Mantra! I knew you would be with them.
Amiya
The Doctor, Mon3tr, and I came when we lost contact with you.
Amiya
The Doctor is with a researcher that we found, waiting for her to wake up. We'll meet up once communications are restored.
Raidian
The Doctor is here in Ursus too?
Amiya
I think we all have a lot of questions to ask each other...
Raidian
...Rankin left with part of the group after the fire was put out.
Raidian
The ones here were unwilling or unable to follow, or villagers who lived here to begin with.
Raidian
I regret not being able to stop the events...
Amiya
So that's what happened...
Amiya
Is this Rankin linked to Reunion?
Raidian
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.
Raidian
I've heard fugitive Infected in the Far North talking about it. Does Rhodes Island have any intel?
Mantra
(Shakes head)
Young Voice
You mean these people have nothing to do with Reunion? They're just flying a banner that they happened to come across?
Raidian
Who might you be?
Eloysius
Eloysius Gorchekova, Sergeant of the Imperial Guard, Vanguard Battalion. You can call me Eloysius.
Raidian
What is the Imperial Guard doing here?
Amiya
Eloysius came to investigate rumors of mutated Infected in the Central Mining District. She helped us get into the district.
Eloysius
It's a pleasure to meet you, Gospozha Raidian.
Eloysius
I am happy for your reunion, but time is short and I'll cut straight to the chase.
Eloysius
Were there any mutated Infected in this group of fugitive miners?
Raidian
Mutated?
Eloysius
I'm sure you understand what I mean, as an operator of Rhodes Island.
Raidian
No... at least not the ones who stayed. We did not find any so-called mutated Infected when we examined them.
Eloysius
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.
Eloysius
Did they tell you how they planned to proceed to the border? Or any other clues they left behind?
Raidian
I don't think I'm obliged to report anything to you.
Eloysius
I assure you that my sole purpose here is to discover the truth about the mutated Infected and bring about order.
Eloysius
Deity Grypherburg seeks to protect the interests of the Infected.
Raidian
I'm afraid I'm not convinced.
Raidian
At the Tashkent Mines, at Chorna Prison... I never saw a single noble who stood up for the interests of the Infected.
Eloysius
Ah... so you're Ursine too? Third Army, I take it?
Raidian
That was a long time ago.
Eloysius
Very well... I accept that you have legitimate reasons for your dim opinion of this nation.
Eloysius
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.
Eloysius
The miners who left are headed towards the south. They will inevitably pass through Grypherburg on their way to the Kazimierzian border.
Eloysius
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.
Eloysius
Only one end awaits them, in that event.
Raidian
......
Amiya
I thought you were going to ask a question, not make a threat.
Eloysius
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.
Eloysius
Hiding the truth won't do you or them any good.
Raidian
I see only a group of Infected who are only trying to survive. No one is in any position to denounce them.
Eloysius
You just won't listen, would you?
Eloysius
Gospozha Amiya, we've traveled together for a while now. Could you perhaps help me persuade our strong-minded Liberi here?
Amiya
There's something even more urgent before that, Eloysius.
Amiya
The miners and villagers here are in a dangerous situation. They have no supplies and nowhere to go. We can't just abandon them.
Amiya
We must ensure their safety before talking about the next step.
Eloysius
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.
Eloysius
These miners, though... they're not a problem that a letter will solve.
Amiya
If you cannot offer assistance to them, then Rhodes Island will.
Eloysius
Very well, I'll help you one more time, for the sake of our cooperation.
Eloysius
We take the miners to Grypherburg.
Amiya
What?
Eloysius
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.
Eloysius
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.
Raidian
And after that?
Eloysius
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.
Raidian
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.
Raidian
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.
Eloysius
Take that back.
Raidian
I'm just stating the truth.
Eloysius
How dare you—
Amiya
—Maybe that's true for Ursus, but I've seen enough of Eloysius that I'm willing to trust her.
Raidian
Amiya?
Amiya
Sorry, Eloysius. Raidian's simply expressing her concerns. I'm sure we all know how Ursus has historically approached the Infected problem.
Mantra
(Nods)
Eloysius
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.
Raidian
...I have one final question.
Raidian
Are you authorized to do this, Sergeant?
Eloysius
Maybe you've been away from Grypherburg too long to know the weight that the name Gorchekova carries there.
Eloysius
On the name of my house—
Eloysius
You don't need to worry about anything else, other than providing medical assistance.
Raidian
......
Raidian
...You're telling the truth.
Eloysius
Of course I am.
Amiya
Even if the plan works, we must get the miners to agree first.
Raidian
Yes. I'll go.
Raidian
I'll explain the situation to them and ask what they think.
There's something that we need to tell everyone. We have a choice: leave here and go to Deity Grypherburg together—
Vetochki
Grypherburg?
Vetochki
Mama said, black locusts, and cherry trees, grow on the streets, of Grypherburg.
Vetochki
The sky, is bright, the fowlbeasts, build nests, they don't, fly away.
Vetochki
...There's spring there. That, Grypherburg?
Raidian
Yes, that Grypherburg. Do you want to go?
Vetochki
Yes! I wanna—
She is so eager that she lets cold air get into her throat, causing pain from the dryness.
Raidian
I know you do. But what about the others?
Vetochki
I've never, left the mines. I...
Raidian
We have to ask the others whether they're like you, if they're willing to trust us and go to Grypherburg.
Vetochki
I-I'll ask. I know, they will!
Vetochki
Before you... came back, Darya said, we can't, get away.
Vetochki
Even if we, wanted to, go back, people outside would, stop us. They'll... burn us, to death.
Vetochki
I'll tell her, it's not, like that.
Raidian
You're right. It's not like that.
Vetochki
Darya! Darya?
Dazed Miner
......
Vetochki
Darya! We'll go, to Deity Grypherburg! Serafina has, a way!
Vetochki
We'll all, go!
Vetochki
...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.
Vetochki
No... we can't... stay here...
Vetochki
Come with me—hang on, I'll carry, you!
Dazed Miner
......
Vetochki
Darya...!
Raidian
Probably just tired. Let her rest, we'll find others—
Vetochki looks around, hoping that her friend's silence is just a coincidence.
Vetochki
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.
Vetochki
...Babushka?
Raidian follows Vetochki's fearful gaze.
An ancient voice fills the space in the direction that they are all looking.
Nadia
Welcome...
Nadia
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.
Raidian
What did you say?
Eloysius
Sorry for the interruption, but you're taking too long.
Eloysius
Everyone! I have a proposal that can ensure your safety, to the greatest extent possible.
Raidian
Sergeant—
Eloysius
Leave the Far North with us and come to Deity Grypherburg.
Eloysius
The State Council will protect you, as long as you are willing to testify against the Grand Duchess.
Eloysius
His Imperial Majesty must know what happened here. Ursus must know what happened here!
Eloysius
Once everything is settled, Rhodes Island, where this lady you all know came from, will provide further treatment.
Eloysius
Now, anyone willing to come with me—
Raidian
They're not listening.
Raidian
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.
Raidian
—!
Eloysius
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.
