How tiny we seem when we stand beside the tracks of this ship.
Theresa
Yes, it's a most impressive war machine.
Theresa
With their bodies as barriers, the Nachzehrer halted its advance at a tremendous cost. The Banshee's shrieks, powerful enough to shatter consciousness, only managed to force the Leithanians to retreat below deck...
Theresis
If not for the Catastrophe and the rough terrain in this valley—
Theresa
We're so far behind, and time is running out.
Theresis
Kazdel must have equally powerful weapons, if not more so.
Theresis
All our previous attempts have failed...
Theresa
A century ago, few believed we could build a nomadic city out of Kazdel, yet we did. If we are to catch up to them now, we cannot afford to take the conventional path.
Theresa
We have word from the Damazti. The battleships on the horizon are slowing down.
Theresis
Have they given up?
Theresa
No, the Kurfürst's orders were to continue the pursuit, but the commander of the fleet ordered them to slow down.
Theresa
They're concerned about the Catastrophes and the terrain. They've seen what happened to this ship.
Theresis
At the current rate, we can expect to engage them at dusk.
Theresa
We have bought enough time for Kazdel to retreat.
Theresa looks back at the two storms entwining on the wastes, trying to catch a glimpse of the city.
She sees nothing. Where is Kazdel now? Is it still moving through the storm? Are the people in the shelters safe?
Theresa
The storms are converging. Our retreat has been cut off. A battle is inevitable... Theresis?
Theresis
...
Theresa
I never thought I'd see you lose focus on the battlefield.
Why was I brought here...? Oh, yes, I have good news to report...
Theresa
What news?
Brooding Sarkaz
We won.
Brooding Sarkaz
We defeated the Leithanians, Your Highness. Me, my son, and the Blue Blood Squad. We won, we won...
Theresa
...
Brooding Sarkaz
Are you not glad, Your Highness? Were we too slow...?
Brooding Sarkaz
Blake! My son, bring me the battle plan! Son! Son?
Brooding Sarkaz
Sorry, Your Highness, I don't know where my son went...
Theresa
You killed a doctor, one who has served Kazdel for years, treating Oripathy patients.
Brooding Sarkaz
Kazdel? Doctor? No, you misunderstand, your Highness.
Brooding Sarkaz
I only fight Leithanians.
Theresa
...
Theresis
Have you read his emotions, Theresa?
Theresa
Pain, confusion, madness. He has driven himself mad to escape the painful memories.
Theresa
He doesn't even know what crime he committed.
Theresis
The others do.
Theresis
The guards discovered him brawling with another Sarkaz amid shattered casks of liquor, which ignited and spread fire throughout the field hospital.
Theresis
All await the King's response. But you cannot be the one to do it.
Theresis
Leave it to me.
Brooding Sarkaz
Your Highness! General! I gave my all to defeat the Leithanians!
Brooding Sarkaz
Was I wrong to do so? Your Highness!
Theresis
Take him away.
Theresa
...
Theresa
...His name is Logan, given to him by his mother, who was one of the first Babel engineers.
Theresa
He hardly uses any Arts, but the guards were hypnotized by Arts. Someone is behind this.
Theresis
The Military Commission will not investigate the Sarkaz for the sake of an outsider, not after they've just been through another ordeal.
Theresis
Neither should Babel.
Theresa
...
Theresis
We have no choice. The war has just ended.
Theresis
Babel should withdraw from military and political affairs, at least for the time being.
Theresa
You know that's not what Babel is about in the first place.
Theresis
I do, but many don't.
Theresa
...
Theresa
I will define the parameters for Babel's activities. Babel members will continue to serve Kazdel's medical, educational, and technological needs from this area.
Theresis
The Military Commission will continue to protect them. But we must make every effort to avoid conflict.
Theresis
There will come a day when the repressed hatred boils over, and even we will be powerless when that day comes.
Theresa
Kazdel is in urgent need of a change. We have to solve the Originium problem... soon.
Theresis stretches out his hand. A delicate stone knife lies in its palm.
Ascalon
Knife! My...
Theresis
Keep it safe. A warrior should treasure her weapon.
Theresis
I will teach you how to sharpen your blade.
Theresis
But it's up to you to decide whom it cuts.
Ascalon
...
Theresa
You're too impatient, Theresis. She's not ready to understand these things yet.
Theresis
She has to understand, sooner or later.
Theresa
Maybe. But for now, what we should do is give the frightened child a little bit of peace. Do you like this city, Ascalon?
Compared to the armored general, Ascalon does not like this Sarkaz woman crouched before her.
She seems to see through all of her thoughts, leaving no secrets—a most dangerous thing in the wastes.
But she cannot bring herself to be hostile to this gentle Sarkaz.
Ascalon
I...
Theresa
No need to be afraid. You know I don't mean you any harm. Come, touch my horn. We're the same.
Ascalon
...Warm, here.
Ascalon
Warm, me.
Theresa
Yes, warm. Hatred and killing are not the only way to solve a problem.
Ascalon
(Slurring) Way? Probem?
Theresa says no more. It is difficult for a girl who has known nothing but the wastes to understand certain words, even with the help of the King of Sarkaz.
She takes Ascalon's hand.
Theresa
It's like the wound on your palm. Weapons can't heal it. Only time and medicine can.
Ascalon
Aw!
Theresa
It's okay. I've cleaned your wound. You'll need to take care of it.
Ascalon
...
Theresa
Be patient. One day, you'll wake up and find that it doesn't hurt anymore.
We'll wait a little longer. It's not lesson time yet. They'll come—
Theresa
Look, it's Theresis.
Theresis
Casualty report from the Military Commission. There are many children, most of them students.
Theresa
The ones that lived...
Theresis
Their parents are no longer willing to let the outsiders of Babel teach them.
Theresis
Plus, if memory serves, many of Babel's teachers have already left out of fear.
Theresa
...
Theresis
You're troubling yourself too much with trivial matters, Theresa. You need to rest. We still have to—
Theresa
I want to wait a little longer, Theresis.
Theresis
...Very well.
He does not leave. The classroom is eerily quiet.
Theresa closes her eyes and recalls the students who used to fill the classroom.
'They said we can get potatoes for coming to school!'
'I didn't understand that one, Your Highness. Do you have any simple stories?'
'You said you went to the outside with mercenaries when you were our age?'
'There's a sea between Sargon and Iberia? What's a boat? Why can't we go up on deck? Why would we throw up?'
'Leithanian spires? Are they like our furnace?'
'People who are nice to us? But Dad says there's no foreigners like that.'
'But the teachers here are nice to us!'
Students come and go. But she always managed to get them to return.
But this time, no one came.
Ascalon
...!
Theresa
Oh...?
Brave Boy
General Theresis! Your Highness! I—
Ascalon
You!
The hilt of a stone knife hits the boy in the chest. Although unable to break free, the boy strains to look up at the tall, gaunt girl who has him pinned.
Brave Boy
I saw General Theresis come this way. I just wanted to—
Brave Boy
Theresa, Your Highness! You're here, too! This classroom... are you teaching?
Theresis
Put down the knife, Ascalon.
Ascalon
...
Brave Boy
...Your Highness!
Theresis
You were looking for me?
Brave Boy
Yes. I came to seek an answer for the children who lost their parents. I know the Military Commission will take care of them, as it took care of me...
Brave Boy
But will this change anything? What if another war comes?
Brave Boy
I want to change things, but I don't know what I can change, or what I should change.
The two rulers gaze upon the fearless child, each arriving at their own answer inside.
