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Ahem. Citizens of Zeruertza, I am your environment and climate representative, Edge Eartheart.
We are here today to discuss the future of Zeruertza.
The survey results are back, and the representatives have discussed a few possible solutions. We will make our choice from these options today.
We also hope to come up with an answer for how the city will move forward.
However, today's meeting will be officiated by Avdotya.
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Are you sure about this, Avdotya?
Sure, you've lived in Zeruertza for quite a while, and the people in town know you. But this is the first time you'll be standing before everyone, right?
Yes.
Alright, you're up, Avdotya.
I might take some time, Master Edge. Is that okay?
Don't worry, you won't break my record of putting half the city to sleep.
I've never heard that story.
Oh, I remember. Master Eartheart went into a long discourse about geology.
He went on and on until the sun went down, and only stopped when he wore himself out.
I probably won't go THAT long.
Go, Avdotya. This is the culmination of the time you spent here as our resident surface-born.
Thank you. Here goes.
It's Avdotya!
Avdotya! I'm with you, no matter what you say!
Why don't my speeches get the same reception?
It's not just your record-breaking speech. All the other meetings you officiate last for ages.
I know you're always the first to fall asleep.
Not today. Avdotya looks different this time. What does she have on her mind?
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Fantastic. I respect Master Edge's knowledge, but his meetings are torturous.
Avdotya's voice is as beautiful as she is. I could listen to her all day.
Greetings, citizens of Zeruertza. I am Avdotya, literature representative.
Today, I officiate over this meeting that will determine Zeruertza's future.
We have discussed with Master Edge and believe that there are three practical plans to carry out Zeruertza's evacuation.
Before discussing the plans, however, there's something else that I want to talk about.
It's about my past.
Not the past of Avdotya Razorpen, but the past of Avdotya Nikolayevna Ivanova.
When I first came to live among the Durins, I created many stories, and shared mine with many people.
This, however, I've never told anyone.
I want to share it with you today.
......
I was born to a noble family in Ursus.
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Stitch sits in his room, trying not to think about it.
But he can't help it.
He knows this is his last chance.
Let it go, and he will never surpass his teacher.
And he has a feeling that if he does not win this time, he will always be second-best, though to what he cannot describe.
He knows.
But he can't do it.
He puts his arms around his head.
Knock knock.
There is someone knocking on his door.
Stitch, you're here, right?
......
I know you're in there.
Leave me alone, Gavial!
We need to talk.
Talk to Catch if this is about the dome.
No can do.
Why?
Because this is your job.
Open the door.
You're not coming in here!
That's not up to you.
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Life on the surface can be so colorful. I never heard Avdotya talk about it... right, Master Edge?
Huh? Mm.
It's nothing. Rare to see you drift off like this, though. What's the matter?
I was thinking about Stitch.
Stitch? Aren't Gavial and Catch looking for him? Ought to be fine, right?
The question isn't fine or not.
Seeing him today made me realize I may have pushed him too hard without realizing.
You're talking about the dome repair?
Yes.
Of course, I was in agreement about not repairing the dome.
But I was also anxious about the broken survey equipment.
You know how Stitch has been since his teacher went missing.
He submitted a series of proposals for the dome that got rejected. At some point he stopped coming to design meetings, shuttering up in his room.
I thought I could push him a little... if he could come up with a new plan to repair the dome, it would be an opportunity to bring it up.
I could help him.
He ended up going up to get surface-dwellers to fix the railway.
Yeah, I didn't expect him to go this far to avoid fixing the dome.
So I thought, forget it, the Originium vein takes priority.
If he's so reluctant to repair it, just let it be; there will be more chances in the future.
Little did I know there would be no more chances.
This isn't your fault. If anything, it's Stitch's for running away.
But if this dome is so important to him—
He'll regret it for the rest of his life, if he doesn't seize the opportunity.
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Why are you so against repairing the dome?
Because of the job my teacher left me.
Teacher? Job? Didn't Catch say your teacher went missing?
It wasn't... a sudden disappearance.
Though he didn't tell anyone else, he did leave me an assignment.
I have to win everyone over with my dome design, and make the dome of Zeruertza my own.
Only then will he come back to find me.
Otherwise, he'll never come back.
Your last name is Canvas too. Are you related?
No, I changed it later.
Eight years ago, I survived an Originium vein explosion. I had no home to return to, but my teacher took me in.
So your Oripathy...
Yes, that was when I caught it.
On the surface, people with this disease are called the Infected and cast out from society.
That's not the case among the Durins, but we can't fully cure it, only keep its symptoms in check.
It's the same up there.
So I changed my name to that of my mentor and studied architecture under him.
I hear he was pretty famous?
Of course! Finch Canvas was the design representative of Zeruertza.
Surface-dwellers would call our style 'minimalist'.
We oppose elaborate and flashy designs, seeing them as the unchecked spread of desire, the product of a slothful life.
At this rate, we will inevitably be swallowed up by our own desire.
That's why we advocate a lifestyle that emphasizes the true nature of things.
True nature?
How things are in their most natural state. We oppose all unnecessary functions, trying to keep things the way they are.
This is our rebellion against a life of desire.
Like the simple design of your room?
......
No, my style is not exactly the same as that of my teacher.
My style came from his, but in some ways, we go in opposite directions.
Allowing the city to welcome destruction while looking its best is a luxury that comes only from our excess productivity. It is arrogant and wasteful.
One's time is limited, and my clock is ticking!
You're Infected too, Gavial. Don't you understand?
You only have so much time left. You need to spend your efforts on something more meaningful.
Of course. That's why I study medicine, so I can heal myself and people like me.
But if that's how you feel, why not seize this last chance?
You think I don't want to?
Do you see the sketches here?
They are proof of my failure over the years!
I made proposal after proposal, only to see all of them rejected!
After that, I couldn't even come up with a passable sketch.
I don't know who is the problem: the Zeruertzans, or me.
All I know is that the mere sight of the dome fills me with fear.
It's like a cage that my teacher has locked me in, trapping me forever.
Even if it's my last chance.
I can't do it anymore!
Even if I came up with a new plan, there's no hope of it getting through.
And you tell me how I'm going to come up with a new plan that can pass review in such a short time?!
......
I'm not coming with you, Gavial.
I'm a failure.
Tell Master Edge that if he wants the dome fixed, he can have Catch do it.
He'll undoubtedly do a better job than I can.
Alright, I get it now.
All the more important for you to come with me.
Haven't you been listening?
Yep.
But you're the one who's got to explain it to the gang.
Ugh...
Stitch is in danger. Stitch is in danger.
Protect Stitch. Protect Stitch.
Hey, where did these bots come fr—
—!
Stop right there!
