Take a guess how many pubs and stray cats there are in this Infected block.
Haze
I know, because I counted. There are eight pubs and thirty-two stray kittens.
Haze
That's four kittens to each pub, and a fresh fin for each kitten.
Haze
Have you ever counted how many cities you've visited, how many Infected settlements you've seen?
Haze
I have. Five cities, eight settlements, and seventeen prison breaks.
Haze
I've been to many cities, but Caladon is definitely one of the more interesting ones.
Haze
Everyone's the same here. They're out to make a living when the sun goes up, and they're into the pub to drink when the sun goes down. When they close their eyes at night, they never worry about what the next day will bring.
Haze
Infected, normals. What's the difference?
Haze
Maybe one day, with a loud 'kaboom,' the whole of Caladon Bay will slip into the sea, and that'll be the wonderful end of everything~
Haze
Which is why, if I had to pick a place to die, this wouldn't be too bad a choice.
Haze
A place where I can look down on the whole city, and my body's turning to stone, and then, 'bang!'
Haze
Nothing left of me, no one any the wiser. But nonetheless, I'll have to pick a place that's farther away, lest the dust drift its way down into the streets.
Haze
The rocks in my body seem to have calmed down...
Haze
Looks like it's not yet time. At least, not today.
Haze
Until that day comes, I always have to think about where I'll find tomorrow's fun.
Haze
Oh, I didn't even notice. The sun's already up.
Haze
Good morning, Victoria. Good morning, Caladon.
Haze
So, who's the lucky contestant who gets a visit from the kitty today?
Her lungs hurt, her stomach hurts, her liver hurts.
Haze
Looks like normal painkillers... don't do a thing anymore.
Stricken with pain and disease, the Feline girl looks up at the sky through the windows of the abandoned house.
A heavy fog shrouds the entire city of Caladon, to the point that the sun's radiance can no longer be seen.
From the Grey Hills to Toron, then Castshire and finally to Caladon.
I kept running, wandering the world without aim. My friends all died one by one.
And the further I got, the more I lost.
Even a dandelion caught on the wind ends up settling somewhere.
This kitty's all too tired out.
Infected Girl
Miss Witch, are you okay?
Haze
*cough*... *cough*...
Infected Girl
Is that blood?
Haze
It looks like... this is the end.
Haze
Minnie, I have something for you...
Haze
Do you know how much these coins are worth?
Infected Girl
Yes...
Haze
Take one to Grandma Winnie every day and ask her to give you something to eat.
Haze
And here.
The Feline witch takes out a black hat and an exquisite ring.
Haze
(*Sigh*... The Witch's Ceremony... Not that it has much meaning left to it anymore.)
Haze
I am Haze, the Hundred and Thirteenth Witch of the Witch Forest...
Haze
May the Grey Hills' sages of the past bear witness to it all.
Haze
Witness the entrance of a new member to our ranks...
Haze
Witness the birth of a new soul...
Infected Girl
Hm?
Haze
Do you remember what you asked me before?
Haze
Now you're a witch.
Infected Girl
Really? So I can use Arts now?
Haze
Listen. You've always been able to use Arts. You have a gift for it.
Haze
But when you use them, you need to use this ring. Just like I taught you before. Without this ring, you aren't allowed to use Originium Arts. Understand?
Infected Girl
Yes...
Haze
Also, you're only allowed to use Originium Arts on bad people. You remember how to tell bad people, don't you?
Infected Girl
Yes!
Haze
That's good...
The Feline witch stands up and struggles toward the exit.
I can't even have my last moments to myself, can I...?
Haze
Now I know this place gets visitors.
Haze follows the wailing to another part of the abandoned tower.
In front of her, a Feline girl stands next to a window, trembling.
Haze
*Sigh*.
Susie
(Sobs)
Susie
Sorry... I'm sorry, Mum... I'm so sorry...
Susie
I... I don't know what to do anymore.
With a helpless, grief-stricken look, the Feline girl totters at the edge of the building.
Haze
That's very dangerous, you know?
Susie
Yagh!
Susie
Wh-Who are you...?
Haze
Nobody important.
Haze
But I do need to tell you a few things before you jump.
Haze
After you do it, you won't be nearly as adorable as you are now. Honestly, I can't recommend it.
Haze
Your friends will be awfully sad to see you in that state when they find you tomorrow.
Susie
Friends... Quercus...
The sobbing girl hesitates and steps back from the window.
Haze
That's better, now!
Haze
What do I call you, little kitten?
Susie
Susie... Susie Glitter.
Haze
That's a pretty name.
Haze
You can call me Haze.
Susie
Miss... Haze...
Susie
Miss Haze... What are you doing out here so late?
Haze
I was about to ask you the same. This is my personal, secret hideout. How did you find it?
Haze
Oh, well, I can give a cute little kit like you special permission to play about here. But not if you've come for a cordless bungee jump, however.
Susie
*Sniffles*...
Haze
Oh, dear, what are you crying for?
Susie
No... I...
Haze
*Sigh*... It's okay. Cry all you want. No one will hear you, so no need to hold it in.
Haze
Nobody's ever around here—though there's no booze, either. It would be nice if we had some, though, wouldn't it?
Haze
What I do have for you is free time. Come, have a talk with me?
Haze
Why were you about to do something so silly?
Susie
I...
Susie
I... had this dream. I've had it for years...
Haze
A years-long dream? That sounds lovely.
Susie
I... I worked so hard towards for it, years upon years...
Susie
It was... I dedicated my whole life to it.
Susie
And a few days ago, it was gone in the blink of an eye... Somebody destroyed all of it...
Susie
And I don't even know why...
Susie
None of it's left... nothing...
Susie
How much time do us Infected get, anyway?
Haze
Someone destroyed it, you say...
Haze
And so the first thing that came to mind was to destroy yourself too?
Haze
Seems awfully odd, doesn't it?
Susie
Huh... Huh? What do you mean?
Haze
Well, you said it yourself. Someone destroyed your beautiful dream and your life's work, but what are you doing now? Aren't you trying to destroy the very last thing you have?
Susie
No... That's not it...
Haze
Show me your hand. Let me see it.
Susie
Huh? Huh? What are you doing?
Haze
No crystals... It looks like you aren't too far along?
Susie
I—I don't have much idea myself...
Haze
A silly kit with a muddled head. You need some sense knocked into you.
Susie
—!
Haze
Living for a dream... That's quite the luxury for an Infected.
Haze
Most of us are just trudging along aimlessly, from one day to the next.
Haze
'We don't have that much longer to live. Why tire yourself out with goals and ideals?'
Haze
But you chose to make your dream come true, and that's impressive. There aren't a lot of people like you out there.
Haze
But, you see... So long as you're alive, things will work out.
Haze
You have more time than you think, not like... I digress.
Haze
It'd be a shame to give up just like that.
Susie
But what can I do?
Haze
I'm sure a cute little kitten like you has lots of friends.
Haze
Why don't you go talk to them? You won't get anywhere mulling over it by yourself.
Haze
If you've lost something, find it. If someone stole something of yours, find a way to steal it back.
Haze
Give up like this, and you won't have a single thing left, you know?
Haze
The bad ones will laugh ever harder, and that's no fair to yourself.
Haze
It's the bad ones ruining your dreams who should be thrown off the tower, not you. Don't you think?
The young Feline looks hesitantly at the window. Her face is shrouded in helplessness. Time drifts slowly by in the pitch dark of this abandoned tower.
She spends a brief moment pondering in silence, before finally letting out a long sigh and freeing an exhausted smile. It seems the weight on her shoulders is gone.
Susie
You're right.
Haze
Now, if you still feel down in the dumps, just cry it all out. Nobody's around to judge you.
Susie
No... It's okay... Thanks...
Haze
That's more like it.
Haze
The Great Witch says, as long as the sun rises tomorrow, there is still hope.
