Liberi Reader

🔍

Raimund

What do you mean?

Raimund

You're accusing me?

Panicked Inhabitant

That's not what I meant...

Raimund

What about you? Are you going to accuse me too?

Calm Inhabitant

......

Anxious Inhabitant

Come now, Raimund, no one's making any accusations...

Raimund

I didn't start any fires.

Panicked Inhabitant

Then why are you here at this hour?

Panicked Inhabitant

You don't pray with us. You don't come to the sacrarium. You... you people don't have any faith!

Raimund

We may not have faith. But that doesn't mean we have anything to do with the fire.

Raimund

I had some personal business that took me past this place. Believe me or don't.

Panicked Inhabitant

What sort of business?

Raimund

Nothing to do with you.

Panicked Inhabitant

Hey...!

Fernand

Enough. Is there some rule against us being here? You just want to accuse us of starting the fire, don't you?

Fernand

We shouldn't have helped them fight the fire. We should have let the place burn to the ground.

Anxious Inhabitant

What did you say?!

Calm Inhabitant

Fires have happened before, at this time of year. It could just be a coincidence.

Panicked Inhabitant

What a coincidence it would be! You there, didn't you say someone started the fire? Come here...

Federico

Yes, I believe this was an intentional act.

Raimund

And you think I did it?

Federico

No, I don't.

Raimund

You're lying.

Federico

I have no reason to lie.

Federico

The fire spread quickly. It can be inferred that the arsonist was near the sacrarium.

Panicked Inhabitant

And Raimund was—

Federico

Do not jump to conclusions. What I meant was that anyone who was near the scene is a suspect.

Federico

That includes all of you, and myself.

Panicked Inhabitant

Wh-What are you talking about?

Calm Inhabitant

You think we started the fire? We're Sankta. Why would we burn our own sacrarium?

Federico

Race is not proof of innocence. I would not hesitate to destroy the sacrarium, if I thought it necessary.

Calm Inhabitant

......

Federico

I did not find any evidence implicating this Sarkaz.

Fernand

Hmph, at least you're talking sense.

Clément

Senior Federico is right... we can't accuse anybody without evidence.

Panicked Inhabitant

You're gonna just let this go?! It's the sacrarium! And all those flowers that you so painstakingly grew...

Clément

Please, that's enough!

Clément

I don't want to suspect any of us.

Panicked Inhabitant

Clément...

Federico

The arguing must stop.

Federico

The possibility of the Sankta burning their own sacrarium cannot be eliminated. I will continue to investigate until I discover the true culprit.

🔍

Raimund

Hey, wing-man, about what just happened...

Federico

Yes?

Raimund

You're the one who started all that, alright? You're the one who first said that someone started the fire!

Raimund

And you don't fully trust me, do you?

Federico

Yes.

Raimund

Can you give me a little more than that?

Raimund

Ahem. Anyway, what I mean is...

Raimund

...Don't expect me to thank you.

Federico

I don't.

Erendel

(He doesn't know how to say gratias, Sara.)

Estara

(Poor thing...)

Erendel

(We can teach him! It's not hard.)

Estara

(But I'm a little scared of him...)

Raimund

Who are you saying doesn't know how to say gratias?!

Raimund

Hey, wing-man! Where did these kids come from? I've never seen them before!

Estara & Erendel

Eek!

Federico

You don't know them?

Estara & Erendel

......

Raimund

Should I?

Federico

Very good. I want to ask you about the Sarkaz population here, and about these two children.

Raimund

What? You...

Gerald

I'll answer your questions.

Raimund

Gerald! The fire...

Gerald

I saw it all. You did well, Raimund.

Gerald

And... we meet again, Reverend Executor.

Federico

I don't understand.

Federico

You were standing there for a long time. I thought you didn't intend to show your face.

Gerald

Guess there's no hiding from you.

Federico

Why did you change your mind?

Federico

I believed you did not want to see me again.

Gerald

Peace makes one timid.

Gerald

Would you like to pay a visit to our place, Executor?

Gerald

We don't have much, but there's a place to sit down, and you can see with your own eyes how the Sarkaz live here.

Gerald

As for your questions... I'll do my best to answer them.

🔍

Lemuen

Phew...

Lemuen

I haven't been so active in a long time. I've never been good at pursuit.

Lemuen

However...

Lemuen

I've got you!

Twisted Monster

(Bizarre cry)

Lemuen

Quiet. This is a residential area. You'll bother the others.

Twisted Monster

(Growls)

Twisted Monster

Eat... hungry...

Lemuen

Oh, you can talk? This will be much easier if we can communicate.

Twisted Monster

(Strange roar)

Lemuen

I guess it's not that simple.

Lemuen

I'm sorry, but you'll have to stay put. It's dangerous.

Lemuen

I'll contact the Iberian Inquisition. I'm sure they know more about you than I would. If you're really sapient, maybe you can talk to their priests...

Lemuen

Whoa!

Lemuen

Who's that?!

Lemuen

Stop right there!

???

I must ask you to stay.

The night is cut open by a pulse of light.

Lemuen feels a heavy weight that forces her gun down.

The shadow that wields the light stands silently, drawing back the exotic sword before the gun that is slowly pointing towards him.

As the clouds disperse to reveal the moon, Lemuen begins to see who it is.

Lemuen

Well, there have been a lot of unwelcome visitors today.

Lemuen

Can I ask you to stop bothering me? I will be very, very angry if someone gets hurt because we wasted too much time here.

Aulus

I'm afraid I cannot give way.

Aulus

I must ask you not to stop that pitiful soul.

🔍

Federico

Hm?

Gerald

What is it?

Federico

A noise. Source unclear.

Federico

You don't have a lot of people.

Gerald

More than you think. Some went out and haven't returned.

Gerald

It's getting late. Go back and have some rest.

Cautious Sarkaz Inhabitant

Are you sure we're leaving tomorrow? Some people haven't come back yet.

Gerald

We follow the plan as it is. We set out tomorrow morning.

Cautious Sarkaz Inhabitant

Alright.

Erendel

Senior Federico.

Federico

What is it?

Estara

I'm sleepy...

Erendel

I'm sleepy, and hungry too!

Erendel

Are you gonna take us home?

Estara

I want to go home... I want Mamma...

Gerald

Have gone all day without food?

Estara

Yeah...

Estara

Mamma never eats. She says she's not hungry.

Erendel

But we haven't eaten today. My tummy hurts.

Estara

It's so weird.

Federico

It's not weird. Food is one of the body's basic needs, and being deprived of it leads to discomfort and pain.

Estara & Erendel

Mmm...

Estara & Erendel

That's so complicated!

Erendel

Is it normal to feel pain if you don't eat?

Estara

Has Mamma been hurting when she doesn't eat?

Federico

If what you say is true, yes, your mother has been suffering physical torment.

Gerald

Enough, Reverend Executor!

Federico

This is a fact.

Estara & Erendel

...*sob*

Estara & Erendel

Waaaaaahhh...

Estara & Erendel

Uwaaaahh!

Gerald

Sometimes, the truth is better left unsaid.

Federico

......

Erendel

*sniffles*...

Estara

Is Mamma hurting now?

Federico

......

Federico

I cannot confirm your mother's current status.

The Executor kneels down. No one pays attention to the dirt on the edge of his robe, and the adornments that represent his status.

Federico Giallo gazes straight into the children's eyes.

Federico

I am here as an executor of the Notarial Hall to investigate the truth of what is happening here at the monastery, and to maintain its peace and order.

Federico

The disappearance of an inhabitant is within the scope of my mission.

Erendel

Do you mean...?

Estara

You'll help us find Mamma?

Federico

Yes, I will find your mother.

Estara & Erendel

Really?

Estara & Erendel

Yay!

Gerald

I never would've thought...

Gerald

Will you leave these children in my care for now, Reverend Executor?

Federico

I cannot make the decision for them.

Gerald

You're right.

Gerald

Will you go with this young man over here, children?

Raimund

Me?

Raimund

But I have to... well, I guess I can do it, now that the sacrarium's all burned up.

Erendel

(It's the one even scarier than Senior Federico.)

Estara

(Yeah, he's so scary...)

Raimund

You two...

Gerald

That will do, Raimund.

Gerald

He'll take you kids to supper, then it's off to bed, okay?

Estara

But I want to stay with Senior Federico...

Erendel

Sara, Federico's busy! We need to be good.

Estara

O-Okay, we'll go with the scary guy...

Gerald

Hahaha!

Raimund

Boss!

Gerald

A-Ahem.

Gerald

Can you get the kids something to eat, then put them to bed?

Raimund

I can... but where do I take them?

Gerald

Hyman's house.

Raimund

Hyman's? I guess there's nobody there right now... but what if Hyman comes back tonight?

Gerald

It'll be fine.

Raimund

Alright, then.

Erendel

See you tomorrow, Senior Federico!

Estara

I hope we find Mamma tomorrow...

Federico

I will come for you in the morning.

Erendel

Yay! Good night, Senior Federico.

Estara

Senior Federico, Senior Federico...

Federico

Yes?

Estara

I-I can't reach you!

Estara

Come down a little lower!

Federico

What?

Estara

Hehe...

Estara

G-Good night!

Federico

......

Raimund

Hmph.

Gerald

Quite the lady's man, aren't you?

Raimund

Kids these days... what's so great about that guy?

Raimund

Hey, wait up, you two! Don't run!

Federico

......

Federico

...Good night.

🔍

Lemuen

I thought this was going to be an easy trip, almost like a vacation, welcoming some brethren back to Laterano. It didn't sound hard at all, did it?

Lemuen

Well, I guess I did have to deal with Oren.

Lemuen

But that wasn't too much of a problem. It's not like you can't talk to him.

Aulus

Certainly, your skills with a gun can solve many problems.

Lemuen

Not quite enough to deal with you, though.

Aulus

You flatter me.

Lemuen

I'm not flattering you... should I call you Father?

Lemuen

You came to protect that... curious visitor of ours, didn't you? I suppose you're from Iberia?

Aulus

I am.

Lemuen

You wear a cleric's robe, but you feel completely different to believers of the Lateran faith.

Aulus

You're sharp.

Lemuen

Honest, aren't you?

Lemuen

I won't beat around the bush, then. I don't normally like to be so direct, but...

Lemuen

Not one more step forward. Leave, now.

Lemuen

You are not fit to set foot in Paradise.

Aulus

I'm afraid I can't comply.

Aulus

I am needed here, for a little longer.

Lemuen

(Tough customer.)

Lemuen

(An unusual sword. The style is Iberian...)

Aulus

Your attacks are even sharper than your words.

Aulus

I still harbor hope for mutual understanding, but I concede that you're acting appropriately, given your position.

Aulus

I'm curious, though... how do you define Paradise?

Lemuen

A place where everyone lives in peace and happiness.

Lemuen

Preferably with less unwelcome visitors.

Aulus

Would you call this place Paradise, then?

Lemuen

You're enjoying this chit-chat, aren't you?

Lemuen

A group of people have found peace away from the world for sixty years. What do you call this, if not Paradise?

Aulus

Even if their lives are endless cold, hunger and suffering?

Lemuen

They may be wanting for material comforts... but it's far from endless.

Aulus

Ah, yes. Laterano will bring salvation. The hard days will soon come to an end.

Aulus

At the price of abandoning some.

Lemuen

...This isn't anyone's fault.

Aulus

Please, don't get me wrong. I'm not accusing anyone.

Aulus

But I've been thinking: What is the difference between us? Is it physical, or something else?

Aulus

From the individual's very birth, all that makes us who we are causes our thinking to go in divergent ways and reach divergent conclusions...

Aulus

Is there really such a thing as mutual understanding within this?

Lemuen

Are you really going to ask this to a Sankta?

Lemuen

You could try it yourself in your next life, if you happen to become a Sankta.

Lemuen

...*cough*!

Lemuen

(This has taken too long. Can't let that thing attack the residents.)

Lemuen

(I need to take care of this quickly...)

Aulus

No need to be anxious. I don't really plan on doing anything.

Aulus

I'm here because my kin need help.

Lemuen

You sound sincere, but I'm not in a position to trust you.

Lemuen

*cough* *cough*...

Aulus

*sigh*

Aulus

You're as stubborn as a former student of mine. It can be a virtue, but it can also be trouble.

Lemuen

I'm curious about a student who could cause you trouble.

Aulus

One of the best I've ever had. We never saw each other again, after he left Iberia.

🔍

Lemuen

......

Lemuen

I didn't want to do this... I'm so getting in trouble for it.

🔍

Lemuen

Negotiations failed.

Lemuen

Can't say I regret it.

Lemuen movement is as light as her voice.

She pushes away the movement-aiding device beneath her. The lamp that hung on the handle sways in the night wind, falls, then shatters.

Light leaks out haphazardly, splashing on the silhouette slowly standing up in front.

The dark veil of night is lifted.

Aulus

You can stand?

Lemuen

Not yet, really.

Lemuen

Rehabilitation is going to get longer, and I'm going to get scolded.

Lemuen

*hiss*

Aulus

I trust you won't push yourself too hard.

Aulus

You're not in good physical shape, nor are you used to this kind of battle—

Aulus

Oh!

Lemuen

Thanks for the compliment. That was aimed for your mouth.

Lemuen

The people tune out the sermon, when it gets too long.

Lemuen

Especially if they're already fuming after a long and not very good day.

Lemuen

I think I can justify my response based on the provocation.

The cardinal aide narrows her eyes. The facade of meekness that built up from years of being bedridden falls apart in the sound of her gun being loaded.

Lemuen's light laugh has no warmth in it.

Lemuen

I'm tired. Let's do this quick.

Lemuen

I'll say it again—

Lemuen

—Get out of my way, Father.

Lemuen

You may not set foot in Paradise.

🔍