Liberi Reader

Citizen, if you are here to view the Nativity, please queue up at the security check line in the plaza.

You've been dawdling here for a while.

Oh, I'm sorry!

I'm just waiting for someone...

Oh?

There is a large amount of traffic going in and out of the shrine today. We ask for your cooperation and to refrain from loitering.

S-Sorry.

El's been in there all day.

The plan was to blow up important structural elements in the shrine to prevent the ceremony... whatever it's called... from being held as scheduled.

She should have been out by now... don't tell me she's been caught?

But I've been here all this time, and there's been no movement inside...

But El must have ran into some kind of trouble that's holding her up...

Come on, Vani, think... what can you do?

I have two small Originium powder tubes that I could turn into an improvised bomb.

It won't be very powerful, but it should cause enough commotion to distract the guards and allow El to...

Let's set it here.

No one's paying any attention... all I need to do is set it off—

Don't let that thing go boom, girl.

Stand up, slowly.

R-Reverend Gun-knight...

Those tools and all, you work at a firearms workshop?

I have ten minutes. Explain yourself, girl.

What are you up to here? Or should I say, who are you trying to cover for?

...

Let's go, El.

What about Master Pag?

Magister's sleeping. His vision's been getting worse, and the doctor wants him to get plenty of rest.

We shouldn't wake him if we're careful.

There's something I need to tell you first, Vani.

It's so weird when you talk all serious like that...

Ahem. Listen—

If you get caught, just give me up to whoever it is, whether it's the Pontifica Cohors, the executors, or the gun-knights. Don't worry about me.

I came in the middle of the night, kicked your door open, and forced you to make bombs and stand guard for me.

You're an innocent little angel who doesn't know anything!

Wha?

That's my condition for letting you come with me.

Just because I'm shy doesn't mean I'm a coward!

Haha. I know. And I'm glad you decided to help me.

The Curia seems to be taking that ceremony very seriously. Who knows what punishment they have in store for somebody trying to bomb it?

Besides, Laterano is very different from how I remember it.

But...

No but's or what about's! I can handle this on my own.

Besides, Penguin Logistics company culture says, never share the glory when you can hoard it all for yourself!

(Shakes head)

I-I came on my own.

Interesting girl.

Old men like me don't get a lot of chances to talk to the youth. Unfortunately, the ceremony is about to begin...

If you won't talk, I'll have to hand you over to the executors of the Notarial Hall.

Stop right there, Patrizion!

Don't think I don't recognize that sanctimonious face of yours just because you're hiding it behind a hunk of sheet metal!

*pant* *pant* My... my legs...

Pag?

What do you mean? Is something going on with the Holy City? Would you care to explain, or do I have to guess from your meaningful glances at one another?

This is not related to our investigation, Sister.

At this time, I have not determined that you need to know more.

...

In any case, Arturia, you'll have to come back with us.

I don't dislike you. In fact, I am rather fond of you. But if your actions will bring harm to Landen Monastery, then I-I'll pull no punches!

May I ask you something, Sister Hildegard?

Huh?

You love the monastery and Laterano, don't you?

Or should I say—how did you establish an emotional connection to Laterano as a Liberi?

Well... I've lived at Landen Monastery for a long time. I was brought up by the brothers and sisters there, and we worked together to make bread and beer, doing our best to keep the monastery solvent.

I belong here. Of course I love this place.

If you're asking why there are so many Liberis in the Holy City... you've read The Saints' Travels, haven't you?

...

Don't tell me you only used it to make your paper dragonfly...?

According to The Saints' Travels, the first encounter between the Liberi and Laterano began with a herd of burdenbeasts.

Many years ago, a group of Liberi were scattered by a herd of burdenbeasts while seeking water in the wilderness. The animals carried grain on their backs, forming an orderly procession as they traveled into the distance.

The Liberi spent great effort to hunt the burdenbeasts. They never imagined that these creatures of the wild could move in such orderly manner, so they followed the beasts.

Then, the Liberi saw the halo-bearers in the fields, singing as they guided the herd of burdenbeasts into the assembly of pearl-white buildings behind them.

At a time when the Liberi still lived naked in the wild, seeking water and game, those people had learned to tame wild beasts, and build cities safe from Catastrophe.

More importantly, the Liberi found that those people had a confidence and optimism that was alien to the Liberi.

Because of their halos, and 'empathy'...

Uh-huh.

From the moment of their birth, they could feel each other's feelings and understand one another. They rarely knew conflict, and they were able to overcome crises that would destroy any other race.

They created the perfect order, naming it the Law.

I can understand that feeling.

Even as the Curia cut off funding to the monastery, even as its buildings fell into disrepair, even as I fretted over the monastery's books...

The Sanktas of Landen Monastery never seemed to fear that there might come a day when we would have to close our doors.

Their confidence and optimism let them accept the presence of the Liberi nearby, learning from them and becoming part of the whole.

...

Yes. Over the ages, the Sanktas have almost completely assimilated the Holy City's Liberi... other than the halo, which can never be shared.

We are too special, able to take in everything... like a concerto with a clear main theme.

Laterano has never been just a warm, cozy little cottage for the Sanktas, Fede.

After you escaped, you went searching for a 'missing pregnant woman' from a nomadic abbey, but there have been no such recent reports of a missing person in Notarial Hall records.

Explain yourself, Arturia.

A poor mother has gone missing in Laterano. A little incident that no one has paid any heed...

But, by chance, I had once touched the note of her heart while playing in the wheat fields—

And I discovered where she went.

Do you mean...?

Patience, Fede. Wait and see.

We've come this far. You don't need me to explain it to you.

Is this the girl you took in?

You'll have to forgive, Reverend Gun-knight, that I don't have the adoption papers on me.

...

What? If you can take in a Liberi, why can't I take in a Sankta?

She's a good girl. You know, you are the only Sankta I've ever had a real problem understanding.

That mouth of yours...

How long has it been since we last met, Pag?

I forget. Never thought much about it. Didn't think I would need to.

Back on topic: Your apprentice just attempted to—

On my orders.

Why?

An act of protest. Is that so hard to understand?

The Curia shut down over a hundred firearms workshops overnight. My livelihood for decades, the shop I counted on for my retirement, all gone in the blink of an eye.

When I heard you were throwing some party here, I thought I might force the Curia to hear the voice of this humble citizen, in front of all these honored guests.

I should have done it myself, but I'm old, and my legs and eyes aren't what they used to be, so I had the girl run this errand for me.

I thought you had gone into a different line of work, Pag.

Screw that.

Why should I? When you still have the nerve to use that gun I made after you exiled Gia from Laterano?

I just gave up being a dedicated supplier for you gun-knights.

True.

And how exactly do you plan on dealing with this?

We're caught red-handed attempting to bomb the Shrine of Nurtury and sabotage the Nativity.

Will you once again 'escort' your friend out of Laterano, as a gun-knight sworn to protect the sanctity of Paradise?

One who just happens to be a Liberi as well.

...

This has nothing to do with you being Liberi, Pag. If you have indeed violated the Law, then I have no choice but to suffer another parting.

And yet... I see that no harm was actually done, was there?

Take your apprentice and go.

Hmph.

Come along, Vani.

...

(Grab onto me. I left in a hurry and forgot the new glasses you got me.)

Reverend, the man's story doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

I know.

The appropriate course of action would be to take them in for questioning and eliminate any potential risk...

That won't be necessary... besides, I don't need another fight with that old bloke.

This bomb is simple, improvised. The girl obviously made it on the spot... which means that her accomplice is still inside.

Reassign an extra team of gun-knights and work with the patrols to ensure the shrine's security.

Yes, Reverend.

Strange. Is she still in the Shrine of Nurtury?

Cardinal Aide Amos.

R-Reverend Patrizion. L-Long time no see.

Long time indeed.

What are you all worked up about?

Have you seen Cardinal Lemuen? There's something I wanted to check with her.

She hasn't returned to the Seventh Tribunal since visiting the Shrine of Nurtury.

If this has something to do with the explosion, I must be kept in the loop.

Yes, Reverend.

I bumped into a Sankta on Via Borgos in Pagus Faber to complete the takeover of a firearms workshop. There was a visible reaction from the Cardinal when I mentioned this to her.

I checked the appearance of the individual I encountered against the database of registered citizens, and found a match in the external personnel files.

She must have been on the scene of the explosion in Pagus Stevonus. She has... certain ties to the Cardinal.

Oh?

...I don't have much time, Sister. I must return to the Shrine of Nurtury.

Let me confirm: You're not sure if the individual currently under care will die, but you want to make funeral preparations for her?

Yes... she is not in good shape. I will do all that I can as her Nurturer.

But that will not preclude me from preparing for the worst.

This seems so... un-Lateran.

What should a Lateran be like?

Now that's a complicated question...

Farewell—I hope we will not have cause to meet again.

...

I didn't believe it when they said it—But you really did come back here, Andoain.

This Ecclesia Requietum, this field of irises... are they familiar to you? Do you reminisce over them?

There are many Ecclesiae Requietorum in Laterano.

As for reminiscing... it would be inappropriate for me to do that about an Ecclesia Requietum, in my present position.

I forgot. You're a high-and-mighty Nurturer now.

Who are you?

Was it you who followed me and attacked me in the shrine?

Followed? Attacked? Who's the one who's mad here, Andoain, you or me?

If you didn't want us to walk the same path as you, why did you call us 'Pathfinders'?

The sinister shrine that devours. Is it the righteous path that you've found, or one that has led you astray?

I do not recall promising to walk the same path as anyone, before I met the Matriarch...

As for the Shrine of Nurtury, it's true that it has guided my path. But sinister? There must be some misunderstanding...

Enough, Andoain! Nugas garris! Don't play the fool with me!

A dozen of us never came back from the shrine! If the path you found demands our sacrifice, we at least deserve to be told.

Or, if you're really shameless enough to deny the connection, at least have the decency to say it to my face!

No, I don't understand...

You'll have plenty of time to figure it out.

Please, don't... there are many children I must care for... and that mother...

*cough* *cough* Argh—dammit!

It's them. Pull back!

If I didn't know better, I would say you were trying to hit Andoain with that one.

He's proven hard enough to kill so far. I figured it was an acceptable risk.

Fiammetta... Mostima...

You've really made yourself a lot of enemies, haven't you, Andoain?

I'll go after them while you two talk.

There's no need.

I don't know why they're targeting me, but I can't help but feel...

They're determined. People like that inevitably have complex pasts and simple motivations.

How compassionate.

How could you do what you did to your own cohort, then?

...

Why don't you repent before Mostima and Lemuen?

Why wouldn't you tell us what the one in the Lock and Key made you see, deep in that dungeon?

Why didn't you ever give us an answer?

Or, more accurately, share the question with us.

We must each follow our own paths, Fiammetta.

Is that why you attacked Lemuen and fled, before coming back with that Matriarch, hiding in the Shrine of Nurtury under her protection like nothing ever happened? Is this your 'path'?

What 'salvation' did you find in the years that you went off the grid?

I never found salvation, nor do I feel like nothing ever happened.

However, life is short, and if I do not find the answer I seek soon, my sins and your pain will become meaningless.

The day after I was released from Landen Monastery, I left Laterano, believing that I would find something.

The next five years were like a blur. All I remember is going from one place to another, alone, in many directions without end...

I often wonder if something has gone wrong with my memory.

...

And then, I found the Matriarch.

She was headed for the Holy City, though she had been delayed greatly by helping the wounded and needy along the way.

She made me believe that the answer still lies in Laterano.

She promised me a miracle, and that thousands upon thousands more miracles will be born from us. I returned to Laterano to fulfill this promise with her.

Taceas! Just shut up! You're babbling to yourself and making zero sense.

Listen here, Andoain.

After I kicked you out of that gathering the other day, Patrizion spent a long time telling me how important you, that shrine of yours, and the ceremony you're holding are.

I've never seen the old man so serious. So I promised him I wouldn't pick a fight with you. Yet.

I didn't save your life because I've forgiven you.

You just don't deserve to die before you've truly repented for what you did and paid a proper price.

...

The Nativity is about to start, isn't it?

I'm sorry, I must go.

Good morning.

Honored kindred, returned Messengers, emissaries from all across Terra, and guests who have set foot in the Holy City for the first time through the abbeys, I greet you.

This shrine in which we now find ourselves was not built to demonstrate Laterano's power and authority for the Summit of Nations.

However, I am glad from the bottom of my heart that it was completed in time for all of us to gather here today.

Every birth brings new possibilities... for the continuation of faith, for the fight against calamity. Only in this way can we shape the future.

This is even more true for the Laterano of the future.

I bid you now, prepare, and listen to the heartbeat of new life.