I pray that the sick people in Faber Central Hospital get better!
...
I pray that Papà, Mamma, and my sister will always be safe, healthy, and happy!
I pray that the Lord will always be with us!
I pray that the spiritual light will always shine on Laterano!
'I thought the experiment was over, Lemuel.'
'Didn't you hear? The investigators came to school today to tell us our results. They even brought fruit tarts!'
'The two patient groups at Faber Central Hospital were discharged today... basically, their recovery had nothing to do with our praying the past two months.'
'The investigators told us not to be sad. It was all a social experiment by the Sixth Tribunal.'
Over the past six months, they have established trade with seventeen nomadic cities, like a direswine that never rests.
Signora Sicilia
In the process, they have sown new seeds across all Siracusa.
Agenir
It sounds like you approve of Nuova Volsinii's interactions with other cities, but do not intend to endorse their promotion of the New Urban Management Act.
Signora Sicilia
You were the one who told me the youth need to be tested further, after you returned from Carnevale.
Agenir
I suppose I recall something to that effect.
Signora Sicilia
News from Terni. Unusual movement in Lupukarn.
Signora Sicilia
The Golden Empress has been actively issuing edicts, while her counterpart has not been seen in public for a long time... our neighbor seems eager to change. Desperate, even.
Signora Sicilia
Not just Leithanien. There are more than enough new sprouts upon this land. The matters of the famiglie should not occupy any more of Siracusa's time.
Agenir
Mm-hm.
Signora Sicilia
You seem ready to fall asleep.
Agenir
It's almost time for my siesta.
Signora Sicilia
Do you like this fabric?
Signora Sicilia
I can have a suit made for you. I have just the tailor in mind.
Agenir
Hah. I appreciate the offer, but there's no need.
Signora Sicilia
Still prefer your cassock?
Agenir
I am a priest, Sicilia.
Signora Sicilia
But there is no church in this city. It's been almost seventy years since you left Laterano, hasn't it?
Agenir
Sixty-eight. The Sankta sense of self is as persistent as our sweet tooth.
Signora Sicilia
But you've never thought about going back. You have no need to. The walls are still white, the people still happy. Nothing ever changes in Paradise.
Signora Sicilia
Otherwise, you wouldn't have come with me to Siracusa.
Agenir
I'm not so sure...
Signora Sicilia
Oh?
Agenir
My hand's been trembling every time I grip my patron firearm. Maybe my old house in the Holy City has sprung a leak.
Agenir
We're relics of a bygone age, Sicilia. You know how old people have hunches about certain things.
Signora Sicilia
You should take a nap on the sofa.
Signora Sicilia
Maybe we can find another setting to talk, once the down payment for this fabric has been made.
Agenir
Sorry, sorry.
Agenir
Zzz...
Panicked Apprentice
Father? You didn't just fall asleep on your feet, did you? Father! Are you alright?!
These are all documents that he reviewed. The only thing Legal changed was the formatting. He shouldn't need to spend so much time with them, should he?
Tila
I think Mr. Cliff is looking at that letter.
Blacksteel Administrator
The letter from the frontier? What was the name on it again? Woodrow?
Blacksteel Administrator
But there were only four words in it. 'Am well. Take care.' That's it.
Blacksteel Administrator
I've heard a couple things about Davistown...
Tila
What are you getting at?
Blacksteel Administrator
This ship will be approaching Max D.C. in twelve hours' time. How long have we been planning our entry into the capital market?
Blacksteel Administrator
There're still a lot of problems to solve. Look at the people behind me. All our top ranks are waiting for the boss's orders!
Blacksteel Administrator
But at a time like this, he's all tied up with his... his—I don't even know what to call him!
Tila
Mr. Cliff went to meet a certain Mr. Jackson before we set out.
Blacksteel Administrator
Th-The Vice President?
Blacksteel Administrator
Do you mean to say the boss has gotten the official nod to our cooperation with the companies in DC—
Tila
Don't get too excited.
Tila
No employee of Blacksteel Worldwide should doubt 'Clip' Cliff. Anything you don't think of, he will; anything you can't figure out, he will.
Tila
He was the one who put this team together, and he was the one who spread firearms beyond the walls of Laterano.
Tila
He was the one who expanded our business across the frontier, and beyond Columbia.
Tila
Mr. Cliff is a great leader, and a remarkable Sankta.
Blacksteel Administrator
I agree completely, but... have you seen the look on his face? What could those four words have done to him?
'Clip' Cliff
...
'Clip' Cliff
Ladies and gentlemen—
Blacksteel Administrator
What? Did the power go out?
Tila
Did some stupid merc knock something over? Or did Engineering cross the wrong wires?
I couldn't find cream or confetti sugar, so I sprinkled some dried vegetables on top of it. I tried to find the ones that had better colors...
Ezell
Sorry, I did my best... 'slaves' don't have access to the nicest things. Galena helped out.
Cecelia
It's lovely!
Ezell
Make a wish, Cecelia... well, I can guess what you'll wish for. Don't worry, I've been asking around. We'll find your father.
Cecelia
Yeah!
Cecelia
But my wish today is—I want to blow out the candles with you.
Ezell
Huh?
Cecelia
You've been helping me ever since I lost my mama, even quitting your job at the Notarial Hall and coming with me all the way to Kazdel.
Cecelia
You've been by my side for so long.
Cecelia
I know you're in a lot of danger here, where my papa was born. It was you who taught me not to give up hope.
Cecelia
That's why I want you to do this with me, the last thing at my birthday party.
Ezell
Cecelia...
Ezell
Okay.
Ezell feels the warmth of Cecelia's hand in his own.
He sees the birthday cake made from sweet potatoes, and the girl with eyes full of excitement, and the big smile on her face. Before the flickering candlelight, both of them bow their heads and begin to pray.
We're due for hymns in ten minutes. The children are practicing.
Aurela
I'm talking about you, Nueda.
Nueda
...Is it done?
Aurela
Buried in the backyard. You can breathe easy now.
Nueda
Shouldn't you wash the blood first? The children could come at any time.
Aurela
What, are you afraid they might see me? Afraid they might hear their beloved Sister Nueda talk of killing people with that terrifying piece of metal?
Nueda
Don't talk like that. We wouldn't be here if not for you... because you took up the gun, I am able to teach them hymns, and tuck them into bed.
Aurela
Hmph...
Nueda
Was it Singas soldiers, or True Bolívarians guerrillas this time?
Aurela
Does it make a difference? A bunch of stinking parásitos who only know how to take from others.
Aurela
Never imagined there were shitholes like this when I lived in Laterano.
Nueda
I know... these sorts of things don't happen where you come from... in Laterano.
Nueda
Your weapon, your dress, your habits... you still carry yourself as a Lateran.
Aurela
A Lateran? Pah.
Aurela
Honestly, I still don't know why you follow the Lateran faith.
Nueda
I grew up in Bolívar, with no one to rely on. All I've ever known are these parásitos.
Nueda
I wanted to believe there was more to the land than ruined houses and barren fields, more than just war, death, and taxes. I wanted to believe there was a place full of food, flowers, and hope...
Aurela
And you wanted those chicos to believe it too.
Nueda
One person's faith is no faith at all. We all need to look out for each other, like you and I do...
Aurela
I wouldn't say we're looking out for one another.
Nueda
Shh... Aurela, you have protected this place as the holy light protects Laterano. You've let me imagine a Paradise bathed in holy light... even if I've never been there.
Aurela
Which is for the better.
Aurela
If you really do believe in a Paradise bathed in holy light, it's definitely not Laterano you're looking for. Look elsewhere.
Aurela
We're about to abandon this abbey, after all.
Nueda
...
Aurela
Time to go in, Sister.
Aurela
The children are waiting for you to lead the last verse.
For years, we've tried to keep a low profile in this lawless land, to avoid the attention of the Singas nobles and the thugs who call themselves guerrillas.
Nueda
But they followed the trail of some escaped convicts, and found our abbey. They're now looking at our farms and burdenbeasts.
Nueda
Aurela has scouted the area. Tonight, she will lead us through a nearby canyon, and we will leave this place.
Nueda
We might go north into the plains, or south into the jungles. It will be a long trip, but we've been blessed with a good harvest. We will have enough food...
Bolívarian Child
Sister—
Nueda
Don't worry, Hugo.
Nueda
Trust Aurela. Trust me. Trust yourself and those around you. And trust 'Laterano'...
Nueda
Keep your voice steady. You remember the last verse, don't you?
East of the east of La Unidad♪
Laterano, holy city of white♪
The guns there shoot fireworks♪
The targets are all apples♪
Through the chapel windows, Nueda watches the sunset. The halos of the Sanktas in the procession continue to illuminate the room, and the choir sings.
She has sung these hymns countless times. It is said that they were first written down by the saints, on their long and difficult journeys, and passed down through the centuries, translated and arranged by Bolívarian scholars.
'Laterano' will protect them through briar and bramble, through the long, cold night.
Perhaps the sun left too soon and forgot to leave some light. The halos and wings of the Sanktas in the choir suddenly shatter, and their light is extinguished.
Nueda is stunned.
Her esoteric knowledge is vast, thanks to the legacy of the K'uk'ulkan, but not a single word or symbol explains the scene before her eyes.
She is so stunned that she forgets to stop singing, murmuring the hymns by sheer instinct. Trembling voices echo through the chapel—
Calm down. We figured out what's going on. Somebody forgot to set the right parameters when testing a gun at the firing range. Accidentally overloaded the power grid.
Tila
Engineering's on it and the power should come back any minute now... although, something doesn't feel quite right.
Blacksteel Administrator
It's pitch black. Of course something doesn't feel right—
Tila
That's it! Where's Mr. Cliff's halo? It should be shining like a lamp—
Saw you from across the street, but you didn't answer when I called your name...
Lemuen
Oh, I'm sorry. I was about to—
Milkman
Oh, I forgot! It's your first day!
Milkman
Let's see. 'Your Eminence, Cardinal Lemuen', is that right?
Lemuen
It is giving me goosebumps.
Milkman
Hey, from submitting the application to becoming a cardinal's aide to finally getting the job, all it took was two years, right?
Milkman
Isn't that a new record for the Seventh Tribunal?
Lemuen
It took much longer than breaking the wheelchair speed-shooting record.
Milkman
Huh?
Lemuen
Just a joke.
Milkman
Well, we all look up to you.
Lemuen
There are two hundred households up and down three streets waiting for you to deliver the cystymilk for their morning fruit tart and post-meal desserts...
Lemuen
Meanwhile, how often is a cardinal's presence really needed for diplomatic and national security business in Laterano?
Lemuen
Who's to say which one of us is more important to the city?
Milkman
Fair point. Guess I should get to work!
Milkman
I'll leave your cystymilk at the door. Two servings, as usual?
Lemuen
Yes.
Milkman
Where's Seniora Lemuel working, anyway? One day I hear it's a logistics company in Lungmen, the next day I hear it's security for that pharma company called Rhodes Island...
Milkman
I miss her. It's been a long time since I last saw her.
Lemuen
Who knows? Maybe she'll just show up tomorrow. And she wouldn't be happy if the fridge were empty.
Milkman
You got that right.
Milkman
Hm, isn't this a bit of a detour if you're headed to the Seventh Tribunal?
Lemuen
Just visiting a friend I haven't seen in a long time.
Milkman
I see... have a nice day, Cardinal Lemuen.
Milkman
Have an uneventful day. May the Law be with you and me.
Lemuen greets a few familiar faces on the way, then makes a turn at a corner, onto an utterly unremarkable street.
The clouds cast their shadows on the pristine paths. A breeze brings the sweet aroma in the air along with it. Soon, the surroundings grow quiet, as Lemuen approaches her destination.
Her life has undoubtedly changed. But her steps are light. She gladly welcomes these changes.
Lemuen has always been that way.
The Laterans have always been that way.
'Have an uneventful day. May the Law be with you and me.'
At the end of the street is a massive building that nearly touches the clouds. The streamlined structure seems decidedly out of place amongst the low profile of church buildings around it.
It is no exaggeration to say that it virtually appeared out of nowhere, yet it also seems like it has always been there.
