Liberi Reader

🔍

Neighbor

Lara, you're a lovely one to your family, helping with work the second you're back.

Aurora

No, I'm just doing what I should. I'd love to take a good look around too.

Neighbor

Ah, it really does change once you study outside. Far better head on you than my little brother.

Neighbor

What a wonderful girl you are. Shame.

Neighbor

Who knows if I'll ever find one as nice as you again after I move.

Aurora

Wait, Sasa, you've been living fine here all this time, right? Why the move?

Neighbor

My dad, you know. Yesterday at the Tri-Clan Council, they announced the Saintess would lead the three, right?

Neighbor

Now Dad's all fired up.

Aurora

Oh... Uncle Zoer was always against Sir Enciodes's open door policy...

Neighbor

Right? We all moved here from up north back then so my brother and I could get work.

Neighbor

And here, Dad pretty much got used to it, over the years.

Neighbor

And now they announce the resignation yesterday, and he's over the moons.

Neighbor

At dinner last night, he was going on and on, mad at Sir Enciodes for everything he'd done these years, and I was fed up hearing it. I even had an argument with him.

Neighbor

But you can't change his mind in the end. We might end up moving straight back to the Paleroches' territory.

Aurora

So what about your brother's job?

Neighbor

Who knows? Once the resignation's through, it's up in the air if Turicum can still do business like before.

Neighbor

I heard the Paleroches say. See, in the first place, it was the Saintess last Council who wanted Sir Enciodes handing the valleys and mines over.

Neighbor

If she's going to govern Kjerag, Sir Enciodes probably isn't getting any favors.

Aurora

That's true.

Neighbor

It's a good thing too, though.

Neighbor

You might've missed it, being outside so long, but the three clans got along fine at first. It's just lately, they've fallen out more and more with each other.

Neighbor

A lot of people were scared, after last Council, we'd get into a full-blown war.

Aurora

Yeah, it's amazing how Sir Enciodes yielded on this. And he's putting power with the Saintess.

Neighbor

Yeah. Just, it should've happened long ago, if you ask me. I don't hate his open door policy, seeing as our family made a good living from it too.

Neighbor

But sometimes it really does feel like the old people say, how Kjerag's not like Kjerag anymore.

Neighbor

Him deciding to give way now and make less of a fuss, everyone approves of that.

Neighbor

It's just old grumps like your big brother against it.

Aurora

My brother...

🔍

Aurora

I'm back.

Aurora's Sister

Oh, you silly kid. Told you to relax once you got home, but you just had to work.

Aurora's Sister

(Softly) You and your ore-pathy thing. You might not feel bad about your health, but we still hurt over it.

Aurora

It's alright, Sis. A bit of work like this won't get in the way.

Aurora

Um, where's Bro?

Aurora's Sister

He said he was heading to the factory just now, and went out all in a hurry. Said he wouldn't be back today, either.

Aurora

The factory?

Aurora

Is that the Captain?

Aurora

Captain, is something up?

Sharp

Vacation's over, Aurora.

Sharp

The Doctor got nabbed at the station by the Paleroche family yesterday.

Aurora

Huh?!

Sharp

Doctor went with them, voluntarily. You should get what I mean. Likely some sort of plan ticking under that hood.

Sharp

I took a rough look at the map. Takes some time from the station to the Paleroches'.

Sharp

The Doctor should've gotten there by now, and we ought to be on our way.

Sharp

I'm using the pretext to head to yours now to check the situation, then I'll come out and converge with you.

Aurora

Got it.

Aurora

I guess I'll go rendezvous with the Captain, then.

Kjera

I see. So you're the one from Rhodes Island.

So you don't recognize me.

You didn't pick me out on purpose.

Kjera

Correct.

Kjera

You're very unique, but I don't know why it is you're so unique.

Back at the market, what did you mean?

Kjera

Hm?

Kjera

It was no more than a word of advice.

Kjera

You see? Aren't you under the watch of a group of strangers, unfree to even stroll outside?

What do you know?

Kjera

Before I answer your question, tell me first. For what reason did you come to Kjerag?

It depends.

Kjera

Mending the three Silverashes' relations?

Kjera

You speak some hefty words.

Kjera

Then your luck is tragic, being drawn into a mess like this without rhyme or reason.

Kjera

Yet it's beyond me, believing someone who can be so carefree in these circumstances is truly here on a tourist's plan.

Kjera

I'm very curious—how outsiders like you regard this land of Kjerag.

It's very peaceful here.

Kjera

Peaceful... yes, it's been peaceful here for over a thousand years by now.

Kjera

And peace of mind signifies stagnation.

Kjera

Kjerag's people are too used to this status quo, to the point they don't care what happens outside, nor have any interest in it.

Kjera

It should be a good thing by all rights, but lately, I've felt... *sigh*...

The people here are faithful.

Kjera

In the end, their belief in Kjeragandr is the root of what condenses the people in this land together.

Kjera

But at times, I've felt the people are somewhat too dependent on belief.

Kjera

Can you sympathize? You tell every worry you have to the divine, hoping they'll come to help solve things, and so you turn—

Kjera

Though, so clearly, you should use your own willpower to change circumstances, you just take divine will as an excuse to stagnate.

Kjera

Though, so clearly, you till by your own hands to gain your harvest, you still thank the divine for their generosity after the fact.

Kjera

Though, so clearly, making the choices, putting in the effort, should be for each person's own...

Backwards.

Kjera

You're very forthcoming.

Kjera

But most people like you, outsiders... in modern terms, 'foreigners,' hold such a view.

Kjera

The people outside long since developed plenty to grant them idleness, or in other words, labor-saving technology.

Kjera

They're accustomed to a convenient life, while most Kjerag folk have never heard of such things.

Kjera

Maybe the people of Kjerag really can forge diligence and courage out of a harder life, can learn of belief and virtue in an environment far from all the pleasures.

Kjera

But I also don't feel it should continue for eternity.

Kjera

The people of Kjerag broke ground on a haven between these snowy mounts, but can they preserve their homeland's solidity and stability forever on tradition alone?

Kjera

The way you see it, should Kjerag change?

It needs to.

Kjera

Ah, so you think so too?

Kjera

Anyone with a sharp eye could tell, honestly, that the transformation Enciodes brought can't be stopped.

Kjera

Who can so easily decline their own life becoming a little less heavy, a little more convenient?

You can't generalize this issue.

Kjera

And here I thought you'd say, everything backwards here should be changed.

Kjera

I've heard countless people say things like yours already.

Kjera

And those people, by and large, are those born and raised in Kjerag.

I don't know this place well enough yet.

Kjera

How cautious.

Kjera

But I don't mind the cautious at all.

Kjera

It's just a shame. You probably have little time left to learn how this present country manifests.

So. What do you know?

Kjera

I...

Kjera

I have a friend.

Kjera

This friend has been thinking, all this time, about how to finally change Kjerag for the better.

Kjera

However, she's thought for a long time, and can't come up with an answer.

Kjera

She's gradually realized that everyone thinks different to her, and their mindsets, no matter who they are, all disturb her.

Kjera

She wants to do something, but every time she wants to, there's always someone advising against her.

Kjera

And now, she finds, she's become slowly unable to stop what those people wish to do.

Kjera

And it's in this moment you've arrived.

You think this is a sort of omen?

Kjera

Omen? Perhaps any port in a storm is a more fitting description.

Kjera

An invitee of Enciodes, come from outer lands. The spectrum and scent of you give me an otherly feeling, peculiar and novel—

Kjera

Tell me, stranger, what does your arrival portend?

......

Come to mention it, maybe you can do me a favor.

🔍

Ensia,\nI hope this letter finds you well. I hear you've come back to Kjerag. I'm very, very happy for that.

Though I can't descend the mountain to meet you, getting word that you were safe and healthy delighted me more than anything.

I also hear that the people helping to treat your Oripathy came to Kjerag with you. If I have the chance, I'd love to express my thanks to them.\nFor saving my sister, they deserve the blessings of Kjeragandr.

Remember to greet your neighbors, and tell them you're sound. Be early to bed and early to wake, and don't forget to pray twice to Kjeragandr every day. Also, you're not allowed to climb any mountains...

Alright, I think you're probably fed up of your sister going on, so I'll stop nagging you here.\nMay you enjoy your time back home, Ensia.

I'll pray before Kjeragandr for blessings upon you.\nP.S. If you can write a letter back to me, that'll be all the better.

Ensia

Come on, I only got her last letter not long ago. Seriously, it's like she hasn't written in forever. She's on my case like this every time.

Ensia

Thank you, Kjarr. You're always the one handing me my sister's letters.

Kjarr

It's alright. The Great Saintess can't descend at will, so I go out and about in her place, and bring back outside news to her. It's as she desires, too.