🔍
Come, Rosalind, let's learn how to pray to Kjeragandr.
Close your eyes, put your hands before your chest, and call out Kjeragandr's name silently in your heart...
Good job, Rosalind.
You're Mama and Papa's sweetheart, Rosalind.
Mama could never regret giving birth to you, no matter what people might say.
May Kjeragandr bless...
🔍
The Kjeragandr looks even bigger up close.
So that's what She looks like.
Hm...
Pray... to Kjeragandr...
What did Mamochka teach me again?
No, I can't remember. I mean, it all happened before I was three.
I guess I should start praying—
Close my eyes... what do I do with my hands again?
Stretch your right palm out flat and place it before your chest.
In Kjeragandr's presence, we close our eyes that do not truly see, and bow our overly proud heads.
Drive stray thoughts from our minds, and recite Kjeragandr's name in our hearts.
Come, child, after me.
Okay!
Leto closes her eyes again.
Her vision goes dark, but her senses seem to vastly expand in an instant.
Behind her, the old devotee begins to praise Kjeragandr's name in his raspy voice.
Kjeragandr, grant us springs that quench our thirst, and fruit that sates our hunger.
Kjeragandr, grant us ice and snow that freeze Catastrophe.
Kind and gentle Kjeragandr, watch over us and Kjerag.
The sensation of wind brushing past her cheeks seems to grow with the chanting, the snowy wind roaring in her ear.
A sense of familiarity, rising from a place that Leto does not know, takes her down memory lane.
(Kjeragandr...)
(I'm not your follower, and I don't need your blessing.)
(But if you really do protect your believers, please, protect Mamochka.)
(I wouldn't have come if she didn't ask me to.)
......
Hm, no, that's not good enough.
What?
Kjeragandr!
Kjeragandr—!
Please, protect my mother! She's a devout follower of yours!
She told me how great Kjerag is! I'll see how great it is for myself!
🔍
Phew...
Ok, that's good.
What are you doing, girl?
Praying, of course.
I mean, it's better to pray aloud, isn't it? Make sure Kjeragandr can hear me.
Uh...
Don't want to leave behind any regrets, you know!
Oh, and thanks for teaching me!
Well, I suppose Kjeragandr is hardly one to be picky about petty details...
No need to thank me.
Kjeragandr sounds like a pretty nice lady!
Just like you, batyushka.
Leto removes her hand from her chest and takes one last look at the imposing Kjeragandr statue, before turning around to descend the steps.
The old devotee sees her face clearly for the first time.
The visage before his eyes, under the sunlight...
The curves of her cheeks, the height of her nose, the shape of her lips...
A sense of familiarity washes over the old man.
—
It's... you... You're...
......
What?
No, it's nothing...
I've seen plenty of tourists in my time, but no one who's done what you did.
Really? Did I do something weird?
What's your name?
Rosalind. It's Rosalind.
Rosalind...
How old are you, Rosalind?
Me? Almost twenty.
......
Are you Kjerag?
You can tell?
You look like...
Yes, you really do...
Well, you called it. I was born here.
But I spent my whole life in Ursus. This is my first time back.
I guess only half of me is Kjerag.
You grew up in Ursus?
Ursus...
Ursus... that's good too. Yes.
Why have you come to Kjerag, then?
🔍
Alright, stick to what you're doing.
No, actually, that's enough. Too much is suspicious.
The girl? It's a long story. I'll tell you over dinner or something. Talk to you later.
Alright? Satisfied?
For now.
Are you sure the Trilby Asher didn't find anything else?
No need to be paranoid, Gnosis.
The Duke would not stay put if things had gotten to the point that you fear they have.
Don't forget the troops stationed in the foothills. Craigavon is no pushover.
A Trilby Asher showing up on the train indicates that they've sensed something.
I have had dealings with the Trilby Ashers. On the surface, they are the groveling servants of the nobles, armed with nothing but silvery tongues.
But we can't ignore the fact that they grew up in the embers of an empire at war.
Karma catching up to the two of you, maybe?
If we're talking about karma, then you won't get far yourself.
Of course I won't. Why wouldn't we suffer payback for delivering a young girl to a Victorian spy?
She will distract the Trilby Asher. That's why we need the Victorians to believe that she is important.
Do not forget that there will be many eyes on this place, with Kjeragandr's statue complete and the ceremony about to begin.
We must all be careful.
I don't need you to remind me.
Relax, I'll be careful. It's not a game we're playing here, after all. The Browntails couldn't pull out if we wanted to.
Or rather...
If I showed even the slightest hint that I wanted out today, I'm plenty sure I would suffer an 'unfortunate accident' tomorrow.
...I see no reason to engage in speculation about the impossible.
This is for Kjerag. We can only go forward, not back.
But we can't hide this forever, Gnosis.
It's too big, with too many people involved.
Even if the Trilby Asher didn't run into the girl today, he might've run into a certain boy another day.
He will find out, sooner or later.
Enciodes better have a plan, or even the full authority of the Saintess and all Kjerag won't save his hide.
And if Victoria finds Karlan Trade to be more important, then we truly have no card to play.
It's good for all of us that the Saintess and Enciodes have taken up different positions.
Sigh.
I guess I'd better cancel my family dinner tomorrow.
Since when are you a family woman?
Isn't that what Kjerag has always been about? Family, bloodlines. Old-fashioned, I guess, but...
The Saintess and Enciodes are siblings, aren't they?
🔍
I see... I see...
Your mother gave birth to you in Kjerag, but she brought you to Ursus while you were still small.
You came back all this way, praying before the statue of Kjeragandr and preparing to climb the mountain to fulfill your mother's last wish.
I see...
That's the story, basically.
Good girl... good girl.
Smart, brave... and handsome too.
Oh, shucks. Now you're just flattering me.
I'm not.
You're a blessing from Kjeragandr to your family!
Well, er...
I wouldn't say that... I guess you could say Mamochka was blessed.
But it has nothing to do with my papa, who might as well never have existed.
Ahem. Well...
Your father... hrm...
You don't know who he might be, do you?
Hm...
It's strange.
Mamochka said I look a lot like my papa, and he's supposed to be the handsomest man in Kjerag. I thought finding him would be a piece of cake.
Could it be...?
......
Maybe my dad was actually pretty ordinary, and beauty was all in the eye of the beholder?
O-Of course not! That's not the case at all!
Whoa! Why are you so excited all of a sudden?
But I figured that's the most reasonable explanation.
Ah... it's hard to explain.
Well, I'm in no hurry. We can talk about it later.
Are you familiar with these parts?
I can't say I know everything, but I do know a thing or two.
So you're familiar, then...?
Do you know the best route up that mountain?
I hear it's a make-out point or something. Do I need to buy a ticket or...?
No need for tickets.
Other than Karlan, the seat of the Saintess, all the mountains and rivers of Kjerag belong to the children of Kjeragandr.
Who would have asked such a question in the Kjerag of the past?
This was a much quieter place back then.
No sightseeing spots, no attractions, few tourists. Faith was strong in the people, who respected the mountains, rivers, and lakes.
It has become like this because Clan Silverash wanted to open up to the outside, and the Saintess chose not to intervene...
What's so bad about opening up?
Well, that's not for an old man like me to judge.
Are you climbing the mountain today?
Hm... It's getting a little late.
I'm thinking about spending the night somewhere and climbing up first thing in the morning.
Any good hotels around here?
I have a few spare rooms, if it's a roof over your head you're looking for.
That is, if you're willing to stay in my humble abode...
Of course! Let's go.
Thank you so much! Mamochka always said the people of Kjerag were warm and kind.
N-Now, listen, girl!
Don't be so quick to accept an offer like that! You need to be careful!
What would you do if I had ulterior motives?
Why are you angry when you're the one who offered?
Don't worry.
I went through a lot in Ursus. I'm no pushover.
Don't be a fool!
How would you protect yourself if your assailant was stronger than you?
I'm not a fool...
Alright, I know, you're worried about me.
Actually, I'm not sure why, but I just felt... well...
What?
I can't put it into words. I just had a feeling...
I don't think you'd hurt me.
🔍
Did you find the mark?
No. I scanned the island with binoculars, but I didn't see anyone.
We're dealing with a master of disguise. He won't slip up so easily.
Then why tell me to look?
Just in case.
Our mission is to follow the girl, make sure no harm comes to her, and avoid detection.
🔍
The Tschäggättä still have a lot to learn about counter-reconnaissance.
But if the girl has encountered the former head of Clan Paleroche...
And the Tschäggättä are here too...
Hm?
What's that—
🔍
What's that?
I'll take a look.
(Imitates burdenbeast cry)
Just a wild burdenbeast.
You never know when a trick might come in handy.
Eek— my back—
🔍
Look, Enya.
Look more carefully!
This statue...
It's not right, is it? Doesn't look like Kjeragandr at all.
Is that so?
I thought it was alright.
It's not alright!
The face needs to be a little thinner, and the body...
That will do, Kjarr.
It's up to the people of Kjerag. The Kjeragandr standing here is the one that they want to worship.
You know there's not much can change on that front.
Sigh.
No more sighs.
Did you hear the girl, Kjarr?
The one with the loud voice?
Of course I did. Interesting one. Kind of makes sense, you know.
Not even Kjeragandr can read minds, if you don't pray out loud.
Kjarr...
People's minds are such complicated things. Who can tell what you're thinking if you don't put it into words?
You're right.
So...
Will you heed the plea of your humble handmaiden, Saintess?
This statue—
Nope.
Enya, Enya!
Not even if you beg.
