After that woman left the room, an unknown amount of time passed, to the point that time itself seemed alien to Monch.
Only the stinging pain of the ropes tightly binding her reminds her that she has not yet lost consciousness.
Finally, a hopeful sound comes from beyond the door, and Monch musters what might she has left to shout out.
Monch
I'm... over here...
Monch
I'm—
But try as she might, her parched throat can hardly produce a sound.
She laboriously crawls towards the door.
It opens.
Sciurus
Monch!
Monch
Madam... Why are you here...?
Sciurus
We've been searching for you ever since the Catastrophe hit! That damned Silverash, pretentious bastard. Thought they actually had some useful intel... but in the end, I still ended up having to do all the legwork myself to find you!
Sciurus
How're you doing? You hurt anywhere?
Sciurus
Wait, your leg—
Monch
I'm... fine...
Monch
Madam, listen to me...
Monch
The researcher I'm tracking... She's from Victoria, but more important... she's got ties, to Columbia...
Along the narrow mountain path, the convoy slowly plods onward.
After the incident's sudden outbreak, no shortage of people left their cars to observe the conflict's epicenter.
Matterhorn
Turn off the engine. Get out.
Victorian Agent
What do you think you're doing? Who the hell are you people?
Victorian Agent
I... I'm an industrial investigator dispatched from Victoria! This is illegal obstruction of official business!
Victorian Agent
You've damaged our property, endangered Victorian lives, and almost even caused an accident! Mark my words, the Vine-Bead Court will hear of this!
Victorian Agent
Never should've come to this bloody shithole...
Matterhorn
...Are you done?
Matterhorn
Did you get all the pictures?
Silverash Clan Guard
Yessir!
Matterhorn
This is no time for you to try to twist the narrative, Victorian. Just cooperate.
Matterhorn
Open up the rear compartment.
Victorian Agent
I...
Matterhorn
Unwilling to cooperate? Fine by me. You're more than welcome to conserve your energy to fend for yourselves before the court–if you're cold, I can offer you a blanket.
Matterhorn waves his hand, and the guard pries open the rear compartment without a word.
Seated upright upon a haystack there is an old cleric.
He brushes the dust off his body and walks out.
It is an emotionless affair, hardly amounting to courage.
The old cleric gazes upon the blinding brightness before him, and recollects the scenes from before.
Some ten minutes ago...
Carolin
Why'd the truck stop?
Carolin
Have we arrived?
Carolin
...
Carolin lowers her voice.
Carolin
...Did something happen?
Elderly Cleric
Stay calm, young lady.
Carolin
...Did they find us?
Elderly Cleric
...
Gnosis
I didn't expect to find you here, Cleric of the Vine-Bead Court.
Gnosis
Let's continue this conversation elsewhere. This place is less than ideal.
Elderly Cleric
You are as hasty as always, young master of Clan Edelweiss.
Elderly Cleric
Honorable friends of Clan Silverash, I apologize for disturbing your work during this inclement weather.
Elderly Cleric
I am more than glad to go along with your arrangements.
Gnosis
Looks like the one we're after isn't here.
Elderly Cleric
I do believe this is where we part ways, young lady from Victoria.
Carolin
Are you getting off?
Elderly Cleric
No, I'll stay here. Just keep walking forward, and don't look back.
Elderly Cleric
The entrance isn't far off. Silverash's people will surely notice this truck. Get out of here before they find you.
Elderly Cleric
By Kjeragandr... trust me.
The old cleric helps Carolin up.
Carolin
I'll do as you said.
Carolin
But, you'll also be exposed.
Elderly Cleric
That, too, is Kjeragandr's will. What I cannot change, I shall therefore accept.
Elderly Cleric
I ask only for Her forgiveness.
Carolin
I can't say I understand what your beliefs truly are—but maybe some day, I will.
Carolin
I respect your beliefs, so I will also try to find a way to live in peace. Best of luck to you, sir.
Carolin gets out of the truck and runs without stopping, in a direction leading far, far from Kjerag.
Shedding her stained cleric's robes, she shivers from the cold.
Alone she walks through the vast, pale mountainscape.
Until in the distance, a dark tunnel entrance beckons to her.
Through the telescope's lens, Gnosis sees the mysterious scientist step into the shadows.
Gnosis
...
Gnosis
Arrest these two and have them sent straight to the Vine-Bead Court.
Upon hearing that long-awaited voice, Enciodes stands up and walks past the old man who remains frozen like a wooden sculpture.
Degenbrecher
Gnosis executed the plan. The Tschäggättä deployed immediately on his signal.
Before the presence of these wraiths, the clerics could do nothing but stumble back into their abodes, their tender faces affixed in fear.
Vine-Bead Apprentice Cleric
I, I'm one of the Vine-Bead Court's clerics! You can't treat me like this—
Tschäggättä
Shut up and stop resisting!
Vine-Bead Apprentice Cleric
...Master Frey is here too! Please, help me!
The one just brought in was the once-arrogant envoy of the Vine-Bead Court. His gaze sweeps over the shouting cleric, and he shakes his head.
Enciodes
Father Frey, I believe I can now explain your actions.
Vine-Bead Court Envoy
...
Enciodes
Victoria's agents conspired with the Vine-Bead Court's clerics to smuggle spies out of the country through the mine railway, but were caught red-handed thanks to Karlan Trade.
Enciodes
And before that, you were assisting the Victorians with scouring the mining site. Premeditated ill-intent.
Enciodes
And lest you forget, you protected the suspect following Ratatos's funeral.
Enciodes
You will formally be put on trial for these crimes.
Vine-Bead Court Envoy
By Kjeragandr... Forgive him, for he knows not of what he speaks––
Enciodes
It is a fact that spies have infiltrated the Vine-Bead Court. I urge you to not resist. Cooperation with our investigation is the only path to leniency.
Enciodes
Take Elder Great Adso, Father Frey, and the other elders of the Vine-Bead Court away for questioning. The other clerics are to remain there, awaiting their summons.
This is an abandoned mining shaft—the torches and tunnel lights don't work anymore. Bend down carefully, and watch your head...
Joanna
If we wrap around from this side, we should just be able to make it...
Joanna
Urgh!
Elena
Watch out!
Elena
...Come over first. Watch your step.
Joanna shifts her feet, and several rocks tumble down the cave, the sounds of dislodged pebbles echoing through the cracked crevices as they fall. She shudders.
Joanna
So deep... You'd probably turn into a stain on the ground if you fell from this height...
Joanna
Damn those Victorians for causing trouble in the mines... Else, we wouldn't have to come this way...
Joanna
Huh? Saintess, what are you looking at?
Enya
There's a light ahead; it must be the path leading to the main ore vein. Come—let's hold hands, just like before.
Enya
We are just a few steps shy of our answer. We mustn't run into danger here.
The map is illuminated by the flickering light of the oil lamp. They hardly converse, moving forward in silence, their steps filled with both fear and anticipation.
But eventually, the search comes to an end.
Elena
...
Enya
...Are you sure this is the right place? Might we have made a mistake?
Elena
No... I'm sure of it.
Elena
This is the mine I previously calculated and located... There's no way this could be the wrong place.
Enya
But...
Joanna
What are you two talking about? This is the place we were looking for, yeah?
Elena
...
Elena
According to my plan, we should be able to find an Originium vein here... My deduction can be proven correct, if and only if it exists...
Elena
But, this place...
Enya
...is an Oriron mine.
Joanna
What...?
Elena
I've investigated and analyzed everything; these are all just ordinary Oriron deposits. There's no chance they're related to Catastrophe...
Elena
...Let alone any traces of 'extraterrestrial objects'. Where did we go wrong?
Elena
But, why?! We clearly saw a bunch of trucks transporting Originium on our way here! How could this all just be Oriron?
The mineral vein here is not the 'Heart of Karlan', but rather, the 'Bones of Kjerag'...
Enya
The bones that uphold Kjerag's spine...
Joanna
...Um, may I say something?
Joanna
The Heart of Karlan is a pure core that validates faith. Man's eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and hands can deceive, and only the heart cannot. Such is written in the Kjeragandr.
Joanna
But, I don't think we're being unfaithful or impious.
Joanna
We all know how much we've done... and surely, She must know too.
Joanna
Just like how give everything on the hunt, only to come up empty-handed and go hungry through the night.
Joanna
But, we must have faith. Faith in the land of Kjerag. Faith in Kjeragandr's protection. She promised us that as long as we have our two hands, we shall not starve or freeze to death in Kjerag's lands.
Joanna
So, Great Saintess, come. Let's try again––
Enya
Huh? Try... what?
Joanna
Use your bell to call Kjeragandr.
Joanna
That sweet bell—the sound of the Saintess who played to awaken Kjeragandr, the clear sound beloved of Her, the sound that is Her call.
Joanna
So it says in the Kjeragandr that burdenbeasts wearing this bell will not be snatched away by wild beasts; they shall not fall ill or die young, and shall find their way back home should they ever be lost.
Enya
...
Joanna
For one's 'heart to be astray' is to be lost too, right? I don't totally get what it means, but I heard it from one of the clerics at the Vine-Bead Court!
Enya
...
Unlike her two dejected companions, the girl shows no signs of discouragement and is eager to try again.
Enya
That's right. We should keep trying. Perhaps Kjeragandr will respond to us.
The silver bell rings out on high, its engraved patterns shimmering beneath the hazy light of the miner's lamps.
She had tried to call out like this before. At the Vine-Bead Court, in her own bedroom, among her books, while resting among the snow-capped mountains.
Ring—ring—
The clear, cold sound of the silver bell echoes through the empty cave.
Elena
...Woah, that's...!
Elena
This sound, this frequency... Why does it sound so alike?!
Enya
Did you discover something?
Elena
That frequency! The echoes of your bell throughout the cave sound just like that one audio recording from the observatory—almost identical, even!
Enya
Is that just a coincidence?
Elena
A coincidence? No...
Elena
'In nature, no two snowflakes are exactly alike'...
Elena
Say, Saintess... Where exactly did that bell come from?
Enya
That would require going back to very ancient legends...
Enya
In Kjerag history, there was a long span of time where Kjeragandr fell into deep slumber until She was awoken by a devout Saintess.
Enya
It was Kjeragandr's gift to that Saintess.
Enya
I've also heard that when subsequent craftsmen made bells for the Saintesses, they sought to imitate the sounds of the mountains...
Elena
The sounds of the mountains...? What kind of mountain could make a sound––
Snap out of it, Elena... You're a scientist. How could you let your faith falter at a time like this...?
Enya
Elena, are you saying that on the day before the Catastrophe, something fell onto Mount Karlan, thus creating that sound?
Elena
Based on my previous conjectures, yes...
Enya
So think about it this way... If we think of the mountain as a huge bell, doesn't that mean there's probably a huge hollow inside it?
Elena
Theoretically speaking, that would... be possible... But, do you know where a massive hollow like that could exist?
Enya
There is a rumor not recorded in Kjerag's official history, and it also happens to be related to the Saintess who awakened Kjeragandr.
Enya
A long, long time ago, there once was an uprising against the Vine-Bead Court in Kjerag.
Enya
The people had grown dissatisfied because Kjeragandr had not performed any miracles in a long time, and so they marched upon the Vine-Bead Court. Their wrath was only quelled when the Saintess awakened the sleeping deity.
Enya
During the chaos, a number of clerics took their precious scriptures and took refuge within Mount Karlan, therefore preserving some of their valuable knowledge.
Enya
Yet regardless, the classic works of the Vine-Bead Court still suffered a break in continuity around that time.
Enya
What if... the account of Kjeragandr leaving her people within the scriptures... is actually a description of this event?
Elena
Great Saintess... If this sanctuary truly exists, will we find traces of the 'Kjeragandr' there?
Elena
Where should we even look?
Enya
Behind the Vine-Bead Court... the place leading to Mount Karlan's summit.
Enya tightly grips the silver bell in her hand. She seems to hear the wind and the snow, as well as the footsteps that would occasionally shadow her while she worked at the Vine-Bead Court.
Whose voice was that? Who was calling to her from behind? Who would pat her on the shoulders and bring honeyed cystymilk to her while she was burning the midnight oil to organize her scriptures?
All she can hear and see is the pure white snow that never stops blowing with the wind.
Enya
O Kjeragandr on high, please grant us your guidance.
'A cleric from the Vine-Bead Court, in collusion with Victorian agents, stole important military intelligence and was arrested yesterday.'
'Great Elder Adso confessed to some of these allegations, and agreed to fully cooperate with the investigation. During this time, all activities of the Vine-Bead Court are to be suspended.'
'There is considerable evidence suggesting that Victorian agents are involved in a string of unusual natural and social phenomena.'
'Karlan Trade is also assembling scientific researchers to assess the possibility of an espionage-related Catastrophe.'
'As a reminder to all citizens of Kjerag: If any foreign national approaches you under the guise of offering charity, business ventures, or gathering news, please be extremely vigilant...'
The Great Elder and that Victorian duke are in cahoots! Look what those bastards have brought upon us!
Anxious Local
Couldn't it just be one big misunderstanding? If even the Vine-Bead Court has betrayed Kjeragandr... My goodness...
Angered Local
They've been mucking about with the Victorians, and you still give them the benefit of the doubt?
Anxious Local
But, hasn't the Karlan Trade you seem to trust so much been dealing with Victoria this whole time...?
Angered Local
The only reason you can even hear all this on the radio is thanks to Karlan Trade. But what about the Vine-Bead Court? What've they ever done for you?
Nosy Local
Stop your bickering. Victorian broadcasting has a response. Shut up and listen.
Angered Local
I don't give a damn what they have to say!
Anxious Local
...I need to make sense of all of this.
...
'Sir Wilson, you are highly respected by Her Grace the Duke, as well as an expert on the Kjerag affair. We would like to ask you—how should we interpret the attitude displayed by Enciodes Silverash?
'I see it as nothing more than a way of quelling the public discontent in Kjerag. Enciodes has always been a close partner of Victoria.'
'Don't you find that somewhat difficult to believe?'
'Even based on publicly-available information, it is an indisputable fact that Victoria has been the primary beneficiary of many of the trade contracts strongly spearheaded by Enciodes himself.'
'With the help of Karlan Trade, Kjerag's development has almost entirely come off the back of Victoria's aid, from the import of breeding beasts and fertilizers to railway technology and even Originium processing.'
'In return, Enciodes has committed to handing over more than forty percent of Kjerag's natural resources for Victoria's development.'
'Not along ago, Karlan Trade also handed over a mining site that was being worked by Kazimierz to the Duke of Caster.'
'Then, it seems that Enciodes is trying to maintain an attitude of ambiguity. That being the case, are you not worried that his attempts to soothe the public will anger the Duke?'
'Lest you forget, Enciodes is the Duke's grand-nephew, and the blood of Caster flows in his veins. The delicate understanding between him and the Duke is, without a doubt, difficult for outsiders to grasp.'
'What you may not know is that even while he issued the statement, he also submitted a new mining agreement to the Duke, who has already signed and returned it. Expect a joint announcement on this matter in short time.'
'I have obtained the key points of this agreement and would like to share them with you here. Do take a look at these graphs, good sir.'
''Karlan Trade is willing to entrust 100% of future mining rights to a foundation established jointly with the Duke of Caster'. This truly is...'
'Just the tip of the iceberg. Look at what comes next...'
