During Iberia's Golden Age, he became a guest of honor to the aristocrats and nobility. He was once seen as the symbol of the budding harmony between the Ægir Islanders and Iberians.
Kal'tsit
Nobody knows what he was doing right before the disaster, or what he lacked the time to do. But he had already left behind a significant legacy. And for you, significant directions.
Kal'tsit
Regardless, he is part of the past. I have no doubt you will be the ones to make the choice, here in the present.
Kal'tsit
As for the key... The question of why Breogan's key was left in Kazimierz is one we do not need answered.
Kal'tsit
But it was found by the Hunter, Skadi. This was no coincidence, but rather an inevitability. You all have a natural sensitivity towards the sea.
Kal'tsit
...Indeed, I handed the key to that band. You will learn what they truly are. Perhaps the Ægir will need to enlist their help.
Kal'tsit
They are also searching for answers. Most of them are young, uncomfortable with the ocean's changes. After all, they cannot truly leave the place of their birth.
Kal'tsit
Yes... I hope we'll succeed. Humanity faces too many problems, and the layers upon layers of disasters can easily extinguish the light of our current civilization.
Kal'tsit
Gladiia, if you wish to act alone, I won't try to dissuade you. Skadi is just like you. Perhaps all the Hunters are.
Kal'tsit
But whatever you do, don't think you can solve all of this land's problems by yourself.
Kal'tsit
Hm? Ask away. I will answer any of your questions.
Lord Carmen, we can't afford to stay here much longer. The team of Hunters is in danger.
Saint Carmen
The Penal Battalion is being held back. It seems even I have underestimated the extent of the Church of the Deep's taint.
Saint Carmen
We should've cleared a temporary forward base at Gran Faro, to continue the pursuit.
Kal'tsit
We didn't have a choice.
Saint Carmen
If we have no way of securing the town, we'll be under attack from both sides.
Kal'tsit
An Iberian Tercio consists of at least ten companies, approximately three thousand people. The officers of the Penal Battalion are more than sufficient to lead them to victory.
Saint Carmen
You seem quite knowledgeable about this.
Kal'tsit
We've crossed paths more than once.
Saint Carmen
Are you suggesting we let the Penal Battalion handle Gran Faro, and head straight to the Eye of Iberia?
Saint Carmen
I wouldn't be opposed to that proposal, were we dealing with Victoria's fleet.
Kal'tsit
Otherwise, our losses will be even greater.
Saint Carmen
......
Frost
(Riffs)
Kal'tsit
Miss Frost? Why are you—
Frost
A warm-up workout, she said.
Frost
We come from the sea. We are the sea.
Frost
However... (Riffs dejectedly)
Saint Carmen
...If you're willing to help, that would be ideal. What can you offer?
Frost
I can make them listen. Listen to my song.
Saint Carmen
And your companions?
Frost
Apologies in advance, but Dan wants to borrow that chapel. The others are in there thinking up new songs.
Saint Carmen
Music? Your melodies are considerably different from what I used to hear in Leithanien. Are you sure they'll be interested in this sort of thing?
Frost
(Riffs tersely)
Frost
The meaning of life... is music.
Frost
I just want to clean up the venue before the show starts.
Frost slowly pulls out her guitar.
Carmen cannot help but be surprised. He can tell that the organism in front of him is truly, genuinely thinking about 'music.' Her words contained no superfluous intentions.
It is by no means a metaphor. Use the word as such, and Frost's attention will quickly wander. She only thinks about music. Only this form of art, capable of stimulating her soul, can hold her attention.
Sea Terror
(Flinching slithering sounds)
Frost
(Riffs experimentally)
The lurking Sea Terrors circle around her. Observing, examining, judging.
They dare not wantonly approach her. They smell a familiar scent. They realize that the guitarist in front of them is a hollow vessel. Her distant connection resonates through the depths bestowed to them as their birthright.
Even on land, they instantly feel as if they have become one with the sea.
Sea Terror
(Conflicted, confused slithering sounds)
Saint Carmen
How... miraculous.
Saint Carmen
These creatures are intimately connected with the land itself. In their eyes, are humans and Sea Terrors no different?
Frost does not answer. She is intoxicated by the melody, consumed by the passion.
Kal'tsit knows that the question was rhetorical.
Saint Carmen
Kal'tsit, was this also part of your plans? For them to sit on the coast, while the Penal Battalion delves into the sea?
Kal'tsit
If you choose to believe so, then yes.
Saint Carmen
But the Penal Battalion didn't even have time to prepare even a single ship for us.
Kal'tsit
There's already one sitting along the shore.
Kal'tsit
It's been years since the Gran Faro project was scrapped.
Saint Carmen
...First we must uproot the evil that still grips this land.
Saint Carmen
I remain an Inquisitor. I will not sit idly by and watch the corruption that's been infesting Iberia slip away, right before my eyes.
L-Let go of me! Don't just go around picking people up!
Specter
But, my fragile little bird, how will you climb up this tall deck if I don't carry you?
Inquisitor Irene
Th-That's not what I meant— Tch, forget it...
Inquisitor Irene
......
Specter
What's the matter?
Inquisitor Irene simply stares blankly at the scenery in front of her.
A dim sliver of light in front of the pitch-black sea. In front of the ship's mast, time seems to have stood still for the past sixty years.
Inquisitor Irene
So this... is the Stultifera. 'Stultifera Navis.' The Ship of Fools.
Inquisitor Irene
The flagship that housed both scholars and soldiers, the floating palace of a fallen dynasty. It's quite... different from how it's described in the books.
Inquisitor Irene
......
Gladiia
Let's go.
Inquisitor Irene
W-Wait!
Inquisitor Irene
What are you even searching for, on a ship this big?
Gladiia
Breogan was an Ægir.
Gladiia
This key must be hiding some sort of clue that the Ægir wanted to leave behind.
Inquisitor Irene
A key? What is it meant to open?
Gladiia
That's what I'm here to find out.
Inquisitor Irene
Even ignoring its size, the ship's also been lost at sea for sixty years. How do you plan to—
Gladiia
Perhaps you young Iberians haven't had much exposure to these transport vessels. Even with Breogan's help, this thing was so shoddily built.
Inquisitor Irene
Why you...!
Gladiia
Were the seas calm on our way here? I'm sure you know the answer.
Gladiia
Then my next question for you is this: 'why didn't this ship sink?'
Inquisitor Irene
You don't mean—
Footsteps. Heavy, viscous footsteps.
A shadow appears upon the deck, where no living beings should stir.
No, Irene immediately reprimands herself for having such a thought. Gladiia's question was also on her mind. Along the shore, in the waters. She's already seen so many of these.
???
......
The moment she sees the enemy, the young, talented Inquisitor Irene's first instinct is to hold her breath.
By the time she remembers how to breathe, Gladiia has already stepped forward.
???
(Screeching howl) —!
???
......
Gladiia
Interesting, you managed to dodge it.
???
......!
Specter
Not for long.
Skadi
Don't even think about it!
Skadi
What...?
Inquisitor Irene
It hid inside the cabin! Should we chase it?
Gladiia
...Yes, that is where it went.
Gladiia
But why would it hide inside? We're out in the middle of the ocean.
Skadi
What do we do?
Gladiia
......
Gladiia
It's not alone. There's more than one Seaborn on this ship. And even more Sea Terrors.
Gladiia
We should split up.
Skadi
I'll go after it.
Gladiia
I'll head down.
Inquisitor Irene
D-Down? How? Do you people already know the layout of this ship?
Gladiia
We don't, but that's nothing a sharp blade can't solve.
Inquisitor Irene
Excuse me?! This is the most important legacy of the Iberian sages we're talking about here!
Specter
And where will you go, little bird?
Inquisitor Irene
I... I have an obligation to supervise you. So I'll go with you.
Inquisitor Irene
There are so many mysteries shrouding the Stultifera. If it's been preserved this well, why did it never try to return to Iberia in the last sixty years?
Inquisitor Irene
As an Inquisitor, I must uncover the truth.
Specter
Shall we hold hands then?
Inquisitor Irene
Wh-What's the meaning of this?!
Specter
You are a fruit of elegance and grace. But your hard work and natural talents are worthless before the enemies you'll face.
Specter
I fear we will lose you with but a momentary lapse of focus.
Inquisitor Irene
...You look down on others too much, Ægir.
Gladiia
Keep her safe then.
Specter
Will do.
Gladiia
Shark.
Specter
Hm?
Gladiia
Did you remember something?
Specter
...The sea breeze told me. It spoke of a sculpture. It is weeping, waiting for me.
Specter
Will I be able to find it on this ship?
Gladiia
Of course. But make it quick.
Gladiia
I'll be waiting for you.
Skadi
What sculpture?
Specter
Well, let us say our greetings to the deceased while searching for its whereabouts, Skadi.
It's young... No, we can't judge their strength by size. Another Seaborn, without a doubt.
Skadi
Sea Terrors too! They're gathering, Specter!
Specter ignores her words as she stares blankly at the mirror. And at the Seaborn behind it.
Specter
...You remember me?
The Seaborn nods slightly. It looks at Specter and Skadi with confusion. Thinking.
Why are they different from how they were in 'the past'? What happened to them? How can it help free them from their shackles of flesh and blood?
Specter
......!
Skadi
Specter!
Specter
I...
Skadi
Don't think about it!
Specter
I'm not.
Her tone had changed.
Skadi looks at Specter with astonishment. She had never been able to get a definite answer from either Gladiia or Kal'tsit regarding the moment of clarity Specter displayed in Sal Viento.
Skadi
Laurentina, you...
Specter
Laurentina. Yes, Laurentina.
Specter
Look, here on the scroll hanging from my weapon. Back when I wrote my name down and hung it here, I could still remember where I was born.
Specter
Ahhh... A lucid dream, huh? Really, it's been too long.
Skadi
Specter.
Specter
Mm. We can reminisce later.
Specter
Whether in Sal Viento or aboard this familiar-yet-unfamiliar vessel, I really hope that next time I'm awakened, it's by Ægir's resplendent domes instead of you ugly monsters.
Seaborn
......
Specter
Hey, thanks for sitting back and letting me finish. Wait, you weren't seriously about to call us your kin were you? Gross.
Specter
Come on. Why don't you take a little nap too?
Specter
Sink into the quagmire of consciousness, and relinquish the gift of life.
