I was scared out of my wits when I saw the ship explode in the distance! Are you all okay?!
Specter
As long as you're fine, Irene. Adjust your breathing. You know how to swim, right?
Specter
Luckily for us, the waters are pretty calm right now.
Inquisitor Irene
*gasp*... *gasp*... Where are the others?
Specter
...I need to check on a few things.
Inquisitor Irene
Just now, was that... Ægir? This close to us? Has the Stultifera been circling above an Ægir city this entire time?
Specter
We might've been able to find a way in to check out the city on our own, but you never would've made it.
Specter
Plus, the squad captain didn't seem keen on just going home happily ever after. And no way would there be a city this close to land; I don't remember anything like that.
Inquisitor Irene
*cough* *cough*... *pant*...
Inquisitor Irene
So, are you going to head back to that city?
Skadi
No. Gladiia said this place is also Seaborn territory. The city must be a refugee village.
Inquisitor Irene
What?
Specter
The Ægir you people call Islanders are refugees from the collapse of the cities closest to land.
Specter
...We should go help them.
Gladiia
Two things.
Gladiia
Ulpianus isn't dead, but he refused to work with us.
Gladiia
And there are still other Seaborn nearby, drawn here by that spurt of evolution. The entire swarm is extremely restless.
Gladiia
We can use this opportunity to get back down there, but we wouldn't be able to leave.
Specter
So... we finally found a city from our homeland, and now we're just going to turn around and leave?
Skadi
......
Gladiia wordlessly glances at Skadi.
She hides it well. Just as she did herself, in all those silent moments when she gently rubbed her neck.
This ship is even more bare-bones than ours was. And how did you find us? The sea is incredibly vast.
Jordi
I... I compared each of the signals from the Stultifera Navis to her location... and discovered a pattern. So I thought, um, it might be worth a shot...
Inquisitor Irene
Worth a shot? What kind of deviation was there in that pattern?
Jordi
Umm, two to three hundred nautical miles?
Inquisitor Irene
That can't even be called a pattern. If you had bet wrong, you would've had slim to no chance of meeting up with us, and died out at sea on your own.
Inquisitor Irene
...You're a lunatic.
Jordi
Yes...
Jordi
But... I wanted to ask a question... So please don't laugh at me, ma'am.
Maestro... and my other colleagues in the Inquisition, always held this belief:
Inquisitor Irene
Only those who've sacrificed themselves are worthy of the word, 'great.' In every moment where we're fighting for Iberia and struggling to survive, we are nothing more than ordinary people, striding forward with enormous responsibilities.
Inquisitor Irene
And it's not that Inquisitors enjoy belittling ourselves. We've simply chosen to deal with Iberia in the harshest way possible because the moment we let our guards down, we will be undone.
Inquisitor Irene
But until then, as long as the will of man is enough to ignite this lantern, then I believe... there isn't any difference between us.
Inquisitor Irene
We're just like all those citizens struggling bitterly in their own ways. As long as we have goodwill to spare, they too are soldiers willing to lay down their lives for the restoration of their homeland.
Inquisitor Irene
...Just like the laborers of old Gran Faro.
Jordi
......
Inquisitor Irene
Jordi, luck won't be on your side forever. If you have a chance to contact the Inquisition again... Um, what I mean is, if you want to work with us—
Inquisitor Irene
—You'll definitely have that opportunity.
Jordi
Haha... Well, I actually... Um, just out of curiosity...
Jordi
I see you've brought back some of the Stultifera's timeless knowledge. Might you actually be—
Specter
You managed to rescue three Hunters in a single breath. As an Ægir, your actions might be worth a medal from the consul herself.
Gladiia
......
Skadi
Swimming back would've been very hard. And who knows what could happen right above their nest?
Specter
I have no idea what compelled someone like you, born in Gran Faro, to go this far, but good job.
We've already sorted through his relics. Including those of our comrades who died beneath this lighthouse.
Saint Carmen
We won't be able to deal with them properly until the Penal Battalion arrives though.
Saint Carmen
These lowly Sea Terrors could not defeat High Inquisitor Dario, but in order to protect the Eye of Iberia, he chose to lay down his life to buy time.
Saint Carmen
Inquisitors have no time to grieve, Irene. Dario had great expectations for you, and you must move forward.
Inquisitor Irene
...Yes, sir!
Saint Carmen
However...
Saint Carmen
His lantern remains intact, and I've placed it over there.
Saint Carmen
Go now.
Inquisitor Irene
Yes, sir...
Gladiia
Seems like the Penal Battalion ran into some trouble. So much for the great naval power of Iberia.
Saint Carmen
...So the Stultifera Navis has sunk. This isn't quite the outcome we were expecting either.
Gladiia
Indeed. Even for us, this is a significant setback.
Gladiia
But we learned quite a few things, and—
Saint Carmen
You found an Ægir city.
Saint Carmen
Kal'tsit has already shared her conjecture with me, so perhaps you will wish to hear it too.
Saint Carmen
The Inquisition has always believed in maintaining control. From Sal Viento to the Stultifera, we will gradually recapture the glory that rightfully belongs to Iberia.
Saint Carmen
But we are forced to admit that, perhaps, even preserving the status quo is enough to... stretch our forces thin.
Sixty years? What torture is this? Even a criminal subjected to the harshest of punishment would not last for a year!
Saint Carmen
But he... he...
Carmen falls silent. He leans over and sits down on the reef.
Sea Terrors carcasses are piled high into a mountain. There is no trace of the eldritch beasts, only the remaining tendrils of the nethersea brand retreating back to sea. The ocean's surface emits a pale blue light, usurping the sky's privilege.
He should be enjoying this victory. He accomplished what the Inquisition set out to do. The Penal Battalion is about to arrive, and all things are about to reach a satisfactory conclusion.
But he can only remain silent.
Up until a steam whistle roars in the distance. The Penal Battalion has arrived at the Eye of Iberia.
Hurry, hurry! Move the supplies into the warehouse!
Tense Townsperson
Huh, what about the number of tents? Didn't the old guy already explain it?! Ugh—
Jordi
Um...
Tense Townsperson
J-Jordi? You're back?
Tense Townsperson
What? The Inquisition took you away and actually let you come back? Where did you go?
Tense Townsperson
A bunch of people from the Penal Battalion took us away, but then brought us back into town. Seems like they're going to war with something, and now they want us setting up tents.
Tense Townsperson
Jeez, what's going to happen to Gran Faro? Oh, and uh, have you seen Thiago?
Jordi
......
Saint Carmen
Jordi Fontanarossa.
Tense Townsperson
Ah... Lord Carmen, sir... And Madame Inquisitor!
Inquisitor Irene
...Mhm.
Saint Carmen
We'd like to have a private chat with this Ægir.
Tense Townsperson
Ah, of course! Right away!
Jordi
M-Me?
Saint Carmen
Come with me. Let's take a walk around town, shall we?
Originally, High Inquisitor Dario intended to entrust Irene to me, so that I could cultivate her until she was prepared for the seat of High Inquisitor.
Saint Carmen
His death in battle was unexpected. Though the day would've come sooner or later, he did not have to accept his fate so soon.
Irene
......
Saint Carmen
But Irene has made up her mind.
Saint Carmen
She will give up her position as Inquisitor.
Jordi
Huh? Wait, what? Why?!
Irene
This is a decision I've come to after a lot of thought.
Irene
It has nothing to do with you, though, so please just keep listening.
Jordi
Oh, okay...
Saint Carmen
The problem is you, Ægir. You know too much. You're too deeply involved. And the Ægir in this town are too blasphemous.
Jordi
......
Saint Carmen
You've also been of great help.
Saint Carmen
As frail and weak as you are, your death would've been but another grain of sand. But you have shown great strength. Even if it's nothing more than your own little spark, it is still valuable.
Jordi
I... I keep thinking... Why am I still alive? I'm not as noble as you any of you, or as resolute.
Saint Carmen
Jordi, you will be... the first Ægir to join the Inquisition.
Jordi
......
Jordi
Huh? Wha–? Me? Join the Inquisition?
Saint Carmen
Strictly speaking, I won't give you a chance to refuse. Gran Faro needs more hands than ever, and you will play a pivotal role as an Ægir.
Saint Carmen
After that, hrmm. Maybe I could use a young secretary?
Jordi
Wait, hold on, you want me? To join the Inquisition?
Jordi
B-But I'm not sure if I want—
Irene
I know you don't. Many members of the Inquisition hold deeply-rooted prejudices against the Ægir, and wouldn't want you joining either.
Irene
But don't you want to see it? The future that Iberia once promised to Gran Faro, and to Thiago?
Jordi
......!
Irene
Joining the Inquisition will be a test. As an Ægir, you wouldn't be wrong to treat it as a trial by fire. Or as practice for enduring hardship.
Irene
Don't get the wrong idea.
Jordi
I... I'll give it some thought.
Irene
Mhm.
Jordi
Then, what about you, Doña Irene? Your maestro...
Irene
......
Irene
My status as an Inquisitor hasn't done me any favors in my relationship with the Abyssal Hunters, or even the Ægir, so I got rid of it.
Irene
But abandoning a faith that's supported me to this day, especially after the untimely demise of my maestro... has not been an easy decision.
Irene
Please... let's not talk about this now. Maybe if we meet again someday.
Jordi
I'm sorry.
Irene
It's just...
Irene looks at the sculpture in the plaza. A scaled-down version of the Eye of Iberia.
In the chaos of battle, streets were torn up, houses were destroyed, and makeshift tents were erected.
And the statue has always looked out over all of it.
Irene
Even though our enemy is well beyond the reach of the law, Iberia must banish this blasphemy.
Now that you know the source of evolution, all our conjectures have been verified. Ægir's cities are within reach, and even arrogant Iberia has emerged from its shell.
