The girl closes her eyes and lets go as she is told.
The force gripping onto her leg quickly disappears. She can hear all sorts of tiny trinkets splashing into the water. Just before she herself touches the surface of the sea, a force pulls her upward and sends her back to dry land again.
Grandma Petra is still sleeping. She's been lying down ever since we got back last night.
Anita
She's probably tired, getting so worked up like that. I didn't expect her to run out and talk to the Inquisitor like that. She was different.
Skadi
You're right. That was very amazing. She fought off the Inquisitor.
Old Inhabitant
Hmn... ha...
Anita
She fought off.. the Inquisitor?! Singer, if the Inquisitor catches you saying that, she'll be really mad.
Skadi
I don't care if she does.
Skadi
But if she wants another go...
Anita
She won't come to you looking for trouble again, right?
Skadi
It doesn't matter to me whose trouble she's looking for.
Skadi
(Strokes case)
Anita
Oh, yeah, why don't we go look for your harp?
Skadi
Hold on.
Anita
Eh?
Skadi
You got stuff on your head.
Anita
Whoa! All this green, slimy stuff... W-What is this?
Skadi
That's seaweed.
Anita
Did it get on my head when I tripped?
Skadi
Probably.
Anita
Is this stuff... useful in any way? Looks kinda like seagrass. Can I use it as bedding once it's dried? Grandma Petra's back is hurting her, so this will come in handy.
Skadi
Give it to me.
Skadi
Take some seashells and use them to grind up these seaweeds. Don't wash off the slime.
Skadi
Add enough seawater to completely cover the seaweeds. Put it all in a jar and seal it up, then wait half a year.
Skadi
You can drink it once the liquid's greenish color has faded. That's when it's fermented.
Anita
Singer...?
Skadi
What's wrong? Is there something you didn't understand?
Anita
No... I just don't think you've ever talked to me this much in one go.
Skadi
Yeah.
Skadi
Don't throw away your seashells either. Wash them and lay them out to dry. You can use them to drink alcohol and such.
Anita
Alcohol? What's that?
Skadi
It's written right there. This place used to be a bar, a place for alcohol.
Anita
So this word means alcohol!
Skadi
Alcohol can supposedly bring happiness and help us forget all our worries.
Anita
Does it work?
Skadi
Not at all...
Skadi
It does taste pretty good, though.
Anita
Did you drink this stuff often back home...? Back in Ægir?
Skadi
Not exactly.
Skadi
I would drink something similar before dances.
Anita
It must have been very fun. Oh, I get it now! Alcohol doesn't bring happiness, but we drink alcohol when we're happy!
Anita
Does everyone outside, uh, drink alcohol? Is everyone out there always so happy?
Skadi
Not necessarily.
Anita
I get it. They definitely aren't as happy as I am now. Singer, thanks for teaching me how to make alcohol. I really wanna drink it with you right now.
Skadi
Your hand movement is wrong.
Skadi
If you grind it like that, it's not going to grind up very well. Try a different angle. Use the sharpest point and follow the seaweed's pattern.
Skadi
Control your rhythm and your breathing... Make your hand and your whole body one with the sea breeze that's brushing against your skin.
Skadi
Like that—One stroke, and it's shredded.
Male Inhabitant B
......
Skadi
You are staring at me. Do you still want another go? Now that there's only one of you, it'll be over very quickly.
Male Inhabitant B
No... I don't think I will.
Male Inhabitant B
This is yours.
Skadi
Hmm?
Skadi
This is my harp.
Male Inhabitant B
Sheetmetal found it.
Male Inhabitant B
He saw you drop it outside last night.
Skadi
......
Anita
Oh, that's great! Singer, now we don't need to go look for your harp!
Male Inhabitant B
He brought it back to our house... and... and he told me to give it to you.
Male Inhabitant B
That's all he said before he left...
Skadi
Thanks.
Male Inhabitant B
Huh? Oh...
Skadi
(Plucks strings)
Anita
Huh...? This melody... You were humming it while you were asleep last night.
Skadi
It's always in my head.
Anita
Is this a song that you and your partner used to sing?
Skadi
We have a lot of songs like this back home. We sing... as a way to talk to each other.
Skadi
When I left, the singing was gone too. I'm all by myself, and this song is all that I have left.
Anita
No wonder this song sounds so sad.
Skadi
(Plucks strings)
Anita
Singer, remember our promise?! You got your harp back. Does that mean you can sing for us now?
Anita
We're all waiting. Right, Grandma Petra?
Old Inhabitant
Mmn... Uhh...
Anita
Grandma probably can't talk today. She would sing along with you if she could.
I noticed a change in your expression. Did you feel something, perhaps?
Gladiia
Nothing.
Bishop
Not a surprise. Your reflexes are still rather slow. Look at the water before you. The fluctuation of the level, the frequency of the waves, and the movement of its luster. All of these are information.
How could she sing in front of these people in this rundown house?
Inquisitor
And... they are listening to her.
Inquisitor
The ones who hang their heads are still looking straight at the floor. The ones who don't speak are still silent as ever. Her singing has no way to reach their cold, hard husks, but their eyes...
