The Inquisition is simply keeping too many more secrets than the Iberian people deserve to know.
High Inquisitor
My lady, need I remind you that spreading rumors and hearsay is strictly forbidden in Iberia?
Kal'tsit
High Inquisitor, I'm only saying this because you already know those secrets.
Kal'tsit
The Church of the Deep has infiltrated Iberia and is taking root here in secret.
Kal'tsit
They took advantage of the relationship you once had with the sea. Abandoned Iberian cities have become the beachhead for the Church of the Deep's encroachment onto dry land.
Kal'tsit
They have their own interpretations of your scriptures, and they use them to bend your will. They also hide well. With so many irons in the fire, there was never any way for you to attend to all of it.
Kal'tsit
So... you should cry out for help. If you continue this pointless war of territory and faith, we will miss our one chance.
The Hunters and the Inquisitor find themselves in a peculiar face off with Kal'tsit. Skadi starts to think that perhaps Kal'tsit is actually on her side.
Kal'tsit
Your Honor, Iberians are different.
Kal'tsit
The skyline that you see every day is different from what everyone else who walks this world sees.
Kal'tsit
What do you call the place where you live every day and night? The coast.
Kal'tsit
Other peoples live on land, while Iberians live by the coast.
Kal'tsit
For the majority of the population, whether they live in the wilderness or the cities, their sightlines are the sky above and an endless swath of land and mountains ahead.
Kal'tsit
Anything above the clouds means nothing.
Kal'tsit
When they talk about 'the world', they refer to these lands alone.
Kal'tsit
The land on which they live is the world to them, because they've decided there is nothing in this world beyond these lands.
Kal'tsit
Whether residing in sealed-off cities, out-of-the-way villages, or hostile wilderness, they believe in what they see, and nothing else.
Kal'tsit
Now look at them again. These Abyssal Hunters. These Ægir.
Kal'tsit
The ocean is vast in ways beyond the land.
Kal'tsit
Iberia is not like other countries.
Kal'tsit
Those who reside on land are obsessed with their ways and their authorities. They overlook the infinite possibilities, and the opportunities to explore the boundaries that they blindly choose to ignore.
Kal'tsit
Your world is far more complete. You understand both the land and the sea. Iberia has a much better knowledge of its place in the world than anyone else.
Kal'tsit
This has given you a huge lead over everyone in the past.
High Inquisitor
That is enough.
High Inquisitor
This is all water under the bridge. The radiance of the cities has faded, and Iberia is nothing but a pile of rubble today.
Oh, don't worry. I'm sure you left it somewhere around here. I'll help you look for it.
Anita
Also, about your harp. You dropped it yesterday. I've been holding onto it for you.
Skadi
It's yours now.
Anita
I can have it... Just like we promised? Does that mean you've found your friend? That's great news, singer. I'm so happy for you!
Anita
But... you look really tired... You look more tired than you were last night. Are you hurt?
Skadi
I... It's okay. I'm just a little dizzy.
Anita
Well, okay. I didn't see you, and I was so worried you ran into some kind of trouble.
Anita
Something really amazing happened just now. Did you see that? There was an explosion, then another. Like, bang bang bang, boooom! The mountain over that way kept shaking, and then it suddenly came crashing down!
Anita
I thought our house would come crashing down too.
Skadi
Are you all okay?
Anita
We're fine. The only problem is that all our food is still inside. It's already rotten. Erm, we'll probably go hungry for a while again.
Anita
It's all thanks to the Inquisitor. She was the one who told us to leave the house and to stay away from the coast and the chapel up on the hill.
Skadi
She helped you.
Anita
Yeah, she's such a nice person. She protected us the whole time.
Inquisitor Irene
Ahem.
Skadi
Got a sore throat?
Inquisitor Irene
*cough* *cough*— Y-You wretch! No matter, I will let you off the hook just this once. Tsk, you're a lucky one, Ægir. The High Inquisitor didn't take you away.
Skadi
You've been waiting for me.
Inquisitor Irene
I knew you'd be back... I have something to tell you.
Skadi
Still haven't given up?
Inquisitor Irene
What...? Why are you in a fighting stance? I haven't even drawn my weapon!
Inquisitor Irene
W-What I'm trying to say is... I'm sorry I was so harsh with you before.
Skadi
Hm?
Inquisitor Irene
I'm not the kind of person... who doesn't apologize when she's done wrong. I may be an Inquisitor, but when an Inquisitor makes a mistake, she needs to reflect on it all the more.
Inquisitor Irene
When you first stepped into the town, I saw you right away. I could tell you were an Ægir, costume or no. You are different.
Skadi
......
Inquisitor Irene
At the time... I was angry, and my passions were inflamed. I thought I had finally found the answer. The evil outsiders, the culprit who brought this misfortune to us—
Inquisitor Irene
I thought that by dragging you out here and defeating you... I could right the wrongs and solve our problems. I thought it was that simple.
Inquisitor Irene
But I am no match for you, and what could defeating you change anyway?
Inquisitor Irene
The real threat that this city and all Iberia faces is not a single Ægir or two.
Skadi
You've grown...
Inquisitor Irene
Much thanks to you...
Inquisitor Irene
I can't think the way I used to think anymore. What happened here has left me bewildered to the point that I'm not sure how I'd judge anything again.
Inquisitor Irene
I am an inquisitor. It is my duty to eradicate the threats that Iberia faces in order to uphold its order.
Inquisitor Irene
—You are a threat, but are you our enemy?
Inquisitor Irene
Then we have the people here. Should I protect them, or should they be eliminated?
Inquisitor Irene
And what if I can't make sense of it? What, then, is my reason for taking up the sword? It will leave me directionless, stuck in the same spot, just like the people here.
Inquisitor Irene
Then—It was you and the locals who helped me see things clearly.
Inquisitor Irene
I can't save the inhabitants... It probably sounds strange, but once I realized this, I made the decision to protect them.
Inquisitor Irene
At the very least, at that very moment and right now, I know what is right and what is wrong.
Inquisitor Irene
As for you, you did the right thing. You protected this place... for the time being, at least. That is much more than I have ever done for these people.
Skadi
......
Skadi
You did the right thing too.
Inquisitor Irene
Huh?
Skadi
What I did was no different from what you did.
Inquisitor Irene
What do you mean, no different...? No matter, you are just as terrible at giving comfort as you are at disguises.
Skadi
You wanted comfort from me?
Inquisitor Irene
What do you...? No, no thank you.
Skadi
Good. I don't have any for you either.
Inquisitor Irene
......
Inquisitor Irene
So, you found the answer you were looking for?
Skadi
I don't need it anymore.
Skadi
I've asked too many questions. I found my answer, and once I calmed down, I realized those answers meant nothing really. Just like you, I know which way I am headed now.
Inquisitor Irene
Oh? Seems we're both ready.
Inquisitor Irene
It's about time I get going, and I know it's time for you to go as well. You have gone free, so you must've come to some kind of agreement with the High Inquisitor.
Inquisitor Irene
Well... Goodbye.
Inquisitor Irene
As long as we're still chasing the same goal, perhaps we will see each other again somewhere.
Anita
Huh? Did the Inquisitor leave? What a shame. I want her to see what I'm making.
Skadi
What's this...?
Anita
It's the seaweed alcohol you taught me to make! Uh, is this looking okay? Are the pieces too big still?
Skadi
......
Skadi
They are way too small.
Anita
Huh? Let me try again. It's okay. We don't have any food left, but we still have plenty of seaweed. If we run out, I'll get some more from Uncle Fireplace.
Skadi
You will get better.
Anita
Once I'm finished... Uh... You'll be gone by the time I'm finished, right? You came here to tell me this, didn't you? You are leaving.
Skadi
Yes, I'm leaving.
Anita
(Subconsciously kneads the seaweed)
Anita
Right, you're a wandering singer. You wander, only stopping once in a while.
Anita
Will you ever come back? I... I want to listen to you play your harp and sing some more. Grandma Petra and Drywall, they do too.
Skadi
......
Skadi
Yes, I will.
Skadi
My friends, too. We can come together.
Anita
That sounds great!
Anita
It's a promise, okay? Be sure to come back soon! I will be waiting for you here.
Inhabitant
Woodframe.
Anita
Uh, here! Singer, they need me for something. I gotta go.
Anita
Don't forget what you promised!
Skadi
......
Skadi
That can there...
Skadi
The red shell.
Skadi
......
Skadi
Anita!
Just as she said she would, the girl stops in her tracks, turns around, and smiles at Skadi.
Anita
Yes?
Skadi
If next we meet on the outside, I'll still sing for you.
Anita
Okay! Looks like I gotta keep your harp in my box.
Look at you. You still ended up an ugly bitch in the end.
Gladiia
You should've died in the deep sea. Is this what you wanted? You should've died with everyone else instead of going into hiding here. Constantly on edge, no matter what you do, even breathing, much less letting them hear your singing.
Gladiia
You have to shut yourself up in a landship's bathroom just to complain about your predicament, never again to ride the waves. All you can do is to wait until you fully transform into a beast.
A Seaborn tried to get an answer from Skadi... The monsters tried to pry the truth from their murderers.
Which also means that the hunters still have a chance, perhaps their one and only chance—
'Their gods give no revelation.'
Before the waves engulf the world and those monstrous colossi summon their bloodkin, we must smother the sea with silence. Its brood will know nothing of this.
We will exterminate them at their source.
This is our only chance. This will bring about a calamity... but Ægir will get its moment of reprieve.
I can't hear Ægir. Heh, just like the monsters waiting in vain for their revelations.
Nonetheless, we have a responsibility. The Abyssal Hunters must be the first to uncover Iberia's secrets.
—The last dreadnought of the Iberian fleet. Indomitable, yet disappearing without a trace in the span of a night.
Gladiia stops gazing at herself in the mirror.
This is my duty. I must defend Ægir.
By capturing that golden ship and taking hold of that key, the doors to the vault will fling wide open, and the volcano shall be unleashed.
