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Where Fate Guides
- Theresis
How tiny we seem when we stand beside the tracks of this ship.
- Theresa
Yes, it's a most impressive war machine.
- Theresa
With their bodies as barriers, the Nachzehrer halted its advance at a tremendous cost. The Banshee's shrieks, powerful enough to shatter consciousness, only managed to force the Leithanians to retreat below deck...
- Theresis
If not for the Catastrophe and the rough terrain in this valley—
- Theresa
We're so far behind, and time is running out.
- Theresis
Kazdel must have equally powerful weapons, if not more so.
- Theresis
All our previous attempts have failed...
- Theresa
A century ago, few believed we could build a nomadic city out of Kazdel, yet we did. If we are to catch up to them now, we cannot afford to take the conventional path.
- Theresa
We have word from the Damazti. The battleships on the horizon are slowing down.
- Theresis
Have they given up?
- Theresa
No, the Kurfürst's orders were to continue the pursuit, but the commander of the fleet ordered them to slow down.
- Theresa
They're concerned about the Catastrophes and the terrain. They've seen what happened to this ship.
- Theresis
At the current rate, we can expect to engage them at dusk.
- Theresa
We have bought enough time for Kazdel to retreat.
Theresa looks back at the two storms entwining on the wastes, trying to catch a glimpse of the city.
She sees nothing. Where is Kazdel now? Is it still moving through the storm? Are the people in the shelters safe?
- Theresa
The storms are converging. Our retreat has been cut off. A battle is inevitable... Theresis?
- Theresis
...
- Theresa
I never thought I'd see you lose focus on the battlefield.
- Theresis
What's that?
- Theresa
...?
- Theresa
That's...
The storms rage, the young taunting the old.
The newborn storm slams into the dying storm to the war drums of thunder.
Roiling air currents clash and combine between the two storms...
Violence begets peace, and a passage appears where the storms converge.
Lightning flashes and thunder cracks.
- Theresis
A path through the storm.
- Theresa
The storm...
- Theresis
Let's go, Theresa. The storm has given us a path.
- Theresis
Those who survive through it will have another chance.
- Theresa
We'll do it together.
The Damazti Cluster passes their command to every Sarkaz present.
The warriors see their leaders walk into the storm side by side and follow with no hesitation.
The procession advances into the tempest, the strong supporting the weak, the brave encouraging the fearful.
- Theresa
Do you see that, Theresis?
Within the roar of the tempest, they seem to hear the voice from the snowstorm in that childhood dream.
They see—
- Theresa
...The prophecy.
The thin, cloaked figure turns at the sound of her voice and sees the storm-bound procession.
Theresis sees a child. Mist, gilded by the setting sun, shrouds her shoulders, rising and blending with the shrieking winds above.
He takes off his gauntlet and stretches his bare hand into the mist.
The mist dissipates, and in his bloodied hand is the stone blade that the child is holding.
- ???
(Slurring) Yew... argh! Gra... grab!
- Theresis
What are you doing here?
- ???
(Slurring) Hom. Yew... hom! Hom!
- ???
(Slurring) Yew! Came in! Home!
The child wrestles the blade from Theresis's hand and points it again at Theresis and the procession behind him.
There is no difference between man and beast to the child who grew up in the wastes.
- Theresis
You want to kill me?
- ???
(Slurring) Keel... kill you!
- Theresa
Nobody taught her how to speak. She simply emulates the sounds made by those who pass by.
- Theresa
...Theresis?
Theresis looks down silently at the thin figure.
- Theresis
Let me show you how to hold a knife.
- ???
...
- ???
(Slurring) You!
The child hesitates for a moment, before putting her knife in Theresis's outstretched hand.
- ???
(Slurring) ...Me. You! Bring, me... bring, me!
Theresis gazes into Theresa's eyes.
Prophecy.
'A sword to slay the regent king, a spear to pierce the royal ring.'
But they have never cared much for prophecy.
- Theresis
Very well.
- Theresis
Come with me. The home of the Sarkaz is not on the barrens.
'Do you have a name?'
'Name? Me.'
'From now on, you have a new name.'
'Ascalon.'
Ten days later...
The nomadic city of Kazdel, Kazdel
- Excited Sarkaz
Look, doctor! The furnace has been relit!
- Excited Sarkaz
Is it moving? The city's finally moving? Ouch...
- Babel Doctor
Careful! Your wounds might open again...
- Excited Sarkaz
I've got to go to the furnace. The furnace burns again, and Kazdel still sails...
- Excited Sarkaz
The Leithanians didn't manage to kill us!
- Babel Doctor
...
- Excited Sarkaz
Oh, er, I didn't mean you, doctor.
- Excited Sarkaz
Come with me to see it. You deserve the same honor as the warriors who survived.
- Babel Doctor
But... I'm not Sarkaz.
- Excited Sarkaz
You people are heroes, too.
- Excited Sarkaz
Come watch Their Highnesses command the Goliath to support the leaning furnace! Watch the sparks fly when iron hammers beat upon the broken core!
- Excited Sarkaz
Hear the elegy of the Banshee, and witness the final journey of fallen heroes when they enter the furnace to fuel it!
- Excited Sarkaz
This used to be an occasion that only the Sarkaz could see.
- Babel Doctor
I would love to go, but there are still a lot of wounded to treat.
- Excited Sarkaz
Alright, tell you what, I'll bring back a couple bottles of booze and some fresh fruit, and we'll...
- Babel Doctor
You're not allowed to drink! And who the heck drinks in a medic tent?
- Excited Sarkaz
Come on, it's just a little flesh wound.
- Babel Doctor
No means no! It's your Oripathy that's the problem! Not to mention you're a terrible drinker.
- Excited Sarkaz
When did you ever see me drink? Oh, that time when I was drunk and came to you with a bunch of Oripathy bombs.
- Excited Sarkaz
Look, that was the only time in all these years. You know I can't afford booze.
- Babel Doctor
*sigh* I can't stop you... why don't you go yourself?
- Excited Sarkaz
Won't be the same without you.
- Babel Doctor
But... I'm a Leithanian...
- Excited Sarkaz
And? Do you support those nobles who profit off war?
- Babel Doctor
I ran away from home because I couldn't stand them!
- Excited Sarkaz
There you have it. Hm? Wait a second. You say you ran away from home? Were you noble—
- Babel Doctor
No!
- Excited Sarkaz
I was kind of thinking, your equipment doesn't look like it's from Babel—
- Excited Sarkaz
—Well, I won't speculate. It does nobody any good.
- Babel Doctor
So, you can go on your own.
- Babel Doctor
I doubt the soldiers on the front lines would get along with a Leithanian...
- Excited Sarkaz
When I saw the Leithanians string my father up by a sewer entrance to humiliate him, I never imagined I could befriend a Caprinae doctor either.
- Excited Sarkaz
Back then, the only people who showed us any kindness were poor, Infected, or both.
- Babel Doctor
...
- Excited Sarkaz
Right, enough of the sad stuff. Be back in a jiffy.
- Babel Doctor
Seriously, since when did the Sarkaz become so glib-tongued with me?
- Babel Doctor
I wonder if this count as progress, Theresa...
- Babel Doctor
In any case, Kazdel is moving again. Things will get better.
- Babel Doctor
Back already? Well, it's about time you laid down—
- Babel Doctor
Oh, sorry, I thought you were someone else.
- Brooding Sarkaz
—
- Babel Doctor
Wait, your wounds are really bad... nobody treated your Arts burns?
- Brooding Sarkaz
The Leithanians did it. My son's dead. They burned him alive before my very eyes. I was the only one who lived.
- Babel Doctor
...At least let me see your wounds.
- Brooding Sarkaz
They burned him alive. He was screaming. They used Arts to hang him in the air, for everyone to see.
- Brooding Sarkaz
My brothers are dead. My captain is dead. The Leithanians stood on the high ground, their raised staffs looked just like...
With bloodshot eyes, the nearly deranged Sarkaz fixates on the doctor's staff abandoned in the corner.
The emblem of the home she had left behind hangs from the staff.
- Brooding Sarkaz
Like a real...
The doctor does not sense the hostility.
She lifts his top to inspect the wound, but feels a chill run up her spine.
- Babel Doctor
You're armed...
- Brooding Sarkaz
...
- Babel Doctor
Why didn't the guards check you...?
- Brooding Sarkaz
...
The light of the Soul Furnace lights up the night sky above Kazdel like the midday sun.
The fire's crackles echo like a mournful growl, a somber tribute to the fallen who have become its fuel.
All the Sarkaz set their eyes on the sky that night.
No one notices the light from one of the field hospital's windows go out.
- Brooding Sarkaz
Your Highness?
- Brooding Sarkaz
Why was I brought here...? Oh, yes, I have good news to report...
- Theresa
What news?
- Brooding Sarkaz
We won.
- Brooding Sarkaz
We defeated the Leithanians, Your Highness. Me, my son, and the Blue Blood Squad. We won, we won...
- Theresa
...
- Brooding Sarkaz
Are you not glad, Your Highness? Were we too slow...?
- Brooding Sarkaz
Blake! My son, bring me the battle plan! Son! Son?
- Brooding Sarkaz
Sorry, Your Highness, I don't know where my son went...
- Theresa
You killed a doctor, one who has served Kazdel for years, treating Oripathy patients.
- Brooding Sarkaz
Kazdel? Doctor? No, you misunderstand, your Highness.
- Brooding Sarkaz
I only fight Leithanians.
- Theresa
...
- Theresis
Have you read his emotions, Theresa?
- Theresa
Pain, confusion, madness. He has driven himself mad to escape the painful memories.
- Theresa
He doesn't even know what crime he committed.
- Theresis
The others do.
- Theresis
The guards discovered him brawling with another Sarkaz amid shattered casks of liquor, which ignited and spread fire throughout the field hospital.
- Theresis
All await the King's response. But you cannot be the one to do it.
- Theresis
Leave it to me.
- Brooding Sarkaz
Your Highness! General! I gave my all to defeat the Leithanians!
- Brooding Sarkaz
Was I wrong to do so? Your Highness!
- Theresis
Take him away.
- Theresa
...
- Theresa
...His name is Logan, given to him by his mother, who was one of the first Babel engineers.
- Theresa
He hardly uses any Arts, but the guards were hypnotized by Arts. Someone is behind this.
- Theresis
The Military Commission will not investigate the Sarkaz for the sake of an outsider, not after they've just been through another ordeal.
- Theresis
Neither should Babel.
- Theresa
...
- Theresis
We have no choice. The war has just ended.
- Theresis
Babel should withdraw from military and political affairs, at least for the time being.
- Theresa
You know that's not what Babel is about in the first place.
- Theresis
I do, but many don't.
- Theresa
...
- Theresa
I will define the parameters for Babel's activities. Babel members will continue to serve Kazdel's medical, educational, and technological needs from this area.
- Theresis
The Military Commission will continue to protect them. But we must make every effort to avoid conflict.
- Theresis
There will come a day when the repressed hatred boils over, and even we will be powerless when that day comes.
- Theresa
Kazdel is in urgent need of a change. We have to solve the Originium problem... soon.
- Theresis
But even that won't solve all our problems.
- Theresa
I know.
- Theresa
I've always known.
- Ascalon
...
- Theresis
There you are, Ascalon.
- Theresis
What have you seen in this city?
- Ascalon
Deth... People cry... People die.
- Ascalon
Cry? Cry... tears?
Theresis stretches out his hand. A delicate stone knife lies in its palm.
- Ascalon
Knife! My...
- Theresis
Keep it safe. A warrior should treasure her weapon.
- Theresis
I will teach you how to sharpen your blade.
- Theresis
But it's up to you to decide whom it cuts.
- Ascalon
...
- Theresa
You're too impatient, Theresis. She's not ready to understand these things yet.
- Theresis
She has to understand, sooner or later.
- Theresa
Maybe. But for now, what we should do is give the frightened child a little bit of peace. Do you like this city, Ascalon?
Compared to the armored general, Ascalon does not like this Sarkaz woman crouched before her.
She seems to see through all of her thoughts, leaving no secrets—a most dangerous thing in the wastes.
But she cannot bring herself to be hostile to this gentle Sarkaz.
- Ascalon
I...
- Theresa
No need to be afraid. You know I don't mean you any harm. Come, touch my horn. We're the same.
- Ascalon
...Warm, here.
- Ascalon
Warm, me.
- Theresa
Yes, warm. Hatred and killing are not the only way to solve a problem.
- Ascalon
(Slurring) Way? Probem?
Theresa says no more. It is difficult for a girl who has known nothing but the wastes to understand certain words, even with the help of the King of Sarkaz.
She takes Ascalon's hand.
- Theresa
It's like the wound on your palm. Weapons can't heal it. Only time and medicine can.
- Ascalon
Aw!
- Theresa
It's okay. I've cleaned your wound. You'll need to take care of it.
- Ascalon
...
- Theresa
Be patient. One day, you'll wake up and find that it doesn't hurt anymore.
- Ascalon
...Yeah!
Babel Classroom, Kazdel
- Theresa
...
- Ascalon
...No one. Here.
- Theresa
We'll wait a little longer. It's not lesson time yet. They'll come—
- Theresa
Look, it's Theresis.
- Theresis
Casualty report from the Military Commission. There are many children, most of them students.
- Theresa
The ones that lived...
- Theresis
Their parents are no longer willing to let the outsiders of Babel teach them.
- Theresis
Plus, if memory serves, many of Babel's teachers have already left out of fear.
- Theresa
...
- Theresis
You're troubling yourself too much with trivial matters, Theresa. You need to rest. We still have to—
- Theresa
I want to wait a little longer, Theresis.
- Theresis
...Very well.
He does not leave. The classroom is eerily quiet.
Theresa closes her eyes and recalls the students who used to fill the classroom.
'They said we can get potatoes for coming to school!'
'I didn't understand that one, Your Highness. Do you have any simple stories?'
'You said you went to the outside with mercenaries when you were our age?'
'There's a sea between Sargon and Iberia? What's a boat? Why can't we go up on deck? Why would we throw up?'
'Leithanian spires? Are they like our furnace?'
'People who are nice to us? But Dad says there's no foreigners like that.'
'But the teachers here are nice to us!'
Students come and go. But she always managed to get them to return.
But this time, no one came.
- Ascalon
...!
- Theresa
Oh...?
- Brave Boy
General Theresis! Your Highness! I—
- Ascalon
You!
The hilt of a stone knife hits the boy in the chest. Although unable to break free, the boy strains to look up at the tall, gaunt girl who has him pinned.
- Brave Boy
I saw General Theresis come this way. I just wanted to—
- Brave Boy
Theresa, Your Highness! You're here, too! This classroom... are you teaching?
- Theresis
Put down the knife, Ascalon.
- Ascalon
...
- Brave Boy
...Your Highness!
- Theresis
You were looking for me?
- Brave Boy
Yes. I came to seek an answer for the children who lost their parents. I know the Military Commission will take care of them, as it took care of me...
- Brave Boy
But will this change anything? What if another war comes?
- Brave Boy
I want to change things, but I don't know what I can change, or what I should change.
The two rulers gaze upon the fearless child, each arriving at their own answer inside.
- Theresa
What's your name?
- Brave Boy
Manfred.
- Sleepy Child
Dad, we've been standing at the door forever. Why can't we go in?
- Goodluck
...
- Goodluck
Mommy's hurt very badly. She needs some quiet to rest. We shouldn't bother her.
- Sleepy Child
But I miss Mom...
- Goodluck
Daddy misses her too, but not now... we'll go home together once I come back.
- Sleepy Child
Where are you going, Dad?
- Goodluck
I have to leave the city for a bit, to make the people who hurt Mommy pay.
- Goodluck
Stay here with Mommy and wait for Daddy.
- Sleepy Child
Can you stay, Daddy? We'll figure out a way to make Mommy better, I promise...
- Goodluck
Do you like Mommy's name?
- Sleepy Child
Odda... yes, it sounds very nice.
- Goodluck
It's your name now.
- Sleepy Child
But...
- Goodluck
I'll teach you to fight the bad guys with Mommy's weapon once I get back.
- Odda
Okay! I'll beat up the bad guys who hurt Mommy!
- Odda
But will beating up the bad guys make her feel better?
- Goodluck
You'll understand someday... Odda.
- Goodluck
...I'll be back. Wait for me.
Goodluck turns around, toward the crystal-infested city wall.
The only thing left that ties him to this city is Odda.
Odda... and Odda.
