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Silent Crack
Eight years ago...
Summer, 1086
Residential district, the nomadic city of Kazdel, Kazdel
Remember the promise we made at the beginning of the lesson? Good. Keep your voice low when answering, and don't tell anyone about the classes.
Ray Tanka has been teaching you about our history for the past few months. As for myself, I've been struggling to decide what to teach you in our last lesson.
Mathematics? Language? Agriculture? Weapon-making?
What I've come to realize is that whatever I teach you won't truly change our lives. We've lived silently in despair for too long.
The war eighteen years ago never ended. The ghosts of Leithanien's fleet continue to haunt those who experienced that war.
Many died in despair, drowned in the fear of war and of being consumed by the black rocks that grew from their bodies.
But our instincts drove us to seek a way to overcome despair.
Some declared war on despair, on the outsiders who oppressed us, but they all fell short in the face of cruel reality—
- Goodluck
...Came to see the contracts.
- Scareye
I've never seen a more motivated mercenary than you. Are you trying to buy a mansion in Columbia or something?
- Scareye
One should feel lucky just to be alive for so long. In that sense, I suppose your name is well-deserved.
- Goodluck
I heard a bunch of jobs came in lately. Anything good?
- Scareye
There are eyes on and in the city now. Things didn't turn out too well for the last few who took these jobs.
- Scareye
It's Babel stuff. Are you sure you want to be part of that mess?
- Goodluck
Yeah. I trust my luck.
- Scareye
Have it your way. There's a teacher in town who's been saying good things about Babel's outsiders. Someone is willing to pay to shut him up for good.
- Goodluck
...Will do.
- Scareye
I look forward to your surprises.
- Scareye
Hope your luck doesn't run out today.
The nomadic city of Kazdel, Kazdel
It has been a while since Goodluck came back.
The city has changed a lot. People come and go. He is familiar with the words 'Babel' and 'Military Commission'; there are always people fighting over things that he does not understand.
He does not understand why the Sarkaz feel the need to fight one another.
He takes out the photo of the target, a mild-mannered young man. The triangular marking on his sleeve seems familiar.
A teacher spreading praise about Babel's outsiders, inciting opposition against the Military Commission.
'Sorry, your luck just ran out today.'
- Goodluck
Should be around here.
- Goodluck
Wait... this place...
He's been away for a long time, but not long enough to forget his home.
Odda's home.
- Goodluck
Odda, you should not have gotten involved...
We've gotten used to despair from one defeat after another at the hands of powers beyond our ability to resist.
But we needed to convince ourselves that our despair was not self-inflicted, that it stemmed from an obvious source in our lives.
That is what Babel has become for people in this day and age.
It was Babel who brought the enemies. It was Babel's medicine that worsened our Oripathy. It was Babel's education that sapped our will to resist...
It was Babel who deluded the King of Sarkaz and tricked us into giving up on collecting the blood debt from the outsiders. Babel is the source of all our despair.
I see some of you nodding. No doubt you've heard the same from your parents. In desperate times, people often mistake hearsay for the truth.
But is it the truth, though? Were our lives better without outsiders in Kazdel?
Don't take anything at face value. See, think, and find your own answer.
Yes, it's hard to leave Kazdel. The land outside is full of danger. Even making it to the border of the next country is no small feat.
But I'll still leave this place. I'll go to Leithanien, Columbia, Kazimierz, to anywhere that I may find a way to change things.
Then, I'll come back and teach you, and all the children of the Sarkaz.
What will happen to Babel, you ask? The future of Babel—
- Odda
—!
- Odda
Hide yourselves. Don't make a sound.
- Odda
Hello? Are you looking for someone?
- Ascalon
Sorry, I got the wrong door.
- Odda
Do you need help? I'm familiar with the area.
He smiles. There is no panic in his eyes.
Ascalon scans the sparsely furnished room, and understands.
- Pensive Child
...
- Ascalon
Do you live here on your own?
- Odda
Yes...
- Ascalon
My name is Ascalon. I'm from Babel.
- Odda
...!
- Ascalon
Thank you for sheltering him, but you must leave.
- Ascalon
Be careful. These are troubled times.
- Odda
...
- Odda
You heard her. Someone knows you're here. You need to go.
- Odda
Not just the Military Commission, but also those mercenaries who've been bringing trouble to our doorstep...
- 'Teacher'
I know. I'm very grateful to you for lending us your house to serve as classroom.
- 'Teacher'
The children—
- Odda
I'll take them home. Don't worry, you can continue your classes in a few days, once the storm has passed.
- 'Teacher'
There will be no need. As I've said before, I'm ready to leave.
- 'Teacher'
I've already spent too much time here because I wanted to see the lessons through to the end. There are many places that I still need to see.
- Odda
...Alright. Oh! Don't forget the potatoes.
- Odda
They're from the children and me. It's not much, but they will serve as a few meals on the road.
- 'Teacher'
Thank you so much... all of you.
- Odda
I should be the one thanking you. I learned a lot from you.
- 'Teacher'
For the past few years, Kazdel has grown faster than its education and public thinking can keep up.
- 'Teacher'
I fear that our powers will be our own destruction, if we do not change the present situation.
- 'Teacher'
The conflicts we see in Kazdel now are a good example. This is not how the Sarkaz should be.
- 'Teacher'
I have yet to find a way to change all these, but I know that the answer does not lie within Kazdel.
- 'Teacher'
Goodbye, Odda.
- Odda
Goodbye... may your journey be safe and smooth.
- Odda
...
Odda watches as the 'Teacher' disappears around the corner, but does not go in.
He does not remember when it started, but he has the habit of sitting by the door, waiting for a familiar someone to return.
Wind stirs the dust from the streets, and the dust stirs up his tears. There is not even a shadow.
He gently closes the door.
- Goodluck
Odda...
Goodluck sees the target leave the house. Then, he sees a familiar figure that he has not seen for a long time.
His blade feels heavy. He cannot move.
- Goodluck
Odda... I'm sorry... I didn't know...
- Goodluck
I'm a lousy dad, but...
He tightens his grip on the knife's hilt.
He knows only one way to give Odda a better future.
- Ascalon
...Another one.
A mist shrouds a corpse in the corner of the street, erasing all traces of its existence.
The passing of a life in Kazdel is akin to a speck of dust falling to the ground, unheard, unceremonious, and unnoticed.
His luck has run out.
- Ascalon
How long do you plan on hiding there, Manfred? Or are you planning to stab me in the back now?
- Manfred
Another mercenary. How many have you killed?
- Ascalon
Didn't see the point to keep count.
- Manfred
You could kill one, two, a hundred even, but can you kill every single mercenary who accepts the contract?
- Manfred
They just want to remind us that we've been complacent with the status quo for far too long.
- Ascalon
Using the lives of Babel members as a reminder? To remind whom?
- Manfred
...
- Ascalon
He made a promise to Her Highness. Is this what he calls 'protection' for Babel? All I see are crackdowns on Babel and mercenaries running wild!
- Manfred
There are some things that should not be said aloud. Especially not by you, Ascalon.
- Ascalon
If you don't like it, arrest me.
- Ascalon
Let's see if you've improved at all under his tutelage.
- Manfred
The General has taught me that there are more important things than violence.
- Manfred
And by the looks of things, the mercenaries aren't the only ruthless cutthroats around here.
- Manfred
Stop dodging if you dare! I'll prove to Their Highnesses that I can beat you!
- Ascalon
Too slow, Manfred.
- Ascalon
You're dead. Again.
- Manfred
Ugh...
- Ascalon
Get up.
- Manfred
Don't... need you... to tell... me...
- Theresa
Footwork, Manfred. And Ascalon... stop going for his head all the time?
- Ascalon
This is the most effective way. It's his own fault for getting hit.
- Ascalon
If he can't dodge it, he has to learn to take it.
- Theresa
*sigh*...
- Theresis
You're right, Ascalon. But why did you stop? We didn't tell you to.
- Manfred
I... I can take it, Your Highness. It's not over yet!
- Ascalon
Hmph.
- Manfred
Huh? I hit... Your Highness! I hit—
- Ascalon
Did you, now?
- Manfred
Let me down, Ascalon!
- Theresa
Don't hurt him, Ascalon.
Manfred's long limbs flail helplessly in the air, while his torso is tied to a wooden stake.
- Manfred
H-How did you do it so fast?!
- Ascalon
Got my inspiration from the way Her Highness sews.
Manfred wriggles to break free, but the more he squirms, the tighter the ropes hug him.
He cannot understand how Ascalon can be so strong and fast, when she looks as thin and frail as him.
- Manfred
Let—me—down!
- Ascalon
Look, I won again!
Ascalon raises her weapon high and grins victoriously at the twin sovereigns.
- Theresa
Ascalon has gotten a lot more cheerful.
- Theresis
...
- Theresa
What are you thinking?
- Theresis
They're different from the other Sarkaz children.
- Theresis
We can change them, but how can we reach all the children of Kazdel?
- Theresa
Give me time. Babel can do it.
- Theresis
Time is a luxury.
- Theresa
I know. But education is not something that can be rushed. What we're doing is leaving hope for the next generation.
- Theresa
The flame of hope will never go out, as long as a single teacher in Kazdel remains willing to share with these children the vision of a beautiful future.
Theresa casts her eyes towards the two children, full of hope for the future.
- Ascalon
Well? Are you going to admit defeat or not?
- Manfred
No! L-Let me down! We're not done!
- Ascalon
I'll let you down when you admit defeat.
- Manfred
No way!
- Theresa
I'll unbind you, Manfred.
- Manfred
Thank you, Your Highness... W-woah, why am I flying?! Y-Your Highness!
- Theresa
Hehe.
- Theresis
...Hehe.
- Theresis
Alright, that will do, Theresa. Let him down.
- Ascalon
You've improved. But Theresis hasn't taught you everything he knows.
- Manfred
You were always the faster learner, but ever since you left the general, you've been nothing but unadjusted and lost. He is disappointed in your departure, by the way.
- Ascalon
I may not be as good with words as you are, but at least I don't just ignore the insults against Her Highness Theresa.
- Manfred
Do you really know why Her Highness is so dedicated to Babel's ideals? Do you really know why the General hasn't openly denounced the attacks on Babel?
- Manfred
You should have talked to him, rather than turning your back on him.
- Ascalon
I turned my back? You're the ones who turned your backs on Her Highness and the voices of so many.
- Ascalon
It's Theresis who has turned a blind eye to the mercenaries' acts of violence and the damage they've caused Babel! This much I know.
- Manfred
The General has allowed it precisely because he can't ignore the voices of the majority.
- Manfred
If the fate of the Sarkaz is doomed to fall into the abyss, what's wrong with using more effective means to prevent it?
- Ascalon
So that's what you truly think.
- Manfred
It's what most of us in Kazdel think.
- Manfred
It's not that I don't trust Her Highness... anyone can promise a better future. But we can't ignore the reality before it.
- Manfred
Isn't it crueler to use violence to force a child to shake hands and make peace with the murderer who just killed his father?
- Ascalon
Say whatever you want.
- Ascalon
I'll keep my hands off the Military Commission. But if you try to act through the mercenaries...
- Ascalon
Then my job is simple.
- Ascalon
No more mercenaries, no more problems.
- Manfred
Ascalon!
- Ascalon
...If you have the time.
- Ascalon
Go visit Her Highness. I've never seen her so tired.
A puff of mist is the only sign that she was ever there.
Manfred looks down and wipes away the blood slowly seeping out of his chest.
He sighs and turns into the empty street, only to spot the deceased mercenary's effects.
- Manfred
Someday... we will all understand.
- Manfred
It was never Her Highness or the General who made the choice.
- Odda
Who's there?
He hesitates before the door.
It has been a busy day at this old, ramshackle house, from the 'Teacher' to the multiple visitors.
Who could it be outside the door?
Has father finally returned? And if so, what should he say?
He has learned so much from the 'Teacher' that he wants to share with his father, whose visits back home have become less and less frequent.
He takes a deep breath, collects his mind, puts on a calm face, and opens the door.
- Odda
Hello...?
- Manfred
Good evening.
- Odda
You're... er, can I help you, sir?
- Manfred
You know who I am?
- Odda
...
- Odda
No sir, but I know the uniform of the Military Commission.
- Manfred
Just a routine inspection. Do you recognize these items?
- Odda
This is... my father's—!
- Manfred
There have been some disturbances in the city, and I'm afraid your father... I'm so sorry.
- Odda
Wh-Where did you find them? Was there...?
- Manfred
There was nothing else left at the scene. I'm sorry.
- Odda
...
- Manfred
What's your name?
- Odda
...Odda.
- Manfred
If you need any help...
- Odda
No... no, I'm very grateful that you brought these back.
- Odda
It's been a long time since I last saw him... this is enough.
- Odda
I don't have to wait anymore... He's not coming back...
- Manfred
Do you have family? Or friends you can count on?
- Odda
I can take care of myself. Besides, we see things like this every day in this city, no?
- Manfred
...
- Odda
I-I'm sorry I gushed, sir. I just feel like I know you, somehow...
- Odda
I'm sure you're busy. I won't keep you any longer.
- Manfred
My condolences.
The door closes. Manfred can hear the sound of sobbing coming from behind the door, but he doesn't feel sorrow. Not anymore.
Odda's right; he's seen this too many times. Yet he remembers this is not what the city was meant to be.
