Silent Crack

Then it's none of your business.

Those students? Hm... I think I can take this alley here...

Excuse me, do you know what happened?

Someone beat another guy to death. He's dead, too. Are you trying to join the racket?

Babel again. What is Her Highness thinking?

Shut your trap. You owe everything you eat, everything you wear, and the roof over your head to Her Highness.

Shh...

...

Well, it's simple enough alright! A teacher beat the father of his student to death!

A Teacher? How could...?

All the man did was scold him a little! And it was the teacher who was telling the kids all sorts of awful things!

That's not true...

You're a Babel shill too? Kids these days...

...

Hey, what are you doing?

Teacher! What's going on?

I... I didn't mean to hurt... his father...

Hang in there! I'll find a doctor!

No... over there... him...

...

The kid is hurt and needs a doctor. Don't make me do this the hard way.

Whose side are you on? Babel? The Military Commission?

Neither! I just need to get him to a doctor. Now get out of my way!

My dad...

It's too late for him... I'm sorry.

...

Go. But don't trust outsiders so easily... Sarkaz. Not in this chaos.

Thank you...

Was I imagining things?

Stop right there! Not one step closer. There are patients inside.

This kid needs medical attention, now!

But... oh... I didn't think there was anyone still willing to bring patients here.

Alright, I'll take it from here. I'll try to give you some extra medicine before we leave.

Leave?

Her Highness made the decision, but we all know what's happening. We're not welcome in Kazdel anymore.

Where are you going? Outside the city? Aren't you afraid of the dangers in the wastes?

...Yes, I am.

But if this city no longer welcomes us, then we respect its choice.

...

I want to join Babel. I can help care for the patients, or protect you.

Is this the one who started the whole mess? Will he live?

Don't think so. Lost too much blood.

Then what are we even doing here?

Just follow the General's orders and don't ask questions. Who'd have thought something so minor would need Their Highnesses' statement?

Ugh...

Is he trying to talk to us? There's nobody else around.

Probably just seeing things before he dies. No Banshee would sing an elegy for such a sinner.

It's... dangerous...

Go...

They can't see me. My Arts hide my presence.

Who... are... you...?

A student.

I came from far away, following in the footsteps of my mother, to find answers in this wandering city, and her two rulers.

Did you... find...?

I'm afraid the city doesn't have the answers ready yet.

But I found you. The ideas that you advocated were very interesting.

I was with you when you taught those children in that basement, learning about the city and Babel.

Of course, no one noticed... except Ascalon.

The... boy...

Has been brought to Babel where his injuries will be treated.

Do you regret your end?

No... the boy defended me...

He understood... what I tried to change...

I'm sorry... about his father...

I sympathize. It was not your intention to cause this tragedy, but fate has played a cruel joke on you.

I hear... crying...

It is your elegy, calling your fading soul to the other side.

Fear not, hesitate not. The myriad souls welcome you with open arms. Let my song take you beyond.

Thank you...

A song. Another Sarkaz has passed on in the turmoil.

There is no longer any place for Babel here. I will lead them and leave this city.

Theresa... we love you, all of us...

I know. But Babel has no choice.

But if you leave...

My people have made their choice. Neither I nor Theresis can change it.

We cannot abandon hope. But the best course of action, right now, is to avoid conflict.

...Hatred will swallow us like a flood.

You've always known... Theresa, our hero, our King.

Gentle requests and gradual changes will not sway the minds of the Sarkaz drawn here by Kazdel's rise.

Laqeramaline, I...

Perhaps what I say will disappoint, even hurt you, Theresa.

Rim Billiton, Sargon, even Columbia... you have opened their doors, and allowed the Sarkaz to negotiate with some as equals.

Terra has seen more technological progress in fifty years than it has for millennia.

...

...But we were too slow. Despite the incredible changes you've brought to Kazdel, they haven't been enough to bear the fruits of true transformation.

Even if I, too, believe that the fruits of spring are near.

Is this the stance of the Banshee Court, Laqeramaline?

I'm just a mother who came to see her boy off, Theresa.

I respect his choice, and there will come a day when he will speak for our Royal Court.

But that day is not today.

I know you love him... you haven't allowed yourself to age since he was born.

Aefanyl was a miracle to me, and to all Banshees.

The day he was born, I became loath to age with time.

I have preserved my appearance at the peak of my beauty... I wish to remain eternal in his memory.

My life is finite, of course. It's only the facade that never changes.

I know what Your Highness is thinking.

You never expected your dream to come true in this generation. You see yourself as the soil, and it's not the soil's due to witness the flowers bloom.

Even if the two of you have to give everything to nourish this soil...

...

Humor my little self-indulgence, Your Highness.

Until he finds the answer he is seeking, allow him to travel between the two of you, to learn from both of you.

He will be the first sprout to emerge from the soil.

Bring Aefanyl. Take care of him. Protect him in my place.

I will, Laqeramaline, my friend.

Thank you.

No matter where you go, no matter what fate awaits either of you, the Banshee Court will sing both your elegies, and announce to all...

This is my promise. It is the most ancient and powerful of witchcrafts, my final parting gift to you.

Laqeramaline.

Will we meet again?

I hope so.

Until next time, then. I look forward to the day that I can hear you sing in the mists of the Convallis.

Farewell, Your Highness. I'm afraid I must stay here and go no further.

Aefanyl will be part of your procession, after all... and I'm not ready to say goodbye to him yet.

How long do you plan on standing there?

You came a little too early, if it's Theresa you're looking for.

...

I didn't think you would have the courage to come to me, Ascalon.

Why?

Do you mean why wouldn't you have the courage to see me, or why I banished Babel?

...

You've seen Manfred?

Yes.

Did you do it?

Not all the way.

Good.

Now, remove yourself before you say something childish and naive. Not even Theresa would agree with you.

Or you could choose to stay. You don't have to explain yourself. Afterall, you never formally joined Babel.

Her Highness needs someone to protect her.

She is more powerful than you think.

And I agree with you even less, Master.

I suppose I should take that as a no.

...

You and Manfred are my best students, yet both of you have your fatal flaws.

Your talents in combat are peerless. But what do you truly believe in?

Your Highness—

Impatience.

I said, what you truly believe in. Not me nor Theresa.

...

You still don't know what you seek, do you?

To protect? That's just empty, self-deceptive sentimentality. When you're unsure of your path, you merely project your motivations onto vague ideals.

I-I've thought about it carefully.

Perhaps.

Then follow Theresa and protect her, but don't blindly adopt her ways. Think for yourself. Manfred found his answer long before you did.

The next time we see each other...

...Nevermind.

Go, Ascalon.

There is nothing else for us to talk about now.

You were too cold to her, Theresis.

It's a time of parting. You could have shared your mind with her. She has never been adept at expressing emotion.

As her teacher, you're better than me at reaching the teenager side of her.

Do you really have no faith in her choice?

She is welcome back at any time. Manfred remains too complacent in his training. He needs someone to challenge him, a goal to work towards.

I'll tell her.

I wish you would come back, too.

I know.

If we cannot resolve a minor conflict like this, the next one could escalate into a full-fledged civil war.

If it comes to that, all we have dreamed of for a century will be for naught.

If that day comes and if I have to... I'll kill you.

...

Babel is ready. We will leave with those who are willing to follow.

You've always kept them close.

Yes. Because they need me.

I need you, too. Kazdel needs its King.

...Theresis.

Our people have made their choice. The best course of action, for now at least, is for Babel to back down.

I will continue to call the nourishing rain upon Kazdel, change the city's circumstances, and wait for hatred to subside.

But...

If you become the greatest threat to the searching dreamers in this long and painstaking process, I will destroy you.

So be it.

We all know what we must face.

I hope this will not be the last time we stand together.

...Will that day be far?

Not too far.

Dad, I believe that there has to be another way than war.

Mom, I know you believed in Babel because you hoped for a different way to live.

Goodbye, Mom, Dad.

Goodbye, home.