Communion

The child is still weak. Take him back to his mother, Andoain.

I will come and find you.

You seem unwell, Matriarch. Should I escort you to your apartments?

I am fine. The heartbeat continues to echo within me.

Not just the mother. I can hear countless hearts resonating, so powerful it seems they could bring down this shrine.

The people have begun to link with one another, irrespective of race or background... but some have rejected the future we revealed.

The Nativity has come to an end. Our kindred need not stay here. We should prepare for the next stage.

Understood. You should retire. I will take care of the rest.

Once again, welcome to the Shrine of Nurtury.

Whether you understood the Matriarch's proposal at the summit, and regardless of what you think of it, the birth and enlightenment of this arborbeast is undoubtedly a clear revelation.

On how to remove the barriers between nations and races... on how to resolve hatred and build lasting peace... on facing the calamity that hangs over our heads together.

Beginning with the Nativity, the second Summit of Nations now enters a new stage—

Laterano will share our halo with all races!

'May our Lord share the blessings with all.'

Fiammetta! Mostima! Over here!

...

Lemuel?

When did you come back? Why didn't you tell us?

Nice outfit, huh? Including those handcuffs...

I wanted to surprise you. Well... hee hee.

(Scratches head)

What happened, Lemuen?

...It's a long story.

I could buy you two minutes, if you want to make a break for it.

...

Did I interrupt a reunion?

Velliv.

Can you take the suspect to the Seventh Tribunal on your own, Cardinal Lemuen?

Or do you need support? After all, attempted sabotage of the Shrine of Nurtury and Summit of Nations is a serious charge.

If you're concerned, you are free to come with us, or have a gun-knight keep watch.

Don't talk like that. After all, according to your conclavist Cardinal Aide Amos's testimony, you picked up Lemuel's trail at another scene beforehand...

Are you saying I tried to cover for my sister?

Well, not exactly. All the evidence is circumstantial, and there is nothing that proves you did anything wrong.

Do you recall our previous conversation in the Shrine?

I admire your ability and resolve greatly, Lemuen the Silent. But I also know when these virtues of yours are most prominently displayed.

Besides, it's natural for us to be cautious when your sister is involved. I hope you understand.

No need to worry. Letting El run around with all these charges against her won't help her.

Of course. I'm sure the misunderstanding can be resolved, as long as Lemuel cooperates.

One moment, Shimmering Vigil... and Legatus Mostima.

...

What?

Please remain here at the Shrine of Nurtury. The Curia has a mission for you.

They... took El away?

After all the effort it took for Magister to get me off the hook...

Come on, Vani... isn't there anything else you can do?

Don't bother knocking, Andoain. I have nothing to hide from you.

The mother?

Sleeping.

I brought the child. His feathers are not yet grown in, but he is surprisingly lively. I thought perhaps you might want to pet him again.

Thank you. It is comforting to me.

This place...

Do you remember? We built it to house the mother when we came to Laterano. It became the first nursery of the shrine.

I remember. We made this simple yet warm bed together, and hung the comfort bells that gave her restful sleep.

The room is no longer in use, but I come back from time to time, if only for prayer.

This was our starting point, yours and mine.

(Stretches happily)

I sense that he likes this place too.

His halo is so bright. I noticed it the moment you brought him here.

It is the miracle that you have long believed in.

But I don't understand. What brought on the premonitions of the miracle when you first encountered the mother?

I had no premonitions, Andoain, I only saw your struggling heart.

She was on her last legs, and what she needed was not healing, but her last rites. Yet you wanted to save her, and you would not allow the idea to be dispelled by common sense.

I believed that this thought, which you protected so dearly, could create the miracle of life.

Life is a wonderful thing, one that can never be measured by the confines of common sense.

Anyone would want to save her, Matriarch.

Therefore, anyone can create miracles. Miracles are so because people do not believe in the power of faith.

Is it the halo that gives Sankta faith, or faith that gives Sankta the halo? Have you ever pondered it?

Our Law, empathy, and firearms, and the Paradise that we built atop them...

Did they all arise from a blessing without a cause, as common sense would indicate?

...I don't know.

The past has its beginnings, as does the future.

The Shrine of Nurtury... This towering edifice was not built in a day. It began as a simple, ordinary nursery.

Our nursery...

Did we start with the blueprints of such an imposing shrine? No. We merely wished for a safe, comfortable room for that mother...

And yet, its frenzied evolution led to what it is now.

That is how a future where all are saved can sprout from our faith.

Matriarch... I followed you because I had long searched for such a future, and you happened to know the way.

But I never thought, nor could I comprehend, why you believed it could begin with me.

What I'm able to do is, ultimately, insignificant.

Insignificant trifles and grandiose feats are but a hair's breadth from one another. You have labored for many years over this grueling journey of yours. You should not let such a meaningless difference stay your steps.

I will need you to lift your spirits, for aside from caring for this mother and child, there are more deeds that must be done... such as the next Nativity.

You're early.

I'm already packed. You can just stick the seals on top so I can go back to bed.

...

Patrizion?

Hmph. I thought you were him.

I was told the last part of the handover would be handled by the Notarial Hall. Why did they send gun-knights?

That was assuming nothing had been tampered with.

What are you talking about?

Both the storage room and equipment show signs of recent use.

Cardinal Aide Amos must have made it clear when he last came here—

All gunsmithing operations were to cease immediately upon signing the papers. Any unauthorized work on patron firearms or explosives would be a violation of law.

...

I've had this little workshop for decades. I couldn't let it go so easily...

I just wanted to hear these old boys move again one last time and shed some tears over it. Is that so wrong?

You've already said as much.

Your apprentice, Vannini, the one you took with you from the Shrine of Nurtury—where is she?

Must've gone back to watch the Nativity.

She's not a kid anymore. Besides, I don't see so well. Can't keep an eye on her all the time.

In that case, let us continue this conversation somewhere else.

What if I don't want to?

I do not wish to resort to force, unless absolutely necessary.

It was Patrizion who sent you here, wasn't it?

Come with me.

S-Sister Hildegard, Reverend Gun-Knight?

Is she not in the monastery?

Y-Yes, but... she just had an accident. She's resting now.

What?

It's hard to explain...

A mobile confessional suddenly showed up at the monastery yesterday. Sister Hildegard was lying inside, unconscious...

There was no one else; someone had set the confessional's navigation system to bring her here. We're not sure what happened to her.

Perhaps we can have her report to you once she wakes up.

This is urgent. Bring me to her.

But...

*cough* *cough*... It's alright, Sister Gerain.

Hildegard! You're awake? The porridge...

I'm fine, just a little dizzy.

I ate the porridge on the table. I'm coughing because some of it went down the wrong pipe.

Reverend Gun-Knight, you came for Arturia, didn't you?

...

Yes, it's true that Arturia left Landen Monastery without permission...

But I went after her as soon as I found out! And I caught her! But something unexpected happened...

Please, give Landen Monastery a little more time... no, give me a little more time.

We would like you to come with us, Sister Hildegard.

Well... alright.

It would be best if you came too, Sister.

Me?

Sister Gerain doesn't have anything to do with this.

I was the one in charge of supervising Arturia. This is my fault...

No need to worry, Sister Hildegard.

With a major incident like this, the Curia needs as much information as we can get.

Now, follow me, please.