Heart of the Cliffs

Hmm...

That crevice over there should be close enough...

Weiss, how long do you think it'll be before my brother comes back?

Based on what the Master said before the trip, about three or four more days.

Eh... That's still pretty far from now.

Huh? Is that him...?

No wait, is it my sister?!

The Saintess went to the Vine-Bead Court months ago. With everything she must attend to, there's no way she'd be here. No need to get antsy; I'll get the door.

Oh, Auntie Tarja! What brings you here?

Okay!

That's one step closer!

The cave's not really all that high up, so I should be there soon.

Tearstone?

It's a kind of light blue ore, only found in a cave halfway up Mount Karlan. Legend has it that it's the condensed tears of Kjeragandr.

Almost there!

So Uncle Tarja's condition got worse, the tearstone that was supposed to last over half a year was used up by autumn, and no one on either side of the mountain can lend him any more?

How could this happen...?

According to legend, tearstone can only be mined one palmful at a time, for that is the size of one of Kjeragandr's teardrops.

If any more are extracted at once, then they lose their effectiveness.

In fact, you were the one who retrieved the one Mister Tarja was using. That was two years ago though, so you might not remember it.

Oh, right, I remember now!

Weiss, think you could bring Auntie Tarja with you and drive around to see if anyone else has any tearstone?

Milady, you...

I'll keep looking around the house. I remember picking up a little one to use as a decoration, but can't remember where I put it.

Are you sure?

Y-Yeah, I'm positive. As soon as I find it, I'll grind it down for Uncle Tarja and decoct it.

And if you do manage to find one, you don't need to come tell me. Just head straight to the Tarja household.

Please be careful, milady.

It's... It's not like I'll be doing anything dangerous, just looking around the house! Anyway, get going already! Someone's life is on the line here!

Alright.

I'll get the car ready. Missus Tarja, come with me.

Weiss's intuition is as sharp as ever.

If it weren't for Uncle Tarja's emergency situation, he definitely wouldn't have left me alone.

Seriously, he's way too much of a worrywart. The snow won't be coming down hard until later in the evening anyway, and the cave isn't too high up. Just a quick climb up the cliff.

Welp, up we go!

Now all that's left is to head in and mine some tearstone. Shouldn't take long!

Success! Fits perfectly, right inside my palm.

Still, I may have been pulling a fast one on Weiss, but tearstones are so pretty. Maybe I really should grab a few more for decoration next time...

That said, I can still see the marks I made on the walls here two years ago. Nothing's changed at all.

Just wait for me. I'll get you your tearstone in no time flat!

Brrr, so cold!

The wind's kicking up?!

Crap, that snowstorm's coming in a lot sooner than I thought.

Welp, can't get down the cliff anymore. Better take shelter in the cave and wait it out...

Wait, no. Uncle Tarja's still waiting for that tearstone, and who knows when the storm will stop?

I'll have to descend from the other side then.

Hmm... This route seems usable, but which way am I...?

This tree looks familiar... Wait, haven't I been here already?

I'll make a sign with my climbing rope. At least that way I won't be going in circles.

This path is... going in the exact wrong direction.

Ugh, this snow couldn't have come at a worse time.

I think I've come a pretty long way...

The cave is on the side of the mountain where it meets the lake, but I've been heading towards the lake this entire time...

I guess I'm already trespassing on Paleroche land then.

Stepping into another clan's territory without notice...

Maybe I should turn back before they find me. Wait out the snow before heading back down...

No, I can't risk it. Doesn't look like it'll be stopping anytime soon.

This is a matter of life and death here! Time is of the essence!

At least the snow's thick enough that I didn't get hurt by the fall...

Hmm, I can see the settlements at the foot of the mountain.

And the lake too.

Feels like I've been trekking through the mountain's backside for forever. How is there still more trail...?

I can't even see the lake anymore...

I can tell I'm still descending, but this trail is way too long—

Hello? Hello?!

Can you hear me? I'm over here! Over here!

Thank Kjeragandr! Are you a hunter from the mountains? How far are we from the bottom?

If you follow this trail down, you'll be off the mountain in about an hour and a half.

An hour and a half? Still that far?

There wouldn't happen to be any shortcuts?

There are, but none that can be used in a snowstorm this fierce.

I have mountaineering equipment! See this big ole backpack? I've got an icepick, climbing ropes, rock nails, the whole shebang!

Hmm... It could be worth a try then.

If you head back a bit to where you just saw the lake, there's a steep little trail covered in snow.

Thank you! By the way, I didn't get your...

She's gone?!

Well, whatever. Let's head back and give this a shot!

It worked!

That must've saved at least half an hour! Now to find a place where I can rent a burdenbeast or—

Stop! Who goes there?

!

Hello, I don't mean any harm! I'm...

Huh? Aren't you the second daughter of the Silverash clan?

I can explain, I—

Hmph, I'm just patrol the mountain. Save your explanation for the head of our clan!

Tell me, what's going on here?

I'm sorry! I didn't mean to trespass into your territory!

Everyone who gets caught says that.

I mean it though...

So you're telling me you were taking a walk in your backyard, enjoying the snow, and just happened to end up near the lake?

No, I went to mine tearstone from a mountain cave, and it started snowing right as I was about to leave. Since I couldn't get down the cliff near my house, I headed the opposite direction, towards the lake.

Did you not see the dark clouds? You chose now of all times to mine your tearstone?

I’ve heard enough.

No, Mister Arctosz, let me explain—

The second daughter of the Silverash clan has trespassed on Paleroche territory.

I'll have your brother explain the situation once he returns. If his answer satisfies me, I'll let you go.

(He's going to wait for Enciodes?!)

(But Uncle Tarja is sick and can't wait any longer!)

(I need to get this medicine to him right away! Which means my only choice is to—)

(But now that it's come to this, I don't know what Mister Arctosz's demands will be, or if my brother will be humiliated...)

(Damn it, none of this has anything to do with the clans! Just because I'm a Silverash...)

(......)

(I'm sorry, Enciodes! If this causes any trouble, I'll make it right, I swear!)

Judging by the look on your face, it seems you have something to say.

......

I sincerely apologize for trespassing into the lake area, and I'll accept however you choose to handle this matter.

But I went to mine tearstone in order to save someone's life...

Using another's life as an excuse is an awfully tasteless joke, Ensia Silverash.

I'm not lying! Uncle Tarja, who lives in the mountains, is seriously ill and needs a tearstone to save his life. That's why I went up there!

I'll accept whatever punishment you have for me, but I ask only that you send an express train to deliver the tearstone in my backpack to the Tarja household in the mountains. Please, I'm begging you!

......

If you claim to have mined tearstone, then show it to me.

Hmm... this is certainly tearstone. But isn't it a bit too big?

While I was up there, I made sure to test if it could fit in the palm of my hand.

At least SOME of the Silverashes still remember a few of Kjeragandr's old teachings.

And you want me to deliver this to the Tarja household in the mountains, correct?

Yes!

Hmph.

I suppose I can oblige.

Prepare the swiftest burdenbeast! I'll be heading to the mountains with Ensia Silverash!

(Thank goodness...)

(—Wait, back up, with ME?!)

Mister Arctosz, do you mean to say...

If the situation is as you described, then your trespass was truly unintentional.

Paleroche has no desire to raise a fuss over something like this.

I thought you would—

Would what?

N-nothing, nothing at all!

Thank goodness...

You have my deepest gratitude, Mister Arctosz! If we waited any longer, we might've been too late! Truly, I can't thank you enough!

You harvested the tearstone. It was your life to save. There's nothing to thank me for.

No, you deserve it! Would you like to stop by my house to rest for a bit? Uncle Matterhorn should be back shortly, and maybe I can let him—

......

Sorry, I'm getting way ahead of myself.

Don't worry about it.

Mister Arctosz...

Did you need anything else?

I still remember back before Enciodes returned. You were never close to me or my sister, but you didn't keep your distance from us like you do now.

If anyone's responsible for that, it would be your dear old brother, don't you think? While I am willing to believe that you harbor no ill will, I dare not ignore the possibility that you're a part of his plans.

Nor do I dare assume that I can beat him in on the battlefield of political intrigue.

Is my brother... really that odious a person to everyone else?

I can tolerate his scheming, but I cannot turn a blind eye to him trampling all over our traditions.

But not everything from outside is bad! Like, what if there were a better cure for Uncle Tarja's illness in some—

......

I can see that you and your brother are completely different kinds of people.

But both of you are true Silverashes.

......

Doesn't that also make you a true Paleroche?

Ah, of course.

But you're still helping me.

Do you think I should have sentenced Tarja to death, or continued to detain you?

No, no, that's not what I meant!

I just... don't quite understand.

Then keep mulling it over. You still have a long life ahead of you.

Let's go.

Hold onto your own stuff. You were so excited to leave that you forgot your bag.

Is that you, Lady Ensia?

Weiss? It's me! Over here!

I was worried sick about you—

Promise me you'll never do something that risky ever again!

But I'm perfectly fine, aren't I? The tearstone got delivered in time to boot. Maybe I ran into a snag or two along the way, but all's well that ends well.

Ugh... You're just as stubborn as the Master.

Hehe.

By the way, you may not know this, but part of the reason he left the country this time was to develop tearstone as a resource.

How so?

He'd already asked Victoria's scientists to study it earlier, and it turns out the reason tearstones can cure illnesses is because they contain a special substance.

And taking more or less from the cave at once does not change its efficacy.

If we can make an industry out of mining and refining tearstone, not only would that boost Kjerag's economy, but our medicine could also benefit people in other countries.

You won't have to risk your life to harvest it anymore.

By the way, what are we doing for dinner?

I heard Matterhorn mention that today's entrée will be braised beastmeat. I'm quite looking forward to it.

I didn't even realize I was hungry until now, but my stomach started growling as soon as you said that!

Glad to hear you have a healthy appetite. Anyway, I trust you'll sort out your mountaineering bag as usual, while I go help out in the kitchen?

Okay!

Oh Weiss, you joker...

!!!

This afternoon, you—

I was just about to thank you when you vanished without a trace before you could tell me your name!

Yet I arrived here all the same. Here, it's a letter for you.

For me?

From... my sister?!

Allow me to introduce myself. I am the Saintess's head maid, but you can call me Kjarr.

Enya's head maid?!

Could it be that she knew I'd be climbing the mountain today, and sent you to guide me?

As if. I was heading down to do some shopping and bumped into you by chance.

Then, you'd better not tell her that I climbed down the mountain in the snow!

Let's see here... I wonder how she's doing in the Vine-Bead Court...

Phew, sounds like it's going well.

By the way, Kjarr, thanks for delivering this! I'll tell Uncle Matterhorn to make dinner for—

Shh! I snuck in here.

Snuck in? But why?

Think about it. What would Weiss do if I graciously knocked on the front door, claiming to be the Saintess's head maid? He'd definitely report it to your brother.

From Enciodes's perspective, people from the Vine-Bead Court slipping down to bring you mail when he's not around is more than enough reason to go on high alert.

Oh...

Fair enough.

Anyway, I'll wait for him to return before I formally introduce myself to everyone in the family.

Gotcha.

Kjarr, this letter doesn't say anything about it, but Enya's still upset at him, right?

To be honest, yes, I believe so.

Do you think she'll end up siding with Mister Arctosz in the end?

You've known the Saintess much longer than I have, and should know far more about her place in the Silverash clan than I do.

She may be very upset at your brother, but you are still a sister to both of them.

Otherwise, you wouldn't be receiving this letter at all.

But she's now the Saintess of the Vine-Bead Court. Even if she wants to protect me, what can she do in our current situation...?

It's like how I had a run-in with Mister Arctosz today, and discovered that he's not a bad person at all.

No matter who they are, as long as they're involved in the struggle for power or profit, they'll always—

......

So that's what you're worried about.

Come. Let's cheer you up a bit first.

The Saintess's cheerful and optimistic little sister shouldn't be acting so gloomy.

Mm...

The Saintess is not someone who will allow herself to be led around by emotions. She knows better than anyone how much responsibility sits on her shoulders.

But the actions she ends up taking depend not only on your brother, but also on you.

You are not his tool. You have your own path to walk. Choose it, and you will definitely have an influence on them both.

I can't promise anything, but it's possible that the path you take will eventually form the bridge between them.

......!

I see... I'm starting to get what you mean.

Then I'll be heading back. It's hard keeping away from Weiss's prying eyes.

So soon? I haven't even had a chance to properly thank you.

We'll being seeing each other a lot more in the future.

Bye for now, Ensia.

See you later, Kjarr!