Vol. 6 Ch. 2 Ep. 5: Arius Basilica

Making us all gather at the Basilica...

This place hasn't really been used since that day...

The Arius Basilica...

I heard when we got banished from the original chapel...

...we used this abandoned chapel building instead. That's when it got its name, the Basilica.

I don't think anyone's come in here since Madame disappeared...

...I don't really know.

I wonder what this place is supposed to mean to us now.

And why did Subaru want us to meet here, of all places?

Is everyone here?

...You all look uneasy.

It's only natural. I'm right there with you.

First, here's actually something I want to check, if that's okay with everyone.

From what I've gathered, everyone here...

...heard the voice recorded in the Book of Revelation from the scripture.

Did anyone here not hear it? There's nothing wrong if you didn't, so it's okay to tell me.

I see. No one. Okay, it seems like everyone could hear the voice.

Still, I wouldn't say for certain that what we heard was an exact reading of the Book of Revelation.

Wh-Why not? Everyone heard it, and it was booming from the sky...

This is what's written in the Book of Revelation.

"As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice:

'Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth,

because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!'"

What's confusing me...is the first part. The part about the eagle that was flying in midair.

I kept an eye out, but I didn't even see a bird, let alone an eagle.

What about all of you? Did anyone see anything like a bird?

Okay. No one. I see. And there's one last thing that bothered me.

...The trumpet must blow seven times. Right?

Yeah... I remember that too.

And based on the voice we heard today, we should've heard four blows of the trumpet already. Right?

Yes... That's true.

...But I haven't heard a single blow of the trumpet so far. How about all of you?

I heard it...

I didn't hear it!

You didn't?! But it was so loud!

I-I told you already. You were probably hearing things...

But everyone heard that voice!

Now, now. I understand. In that case...

...

Everyone? I promise there's no deeper meaning behind this, so please don't read into what we're about to do. Nobody panic or worry.

Can those who heard the trumpet move to the left, and those who didn't hear the trumpet to the right?

(There are clearly...fewer people who heard the trumpet.)

(Huh? I think there's one more thing they have in common on top of that...)

Okay. Great. Thank you.

Based on everything I've seen so far, I think I have a working theory about this phenomenon we've all experienced.

First, I think we need to head to Porta Pacis to investigate it further.

Porta Pacis?! Is she serious...?

Subaru is always serious...especially when it comes to this kinda stuff...

But even Madame forbade us from entering there...!

...But Madame isn't here anymore.

And it's not like everything Madame said was right...

Still...

I know everyone's feeling really anxious right now.

But we have to find out what happened. And Porta Pacis is the only place in Arius where we'll find any answers.

Almost the entirety of Arius' history and countless interpretations of the scripture have been preserved there. It'll have what we need.

B-But you have to be careful entering Porta Pacis...

...Yes.

If those who are unworthy, insincere, or unfaithful try to enter...

They'll find themselves lost, cursed to wander Arius aimlessly for the rest of eternity.

But still. We need to understand this phenomenon, and what it means for us.

After all, Arius...

It's always been a place where the paranormal, things that all the technology in Kivotos could never explain, have happened.

We're unlike the immoral cowards of Trinity, who tried to bury their shame deep into the past.

They hid from the truth, hid from US by erasing us from history.

And, this is just speculation, but the events from the Book of Revelation may have manifested because of those Trinity students...

...and Schale's Sensei.

S-Sensei too?! I can understand why Trinity, but Sensei...

Didn't they seem like a good person...?

I know what you're saying. Even I agree that, deep down, Sensei is a good person.

But intention and impact aren't necessarily the same thing. You and I...we've lived that harsh reality our whole lives.

...

And in the end, Trinity has returned to Arius, and it's because those Remedial Knights decided to do as they pleased.

It was after THEY came that the Book of Revelation manifested, didn't it?

And who was the one who opened Arius' doors to Trinity? Wasn't it Sensei?

It's no far stretch to say that Trinity, and therefore Sensei, is the cause of this incident.

That's...true...

Even if Sensei didn't bother us with "studying" and "tests"...

...we would've been totally fine on our own.

I mean, what's even the point of studying?

You're just putting yourself through something hard and boring for no good reason.

I can't think of a bigger waste of time.

...It's not like we have other things to do with that time, but still!

(This is...the group that didn't hear the trumpet.)

But...I don't think studying was half bad...

Yeah. We got to learn more about the outside world...

I liked it better than learning different torture methods...

Admittedly, I didn't really understand anything we were studying...

Seriously! They were actually so boring and tedious. It was hard to stay awake!

But...I still liked it. I liked the fact that I could talk about my thoughts, and that someone would listen to me.

(And this is the group that heard the trumpet...?)

(Hold on...!)

(No. I'll wait and see, for now...)

Everyone.

What happens if the angels blow the trumpets seven times?

What? Th-That's...!

Could it be...?

Doesn't the Book of Revelation say that...

We studied the Book of Revelation the most... That means...

...The destruction of Arius...?

...

That's correct. According to the scripture, seven blows of the trumpet signal the end of the world.

And Arius is where it will all begin.

I guess next up would be seven angels pouring out seven bowls.

Wh-Wh-What should we do?!?!

Y-Yeah! Maybe, it's not too late...

!!

We have to purify Arius!

"Purify"? What does that...?

Oh!!

She's right! Sensei, the Squad, everyone... We have to chase them out!

Th-Then what about studying? The test...?

Huh? That's what you're worried about right now?! You're on THAT side?

Yeah, what about US? Who cares about other people?

Exactly. Keeping that in mind, I want to know what YOU want.

That's why I asked us to meet here, at the Arius Basilica. After all this time.

Those of us who were banished were forced into this false chapel. Then, it was further desecrated by Madame.

...But still, this chapel is Arius' chapel. OUR Chapel.

Let's get back to our Arius!

They said there are three more trumpet blows left, right?

B-But we didn't actually hear them...

Well, it won't happen anymore once we purify everything! So there's nothing to worry about anyway!

B-But...

(I've been studying really hard...)

(That's it? We're done after just one day of classes? That's so...)

M-Maybe...not all of this...is because of Trinity and Sensei...?

What?

What?! Who said that?!

Isn't she...?

...Could you elaborate?

W-Well, this is just...what I think, but...

H-How do we even know everything will come true exactly as the Book of Revelation says?

*gasp*

What's wrong with her...?

B-Blasphemy...!

...What makes you say that?

W-Well, there was no eagle...

And each blow of the trumpet...was supposed to signal a new disaster...

But nothing happened...

Don't screw around with me!

Trinity setting their foot here was the disaster!

And that Sensei too!

Same with the Squad!

Yeah, the Squad too!

Me, I actually hate the Squad the most. Even more than Trinity...

Yeah... They throw their weight around, acting like they're smarter than us!

They're the ones who ran away from Arius! Who abandoned us!

They could've done it!

They're more than capable!

The Squad would've had no problem leading us all!

They even said they were of the royal blood!

Why did Saori leave...? Why did you leave us...?

Why...? Why did you run away from us?

We all...really looked up to you!

What did you mean, "Everything's too empty...?"

You were one of us... You lived this with us...

How could you go find salvation...without us?!

...

...

...

When I look around, I start to think...

"Is this really okay? Is it really okay to live like this?"

"What's the rest of my life...going to look like...?"

Aah, the thing is.

Me too. All of us...

We all wanted a different life for ourselves.

But, that's...

...impossible now...!

No, it's not!

*gasp*

We can do it! Surely... N-No, maybe...

...How?

W-Well... I guess we could ask Sensei...

I-I don't really know, but Sensei knows lots of things that we don't!

...

Sensei, again?

Sensei this, Sensei that. I'm sick of it!

You think Sensei is some sort of god? You think everything's going to work out, and we'll find heaven, if we just trust and follow that person?

That's impossible!!

You know, while we're on the topic, you seem awfully keen on those outsiders.

Well, because she went outside and came back! She must've been brainwashed over there!

Arius' suffering is old news to Sensei! And what exactly have they done for us, after all this time? What has Trinity done to help us?!

Trinity...!!

We wouldn't even be here if Trinity hadn't left us to rot hundreds of years ago!

No wonder Subaru wants to reopen Porta Pacis!

Subaru, are you seriously going to let her talk like that?

Ugh...!

Subaru, you're on our side, right?

You'll protect Arius, right?

Prove it to us, Subaru!!

Hold on! Hold on...!

S-Su...baru...

Th-That's not it. I'm not... No...

I-I'm really not... I just...

Subaru, you said you'd protect the nest, right...?

...!

Can I ask you one thing?

Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Yes? S-Sure...!!!

Did you hear the trumpet?

...Yes...

I see.

I'm sorry.

*gasp*

Subaru! I'm sorry! I won't do it ever again! I'll never speak again! I'll listen to anything!

I won't ever talk about classes, or studying, or even wanting to do anything!

I don't know what came over me! They brainwashed me outside! I swear! But I'm okay now... I'm okay... So please... I'll never...! *sob* I'll never do it again!

Everyone.

Please escort sister Maia out of the Basilica.

She is to never return to this place.

I'll be right behind you.

Understood!

Subaru!!!

SUBARUUU!!!

I'm sorry! It's all my fault! You're right! The way I was thinking, everything, EVERYTHING was wrong!

So, PLEASE!! SUBARU!!

Everyone.

Yes!

It's okay now. You can head back first.

Understood!

Don't abandon me!

...!

Subaru! Subaru! SUBARUUU!!!

U-Ugh...

A-Aaa...

AUGHHH...!!