Semmelweis

A black velvet cloak based around the theme "Born Again," designed by the creative director of Elsa Raleigh's flagship brand at the end of the century. The perfect raindrop lace edges, tasseled frills, and asymmetric design highlight the meticulous attention to detail under an overall simple concept.

However, the interviewee stated they were unaware of the artistic significance behind the item, using it only to shield themselves from the sun.

"It has changed owners countless times, and I will not be its last" — Interviewee Statement

One of the velvet hats that were à la mode among the ladies of London. In a city where trends change like the weather, knowing which hat to wear for the right occasion is an essential part of a lady's education.

"Just to be clear, the feather on this hat isn't a critter feather as the shopkeeper claimed. It's a plain old ostrich feather," the interviewee commented.

A gilded copper hand mirror decorated with clover and beech leaf motifs. Rather than watch her own reflection, the interviewee seems drawn to the grotesque relief on the back, its warped smile always seeming to follow the viewer.

"There is no doubting the beauty of the mirror, but I find mirrors only show comfortable lies. I'd rather face what's real."

We have repeatedly requested to examine this item closely, but the interviewee has always smilingly deflected our attempts. It is speculated that the item is a portable disk carried by the interviewee for years and loaded with various arcane incantations. Nowadays, it is rare to see the interviewee using such disks, but it still accompanies her regularly.

A handy set of tools for bow and arrow maintenance, with the dual purpose of making a lady's belt appear more beautiful and elegant.

The interviewee praised its functionality—in fact, she was quite intrigued by the idea of adding more arcane implements.

"It's all a haze, like mist drifting across my eyes. It takes me back to Vienna before the 'Storm' arrived."​

The interviewee speaks softly, lifting her arm as the gray veil slips aside, revealing a golden bracelet encircling her wrist.

"Don't let it fool you."

Clean, tidy, spotless, and every fold perfectly flat. "Anyone who can keep a scarf like this so immaculate all year round is truly a terrifying entity," the reporters of our agency unanimously agreed.

The crafting of a fine longbow is as complex as the crafting of a ritual wand. In terms of material selection, both require similar attention to detail.

With her deep knowledge of oak, the lady was immediately drawn to the bow. After a brief touch of the wood, she realized—the bowyer had once studied under her family, as she could hear the faint whispers within the beech.

Painted along the curve of her spine, the moon's phases shimmer in pigments made from wolf fur, unicorn horn, and the ink of a moonlit squid.

"The waxing and waning of the moon speaks of a truth," she murmurs. "Chaos and change are the world's constant companions."

With a graceful turn, she hides the artwork from view.

"And, of course, such transformations are never meant to be plainly seen."

The world entered the last decade of the 20th century. As the yellow tram in Budapest passed Bem Square along the Danube, anyone would have noticed that the statue that once stood in the center of the square had been toppled, the youths holding "Molotov cocktails" had become parents, and their children had begun to consume a new kind of horror story.

Dracula never dies. In the novel, he is repeatedly killed by travelers from the New World, but outside the story, tales of the blood-drinking monster continue to spread.

In a dark and damp attic, a black-haired girl places a letter into an envelope. Soon after, it will be sent to the Budapest branch of the Foundation.

She has made her choice.

A thick dossier is placed in front of the visitor, white gloves turning the pages with an increasingly heavier motion.

Finally, the lady closes the dossier and neatly returns it to the black-haired girl wearing a white scarf.

"Such a remarkable talent for information gathering. You've passed. In six months, you've collected all the information on every child in the orphanage, even recording their talents for arcanum, one after another.

I must admit, you're naturally cut out for investigation work. But are you sure you want to join the Foundation. Perhaps it's not as perfect as you might imagine."

The black-haired girl goes silent for a moment, then she reveals a gentle smile:

"One of the teachers here often tells us a story—about a cheetah cub who becomes friends with a deer."

"It's an interesting story, and the teacher tells it well. It's just that she always leaves one thing out—cheetahs can't be friends with deer."

"Cheetahs are predators. To them, the whole world is just prey."

"Do you see yourself as that cheetah?"

The lady from the Foundation asks.

"No, I'm just a deer who wants to grasp her own destiny."

The black-haired girl blinks her doelike eyes.

Semmelweis: I've noticed that the cover page of the latest UTTU has been changed. It's very interesting.

Pandora Wilson: Oh ... well, you're the first arcanist to notice.

Semmelweis: Forgive me for not knowing much about graphic design, but I feel that this cover may have some deeper meaning. What was the impetus for UTTU to change this particular element?

Pandora Wilson: I'd love to discuss our design considerations with you, but that will probably have to wait until after this interview.

Semmelweis: Wonderful.

Pandora Wilson: You don't mind if I get straight to the point, do you?

Semmelweis: Of course not. You're the expert here, after all.

Pandora Wilson: What happened to you is nothing short of a miracle. In fact, many of your colleagues were shocked because they'd always thought you were human like them.

Semmelweis: There are humans and arcanists in the Foundation. I'm not exactly a rarity.

Pandora Wilson: I remember hearing that you were quite popular at the Foundation. How do you plan to continue interacting with everyone under your current identity?

Semmelweis: The entire Foundation is made up of friendly people, thanks to everyone's hard work. Oh, by the way, I also find UTTU's method of distribution quite fascinating. I wonder what arcane principles are at work here?