The Apostle's limbs fall, having lost all strength.
He hunches over, crumpling as if to hide from the chaos.
The lights draw closer, leaving only a single torch above his head. It casts a long shadow.
Apostle Matheus: Everything, everything is ruined! I never should have trusted any of you!
???: Thanks for the show. Your failure was magnificent. Your arrogance, your regret, and that look on your face when everything was ruined. They were all just perfect.
Apostle Matheus: Damn it! Where have you been, Eternity?! You've defrauded us! Taken every Sharpodonty! Squeezed us of every drop of sweat and blood!
Apostle Matheus: You swore the ceremony would go smoothly and that you'd pay your highest respects to the Inculcator of Arcanum, the great Sufferer!
Apostle Matheus: You rotten, shameless liar! If I could only throw you into the depths of the Gorgon Current! I will crack your skull and make you bear the price of my pain!
He stands grabbing a rock as a makeshift weapon.
Eternity: chuckles I've almost forgotten about your Mediterranean roots. I must say, I didn't expect such courage from a coward who fled a battlefield.
"Clink!" The rock shatters into pieces.
The fragile noblewoman raises her small, delicate wand, pressing it against the Apostle's chin.
Eternity: Psh! Your pitiful Sharpodonties are far from sufficient payment. No one would be stupid enough to go against the Foundation for so little profit. Besides, this was never part of the deal.
Eternity: Do you have any idea who you're dealing with? That's Beryl Bouanich's daughter, and the weapon that boy carries ...
The last of his courage has left him as he pleads.
Apostle Matheus: But listen! If you don't help me escape, I'll never pay you the other half.
She allows her hand to drop contemplatively and shakes her head.
Eternity: It's true that the people at the Foundation are all misers; they're still more generous than you.
Apostle Matheus: I-I can give you anything! Rare wands, alchemic materials, and jewelry! Lots and lots of jewelry! I got them from the believers!
His panicking hands tremor as he reaches into his pocket.
"Clink, clink—" A pile of glittering rings, pendants, and bangles falls to the ground at his feet.
Apostle Matheus: Th-there's more! I-I keep them in a cellar that only I have the key to!
Eternity: You're a dishonest customer, Apostle.
Eternity: You're lucky that your pockets aren't empty.
She retracts her wand and places it back into her pocket.
Eternity: Pack your stuff. Let's—
Matilda: Micare Might!
A flickering light blocks the way.
Eternity: Hey there, little lady. Nice to see you again.
Matilda: Eternity! You're a Manus follower, too?
Eternity: I have no interest in the Manus. I just have some business to finish. You know I'll work with anyone if the deal is sweet enough.
Eternity: I'm a businesswoman. I always keep my word. I'm sure you understand that.
Matilda: Ugh. You're right, but that incriminates you nonetheless! I cannot let you escape!
Matilda: I will have to take the two of you to the Foundation! You can plead your case there.
COMBAT
Matilda: coughs Was that a Misty Bubble Ball?! No, the smell is stronger. I can't even open my eyes! coughs
Matilda: This probably came from the Foundation's logistics department! How did she get it?!
The pink mist dissipates. Matilda manages to reopen her eyes.
Matilda: What's this?
She turns over the business card, which reads:
"Dear Miss Matilda Bouanich—"
"Please extend my warmest regards to your mother."
"Note: Your crystal ball has a few cracks."
"—Yours sincerely, Eternity."
Matilda: I'm confused. How does she know Mama?
...
Apostle Matheus: pants Everything's here. I swear!
He sweeps aside the dirt, revealing a wooden cellar door.
Apostle Matheus: You have to make sure I get out of here safely! If you keep your word, I'll tell the Preacher about you, and we can do more business together!
She opens the door, and a golden glow rises up to her eyes.
Inside, a believer wielding a heavy hammer remains diligently at work.
Apostle Matheus: Come out, believer! There's been a change of plan. Follow me. Eternity will get us out of here!
Cellar Guardian: ...?
He climbs out from the cellar clumsily.
Eternity: What a huge collection of valuables! And people just handed them over to you! Looks like religion is a profitable business.
She closes the door, pocketing the key.
Apostle Matheus: A-alright! Now escort me out of here!
Eternity: I never promised any "escort," Apostle. Did you ever hear me utter such a word?
Eternity: But ...
She smiles.
Eternity: I did say I'd get you out of here safely.
She reaches into her handbag, slipping her hand fully into its narrow opening.
Followed by most of her arm, which the tiny bag seems to accommodate without even a stretch.
Eternity: Hmm. Let me see. If memory serves, that tricky little thing is—Ah, here it is!
Eternity: There you go. It's from the St. Pavlov Foundation. One of a kind.
Eternity: This gadget was stored in their headquarters. No one could lay a finger on it.
Eternity: But when chaos broke out, it fell into the hands of an employee looking to make a profit.
The Apostle eyes the clockwork toy with a pang of shame and confusion.
Apostle Matheus: What's this? Some kind of wind-up toy?! How's this going to help me?! Do I look like a complete idiot to you?!
She bursts into a fit of laughter.
Eternity: chuckles Of course not, my dear customer.
Eternity: Just wind it when you need to use it. That's all, Apostle.
He is evidently suspicious.
Apostle Matheus: What's it going to do—turn me into some kind of beast? A three-headed dog, or a crazed Bigfoot?
Eternity: Haha, listen to yourself. Why would I do that to a customer? You won't turn into a monster, I promise. There's still plenty of business to be done between the two of us.
Headlights beam forward in the distance.
Eternity: Alright, time to say goodbye.
She steps back slowly, merging with the darkness of the forest.
Eternity: It's been a pleasure working with you.
Apostle Matheus: W-wait! Wait!!
The headlights come closer and closer, leaving him no other option.
Apostle Matheus: Great Inculcator of Arcanum, please bless this child on his knees before you.
Apostle Matheus: I am willing to sacrifice every drop of blood in my body so that you may be revived.
He turns around without hesitation.
Apostle Matheus: You, most devout believer! Wind this.
He shoves the clockwork toy into the believer's hand.
Cellar Guardian: Hmm?
Apostle Matheus: Turn it. Understand? Wind the—
He guides him to wind the toy, hand over hand.
The befuddled believer grasps the technique at last, but none too soon—
Apostle Matheus: Listen, I have to catch that woman. Those treasures belong to the great Inculcator of Arcanum. I must not let her take them away.
Apostle Matheus: You stay here and take care of those gangsters!
Cellar Guardian: roars
Apostle Matheus: Very well.
He turns, disappearing into the forest.
"Creeeak, creak—" one turn, two turns …
The believer's hand, driven by inertia, moves faster and faster.
"Creeeak, creeeak, creeeak, creeeak—"
Cellar Guardian: roars ...?! Hand ... hurts ...
Cellar Guardian: Stop ... Stop ... roars?!
His hand grips the toy unwillingly as his wrist and arm contort into an inhuman position.
"Creeeak, creeeak—"
His arm twists like a wrung wet cloth, spinning into a spiral of flesh.
Cellar Guardian: roars Ugh ... Ah!
His head shakes uncontrollably, and a searing, electric pain courses up from his spine to his brain.
Cellar Guardian: vomits
An urge, almost as if to vomit out his very soul, forces him to the ground.
There his twitching eyes make out an engraving on the clockwork toy:
"Ms. Kimberly."
...
The shadow of the believer, elongated by the firelight, lingers on the ground.
It melts into the earth, forming a black mire, bubbling and roiling.
Then, the blackness spills away, revealing a beautiful figure.
Cold and silver moonlight sifts through the treetops.
She opens her eyes and dully lifts her head.
???: How may I serve you?