Matilda: deep breath Easy now, easy ...
Matilda: I didn't follow anyone. I was just taking a walk in the hallway as usual. SHE was the ill-intentioned one ...
Matilda: It was she who jumped on my back!
Matilda: sobbing
Matilda: I must have looked miserable when I got away ...
Matilda: I just wanted to tell her what I read from the latest divination ... The friends they brought may be in danger ...
Matilda: Huh ... Don't know when Vertin would be conscious again. She was ... more or less a remarkable person ...
Matilda: Not to mention she is now Sonetto's supervisor! ... Don't know if I should be angry or sad about this.
Matilda: Sonetto must be terribly worried about her ...
Matilda: Wish I could be of some help.
Matilda: It's been a long time since we last met. Her hair has grown and smells nice ...
Matilda: Aaah!! What did I say ...
Matilda: Shut it, shut up! You are Matilda, the person who will beat the best in class!
She stops talking to herself and hears the sound of metals clattering near her.
Then a wind. An ice-cold wind.
???: Skull ...
A weary voice emerges behind her back. It is a man in a patient's gown.
Matilda: ...! Who are you?
???: Your skull is falling. I was picking it up for you.
Matilda: What are you jibber-jabbering about? Are you a patient here? Where's your assigned care worker?
Patient: sobbing ... I saw it, I saw it all. Bodies breaking down into pieces, in tetrahedrons and cubes ... Your head is a pretty octahedron ...
Patient: I can't let your octahedron fall to the ground too. Be careful with your ears ...!
Matilda steps back and moves away from the patient. She notices an iron collar on his neck—a common auxiliary apparatus in the rehabilitation center.
There is a bunch of keys in his hand, with some red stains on the sharp ends.
Luckily, the emergency button in bright yellow is located a few meters away behind him. Matilda takes a deep breath.
Matilda: Thanks for reminding me. I will take good care of myself.
Matilda: See, this is my orb. Come up. Touch it. What's its shape?
Patient: This is ...
Patient: ... Arrgh!!
His fingers turn gray and pale—a sign of frostbite.
Patient: Aahh ...!!
He tightens his fingers around the keys, like holding many sharpened knives in his hand, and charges at her wildly.
Matilda: Harrumph, I see you didn't learn your lesson then! You have wounded a caretaker and took the keys. I'm obliged to take you down!
Matilda: May the peace be with us!
COMBAT
Sonetto: The "Storm" took our friend from us.
Sonetto: In fact, we all knew this would happen. But ... it took place too soon, caught us all off guard.
Mesmer Jr.: And there were only clothes left?
Sonetto: ... That's right.
Sonetto: I've looked up the directory of arcanists in the U.S. in 1929. None of their family is on it.
Sonetto: She was Greco's biological daughter. Schneider was a pseudonym.
Sonetto: I haven't worked out the reason behind this, but she was indeed ...
Sonetto looks confused and painful.
Sonetto: A human who casts arcane skills.
Mesmer Jr.: Hmm. Thanks for sharing.
Mesmer Jr.: It could help with my disease analysis.
Mesmer Jr. adds something to her report. She spins around on her swivel.
Mesmer Jr.: Timekeeper has been diagnosed with Type II trauma. Do you know what that means?
Sonetto: I don't know much about psychology ...
Mesmer Jr.: It means she had suffered the same traumatic experience repeatedly.
Mesmer Jr.: Even so, she showed no behavioral or cognitive impairment. Back then, as we held her down and put the helmet on her, she even advised me in an extremely calm manner ...
Mesmer Jr.: "I agree with your judgement, but it's just for this time."
Mesmer Jr.: ... She was the bellwether of the "break-away" incident after all. I'll say she's been well-behaved this time.
Sonetto: ...
Sonetto: I-I thought ... Timekeeper is receiving treatment for her low spirit. But you said you held her down ...
Mesmer Jr.: Oh, that's just another description of the method used for the same purpose. The aim was to ensure Vertin was unconscious and taken back.
Mesmer Jr.: That's the direct order from the vice president of the committee, Constantine.
Mesmer Jr.: The order from on high was given on the premise of rational thinking and consideration over pros and cons—you are not questioning the reasoning of mankind, are you?
Sonetto: I am not.
Mesmer Jr.: Sharing the same set of values is the reason I'd like to share these interesting details with you.
Mesmer Jr.: Of course, if you were a pure blood human, I would appreciate you more.
She turns her swivel to the Artificial Somnambulism device.
Mesmer Jr.: Vertin's magnetic field always maintains a nuanced balance. She barely dreams proactively.
Mesmer Jr.: So, I have to deploy different dreams to search for the very first dream, which reflects the source of her trauma.
Sonetto: How much longer is this therapy going to take, in your view?
Mesmer Jr.: However long it takes. As long as I receive a new order.
Sonetto stands up furiously.
Sonetto: So none of these have been applied for the Timekeeper's wellbeing.
Mesmer Jr.: Yes. What's wrong with you, Sonetto?
Sonetto: ...!
Sonetto: ... I-I don't know.
Sonetto: Sorry, I overreacted. I don't feel quite myself today ...
Sonetto: I can't tell what's wrong. Perhaps I ate something bad for breakfast.
Mesmer Jr.: Go back and rest if you're feeling unwell. Don't be too hard on yourself.
Sonetto: Thank you. Please take good care of the Timekeeper. I'll be on my way.
Mesmer Jr. watches her walk out of the room. There is confusion on her face. She adjusts her cufflinks subconsciously.
The screen suddenly lights up.
Particle groups start to flow on the screen—it is a dream initiated by the owner of the body.
Mesmer Jr.: Huh?