Vendor I: Kakania! This way! Over here!
Kakania: Illich! Thanks a lot! The prop sure came in handy.
Kakania tears off her fake beard, fanning herself with her hand.
Marcus: Mmm ... Ugh! Phew, finally. Why do I keep having things stick to my lips ...
Vendor I: Hah! Be careful with that. It is no ordinary beard! Every single strand was soaked in a Bohemian potion mixed with bloodroot, toad's heart, and javangall ...
Vendor I: Why were the guards after you?
Kakania: That's a long story.
Kakania: And oh, don't worry about this kind little lady. She saved my life, and she's a half ... a third of a friend!
Marcus: A third of ...
She discreetly releases the button of the communicator in her pocket.
Marcus: Ugh ... This is bad, the connection is down, I can't get in touch with Madam Hofmann.
Marcus: She's probably in an important conversation with the Field Agent Squad and has calls on block ...
Marcus: It's okay, Marcus, you can do this yourself, just stay in the conversation! Communication is not that hard. You've done this through before. You can do it!
Despite having written about a thousand ways to start a conversation, she never expected to find herself in a situation like this.
Marcus frantically racks her mind for topics to discuss. Fortunately, everyone present is far more talkative than she is.
Vendor I: My, my, Kakania! Are you friends with government officials now?
Vendor I: Times have changed indeed! I've been here for a whole year, but I've never seen an official without a beard!
Vendor I: Where are you from? Croatia? Moravia? Galicia?
Marcus: I grew up in Romania ...
Vendor I: Oh, I'm from Bosnia and Herzegovina ... That makes us friends, since we're both from somewhere-nia! Gahaha!
Kakania: Be careful on the streets these days, Illich. You could be in trouble too if the guards catch you! After all, you haven't got a license.
Marcus: Eh? You don't?
Vendor I: Oh, of course not! Have you read the requirements? "Records of the safe use of arcane skills within three generations" ... I was born in the streets, I don't even know who my grandmother was.
Vendor I: And the records aren't the hard part to get around. If you're applying in Vienna, the license has to be issued by the central government.
Vendor I: It's not an Austrian problem, nor a Hungarian problem. The central government sits in the middle ...
Vendor I: ... and no official has any idea of what's what—should this be the Kaiser's concern? Or the König's? Or both?
Vendor I: You'd be the biggest fool to listen and follow these broken rules! Stuck in the system, nowhere to go ... unless you work the magic of krones ...
Marcus: ... What happens if we don't have an arcanum license?
Vendor I: Oh, you'll love this.
Vendor I: Who knows. You could get 3 days in detention, or maybe 10 years in prison. Even if you are sentenced to prison, they might forget to bring you in.
Vendor I: Or, if you're an outstanding citizen who can shed your arcanum during your human re-education, you might get to have a nice life—without a license that is.
Vendor I: Our justice system is much more unpredictable than the arcanists'. We still have a fair chance of getting away!
Kakania: Very informative, Illich.
Kakania clears her throat, still somewhat guarded, and flashes out a meaningful glance.
Vendor I: Oh, well then ... See you, Kakania and Ms. Foundation. Forget I said anything!
Marcus: They are ...?
Kakania: Some arcanist kids on the streets. I'm surprised you know nothing about them. The country has changed, lady, and not everything in Vienna is as decent and sumptuous as the buildings on the Ring Road and Herrengasse.
Her tone belies a hint of sarcasm.
Kakania: I'm thankful for your help, Ms. Foundation, but so far I have returned the favor—you don't want the guards either, do you? We're even.
Kakania: So can you tell me why you're here?
Kakania: Oh, I see. Mr. Karl sent you, didn't he? Because I don't have a psychiatrist's license. Can't you people give me a break?
Kakania: I swear on my ancestors, I'm doing this entirely the arcanist way. It has nothing to do with human science!
She poses a question but leaves no room for an answer. Leaning closer to Marcus, she pushes her glasses up with suspicion.
Kakania: Don't you people ever sleep? Do you not have a life? This is the tenth time this month, even God rests after working six days in a row!
Kakania: I have an arcanum license inherited from my family, it's nothing to be ashamed of. My fees are reasonable, no one's ever complained ...
Marcus: No, um, Ms. Kakania, this is really coincidental ... I ... Err ... I just happened to know that you are a psychiatrist ...
Kakania: Hm? So? Are psychiatrists considered doctors now?
Maintaining her barriers of politeness against the rapid topic changes feels like holding a smile in a hailstorm.
On the verge of tears, Marcus desperately falls back to the Field Mission Manual.
Marcus: I think there's been a misunderstanding. We-I'm not here to check your credentials.
Kakania: Then what?
Marcus: So, you call yourself Kakania, but I know your first name is Klara ...
Kakania: Oh, I didn't know the Foundation staff reads my work. How very flattering!
Kakania: Yes, I'm Klara. But Ms. Foundation, don't you think Kakania is an intriguing name? Heinrich—who is a friend of mine—gave me a book which greatly inspired me.
Marcus: ...!
Kakania: Our country is just like that name. It both is, and isn't; it both has, and has not. If you look for it, it can't be found. Yet if you stop looking, it's everywhere.
Kakania: Look at this country, my friend!
Kakania: The sumptuous buildings rise so high ...
Kakania: that the people in power never have to lay eyes on the rye farmers of Bohemia, the immigrants from the east coast of Adriatic Sea, or on the arcanists!
Kakania: How could there possibly be smog choking the industrial area? How could there possibly be cold houses in the winter? The coffee house is definitely filled with people who love to dance, and not with those who can't afford the heat, oh no.
Kakania: Surely there's no bureaucracy, no discrimination, no poverty here. This is a city of humanism and freedom, oh yes.
Kakania: Kakania ... "kaiserlich-königlich," or "kaiserlich und königlich," and ... "Caca-nia," the s**tland! Hahaha, there's no better name for this country.
Marcus: So then, you did get that book, from a friend ...
Marcus: ...
Marcus: Now's my chance. I still have one "Spider Tail" Madam Hofmann left me.
Marcus: If I can find a chance to leave the Spider Tail on her ... Or in her place ...
The young assistant takes a deep breath.
Marcus: I ... I'm intrigued by the book. Can I see it?
???: This concludes the report by Semmelweis of the Field Agent Administration. Please confirm, Madam Hofmann.
In the corner, Hofmann holds her communicator out with brow furrowed.
Hofmann: Yes, report received.
???: Haha, why so serious, Greta? That was just routine.
Hofmann: And I envy your lightheartedness and optimism. They got you out of Vienna on such short notice, I can only imagine that it must have been difficult for you as well.
Hofmann: According to your intel, the Empire's had too many assassinations in a short period of time. This is not good for the Critical Point, Semmelweis.
Semmelweis: At least try to stay in a good mood. What else can we do?
Semmelweis: Aside from that, Greta, I have more to tell you. I was pulled out of Vienna overnight and I didn't have time to brief the new squad there.
Semmelweis: You know, it takes ages to get through the briefing process. I might as well just tell you now, personally.
Semmelweis: There could be an arcanist who has crossed the "Storm," and is now in Vienna.
Hofmann: What did you say? Do we know more about this arcanist?
Semmelweis: We only know his name is Heinrich. We learned about this from the Berlin squad when we met up here, but had no time to verify.
Hofmann: I see. Leave the rest to us.
Semmelweis: If true, he traveled to Berlin during the sixth "Storm" and survived the 1913 "Storm" there. And after the 1966 "Storm," and the one in 1929 ...
Hofmann: And now it's 1913 for the second time. For all the arcanists who crossed the sixth "Storm," this is exciting news.
Semmelweis: Mmhmm. Their time has returned.
Hofmann: I understand the excitement, but perhaps time, in its chaotic fashion, has inadvertently returned to the same year.
Hofmann: I hear you, Semmelweis. This is valuable information, I'll let the ...
Hofmann: ...!
Semmelweis: Greta? Are you still there?
Hofmann: Sorry, I have to go ...
Hofmann: Something's wrong with the "Spider Tail" I left on Marcus. This is not her ritual ... Something's happened.
Kakania: I'm surprised, Ms. Marcus, you know so much about this era!
Kakania: I thought the Foundation was nothing but bureaucrats and bookworms. Oh, have you been to the Secession Building? Did you like it? Shame that book isn't there.
Kakania finally finds the key.
Kakania: Please, come in! Forgive the mess. I must say that it is at least more orderly than the administration of the Empire.
Marcus: Than-thank you.
The room resembles a studio more so than a clinic.
The scene is scattered about with unfinished paintings, dried paints, stage props, and posters.
And mirrors. Many, many mirrors.
Kakania: These are stage props, Heinrich left them here. He certainly learned some useful things in Berlin.
Kakania: Make yourself comfortable. I'll get you some tea, and look for the book.
Marcus: Please don't bother, Ms. Kakania! I won't stay long, I have to go back to the branch soon.
Marcus: I just need to confirm that you have that book with you ...
Marcus: Ooh!
The clinic's curtains are tightly drawn, blocking out the day, yet her mirrors flash with light for a second.
Marcus: Is this ... Kakania's arcane skill?
Marcus quickly covers her eyes with her hands, stepping back toward the door.
Kakania's cheerful voice rings from the other side.
Kakania: Ms. Foundation, it's okay! Just a little trick I use to ensure my personal safety. I usually even charge for this!
Kakania: "Look into the mirror, which reflects your inner world" ... This trick has been used by arcanists for thousands of years. When it was first used, the Roman Emperors still ruled this land.
Kakania: Speaking of which, Ms. Foundation ...
Kakania: How did you know that the pistol was tampered with? Your arcane skill?
Though it might only be some sort of trick of psychology—the mirror's glare becomes increasingly blinding.
Marcus: ... Um, don't look at the mirror!
The investigator braces herself as she grips the lamp, ready for combat at a moment's notice.
Kakania's tone remains gentle, as if soothing one of her patients.
Kakania: I am curious. No need to be alarmed—I'll treat you gently.
