One, abstain from beans. Two, do not pick up what has fallen. Three, touch not a white rooster.
Vertin: Hmm.
Vertin: Where am I?
After a long period of darkness, clarity begins to dawn.
Ahead lies a completely unfamiliar scene.
Vertin: Did the earthquake do this?
Vertin: I was in the cave with 37.
Vertin: Is the timer broken?
Regulus: Hey, Vertin! Here you are!
A familiar shout is heard in the distance.
Regulus: Yeah. Come! People are waiting. The feast is going to start!
Vertin: Feast?
Regulus: Yes. Today's the big day!
Regulus: We're celebrating because we kicked Manus Vindictae off the island, found the key to "Storm" immunity, and saved the "numbers people" from great disaster!
Vertin: What?
But Regulus has already taken off.
Regulus: Come on, Vertin! You'll miss out on the delicious honey-roasted rabbit!
She jumps forward excitedly, but something cracks loudly when she lands.
Vertin: Wait, Regulus! You just kicked over something.
Regulus: What? What is it? Something for the cattle? Whoever left this here nearly tripped this great captain!
Regulus: Forget it. Come, Vertin! What are you still doing there!
Four, do not poke the fire with swords. Five, do not jump over a crossbar. 6, do not cut wood on a main road.
The square is alive with joy and activity. The usual silence and seriousness have been replaced by a symphony of giggles and cheers.
The aroma of roast rabbit is thick in the air. Barrels of wine are being rolled around, and people are gathered, drinking and chatting merrily.
Lilya: Ah! Nice wine. Did you make it yourself?
210: Careful, Ms. Lilya. Too much wine can corrupt one's body and will. Besides, you are already halfway through our stock for the year.
210: Hmm, but this drink you brought is pleasant to the nose. "Coffee," you said? I have heard many things about it.
210: Oh, oh, bitter.
Lilya: Hah, poor guy! I was expecting more from a man of your size!
She goes to a barrel to fill her cup.
Lilya: For god's sake, Regulus! Keep an eye on your first mate here.
Lilya: Wow. He is so out of it right now.
APPLe: burp
APPLe: It appears that this APPLe's abstinence from the bottle will have to begin anew.
37: Vertin! Finally! I was looking for you!
37 waves from a distance, Sophia at her side, arm in arm.
37: Hello, everyone! We have a big announcement to make.
37: Sophia's just completed her proof and found her number!
Wings flap from above.
Vertin: Uhm!
Seven, do not enter the hall in new garments. Enter the hall from the right and leave from the left. Eight, do not keep swallows around your house.
37: Oh, don't worry about the swallows! They're going to fetch 6 for us.
37: He's napping in the Hall of Apeiron—an excuse to not join the party.
Sophia: Not so fast with the announcement, 37! People will find out sooner or later.
Sophia: Thank you for helping us, Vertin. We wouldn't have made it without you.
Sophia: And I look forward to our continued collaboration with the Foundation.
Vertin: No. None of this makes any sense.
Nine, do not sleep on a grave. Ten, make the bed as soon as you wake up, leaving no imprint of your body.
Regulus: Oh. Enough business! People are having a party here!
The pirate comes over with a platter of rabbits, smiling as if England had just won the World Cup.
Regulus: Well, what do you say to this lovely captain who just picked up some food for you?
Sonetto: Uhm!
They clumsily collide, knocking over the tray in Regulus's hand.
Sonetto: My apologies, Regulus. I was too focused on linear regression formulas.
Regulus: Ahh, that's alright. Wasn't me getting stuck in the kitchen roasting rabbits all day anyway! Unlimited supply of honeyed rabbits, all day today!
Regulus picks up the dirty clay plate and puts it aside.
Sonetto: I heard Sophia is making her announcement today. I'm curious which number she will be.
Regulus: Care to wager on that? I'd say she's a multiple of 3!
Sonetto: Mm. Then I'd say she is a multiple of 139.
37: I have to admit, she has a good number!
37: A number 100 times better than me, 6, and 210 put together!
Ms. Radio: Calculating ... (37+6+210)*100 equals to ...
210: Oh no. She is not 25300. I doubt anyone could live with themselves with a number that long.
???: rooster crow
A rooster crows loudly in the festive atmosphere.
Sophia: You haven't met before. This is Amu, my white rooster.
She kneels down and gently strokes its feathers.
Sophia: Amu, this is Vertin.
Three, touch not a white rooster.
Vertin: A white rooster?
Cheers and shouts fill the air as people revel in jubilant euphoria.
A Foundation employee picks up an ID from the ground.
Two, do not pick up what has fallen.
An Apeiron believer splits a log in half on the road, earning enthusiastic applause from the crowd.
6, do not cut wood on a main road.
The tables are filled with chickpea salad and neatly sliced bread, while people use their swords to poke fires and keep them burning.
One, abstain from beans. Four, do not poke the fire with swords.
The flames burn fiercely, casting no shadows on the ground.
Vertin: Something's not right. None of this is right!
Vertin: Something's happened on the island. I must still be in the cave!
A churning anxiety fills the chest. The once-joyful scene now takes on a surreal quality.
Vertin: I have to get out of here!
COMBAT
37: First is the circle, second is the square.
Vertin: 37? Is that you?
The little girl does not seem to be listening; she's completely absorbed in building her castle.
37: Put the triangle on the triangle, and the rectangle on the rectangle.
37: Perfect! As things should be!
77: The "Emanation" ... Disorder and chaos ...
77: This can't be. This isn't right!
77: How ugly, how inelegant! How could this be the revelation from the patterns of the transcendental Law above? How could such a terrible answer fall on my ears?!
77: I can't tell the others about this. There must be a mistake! I need proof. I have to go out there.
Vertin: Uhm!
Arcana: Vertin. My child.
Arcana: Are you here to partake in sand play, as well? No matter how oft we rearrange them, the sight of them never grows stale.
Arcana: Alas.
Arcana: I shall destroy it.
Vertin: ...!!!
37: Vertin? Are you awake?
Consciousness is snapped back to reality.
The surroundings have reverted to the rocky walls, still enclosed within the cave.
37 stands with her head tilted, looking curious.
37: I, I think I had a terrible dream.
Vertin: What did you dream?
37: Regulus claimed 6's throne and declared this the rock 'n' roll empire of irrational numbers. She took out a jar of coffee beans and stuffed one into my mouth.
37 shakes her head hard, as if trying to rid her mind of the horrific scene.
37: I'm relieved that I woke up in time. And you as well!
37: Let's go, Vertin! We need to tell everyone the numbers.
She chirps, her face lighting up with delight, finally free from the long nightmare.
A beam of daylight appears before them.
The lengthy trial has finally come to an end.
37: Do you hear that? So many people out there!
37: Must be Sophia here to pick me up! I told her she can wait for me outside.
37: Sophia!
The girl runs happily towards the light.
Like a young swallow swooping out of sight.
Vertin: Wait, 37!
Got to catch up.
Got to leave this place at once.
Must share the findings here with the others.
Finally, the light of day comes into view.
A gust of wind suddenly rushes by, sending pebbles scattering across the ground.
The all too familiar stench of sulfur fills the air.
It is unmistakably the smoke of war.
Vertin: ...
Vertin: What?