Part 2

Semmelweis: The smell's getting stronger. It must be nearby. Prepare for battle.
The monster’s tracks stretch all the way to the back of a small hill. The closer they get, the more distinct the stench becomes.
Upon reaching the other side, the path before them opens up.
A messy campsite with half-pitched tents, splintered trees, and scattered wood all indicate that this place recently experienced a major battle.
But most notable of all is what looks like a monster's tail lying in the center.
Team Member I: Ugh ... What is this? It’s disgusting.
Semmelweis flips open her notebook to compare the severed part to her records.
Semmelweis: Indeed, this is a tatzelwurm tail.
Semmelweis: It looks like they successfully fended it off.
Team Member I: But ... They seem to have retreated in a hurry. Perhaps they feared another ambush?
Semmelweis: Wait, don’t move.
Semmelweis' expression turns serious as she notices a thin black liquid trickling from a splintered tree. She reaches out her finger, catching a few drops.
Emil: Is that ... black pus from a Manus follower?!
Semmelweis: ...
Semmelweis: So, a tatzelwurm attacked the followers we've been tracking. This must've been the camp.
Emil: Shoot! We were so close to catching those thugs!
Semmelweis: Emil, search the campsite with me.
Semmelweis: The rest of you secure the area. Both the tatzelwurm and Manus followers may come back. Keep your guard up.
All: Yes, Captain!
Semmelweis makes her way to the tent in the center of the camp. She half-crouches in front of the campfire, holding out her palms.
Semmelweis: The fire's still warm. They left the campground about two hours ago.
Semmelweis: Based on the aftermath, it seems the tatzelwurm's target was this tent in the center of the camp.
Semmelweis: Is this ... where the leader of Perchta was staying?
Despite sharing the same name as the legendary arcane supernaturalist in the German region, Perchta is unmistakably a reinvented branch of the sect.
This is the Manus sect that the field agent squad is currently tracking.
While talking with Emil, Semmelweis conceals a crucial piece of information.
Perchta is not a regular offshoot of Manus Vindictae, but a dangerous organization that has been linked to over thirty murders.
Semmelweis: No. It's not so much that this is the central tent. Rather, it's been placed where everyone can keep watch over it.
Semmelweis: Somewhere everyone can see ... Could it be ...?
Semmelweis dips her head and makes her way into the tent.
The inside is empty, save for the flash of a shiny object in the corner, which catches her eye.
Semmelweis: What's this?
Semmelweis: A ... mirror?
She examines the mirror. Some sort of misty veil is obfuscating the reflection. It's impossible to see its image.
This was clearly created using arcane skills.
Semmelweis flips the mirror over. The back is engraved with an illumination incantation.
Semmelweis: Imago Imprint!
Semmelweis recites the incantation.
The mirror remains hazy. It has coldly rejected her poor excuse for an incantation.
It was worth a shot.
She smiles and puts the mirror away.
As she does so, she doesn't notice the strange light that flashes across the mirror's surface.
At that very moment, Semmelweis’ communication device buzzes.
Semmelweis: Madam Lindsay, how can I help you?
Madam Lindsay.: You're a little slow in answering your comm. Did something happen?
Semmelweis: ... No, nothing.
Semmelweis’ superior does not dwell much on the issue. She quickly moves on.
Madam Lindsay.: How is the Perchta investigation going?
Semmelweis: You read my mind. I was just about to report to you.
Semmelweis: ... That's all. Do you have any questions, Madam Lindsay?
Madam Lindsay.: Using tatzelwurms to track down Perchta ... Your ingenuity has exceeded my expectations. Good work.
Semmelweis: I'm flattered, but the only reason I could do it is because you instructed me on the habits of tatzelwurms.
Semmelweis: “Tatzelwurms do not have eyes; they hunt by relying on arcane skill fluctuations to locate their prey on the surface.”
Semmelweis: A team almost entirely composed of humans versus a team entirely composed of arcanists—without a doubt, tatzelwurms would be more inclined to attack the latter.
Semmelweis: But ... I still want to ask you a question about this.
Madam Lindsay.: Hurry up and ask. My time is valuable.
Semmelweis: Here's the thing. The tatzelwurm attacked the tent in the very center of the camp.
Madam Lindsay.: ... Hmph. Haven't you figured it out yet?
Madam Lindsay.: Located in the center of the camp, with no cover around it, in full view of everyone—
Madam Lindsay.: It’s quite simple. That's the tent where they housed the prisoner.
Semmelweis: Where they housed the prisoner ... I see. The tatzelwurm went for the easiest target.
Madam Lindsay.: She's very important to the Manus followers. Perchta will protect her at all costs.
Semmelweis: So the tatzelwurm attacked the last person it should have messed with ...
Semmelweis: Madam Lindsay, it sounds like you have an idea as to the identity of the prisoner. Is there anything I should know?
Madam Lindsay.: No, there's no information I need to disclose to you.
Semmelweis: That was a little harsh, Madam Lindsay. I thought we were friends!
Madam Lindsay.: Back to work, Semmelweis.
She promptly ends the communication.
Semmelweis: What a pity. I didn't get to thank her for answering my questions.
As if echoing Semmelweis’ words, a faint female voice emanates from the communication device.
If she had not been listening carefully, it would have been easily missed.
Semmelweis: Huh? Is there someone else on the comm? Hello?
Semmelweis: Sorry, your voice is a bit soft. I didn’t catch what you said.
Semmelweis strains to make out the voice.
Soon, it dawns on her.
Semmelweis: Is someone singing?
The voice is not coming from the comm, but drifting over from the other side of the foothills ...
... like the gentle sound of wind brushing over the desert sands or the reverberation of the final chord of a sacred organ performance.
Semmelweis sets down the communication device. She furrows her brow as she tries to discern the source of the singing.
Semmelweis: ...
The song seems to possess a different kind of magic, one that entices you to explore it further.
Semmelweis: How odd ... What is that song?
Compelled to follow its sound, Semmelweis starts walking in its direction.
One, two, three steps—even if an abyss opened up in front of her, she would not stop.
Emil: Captain, we’ve got a problem!
Emil's voice cuts through the song, adding a discordant note to that entrancing melody. She snaps back to reality.
Semmelweis: ...!
Semmelweis: Am I hearing things ...?
Semmelweis: She shakes her head as if to shake the song out of her mind.
Semmelweis: But the song still lingers in her ears.
Semmelweis: Semmelweis takes a deep breath, pushes her doubts to the back of her mind, and looks back at Emil.
Semmelweis: What happened?
Emil: A member of the patrol team relayed a message. They’ve spotted a group of critters nearby.
Semmelweis: The stench of the tatzelwurm must have attracted them.
Semmelweis: That’s unfortunate. Our investigation isn’t over yet. We can't let them destroy the scene.
Semmelweis: Gather the team and prepare for battle.
Emil: Roger! I’ll notify the others right away.
Semmelweis: ... Hold on.
Emil: Is there something else, Captain?
Semmelweis closes her eyes.
Semmelweis: Did you hear ...
Semmelweis: Someone singing?
Emil: Someone singing ...?
Emil listens intently.
There is no sound but the mournful trombone of the wind blowing over the mountains.
Emil: No, I don’t hear anything.
Emil: Captain ... Did you find something?
Semmelweis: ...
Semmelweis: No, nothing. Maybe I heard wrong.
Semmelweis turns her head to face the song.
The snow-covered mountaintops reflect the sunlight, emanating a brilliant white glow.
Semmelweis: Have my hallucinations really become this real ...?
Semmelweis: Looks like the condition is worse than I thought.