Ending 1

After a short rest, the team disperses into the abandoned village. The Manus followers have retreated quickly, as if they anticipated the current scene.
Semmelweis: That's odd.
How long ago had the singing stopped?
When the long-lost silence descended again, it somehow felt a little ... out of place.
Semmelweis: Did it disappear during the battle just now?
Perhaps, for only then could it have disappeared without her noticing.
The return of Emil interrupts Semmelweis’ pondering.
Emil: Captain!
Semmelweis: Did you find anything?
Emil: Following your indications, we found a secret chamber nearby.
Emil: The chamber bears traces of a traveler's brief stay. It's clear that the Manus Vindictae were there.
Semmelweis: Take me there.
Emil: Based on the traces of arcane skills, we believe they were rescued in the chaos of the battle just now.
Semmelweis: Hmm ... Are there others who are trying to rescue the prisoner too?
Semmelweis: I see ... The refugees used us.
Despite this realization, Semmelweis’ face shows no sign of discontent.
The room is modest, with only a small window connecting it to the outside world.
It is simply decorated, with few noteworthy features.
Semmelweis notices an envelope on the desk.
Semmelweis: Is this ... a letter?
Semmelweis: Did the Manus Vindictae leave it for me? Or perhaps it was ...
Semmelweis: ... the prisoner.
The answer to this question is not hard to find; all she has to do is open the letter.
Semmelweis reaches out and picks up the letter from the table.
The ink has not yet dried. Clearly, the sender left not long ago.
Semmelweis: ...!
The letter is not long—just a few lines.
However, Semmelweis reads it several times, searching for any hint of the Manus Vindictae's whereabouts.
Semmelweis: Is this ... some sort of hallucination?
Semmelweis: —No, it can't be.
If this was indeed a hallucination, it was so realistic as to be indiscernible from reality.
Semmelweis takes a deep breath and calms herself. She doesn't want Emil to notice her heightened state.
She examines the letter again, word by word.
“Hello, unknown visitor.”
“I know a way to cure your condition and keep you alive.”
“That's right, I have a method to help you survive the affliction given to you by the infected.”
“Please find me in Vienna. Then, you will find redemption and overcome impurity.”
There is a signature at the bottom.
Semmelweis: Lorelei from the Rhine.
Who is this person? How does she know all this?
Semmelweis' biggest secret is written so plainly, like an open menu awaiting the scrutiny of a customer.
Countless questions begin to swirl in her mind.
For a scholar, “the infected” is too broad a term. It encompasses countless failures and few survivors.
Therefore, in arcanum, there is a more precise and direct way to refer to this disease that almost exclusively affects arcanists.
The Beyond Disease.
That is the true name of Semmelweis' affliction.
Emil: Captain, what's wrong? You've been staring at that letter for a while ...
Semmelweis: ...
Semmelweis: This letter contains certain classified information that I intend to pass on to the Foundation.
Semmelweis calmly removes her comm from its case and calls Madam Lindsay.
Seeing this, Emil asks no more questions. He leaves the room.
Madam Lindsay.: Semmelweis, what's the status on the mission?
Semmelweis: Everything went smoothly, Madam Lindsay. I was just about to report the details. We—
Madam Lindsay.: No, the debriefing can be postponed.
Madam Lindsay.: There's now an urgent mission of even greater importance.
Madam Lindsay.: Investigator Hofmann in Vienna has requested the assistance of the Field Agent Administration.
Madam Lindsay.: Unfortunately, the other squads are unable to reach Vienna in the required time.
Semmelweis: Vienna...
“Please find me in Vienna. Then, you will find redemption and overcome impurity.”
Semmelweis: ...
Semmelweis: I understand. I have two “Teleport” arcane skill floppy disks. They'll help me reach Vienna quickly.
Madam Lindsay.: I promise you, this is your last mission in this era.
Madam Lindsay.: When you return, the medical department will talk to you again about your condition.
Semmelweis: Madam Lindsay, Hofmann is my friend, too. I'm glad for the opportunity to help her.
Upon ending the communication, Semmelweis places the communication device back into her backpack, just as she had done countless times before.
Semmelweis: “Lorelei from the Rhine” ...
—Semmelweis mutters, looking towards Vienna.
Semmelweis: Is this also fate's doing?