Yeah, it's been nearly a week now.
Lab equipment ticks away in silence. A Construct is lying nearby, eyes tightly shut.
...
The frame adaptation was rushed, and it was deployed to an intense battle on its first use, so a M.I.N.D. deviation was expected.
See the waveform on the monitor? It looked the same a week ago. We can basically rule out any possibility of a natural recovery.
We'll have to try a forced awakening if you fail as well.
...Just don't get your hopes up.
Asimov sighs and takes a seat next to Bianca.
She is still unconscious, but her M.I.N.D. signals are active. It's very similar to human REM sleep patterns, which means that she's trapped in a nightmare.
...Alright, put this on. It'll send you to her dreamscape during the Deep M.I.N.D. connection.
Asimov's brow furrows.
Keep her away from anything that causes her pain. As for how to do that, you'll have to figure it out on your own.
Also, don't tell her directly that she's trapped in a dream.
That world is constructed from her subconscious, and her M.I.N.D. may deviate even more if she suddenly learns that none of it is real.
No one knows what's in her dream, after all.
Until you find a clear solution, stay by her side and protect her. Keep her away from anything that might cause her pain.
And take care of yourself. Any harm you take in the dream will directly impact your Mind Beacon, so don't throw your life away before you can rescue her.
We'll have people monitoring the data at all times, but it still comes down to you two in the end...
In your hazy consciousness, Asimov's instructions echo through your mind. You are now in Bianca's M.I.N.D... inside Bianca's dream.
To wake her up in reality, you need to protect her from anything painful... but the Sacred Sword she has...
...
Dong—dong—dong. Solemn bell tolls bring you back to reality. Deep, rhythmic chanting drifts from somewhere far away.
Cold, dim light seeps through your closed eyelids. Your body lies helplessly paralyzed... You can't even open your eyes.
...
Commandant...
A stream of warmth flows in from your palm, gently enveloping your body and slowly driving away the cold.
...
Sunlight creates a divine and hazy halo around her white clothes as she sits by the bedside, her hands gently holding yours.
Good morning, Commandant. We just finished our morning prayers.
...How are you feeling?
She frowns and places her hand on your forehead with concern.
The fever is gone. You really weren't lying.
You're certainly trustworthy... but you tend to push yourself too hard sometimes.
She gives you a look that says she s still a bit upset that you insisted on getting up by yourself yesterday.
But the church's food supplies are dwindling, not to mention they now have a group of soldiers to feed. If your wounds are healing, you should get started on hunting for food.
Right when you start sitting up, she gently presses on your shoulder.
Don't worry. If that's what you're concerned about, your team members have already gone hunting.
Your injuries have just started to heal, and it's still snowing heavily outside, so just rest today.
Her tone is gentle, yet firm with determination. You can only smile helplessly and obediently lie back down.
Yes?
I've told you before. You seem familiar...
And also... I can't really explain it, but being by your side makes me feel safe.
Lately...
She opens her mouth but hesitates.
<size=30>...I've been having nightmares...</size> Never mind. It's nothing.
Please take it easy. I'll go get your medicine.
She gets up and leaves the room as if to hide the shadow that briefly crosses her face.
Heh, recovering quite well, I see.
After Bianca leaves, another familiar figure takes the opportunity to enter the room.
I'm just here to tell you to stop making Holy Maiden use any more of her powers.
Did you think you went from half-dead last night to jumping around this morning because you have some healing factor?
Oh, you noticed? Good to see you didn't lose your brains.
A few minutes ago, the warmth from Bianca's palm drove away your fatigue as she held your hand.
Something like that.
It's the first time she's cared so much about someone, and that person just happened to be so severely injured.
Now that you've recovered, you should tell her to stop doing this.
She was chosen by God to become the Holy Maiden. She's destined to walk a lonely path and become detached from the world. Even simple happiness will be out of her reach.
And using the holy power so much will only strengthen the impact of this identity upon her, and might also take a dangerous toll on her body.
If you do, just lie here and stop making her worry so much.
If it weren't for the bad weather this winter, she'd be preparing for the Sacred Prayer Ritual right now...
Just as Bonnie crosses her arms and sighs, a small figure stumbles into the room.
Sister Bonnie, I finally found you... My sister fainted again... I'm worried that if she doesn't eat soon...
Don't worry. Let's go and talk outside... Didn't the soldiers head off to hunt? We'll have food soon.
But I just heard them saying that the hunt isn't going very well... and...
Bonnie takes Venice by the hand and leads him toward the door. Their voices grow fainter.
...And... they said... Davis is missing...
You get dressed carefully and make your way to the corridor, where the hushed murmur of the children drifts through the wall.
I knew it! There's just no way they can catch anything in this weather. That means...
Calm down, Venice. Now that we have decided to take them in, we have to trust them. They can't catch anything right now, only because it's still storming.
They'll be able to bring back food when the weather warms up in a few days. By the time of the Sacred Prayer Ritual...
But my sister can't wait any longer! She's already very weak, and you told us there isn't much food left.
The Sacred Sword will guide us to food, so why doesn't Bianca use it? The book says that as long as someone holds it up...
Venice, we've talked about this! Don't bring this up again! Have you forgotten about the curse of the Sacred Sword?!
"Whoever holds up the Sacred Sword will become the Witch, commit horrific sins, and be despised by all, before finally walking alone on a path of atonement..."
Curse... It's all a lie! Sister Bianca is the Holy Maiden, and she's so kind to us. How could she possibly be scared of some curse?
Does she deserve to be cursed when she's so kind to you all?
...It's not like that. I just... I just...
...Go with me after you finish praying. Take my bread to your sister, but don't let the other children know.
...Okay. Thank you, Sister Bonnie.
After asking the other soldiers in the church about Davis, you make your way alone to the stables.
Snowflakes drift past the weathered eaves, battering your thin frame and making you shiver.
Where are you going?
Just as you're about to mount your horse, a clear, cold voice comes from behind.
You turn around awkwardly to see her frail figure standing in the wind, with snowflakes falling upon her.
She seems completely oblivious to it, only frowning as she stares intently at you.
You were gone when I brought back the medicine.
You might feel okay, but I told you that your wounds haven't completely healed yet, so you need to rest.
You still have other soldiers staying back at the church, don't you? Why do you have to push yourself like this?
Why does it have to be you? When you came to, Davis was escorting you to safety, but now he's lost in the wilderness.
Also, the winter hunt isn't going well. Most people at the church lack hunting experience, and the food is almost gone.
...
She falls silent and simply walks forward, mounting another horse.
The snow's still coming down hard. Please stay where I can see you... and let's make this quick.
The horse's hooves advance slowly through the thick snow, and your wounds ache with each step.
The pain isn't enough to hinder your movements, but it still makes you clench your teeth. It's so cold outside that your breath instantly vanishes into the swirling snow.
...
She falls completely silent the rest of the way, her expression as cold and distant as the wind and snow.
Her gaze closely follows your every move to monitor the condition of your injuries.
After going around a small cliff, the horse tracks end in a corner of the hillside.
Commandant, there's a horse under the trees over there.
Chaotic crimson stains the paper-white earth. Mottled bloodstains trail deep into the pine forest.
Cough... cough... Commandant, Holy Maiden, what are you doing here?
The blonde young man nervously hides his bloody wrist behind his back and forces an unnatural smile.
Commandant, his wounds... He did it to himself.
...
I've been losing consciousness for no reason lately, and when I come to, I'd just be wandering alone in some random place.
These signs look just like what the sick folks in town got. And that plague is fatal.
Resources are hard to come by now, so why waste them on someone who's dying? I'll only become a burden...
Please take back those irresponsible words! Do you know what that means for those who care about you?
To find you, your commandant came all the way over here with a heavily injured body.
God's love embraces all—illness does not change that. And I trust your commandant will not forsake you, either. So please... do not lose hope.
Hah... You're right, Holy Maiden...
He drops his head, trembling as he wraps his clothes tighter around himself.
...I must still be very scared of death, otherwise I would have driven the knife all the way through.
He pauses to think before continuing.
Okay, I've decided. I want to live. At least I can still help you hunt!
Your quiver is empty. Are you out of arrows?
Eh... Hehe, I'm actually not very good with the bow.
Uh... Heheh... I kinda chickened out, so it's really just a scratch. I can totally walk on my own.
Of course.
He describes the battle from memory. The monsters that appeared during the plague were almost identical to the Corrupted in the real world.
But this world lacks technology like Constructs to stop their invasion. The only good news is that the blizzard has also slowed their advance to other regions...
That's about it.
After briefly saying goodbye to you and Bianca, he mounts his horse and returns to the church.
He quickly accepts reality, and after saying goodbye to you and Bianca, mounts his horse and sets off back to the church.
...
Forgive me, Commandant... My words earlier were inappropriate, and I've caused your soldier offense.
The priest at the church raised me, along with many other children. He was someone we all looked up to and depended on.
But a while ago, he disappeared just like your man... Everyone took turns searching for him, but we found nothing.
I just hope God will keep him safe, too.
As she speaks, Bianca looks toward the distant pine trees with light clouds of snow dancing at their base.
A brown figure darts into view.
—It's a reindeer.
You silently raise your bow and arrow, relying on your muscle memory as you attempt to draw the bow.
Bianca looks over with concern but decides to stay quiet. Suddenly, the arrow veers off and plunges into the snow before the bow is even fully drawn, just as she feared.
An unnatural numbness spreads through your muscles, while your wound screams in pain. Just as you're about to try again, a pale hand gently holds your left arm.
Please let me try, Commandant.
You... learned about it from Bonnie, didn't you?
The holy power only works for healing and prayer.
But I learned a bit of archery a few years ago. Looks like it may come in handy today.
You hand the bow and arrow to Bianca without fully believing in her.
She stands sideways, her left arm steadily pushing the bow forward while her right elbow forms an elegant arc. The bowstring cuts deep into her fingers as the bow bends like a full moon.
She locks onto the distant reindeer, her usually cold eyes now filled with sharp, fierce intensity.
...
...
She stands motionless. The taut bowstring seems to ease slightly.
As the arrow's cold gleam points at the little deer, her heart resonates with it in that instant.
She feels the creature's fragility, its sadness and joy, as if she's aiming at herself and not the reindeer.
She grips tightly onto the rough, cold bow.
Holy Maiden... as long as you're with us... we can make it through this...
Bianca, can we say grace one more time...?
Bianca, don't draw the Sacred Sword.
She closes her eyes as snowflakes blanket the land.
<size=50>"Bianca, if you were given another chance, would you choose differently?"</size>
The Snowfields are painted crimson.
As she opens her eyes, the arrow is already in the air.
(Terrified whimpering)
The arrow misses its vitals, and the reindeer immediately leaps up in terror, fleeing frantically.
Bianca swiftly raises her bow again, aligning the arrowhead with the cold light in her eyes. When she releases the arrow, a sharp sound tears through the silence.
The reindeer drops to the ground.
My hesitation caused it needless suffering. I must end it quickly.
She lets out a long sigh.
Oftentimes, none of us has a choice.
She kneels down beside the reindeer and once again chants prayers of atonement. She processes the carcass and ties it to her horse with hemp rope.
We should head back, Commandant.
