Story Reader / Main Story / 26 Cradle Parade / Story
On the Ascendants' side, Lamia has also vanished, disguised as Lillian.
...
How did things end up like this...
Before this mess, Lamia was just settling into her new frame adjusted by Luna, happily carrying out her mission.
Luna...
The Ascension-Network has changed by that tower's influence, not just binding me but affecting every Ascendant connected to me.
You being here, safe and sound, is because after Sis broke free, I used the powers I'd just acquired to temporarily halt the anomaly within all of you.
I get it, Luna. What's our next move?
This power won't last long, so we need to find a way to fully pass through re-filtering.
Re-filtering? Is that what's messing up the Ascension-Network?
Yeah, it's evolving, and we need to keep up with it.
Are other agents dealing with the same problem?
Vonnegut is feeling the effects too, but he has his own ways to deal with it.
Lamia, since I can't move freely, the task of investigation falls to you.
Accept my power and the Ascension-Network's blessing once more.
I'll help upgrade your frame, like the mermaid in fairy tales, giving you legs to walk freely.
...Really?
That's right, Lamia. Step forward and place your hand on the Heteromer that binds me.
She steps forward eagerly but suddenly stops.
What's wrong?
Nothing, it's just...
Lamia, you've proven yourself.
It's just... I've regained some memories and remembered the meaning of this mermaid tail.
Luna falls silent for a moment.
In that case, why not try to keep them all?
Is that possible?
Those who can control humanoid hybrid frames have a more stable M.I.N.D. than others. As long as you can control it freely, switching between forms won't be an issue.
Really? Then, can I ask for one more thing?
Lamia, once disheartened, now glimmers with anticipation.
What is it?
When I have legs, can I... be a bit taller?
Straying too far from your human form increases the risk of destabilizing your M.I.N.D.
Lamia swishes her tail against the floor behind her.
...How much taller are we talking about?
170cm...
...
Do not push it.
...Eek!
Your new frame is ready.
...
Like a reborn mermaid, Lamia eyes her legs in amazement, taking a few tentative steps around like a child.
Thank you... Luna, I never thought I'd receive such a precious gift.
Consider it an advance on your reward.
But remember, this frame upgrade is like Cinderella's magic. It'll stop working as my power wanes.
If I fully merge with the Punishing Virus and lose myself, you'll also lose your Ascendant status. Not only will the frame fail, but you'll also become just another Corrupted.
You will not be able to kill and reshape yourself over and over like my sister, nor do you have a sister to share the Ascension-Network burden with.
If you can't find a solution and want to stay alive, it's best to seek refuge with another agent sooner rather than later.
...No, no, you're the one who saved me. I don't really click with the other agents. It's better I stick with you.
Alright, since you've made up your mind, you're in charge of gathering intel.
Okay, okay... What about Roland?
He has acquired a new weapon and already set off.
Lamia's been wandering without much luck since then.
What's Lithos up to, and what's that agent planning? Even posing as Lillian, an acquaintance of Lithos, Lamia struggles to find clear info.
When she reaches out to past "partners" for leads, they either are clueless...
Or are too busy with their own stuff after having achieved their goals.
The rest have gone quiet since Fort Winter fell.
Recently, Lillian, out of contact for months, finally sent a message...
Is this the spot?
Yup, that's it. Lithos is cooking something up. They've been moving supplies and Construct remains around at night.
Lots of Constructs and humans went down together, and none of them have returned.
Alright, I'll go check it out.
Be careful, their unguarded moves mean they've likely got a defense plan in place.
And...
Unless something unexpected goes down, this'll probably be my last message to you.
Are they watching Dark Aries too closely?
No... being watched like this, I'm kind of relieved. I can't leave, which means they can't pile on more missions for me.
...I'm tired. I just want to stick around with Dark Aries.
This isn't the first time you've said that.
Yeah, I know...
Lillian sighs through the line.
I've always had this wish, but it never seems to come true... I've lost the right to dream of a peaceful life long ago.
Ever since they took me away from the orphanage, it's been one nightmare after another.
Following orders, hopping from one squad to another, then engineering accidents to silence those who knew too much or were "in the way."
Or sneaking into places as a kid to do someone in... it's been a real drain.
Living under the watchful eyes, guarded like I'm in a cage... It's strange, but I actually find some relief in it.
Funny enough, the one least likely to suspect me around in Dark Aries is Commandant Simon.
Did he not notice a thing? Not even when he got caught because of you?
Yeah, the other two in the squad are more laid-back, especially Palma. She doesn't even bother to maintain a friendly semblance.
Since that whole mess, his relationship with Noan has been a bit rocky... at least, that's how it seems to me.
She closes her eyes, her face betraying a concern that seems out of place for her age.
...I'm fed up with all of this, and I can't bear to betray anyone's trust again.
So... do you hate Ascendants now? Have you given up on working with us?
Why the sudden interest in that?
Just thought of a few things.
...
You seem different after being gone for a while...
It's like... that desire to live in the moment is gone.
The desire... to live in the moment?
You know, I often felt like the you from the past was trapped in the "present," burdened more by the role of an Ascendant than by the "experience gained from memories."
Now, you're starting to question the meaning and morality of these roles, aren't you?
...
Sorry, I'm just thinking out loud.
What about you? How do you see me?
Lamia struggles to find the right words, unable to come up with a fitting description.
She met Lillian six years into her life as an Ascendant, amid the rubble of a battle-ravaged collapse. They helped each other escape the danger and began their simple exchanges.
Lillian provides her with intelligence from Babylonia, and if needed, she sacrifices her own identity to help Lamia blend in.
In return, Lamia assists when Lillian faces foes she can't handle alone—just everyday tasks, so normal they hardly seem worth mentioning.
It isn't her first time teaming up with someone outside the Ascendants. Most people treat Ascendants with caution, their every word laden with ulterior motives.
But Lillian is different. Despite not knowing each other deeply, they are equals.
Lillian has to rely on her seemingly youthful and gentle appearance, playing the role of an assassin while posing as a support-type Construct.
She cries out in anguish and reluctance as she commits vile acts, putting down the villains she despises amid mocking and jeering.
No matter how many times she talks about shedding her dual identity, she always finds herself back in Lamia's company.
Even if one day her squad uncovers her origins, the blood on her hands must remain a secret.
For Lamia, there's a certain allure in adopting Lillian's ordinary identity.
Unwatched, unthreatened, not treated as an outsider. She can temporarily set aside the complexities of Ascendant missions and engage in simple conversations with others.
Listening to their chatter about family, food, and leisure, griping about missions and teammates, helps while away the long nights.
Of course, when reporting to Luna, she mostly claims to be "actively searching for individuals who could pass the filtering."
But if she was really doing her part, Roland wouldn't be working so hard.
Lamia...
Before Lamia can respond, Lillian speaks up.
Meeting you in that accident and maintaining this connection has never been a burden for me; it's impossible for me to dislike you.
But living in constant fear is truly torturous.
...However, they both know this won't be their final collaboration.
After bidding farewell to Lillian, Lamia ventures alone into Lithos' bases, following the address from the intel.
Initially, things go smoothly.
She conceals her presence, shadowing defectors transporting supplies and infiltrating the prison in the base's depths.
Though called a prison, the doors are mostly unlocked, resembling a peculiarly designed hotel where guests can come and go freely.
Just as Lamia is about to uncover the mysteries of this place, Loki charges at her like a whirlwind, detecting her invisible presence.
Eek!
Exposed, Lamia becomes Loki's primary target.
Despite Luna's enhancements to her frame, Lamia's instinct to flee kicks in.
She tries to pass herself off as Lillian, familiar to Lithos, but Loki, unable to distinguish friend from foe, pursues her with eerie roars.
Where's Voodoo? Why is it always Loki, ugh!
Having lurked around Lithos for days, Lamia quite understands Vonnegut's "interns."
Normally, another consciousness—Voodoo—would emerge to restrain Loki.
But now, this rampaging woman seems to have lost all reason, charging wildly through corridors populated by humans and regular Constructs.
People in the cages quickly retreat and lock themselves in.
Lamia realizes these cells are for self-protection.
Now there is one way out to shun the prospects of a combat.
She changes her appearance several times and flees through winding corridors until finally shaking off Loki and hiding in a debris container with some space left.
We can't let Loki break free again.
Suddenly, a familiar figure emerges from a side door.
Sorry.
A woman, unfamiliar to Lamia, steps past Cinderelik to face Loki's attack head-on.
Intruders, DIEEEE—!
Is Loki's frenzied state a side effect of the "re-filtering," or has she undergone some modifications by someone?
Loki's M.I.N.D. seems even more chaotic than before.
Kill them! Kill her!
The researchers never anticipated that separating you would lead to this.
Hahahahahahahahaha!
She shows no fear, leaping through the air to hit the emergency control switch on the second-level platform.
Aaaargh...
Lamia feels chaotic currents surge around her as her M.I.N.D., along with the debris inside the container, fades into darkness.
Voodoo!
Yes.
The one called Voodoo shows no mercy, using all her strength to knock her once-inhabited body out of the air.
There's no other way. Bind her.
We need to check on those in the cages. They're Lithos' guests. Harming them would anger him.
The one-winged girl hurries toward the crowd.
Would you let Loki go with me? Staying here, she might still...
Sure.
Voodoo answers tersely, hoisting that battered body onto her shoulder.
...
After coexisting in the same body for so long, won't you try to retain her a bit longer?
I don't know what to say to make her stay.
That M.I.N.D.-separation experiment... it changed you both, didn't it?
...
This is the last sight Lamia sees before losing consciousness.
When she awakes, Lamia finds herself transported along with the containers to Lithos' largest secret base—trapped at the bottom of the dark sea like a fish in a pit.
Long after, she recalls this moment, remembering what Cinderelik looked like right before her complete demise.
Right now, though, she is completely unaware.
Now, Lamia finds herself navigating through the dimly lit alleys, looking for an exit.
What is this place? How can she get out? Lamia ponders silently, her mind racing with questions. All she can glean from Cinderelik's cryptic remarks is that this location has ties to Lithos.
She recalls Lillian's words about her shared time with Lithos in neighboring orphanages.
To play it safe, I'll stick with Lillian's appearance...
Even if I run into someone, they shouldn't immediately see me as a threat... right?
Lamia, concealed behind her disguise, heaves a deep sigh.
A-alright... focus on finding a way out first.
