Story Reader / Main Story / 22 Renaissance du Fantastique / Story
A few days later, at the WGAA.
Two new faces now occupy Ayla's studio.
Commandant Sica and Trojan who are part of the newly formed "Iris Warbler" have been undergoing "emergency art training" with the help of Captain Ayla.
Never thought I'd be holding a paintbrush of all things...
This is like some activity at a retirement home, learning new skills with young volunteers. I don't know what to feel.
Sica and Trojan sit in front of carefully positioned fruit and flowers, with a sketchbook on their laps.
Oh, come now, Trojan. There were a few artists who only started painting in their autumn of life back in the Golden Age, though that doesn't undermine their achievements.
Ayla quietly sneaks up behind them and looks at their mostly finished pieces.
Trojan's sketchbook is filled with messy lines, it also does not seem like her drawing skills have improved in the past few days, but Ayla still insists that she has potential.
It's a good pastime, I guess. Even things like "authenticating antiques" were popular entertainment back in the Golden Age.
Other than painting, Ayla has taken them to the archive of the WGAA, where artwork and artifacts from the Golden Age and before are stored.
I think I now understand why the old folks back then loved to bid on these in the antiquity market...
Oh, I've read about that! I heard that Chairman Allen used to be really good at that when he was young. Too good, in fact, that he was banned from a few of those shops.
I'm glad you two are enjoying these activities. Our squad is a bit unique compared to other squads, so these are essential skills.
The establishment of Iris Warbler seems to be linked to the surface reconstruction plans. I've asked the senior Constructs on the Archaeological Team and they say determining the protection value of things is part of their missions.
I also think this is necessary training for us, which is why I requested it.
Trojan sneaks a peek at Sica's sketch, even though the two of them started learning from Ayla at the same time, it is obvious that Sica has improved far more than her.
You're very sensitive to lines, Sica. Have you done this before?
The F.O.S. taught us the basics in drawing since we need to draw things like missile trajectories and defense deployment diagrams.
Oh, right, since we're here, may I ask you to demonstrate for us, Ayla?
I really want to see how someone from the WGAA like you usually creates!
I heard that you're quite a famous artist. I'm also curious as to how a painting can be sold for more than a million Black Cards in Babylonia.
Well, I had to keep myself alive somehow... To tell the truth, I also don't wish for my paintings to be sold at such high prices. I don't really understand what goes on in those collectors' minds.
But I needed new brushes, and the WGAA needed funds for its operation... So I guess I was doing my part as a member.
That's very realistic...
Well, I guess we could end today's lesson like this...
Ayla nods and takes out her easel. After positioning the drawing board, she clips on a piece of drawing paper.
She completely shifts into work mode as she puts on her beret.
Taking out all the necessary drawing tools from her toolbox, Ayla starts creating her masterpiece based on the items Sica had been sketching.
She drafts simply in pencil and blends her colors. With her palette in one hand and paintbrush in the other, she blesses the monochromic lines with colors of the rainbow.
A bit of this here... And some there...
Hmm... That looks about right.
The paintbrush dances across the paper, leaving trails of the spectrum on it—in the blink of an eye, a lifelike painting is born out of the overlapping of colors in this little square of white.
Seeing how Sica and Trojan were captivated by her creation process, Ayla starts to explain.
The shape, colors, and lighting—those are the basic components of a drawing, and it is exactly these three things which have caused famous painters to dedicate their whole lives to art.
Although that's the principle of things, it doesn't mean you'll create a masterpiece by just drawing the most accurate shapes, blending the most precise tones, and analyzing the most scientific lighting.
Critics love to theoretically analyze the different layouts and the usage of colors by painters, but when a painter sits in front of their canvas and picks up their brush, "techniques" are definitely not what makes the painting.
It may be cliche, but the most important thing that makes a good painting... is probably "the creator's thoughts."
What they want to show, convey, and achieve... Painters are motivated to pick up the brush again and again by these desires.
It isn't just for painting, music, drama, literature, and dancing... I think it applies to other areas of art as well.
Oh, right, don't think of all I said as something deep though.
What do you mean...?
Even in Babylonia, "learning art" is considered as a luxury by many.
Quite a few people have voiced their displeasure saying that the WGAA is wasting the government's money doing useless research—after all, art and music can't defeat the Corrupted and Ascendants.
But art does not exist to be a "castle in the air."
It shouldn't be worshipped by the people, rather, it should be a part of life, something within reach.
Even when war rages on, art should not be a luxury limited to only a lucky few.
I want everyone to know that creating art is not some mysterious magic—what you two were doing just now is also a kind of creation.
I think that is one of the WGAA's purposes of existence. A lot of members are working hard toward this goal.
With that, Ayla paints her last stroke on this spontaneous piece.
Purpose... and goal, huh?
No need to overcomplicate things. At the end of the day, I just like to paint.
And if others are interested in what I like to do, then I'm happy.
Looks like you're getting along well.
A middle-aged man with long gray hair appears at the doorway. God knows how long he has been standing there. He smiles at the three and enters the studio.
Ah... I'm sorry for not noticing you sooner, Chairman Allen.
This isn't the army, Sica, no need to be so formal.
The chairman of the WGAA...
My name's Trojan, it's a pleasure to meet you. I would like to thank you for including me in the potential members list for the new squad.
I wasn't the only one responsible for picking out members. It was decided with regard to opinions from various places.
It is my honor to have a veteran Construct such as yourself join the team.
Is that what Vesalius told you... But compared to other places, I guess this is more suitable for me at the moment.
Oh, I hope everyone feels like that.
Was there an emergency, Chairman?
It's a bit complicated, and I will explain in detail afterward.
But simply put, you three are about to go on your first mission as a team.
How is it? Can you get a more detailed analysis report?
No... Due to an unknown electromagnetic signal disruption, we will not be able to obtain more precise information if we don't deploy the Task Force to survey the area.
Signal disruption... Can you find out the source? Also, have there been any attempts at communication?
We've tried sending commonly encrypted radio waves but we have yet to receive a response...
According to high-definition photos taken by our drone, this area does not display human activity... On the contrary, though little in amount, we have detected mechanoid activity in the city.
Corrupted mechanoids...? Impossible. This area is still under the influence of the Hetero Tower. Even if there was Punishing Virus there before, the concentration of the virus should've dropped to a safe level now.
Wells, what's wrong?
Coming in belated, Hassen asks Wells.
What's the current situation with the abnormal signals the satellites detected before?
One can only assume right now without a survey report from the Task Force on the front line.
We're still trying to decrypt the signal, but one thing we can be sure of is that this encryption method is not used by any known forces on the surface nor is it something from the Golden Age.
Could it be the Ascendants? They can control the virus so it's not unusual for them to operate in Low Viral Intensity Zones.
That is a possibility, but they did not appear in the Hetero Tower battle before, what would they be trying to achieve by sending us a signal from somewhere like that at this time?
No matter who it is, the fact that we cannot decrypt this means we shouldn't let our guard down.
And from what we can see in the videos taken by the drones, we need to immediately deploy the Task Force to investigate this area.
Where's Commander Nikola? We think that this kind of mission should be carried out by elite squads like Cerberus or Caribou. Gray Raven and Strike Hawk can also be considered if we don't need confidentiality.
Nikola is currently organizing the general survey work surrounding the Hetero Tower so he doesn't have time to take care of this. And all the squads you've just mentioned are already carrying out missions in their respective areas.
Considering the casualty rate of the Task Force in the Hetero Tower battle, a lot of squads are still recovering. To tell the truth, there are not many who are available right now.
What about Simon's Dark Aries? It's already past the "observation period" of Noan and Simon has already recovered from the confusion brought on by the Hetero Tower. Palma and Lillian seem to be doing fine as well.
Noan is a bit of a special case. If we cannot say for sure this isn't related to the Ascendants, then it's best not to send Dark Aries on a mission on the surface.
...You have a point. In that case, even though this isn't technically their job, maybe the Purifying Force could...
No need to stress, Wells.
Don't we have a newly formed squad that ticks all the boxes?
Are you referring to the one with a member from the WGAA...? Iris Warbler is still under probation and its members are just provisional, how is that ticking all the boxes?
Is that so? It's a perfect squad in my opinion.
Even though Captain Ayla, is from the WGAA, she has sufficient experience on the surface and has aided the Task Force on numerous occasions; Trojan is a veteran Construct who has been serving Babylonia since the start; while the last one may be inexperienced, Nikola seems to think highly of her.
As for the commandant, an F.O.S. Chief handpicked by you. Even experienced squads pale in comparison to this team setup.
You can't be serious, President Hassen!
But, most importantly, this was requested by the chairman of the WGAA.
Allen? He requested for Iris Warbler to take on this mission?
Ah, that's right, Wells—I mean, General.
Allen enters the room under Wells' bewildered gaze, following behind him are the three members of Iris Warbler, with Ayla as their lead.
I think Iris Warbler is the most suitable for this mission. Since they are still under probation, why not test them with a field mission?
Furthermore, the location of this mission... You can't deny its relevance to the WGAA.
A city from... the Golden Age?
A reconstruction of the city made using the picture data from the drones is projected into the middle of the room as Hassen and Wells briefly explain the situation. Allen stares at the bluish virtual projection with disbelief.
To be precise, it's an unfinished city. Only its general design and planning was completed back in the Golden Age, it was far from finished for human occupancy.
The outbreak of the Punishing Virus happened not long after the actual construction of this city started, resulting in its abandonment.
After that, this area has always been one of the Dead Zones with a high concentration of Punishing Virus.
Until all of that had been reversed by Hetero Tower.
...Not long ago, we captured a string of abnormal signals originating from this city, and our drones were able to capture what you just saw while we were trying to decrypt them.
The definition of the image heightens with Hassen's explanation.
Just judging from its appearance, this city is a magnificent piece of work that has a different style than the rest of the world.
Newly furbished buildings and roads dot the land, accompanied by a complex yet perfected railway system... It is a huge upgrade to the conservation areas that humans currently use.
More importantly, this city does not show any signs of damage from the Punishing Virus, as if the whole of the Post-Pandemic Age and Reconquista Age were both just fever dreams, its time had forever stopped during the glorious Golden Age.
It looks like a brand new city built recently... but no human forces currently have the resources to do that.
You're right, without the protection of the Central Purification Filter, it should've become ruins ages ago... And in reality, that is what has become of the surrounding parts of the city.
But the most central part of the city still maintains its perfect structure, as if someone was deliberately protecting it.
Yet there is no human activity... but there are mechanoids wandering about?
A relic from the Golden Age, a complete yet empty city... those two points alone are enough to raise suspicion.
...
President Hassen, General Wells, did Egret encounter a mechanoid with unique behavioral patterns on a mission before?
Sica's question is like a key to Pandora's box. Hassen and Wells exchange a glance, their expressions immediately bleak.
The remains of that mechanoid have already been retrieved by Babylonia; its memory shell is currently being studied by the Science Council... According to Asimov, a lot of unusual codes have been found in its neural circuit. It is currently unknown if that is the cause for its odd behavior.
But the situation of that orphanage does provide a lot to consider.
Are you implying that this city has been maintained by an abnormal mechanoid like the orphanage Egret investigated?
Commandant Vanessa told me the in-depth details of that mission. Although there's a large difference in the scale of things, with the information we currently have, I think we shouldn't rule out this possibility.
Nevertheless, we need a squad down there for recon.
From what Chairman Allen has been saying, Iris Warbler is the best choice for this mission as you have links to the WGAA.
That's right. Retrieving relics from the Golden Age which were abandoned during the Great Evacuation has always been the WGAA's responsibility.
This city itself signifies the end of the Golden Age. It is the last "crystallization" of human civilization before the coming of the Post-Pandemic Age.
I think a lot of our members at the WGAA who have witnessed first-hand the glorious Golden Age would be interested in it.
That was part of our consideration when we first decided to form Iris Warbler. Since that's the case, why don't we examine the necessity of the existence of a squad like Iris Warbler through this mission, Wells?
...Considering the current situation of the Task Force, I do not object.
And, as Chairman Allen has said, this city's relevance to the WGAA is undeniable, so it would make sense for the investigation to be carried out by WGAA members.
Ayla, what do you think as a member of the WGAA and the captain of Iris Warbler?
...
Ayla stares at the three-dimensional projection in the center of the room and the coordinates displayed next to it.
Her lips are pursed and a complicated glow takes over her pink eyes.
Ayla...? Did you notice something?
Although they have not known each other for long, this is the first time Sica sees Ayla, who is always smiling and bubbling with positivity, display such serious emotions.
(This city's coordinates... It's the same as where Selena's "Whale Song" signals we found a few days ago originated...)
(A coincidence... or...)
She closes her eyes and with a hand on her chest, she calms herself down and reverts back to her normal self.
I don't think there's a problem, General Wells.
And our commandant looks like she's eager to go on the mission.
Ayla winks at Sica. Although Sica is still confused by the fleeting expression that graced Ayla's face, she replies with a determined gaze.
Iris Warbler will take care of this mission.
...Ayla... I wonder what happened?
After the meeting, Sica walks with Trojan down the hallways. Ayla had left them with a "see you later" and rushed back to the WGAA.
Maybe she noticed something and had to confirm it back at the WGAA.
Maybe... We should gather more intel before the mission starts.
You're the commandant, you get to decide what to do.
Oh? Isn't that Ms. Top Student?
Ah...
Hearing the familiar voice, Sica's face turns white as a ghost, as if she had swallowed a whole frog. Trembling a bit, she looks up to greet the person walking over.
G-good morning, Commandant Vanessa.
Um, isn't it about time you stop with the "Ms. Top Student" thing...?
What? Are you not satisfied with my praise? MS. TOP STUDENT.
Vanessa chuckles as she emphasizes pronouncing the "nickname."
Or is it that you're keeping your distance from me now that your training period is over? I guess that is to be expected from our new "Chief." You must look down on a normal commandant like me who can only flaunt around her experience.
That's not the case at all! I respect you a lot, Commandant Vanessa!
Vanessa... the Egret Commandant?
That's right. She is also my senior at F.O.S. Although she was already graduating by the time I got into the academy.
When I first came to the Task Force after graduating, I trained under her for a while.
She has always taken good care of me and taught me a lot. She's a really good senior.
...Is that so?
Vanessa frowns in disdain at Trojan's dubious gaze.
No, I was just bullying her.
I don't agree with that!
Those were the times... Pushing all the troublesome paperwork onto her, taking it out on her when I'm in a bad mood, it's hard to find such a perfect doormat nowadays...
Right, do you remember when you first came over and were scolded by me for messing up the layout of the mission report? You were hiding in the lounge and secretly crying at night...
Wait! There's no need to bring that up!
(Such a complicated relationship...)
All right, enough with the nostalgia. Ms. Top Student, I heard that your original squad was disbanded and you were sent to the WGAA.
Well... It's more like the WGAA is only providing assistance and the squad still belongs to the Task Force...
Hmph, whatever. It suits well for a nobody like you, digging up pottery somewhere where there are no enemies.
I doubt you'd be of any use on the actual battlefield anyway. If I was your commanding officer, you wouldn't even qualify as cannon fodder.
...Are all self-proclaimed "elites" impertinent like you?
I'm just speaking the truth. Useless trash should stay where they belong—I'm not the one thinking that but the General Staff who disbanded your little squad.
Listen up, I'm not just targeting you alone. I heard the efficiency of the new commandants this year has decreased by thirty percent... But I guess if someone like you was Chief, then the F.O.S. really isn't what it used to be.
The "Babylonia generation"... Ha, I won't be surprised if humanity ends in the hands of your generation.
If I was an instructor at the F.O.S., I would never have let you unrealistic idealists graduate in the first place.
...
Tsk... Enough of this. I have more important things to do.
Vanessa waves the files in her hand. It contains information about a lot of Constructs, it seems like she is currently recruiting a new member for Egret.
Good bye, Ms. Top Student.
I've heard of her before, but actually meeting her in person... That was an experience.
Trojan shrugs with a sigh after Vanessa leaves.
It's all right, I'm used to it. Vanessa is like that to everyone.
And she's right most of the time, so no one can refute it.
...At the end of the day, only actions can make someone change their mind.
...
Well, it's good that you're all fired up now.
All right, let's get a move on!
She cheers for herself quietly and leaves the conference room together with Trojan.
