Keine Quest (Part 4): Broken History

[E-Nazrin]

>Marvel at how good a girl Sanae is. Resist strange temptation to pat her on the head.

Suggest: "Kanako, you said that everything here would 'eventually' run cold. How often would Utsuho have to be in here at all?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"At the same time, I can only imagine what a nightmare that tube must be for her. And I don't blame her for not trusting Kanako to do this all over again. If she doesn't want to stay and help, however nice it would be, she shouldn't have to."
>"Although...it might not hurt to have a look around the villages on the mountain on your way out. We can at least get you a nice meal."

[DracoOmega]

>Marvel at how good a girl Sanae is. Resist strange temptation to pat her on the head.

>She really has been remarkably kind-hearted since she came down here. For some reason, you feel like giving her a pat on the head, but decide not to risk spoiling the mood.

>"At the same time, I can only imagine what a nightmare that tube must be for her. And I don't blame her for not trusting Kanako to do this all over again. If she doesn't want to stay and help, however nice it would be, she shouldn't have to."
>"Although...it might not hurt to have a look around the villages on the mountain on your way out. We can at least get you a nice meal."

>"Kanako will not do this again," Shiki adds. "Of this I can promise you. But we likewise cannot coerce Utsuho to remain here. I understand that your desires are honest, Sanae. Still, I would say this to you, Utsuho: the greatest sins you bear upon your soul now are pride and hate. The former led you to this place, and both together have sustained your confinement. But simply being allowed to leave will not redeem from the fate you've set yourself towards. Being willing to help others is a powerful step in a positive direction. Remember how you used to be. Many of these people would be your friends if you allowed them."
>Utsuho shakes her head. "I don't want to be redeemed... I'm a monster, remember?"
>"Okuu..." Orin frowns. "I thought you wanted to go home?"
>"I... don't believe you're a monster," Sanae says. "I believe you're a person. A person with fears and doubts and regrets. A person who'd had hopes and dreams before it became too painful to see them." She closes her eyes, and bows her head in prayer for a moment, then begins to undo the shimenawa.
>"Sanae?" Kanako says. "What are you doing?"
>Sanae does not stop, or turn her head. "I'm going to have faith in her."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Just like I said, Utsuho. There's only one monster here. The rest of us do care."
>Let Sanae do her thing.

[DracoOmega]

>"Just like I said, Utsuho. There's only one monster here. The rest of us do care."
>Let Sanae do her thing.

>Kanako does not bother to protest your remark, and Sanae is nice enough not to stop what she's doing on account of it.
>Sanae finishes undoing the shimenawa and pulls it away from the cage. Then she makes a seal with her hands and you feel a wake of spiritual force surge from her. The talismans lining the metal start to glow faintly and then crumple. Most of them fall off and drift gently towards the ground like dead leaves. Then Sanae pushes on a seam in the glass and it shifts aside. She steps into the chamber. Utsuho just... looks at her. You see uncertainty, and even a little fear on her face.
>"Yasaka-sama. Only you can undo the chains. I'm sure you realize this." There is no response. "Please release them, Yasaka-sama," Sanae repeats, without turning back to face her. "You fear for my safety, but I do this willingly and without regret. If you have any faith in me, please honor my request." Kanako remains silent. Then there is a sound of shifting metal as the shackles fall from Utshuo's limbs.
>Utsuho slowly rises to her feet and looks down at herself, examining her wrists from one side and then the other. Her expression is one of open-mouthed astonishment. She seems barely aware of her surroundings.
>Sanae falls to her knees before her and bows her head to the ground. "I am truly, truly sorry beyond the power of words to express. Though nothing I can say will change what has been done to you, I feel it must still be said. I hope that someday you may find it in your heart not to hold the rest of the village responsible for actions they knew nothing about. If you truly feel the need to exact vengeance for the wrongs that have been done to you... I am here."

[Hello Purvis]

>"If not, let's get you something decent to eat."

[DracoOmega]

>"If not, let's get you something decent to eat."

>Utsuho stares down at Sanae. Her expression is hard to read. You suspect even she is unsure of what she's thinking. No one speaks.
>"....get up," Utsuho says at last.
>Sanae rises to her feet, and bows her head towards Utsuho. "Thank you. If there is something you wish, you have only to ask."
>Utsuho moves past her, taking a tentative step forward; she seems a little unsteady on her feet. She steps outside her cage, her expression uncertain.
>"Okuu?" Orin stands up and looks at her, a tentative smile tugging at her face. "Are you ok?"
>"No." Utsuho looks towards her. "But I'm going home, Orin... I'm going home...."
>Orin reaches out and grasps Utsuho's hand tightly in her own, then falls against her. Utshuo folds her wings gently around her. You can hear Orin sobbing again.
>"Let's go home, Okuu...."

[E-Nazrin]

>Smile. Just smile. No need for schadenfreude now.

[DracoOmega]

>Smile. Just smile. No need for schadenfreude now.

>You smile as you look at them. You've seen so much hurt and anger today that you no longer feel the need to take joy in someone else's suffering. It is enough that someone else can be a little happy, now.

>Orin and Utsuho stay like that for a few more moments; Orin sobbing, while Utshuo remains... distant looking. But there is no anger in her face that you can see now. Only great uncertainty, and a hint of the sadness that lies beneath the surface. Eventually Orin pulls herself away and turns to Sanae.
>"Thank you," she says. "I'm, uh, sorry about what I said to you earlier. You're really pretty ok."
>Sanae bows her head. "Apology accepted. I hope you'll consider what I said, though. When you've had some time."
>Utsuho looks towards you. "I... suppose I ought to thank you, too, eh? ...not sure I know how, anymore."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Don't worry about it, you'll come up with a way I'm pretty sure. Let's get out of here."

[DracoOmega]

>"Don't worry about it, you'll come up with a way I'm pretty sure. Let's get out of here."

>"Yes, let's," Shiki agrees, turning and moving towards the exit.
>"Right," Orin nods. "C'mon, Okuu. Let's get out of this place."
>Utsuho takes another few steps forward, pausing when she reaches Kanako. She turns and glares at her; her face cool, but a deep seething in her eyes.  "I never want to see you again." Then she continues out of the room, Orin following close to her.
>Ran turns to you. "Well, shall we depart?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Let's."
>Exit.

[DracoOmega]

>"Let's."
>Exit.

>You nod to Ran and exit the room, filing in after the rest of them. Notably, Kanako does not move nor make any acknowledgment as the rest of you pass her.
>"Yasaka-sama?" Sanae turns back towards her.
>"Just go, Sanae," she responds. "Do what you feel you must."
>Sanae hesitates for a moment, then turns to follow after you.
>You arrive in the main reactor room after Utsuho has already emerged from it. Without exception, every kappa is staring at her; at least half of them look utterly terrified. Utsuho herself barely acknowledges their presence, simply walking slowly towards the exit. No one seem inclined to question her.

>Shiki steps out a moment after you do, and surveys the room. "Utshuo will not bear arms against you while I am here," she says.  "I assure you of this. But..." she turns to face a few kappa, one after another. "that is not what all of you are worried about, is it? Some of you had doubts." She turns to one. "Some of you believed Kanako was entirely correct and this room was your only defense against annihilation." She turns to another. "Some of you believed it was your duty to your god, regardless of personal feelings." Then she turns to the head kappa. "And some of you regarded her as nothing more than a component in your machines. You will all be judged according to your actions and beliefs. Duty does not free us from our crimes, nor does self-deception. Kanako cannot shelter you when your time comes, and you will hold no secrets from me. Take care that you truly understand where each of you have erred here, and do not make the same mistakes again. There is still much good to be done here, but if Utsuho is to help, it must be as a colleague; not an enemy, not a prisoner, not a tool." Shiki exits, leaving a roomful of stunned kappa in her wake.

[E-Nazrin]

>Slow clap

[Hello Purvis]

>Follow Utsuho out. We won't worry about the engineers, they're probably harmless.
>Put a hand on Sanae's shoulder. "Thank you."

[DracoOmega]

>Slow clap

>Shiki bows. "Why, thank you. I spent all that silent time in the room back there rehearsing." The kappa glare at you

>Follow Utsuho out. We won't worry about the engineers, they're probably harmless.
>Put a hand on Sanae's shoulder. "Thank you."

>You exit the room, deciding that the engineers aren't worth admonishing any further. If they would even be aware of you speaking at this point, judging by the looks on some of their faces...
>Sanae bows her head. "I only wish I could do more. This is... not the situation I envisioned. I'm sorry for the things I said to you, Keine. I feel I have much to atone for."

[E-Nazrin]

>"I think what you've shown me already will count for a lot."

[Hello Purvis]

>"You can't be blamed for what you didn't know. Given how you only learned of this a short time ago, I think there is little for you to worry about in light of your recent actions."

[DracoOmega]

>"I think what you've shown me already will count for a lot."

>"I can only hope," she says.

>"You can't be blamed for what you didn't know. Given how you only learned of this a short time ago, I think there is little for you to worry about in light of your recent actions."

>Sanae shakes her head. "I am Yasaka-sama's priestess, and she is my god. Our actions reflect upon each other."

>You continue out of the facility mostly without incident. There are more than a few wary glances towards Utsuho, but she continues to ignore them, and Shiki ensures that no one accosts you. She delivers no further lectures; there's probably a good chance most of these people were unaware. Eventually you reach the outside again.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, if the relationship is like that, then your actions reflect well upon her, too."
>Resist the urge to add biting commentary to that.

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, if the relationship is like that, then your actions reflect well upon her, too."
>Resist the urge to add biting commentary to that.

>"I would hope that I could embody those ideals," Sanae says, then pauses. "I... realize that you think Yasaka-sama a monster for what she did. I... hope that some day you may be able to understand why she felt it was necessary. She's honestly a very kind and caring person. I know her like almost no one else. I wish that it had never happened, but... if you could find it in your heart..."

[E-Nazrin]

>"Some hot Kismesis sexings first might make me reconsider"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I've completely lost respect for her, honestly. She may claim to be kind and caring, but it seems to be primarily only for the people she likes. I might be willing to forgive her, but given her refusal to reflect on her own actions and instead trying to make increasingly inane justifications and deceptions, it will be a long time in coming before I can trust her again."

[DracoOmega]

>"Some hot Kismesis sexings first might make me reconsider"

>Sanae smiles gently at you. "Sorry, already taken."

>"I've completely lost respect for her, honestly. She may claim to be kind and caring, but it seems to be primarily only for the people she likes. I might be willing to forgive her, but given her refusal to reflect on her own actions and instead trying to make increasingly inane justifications and deceptions, it will be a long time in coming before I can trust her again."

>Sanae looks down. "I... understand why you don't trust her. Perhaps... perhaps some day you might be able to forgive her. I'm sorry, Keine."

[E-Nazrin]

>"I meant Kanako"
>"I think you may be the most capable of getting her to the point where I would have to reconsider. I doubt it will be an easy task, but..."

[DracoOmega]

>"I meant Kanako"
>"I think you may be the most capable of getting her to the point where I would have to reconsider. I doubt it will be an easy task, but..."

>Sanae grins even wider. "So did I."
>Sanae nods. "I cannot force you to change your mind, and I will not try. All I can say is that Yasaka-sama still has my devotion, and I earnestly believe she loves her people. If you wish to have nothing further to do with us, I will respect that."

[Hello Purvis]

>"That depends on what you mean by us. I still consider you a friend and a good person, at the least. You did what was right, at more personal risk than I."

[DracoOmega]

>"That depends on what you mean by us. I still consider you a friend and a good person, at the least. You did what was right, at more personal risk than I."

>"Yasaka-sama understands why I did what I did," Sanae says. "I feel that she even wished she were in a position to do so herself. I... think I should go speak with her, now that the rest of you are out. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod. "Unless you have any last minute advice for the outside world, I think you can go back to her. Don't let her hide the truth, Sanae. If she does, she'll never face it."

[DracoOmega]

>Nod. "Unless you have any last minute advice for the outside world, I think you can go back to her. Don't let her hide the truth, Sanae. If she does, she'll never face it."

>"I'll do what I can," she replies. "And good luck to you, Keine." She turns and re-enters the facility.