“It seems Keele Strano and the False Sovereign are still at large,” Crow said, addressing the members of Congress.
“Your former comrade certainly is skilled,” Lernaean said, shrugging his shoulders. His sarcasm irritated Crow.
“I don’t believe the knights are even seriously investigating this matter.”
“A regrettable opinion. The knights are always serious. We have far too many enemies, however, and far too few hands to go around.”
“Keele Strano is dangerous. He has great skill and a list of achievements to back them. Furthermore, he’s the older brother of the Commoners’ Hero. There are many among the Tainted who treat him as their savior too. It could ignite a new spark.”
“I know that much.”
Saya was relieved to see that Lernaean wasn’t really paying Crow any attention. She was the one who had asked Lernaean to allow Kyou to escape. Nagi, Tess, and Keele were the ones to do the deed, but only Keele was branded as the culprit. Arrangements were already made so that there would be no real investigation, just as Lernaean had promised.
Saya sat atop the throne overlooking Congress as they debated, wanting to return to her room the entire time. She wasn’t allowed to make any statements here. Lernaean was the one who truly ruled here. Just like Kyou, she was an ornamental ruler.
“We cannot allow the Tainted to unite. Lord Lernaean, you do understand, don’t you? Especially considering today’s agenda.”
“You mean the reinstitution of sterilizations for those afflicted with bloodmark disease.”
Saya was completely shocked by Lernaean’s calm statement. “Sterilization?! What’s the meaning of this!”
“Lady Saya,” Lernaean immediately said, cutting her off, “please refrain from making disorderly statements. We shall explain in due time.”
Saya couldn’t say anything back to him.
Crow went on to describe the topic in a sonorous tone. “Sterilizations have been suspended ever since the revolution. However, now that blood offerings have recommenced, it’s a certainty that a proportion of the populace will contract bloodmark disease.”
“Congress was in agreement last time that the reinstatement of the blood offering system was an urgent agenda item,” Lernaean added.
Murmurs of agreement spread throughout Congress. This was perfectly natural, in Saya’s opinion. Everyone here regularly took doses of Amrita.
“Unfortunately,” Crow continued, “we still do not have a means of preventing bloodmark disease. As such, the spread of such contagion is extremely dangerous to the blood offering system. Blood from patients with the disease cannot be used for Amrita, after all. Furthermore, it’s hereditary.”
Crow swept his gaze across the room. Everyone was focusing on his every move.
“This problem has plagued us since ancient times. In all that time, no one has found a groundbreaking solution. Though it pains me, we are incapable of finding one ourselves. Thus, a thought came to mind. There is no other way of dealing with this problem than by doing what was done up until now. In other words...”
Crow paused for dramatic effect.
“The reinstitution of sterilizations. I do, of course, feel pity for the Tainted. If we could one day discover a valid treatment for bloodmark disease, then there would be no need for such drastic measures. Such research is to continue as it has. However, I believe that sterilization is a pertinent temporary solution.”
Congress was filled with voices of approval. Saya recalled what she saw at Garuga Village. She heard the same thing from Zamin’s dying mouth back then. Now she was seeing it from the entirely opposite perspective. Saya’s mind fell into chaos as the debate came to a close.
“Then let us vote. All in favor of reinstituting sterilizations.”
A thunderous roar reverberated through the room. The motion passed with unanimous approval. It was at this point that Saya finally realized there wasn’t a single Crestfolk present.
“Why reinstitute sterilizations?!” Saya yelled as she opened the door to Lernaean’s... Gratos’ former office.
“Lady Saya. Raising your voice like that is bad for your health. Please calm down,” Jubilia said, but was unable to do anything about Saya’s rage.
“How could I possibly calm down? Do you know how much the Crestfolk hate sterilization?”
“Of course I do,” Lernaean replied in a completely calm tone, “but nothing can be done.”
“Why? Because they can’t help make Amrita?”
“Exactly. If bloodmark disease were to run rampant, the current order will crumble.”
“What’s wrong with that? There’s no need to rely on Amrita and live a long life.”
“The people will perish.”
Lernaean’s voice was tranquil, yet Saya could feel a certain dreadfulness behind it. He was like the surface of a calm body of water hiding a raging torrent beneath it.
“As the Sovereign, you must know of this... of the cruel reality behind this world. It is known to only a select few.”
“What do you mean?”
“Should I excuse myself?” Jubilia asked.
Lernaean shook his head. “If Lady Saya deems it necessary, then you may remain.”
“Jubilia, stay here.”
“Very well,” Jubilia replied with a nod.
“Do you remember that?” Lernaean asked, pointing at the glass box which remained where it was from the time Gratos occupied this room. As before, there were small fish swimming within as bubbles frothed up from the aquatic plants. “A box made by the Intelligence. Such is the true identity of Agartha. Humanity is incapable of living within the poison and miasma beyond the box.”
“Gratos said that people once lived beyond Agartha.”
“Indeed. Humans were the ones to render the world like this. They destroyed their own planet. The Intelligence helped us escape annihilation. Jubilia, can you recite the passage from the creation of Agartha?”
“Born of man yet wiser than man. Many, yet one. Recursive, yet multifaceted. That which is known only by name and existence. In the beginning, there was man. Man gave birth to words. Words gave birth to the Intelligence. The Intelligence brought man to the birdcage and poured Amrita upon them.”
“Yes. Humanity conceived the Intelligence for menial ends, but it far exceeded them. The crops, the purification of water for reuse, even tools like the cogwagon are all miracles left behind by the Intelligence. We cannot even begin to understand them. Among all these miracles, Amrita is most precious to humanity’s survival.”
Lernaean pointed over to the window, which provided a view outside the palace.
“Even within Agartha, small traces of poison remain. Without Amrita, humanity is only capable of living for a tremendously short time. Even without the blood offerings, those without Amrita—commoners—won’t even live for thirty years. That’s why the Intelligence granted us Amrita. To protect civilization.”
Lernaean rose to his feet and picked up a bowl decorating his desk. It had a smooth white surface and was ornamented with a simple yet beautiful design.
“Take this bowl, for example. Craftsmen say it would take at least thirty years to make something like this. That’s why skilled artisans are given Amrita. Even if they don’t live like nobles, their lives are extended to the same amount of time humans once had in this world. The same goes for scholars, like that man Crow, for example.”
Lernaean flashed a small smile.
“That man’s incentive for starting a revolution seems to be because he was reaching the limits of the lifespan granted to him as a scholar. Perhaps I’m being a little too malicious; he has his own sense of justice, in a way. There’s no mistaking this was one of his motives, though.”
Though he spoke in jest, his eyes weren’t laughing at all.
“We’ve gone off track. Human civilization is an aggregation of knowledge far more delicate than this bowl. Amrita is indispensable if we’re to have the time to pass it down to the next generation. Without this, humanity will have no choice but to eventually devolve into living like beasts. And then...”
Saya held her breath. It didn’t look like he was putting any strength into his hand at all, but the bowl suddenly cracked. A fissure ran down its surface, and the bowl shattered to pieces. All that was left in Lernaean’s hand were small fragments.
“It crumbles. Whether or not they have any ill intent, the Crestfolk cause society to crumble at its roots. Allowing them to live for one generation is the greatest compassion we can show them.”
Lernaean dropped the fragments onto the ground. They made no sound as they landed on the thick carpet. He then walked up to Saya and peered into her eyes.
“But the Crestfolk have longer lifespans than commoners,” she somehow managed to strain out.
“True. They do, in fact, live longer than commoners, but their limit is still at most double that of a commoner. It would be impossible for any of them to live to a hundred... Unfortunately, there are many things essential to our world’s functioning that only someone with a noble’s lifespan can master. Above all else, a stable government cannot be maintained by mayflies. Lady Saya, do you wish to turn Agartha into a land of conflict upon your ascension to the throne?”
Saya couldn’t find any flaws in Lernaean’s argument. Everything he said sounded right, but something was fundamentally wrong here. She didn’t know what it was, but that was how she felt. She just couldn’t turn it into words.
“I do pity the Crestfolk for being forbidden to have children, but it’s common among nobles not to have any children either. Leaving behind descendants is an instinct which belongs to animals. Humans have surpassed such instincts. It cannot be allowed if it costs us the whole world.”
Saya inadvertently turned her gaze to the glass box. Its glimmer reminded her of where she’d first heard the story behind it.