Saya once more found herself gazing at the window. It was as if she could see the faint afterimage of the boy who had come through it, but there was no way he was actually there. Nagi clearly told her “goodbye.” He wasn’t ever going to come again.
“Lady Saya. This will affect your health. Please lie down.”
Saya gave Jubilia a half-hearted reply but kept her eyes fixed on the window.
“Nagi said I betrayed him...”
Because she held Amrita out to him.
Because she acknowledged sterilization.
“Even though I did it for his sake...”
“You did,” Jubilia said.
This conversation between them had repeated many, many times now. A wave suddenly rose within Saya’s heart. She felt like she would be swallowed by it, and could only repeat the same words to hold it at bay.
“Hey, Jubilia. What should I have done? Nagi’s going to die! I had no choice... But listening to Lernaean... just so Nagi doesn’t die...”
Saya spoke from the heart, aggravating the pain in her chest.
“Please have some rest for now...”
“What’s Nagi doing?”
“That’s a little...”
Jubilia held her tongue. It was clear something was going on, which she didn’t want to mention.
“Answer me!”
“Will you take some proper rest if I do?”
“I will.”
Jubilia hesitated, but gave in to Saya’s demand.
“The Crestfolk have flocked to the capital in protest and sent a letter to Congress. They’re... demanding the repeal of sterilizations.”
Saya didn’t overlook Jubilia’s awkward pause.
“That’s not all, right?”
“They’re also demanding your abdication.”
“Abdication... What else?”
Jubilia was flustered by Saya’s persistence.
“I’m begging you. Please get some rest.”
Saya could guess what Jubilia was hiding.
Haah... Why is it that I only figure out the things I don’t really want to know? Even though she couldn’t figure out the one thing she really wanted, Nagi’s heart.
“They’re saying they want me dead, aren’t they?”
Jubilia fell silent. This was enough of an answer.
“Nagi wants me dead...”
“You’re wrong. It’s only a portion of the Crestfolk calling for your execution. Even if there are voices out there making such demands, it isn’t Nagi’s wish.”
“No, Nagi called me a vampire. He called me a monster who steals the lives of others. That’s why he’s fine with me being killed... I betrayed him, after all.”
“Lady Saya, please get some rest... You promised.”
Saya did as she was told this time and lay down. She prayed a dreamless slumber would befall her quickly.
“You all know the reason we have gathered here today.”
Lernaean’s ever-calm voice resounded through the room as he overlooked Congress.
“Of course we do,” Crow replied in irritation. “Do you think any among us don’t know of the Tainted’s protests? They have already left, but the citizens of the capital still tremble in fear. To many of our people, the Tainted were nothing more than bandits whispered about in rumors.”
“Were they not formerly Cobalt’s... your comrades?” Lernaean said cynically.
Congress was astir.
“Objection! It’s true we once had a united front with the Tainted... the Crestfolk, who came in protest, but that was nothing more than a temporary alliance!”
“The Commoners’ Hero is among the Crestfolk as well. Were you not the one constantly reminding everyone of how he is part of Cobalt?” Lernaean immediately retorted.
Crow let out a small groan. It was clear to everyone that Cobalt’s position within Congress was rapidly deteriorating.
Saya watched them without an ounce of interest, but the mention of Nagi sent a ripple through her heart. She was in attendance today as well, but everyone there knew she was nothing but a meaningless figurehead, including Saya herself. That was why nobody paid her any attention.
“Perhaps we were being too impatient?” Crow continued, trying to regain his standing. “For the moment, we should at least repeal the policy on sterilizations.”
“Repeal?”
The air around Lernaean took a complete change. He was calm, yet it was clear that the vessel in which he kept his every fiery impulse had come unstoppered. Everyone involuntarily held their tongues, like housepets who had stepped on the tail of a beast.
“Very well. It may be inevitable for some of you to voice such opinions, seeing as you are unaware, but so long as you call yourselves congressmen, you’re obliged to know why sterilizations are necessary.”
Lernaean’s voice spread over the silence.
“What is it that separates nobles, commoners, and Crestfolk to begin with? Let’s have a specialist give the answer, shall we? Dr. Dimitri.”
“Hm?”
Dimitri didn’t seem to think he would be nominated to speak here. He was a little agitated, but still answered without hesitation.
“Everything is based on Amrita. Those who gain long lives from Amrita are nobles. Those who offer their blood for the sake of Amrita are commoners. And those unrelated to Amrita are the Crestfolk.”
“Precisely. So, what gave birth to Amrita?”
“The Intelligence. It goes without saying.”
“Indeed. However, did you know the way Amrita is now differs from the Intelligence’s original intentions, Professor? Amrita was meant to bring everyone eternal life.”
“What?!” Dimitri yelled, jumping up to his feet. “Everyone...? That’s impossible! Amrita’s production requires the blood of commoners!”
“Allow me to explain from the beginning. Originally, only the supreme members of Congress were privy to this knowledge. You’ll understand how the world was meant to be once you hear the details. That’s why Gratos fought to keep it hidden. Amrita was bestowed upon us by the Intelligence to allow humanity to survive in this poisoned world. With its blessings, humanity was meant to live in the eternal paradise of Agartha. However...”
Lernaean paused briefly. Everyone awaited his next words with bated breath.
“Man committed a sin. They succumbed to lust and multiplied in number.”
“That’s the legend of creation...”
“It’s no legend. It’s a historical fact, Professor. Saved from the time of apocalypse by the Intelligence, our ancestors acquired eternal life, yet foolishly tried to fill the lands once more. As a result, our blessing weakened.”
“Weakened... I see. The factor which grants the blessing of Amrita lies within the blood... The more people multiply, the thinner it gets!”
Dimitri’s eyes shot open. There was a glimmering light of the mad thirst for knowledge within them.
“Meaning that factor lies within commoner blood... And that means...” Dimitri continued mumbling to himself.
Lernaean ignored him and carried onward. “People began dying of old age. That’s when the people first realized what was happening. But by that time, they could no longer curb their own growth. In a panic, they predicted what awaited them in the future. Professor, what do you think they concluded?”
“If it thins out beyond a certain extent, people will die before they can even have children. Once the population diminishes, their lifespans will stretch out once more... As that cycle repeats, human lifespan will reach a balancing point... No, but when life is too short, the work force diminishes, and society can no longer be maintained?”
“You’ve confused several factors, but you’re essentially correct. They predicted that human lifespan would settle around 20 to 25 years of age... And everyone here knows these predictions were right.”
“Commoners.”
“Yes. But a world made up of only commoners would make it impossible to pass down knowledge and technique. That’s when our ancestors turned to the Intelligence for salvation. The Intelligence forgave our sins and once more bestowed us a gift: the Sovereign’s Blood and the recipe for Amrita. The Intelligence then departed into the starry skies.”
“I got it! By gathering the portion of the thinned-out blood which grants eternal life, and using the Sovereign’s Blood as a medium... That’s the secret to Amrita!” Dimitri yelled, his expression overflowing with passion.