Reeds in the Wind
While out for a walk on a rare day off, I spotted Elisa heading somewhere in a hurry.
Her face was slightly flushed, and her steps were quicker than usual.
Elisa?
C-Captain! H-hello!
Is something urgent?
N-not exactly urgent, but...
I heard the Order's research lab just received a newly discovered relic from Aganon...!
It's the Aganon XXXXV relic that I've always been curious about.
I might even get to study its age and similarities with other quadruped relics from Aganon...!
Seeing Elisa's bright excitement as she spoke about the relics, I realized this might be a good chance to learn a new side of her.
Mind if I come along?
H-huh? You... C-come with me...?
T-together... as in... h-holding our hands—
That's not what I meant!
I'm just interested in that XXXXV relic you mentioned.
Oh! So you're interested in ancient relics too, Captain?
Yeah, that's right.
Though I'm a bit more interested in the person studying them than the relic itself.
I followed Elisa to the Monolith Order's research lab.
On the worktable lay fragments of a complex mechanical device.
Amazing...! Truly incredible!
It's slightly different from other relics found in the same stratum...
This could be an entirely new academic discovery!
Excited, Elisa launched into theories I couldn't begin to understand.
I tried to follow along, but not a single word made sense...
There are many approaches, but first...
We sketch... what we think the relic looked like before it broke apart.
What do you think it was?
Mm...
Judging by the curvature of the fragments... it was most likely circular.
Probably something like a round plate.
The lower structure resembles the NOA XVII relic. So maybe a platform...
Or possibly a moving mechanism of some kind.
Its internal structure... is similar to the Aganon VII relic. It seems to have a suction mechanism...
But if it's a moving platform, why would it need that feature...?
Hmm, maybe it's—
...Ah! What if we think in reverse?
It needed to move so it could suck things up!
Like dust... or small pebbles...
Meaning this could've been... a relic that roamed the floor, collecting garbage...!
That sounds... just like a...
When it was whole... it might've been perfectly round and flat... In other words!
It could've been a thick disc-shaped relic...
Eh?! N-no, Captain, I'm really not!
Ah, Saintess Elisa! It's been a while!
Oh, hello...
Are you studying the Aganon relic?
Ah... Yes...
Let's see... quite an impressive sketch.
Ehehe... Thank you...
Oh...! If that's its shape, then perhaps...
It could have been a weapon used for battle?
A-a weapon?
Yes, relics from this stratum often turn out to be armaments.
If it moved close to the ground, hidden at ankle height...
It could sneak up on enemies without being seen, and then... BOOM!
What do you think?
"Boom"? You mean... like an explosive?
BOOM! And may Lord Gaph bless the souls who perished in that blast. Ex Machina.
E-Ex Machina.
A weapon... carrying explosives...
But judging by the internal structure, there is no space to hold weaponry... so then...
W-what am I missing? Where did I go wrong?
I don't think you should take it that seriously...
No! There must be... something I've overlooked...! The head priest must've seen something I didn't...!
First, I'll erase this failed sketch... from existence...!
Y-you tore it up...?!
Oh my, 117th Saintess Elisa?
I heard you joined the Journey. What brings you here?
Ah, 97th Saintess Illene...
So you were drawing a relic reconstruction, hmm?
Elisa, Elisa! I heard you were visiting the Order—
Ah, Saintess Muriel...?
Ugh. Why is Illene here...?
Hmm...
About this device. Could it have been a machine for playing albums?
A-albums...?
Yes, it's flat and black, isn't it? Seems just the right size for a record to fit in.
What do you think?
Th-that sounds like pure nonsense with no logic whatsoever...
Excuse me?
B-but since it's from a double-digit saintess like you...!
A worthless saintess ranked 117th like me might've overlooked something important...!
...Ahem. Of course!
Any double-digit saintess should be capable of such insight.
Even Muriel will understand once she reaches double-digits.
Grr...
E-Elisa! What if that relic was pink?!
...Huh? P-pink?
Yes! Like the hair color of the future High Saintess! It fits, doesn't it?
Then I'm pretty sure it definitely wasn't pink...
B-but if it's Saintess Muriel saying it—with such a blessed body—then maybe I should consider it more carefully...!
Heh, thought so.
So, combining everyone's theories...
It must've been a terrifying weapon that lured enemies in with pretty pink lights and soothing classical music...
Then crept close to their ankles and went boom! A truly terrifying machine of war.
Ah, yes. Saintess Elisa mentioned it sucked things too.
Then perhaps it even sucked up the remains afterward to destroy the evidence...
A perfect device!
Ex Machina!
Ex Machina!
E-Ex... Machina...
Uuugh... this is a total... and complete failure...
I think your first idea was the right one.
What?!
There's no way...
Because then it would mean...
That they didn't actually have any real thoughts...
And they just felt awkward saying nothing, so they threw out random comments and left.
...Doesn't it...?!
You're... actually right on point...!
N-no, they'd never be that irresponsible!
It's far more likely that someone as lowly as me simply wasn't good enough...
I thought relics and sacred relics were the one thing I was good at...
But I guess I still have a long way to go...
Mm...
Elisa might be hopelessly impressionable, but her conviction was real.
What held her back isn't ignorance, but her belief that someone like her could never be right.
Maybe I could help her change that.