9 9 301 AniZhuanchangEnd He has stains of Rachel's blood on his hand. They're lukewarm at best—yet he's feeling a burning sensation coming from them.
10 10 301 Noan Rachel... Capt...
11 11 401 2 1504
12 12 301 The sound of people's footsteps coming from below hit him like thunders.
13 13 301 Noan Why...
14 14 301 Like a ghost looming ever closer upon him, the clouds in the skies are growing thicker and darker by the second.
15 15 301 Noan ...
16 16 301 He's killed his mentor, and no amount of regret can undo what's happened. The only thing he can feel now is the throbs coming from his heart that remind him of what he's done.
17 17 301 All that he's held dearly and hated so much, and all that the train once was and would have been... will no longer be.
59 59 301 He was 12 then, and autumn had just come.
60 60 301 Her icy-cold face is a sharp contrast against the hot air around her. Noan's mother is sitting in her workspace and staring at the people around her through her inscrutable mask.
61 61 202 1 1
62 62 201 1 500197 -600
63 63 201 2 500197
64 64 201 3 500197 600
65 65 301 1 Upper-Level Guard We've got an order to look into the issue with the financial reports and resources. 2
66 66 202 1 2 3 1
67 67 201 1 500518
68 68 301 1 Mom ...Who are you people? 1
69 69 201 1 500197 -600 1
70 70 201 2 500197 1
71 71 201 3 500197 600 1
72 72 301 1 Upper-Level Guard I'm one of Sir Aston's personal guards, and this is my ID. 2
73 73 301 The man whose face can't be made out calls up a document from his terminal.
74 74 301 Upper-Level Guard We'll have to do this forcibly if you refuse to cooperate. 2
75 75 202 1 2 3 1
76 76 201 1 500518
77 77 301 1 Noan's mother falls silent looking at the document—but moments later, she stands up from the old wooden chair.
78 78 301 Mom Fine. I'll go with you. 1
79 79 201 1 500510
80 80 301 1 Noan ...Mom? 1
81 81 201 1 500518
82 82 301 1 Mom Stay here. I'll be right back. 1
83 83 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Little does he know that this is an empty promise.
95 95 301 Lower-Level Citizen 1 Well, he brought it up himself. 1
96 96 202 1 2 1
97 97 201 1 500510
98 98 301 1 Noan ... 1
99 99 201 1 500139
100 100 301 1 Lower-Level Citizen 3 I always found her fishy. It's not like I have evidence or anything, but given the nature of the position, I'm sure as hell she was up to something. 1
107 107 301 Bumblebee Member Ed Boy... ain't nothing I can say now. People are all saying they've found evidence against her. They just don't know who she's been working for. 1
108 108 202 1 1
109 109 201 1 500140 400
110 110 301 1 Lower-Level Citizen 4 I'd put my money on Ashlar! Julie was one of them to begin with, and she even married one of 'em aristocrats. Sucks that her husband died before they even got to enjoy themselves, though. 1
111 111 301 Lower-Level Citizen 4 With the lower level being the way it is now, it only makes sense that she'd do anything to join their ranks again. 1
112 112 202 1 1
113 113 201 1 500294 400
114 114 301 1 Noan ... 2
115 115 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Noan Ed, do you know where she is? Can I go to see her? 2
119 119 301 AniZhuanchangEnd With Ed's instructions, Noan wanders around—before he finally arrives at the middle section of Asslam. People call this section the cargo car before it's got piles of items sitting around.
120 120 301 That's when Noan sees his mother sitting in a small storage space that's faintly lit, surrounded by some guards. She looks worn out.
121 121 201 1 500510
122 122 301 1 Noan Mom...? 1
123 123 202 1 1
124 124 301 Julie raises her head slowly when she hears Noan calling her name.
125 125 201 1 500518 400
126 126 201 2 500510 -400
127 127 301 1 Mom ... 1
128 128 301 Noan What happened? 2
129 129 301 Noan Is everything they said about what you've done true? 2
130 130 301 Mom Do you trust me? 1
131 131 301 Noan I do, of course... 2
132 132 301 She lets out a faint smile from behind her mask.
133 133 301 Mom That's all I'm asking. 1
134 134 301 Noan What does that mean? 2
135 135 301 Mom ... 1
136 136 301 Noan Mom... 2
137 137 204 2 5
138 138 301 1 Noan Why? Why do you never tell me anything? 2
139 139 301 Frustrated and unable to stand the wall of silence that stands in between them, Noan fires his question at the inscrutable mask.
140 140 301 Noan Those people were all laughing when they found out you'd been arrested, Mom... 2
141 141 301 Noan And that's how they've always been—they'd say all sorts of mean things about you whenever they saw me. Do you know what they said? 2
142 142 301 When he opens his mouth, however, none of what he's heard comes out of it. He only manages to squeeze out toned-down versions of what they said.
143 143 204 2 14
144 144 301 Noan You always say that we should trust and try to help out one another, Mom. But look at them... 2
145 145 204 2 16
146 146 301 Noan What exactly have you done? Why are they being like this to you? 2
147 147 301 Mom ... 1
148 148 204 2 5
149 149 301 Mom Don't cry, Noan. 1
150 150 301 Noan But I'm not...! 2
151 151 301 Mom Right. You need to hold your tears. 1
152 152 301 Mom Tears are useless. Tears help no one. 1
153 153 204 2
154 154 301 Noan ... 2
155 155 301 Mom Why are you here? 1
156 156 301 Noan Is everything they said about you true...? 2
157 157 301 Mom Yeah. 1
158 158 301 Noan Did you really do those things? 2
159 159 301 Mom Yeah. 1
160 160 301 Noan Why? 2
161 161 301 Mom It's all for a better tomorrow. 1
162 162 301 Noan ...I don't understand. 2
163 163 301 Mom It's fine, because you will in time. 1
164 164 301 Mom It's true that I've crossed the line, but if what I did brings about a better tomorrow for the people, I'd gladly do it again and pay the price. 1
165 165 301 Mom My only concern... would be you. 1
166 166 301 Mom Noan, do you still trust me? 1
167 167 301 Noan I want to...! 2
168 168 301 Mom Great. That's enough, because I care about you more than I do anyone else. 1
169 169 301 Noan ...Do you really care about me? 2
170 170 301 Mom Of course. 1
171 171 204 2 3
172 172 301 Noan Why did you do all that, then? Why do you never eat around me? And why do you never take off your mask? 2
173 173 301 Noan You always criticize my hobbies when you don't even understand the books I read. 2
174 174 301 Noan When they called you a monster or witch... I had no idea how to hit them with a comeback, because I don't even know what you look like! 2
175 175 204 2 14
176 176 301 Noan Mom, do you really care about me...? 2
177 177 301 Noan Or am I just... am I just a burden to you? 2
178 178 301 Mom ... 1
179 179 301 Mom Have you always felt that way? 1
180 180 301 Noan Yes. 2
181 181 301 Mom Why did you never tell me? 1
182 182 301 Noan I did, but you never listened. 2
183 183 301 Mom ... 1
184 184 301 Noan When are you coming back, Mom? 2
185 185 301 Mom ...I'm sorry. 1
186 186 204 2
187 187 301 Noan ...? 2
188 188 301 This is the first time Noan hears his mother apologize—and, for a second, he thought he heard it wrong.
189 189 301 Noan ...Why are you apologizing? 2
190 190 301 He knows only too well that his mother isn't going to give in.
191 191 301 Mom Just because, Noan. 1
192 192 301 She says his name in a trembling tone.
193 193 301 Mom ...There is just something I wanted to tell you before it's too late. 1
194 194 202 1 2
195 195 301 With Noan's eyes on her, Julie slowly removes her mask.
196 196 401 1 119
197 197 201 1 500519
198 198 301 1 Her face is full of scars and her eyes appear soulless—telltale signs of what years of hard work and struggle have done to her. All the more bizarre are her hands—which are a blue-purple, a sharp contrast against her overly white nails.
199 199 201 1 500510
200 200 301 1 Noan ... 1
201 201 201 1 500519
202 202 301 1 Mom Do you still recognize me? 1
203 203 201 1 500510
204 204 301 1 Noan Mom. 1
205 205 301 This is his answer to her question, because he does recognize his mother—there is no way he wouldn't recognize this face that's so indefinitely similar to his.
206 206 201 1 500519
207 207 301 1 Mom Are you scared? 1
208 208 201 1 500510
209 209 301 1 Noan No, I'm not... I just want to know what happened. 1
210 210 201 1 500519
211 211 301 1 Mom I don't have time to tell you that, but I just hope... I just hope that you live on knowing the facts and knowing what I truly think of you. 1
212 212 301 Mom These scars and this situation I'm caught up in are what I got for the mistakes I made... and the way I've always been treating you is one of them. 1
213 213 301 Mom ...I always treat people "nicely" my own way, thinking that they'll eventually come to see things my way... 1
214 214 301 Mom Which is why I've put on this mask and left you at home by yourself, because I didn't want those people out there to hurt you, but I guess what I did only ended up hurting you. 1
215 215 301 Mom Every time I rip your paintings apart or see you get into fights with them... 1
216 216 301 Mom I just can't stop picturing what life would have been like for you if you were born into a family that fared better... I'm sure you'd have been able to grow up a normal kid not having to worry about your next meal, and you'd have been able to draw anything you liked. 1
217 217 301 Mom It always kills me to think I was the one bringing you to this hellhole, but I've never for a second regretted keeping you right by my side. 1
218 218 301 Mom Noan, you're a strong and wonderful kid. 1
219 219 301 Mom Which is why I think you probably understand why I got in your way of pursuing your hobby. You'd have ended up being all delusional and lost in this world if I didn't. 1
220 220 201 1 500510
221 221 301 1 Noan Mom... 1
222 222 201 1 500519
223 223 301 1 Mom I mean, I guess I could have been nicer about it, but it was never easy trying to convince you. 1
224 224 301 Mom ...But like mother, like son, I suppose. 1
225 225 301 Her eyes are brimming with regret—as though trying to say that "standing by what you believe in" is a personal shortcoming she was never able to overcome.
226 226 301 Mom I know exactly what those people have been saying about it, but I always tell myself to just look the other way. 1
227 227 301 Mom ...And I thought you'd be able to do the same. 1
228 228 201 1 500510 5
229 229 301 1 Noan But how could I?! 1
230 230 201 1 500519
231 231 301 1 Mom Well, I guess that's just something you'll have to learn how to do from now on. 1
232 232 201 1 500510
233 233 301 1 Noan ... 1
234 234 201 1 500519
235 235 301 1 Mom I know they've been calling you a monster, Noan, but a monster doesn't have to be horrifying or doomed. You might not be able to get rid of that label, but still... 1
236 236 301 Mom I hope you grow up to be just like "Shrek" and live happily ever after. 1
237 237 201 1 500510
238 238 301 1 Noan ...Have you read those books? 1
239 239 201 1 500519
240 240 301 1 Mom I was crazy about them as a kid... Guess I should have told you sooner, yeah? 1
241 241 201 1 500510
242 242 301 1 Noan Better late than never. 1
243 243 201 1 500519
244 244 301 1 Mom Except it's too late now. 1
245 245 201 1 500510
246 246 301 1 Noan Why do you say that? 1
247 247 201 1 500519
248 248 301 1 Mom Why? 1
249 249 301 Mom I guess it's because... because it finally hit me that there is only so much I can do, and that I'm just going to keep blundering the harder I try to right the wrongs I caused. 1
250 250 301 Mom And there are just too many things that we can't fix anymore... given how far we've already come. 1
251 251 201 1 500510
252 252 301 1 Noan Mom, please... 1
253 253 201 1 500519
254 254 301 1 Mom I've stored all the resources in a box that I left under the bed at home, and I've taped the key to the interlayer of one of the drawers in my office desk. They won't last you for long, though, so you need to use them wisely—until Rachel comes back. 1
255 255 201 1 500510
256 256 301 1 Noan What about you? 1
257 257 201 1 500519
258 258 301 1 Mom I'm going to have to stay here. 1
259 259 201 1 500510
260 260 301 1 Noan Because of what you did...? 1
261 261 201 1 500519
262 262 301 1 Mom Do you think what I did was wrong? 1
263 263 201 1 500510 5
264 264 301 1 The boy nods his head heavily.
265 265 201 1 500519
266 266 301 1 Mom ...Right. 1
267 267 201 1 500510
268 268 301 1 Noan Let's apologize to people, Mom. We can start over after that. 1
269 269 201 1 500519
270 270 301 1 Mom ...I've lost my chance to. 1
271 271 301 Mom I wasn't able to become the person I wanted to be... The only thing I've ever done is compromise with my pathetic self so I could look away from all the things I couldn't accomplish. 1
272 272 301 Mom I thought that would help, but I guess it was all just wishful thinking... 1
273 273 301 Mom See... a single blunder is all that it has to take... for someone to hit the rock bottom of hell. 1
274 274 301 Mom Que sera sera—this is just a fat lie the survivors want you to believe. 1
275 275 301 Seeing the guards coming this way from the distance, she lets out a sigh as she picks up her pace of speaking.
276 276 301 Mom Luck, power, courage, knowledge, and wise decisions—these are all the things you need to become a survivor, and that's why it's hard to be one. Now... 1
277 277 301 Mom Noan, I hope you get to grow up and survive the apocalypse... I hope you get to become who you want to be. 1
278 278 301 Mom And... if you still think what I did was wrong many, many years from now, then remember to never do what I did, okay? 1
279 279 202 1 1
280 280 201 1 500197
281 281 301 1 Upper-Level Guard Time's up. You need to go. 1
282 282 301 Julie puts her mask back on her face and waves at Noan.
283 283 201 1 500518
284 284 301 1 Mom Do you still remember the lullaby? Now... the sun is out. It's time to say goodbye. 1
285 285 301 Mom Goodbye... Noan, goodbye. 1
286 286 201 1 500510 5 200
287 287 201 2 500197 -200
288 288 301 1 Noan ...! 1
289 289 202 1 2
290 290 301 Dragged away by the guards, the boy finally realizes that this is the moment of farewell.
291 291 301 There are so many things that he hasn't cleared up with his mother, and there are so many things that he wanted to ask—except he's lost his chance forever.
292 292 301 In the last 12 short years of Noan's life, they've never once had a heart-to-heart conversation. All the dodging, hiding, and blaming over the years dug a trench so deep in between them—that he never once had a chance to see his mother's true colors.
293 293 301 Her past, her aspirations, her worries, her longings—not once was he given a chance to learn about any of these, and it's only now that he finally learns of his mother's love for him for the first time.
294 294 201 1 500510 5 200
295 295 201 2 500197 -200
296 296 301 1 Noan Why are you only telling me all these now? You never even gave us a chance to fix our relationship! 1
297 297 301 Noan No, Mom! I'm not leaving! There are a million things you haven't told me yet! 1
298 298 202 1 2 1
299 299 201 1 500518
300 300 301 1 Mom ...Noan... 1
301 301 201 1 500510 5 200
302 302 201 2 500197 -200
303 303 301 1 Upper-Level Guard Just go already! It's against the rule to even let you in here in the first place, for God's sake! 2
304 304 301 Noan No! 1
305 305 301 He tries to break free. Just a few more seconds will do, he thinks—except all the struggling gets him nothing but violence in return.
319 319 301 AniZhuanchangEnd The guards throw Noan back to the Commoner Carriage unconscious and lock him up.
320 320 301 The night after, a Cargo Crew member shows up to announce Julie's death.
321 321 301 The doctor ruled food poisoning to be the cause of her death, maintaining that she'd consumed expired, rotten food—which is a common cause of death among people living on the lower level.
322 322 301 Is that even possible?
323 323 301 He stands helplessly among everyone, awash in remorse and guilt. People, however, offer him no constructive answers to his questions. Instead, they shower him—this boy who's been a loner that puts up a tough front—with cold, piercing looks.
327 327 301 Before despair tears his soul into pieces, the boy once again finds hope in his book storage.
328 328 301 With the information the terminal turns up, he slowly teases apart every last detail from that fateful day.
329 329 301 Umpteen hours later, he finally comes across an entry that reads "nitrite poisoning"—and a symptom of it is "cyanosis", reminding the boy of his mother's purplish fingers before she died.
337 337 301 Not long after Julie's death, those men that introduced themselves as "Aston's personal guards" share their findings into the case—which, unsurprisingly, are exactly as people have guessed.
338 338 301 They maintain that Julie was working together with some aristocrats and Cargo Crew members, and that, together, they pocketed a sizable amount of resources.
339 339 301 And that's as far as they went looking into the case—because Julie died during her trial, which made it impossible for them to find out where the pocketed resources are. Furthermore, the Cargo Crew members that had worked with her all went poof, erasing every last hint that might help.
340 340 301 All these people pay steep prices, save for the aristocrats that worked with her.
341 341 301 AniZhuanchangBegin The mastermind's name has become an open secret—which, however, doesn't seem to change a thing on the train.
343 343 301 AniZhuanchangEnd And then a month goes by.
344 344 301 The boy did try to be as economical as he could with what little food he had, but still found himself reaching the end of it just 15 days after his mother left. Having no other choice, he decides to leave his wooden bed of a "home" to seek help.
345 345 301 He comes across quite a few people who, in addition to hating his mother's guts for "having worked with those from the upper level", also despise him—for the mere fact that he's her son.
346 346 301 Fortunately, however, he also comes across people who are willing to stand with him, having been helped in their hour of need by his mother.
347 347 201 1 500294
348 348 301 1 "She might have been in the wrong, but I still have her to thank... or else I wouldn't have been here today." 1
349 349 202 1
350 350 201 1 500251
351 351 301 1 "Here, take this. It's not a whole lot, but that's about as much as I have. Try to get through the day first, son..." 1
352 352 202 1
353 353 201 1 500259
354 354 301 1 "Noan, my mom wanted to give this to you for keeping me safe the other day." 1
355 355 202 1
356 356 301 AniZhuanchangBegin With all the food he's scraped together, Noan manages to keep his head above water until Rachel comes back to the train from an emergency mission.
360 360 301 Not a day has gone by that he forgot the look on Rachel's face that day...
361 361 201 1 500515 15
362 362 301 Rachel is always collected—but at this very moment, she's biting her teeth together and clenching her fists so hard that she doesn't even let go when her nails dig into her hands.
363 363 301 Noan was going to ask her what brought his mother to the bitter end she'd met, but nothing comes out of his mouth.
364 364 301 Because he's certain that the pain she's feeling is anything but feigned.
365 365 201 1 500510
366 366 301 1 Noan ...Rachel... 1
367 367 201 1 500515 15
368 368 301 1 Rachel I'm sorry... I'd have totally done everything I could to keep Julie safe... if I hadn't had to go on that emergency mission... 1
369 369 301 Rachel ...But it's all too late now. 1
370 370 301 She looks down at her fist—with all the horrendous nail marks.
371 371 204 1
372 372 301 Rachel You'll be my apprentice starting today. 1
373 373 301 Rachel I'll train you and teach you to protect yourself. 1
374 374 301 Rachel You have to live on, Noan! 1
375 375 301 Rachel And you'll free everyone from this oppression! You'll lay the dead to rest yourself and let them know their sacrifices are not for naught! 1
376 376 301 Rachel holds Noan's shoulders with so much force that he feels on the verge of being crushed.
377 377 301 Rachel You need to live on, Noan, even if days like this go on for another four, five decades! 1
378 378 301 Noan nods earnestly to her words, having not fully realized the weight they hold.
379 379 201 1 500510 5
380 380 301 1 Noan Yes, I'll stick by your side and free everyone from this oppression, Rachel! And I'll be there to see their souls rest in peace at the end of it all! 1
389 389 301 1 Rachel We'll be moving up to the roof and train there starting today. We don't have time to wait for your body to catch up anymore, and you'll have to learn how to cope with fights using techniques. 1
393 393 304 AniZhuanchangEnd He hasn't slacked for a single moment. Still, his mother's words have dawned on him... 000000ff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory428.jpg 1 1
401 401 304 He has to do it the same way hundreds of thousands of people do it—through blood and sweat, with no shortcut in between. 000000ff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory428.jpg 1 1
419 419 304 AniZhuanchangEnd When the thunders of wind come together to tear down what little was left of his fantasy, the boy breaks down in despair, no longer able to curb the heart-wrenching pain he feels within. 000000ff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory428.jpg 1 1
423 423 301 He hates his hands' guts for being as weak as they are, but he has no idea how to make them stronger.
424 424 201 1 500521 5
425 425 301 Noan I don't want to drag people down! 1
426 426 204 1 16
427 427 301 Noan I... 1
428 428 204 1 8
429 429 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Before he knows it, the boy has exhausted himself from crying. He closes his eyes, trying to preserve what little energy he still has.
433 433 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Mom I'm sorry... but I've lost my chance. I wasn't able to become the person I wanted to be... The only thing I've ever done is compromise with my pathetic self. 1
440 440 301 Julie once told him that this is what it's like growing up, and that it's every normal person's job to learn to compromise.
441 441 301 But just how is he supposed to—when his heart burns so furiously with sadness and regret?
442 442 301 The boy doesn't aspire to be better, but he knows that he would give it all to take another step forward to alleviate himself of his pain somehow.
443 443 204 1 5
444 444 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin Noan ...Just you all wait and see... I'm not giving up... 1
