"You mustn't use thymia to hurt another."
Thus were the children of the Mud Whale taught and raised.
In spite of this, we resolved ourselves to fight.
The training we engaged in to prepare ourselves for the Imperial battleship Skylos' attack
was little more than child's play.
Even so, we devoted ourselves to it seriously.
Thymia cannot be used directly on people.
When we use our powers, they must be focused on bows and arrows or bladed weaponry.
That's it. Imagine the shape of the bow in your head.
Picture it bending back, and don't forget the arrow.
I won't fowget!
Pull back the string and look straight at your target.
Wook at it.
See the arrow piercing it.
Piersh!
The children can draw bows beyond their strength with the help of thymia.
It increases their accuracy as well.
We were already accustomed to the basic use of moving objects with thymia.
Hey, you.
Come with us.
What do you even—
Shut up, you.
Dork.
Bald dork.
Archiving destroyer dork.
Let's go.
Are you guys okay?
What do you want?
Take them out.
Your clothes are all torn up.
We felt sorry for you, so Shinono suggested we get you new ones.
I think this color would look great with your skin.
This one's cute too!
That's great!
I can't fight in these.
Do you mind if I modify them to move more easily in?
Go ahead. I'll lend you my sewing set.
I'm Urumi. Let's be friends.
You should hang with us instead of sticking around those boring guys.
Right?
We're all pretty confident in our thymia.
Please, tell us about the enemy.
We want to fight too.
Our friend...
She was killed back then.
Nobody could say whether this path was right.
Only four days remained until Skylos' full assault.
Oh silence, melodies, you Marked of fleeting lives
seijaku yo senritsu yo hakanaki shirushi yo
Oh silence, melodies, you Marked of fleeting lives
seijaku yo senritsu yo hakanaki shirushi yo
So long as you choose to live upon this land above sand
sajou ni kono chi ni ikitsudzuketa no nara
So long as you choose to live upon this land above sand
sajou ni kono chi ni ikitsudzuketa no nara
Listen to the whale's song from this world bathed in sin
tsumi wo matou sekai kara kujira no uta wo kiita
Listen to the whale's song from this world bathed in sin
tsumi wo matou sekai kara kujira no uta wo kiita
Listen to the whale's song from this world bathed in sin
tsumi wo matou sekai kara kujira no uta wo kiita
Embrace fate, emotions, and do not fear, children
unmei wo kanjou wo idaku beki kotachi yo
Embrace fate, emotions, and do not fear, children
unmei wo kanjou wo idaku beki kotachi yo
Embrace fate, emotions, and do not fear, children
unmei wo kanjou wo idaku beki kotachi yo
Follow them, follow them, to the future that lies beyond
sono saki e sono saki e michibikareta no nara
Follow them, follow them, to the future that lies beyond
sono saki e sono saki e michibikareta no nara
Follow them, follow them, to the future that lies beyond
sono saki e sono saki e michibikareta no nara
A thousand voices lead to a dream land
ikusen no koe kuusou no chi e
A thousand voices lead to a dream land
ikusen no koe kuusou no chi e
Turn the rudder and change course
kaji wo kitte ikou to shita
Turn the rudder and change course
kaji wo kitte ikou to shita
A thousand voices sing the sand ocean ballad
ikusen no koe suna no umi no baraado
A thousand voices sing the sand ocean ballad
ikusen no koe suna no umi no baraado
A thousand voices sing the sand ocean ballad
ikusen no koe suna no umi no baraado
It's Elder Rasha.
I haven't seen her in a while.
Didn't she only join the Council recently?
Two years ago, I think.
But look how unsteady she is.
Put members of the SDF in charge of each squad's training.
On the day of, they'll lead and protect their groups.
What about members for the special operation?
The biggest issue is that most Marked begin to lose thymia power in their late twenties.
Our only option is to rely on the children.
Children, huh.
I'll start looking for volunteers.
Elder Rasha.
Are you well enough to be about?
My health is the least of our worries.
I believe you have the children training.
Y-Yes.
New Chieftain.
It seems that they killed your sister.
You must detest those outsiders. But you must never forget this—
Tomorrow, the children might end up having to kill someone.
Tomorrow, they might end up dying.
And you are the one who will have decided that.
Elder Rasha, Suou cares more about the children than anyone else.
Kuchiba, what about you?
You were with Taisha, and yet you were unable to protect her.
Do you intend to fight for revenge?
You don't have the ability to fight. It's the Marked children whose lives will be sacrificed.
Kuchiba!
The only answer you Elders could come up with was mass suicide!
If you want to complain—
Go ahead.
Do as you wish.
Either way, everything will soon be over.
The cursed children of the whale will be saved at long last.
Elder Rasha.
If we do nothing, we are simply waiting for death.
That is why we can't afford to stop here!
Ouni.
Were you selected to be a member of the Chieftain's plan?
Isn't it a dangerous mission?
I'm gonna get something to eat. Jiki, come with me.
Ouni appeared out of nowhere in a corner of the residential area one day.
Nobody had any idea who his parents were.
He wasn't part of any group either.
That kid's always by himself.
I think his name's Ouni.
What a weirdo. Let's leave him alone.
Hey, you.
I'll let you be my underling.
I'm saying I'll let you play with us!
Wait!
Why you...
Take this!
Fighting is against the rules.
He's the one who punched my face!
I let him be my underling...
But he didn't—
I'm going to have you spend some time together in the bowels.
Be sure to talk it out.
Dammit, I don't wanna be here!
Let me out!
You want to get out that bad?
In here is no different from outside.
Of course it's different! You don't care about being in a tiny place like this?
This island is tiny too.
We're surrounded by sand and can't move freely.
We'll just grow up and then die trapped here.
They're the same.
Th-Then you just have to leave!
You scaredy scaredy scaredy-cat! Just get off the island if you don't like it!
And if you can't do it yourself, then I'll take you!
Oh, right.
Now you've definitely gotta be my underling.
I mean, my minion! But I guess that's the same thing.
I know!
Be my comrade.
If you do, I'll take you outside.
Hey, time's up.
Doesn't it suck in the bowels? Be more careful unless you—
It's not so bad once in a while, right?
Nibi. What will you do?
Will you fight?
I haven't given up on getting to the outside world.
I'll beat up anyone in my way and take you out there.
Don't forget that I used to be the leader.
I haven't.
I still consider myself that, in fact. Besides, I'm a year older than you.
Don't laugh!
Those days were fun.
But now I'll never be able to see them again!
Don't cry.
I can't!
I'm not strong like you.
You're amazing.
I've never seen you cry even once.
Ouni... I've always been kind of scared.
I have no idea how you see the world.
I'm worried that one day you'll leave us behind and disappear somewhere on your own.
I'm not going anywhere.
I wish you'd look at me when you say that, Ouni.
Chakuro.
Lykos.
You changed? It looks nice.
Here.
Your clothes are dirty and ripped up... so I remade some of the things I received into this.
You made this for me?
Don't wear it if you don't want to.
Hey, Lykos?
I knew it...
Feelings just get in the way...
What're you doing?
Getting shand together.
Tomorrow's the Sand Returning Day.
The eastern barricade is eighty percent complete.
The western one's behind schedule, but...
Suou?
It's probably impossible.
No, if we direct everyone free to help, then the western Sand Returning—
The Sand Returning.
You really think we have time to play in the sand when we know they're coming?
The kids were all looking forward to it...
But we really can't.
Anyway, we have the rally to worry about tomorrow.
We need to unite everyone.
That one's on you, Chieftain.
Be sure to confirm your position and duties and prepare for all eventualities.
That concludes the briefing for tomorrow.
We will likely face horror.
We will likely face sorrow.
Even so, our hearts will always be connected through the sky above and the Sand Ocean below.
If you feel as though you'll be crushed by fear and despair, just remember this prayer.
All of the lives connecting you are forever in your hearts.
Master Suou!
He gets a passing grade this time.
That was wonderful.
Up there!
The workshop has shed blood, sweat, and tears over the last year preparing this masterpiece for today.
It's an autonomous sand-throwing machine. We call it:
The Autonomous Sand-Throwing Machine!
That's the same thing.
Do you think...
that I won't get angry no matter what you do to me?
Hey!
Nezu! Rou! Chakuro! Get down here this instant!
He's madder than I expected.
We'll be fine! Just run, he's got no stamina.
Even I get angry, you know!
Push.
Get back here!
Master Suou threw sand!
It's Sand Returning!
H-Hey! Suou, stop them!
Not today!
The Sand Returning is an annual festival where people throw sand at each other regardless of status.
Every person on the Mud Whale partakes in the sand throwing contest until the sun sets.
There is also one more meaning behind the Sand Returning.
The souls that have melded into the sand pass out of it into the air and return to us once again.
Sami.
I'm sorry for smiling so shortly after your death.
But I haven't forgotten about you once.
I'll always remember you.
Please watch over me.
What is it, Sienna?
Dear...
I'll be participating in the battle too.
I also have an order from the Council.
Prepare to take your own life.
You wouldn't want to leave a displeasing corpse.
Is your heart incapable of feeling?
Do you only care about whether your wife dies in an ugly fashion?
Emotions aren't something you can touch or see.
Why are you so concerned with something nobody can ever understand?
Neri!
I'm so glad you're okay!
After all that with Falaina, why—
You're not Neri.
Who are you? Where's Neri?
She went back to Mama's belly to heal Mama's wounds.
Mama? Who's tha—
So you can actually hear my voice! Thank goodness.
It's been so long since I talked to someone.
I'm actually Neri's twin sister.
Call me Ema.
Ema?
That's right, Archivist.
Hey, make me a promise!
Wh-What? A promise?
Promise that you'll protect this island, like you said underground.
Live here with everyone forever and ever! Promise!
If you come back alive, I'll tell you all of Falaina's secrets.
You mean the history of the Mud Whale? You know about it?
Ema! Just what are you and Neri?
What are you trying to tell me?!
93 Sand Era. Seventeenth day of the seventh month.
Before sunrise, a blinding fog of sand rolled in.
Soon after, the sea bore a sandstorm, severely limiting our range of vision.
The Mud Whale will soon be under siege.
Our highest priority is to protect our own lives from the enemy.
The objective is to stall for time, repel the attack, and survive.
Then there is our secondary mission.
While we are defending ourselves, you will infiltrate the enemy battleship.
You will locate and destroy the nous Skylos, sinking their ship.
This will be a highly dangerous mission.
That is why only the strongest thymia users have been assigned.
I braided these protection charms myself.
Normally they would be worn to remain safe on expeditions, but I'd like everyone to have one.
Please come back safely.
I will, Master Suou.
Good girl! Nice answer.
Thanks.
Be careful.
Keep it.
But...
Just back off.
Don't say that. I'll tie it.
I'm the SDF Third Squad's leader, Tokusa. I'm in charge of this special op.
We're all in this together, so let's get along, Ouni.
I'm counting on you, Tokusa.
Don't be like that, Master Suou.
Aren't we friends? Have a little faith!
Sure...
Lykos.
You're a member of the Mud Whale now.
Value your own life, and come back home safe and sound.
Okay.
Good girl. Nice answer.
Chakuro, I want you to be especially careful when you see the nous—
Don't worry, Suou.
Just leave it to us.
Thank you, Chakuro.
When you finish loading your supplies, get in your boats and go on standby!
I'm coming too!
Nibi, you weren't chosen.
Stay here and protect the others.
No way. I've had enough of being left behind!
Nibi, while I appreciate your enthusiasm—
Shut up! This has nothing to do with the damn SDF!
Calm down!
Hey, don't you hear something?
There's something besides the sandstorm.
What?
They're here.
The enemy is right in front of us!
Passage 6
Tomorrow, they might end
up having to kill someone
Tomorrow, they might end
up having to kill someone
Staring into the dried ocean remains
kawaita umi no ato nozonde
Staring into the dried ocean remains
kawaita umi no ato nozonde
Staring into the dried ocean remains
kawaita umi no ato nozonde
Imagining a river that may have flowed
mada minu taiga wo egaku
Imagining a river that may have flowed
mada minu taiga wo egaku
Imagining a river that may have flowed
mada minu taiga wo egaku
If my heart had remained imprisoned
toraware no kokoro no mama nara
If my heart had remained imprisoned
toraware no kokoro no mama nara
If my heart had remained imprisoned
toraware no kokoro no mama nara
I could have lived unaware of this pain
konna itami mo shirazu ni ita
I could have lived unaware of this pain
konna itami mo shirazu ni ita
I could have lived unaware of this pain
konna itami mo shirazu ni ita
But then they came speaking of such beauty
utsukushii kotoba wo tsugeta hito
But then they came speaking of such beauty
utsukushii kotoba wo tsugeta hito
But then they came speaking of such beauty
utsukushii kotoba wo tsugeta hito
I rise before the sun wakes to swim beyond the furthest reaches
yoake mo matazu ni hate no sono saki wo oyogu
I rise before the sun wakes to swim beyond the furthest reaches
yoake mo matazu ni hate no sono saki wo oyogu
I rise before the sun wakes to swim beyond the furthest reaches
yoake mo matazu ni hate no sono saki wo oyogu
We lay awake listening to memories within the song of bugs
mushi no uta nemurazu kimi to kiita kioku
We lay awake listening to memories within the song of bugs
mushi no uta nemurazu kimi to kiita kioku
We lay awake listening to memories within the song of bugs
mushi no uta nemurazu kimi to kiita kioku
Just keep holding my hand, I'll accept half-cold purple, travel to faraway lands
te wo tada musunde hashitairo demo tooi kuni demo
Just keep holding my hand, I'll accept half-cold purple, travel to faraway lands
te wo tada musunde hashitairo demo tooi kuni demo
Just keep holding my hand, I'll accept half-cold purple, travel to faraway lands
te wo tada musunde hashitairo demo tooi kuni demo
Let's go to embrace this dream born of our short lifetimes
mijikai isshou ni umareta yume wo dakishime ni yukou
Let's go to embrace this dream born of our short lifetimes
mijikai isshou ni umareta yume wo dakishime ni yukou
Let's go to embrace this dream born of our short lifetimes
mijikai isshou ni umareta yume wo dakishime ni yukou
Passage 7
I want to see
your future