What's the "Purple Wing Helm" supposed to be? Are you pretending to be birds now?
The three of us are still just dirty moles crawling around underground!
If you really want to shed that skin then come at me like you mean it.
I'll even fight barehanded if you want.
What the hell's with that freaky aura?
Those who can't act without clinging to someone else should just pray quietly and play with toy boats!
Come on, let's go.
Sure.
Shit!
Falaina is the soul of the Mud Whale.
But that soul is there not to protect us,
but rather to steal and eat the life force of the Marked.
Those who have thymia and those who do not—
It felt as though the Mud Whale had split into two.
Final Passage
I'm glad
I was born here
Suou.
Are you here to check in on Masoo as well?
We picked some bamboo shoots.
You think he'll be awake today?
I hope he is.
Come in.
I knew it... It's the same as it was with Mom and Dad.
He keeps sleeping longer and longer, and even when he's up he's hazy.
Chakuro, are you okay?
Huh?
You've been out of it today.
I-I just didn't sleep all that well.
Masoo?
Hey, lazybones! How long are you planning to sleep?
I was thinking back on my memories.
Day after day, I felt like I was stuck in a rut doing the same things over and over.
But every single day was different.
We found out we were the descendants of sinners, fought...
I still don't know why we had to hurt other people.
But none of you have to be sullied.
I'll take all of those bloodstained evils with me into the Sand Ocean.
So live proudly for me no matter where you end up.
I'll take all the sad and painful—
No.
All those sad and painful memories are precious to me.
Don't take them away.
That's right, Masoo! The Mud Whale's only just started its journey!
We're gonna be putting you back to work!
I knew you'd say that.
Have you made an appointment?
No, I haven't.
Isn't it improper to just drop in on someone of Commander Atsali's status?
Giving him notice might've caused him to run.
It's best to arrive unexpected.
What's wrong?
My goodness, it appears as though I'm quite despised.
The empty shoes clattered hollowly.
The empty hat is all full of holes.
Eyeballs rain down from the sky.
Empty, empty, nothing is inside.
You should've dodged it! You could've, right?
My driver's dead. Take over.
Don't these guys work for Atsali?
Yes.
But this wasn't a serious attack.
I presume they were just a warning.
Master Orka...
Your poor, beautiful hair... I'm sorry my aim slipped.
What's gotten into you?
Well, if I don't ingratiate myself with you, I'll never get to return to Falaina.
I want to go back as soon as possible and break them one at a time with love and care.
I want to mangle them like I never have before.
I wonder if I left myself back on that island...
Right now, I'm totally empty and soundless inside.
Pardon me for coming without an appointment.
Have I managed to pass your test?
Who is that?
She is my archivist.
It appears that most of her emotions have returned.
Indeed.
She has been given sarx.
The Emperor granted her sarx, the flesh of a nous, due to her position.
After consuming it, she has become more resistant to losing her emotions and has regained her heart.
Only relatives up to the third degree are allowed sarx.
I am well aware.
More so than you, at least.
Excuse me?
I have heard that sarx is shared quite widely within your family.
Such as to your cousins and their children.
You would threaten even your comrades to gain control of Karcharias?
I didn't intend to sound threatening.
It's simply that in my case, I will be free of that sin once I am married to her.
I don't want to kill.
Please... Please take more of my heart.
Are you trying to make an enemy of Commander Atsali?
He is certain to accept my demands.
It will then be a simple matter to obtain Falaina and the daimon boy.
All that will remain after that will be to steal First Nous Anthropos from the Emperor.
I will create a utopia.
You are joking, right?
Treason is the most serious of all crimes. Moreover, Anthropos is—
Exactly. If my conspiracy is discovered I will be put to death.
Why are you telling me something so important?
My fate rests in your hands.
Is that not what it means to be a wife?
We shall pick up your soul when at last we return to the ruined nirvana.
Boil, hot sand.
Your heart will burn for all eternity.
Run, hot sand.
Your body will rise once more as we become the soldier's eyes and legs.
Let us join you on your eternal journey.
Master Suou!
We had so many more bamboo shoots for Masoo to eat...
Juice, too...
Let's put them all in his coffin.
He'll surely get hungry on his long journey.
We can't cry.
I'm not gonna cry!
That doesn't matter!
You can cry today!
Aren't you going to cry?
Didn't your friend just die?
Or perhaps you're unable to cry?
There's nothing that can be done about it if you can't, nor does it matter.
Don't bother worrying about it.
You'll feel better if you pretend it has nothing to do with you.
So that's how you've lived.
Who can say?
I've already forgotten.
It's the first time I've seen you cry.
I...
The countless records our ancestors left us after being chased from their motherland.
Sand Words from previous Chieftains.
The history woven by the people trapped in this sand prison.
The history of sorrow of the short-lived Marked and the Unmarked who were forced to see them off.
The history of the Mud Whale...
The Unmarked's oath to the Marked.
Our history, that we weave...
Hey, what's wrong?
Why do you look so pained?
Neri?
I think I understand your pain just a little bit.
It hurts even more than being stabbed by a sword or drinking poison, doesn't it?
Want me to erase that pain for you?
We'll fly from here.
Higher and further than even the star locusts!
Then all your pain and suffering will go away!
You'll be free!
Are you sure?
I'm staying here.
Oh. That's fine then.
It's what you decided.
Grandpa Kogare, look!
This says Mud Whale, and this says star locust!
Wow, you've already learned that much, Chakuro?
What's next? Teach me the next words, Grandpa!
Well then, how about Sand Returning?
Hey, Chakuro. Do you think I'm weird?
Huh? Like how?
Urumi and Aine said that you and me look like siblings when we're together.
Yeah, probably.
But we don't! We aren't siblings!
Well, yeah, I know that.
You don't know anything!
Huh?
Chakuro, what kind of girl do you think I am?
What kind? Um...
You don't have to say anything! Just write it.
Write it?
Yeah! Write down what kind of girl I am so that everyone can understand.
That way when they read it, they'll remember me.
I see... That's what I wanted to convey.
I wanted them to always remember.
Sami and Grandpa Kogare, Lady Taisha and Masoo.
Everyone who disappeared before my eyes.
The years they spent on the Mud Whale, the fun times they had, the reasons they cried, everything.
That's why I've been writing.
Is that your final decision?
Yes.
Will the Marked be able to bear it?
What will happen if they lose themselves to despair?
Either they will stay on the Mud Whale, accept their short lives, and reject change and a future,
or they will believe in the possibility of a new world.
If it were me...
I would not want to have any regrets when I faced death.
Wasn't the last time everyone was assembled right before we were attacked?
They're not coming again, are they?
I'm scared...
All I can do right now is record the truth!
Suou.
It's almost time. Can you do this?
Those who govern others must be responsible and self-aware.
It is impossible without resolve.
I know.
I can sense it.
Anxiety, fear, doubt.
It's coming from their strong hope, their will to live.
I want to pass on a record of this ship and the lives of the people on it.
I am your Chieftain, Suou.
Thank you for coming.
Today, as a single Unmarked,
there is something I must tell every one of the Marked.
Ever since I can remember, I have been weighed down by the sorrow of seeing the Marked die young.
If the Unmarked can live on for decades, why is it that the Marked cannot?
I was always troubled by the unfairness of it all.
Ouni!
Oh, Captain...
Are you looking for him?
I can't find him anywhere, even though we're all supposed to be listening to Suou's talk.
The Chieftain's talk, huh.
Ouni is different from the rest of you. Do you understand that?
Ouni is...
He doesn't associate with anyone. He's sure to leave you one day.
You don't know the first thing about Ouni!
Why would you say—
Consider it a warning.
Ouni!
She's part of my family.
I won't cry. But that doesn't mean I'll forget!
Then you should go.
Kicha, come on.
O-Okay.
He won't cry, huh.
The Mud Whale has been eating our life force?
What does that make the Unmarked then?
Do you mean my child could've lived longer?
If you still don't get it, that means the Unmarked have been stealing our lives!
Those geezers have been sacrificing us to keep the island afloat!
Just holding us back would have been bad enough...
But they're thieves, too!
No, they're murderers!
Stop!
Suocchi!
What do you think you're doing, you cowards?!
You're Marked, but you're taking the Unmarked's side?!
If we're cowards, then you're a traitor!
A great number of Marked died in the last battle.
Are you saying they were just tricked by the Unmarked and died for no reason?!
Everyone who died...
Nibi, Aijiro, Buki, and every single other person...
They died fighting for all of us left here on the Mud Whale!
It doesn't matter if they're Marked or Unmarked.
And nothing's changed now that we know the truth.
I swear that I'll never forget the fact that they lived!
Please understand. Our forebears did not choose to keep silent for their own safety.
They simply didn't want the Marked to live in fear or lament the fate of their shortened lives.
They wished for you to live lives that were satisfying and fulfilling despite their brevity.
Lady Taisha, Elder Hakuji, and all of us Unmarked feel the same.
So this is the Cage of Falaina?
We're going to be in trouble unless we can escape it soon.
There are animals even all the way out here?
Hamu?
Kokalo?!
Wait!
Neri!
Neri, are you watching?
Are you okay?
I'm sorry...
Why are you apologizing?
Don't you hate me?
Of course not!
I mean, I admit I was surprised when I heard you talking.
It felt unbearable.
I'm sad that Sami, Nibi, Masoo, and the other Marked all died.
But I don't think that blaming Falaina for everything is the right answer.
From now on, I will share the whole truth with you!
Now that we have a rudder and can decide our ship's heading,
it is time for us to go forth and search out new comrades!
Let us sail towards a new world, a free land, along with Falaina!
Please come and find us
Sailing the seas in our mud boat, resting on a bed of white sand
O little traveler
There will surely be encounters in the shifting sands of time
Ouni.
Once we get to Amonlogia, let's search for friends together.
It doesn't matter where they were born or what powers they have.
So long as we can make strong, deep bonds...
When that happens, I'd like for you to be the leader of the new community.
You will be their emotional support.
It's best to refuse early if you aren't confident.
Lord Rochalito, you're being too blunt!
Ouni will surely be popular.
What?
What was that? I won't allow you to doubt me!
You're in trouble, Lord Rochalito!
This is our new ship.
Impressive, isn't it?
Everywhere I look are empty shells.
Prepare for departure!
All is for the Empire!
Your sister...
I hope you'll be able to see your sister.
Mama, can you feel it?
We're departing.
I...
Huh?
Even if I have to let my life get chipped away, or have to abandon my homeland,
I want to live here together with you and the others.
Yeah.
We'll live our lives here as the children of the Mud Whale!
I'm glad I was born here.
I'm glad I can be with everyone.
And I will always feel that way.
The Mud Whale escaped the strong currents known as the Cage of Falaina and pointed its bow at Amonlogia.
Today is Sand Era 93, the sixteenth day of the eighth month.
The journey... will continue.