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MEMORY: the horologium.
i'll format this properly later leave me alone (strikes are things omitted from mona's memory regain)
---
LUPIN
About the Horologium, is it true...?
Do you really have it inside your body? Is it your heart?
I nod.
CARDIA
It's true. There is a gem embedded into my body.
I start to undo my clothing to show him.
LUPIN
Huh?! Wh-What are you doing?!
CARDIA
This is the Horologium, isn't it?
He looks surprised for a moment, but Lupin's expression turns serious as he looks at my chest.
A strange gem...
It gleams on my chest like a beating heart.
A glowing blue crest spreads across my chest, with the gem in the center.
The Horologium is shaped like a flower.
A large blue gem shaped like a rose spreads across my chest, piercing my skin in places.
I have no idea what effect this stone has on my body.
But I had to consider that the poison in my body has something to do with this gem.
CARDIA
I don't know anything about this.
Other people don't have it...
Only me.
CARDIA
What is it? I want to know, too.
---
CARDIA
What's wrong with me?
DOCTOR
I wish you could tell me. What is wrong with you? I've never seen a patient who walked in here without a heartbeat.
CARDIA
My heart... isn't beating?
I'd never given it any thought.
While everyone is silent in shock, Fran speaks up.
FRAN
That's right... Your heart isn't moving.
That's impossible for a human body, but...
DOCTOR
Ho, so you knew about it, boy? Why'd you bother bringing her here, then?
FRAN
I noticed it immediately when I examined her. But... I wanted another professional opinion.
FRAN
I wasn't sure if I should have told her about it or not...
DOCTOR
So you understand why I won't continue the examination. You tell her, then.
Fran nods carefully.
CARDIA
Fran, what is it?
FRAN
Cardia, your heart isn't moving.
Or, perhaps your heart has been removed from your body altogether.
FRAN
You should be dead. It's impossible, but here you are, very much alive.
FRAN
You have a special power that goes beyond medical science, and it seems you're using it as a life force.
FRAN
It's likely that the Horologium... is there to act as a replacement heart.
FRAN
You must never try to harm it, and don't let anyone else try to take it from you.
---
[ Alchemy has a very long history.
It is said to have originated in the ancient Egyptian city of Alexandria, influenced by the philosophies of Greece's Aristotle.
The original goal was to change an element's properties, and was a dream of those seeking to change "base metals" into gold.
For a long time, those dreamers refined their research, and alchemy developed into a large institution in Arabia.
To this day, no one has successfully been able to create gold or silver in this way.
But alchemy has remained relevant for so long because the research led to other discoveries, like medicine or smelting.
It was in the 12th century that alchemy arrived in Western Europe.
It all started when a translator named Robert of Ketton translated an Arabic book of alchemy by Morienus Romanus into Latin.
The rules of Britain became extremely interested in the "new" study of alchemy.
Of course, the main reason for this was greed due to the possible creation of gold.
"These enthusiasts had another goal. What do you think it was?"
(I... don't know.)
"They sought an immortality elixir."
The Philosopher's Stone is said to create perfect matter, and generate a new spirit.
This material, also known as Arcana, is said to be able to make people immortal.
Alchemy spread like wildfire in Britain, and its practice changed with the times.
The Scientific Method was added to the archaic, superstitious way of thinking.
Modern medicine creation falls under the definition of alchemy, and we can create matter with new properties.
In this regard, a handful of people see alchemy as a branch of chemistry.
The famous Isaac Newton researched alchemy, and greatly contributed to our understanding of modern-day science.
"All right, then... So, how exactly did the work ofIsaac Beckford influence the world of alchemy?"
"What he did was take the ancient, secret, mystical techniques of alchemy and implement them as what we now call modern alchemy."
He extracted truth from the mysticism, which was seen as unscientific, and merged it with modern scientific logic.
As a result... Many different kinds of chemicals and matter were brought into the world.
"Do you remember that extremely hard metal I showed you a while ago? Titanium was one of the fruits of his studies."
"Isaac discovered the element, after which it became possible for alchemists to refine it into a highly purified state."
Apparently, alchemists holding his way of thought even started to revisit the old texts regarding the Philosopher's Stone.
One theory goes so far as to say thatIsaac succeeded in creating the Philosopher's Stone before his disappearance.
With this sort of background, even afterIsaac was out of the picture--
In Britain, under the rule of Queen Victoria, the study of alchemy became one of the nation's major research fields. ]
Victor pauses and looks over at me.
Noticing his gaze, I bring my mind back to the present from the world of alchemy and look back at him.
CARDIA
What's the matter, Fran?
FRAN
Here is what I think, Cardia...
The Horologium cannot be a naturally occurring mineral.
FRAN
From all appearances, the Horologium you carry was created by artificial means.
FRAN
Perhaps that gem was created byIsaac using alchemy.
CARDIA
The Horologium...?
I unconsciously raise my hand to my chest.
CARDIA
Then, do you think that Father created it, and implanted it in me...?
FRAN
I... don't know, exactly.
CARDIA
You said this gem acts as my heart.
Then... Maybe Father placed this inside me out of love.
CARDIA
So that I could live...
FRAN
I... can't really say... at this point...
...
CARDIA
Fran?
FRAN
...?
CARDIA
Why do you look so sad?
FRAN
I'm not--
FRAN
I'm not sad.
Victor smiles, but I can't help but feel that there is still melancholy behind it.
---
FRAN
And...
FRAN
I have an idea as to what the Horologium really is.
CARDIA
What...?
FRAN
I'll start from the beginning.
FRAN
In Britain, there is a scientific academy known as the Royal Society. Long ago, there was some research being conducted there.
FRAN
The discovery of infinite energy, the refinement of the elixir of immortality...
Emulation of the work of God.
FRAN
The legendary substance, the Philosopher's Stone, would be the foundation for it all.
FRAN
Under Queen Victoria's orders, experiments were conducted to refine this substance, pouring obscene amounts of money into it.
I'm hearing all of this for the first time.
I don't understand some of it, and what I do understand makes little sense.
But Victor's serious tone is enough to tell me that this must have been an immense endeavour.
CARDIA
The... Philosopher's Stone?
FRAN
Yes... But the scientists were never able to truly create it, instead creating an imitation, 'Zicterium.'
FRAN
The scientists unable to achieve the desired results were held responsible and stripped of their titles.
Victor pauses to sigh heavily, as if taking a break from his exposition.
I still get the feeling that he's hiding something from me.
CARDIA
Is that everything you wanted to tell me?
He avoids my gaze for a moment.
FRAN
... No. Actually, this is the part I really wanted you to know.
FRAN
Someone else took over the research after those first scientists were removed from the project.
He shakes off whatever's holding him back and turns to me.
FRAN
That person... was your father,Isaac Beckford.
CARDIA
My father...
FRAN
That's right. I don't know why he decided to involve himself in the search for the Philosopher's Stone...
FRAN
AfterIsaac became head of research, I had the opportunity to witness the Zicterium that he had in his possession.
CARDIA
... How is this related to me?
FRAN
What I saw... The solid form of Zicterium had the same sort of shine that the gem in your chest does.
CARDIA
...
FRAN
It's highly likely that the gem embedded within you was based off of Zicterium...
FRAN
And is the forerunner to the Philosopher's Stone.
FRAN
I think the substance was renamed, and eventually came to be called the Horologium.
A sudden gust of wind blows past us, and the flowers in the flowerbed rustle.
The blue gem embedded in my chest... The Horologium.
So, it's true my father himself has deep ties with it.
CARDIA
My father made this...
... It's strange.
Just from this information alone, the gem in my chest suddenly becomes something precious to me.
FRAN
But as to how and why the Horologium acts as your heart,keeping you alive while harbouring poison in your body...
FRAN
I don't know anything about it.
I'm sorry... This information doesn't shed much light on anything.
I shake my head.
CARDIA
... It's all right. Just knowing that Father made this, that he was actually involved, makes me happy.
CARDIA
Because it's what keeps me alive, and he made it himself...
CARDIA
I'm alive right now because of Father, aren't I?
CARDIA
I don't know why he had to put the Horologium inside of me...
CARDIA
But he must have done it for my sake...
---
LUPIN
About the Horologium, is it true...?
Do you really have it inside your body? Is it your heart?
I nod.
CARDIA
It's true. There is a gem embedded into my body.
I start to undo my clothing to show him.
LUPIN
Huh?! Wh-What are you doing?!
CARDIA
This is the Horologium, isn't it?
He looks surprised for a moment, but Lupin's expression turns serious as he looks at my chest.
A strange gem...
It gleams on my chest like a beating heart.
A glowing blue crest spreads across my chest, with the gem in the center.
The Horologium is shaped like a flower.
A large blue gem shaped like a rose spreads across my chest, piercing my skin in places.
I have no idea what effect this stone has on my body.
CARDIA
I don't know anything about this.
Other people don't have it...
Only me.
CARDIA
What is it? I want to know, too.
---
CARDIA
What's wrong with me?
DOCTOR
I wish you could tell me. What is wrong with you? I've never seen a patient who walked in here without a heartbeat.
CARDIA
My heart... isn't beating?
I'd never given it any thought.
While everyone is silent in shock, Fran speaks up.
FRAN
That's right... Your heart isn't moving.
That's impossible for a human body, but...
DOCTOR
Ho, so you knew about it, boy? Why'd you bother bringing her here, then?
FRAN
I noticed it immediately when I examined her. But... I wanted another professional opinion.
FRAN
I wasn't sure if I should have told her about it or not...
DOCTOR
So you understand why I won't continue the examination. You tell her, then.
Fran nods carefully.
CARDIA
Fran, what is it?
FRAN
Cardia, your heart isn't moving.
Or, perhaps your heart has been removed from your body altogether.
FRAN
You should be dead. It's impossible, but here you are, very much alive.
FRAN
You have a special power that goes beyond medical science, and it seems you're using it as a life force.
FRAN
It's likely that the Horologium... is there to act as a replacement heart.
FRAN
You must never try to harm it, and don't let anyone else try to take it from you.
---
[ Alchemy has a very long history.
It is said to have originated in the ancient Egyptian city of Alexandria, influenced by the philosophies of Greece's Aristotle.
The original goal was to change an element's properties, and was a dream of those seeking to change "base metals" into gold.
For a long time, those dreamers refined their research, and alchemy developed into a large institution in Arabia.
To this day, no one has successfully been able to create gold or silver in this way.
But alchemy has remained relevant for so long because the research led to other discoveries, like medicine or smelting.
It was in the 12th century that alchemy arrived in Western Europe.
It all started when a translator named Robert of Ketton translated an Arabic book of alchemy by Morienus Romanus into Latin.
The rules of Britain became extremely interested in the "new" study of alchemy.
Of course, the main reason for this was greed due to the possible creation of gold.
"These enthusiasts had another goal. What do you think it was?"
(I... don't know.)
"They sought an immortality elixir."
The Philosopher's Stone is said to create perfect matter, and generate a new spirit.
This material, also known as Arcana, is said to be able to make people immortal.
Alchemy spread like wildfire in Britain, and its practice changed with the times.
The Scientific Method was added to the archaic, superstitious way of thinking.
Modern medicine creation falls under the definition of alchemy, and we can create matter with new properties.
In this regard, a handful of people see alchemy as a branch of chemistry.
The famous Isaac Newton researched alchemy, and greatly contributed to our understanding of modern-day science.
"All right, then... So, how exactly did the work of
"What he did was take the ancient, secret, mystical techniques of alchemy and implement them as what we now call modern alchemy."
He extracted truth from the mysticism, which was seen as unscientific, and merged it with modern scientific logic.
As a result... Many different kinds of chemicals and matter were brought into the world.
"Do you remember that extremely hard metal I showed you a while ago? Titanium was one of the fruits of his studies."
"
Apparently, alchemists holding his way of thought even started to revisit the old texts regarding the Philosopher's Stone.
One theory goes so far as to say that
With this sort of background, even after
In Britain, under the rule of Queen Victoria, the study of alchemy became one of the nation's major research fields. ]
Victor pauses and looks over at me.
Noticing his gaze, I bring my mind back to the present from the world of alchemy and look back at him.
CARDIA
What's the matter, Fran?
FRAN
Here is what I think, Cardia...
The Horologium cannot be a naturally occurring mineral.
FRAN
From all appearances, the Horologium you carry was created by artificial means.
FRAN
Perhaps that gem was created by
CARDIA
The Horologium...?
I unconsciously raise my hand to my chest.
CARDIA
Then, do you think that Father created it, and implanted it in me...?
FRAN
I... don't know, exactly.
CARDIA
You said this gem acts as my heart.
Then... Maybe Father placed this inside me out of love.
CARDIA
So that I could live...
FRAN
I... can't really say... at this point...
...
CARDIA
Fran?
FRAN
...?
CARDIA
Why do you look so sad?
FRAN
I'm not--
FRAN
I'm not sad.
Victor smiles, but I can't help but feel that there is still melancholy behind it.
---
FRAN
And...
FRAN
I have an idea as to what the Horologium really is.
CARDIA
What...?
FRAN
I'll start from the beginning.
FRAN
In Britain, there is a scientific academy known as the Royal Society. Long ago, there was some research being conducted there.
FRAN
The discovery of infinite energy, the refinement of the elixir of immortality...
Emulation of the work of God.
FRAN
The legendary substance, the Philosopher's Stone, would be the foundation for it all.
FRAN
Under Queen Victoria's orders, experiments were conducted to refine this substance, pouring obscene amounts of money into it.
I'm hearing all of this for the first time.
I don't understand some of it, and what I do understand makes little sense.
But Victor's serious tone is enough to tell me that this must have been an immense endeavour.
CARDIA
The... Philosopher's Stone?
FRAN
Yes... But the scientists were never able to truly create it, instead creating an imitation, 'Zicterium.'
FRAN
The scientists unable to achieve the desired results were held responsible and stripped of their titles.
Victor pauses to sigh heavily, as if taking a break from his exposition.
I still get the feeling that he's hiding something from me.
CARDIA
Is that everything you wanted to tell me?
He avoids my gaze for a moment.
FRAN
... No. Actually, this is the part I really wanted you to know.
FRAN
Someone else took over the research after those first scientists were removed from the project.
He shakes off whatever's holding him back and turns to me.
FRAN
That person... was your father,
CARDIA
My father...
FRAN
That's right. I don't know why he decided to involve himself in the search for the Philosopher's Stone...
FRAN
After
CARDIA
... How is this related to me?
FRAN
What I saw... The solid form of Zicterium had the same sort of shine that the gem in your chest does.
CARDIA
...
FRAN
It's highly likely that the gem embedded within you was based off of Zicterium...
FRAN
And is the forerunner to the Philosopher's Stone.
FRAN
I think the substance was renamed, and eventually came to be called the Horologium.
A sudden gust of wind blows past us, and the flowers in the flowerbed rustle.
The blue gem embedded in my chest... The Horologium.
So, it's true my father himself has deep ties with it.
CARDIA
My father made this...
... It's strange.
Just from this information alone, the gem in my chest suddenly becomes something precious to me.
FRAN
But as to how and why the Horologium acts as your heart,
FRAN
I don't know anything about it.
I'm sorry... This information doesn't shed much light on anything.
I shake my head.
CARDIA
... It's all right. Just knowing that Father made this, that he was actually involved, makes me happy.
CARDIA
Because it's what keeps me alive, and he made it himself...
CARDIA
I'm alive right now because of Father, aren't I?
CARDIA
I don't know why he had to put the Horologium inside of me...
CARDIA
But he must have done it for my sake...