So, this is the Splinter of Knowledge...
This thing took your power and...
This Splinter of Knowledge... No, the "Arcanum of the Craft"...
What the hell is it?
Why did you have it?
Nagira... There are some things that even I don't have the answers to.
To be honest, I don't know if returning this to you is such a good idea.
I'll admit that this thing's power saved my life.
But on the other hand, I may end up the same as that guy if you suddenly felt like it.
The thought of one human having such incredible power gives me the willies.
Can you control it? Can you control this power?
Well, can you?
I don't know for sure, either.
There are some people I want to introduce you to.
They might know something about this.
Let me talk to them.
I feel like it'll disappear...
...the instant I look away.
I just kept counting...
...all the many traces of loneliness...
...that I'd vomited up.
In this time that seems so dry,
...my heart is thrashing around and drowning.
It takes those lies that make my head spin...
...and tears them to pieces.
And the place I lose my way in...
...is a dim, hazy world.
Sorry to make you come all the way out here.
This is the girl I told you about...
I'm Robin.
My name is Kannosaki.
This is my wife...
Hey.
Pleased to meet you.
This is it.
I'd heard there was an object that could bestow the inner secrets to a Witch, but I...
May I touch it?
Hm? Sure.
What do you think? I had heard that you two were well-versed in Witchcraft.
Well, it just turned out that way.
I believe my wife might know more about this than I do.
Hitomi, have you seen anything like this in the library?
Hitomi?
Yes?
Have you seen this?
I'm sorry, I've never seen it before.
I'm terribly sorry.
No, that's quite all right.
I would, however, ask that you not discuss this matter with anyone else.
We understand completely.
We want to lead a quiet, peaceful life, too.
It looks like we won't be of much help.
We should be going.
Hitomi.
I'm sorry.
Well, we're off.
If you ever need any help with anything, give me a call.
Thank you, we will.
That's too bad.
Well, sometimes coming up empty can be for the best.
Don't worry about it.
Nagira, do I have something on my face?
Hm?
That woman was staring at me.
Are you sure you weren't imagining things?
Really, she was!
You're just being self-conscious.
It's not that.
Want to see you.
Will be waiting
at usual place.
Hm? Hey!
Sorry.
I'm heading out for a bit.
Pachinko again, sir?!
Hey, this is important business.
You have an appointment for this evening, so...
Yeah, yeah... I know.
What have you got for me?
I heard a rumor that there's a guy who worked as an errand boy for old lady Methuselah.
I figure that if anybody knows about that splinter, it's him.
They call him Lazarus.
They say the old lady brought him back to life just as he was about to die,
...so that's why they gave him that nickname.
But I hear that nobody's seen him around lately,
...so if you're looking for him, you might want to hurry.
Amon? But how...
Amon!
Robin!
You've got a call from the wife who was here yesterday.
Are you still sleeping?
If you don't come down, I'm hanging up.
You have 10 seconds.
Nine!
Eight!
Okay, I've got it. I'll be right there.
Where's Nagira?
He hasn't been back since he took off.
Darn it, where's he off goofing around THIS time?
Maybe he's at his girlfriend's.
Huh?
Somebody said they wanted to meet him.
Oh, geez... I didn't think about that!
That was so stupid of me!
I really need to keep a close eye on him!
I'm going out for a bit.
I wish he'd stop drinking, gambling, and womanizing during office hours.
Um...
It's open! Please, come on in.
All right.
I'm so glad you came!
Make yourself at home.
Um...
I'll make some tea. Do you like black tea?
Sure...
I received some wonderful black tea a while ago.
But my husband doesn't notice these things, so there's no point in making it.
Um...
Would you like something sweet? I made your favorite orange cake.
Listen, about the Splinter...
Oh, could you wait a moment?
Sorry about that.
Look, this is the one piece dress that you said that you wanted.
Good thing I got a size 9, huh?
Stop that, Hitomi.
Honey...
Just give it a rest.
That girl isn't Aya.
What are you doing here?
She said that she remembered something about the Splinter.
Could I have a word with you alone?
This is our daughter's room.
It's not used anymore.
What happened to her?
Chances are that she was hunted.
Aya was a Witch.
My wife thought you...
I'm sorry.
I've heard about you from Mr. Nagira.
This place is under surveillance.
You shouldn't associate with us anymore.
We've been expecting you.
What's been going on at Solomon headquarters since the attack?
No activity whatsoever.
Perhaps they're waiting to see what move we will make.
I doubt they give us that much credit.
Rumors are circulating that the attack on the STN-J...
...means that Solomon headquarters has cut you loose.
If any more of these negative rumors get around,
there's a chance that we'll even lose our sponsors.
You want to replace me right away, do you?
No, sir.
What I'm trying to say is that perhaps you should avoid any overt activity for a while.
The STN-J is safe for now, but if this place were attacked...
Director, your real motivating factor is that you value your life, yes?
You don't seem to understand this, Director, but this place is a fortress.
No one could take this place easily, not even Solomon headquarters.
But...
It's time to make a decision.
We will speed up the project.
B-But that's...
Solomon's views will have to change once they see the results of the evolved Orbo.
We will no longer need Witches' powers on hunts.
Now is the time to take that first step towards our ideal.
What's our development status?
We're getting results of 97% in our simulations.
Once you give us authorization to gather data in live combat, we can move out at any time.
You have authorization. I'll forward the STN-J's hunt list to you.
Begin your preparations.
Understood.
I expect to see more efficient results this time.
Huh?
Why am I crying...?
Oops! That was close...
Geez, is this guy really down...
Is that the place?
Lazarus?
You awake?
Beg pardon...
Crap!
If you're gonna kill me, come on and kill me!
Just a warning, huh?
I'm sending you my dry cleaning bill, Amon!
What are you doing here?
I was in the area.
You!
I'd like to talk some more.
Come in!
She can come in, right, honey?
I was just starting dinner.
Is there anything that you don't like?
No, not really.
Really? I'll go all-out, then!
Thank you.
It seems like it's been forever since I last saw her this happy.
She had been crying ever since you left yesterday, you see.
No, ever since our daughter disappeared.
Maybe I've just been pretending not to notice.
I guess it's because there's nothing I can do.
Would you mind if I asked about Aya?
Three years ago, her powers awakened.
They were weak, hardly enough to make a pencil roll around.
We used every means at our disposal to find out...
...if we could make this unwanted power go away.
But in the end, we were never able to find a way.
And then one day, she went to school, and we haven't seen her since.
We, who are called "Seeds" by the STN-J, are always watched by someone.
And if we show signs of powers, however faint,
...we're ratted out, and our very existence is erased.
Did you look for her?
We looked everywhere. For months.
We even asked the media and the police for help.
But they all ignored us.
The only one who offered a helping hand was Mr. Nagira.
Right up until the morning she disappeared,
...my wife had been fighting with her over buying a new dress.
She's regretted not buying it for her ever since.
I'm sorry, I've neglected to entertain you.
Um... I'll help you.
Thank you. But do you think you could do something else for me?
I wonder if she'll like this?
She might.
Honey...! How long have you...
I'm sorry. I might not be around for much longer now.
My, Mr. Nagira, you're certainly back early.
Yeah.
What do you mean, "Yeah"? Pee-yew!
Mr. Nagira, where did you pick up that stench?!
I'll send that right out to the cleaners, so...
Where's Robin?
She went to see that couple from yesterday.
What did you say?
They tell me you'll be able to leave soon.
Where's Amon?
Don't go after him. Just forget him.
What do you plan to do with him?
He's different from us.
He's human.
I have a duty to preserve the purity of humanity.
I've put together everything you'll need.
Go make a new life for yourself, Touko.
I'm sorry for dropping by unannounced.
I'd like you to have this dress.
That's all right. I'll drop by again sometime.
Yes, you're right.
I'll see you later.
I forgot my...
Do you suppose she'll stop by again?
It's all right, honey. I'm sure she...
Hitomi, escape out the back.
I won't run.
I don't want to lose anyone else.
Hitomi...
It can't be...
But they were just...
Robin!
What are you...
Nagira... They're gone.
Those people, they...
Those people, they're gone...!
And?
I was sent to Japan by Solomon headquarters to retrieve the Arcanum of the Craft.
Working as a hunter at the STN-J was camouflage for that mission.
In other words, nobody outside of headquarters was supposed to know, huh?
I retrieve the Arcanum, hand it over to a messenger from headquarters,
...and my mission ends there.
This mission was supposed to work that way, too.
But...
But this mission didn't go like that.
So the attack on the STN-J wasn't because of the Arcanum?
If they wanted it, all they had to do was wait for me to give it to them.
So you really don't know what's hidden in this thing?
I was only assigned to retrieve it.
I didn't need to know what was in it.
Nagira... Look after that for me.
Hey, this is your ace in the hole.
I know that.
But right now... I know I won't be able to keep that power in check.
Just how far back do I need to go?
Tell me.
It's all so vivid that it hurts.
The truth is, nothing can be shared,
...so I never looked back.
...all those promises...
...inside me eventually...
...gave up on that light from some other time,
...like the light of a morning you can't return to.