[Recollector’s Log#1: Ballad of Sartoria]
[Message Entry 0422] Date: xx/xx/30CA 342nd Sept. Cycle of the Void Sun Subject: Incoming transmission from Sister Ell –
“Ballad of Sartoria”
Sister Sho, How’s your new life as a Recollector treating you? I know you’re still out there in The Grand Expanse, digging up dirt or something. I don’t know what you do, you never tell me.
But you really should make time to visit us boring, normal folk in the Librarium. Do you know of The Ballad of Sartoria and Inaris, The Silver Witch?
The MD Archive doesn’t mention it since the recollection procedure is still ongoing, but i’ve heard Sister-Recollector Reine sing the first draft verses in the Recollection Hall.
You should know it, you’re a Recollector now too. I can share a bit of what I heard, though I suspect you already know the entire thing.
"Bear witness, the Peacebringer [[Sartoria]]
A reckless oath shackled your pride in vain
And yet only the scent of blood shall remain
For every thousand your sword has slain Bless your light, Maiden Inaris
Though your frailty was betrayed by a knight's vow
A falsehood to be sure, as foolish love sows ruin
Now your fate lies broken, and your spirit must bow
Let the world know, for your sins, a thousand heavens shall burn
Yet in the end, nothing of you, not even your names, shall return"
It’s a nice song, isn’t it? But I don’t like Sister Reine’s interpretation of the final battle.
She arranged the orchestra to play some sort of dreary requiem, as if Sartoria was always a traitor doomed to die, and Inaris a sullen widow without any agency. So boring right? I’d like to imagine it was a heroic sacrifice. Sartoria won’t go without a fight. We both know I can make a better recollection song than Reine, though i’m not a recollector yet. I’m thinking of a full on rock song, so Sartoria goes out with a bang as the day breaks, like a true hero. Oh right, I’ll tell you what a rock song is when you get back.
Did you know the martyr division archive has music records too from the old world? I’ve learned lots of things from the MD archive. It’s so much cooler here than when I was assigned to monitor planetary movements back in the old wing listening to Father Zaleri ramble about the Void Sun. Ugh. Hey, I had a random thought: do you think i’m more like Sartoria, or Inaris? They say Inaris had a silver eye that can see a thousand futures.
I wonder how she felt, realizing she had no way of changing Sartoria’s fate, but seeing all the ways he was destined to end? By the way, I found that picture you drew of me before you left. You’re not good at hiding it. I’m flattered, to be honest. Though if I were to offer criticism, I don’t wear that much eyeliner. Why did you draw me with some kind of prosthetic arm though? last time I checked, my arm is still here. And what’s with my weird looking eye? It’s like staring into the void. You sure had a creative interpretation of me, huh. Anyway, if you like drawing me that much, why don’t you come back soon, Sister Sho? Sister Reine misses you. I do too, but just a tiny bit.
-END TRANSMISSION-
