I-I can read these… let me help you.

S-Sorry… I speak so slow. D-Doctor Warfarin said it can be, cured, but it will take… very long. It's okay, I'm already… used to it. Um, I just hope you're not… annoyed.

Wh-What's in my hand? No, not herbs, a, a kind of moss. The miners, they use it to light fires, and also, make tea. It looks pretty? Da. On the tundra, it's really easy to see, so everyone picked all of them long ago. This is… the last bunch I have, and I… want to keep it.

S-Sound, the alarm? You want me to, show you how we work in the mines…? Okay. Actually, it's not really a bell we ring, but it's… really loud. No, you have to, cover your ears. You must.

In the mines, it's very easy to, lose track of time. So I stay outside, helping them to count. They can't stay there too long, or they'll… die. One hundred and eleven, one hundred and twelve, one hundred and thirteen… like that. I count my numbers really, smoothly? Ah—whuh?

When you, speak into a cave, there's always a strange response. When I laugh, it laughs. When I'm mad at it, it's mad at me. Actually, some people are like the caves—Rankin, he saw too many… complicated things, and in the end… he became complicated too.

This letter, and the wheat ear inside it, they sent it to me, from the border. Happy? Da. I thought, everyone would separate, and never see each other again. Strange, whenever I think about their smiles, my eyes... well up with tears. Huh? That's... not weird?

H-Have you heard this story? Parents go out to shovel snow, but soon, someone knocks on the door. The child goes to open the door, and sees a manglerbeast standing, just as we do— I will never— no, it's not just because of Babushka Nadia. Y-You're right. Real family, wouldn't force me to, open the door.

N-No, I wasn't spacing out! I was counting… down until the sun sets. I don't want to… see it go away. In the north, the sun is, precious, and I'm scared it won't come back one day—it will, tomorrow? And y-you're, willing to stay with me… until it comes back up? Really?

You've been working for, so long… Do you need to rest for a bit…? I will remember… to wake you up.

H-How do you do, Doctor! Everyone calls me… Vetochki, um—oh, yes! It means twig in Ursine!

I just… need to k-keep everyone safe… and that's all, right?

I'm not scared of… hardship, or pain, either! I'll work hard… and train even more, you can… trust me on this.

This badge is for—me? But I haven't done enough. There's still so many Infected… I will help… many more people! Um, yes. You're right, we're… all in this together.

Oh, okay.

Sound… the alarm!

Please, be careful and… stay safe.

Watch out.

I… can do it!

I… got it!

Don't be scared!

D-Don't come any… closer.

Seven hundred and twenty-three, Seven hundred and twenty-two, Seven hundred and twenty-one… live on…

Fifty-nine, sixty. One, two… deep breaths…

Just, just hold on for a while longer…

I-It's time!

We… did it?

C-Can we take a break now?

Everyone… stay close to me.

W-We have to go back, some of our comrades are still… out there!

This place is… so warm.

Could you… l-let go, please!

Once upon a time, there was a… snowman who got, lost… have you, heard this story before?

Arknights.

Towards, the left, da… ah, it's crooked again. Higher on the right… just a little—yes, perfect! Thank you, for helping me, put up these festival, decorations, Doctor! We'll get to, ring in the new year, soon, so… would you like to, give it a try?

D-Doctor, you're right on time… oh, I, ah, just arrived too.

There are so many, presents on the table… ah, Doctor! When did you get back? Th-This necklace? It's an amulet I made, with colorful stones. I wanted to—here, for you. Happy birthday.

Since I was small, I always thought—I thought, pain wasn't so bad. Maybe I, deserve the pain. But—what about others? What about the people in places I've, never been? They shouldn't have to suffer. Rhodes Island… has given me a lot of 'painkillers', and I want to, share them with more people.