Roll Over and Die Episode 10: Truth and Reality

A quiet tavern greets Fram, a stark contrast to its usual bustle. Eterna, ever the pragmatic informant, reveals a search request for Ink came just after Fram left. More chillingly, Eterna recounts a recent duel between Dane and Connes, where Dane emerged victorious, leaving Connes and his men inexplicably vanished. The implication hangs heavy in the air, a grim foreshadowing.

Fram finds a part of the city blocked off, guarded by wary soldiers. An inexplicable, vile smell permeates the air, prompting guards to speculate about a nearby corpse. The odor and the sudden roadblocks trigger Fram's deepest fears, bringing flashbacks of Milk and the happier days with Ink and Sarah, underscoring the preciousness of what she now stands to lose.

At the church, Fram's search for Sarah yields a distressing truth. A terrified Nun reveals Sarah was abruptly excommunicated for 'demon worship' on direct orders from the Pope. Fram struggles to reconcile this with the Sarah she knows, realizing the depth of the Church's sinister reach and the injustice of the accusation.

Fram's desperate inquiries continue, leading her to discover that Ed and Johnny were 'reassigned' or 'disappeared' at the same time as Sarah. She then seeks out Audley, only to learn she too has vanished, likely due to her investigations into the Church. The systematic vanishing of her allies leaves Fram isolated, feeling the heavy burden of responsibility.

Overwhelmed by guilt, Fram breaks down, blaming herself for drawing her friends into danger and effectively 'sentencing them to death'. Milk, with her bandaged eyes, offers quiet, profound comfort. She reminds Fram of how her kindness transformed Milk's life, asserting that Fram is her hero, no matter the circumstances, offering a lifeline of emotional support.

Fram's resolve hardens; she must protect Ink and Milk. During dinner, Eterna presses Ink to abandon her pretense of amnesia. A terrified Ink finally confesses that her 'Mother' is Satiel's Francoise, the same woman who initiated the search for her and is suspected of illicit dealings with the Church. This revelation tightens the web of conspiracy around them.

Comforted by Eterna, Ink bravely recounts her unique history: she is the 'first generation' of her kind. Unlike her siblings, she cannot telepathically communicate with 'Papa Origin', leading to a childhood of profound loneliness and cruelty. Eterna then delivers a stunning observation: Ink shows no signs of a heartbeat, hinting at an even deeper mystery surrounding her existence.

The implications of 'Papa Origin' being potentially *the* revered deity weigh heavily on Fram. Faced with Ink's strange physiology and the pervasive threat, Fram resolves to learn magic, seeking Eterna's tutelage. She quickly demonstrates an innate talent, successfully projecting a yellow light, signifying her budding power and fierce determination to protect those she cares for.

While Fram trains, fragments of information emerge. She overhears market gossip detailing Ed and Johnny's last known location: rushing to a bridge that now reeks of 'rotten flesh'. Later, Welsh confirms Satiel's Francoise is indeed the smuggler supplying the Church. These clues paint a grim picture of the Church's ruthlessness and the dark fate of Fram's disappeared allies, with Ink seen calmly hanging laundry, a brief moment of domestic peace before the storm.

A quiet evening takes a horrifying turn. While Fram sleeps, Milk and Eterna go out, hoping Fram will rest. Fram awakens to an empty, unsettlingly silent home, with Milk nowhere to be found. Searching frantically, she discovers Ink being forced to ingest a dark, purple substance, transforming her into a grotesque, multi-eyed monster. Fram is left screaming, utterly alone and heartbroken in the dark, foggy city.