Mission 102 (
Summary[]
Martha is finally home
After finally returning to Ostania, Martha rushes to her home in Berlint and shares a tearful reunion with her parents. The next day, Martha leaves for Eden Academy to meet with Henry but is surprised to learn that it is currently the weekend, so none of the teachers who live off the campus are there. Martha runs into her former teacher, Mr. Fowler, who gives her Henry's home address when she requests it.
Martha is heartbroken to learn about Henry's marriage
Martha dashes to Henry's home, but trips and falls flat on her face. To her surprise, she gets helped up by Henry himself. The two cry tears of joy and relief to see each other again, but before Martha can finally confess her feelings, another woman appears. Henry introduced the two women to each other, and Martha is devastated to learn that Henry married one month ago. Henry's wife, remembering her manners, says her name, Lucia. Martha manages to congratulate the newlyweds, but alone with herself, she cannot accept it as the memories of her youth shatter before her. Martha internally cursed their era and herself, thus bringing a close to her adolescence.
Martha rediscovers the meaning of her life
In the present, Becky cannot accept the end of Martha's tale. She asks why Martha did not steal the man she loved back, which Martha dissuades against and clarifies that the man's wife was a fine woman. Lucia's uncle was a distinguished man who heavily supported the postwar reconstruction, and she and Henry were able to get Martha to dance ballet at one of their charity events. While Martha was unhappy with being marketed as a war survivor and her lessened ability to dance due to her injuries, she had one of the most impactful experiences of her life. During that event, where she felt that she had performed in a world where her dream theater troupe still existed and she had joined it, Martha experienced what it meant to feel alive again and accepted that she had an entire life ahead of her. As Martha came to that discovery, Lucia was happy for Martha, which was mutually felt. Henry also loved Lucia dearly, and Martha respected and felt pride in that, something she admits to accepting years later.
Martha teaches Becky about understanding the world
Becky admonishes the war and the elites that wanted it for dashing Martha's dreams and love, as well as dragging innocents into it, but Martha tells her young mistress that the world is not that simple and is full of many things that interact with each other in complicated ways. Not understanding Martha, Becky presses for answers. Martha explains that the things that people cannot understand are what cause them unease, so they will convince themselves that they do understand to make themselves feel better. However, clinging and believing in those assertions as truths is a dangerous weakness, and Martha tells Becky that accepting the unknowns is equally important to finding the truths.
Martha and Henry share playful banter with another
Martha goes further, saying that even after fighting in the second East-West war, she was still unable to understand anything except that battlefields are tragic and miserable places. Becky is shocked that Martha went back to the war, and Martha adds that "he" was also furious about it. Becky suspects that the "he" Martha has been referring to in her story is Henry, but Martha shushes her and advises against prying, as everyone has things they wish to keep secret. Martha then leaves her confused mistress at home to run an errand. Dressed in funeral attire and carrying flowers, Martha arrives at a cemetery, where she meets with Henry. Henry thanks her for always bringing flowers every year, and Martha remarks it has been 15 years. She jabs at Henry, saying that despite the passage of time, he is still a terrible dancer, which an embarrassed Henry protests. As they note the lovely weather, Henry invites Martha for some tea, which she accepts.
Characters[]
Trivia[]
- It is revealed that Henry's late wife's name was Lucia.
- Becky's dog, Wiesel, makes a physical appearance for the first time.
References[]