As we head south, the shops on the street grow larger and more fancy. Unlike the clothing reseller, these are ones we can't go into. I've already spent most of what I earned anyway, I only have one tin, three nuvrites, and three coppers left. And supposedly, sewing supplies should take about two coppers. Not much left for anything else. I'll have to see how much a basket costs and go from there.

After a little while longer, Emily breaks the comfortable silence to ask a question. "Hey Aria, I've been wondering for a while now..." I turn as we keep walking side by side. "What is that thing you do?"

"Thing?" She really needs to be more specific...

"The uhh..." then she bows awkwardly, a little. "That thing."

"Bowing?" I don't understand the question.

"Bowing? What is that?"

"It's... uhh..." I don't know how to put it into words. "It's what you just did. You just... kind of... bow." I'm trying to explain the word by using it again, I realize.

"Right, but why do you do it all the time? It's kind of funny to watch, but I've never seen anyone else do it. I always just thought it was one of those weird things you did. It's... not related to your past, is it?"

"No, it's not. I just... uhh, I thought that's what you were supposed to do when you were thanking someone, or apologizing."

"Why?" she tilts her head as she questions it.

"I... I definitely feel like I saw people doing it, so I thought that's how it was done..." is all I can say. It was something I picked up back when I was watching people, trying to figure out how to act like they did so they wouldn't know I was a rail unit. "I definitely saw it back then, so I thought it was normal. It's not?" She just shrugs with a confused expression.

"I've never seen it before," she comments.

I scratch my head. Where did I see it? I go back over everything I can think of. But one time after another, it's just me bowing to everyone I meet and talk to. Of course I was an idiot and never noticed that no one else ever bowed to me, it was always just me bowing to them... "Ugh..." I grumble. I go over all the people I've met, thinking deeply, until one face sticks in my memory. "Mina!" I exclaim. She's the only person I can ever recall bowing to me. More of a tiny mini bow than a normal one really, but she did. That was when I went to the stables with Marrianne that one time, but it's the closest thing I've ever seen.

Now that Emily has pointed out that no one else does it, I feel like I have to know. Where in the world did this strange thing come from and why is Mina the only other one who does it? We'll be walking right past the stables on our way back, so now would be the time to go and ask.

However... is it really ok to go meet her? I'm mainly worried about annoying her. I don't know if she would kick us out like the shop owners do... I look down at myself. My clothes are clearly those of a peasant, more worn out and patched up than what I wore at Marrianne's. But I did just buy them, so they're about as clean as they'll ever be. I'm not terribly dirty, but... now that I'm really looking, I've gotten a really used to being dirty all the time compared to when I lived with Marrianne. I must be underestimating it. She complimented my white hair last time, but now it's so stained with dirt that it's a dull gray. In the end, I have no idea if I'm presentable enough to go into her stables... Of course, there's also the worry that I'll meet Marrianne there. It's probably really unlikely, but it's still a possibility I need to be careful of.

Well, there isn't much to lose by trying, and I really, really want to know more. I just have to make sure not to mention going there with Marrianne before. In case I do make Mina angry, I don't want her to take it out on Marrianne.

"Come on, I know who to ask," I say, and increase my pace.

"Really?" Emily's eyebrows shoot up at the unexpected claim. We quickly head past the shops along the wall until we approach the stables near the gate. As we draw close, the smell of horse waste keeps getting worse. It's stifling, I have to fight to keep from gagging. I can smell the hay they ate... While fighting to keep my composure, I stealthily glance into the stable area to check, and don't see Marrianne. Good, I don't need to worry about running into her at least. Then we quickly circle around to the other side of the building where Mina was last time. It shouldn't stink so bad inside.

Standing by the door, I check to make sure my clothes are still clean even though I just checked earlier, and remind myself to be extra polite. I also want to run my hands through my hair to get some of the knots out, but it's still braided from earlier, so I just have to leave it be.

I don't have any introduction, or any level of status whatsoever, so her kicking us out on sight would be expected. But all I can do is try. I gulp, then knock on the door.

"Come in," I think I recognize her voice. I push open the door and hesitantly enter, Emily following at my heels. Inside, her office is only slightly similar to Mister Fredricson's. Instead of a desk across from the door, she sits at a desk to the left of the doorway. The desk wraps around her, with its only opening on the opposite side from the door. At least, that's where I remember it. I'm too short to see her desk though, since the counter that goes around it is taller than I am. Like I remember, all of the other walls are covered with shelves, each one separated into sections. Those little shelf-cabinets are where the hair tying things were kept. I only saw the office briefly, that one time, so glancing around helps me remember. But the most important part is Mina, standing up from her wrap around desk.

Turning away from her work, I see Mina looking above us, her eyes moving back and forth for a moment before she notices us far below her normal line of sight, and looks down. Her expression turns hard as she glares down at us.

Before anything else, I bow deeply, face to the ground, and say, "I'm extremely sorry for bothering you today!" I wait a few moments, head to the ground, for her response.

"What is it?" she finally asks. Her tone doesn't sound so harsh, she's actually willing to talk to me? I raise my head happily, but keep reminding myself to speak as politely as I can.

"I would like to ask you a question, because you are the only person I know who might be able to answer..." I gulp nervously.

"Person you know..." she mutters, suddenly looking at me very closely. I stand up straight, so she can look me over, no idea what she's thinking. "Wunay?" she suddenly asks. She remembers me?! Now I definitely can't make her mad! "You look so different, I didn't recognize you at first. You aren't with Marrianne today?"

"Ahh..." Of course. She knew me under a different name, back when I was living with Marrianne. How did I not realize this would get complicated...? "No, umm..." I'm not sure what to say. Before I can, she continues.

"Who is this with you today?" she asks.

Since I couldn't answer the last question, I jump at the change of topic. "This is my friend, Emily." I gesture to her behind me. Taking the cue, she steps forward a little.

"Hi, I'm Emily. It's nice to meet you, miss..." she glances at me, her eyes narrowing slightly as she tries to remember the name for a moment, "Mina."

"Minarike!" she snaps, suddenly looking very angry. We both cower back automatically. Why is she so mad?! Only then do I finally remember. I was calling her Mina because I couldn't remember how to pronounce her whole name.

I bow down deeply once more while apologizing with the most polite words I can recall. "M-m-my most humble apologies. I couldn't remember your whole name because it was really long and difficult, so I have been calling you Mina. Would you please forgive my..." What was the word? "Impertinence. Miss Mina, Minara... umm..." My head is swimming. How do you pronounce the whole thing?!

I hear her sigh a little. "Minarike," she speaks sternly, but doesn't sound so angry now.

"Minarike," I repeat it after her, slowly. Then one more time, normally. "Minarike." I engrave the difficult name in my mind so I won't make this mistake again. "I'm sorry, Miss Minarike." And I bow to her one more time.

"That's fine. I suppose it is a difficult name for someone so young. However..." she seems to be lost in thought for a few moments. "Nevermind. You said you had a question? What sort of question would bring you here?"

I quickly force myself to switch back to what we were talking about before, trying to state my question as clearly as possible. "I would like to ask about bowing. I believed it was common, but Emily just told me that I'm the only one she has ever seen do it. You are the only one who I have ever seen bow before, so I was wondering if you could explain it."

That makes her blink rapidly, looking surprised. It is a really strange question. "What a strange question." I sigh internally as she confirms exactly what I just thought. "I was under the impression that Marrianne was taking care of you, but that you were originally from Shonamakase."

"Umm?" That doesn't answer my question at all. And what's Shona... whatever?

But she isn't finished speaking. "However, with a name like Wunay, that seems unlikely. So you aren't from Shonamakase?"

I shake my head a few times. "I'm sorry, I think there was some confusion. My name is Aria. Marrianne heard that name from someone else while I wasn't able to speak. It's kind of a long story."

"I see... that makes much more sense. Then you are from Shonamakase..." She keeps saying that word. Shonamakase. I think I have it after hearing it repeatedly.

"What is... Shonamakase?" I think I have the pronunciation right.

Her eyebrows shoot up.

"You don't know?" Emily asks quietly. I look back and forth between her and Minarike.

It's clear that Emily knows, but I don't, so Minarike decides to explain. "Shonamakase is the country to the east of Melphira." That name sounds familiar. I hastily wrack my brain, trying to remember. Between a vague memory and context, I realize that must be the name of our country. "Our countries are allied, so there is a good deal of trade and travel between them." I nod quickly at her explanation. So Shonamakase is another country. But what does that have to do with what we were talking about?

She puts a hand to her cheek. "I see, you are very young, it must be hard to remember..." She nods to herself a little. "In any case, bowing is a common custom for showing respect. The deeper the bow, the more respect it shows. I can see how you might do it without knowing much about it, at your age..." she comments. I still don't really understand. Why does she keep mentioning my age? Just because I'm young?

"So it's done a lot in Shonamakase?" I ask, and she gives a simple nod. Apart from that, I'm familiar with trade, and I guess travel... That would be like traveling from far off places I guess. Like that man who came on his horse when I was with Marrianne. The horse that almost killed me... I shake the thought from my head and move on. So, travelers from Shonamakase... That must be where I learned the habit. I must have seen some travelers from that country at some point while I was learning how people act. That explains everything.

However, what do I do with that knowledge? I don't have any idea, but for now I want to thank Minarike for clearing up that question for us. I bow down again. "Thank you very much for answering my question, Miss Minarike."

"You're welcome, little Aria." she gives a much more slight bow in return.

"Sorry for taking up your time like this, we'll be leaving now," with one more bow, I begin to back out of the room. I really do bow a lot, don't I...?

"Thank you," Emily says too, awkwardly bowing a little as well.

"Haha," she chuckles a little, "it's fine. Take care of yourselves, little ones." She waves goodbye as we leave the office. Turning away from the stables, the horrible smell eventually fades as we go past the gate, and it feels like I can breathe clearly again. The streets still smell of waste, but it's nowhere near as bad as horses smell. Ugh...

While I'm trying to let my head clear, Emily starts speaking.

"So, you're from Shonamakase? You never mentioned that. It explains a lot."

"Umm..."

"Still, why don't you know about it? Did you come here when you were really young?"

"I don't know."

"You don't? Well, I suppose you wouldn't if you were still a baby..." She seems really excited for some reason. "Do you know how you got here? That's not part of your secret, is it?"

"No," I shake my head. "I don't know." I don't know anything about this. "I don't really get it. What does it mean, being from another country? What's different about it?"

"It makes you a foreigner!"

"Foreigner?" I question the new word.

"It just means someone from another country," she explains the overly obvious word, now that I think about it. "Foreigners are interesting. They're just, like... really different from everyone else, you know?"

"Uhh, not really..." I'm confused by all of this. I'm a foreigner? Does that even make sense? "No wait, how could I be a foreigner?" I wonder aloud. I put a hand to my head. "I shouldn't be, should I?"

"What do you mean?" Emily asks.

"I don't think I should be a foreigner," I say uncertainly. It feels like pieces are starting to come together.

"Didn't you say you never had parents? Actually, without parents, how did you come into this city in the first place?"

"I must have come in through the South Gate," I say while trying to get the whole picture in my head. That was how Francis said all the rail units were brought into the city.

"That's... oddly specific," Emily mutters.

Finally, it all feels like it's coming together. I'm a rail unit. We're taken from our parents just after we're born. We're brought into the city and raised by the rail unit program. That program is run by the government. The government of this country, Melphira. It wouldn't make sense for our government to be collecting children from another country, would it? Or would it? I don't actually know, I have very little information about exactly how the program operates outside of the small pieces I've seen for myself.

I shake my head, then finally address Emily again. "I can't be entirely sure, but I have a feeling that I'm not a foreigner."

"You're not? How do you know?"

"That's a secret..." Looking at her displeased expression, I try to at least tell her a little bit. "But... I can say that from what I know about the things I've been involved with in the past, that it seems unlikely that I was born outside the country." I have no way to find out the truth though. Of course I had regular parents when I was born. But they gave me up to the rail unit program right after I was born, when they found out I had a disease.

"I see... so you think you're not from Shonamakase. Then where do you think you're from?"

"I don't know, I never knew my parents. I just think I was born in Melphira." It was so long ago, and it could have been anywhere. Even if I wanted to find my parents, that would be impossible now. I wouldn't even have a single clue to go on. The only way would be finding the parents of children taken away by the rail unit program.

But there are about one hundred rail units in my group, and I have no idea if there are others elsewhere taken in the same year. Assuming there are none and it's only my group, that means if I somehow gathered up all of the parents who gave up their children to the rail unit program five years ago, I would still have one hundred possibilities, with no way to narrow it down any further.

Without any way to find my parents, I have no way to truly tell where I came from. For all I know I actually could be a foreigner, I only think not since I have a vague feeling that they would only take children from this country. Just a vague feeling, nothing more, but I have nothing to go on, so that's the best I can do.

While I'm thinking all of this through, Emily nods again. "Without knowing your parents, of course you wouldn't know where you're from..." We both walk silently for a bit, before she looks back up. "Hey, you said that you came to the city through the South Gate. That's weirdly specific. Why that gate?"

"Uhh..." I think about it for a bit. I saw those rail units come in through the South Gate, and from what Francis said, it sounded like that was the norm. I can't really talk about that... "That's... kind of a secret..." I hang my head and sigh.

"Mmm..." Emily bites her finger with a pained look. "You mentioned that you walked down to the South Gate one time. That wasn't related, was it?"

"You... have a really good memory..." I laugh awkwardly. She just hit the nail on the head. "Well, yes. I went there based on something I overheard one time, and that's how I figured out that I should have come to this city through the South Gate." I really only went because I was curious about the new rail units when I overheard that handler talking about them.

"Well, I guess I understand. You can't really talk about how, but you learned something there." She gives a little nod. "I was kind of excited that you were a foreigner," she giggles a little even thought she looks a bit disappointed.

"Sorry, probably not." I respond similarly. At this point, that might be the only thing about me that isn't strange.

"It's fine," she waves it off. It looks like she's over it already. "Anyway, we're almost at the market." She points up ahead. We've been walking and talking for long enough that the central plaza is only a short distance ahead.