“Slow down, the two of you.” Major Degurechaff laughed, as did his secretary, as the two children bit down on a chicken thigh delightfully. “Definitely your first time eating something like this. Don’t Knight families have treats like this for lunch?”

“Major,” said Lieutenant Ornielle, “A recent survey on dietary habits of Knight families showed that breast meat was the meat staple for children-in-training.”

“Is there really a point in having their diets to be so specific?” Major Degurechaff shovelled some rice into his mouth. “So, who got the thighs?”

“The survey didn’t mention that, sir.”

“Ask them to add that question in next time. If they aren’t using it…well, the children in the slums and in the trainee camps should have some of that.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Sir,” said Gaius, “we can’t answer that question either. If we were indeed from Knight families, we don’t have any recollection of it. We were apparently abandoned at a young age.”

“War never spares anyone, it seems.” The major pointed at the rice. “Well, don’t just focus on the chicken. Have some rice.”

As the little duo started eating the rice, the major continued to speak, introducing the origins of the white grains in front of him. “Rice never existed on Orb, or if it did, its potential as a staple was never realised. Champion Solaris, however, spent a great deal of time finding the rice crop and growing it. Apparently, it reminded him of his old lifestyle.”

Gaius chewed the fluffy rice slowly, his mind whirring. A small memory had activated the moment he smelt it, but it was all about examining diamonds. It seemed that the most important memory he had when eating rice on Earth was when he was speaking to a jewellery broker.

More fascinating was the possibility that the Champion Solaris most likely came from an East Asia country, either China, Japan, or one of the four Asia Tigers, or a country that would eventually be one of them, depending on when the Champions were summoned.

But where did the Champions go? For the first time, Gaius found himself frustrated that he didn’t know enough history about the Cardinal Champions. Did they return to Earth when their lifespans were close to ending, or did they pass away on Orb peacefully?

In the first place, how long was the average lifespan in this world? Would cultivating have any impact on it?

These were some of the questions that had begun to cross Gaius’ mind after he heard about the Cardinal Champions. These doubts were the reason why he decided to stand out a little, because he was no longer confident in his own ability to navigate through the world now.

“So, about those gemstones, Major…how do they look like?” Gaius placed the spoon down, opting to let the ravenous Nakama finish up his portion too.

“I think it’ll be easier if I showed you.” The major reached into his pocket, and took out a small velvet box. Multicoloured light sprang out as he undid the clasp, revealing a multitude of shiny smooth stones, and the air above these gems began to shimmer faintly.

Major Degurechaff closed the lid, and the viscous power faded away. “You might have seen expended gemstones before, especially rubies and sapphires. They used to be popular with the ladies, until the prices of basic necessities shot up.”

He mulled on something for a moment. “Since we’re on this topic, and the both of us just finished lunch, I think it’s a good time for me to show you the ropes. Lieutenant Ornielle, look after Nakama while we’re gone.”

“Nakama,” added Gaius, “stick with the pretty big sister until I come back, ok?”

The little girl, still engrossed with the unfamiliar favour of ice, nodded quickly. Lieutenant Ornielle nodded at the major, glanced at Nakama’s puffed-up cheeks, and then turned away to hide a smile.

“Excellent. Let’s go then, Harvester. I don’t usually bring newcomers around, so don’t get mad if I forget something, okay?”

Gaius had to force out a set of fake coughs to avoid answering the enthusiastic major. They walked in silence, into a wooden pavilion that looked very conspicuous in a land of ice and snow.

“This here,” said Major Degurechaff, “is the only entrance we have to Heritage, the world below. Once inside, powers with divine origins will no longer function, with the exception of tools imbued with the Primordial Sky or the Primordial Land. Futhermore, these sorts of tools are very rare, so they may as well not exist anyway.”

The Primordial Sky or Land…Gaius thought about these terms for a moment, and then realised that these terms referred to the two largest masses of power in Orb’s creation myth. “So it’s about physical strength and skill the moment I enter?”

“Correct. Any improvement made on your physical body by means like cultivation or magic will still remain, but you can’t manifest qi the way you can do it outside,” answered the Major. “Even in this base camp, in the intersection between Heritage and Orb, most mystical means have been hampered or disabled outright. In Heritage itself, the suppression is an order of magnitude greater.”

“This means that if something happens to me, help won’t be coming anytime soon.”

“No, help won’t be coming at all,” corrected the major. “Even for important figures like a Paragon’s offspring. Heritage is full of dangerous areas that work on ancient laws and principles. We cannot afford to throw away even more lives in futile attempts at saving a single lost Harvester.”

“That’s kind of…”

“The Congress acknowledges the risks of being a Harvester,” said the major. “We have ample measures to honour and protect the families of those who never returned from Heritage. It’s a risk that many are willing to take today. And right now, you’re on the doorstep which many others have stepped across.”

Major Degurechaff’s voice turned solemn. “Are you still willing to take that risk? Knowing that one day, you may never return?”

Gaius thought back to the handful of days he’d spent in this world. There was really nothing much he cared about, other than the little girl who had been beside him ever since he woke up. He’d heard about the war, seen the corpses carted back from the battlefield outside. He had felt the despair of men older than him, of families whose soldiers never came back.

The major had asked him three times. Once, as an interviewer assessing a potential recruit. The second time, as a bystander who saw the plight of the poor. And the last time as a person who cared. Major Degurechaff had shown him sincerity he’d rarely seen even on Earth, and it was time to reciprocate.

Gaius smiled. “I’m willing.”