“You seem overly agitated, Lecturer Gaius. Did something happen?” Senator Alexandre glanced at the young lecturer, who was radiating a formless pressure that belied his age.

“An unpleasant memory returned to me.” The young boy froze for a second, and then tension left his muscles as he answered with a half-truth. As calm returned to Gaius, he suddenly felt the urge to roll around on the floor, and his face flushed. “A frustration at that idiot.”

The senator didn’t need any clarification on who the idiot referred to. “Culture and ideals must adapt to the surroundings, or it becomes a shackle that weighs down society. The beastfolk in Ark City usually embody this ideal, but we cannot say the same for those who came from the other cities.”

Gaius frowned. “That is to say, the Warmaster and his family came from the other beastfolk cities?”

“The Warmaster and his son,” corrected the senator. “You must know that when the Second Extermination started, we lost five cities in a single day. The opening salvo of the war was spearheaded by the Constellations, and we’ve never been able to tally our dead ever since. Of the Warmaster’s family, only he and his son managed to make it to Ark City. The father-son pair were heavily injured when fending off the first wave—”

“—and their family sent them to Ark City while they were unconsciousness or a state similar to that.” Gaius completed his sentence. “I now see why Winston Chamberlain is so fixated on honour.”

Survivor’s guilt would sum the motives behind the Chamberlains’ behaviour. They were, in a way, death-seekers. Having been sent faraway, as the places they were supposed to be defending burned to the ground…it was by no means a good feeling. Instinctively, Gaius could sense that they were the part of the faction that opposed race-blind policies.

“But they must know that their story is not uncommon,” Senator Alexandre added on. He glanced at Nakama, and at Gaius again. “I think that one reason why the Warmaster’s son backed off the way he did was because of your reaction. I know the boy, and he wouldn’t have listened so obediently. Everyone has lost people to the war…and the more one loses, the more sensitive they are to the losses of others.”

Gaius was silent for a moment. The senator had managed to whip up his own understanding of the events that transpired, and apparently, so did the Warmaster’s son. While this might make his future movements easier, Gaius wasn’t all that keen on lying to the authorities in Ark City, where possible. He forced out a sad smile, and said, “Emotions aren’t always tied down to memories. I have a feeling that my memories are, by and large, lost forever. But I still can feel.”

“I apologise, Lecturer Gaius.”

“There’s no need to,” replied Gaius. “It is as you say. Everyone has lost something to the war.”

The senator sighed for a moment, and then slapped his face a few times. In a tone of forced joviality, he said, “Gaius, Nakama, are you still hungry? There’s a cafeteria open for lecturers at this time, which serves better food than the canteen.”

Gaius looked at the little girl, who nodded back happily. “Are you going to be treating?”

“Treat the guy who turned in fifty-one ether cores? No way.”

Gaius looked around hurriedly, checking for eavesdroppers. “Curses, foiled again. I used most of the Exchange points up though, buying medicines to strengthen my body.”

“You would, wouldn’t you? I thought that maybe it was you who brought the Stellar Core with those points, but I just remembered that you don’t even know what an Engine is.” Senator Alexandre straightened his clothes.

“What does an Engine do anyway?” asked Gaius. He wanted to hear from someone who probably had an Engine or two.

“Generally, almost all Engines allow flight, and strengthen attacks with qi or ether. But the Stellar Core…” The senator sighed. “It’s an item that borders on legend; worthy of being placed at the centre of attention in even the Central Circle’s treasure vaults.”

“Anyway, the Congress is intending to pressure the Exchange to reveal who brought it.” Senator Alexandre looked at Gaius. “It might be you, after all.”

A hollow laugh escaped Gaius’ lips. “It’s probably me, I guess?”

“You? Not a chance. If it vanished on your second Harvest, and if your second Harvest had as many ether cores as the first, then I’ll think it’s you.” The senator took a left turn, revealing a brightly lit shop. Tables, draped in red and purple cloth, dotted the premises, and a fragrant smell wafted in the air.

He took a seat, and the siblings followed suit.

“Sirs and miss, your orders?”

“Spaghetti Bolognese, please.”

Gaius and Nakama stared at the menu, adorned with the pictures of dishes that made one’s mouth water. There was probably something off when the senator called this place a cafeteria; the menu looked more like a restaurant’s menu than anything else.

Nakama gazed at Gaius, her eyes trying convey her confusion. The young boy laughed, and then replied, “Two sets of Chef’s recommendations.”

“Very good, sirs and miss.”

Gaius turned to Senator Alexandre, whose face looked a tad disappointed when what looked like a show petered out.

“Bugger… I thought you would struggle…unless another memory returned to you?” The senator pouted; a surprisingly childish reaction for someone of his age and standing.

“Good thing it did, then.” Gaius looked around the place. “Still, a cafeteria here? In the freezing weather of this place?”

“Well, since most of the bigshots of Ark City are cloistered here, it is natural that higher-class amenities followed them in. Exchange points can be used to redeem gold and silver coins, which are generally usable in all of the Five Lands.” The senator winked. “The chefs and waitresses here have a pay comparable to your average Harvester, based on Exchange points alone.”

“I should become a chef, eh?”

“Maybe. But I think you’ll serve Heritage way better as a lecturer. The practical segment this week was good, even if a bunch of slackers got carted off to the infirmity.” A look of satisfaction appeared on the senator’s face. “I’m going to lord this over the others for the next week or so.”

“Just don’t piss them off too much.”

“Don’t worry,” said the senator. “I definitely will. Maybe I’ll scold the Warmaster too, and tell him to lay off the honour bit. Speaking of the Congress, did you know you managed to re-ignite conflict between the Artificiers and the Apothecaries?”

“Ugh.” Gaius groaned, and Nakama patted his knee in consolation. “The ether cores, right? I’ve been trying to keep it a secret, but the more I hear, the more I fear.”

“Who told you to only bring fifty back?” The senator snorted. “Now we’re on a verge of the largest congressional conflict in a decade, even surpassing the issue of racism.”

Gaius wanted to reply, but the conversation was thankfully cut short by waitresses handing their food over. He glanced at Nakama, who was already digging in, and decided to follow suit before his share was gone. As for the leisurely senator…well, it was high time that he learnt about the power of Nakama’s pleading eyes.

The young boy grinned, and then wolfed down the remains of his food.