The travel to Bazef ends after two days on the road with Martin.

  We arrive almost at sunset.

  The difference between Cylo village and Bazef is stark.

  To begin with, there's a wall made of concrete surrounding the city, with checkpoints to verify why people are entering. Even the horses are inspected.

  Inside the city, the architecture of the houses is well organized. As we travel along the road, I barely see any house without a second floor.

  The people here don't look at us much, absorbed in their own business.

  They begin lighting their lamps. The scenery transforms so dramatically that I look up in wonder. Above, on the hill, I see a rail surrounding the city, forming a glowing circle.

  "What is that thing?" I ask Martin.

  "People here call them rails."

  "Rails?"

  He looks up. "Yeah, apparently there's something called a train that carries people around. But I've never seen it in action." His gaze returns to the road. "Someday, do you think we can ride a train?"

  "Huh? Why do you ask that?"

  "In this city, no, probably everywhere, only people with fortune privilege this service. We're not nobles, and we don't have enough money. So I look up at it and think: Couldn't I have done more than what I'm doing right now?"

  "Weren't you the one who bragged about growing faster than me?"

  "It's true. But growing faster doesn't mean growing well."

  "Well." I lean to look at him. "Why do you want to go up there? I don't remember you being the fancy type."

  "You're right. I don't want to try it because it's fancy. I want to try it because I think it'll be fun."

  "You think it'll be fun?"

  "Yeah. Haven't you ever wanted to do something just because you can?"

  "I guess you can see it like that."

  Just because you think it's fun? It's like throwing money away. With your situation, you should at least think it through.

  I won't say that out loud. But I guess we can try someday.

  "Then how about we go all together? Someday."

  His face lights up. "Then sure. I hope it's pretty soon."

  "How much is a ride, by the way?"

  "Twenty-five thousand royas, if I remember correctly."

  "What?! That's almost a month's salary for Ernest, and that's only on days with good sales."

  "Yeah, you can dream."

  This is absolutely insane.

  "Hey, where are you taking me?"

  "Oh yeah. You haven't met them in a while."

  In a while?

  Soon we arrive at a motel. The sign reads 'Onodera.' From the name, the person who built this place probably comes from Kianza.

  I don't really know anyone from Kianza.

  Martin climbs down and helps me unload the carriage.

  "Wow, look at all this luggage."

  "It's like they don't expect me to come back any time soon."

  "You better perform well, or you're done for."

  We laugh.

  Actually, it's more that I want to believe I won't be going back anytime soon.

  Cling.

  The door opens, making the bell ring as we enter. At the counter stands a girl with long black hair and violet eyes. White fabric wraps around her head like a headband.

  She stands up, eyes closed. "Welcome to Onodera. How can I help you?" She opens her eyes. "Oh, Martin, how've you been?"

  They know each other?

  "What brings you to town? Have you finally decided to settle here?"

  Martin places his hand on the counter. "Actually, Tora, I'm thinking about it. But you know I live off transport services. It'll be hard for me to settle here."

  She thinks for a moment. "Listen. I know someone who needs milk transportation, and I can make you his exclusive provider." She winks. "Nothing too fishy. Promise."

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  "Hmm, interesting, but let me think about it."

  "By the way, who's that with you?"

  As if suddenly remembering I'm present, he turns to introduce me. "Okay, well, sorry." He coughs. "This is my childhood friend: Everest Fogue."

  She thinks. "Fogue. What a strange name."

  Well, she seems welcoming enough.

  "And Everest, this is Tora Onodera."

  "Nice to meet you." I extend my hand.

  We shake hands.

  "Is this the person I was supposed to know?" I look for assurance in Martin's eyes.

  "What do you mean? If there was a girl like this in our childhood, I'm pretty sure you would've dumped Elydia."

  I look at him sharply, and he swallows. "Sorry, I got carried away."

  "What is Everest doing here, if it's not too indiscrete to ask?"

  "Oh, I'm here for the recruitment."

  "Everest wants to be a knight?"

  "More specifically, a hero to save his princess." Martin jumps in.

  "A hero to save his princess? Do you love the princess?"

  I scratch my cheek nervously. "Not exactly the princess, but the one I consider mine. But more importantly, I want to protect everyone like the war hero Senghor."

  "Uh? But I don't get it, Everest. How do you expect to protect everyone like Senghor?"

  "I mean by becoming stronger."

  "Even then, you can't reach everyone needing help. More importantly, Senghor is an example of a war hero. Everest, are you saying you'll be able to kill someone?"

  "What are you talking about? He slays monsters that attack us, doesn't he?"

  Martin, seemingly not reading the room, interjects. "Hehe. Everest is a little like this. Very strong sense of justice, don't you think? But I think his childhood fantasies aren't worth nothing. I'm sure he'll save a lot of people. Right, Everest?" He looks at me with a smile.

  I nod. "Yeah."

  "Everest, sorry for my impertinence." Tora bows slightly before me.

  "By the way, Tora, where is he?" Martin asks, tapping his finger on the counter.

  "Oh well. These days he hangs out with some beast tamers."

  "Seriously? Too bad."

  "He might be back soon. Why don't you reserve a room for the time being?"

  "Right. Everest has to pay for our room."

  Huh? What?

  "Why 'our'?"

  "You know, friendship, all those things, and also the fact I have nowhere to sleep and no money to waste, so it all falls on you." He points at me.

  This guy.

  "Was this your plan all along?"

  "Partly." He sticks his tongue out jokingly.

  "Fine, how much is a room?"

  "For how long?" she asks.

  "Probably a month."

  She looks down before replying. "Fifteen hundred royas."

  "I expected much more than that, actually."

  "No, since you're friends of my brother... I mean, well, it's complicated. We're going to rent you the storage shed behind the motel. The bathroom and toilets are outside, though, so be careful about prying eyes."

  "Wait, your brother?"

  Cling.

  The door opens. "Hey, Tora, can you please fetch me some orange juice?" A boy with dark blue hair, wearing glasses, a white shirt, and a blue jacket enters.

  "Sorry, but I can't do that." She pouts.

  "Oh please, I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you."

  "No. You know Mom and Dad are already mad enough. How about you take things seriously for once?"

  He sits beside the counter, defeated. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

  This guy.

  "Filip."

  "Huh? Who are you?" He readjusts his glasses.

  "It's me."

  "Everest?" He stands up. "Wow, man, you've grown up." He hugs me.

  "So have you. But what's with that look?"

  "Well, things change, so I adapt to new trends. I know it's different, but it's interesting. What about you? What are you doing here?"

  "He came to participate in the recruitment." Tora answers coldly.

  "Oh, so you're still fixated on that dream. I'm proud of you. I'm the kind of person who switches paths fast, so it's admirable to see you like this. Fighting to accomplish your goal."

  "Hi, it seems like I don't exist." Martin complains in the background, but no one acknowledges him.

  "Hey, you called her sister, so that means..."

  "Yeah, my new name is Filip Onodera. My foster parents are the Onoderas, and Tora here is their real daughter."

  "I see. You don't really seem to get along."

  "Oh, we do. She's just the type who hardly expresses her feelings. You get used to it really quick."

  "Hey, don't say it like that. He'll get the wrong idea." She pokes him repeatedly.

  "Then stop overreacting, or they'll get the right idea."

  They seem to be getting along pretty well, and I'll have to admit I'm getting irritated by Martin's complaints in the background.

  "Hey, how about we discuss things later? I have some catching up to do, okay?"

  She nods innocently.

  "Well then, Everest, let's go. You have tons of things to tell me." He pulls me by the arm.

  "Oh, wait. First I have to put my luggage in the room."

  "Don't worry about that. I'm pretty sure Martin can handle it." He turns to the furious look on Martin's face. "Can't you?"

  Martin shivers. "Well, I guess it can't be helped."

  "See? It's solved. Now let's go catch up."

  We sit at a table and start talking, discussing how we've managed the time passing and how our relationship dynamics evolved.

  I learn the Onoderas have a somewhat important business, and this place is just one of their establishments. They left it under Filip and Tora's responsibility both because they trust them and because of family drama. Apparently, Filip has been hiding something since he joined the Onoderas five years ago.

  A pretty melodramatic story that could feature in most plays.

  Well, I want to know more since his life sounds more eventful than mine, but he isn't open to saying more than that.

  I glance over at Tora.

  I think it's time to sleep.

  "Well, Filip, I want to go to sleep. I have to register tomorrow and begin training."

  "Oh, right. I'll show you the way tomorrow." He raises his index finger. "How about after the recruitment is done, you do some sightseeing? I'll show you around."

  "Sure, why not? Also, do you have any idea where I can find trees for training?"

  "If it's for training, that'll be outside the city. Going in and out will be troublesome."

  "I see."

  "But don't worry. I'll do something to solve the problem by the end of tomorrow." He sends a thumbs up.

  I nod.

  "Well, goodnight."

  "Goodnight." He stays with Tora at the counter.

  As I go behind the motel, I see a storage shed with a spacious grass field. This was probably meant for storage, but it actually looks bigger than a usual room.

  I open the door. Martin is already sleeping in the bed.

  This guy.

  I smile.

  He left some space for me.

  I climb onto the bed, ready to sleep.

  'Are you able to kill someone?' Those words won't stop echoing in my mind.

  Why would I go that far? There's no need to kill everyone. Every life matters.

  The memory of the shattered corpses and the pool of blood comes back, vivid and visceral.

  Then why wasn't I disgusted that time?

  I'm thinking too much.

  I turn around and try to sleep. Tomorrow is the registration.

  In the morning, I go directly with Filip to the recruitment camp.

  He's actually very early, unlike Martin, who's still sleeping. And he was the one bragging about growing.

  The registration site isn't too far. Thirty minutes’ walk from the motel. Without Filip I would’ve take a while to get here.

  It’s a sort of stadium. At the counter a soldier gives me a form, I fill my name and the age and give it back to the soldier. He reads the form until his eye twitches, he smirks.

  “We’re really letting anyone register at this point.” He mutters. “Well it’s fine you can go sir.”

  The registration goes smoothly. I pay no mind to what he said.

  On the way back, Filip excuses himself to go somewhere else.

  They always do that. Well, I know the way back, at least.