“I can’t believe Felix’s prediction turned out to be right,” Sarah said with a heavy sigh as she sat down to join him for breakfast.

  “I don’t think it turned out to be right,” Sam said. “Matter of fact, I don’t even consider it a prediction. It was more of a joke. A ‘wouldn’t it be funny if it turned out this way?’ And it didn’t turn out ‘this way.’ He said that I should meet with Farris straight after our meeting with the Rulers. But in actuality, I’m only meeting with him after lunch. That’s a difference of hours.”

  “At least you’re not meeting with him before. I don’t want him to ‘prep’ you for talking with them in any way, shape, or form.”

  “Ha. Then you must be happy that Dan was able to set the meeting up so quickly. Pretty impressive on his part, I suppose. Or maybe it showcases just how much these guys wanted to meet with us. Only a week between their initial request and their request being met. Someone’s got to have fast tracked it in order for the appointment to have been made so quickly.”

  “I don’t know. It’s not like there’s a lot to set up. It’s just the two of us. The two of them. And Dan and the superintendent.”

  “Oh, she’s going to be there as well?”

  Sarah shrugged. “Apparently.”

  “So what can we conclude from that and from the fact that she hasn’t been present in any of my other meetings with Rulers?” Sam widened his eyes and cupped his chin in mock thoughtfulness.

  Sarah exhaled a chuckle. “I don’t know, and I don’t care. I just want to get this thing over with. We’re not in the military yet. There’s no reason we need to waste our time in official pleasantries and needless meetings.”

  “And what a wonderful picture of the military you painted just there.”

  “Leave me be. I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”

  “Anxious for today?”

  “No. Just went to sleep late. Had a bunch of stuff I wanted to get through.”

  “Tsk, tsk. More elective courses that you shouldn’t have taken in the first place?”

  “No! Just wanted to get a head start in the material. That’s it. You’re the last person who can lecture me about doing that.”

  “But I don’t go to sleep late. Ever.”

  “Hm… That is true. Well, I assume that’s true and that you haven’t been lying.”

  “I haven’t. I wouldn’t.”

  Sarah chuckled. “Yeah, OK, I believe you. Besides, you’re almost always physically energetic, and that’s hard to fake.”

  “I wouldn’t say always, although I get where you’re coming from with the ‘physically’ distinction. But, yeah, most days I’m pretty much not tired. My body, that is. Trust me, you would behave the same if you had lived your whole life with eight hours of sleep never being enough and in a constant state of sleep deprivation. I might only be getting six hours of sleep now. But with me falling asleep almost immediately, and with the quality of my sleep being what it is… It’s way better conditions than what my body’s used to.”

  “Just dooo…” Sarah stifled a yawn. “Just don’t push it. You need those six hours of sleep.”

  “I don’t want to hear that from you. But you don’t need to worry. Cutting into my sleeping time is a last measure resort if all else has failed kind of thing. Think the world is going to explode unless I stay up this extra hour. Although, I will make an allowance for going to sleep late if I’m waking up late as well. That’s alright once in a blue moon. Even if such a future is not applicable to me anytime soon.”

  “You could always move your session with Lin later in the day. Ask him to, I mean.”

  “Nah. It’s good that I need to wake up at the same time every day. I prefer it this way. Oh look, there’s a concerned doctor coming our way.” He gestured towards Maurice, coming to join them from behind Sarah.

  “Good morning,” Maurice greeted them with a nod and sat down. “I just wanted to come by and check up on you two. Wish you luck in your meeting.”

  “What would we need luck for? It’s not like we’re on trial. I think you guys are just making a way bigger deal of it that it really is. Besides, how’d you even find us?”

  “I know where you train with Lin Jingway. This is the closest mess hall. I know you and Sarah were going to meet for breakfast. I know she wasn’t going to do anything but come to you.”

  “Respect.”

  “And I asked Sarah.”

  Sarah rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the concern, Maurice. But I happen to agree with Sam. It’s really not that big of a deal. We don’t want anything from them, we don’t need anything. From any Ruler, actually. It’s not like our future would be impacted by what this or that Ruler thinks of us. So even though it’s those two… it still doesn’t really matter. Especially not for Sam.”

  “But it’s still Sam that I’m most worried about.”

  “Me?” Sam pointed at himself.

  Maurice nodded. “Look, at some level, Sarah’s right. The opinion of any Ruler, or in this case two Rulers, isn’t really going to have any effect on you two or your future. Especially not on yours with all of your extra… considerations. But Rulers are still Rulers. And it’s still better to not have one as an enemy if you can help it.”

  “Why would I make them my enemies?”

  “I’m not saying that you would. But I’ve seen how you talked to the two other Rulers that you’ve met. And I assume that you liked Farris and Esther. I also assume that you won’t like George or Alia. So it’s possible that your usual… jovial and down-to-earth self would turn more abrasive when dealing with those two. I’ve met them before. They’re certainly not as easy to talk to as either Farris or Esther.”

  “Well, I’d love to promise you that I wouldn’t act like an ass in front of the racist assholes—”

  “Probably for the best not to call them either racist or assholes, then.”

  “But I can’t promise you that. Because I have no idea how I’m going to behave in front of them. I’m being serious. Nowadays, I’m completely out of my depth on the subject of analyzing the way I act and respond to social stimuli. It’s the whole new body, new reality, new prospects thing. The usual repressive elements of my personality that guide my behavior aren’t there, of if they are, they are greatly lessened. I wasn’t really in conscious control of myself when I initially met with Esther and Farris. I just said what came to mind first. Doesn’t matter, I’ll try to be nice, like I always do. I probably won’t say anything bad. ”

  Maurice nodded. “I understand that. Trust me, I do. But if you want some extra help and motivation, think of it this way: You really won’t be affected by having these two hate your guts. But Sarah still might. And if you make them hate you, you will, by proxy, be making them hate Sarah.”

  “Hey!” Sarah objected. “I don’t need Sam to force himself to act a certain way out of concern for me. Plus, I think you’re still worrying about nothing. Nothing’s going to come out of this. You’re going to be fine, Sam. And so will I. Stop being so worried about this.” She frowned at Maurice.

  Maurice held up his hands. “Just wanted to give you this one piece of advice. Even if it doesn’t feel like that to you right now, this meeting, and everything around it, is politics. And in politics, no matter your position, it’s better to have as few enemies as possible. And you will have to play politics, no matter how strong you two get.”

  “I agree with you,” Sam said. “I also agree with Sarah and think that you’re worried too much.”

  “I am worried too much. But that doesn’t make anything I said wrong.”

  “Ugh…” Sarah groaned. “Enough. Whatever happens, it will be fine. Sam could start comparing them to some obscure historical figures that will make their blood boil once they google it and understand his connotations and it’s still going to be fine.”

  “Obscure…?” Sam muttered. “It’s not my fault kids these days aren’t aware of just how dumb twentieth-century philosophers could be, even before they got hit in the head by an artillery shell.”

  “Very well.” Maurice smiled. “Then I won’t worry any longer. I have to go. Tell me how it went.”

  “You’re not gonna stay for breakfast?”

  “No I already ate, and I have my own meeting to get to. Goodbye.”

  They wished him farewell and once he was out of sight, Sam said, “Well, that was—”

  “Don’t,” Sarah warned him with a level stare. “Don’t say anything.”

  Sam held up his hands and zipped his lips.

  “You’re not going to hurl insults at them or anything… right?” she asked eventually.

  “Like I said, I don’t really know how I’m going to react to anything these days. Sure, I exaggerated a little just now, but the core principle still holds. A lot of my old social instincts are no longer operating, or, at the very least, not operating like they used to. Still, I don’t think I will act out or anything. Maurice is right, it’s all political, if my music—Sorry. I meant to say that picking a fight with them might have ramifications that extend beyond just me or you. Like Farris and his whole counterbalancing act of our two militaries. I think it’s best to just nod along impassively and get this meeting over with as soon as possible.”

  “I think so too.”

  They finished eating soon after and left for the superintendent’s office, where the fateful meeting was to take place. “Come to think of it,” Sam said after a couple of minutes of walking, “you don’t think we’ll have to meet with regular politicians as well?”

  “I know Felix met with a bunch before he got here. I think he went to an event with the governor of Centauri when he was like seventeen. But I have never met any politicians. So I don’t think we’ll have to anytime soon. In the future, though? Of course we will.”

  “Yeah I know that. I was just worried about the here and now. Got a picture in my head of having to waste an entire day because of a meeting with the PM or something. Maybe even more than one day because of all the security concerns and stuff.”

  “Well you can rest easy knowing that meeting with the PM is probably a few years in the future for you. At which point they might not even bother with the security measures.”

  “I’m not saying it was a realistic worry. Just that I was worried because of it. Ah, fuck it. Modern politics gives me a headache. It was much simpler back in our time.”

  “No it wasn’t.”

  “Yes it was, what are you talking about? Politics were real basic back then. You wanted your guy, or, very rarely, girl, to be in charge. And if bad things happened while they were in charge, it was the other guys’ faults. And if good things happened, it was all thanks to our guys. Nowadays, our guys and their guys are all the same guys. You don’t know who to root for and who to blame anymore.”

  “You’re just annoyed because you’re not as knowledgeable about politics as you were before.”

  “Correction, I am just as knowledgeable as I was before. It’s just that now there’s new knowledge that I’m yet to be privy to.”

  “And doesn’t that count as being less knowledgeable?”

  “There is a very worthwhile debate to be had on that question, which I will simply side step by saying: Not if you discount the new information as worthless.”

  “And if you don’t do that?”

  “Then you break down the very foundations that make academic tenure possible. And we wouldn’t want that, now would we?”

  Sarah shook her head with a sigh. “You’re not dragging me into another conversation about academia. Come on, let’s head in.”

  The building housing the superintendent’s office also housed a reception on the ground floor. Thankfully, they didn’t have to go through the receptionist because Dan was already waiting for them inside and signaled for them to join him. “Good morning. I trust you two slept well?”

  Sarah frowned at Sam. “Did you tell him?”

  “How could I have possibly told him? Did you see me taking out my phone at any point after you told me for the first time?”

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  “Told me what?” Dan chuckled.

  “Sarah’s tired because she went to sleep late last night.”

  “Oh, that’s a shame. I hope you’re feeling up to the task of sitting through a boring introductory meeting then. All you need to do is nod along, making ‘uhms and hmms’ and let Sam do all of the talking without falling asleep.”

  Sam laughed. “Wow, that is a very different point of view from the one we had just been presented with.”

  “Hmm?” Dan raised an eyebrow as he gestured them to follow him up the stairs.

  “It’s nothing,” Sarah said before Sam could say anything else. “Maurice was just overly worried. You know how he gets sometimes.”

  Sam had to cough to clear his throat from the hypocrisy in the air. “I’m fine,” he said hoarsely. “Just a bit of spit… and whatnot.”

  “There’s water in the office.” Dan smiled before turning to Sarah. “So, Maurice was worried?”

  “He had no reason to be.” Sarah frowned.

  “Well, as long as you two aren’t worried, because there really isn’t any reason to be. Trust me, just nod along and it will be over before you know it. I’ve moderated these kinds of meetings plenty of times before.”

  He soon led them through a closed double door, ushered them through a second set and the empty desk of the superintendent’s private secretary before introducing them to the superintendent herself. Well, introducing one of them. “Sam, this is Major General Serena Robins. Superintendent, this is Sam Anders.”

  “Feel free to call me Serena, Sam.” She smiled warmly while shaking his hands. “All the other possibilities are too much of a mouthful, in my opinion. And besides, soon enough, I will be the one who needs to address you with formality.” Serena then extended her hand to shake with Sarah. “And Sarah, of course. It’s good to see you again. I dare say that since you enrolled here, I haven’t been to one meeting with Maurice present where it wasn’t visibly obvious that he was struggling to make sure he wouldn’t mention you.”

  Sarah blushed. “It’s good to see you as well, ma’am.”

  “I suppose ma’am is alright, but I still prefer Serena. In any case, should we take a sit while we wait for our distinguished guests? I already poured you all a drink.”

  Sam took a sit between Sarah and Dan and availed himself of the glass of cold water. Setting it down, he looked to his right and said, “Do you seriously not drink anything else?”

  Dan ended his sip of steaming-hot tea with a soft exhale. “If drinking something you enjoyed also helped you become stronger, would you drink anything else?”

  “Be honest with me. I know muddling isn’t as simplistic as you made it out to be when you first explained it to me. This whole hot tea thing, that’s just bullshit, right? It doesn’t have anything to do with muddling. You’re just a weirdo who likes to burn their tongue every waking moment.”

  “I resent the implication that what I first taught you of muddling was anywhere near simplistic…”

  Sam leaned to whisper to Sarah. “He didn’t deny the other thing I said.”

  “I told you that wasn’t a major part of muddling.” She whispered back.

  “Don’t go telling him about stuff that I haven’t taught him yet,” Dan said. “He’ll be free to make his own conclusions about muddling and my methods once he starts doing it for himself.”

  “For what it’s worth,” Serena said, “I don’t put much stock in Dan’s storied method as well.”

  “Three against one, hmm…?” Sam raised his eyebrows at Dan.

  “Two against one,” Dan replied. “As I said, your opinion doesn’t count yet. You’ll have to wait until I teach you about muddling.”

  “Which shouldn't take too long, right?” Serena asked. “From the reports I’ve been getting about your progress, Sam, it seems to me that you’re exceeding all expectations.”

  “I’d hardly say exceeding all expectations,” Sam said. “In fact, the foremost expectation that was raised of me, by Dan himself, was to reach level 1 before the next year starts. And even though I’m on track to meet it, it’s not with a lot of time to spare.”

  Dan chuckled. “And I’d say that meeting an expectation such as that definitely counts as exceeding expectations.”

  “Fine, whatever. We’re not here to talk about me. So where are the two we’re supposed to be meeting, slash, interviewed by? I’m assuming they’re not waiting behind that side door, with their ears to it.”

  “No.” Serena shook her head with a smile. “They haven’t arrived yet. But I feel that I must inform you that we are most certainly here to talk about you. You and Sarah. That is the purpose of George and Alia asking to meet with you two, after all.”

  “And when will they arrive?” Sarah asked.

  “They’re flying in, so I don’t have an exact estimate, but they should be arriving any minute now.”

  Sarah nodded and settled back in her sit with an inquisitive look directed the superintendent’s way. “Hm…”

  “What?”

  “It’s nothing. Well, I just expected you to be giving us some sort of briefing. Directing us on what to say and how to act.”

  Serena’s smile broke for a short second before she restored it. “Trust me, there is nothing I would like more than to direct this meeting so that it would conclude peacefully and amiably. In fact, if it were up to me, we wouldn’t be having this meeting at all. But as it is, the only advice I dare give anyone present is to be courteous and respectful.”

  “You’re worrying too much about nothing again, Serena,” Dan said.

  “I don’t think one can worry too much when the fate of one’s students is at stake.”

  “Which student’s fate?” Sam asked.

  Dan waved his hand dismissively. “She’s exaggerating.”

  Serena tightened her lips. “Forget what I said, Sam. I am not here to play a part in the meeting. I’m just its facilitator. Here in official capacity as per regulations.” At that moment, her telephone rang, and she got up to answer it. “Yes, Kevin? Alright, send them—I see. Alright, thank you.” She smoothed her pants with measured breaths before taking her sit again. “Well, Alia and George are on their way up.”

  The uncomfortable wait didn’t stretch too long, as less than a minute later, the door opened. Sam turned in his sit to see two people in uniform, looking much more official than the only other two Rulers he had been privy to meet. The man, George, had a stern look on his face and he nodded at the room before taking one of the empty sits by Serena’s side and at her invite. Alia, in contrast, had a thin smile, which Sam was almost sure was fake, and stopped to give Dan a one sided hug on her way to her sit.

  “Dan,” she said, “it is so good to see you. It really has been too long.”

  “It has been a long time.”

  “And you must be Sam and Sarah?” She widened her smile as she took her sit. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I am Major General Alia Crane. My grim looking friend here is Major General George Hatta. But please, feel free to call us by our given names. We will all be equals before too long, after all.”

  “Pleasure to meet you,” Sam said.

  “Nice to meet you,” Sarah echoed.

  Alia nodded in satisfaction before taking a drink and gesturing her companion to lead on.

  “This is not an official meeting,” George started before shooting a quick glance at both Serena and Dan, “despite it being conducted as such. Feel free to talk to us as you would to any other person. We are simply here to make your acquaintance. We would both see it as a grave failure in our duties if we were remiss in meeting two bright stars of the republic, such as you two.”

  “Well I can certainly understand wanting to meet Sam or Sarah for their personalty,” Dan said. “They are indeed very fine people to know and talk to. But I still have to wonder what it is about them that made you feel as though you must meet them. Surely you are not spending all of your rotation running around from academy to academy meeting all the bright young stars.”

  “No,” Alia said, “of course not. Only the brightest. And these two certainly shine the most.”

  “I can think of one other woman who shines just as bright as me,” Sarah muttered.

  “What was that?”

  “Nothing. Excuse me.”

  “It has always been a goal for the both of us, Dan,” George said, “to meet with the most talented of our nation. You can consider it selfish if you must. A little vanity project where we seek to develop a relationship before most other Rulers. But I would like to see it in a more positive light. That what I’m doing is offering encouragement and morale support, showing the people I meet that the entire Terran military is behind them and wishes them success. And of course, getting a first-hand glimpse at the state of our education, making sure that its quality is as high as it should be. That no one is falling through the cracks and receiving sub-par education.”

  “I assure you, general,” Serena said, “no one is falling through the cracks or receiving sub par education in this academy.”

  “Of course not. I didn’t mean to institute anything such about this fine institution. I was simply thinking about other places where promising Terran talent might come from… Other worlds.”

  “Which reminds me,” Alia said, “how is Felix Polaris doing? You are taking good care of him, I assume, Dan?”

  “He doesn’t complain,” Dan said.

  “That’s good. It’s a testament to your abilities as an educator that you are able to juggle so many cadets, giving each one the attention they deserve. Not to mention while also giving your full attention to Sam here, who surely deserves it more than anyone else.”

  “Why thank you. But we’re not here to talk about me, right? You wanted to meet with Sam and Sarah. Please, act as though I’m not here.”

  “We will endeavor to do just so.” Alia smiled and turned to face Sarah. “So, Sarah, I’ve read your file. What struck me the most was the breadth of knowledge that you’re seeking. It’s very impressive, to say the least. Others”—she gestured to George—“might criticize such a course as lacking focus, but I am of the opposite mind. Familiarising yourself with less common knowledge, with so many types of techniques and different modes of thought, it’s never a bad thing. Especially not in cases such as yours, where it’s clear that your pursuit of new information doesn’t distract you from advancing in a more… typical fashion.”

  Sarah pursed her lips, mulling over her thoughts for a couple of seconds. “I wouldn’t know about that. I am certain that if I ‘focused’ a little bit more, I would have been able to advance much further along the typical route you were talking about.”

  “So are you regretting your choice then?”

  “I… no… that’s not what I meant. I simply understand that there is a definite trade-off in the path I’ve chosen. But I still think this is the correct path.”

  “Then there is certainly no need for regret. That is the only thing that matters in the end.”

  “And do you have any plans for what to do with all the different knowledge you have and will acquire?” George asked.

  “No,” Sarah lied. “I just think that I would be best served in the long run by having a wider set of skills, different wells to draw from.”

  “So you’re not interested in going into healing like Maurice Giraud, for example?”

  “I want to be a combatant first. My interest in healing is only meant to serve me in that capacity.”

  “Still, your skills with healing are already very impressive without them being your focus. I must admit, you currently present somewhat of a conundrum for me, looking at you from a strategic perspective. Our current doctrine holds that we do not risk in combat Rulers who have specialized in combat because they are worth much more than most Rulers. But that is also because they are, most likely, not great combatants. If you continue on your current trajectory, you might be the first Ruler who is both a great healer and a combatant.”

  “I wouldn’t be the first.”

  “My mistake. The first such Terran case, then.”

  “Maybe. But it would require me to invest more time in studying healing than I’m currently planning to. There is a great gulf of knowledge, practice, and skill between me and real healers like Maurice.”

  “Indeed? Well, this just goes to show that an even greater gulf exists between people such as you and people such as me who have no expertise in healing whatsoever.”

  “In any case,” Alia said, “please don’t take my colleague’s words as anything more than rambling, certainly not something resembling advice or directive. Healer Rulers are indeed rarer than ‘regular’ Rulers, which makes them seem more valuable, but you will be the most valuable to the republic by pursing your own path and interest. Besides, I am sure that before too long we will also have a healer Ruler of our own.”

  “If you say so.” Sarah shrugged.

  Alia smiled and took another sip of her drink. “So, Sam, how are you adjusting to your new life?”

  Sam pursed his lips. “Hm… well enough, I suppose.”

  “And everyone has been treating you well? The people? The institutions?”

  “Very well.”

  “Splendid. The duty the republic owes to each and everyone of its citizens must extend doubly so to Taken such as the two of you.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Well, there is the practical standpoint, of course. But leaving that aside, I believe that our nation has a moral duty to care for its citizens. And you are undoubtedly a citizen. A citizen that has suffered a great deal on his path to citizenship.”

  “Really? I’m undoubtedly a citizen? Huh. It’s certainly a question worth pondering upon.”

  “You don’t agree?”

  “Well… Let’s say I was a middle class Jew from Frankfurt in the year 1840. I recently converted to Christianity and I hold all the expected political inclinations of the location and the time. If all goes to plan, in eight years, I will be in the vanguard of the German intelligentsia demanding national unification under a liberal framework. Now let’s say that I’m taken a hundred years into the future. And find myself in a Frankfurt celebrating the conquest of France. By all accounts, I would not be considered a German citizen by the authorities. In fact, would I even consider the authorities German, being so warped from my original national ideal as they are? But assuming that I do, and that I also wish to become a citizen, what is the reason I wouldn’t be able to? My nationality is, after all, a precursor to the current German nation. But the current German national ideal has transformed into a racial one first, and a cultural one second. And I would not be a German by that account.”

  He smiled sheepishly while clearing his throat. “Excuse me, I have taken us into a philosophical tangent. Debating all kinds of theoretical questions that have no bearing on my current situation, of course.”

  “There is nothing to apologize for.” Alia returned his smile. “It certainly seems like an interesting question worth pondering about. Alas, I have never paid much attention during the philosophy classes when I was in the academy.”

  “I have,” George said. “I would be very happy to discuss the topic with you on some other occasion.”

  “Looking forward to it,” Sam lied.

  “But for now, I feel that we must also ask you about your education. You are, by far, the most initially talented person in the history of the Web. Or one of the most, let’s not get into a battle of comparison. So we must make sure that your talents are being put to good use, that they are properly cultivated.”

  “How could they not? I’m being personally looked after by Dan. And you already said how much of a great guy he is.”

  “It is always best to make sure.”

  “Well I think I’m being more than properly cultivated. Of course I don’t value my own opinion much, because I have no idea how to judge my cultivation. But my mentor doesn’t have any complaints, and I put a lot of stock in his assessment.”

  “Your mentor…” Alia’s face was blank. “So General Ninae is indeed taking a personal interest in your development?”

  “Personal interest is the right word, yes.”

  “And are you sure that his interest is truly fully beneficial for you?”

  “Oh I don’t doubt that he’s guided by some selfish reasons when spending time with me. But I think that overall, our main interests neatly align one with another.”

  “And what would those interests be?” George asked.

  “Making me as strong as possible. Beating the Epiraks.”

  George chuckled. Or maybe that was a scoff. “Really? That’s all?”

  “Well there’s also helping me maintain my usual zest for life throughout the journey. But that’s a secondary goal.”

  “They’re all very admirable,” Alia said before George could say something else. “So what does His Highness do in order to help you meet with those goals?”

  “I’m afraid I can’t give you the exact details. Farris places a great deal of emphasis on the methods of his mentoring remaining secret. But if you have access to some of the reports that Dan complies on me. You would know that he is the one who taught me how to gather after my Awakening.”

  “Seems like something that any person in this academy could teach you,” George said.

  “Sure. But we had a discussion about the Second Punic War beforehand. And that’s not a conversation you can bring about with just anybody.”

  “In any case,” Alia said, smiling widely, “we want to assure you that if at any point, during your time here or afterwards, you feel as though the teaching you receive is subpar, that you could reach out to any of us and we would do our best to help you.”

  “Does Sarah get the same allowance?”

  “Ideally, every cadet in every academy will get the same allowance. Alas, we are just two people. Still, if either of you feel that you are not being treated as you should, you can, of course, reach out to us. Like we said, it is very important for us to make sure that talents such as you two are not misused. At any point during your military journey.”

  “We appreciate the thought,” Sarah said haltingly.

  “Indeed,” Sam lied much more easily. “Even though I don’t know where my military journey will take me, and to what militaries, I will certainly remember you assurance of aid, and unhesitatingly request it if I ever find myself in need of it.”

  “Great.” Alia clapped her thighs. “George, do you have anything else to add?”

  “Plenty. But not enough time, I’m afraid.”

  “Yes... we must be leaving. An important meeting to head to. Maybe we’ll manage to have another such meeting, less formal and longer, in the future?”

  “Maybe,” Dan answered instead of the question’s recipients.

  Alia smiled. Getting up, she and George bid goodbye to every person in turn before taking their leave.

  Once they left, Sam turned to Dan. “This meeting was definitively supposed to be longer, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Any idea what changed?”

  “One.”

  “Ah…” Sam nodded and leaned in to whisper to Sarah, “I think Felix got the spirit of his guess right in the end, after all.”