"Juan and the boy—Arsh didn't tell us what his siuni is. But it must be something pretty useful... Or maybe Juan just took a liking to him, I don't know. But he did say he wants him back on his team once he deals with the remaining job," Herman said to Professor Reiner.
"Good. He should learn not to mention his abilities so carelessly. So, what happened in Thage? What did you learn from Juan?"
Herman told him everything he had learned from Juan. However, Juan had glossed over the part about how they had located Paul Smith and General Debriz, mentioning only that it was with Arsh's help. Aside from that, Professor Reiner had already seen the details about Matthew Tiffany in the newspapers.
"He didn't go into detail. He only said that everything that happened that night was a mix of coincidence and luck. For now, they'll stay there; they won't let General Debriz out of their sight," Herman said, finishing the few details he had gathered.
"Yes, let's leave him there a little longer. Do you know where Matthew is?"
"He's still in Thage, dealing with the children's case. I guess they're trying to use it to strengthen Senator Hill's position in the next elections. You know, these days, high society and some of the middle class are against slavery. It has now evolved into a kind of human rights trend among high society—it's the new fashion for wealthy ladies and students. Supporting this case would help them maintain their influence."
"It should work in their favor, and if Juan succeeds in gathering evidence about General Debriz and his connections, that would be even better... Okay, now let's get back to the matter at hand. What do you think about Arsh, Bera?"
"We haven't talked much," Bera replied.
'As if he even tried... This guy really doesn't talk. Traveling with him is a bore,' Herman thought.
"When he spoke with Juan's team, he was open, cheerful, and honest. But I'd say there are some things he tries not to talk about. There is a fine line between the issues he avoids and the ones he is open about... Other than that, he generally has a calm nature. I can say that he is not a liar, a rogue, or a coward," Bera said.
"I see... Thank you, both of you. For now, you should get some rest as well," Reiner said as he put his gloves back on.
…
Arsh woke up to the sound of a knock at the door. He got out of bed, half-asleep, and opened the door. It was Mes.
"It is lunchtime. Come downstairs when you are ready."
"Alright, I'll be there in a minute."
He was hungry. He only splashed some water on his face and quickly went downstairs. Since he did not know where the kitchen was, he followed the sound of voices and found the room where the others were gathered.
'These people are truly wealthy. They do not eat in the kitchen, but in the dining room... Of course they are. Do you not realize where you are?' he said to himself.
Still half-asleep, he set aside his thoughts and greeted those in the room.
"May Arinne's blessing be upon you," Professor Reiner replied to Arsh's greeting.
Arsh had not been expecting it—especially from someone who did not believe in the goddess Arinne, but in another god. Symranese worshipped a deity called Vurdar, the god of rule and power.
The Professor smiled and gestured toward the chair beside him, inviting Arsh to sit. Realizing the Professor's kind intention, Arsh smiled in return and took the seat.
"May Arinne's blessing be upon you," he greeted him once more.
Besides himself, Mes and Bera were at the table. Herman was nowhere to be seen.
There were also two women Arsh had not seen before, busy placing dishes on the table.
"Meet Madam Hilda and Eleni. Although this manor is quite large, we keep very few staff for the sake of discretion. That is why everyone who lives here has certain responsibilities. Since there are so few of us, we do not burden them too much. Isn't that right, Hilda?" Professor Reiner said, looking toward the woman who was placing food onto the plate before him.
"Do not worry, Professor Reiner. Lately there is hardly anyone around, so aside from the cooking and laundry, we have very little to do," the woman said with a kind smile.
Madam Hilda was a beautiful woman in her late forties. She did not resemble a servant at all; the clothes she wore were nothing like the maid uniforms Arsh had seen in magazines. She looked elegant and refined. The only things that showed her age were the wrinkles around her green eyes and the white strands in her blonde hair. As she set the plate before him, she offered Arsh a gentle smile.
"Welcome to our home," she said in a sweet voice.
This time, Professor Reiner turned his attention to the young girl. She seemed to be a year or two older than Arsh. She had a fragile appearance, and her face was slender. Her dark hair contrasted with her fair skin, making her look even paler. There was a calm expression in her eyes.
"This is Eleni. She cannot speak, so please be mindful when you try to communicate with her."
When Eleni heard Professor Reiner, she took a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Arsh. On the paper, it simply said, "Welcome to our home." After reading it, Arsh greeted Eleni as politely as he could.
There was no further talk. Once everyone's plate was filled, Professor Reiner signaled for them to begin.
It was a pleasant lunch. The food tasted similar to what he was used to.
After the three days on the ship that had turned his stomach upside down, he finally felt well again.
"Did you like the food? Bera said you were seasick, so I asked Hilda to choose something suitable for your taste."
"Thank you. It was truly tasty," Arsh replied.
Arsh found it hard to understand the kindness of these people he had just met. So far, everything had developed differently from what he had imagined. He had expected to meet people like Juan and Tedor, not wealthy and polite ones like these. He had thought he would be taken to the back alleys of Tirsit rather than its wealthy neighborhoods. He didn't know how to take their kindness. He didn't think he had much to offer them.
"If you have finished your meal, let's have a cup of tea and talk for a bit. Is that alright with you?" Professor Reiner said, politely dabbing his lips with his napkin.
"Of course," Arsh said briefly. He followed Professor Reiner to the sitting room.
A moment later, Eleni brought their tea and quietly left the room. The fragrance of the tea was wonderful. He had not been able to drink tea since the last time he found a tea shop in Thage. He took a big sip and paused for a few seconds, savoring the taste.
"I am glad that you like the tea," Professor Reiner said.
"Thank you, it smells wonderful," Arsh replied shyly. The tea, the meal and sleep had helped him relax.
"So, Arsh, tell me your story. What happened, how did you end up with a siuni, and what exactly can I help you with?"
Now was the moment Arsh had been waiting for. He had already decided how much he should tell and what he should keep hidden.