Dinner was a quiet affair after the food arrived.
Well, for Lance and me it was anyway.
Jashen and Anna talked animatedly about their plans for the future Anna talked of expanding her business to the capital after Lance graduated. She also had planned to work with Lance and go continental.
Meanwhile, Jashen talked about going back home and having us blessed. After that, we'd start a family and settle down in the blue valley.
She said this, and while I found it nice, I still couldn't help but think of Lilith. I doubt it mattered how far east I went.
She'd find me.
I'd need to deal with her first.
As I was lost in thought, Jashen handed me a piece of meat without looking. I ate it wordlessly as my mind continued to swirl.
Eventually, Lance spoke up. "Since we're making all these plans, how about we talk about mine? Anyone wanna hear about my latest project?"
"What is it?" I asked.
Lance leaned forward. "Well, remember how I'm working on that Ouroless engine? Well, I've had a breakthrough. Not with the engine, but with something even cooler."
He leaned even closer forward.
"I found a way to record sound."
Anna raised an eyebrow. "You mean like with a communication rune?"
Lance shook his head. "No, no… even better."
He pointed his hands forward. "I can record a sound on a card. See, when building my Ouroless engine, I work with a lot of thin, delicate tools. I also work with large empty cylinders."
With a finger raised, he grinned. "Well guess what happens when you scream in anger into a cylinder next to a needle?"
He waited for a minute.
"The needle moves."
Jashen and Anna stared at him curiously. I had to admit, it even took me a minute to realize what he'd created. I guess it's because the technology was so damn old to me.
Lance tapped the table for emphasis. "I said, the needle moves. Guys, you can record the vibrations of your voice onto a card. And if you can trace it? You retrace it and play back your own voice!"
Jashen tilted her head. "But why? What's the point of that? You can just read and write."
Lance blinked. "Well yeah, but what if, I don't know, you wanted to send a message to your kids and have them hear your voice? Or a song. You could sing to someone across the continent. The possibilities are endless."
Anna rested an elbow on the table. "When you put it like that it sounds kind of cool. So how does it work exactly?"
"Well…" Lance began. "I take a thin wax card, a needle, and a cone. You speak into the cone to move the needle and a pattern is formed on the card. Then, as you run the needle back through the pattern it replays the sounds you originally created."
He chuckled nervously. "Though the quality of it isn't exactly the greatest. But I'm sure that's a material issue rather than a concept issue."
Anna slowly raised her eyebrows. "That sounds amazing. What are you going to call it?"
Lance grinned like a demon that had found a lost soul. "The Lanceinator."
My face visibly scrunched up. "Absolutely not."
Lance crossed his arms and turned up his nose. "Too late, I've already decided. This is my legacy now."
I closed my eyes and sighed. This man, smart enough to invent a phonograph, was dumb enough to name it something so stupid.
Lance studied my expression as his shoulders slumped. "Is it really that dumb of an idea?"
"Yes," I replied dryly. "How do you expect anyone to take it seriously if you name it that? At least describe what it does."
"The voicetalkbackinator."
He said this with 100% seriousness.
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Anna had turned purple as she tried to hold in her laugh.
Jashen didn't have that problem, because she was too confused.
Lance pouted. "You make fun of my invention names, but where are yours? Where are they? I don't see them!"
Anna snickered as she wrapped her hands around Lance's arm and leaned against him.
"Oh sweetheart it's okay, Lafayette is just worried about public perception."
Lance glanced down at her then at me. "Fine, but I refuse to let you or him name it."
Jashen perked up and leaned forward. "Can I name it?"
Lance glanced at Jashen with caution as Anna pressed her lips together. Then, with a hand gestured forward, he nodded. "Go ahead."
Jashen tapped her chin with a smile. "What about the Memory song? Because it can sing memories to you. Like a music box."
The table was silent only for a moment.
"Memory song?" Lance repeated as he massaged his chin. He then nodded slowly. "Yeah… I like it. Memory song, Thanks, Jashen.."
Jashen leaned back against me with a smile.
"You're very welcome."
Anna picked up her glass and raised it. "To the memory song!" She cheered.
Lance and Jashen quickly joined her. "To the memory song!" They said in unison with their glasses raised.
Now faced with three pairs of eyes and expected expressions. I raised my own glass. "To the memory song." We all clicked our glasses and called it a night.
As we departed the grill Anna and Jashen exchanged a hug and kiss. Lance and I stood to the side.
I looked out onto the quiet streets as the lanterns flicked on. Their small Ouro stones shone a soft yellow.
As Jashen and Anna finished their goodbyes Lance looked down on me. "Lafayette."
"Hm?"
"Thank you."
I looked up. "For?"
"For calling out the name thing. It shows you care, which is kinda hard to tell sometimes."
"Tch- I don't care about you. I just refuse to live in a world where an important invention is named the damn Lanceinator."
Lance chuckled. "Yeah, yeah that's fair. But still, it's nice you think I've made something worth taking seriously. Your approval means a lot."
"We've only known each other for a week."
Another chuckle as Lance wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "Yeah, but there are decades where a day happens. And a day where decades happen. Time is irrelevant to its passage." He ruffled my hair.
I blinked.
What does that even mean?
Anna and Jashen split. Jashen then took my hand while Anna took Lance's and we both went our separate ways.
As we walked Jashen rested her head against mine. "Lafayette." She whispered.
"Hm?"
"Tonight was nice."
"I guess so."
— — —
The second week rolled around.
I was in my homeroom class, at the back of the room with only Reinhardt beside me.
Everyone else gave me a wide berth and long stares.
Professor Whillem wrote on the board about EC and the different groups/clubs.
"Throughout the week I recommend exploring the different groups we have on campus. Not only is it important for your development at this academy, but for your future."
He waved a hand.
"You can make lifelong friends, discover world-changing technologies, or even find a new hobby for yourself. The possibilities are endless. However, if you are not interested in joining a club you can also start one on your own and register it with the student council."
He continued. "By the end of this week, you should either be a part of a club or the leader of your own. If you are neither, you could face serious consequences. Any questions?"
One student, a young girl, raised her hand.
"Yes?"
The girl cleared her throat. "Is it possible to start a club on your own and be the only one in it?"
Whillem frowned as he crossed his arms. "In theory. But why would you want to be alone?"
The girl hid behind her hands. "I'm not good at making friends."
Whillem sighed. "I'm not even going to ask. Sure, start a club on your own."
He looked around the room. "Any more questions?"
No one else raised their hand. Whillem shrugged and returned to his desk where he resumed reading his book,
I bought a hand over my mouth.
This could be a problem. I spent my afternoons with Jashen. I didn't want to waste them on campus clubs.
Reinhardt tapped my shoulder. "My elite scholar is making me join the martial arts club. Which one will you join?"
I gave him a side-eye. "I don't yet. I might just make my own. But to do that…"
"…you have to deal with the student council," Reinhardt said. He leaned forward. "Which means you'll have to deal with the princess."
I nodded. "Unfortunately, yes."