astesi

Sia... a-are you really really sure about this...?

Bah, no, I can't talk like that.

That was perfect.

Would it really fool Mr. Urbica?

You don't need to fool Father. You just need to fool everyone else.

Plus, I'm wearing your clothes. What are you gonna wear?

The most formal outfit, of course.

'Starseeker.'

Phew. So glad to be back in light clothes.

How did it go?

A bunch of stuff went over my head, but for the most part, it was pointless bickering over a bunch of papers...

I would have left if you weren't speaking.

What about Father?

Father, well...

He's a good scholar.

The others place tradition above everything else, but he's willing to admit the changes happening before him, telling the rest that knowledge needs regular development and updating.

He scolded those old hard-heads like he was scolding us. He's consistent, at least.

That doesn't mean he's not a giant jerk, just like Ferdinand.

What about Mother?

She was glaring at everyone with her cold, statuesque eyes, as usual.

They didn't say anything about your outfit?

All they did was raise an eyebrow when they saw me. They didn't even so much as say, 'Hello, Astesia.'

Maybe the game was up the moment they saw me.

Never mind that silly stuff.

Good speech. The two old Urbica hard-heads never brought up any objections, and you dispatched the other nitpickers with ease.

I hear you're already getting interviewed by the press?

Yeah, they just asked some pretty standard questions. But I also got questions from two foreign scholars.

We exchanged contact information, and we may be able to work together to improve the model and promote its usage in academia.

As for Mother and Father...

I'm sure they expressed their dissatisfaction with me in the sternest tone, staring straight ahead.

They've always been like this. They've never changed.

(Fake voice) 'Astesia needs to know her place in the family.'

They're obviously mad at you.

Haha, don't say that, Genne.

What are you gonna do now?

We'll stay in Trimounts for a while longer. We've been too busy to go sightseeing or shopping.

There's still time left on this apartment lease.

I'll go back and report to Father once everything here is taken care of, and once things have cooled down a little.

I'll tell him that this was the fruit of me and my sister's labor, and that I won't let him put his name on it.

Finally, you've come around.

What about you, Genne? Are you going back to Rhine? I hear your old mentor is back with a directorship.

No way. Rumor has it he's even more cantankerous when bossing people around these days.

But if I'm being honest, Director Clooney's current project is... intriguing.

How could I not be interested in a form of energy that can send a building into the sky?

But that's not a good enough reason for me to go back to working under a man like him. No opportunity is worth that.

I've made up my mind. I have no regrets.

I'll follow your example, Genne.

You're already my example.

Well, there are worse things than your sister complimenting you.

Let's eat out today.

Alright!

By the way...

Yes?

Give me a heads-up if you're going back home.

I thought you didn't want to go back.

I want Mr. Urbica to know that the two of us are a united front against him.

Now that's exaggerating things a bit...

Well, I won't go if you don't want me to.

That's not what I meant.

Let's go together.