???: You shouldn't be here.
???: The humans are near. You won't be able to face them all.
???: Leave while you still can, Samodiva.
Samodiva?: Last I checked, you were in no position to order me around.
Samodiva?: No one tells me what to do, especially not you, traitor. Remember this: I only spare you now because of your promise to "return to our people."
Samodiva?: As for that scaleless, whether you've kept it alive for their "eternal soul" or whatever else, it'd better be a corpse next time I see it.
Samodiva?: Or I will do that work for you.
???: ...
Vila: ...
Vila: Uhh ...
Vila: panting
The dream fades. Vila opens her eyes, looking up at an unfamiliar ceiling.
Vila: Where am I?
She sits up and looks around. The white and gray diamond patterns on the wall reminding her that this is not Rayashki.
Vila: breathes out
Vila: Still in the Foundation.
There isn't another second to be spent in bed. She is up with her clothes tidy and neat—ready to leave any minute, even in her sleep.
Vila: Fine then. A brand-new day.
The last step in her routine, checking her schedule for what must be done.
Foundation Staff I: Message from the HQ ... more manpower ...
Foundation Staff I: List of names ... Are you going? Vinchik?
Foundation Staff II: It's not released yet. But I hope to stay here, to be honest. I've barely passed training. What use could I be?
Foundation Staff I: You never know in a situation like this.
Vila's cheerful footsteps draw near to the chatting staff.
Vila: Good morning, I'd like to ask ...
Foundation Staff I: Hmm? Oh, morning, Ms. Vila. May the peace be with us.
Foundation Staff I: How can we help you?
Vila: Ms. Tatyana, Mr. Vincent.
Vila: I was wondering if my application for the utility room has been approved.
Foundation Staff II: You were looking to use it during the daytime, yes? Well, you should receive a decision soon, within seven working days.
Vila: Seven days? That was not what I was told, sir.
Vila: They said it would be decided today at the latest, so that we might hold an art class there.
Vila: The children have been looking forward to it.
Vila: Could you double-check my application? You can find the date I first submitted it here.
Foundation Staff II: Sorry, we're really tied up these days. The process might take more time than expected.
The female staff elbows the other and interrupts him.
Foundation Staff II: Ahem! That isn't quite it. You see, there's been a change in procedure.
Vila: Then might we just use the room, first? The kids will help clean, no need for any concern.
Vila: And we'll be careful with everything there.
Foundation Staff II: I understand, miss. But it's against the rules.
A small figure wades into the scene, breaking the increasing tension of their confrontation.
He looks up at them with irrepressible eagerness and warmth.
Or at least one of them.
???: Hello, Vila! I've found you!
Foundation Staff II: ...?
Vila: Yes, here I am. Hello to you too, Comrade Avgust.
Vila: Let me see ... 08:20, you're on time. But what about your friends? Why didn't you come together?
Avgust: They're with Mr. Name Day! He brought us the biting coin again. Pyotr says he wants to have a contest with it. They will bite each other and see who has sharper teeth.
Avgust: But the kitty on the coin is sleeping. We're waiting for it to wake up first.
Avgust: I'm sure Pyotr will win, so I will not be watching the contest. I will just return for the rewards.
Foundation Staff I: A biting coin ...
Foundation Staff II: So, it was Name Day who took the sharpodonty from the meeting room! They wanted it to wake up anyone that fell asleep during that long meeting. But he must have used a slumber incantation to make it sleep instead!
Foundation Staff II: I'll have to get it back from him.
Vila: Let me help. I should take Avgust to find Mr. Name Day.
Vila: And in the meantime, we'll just have to find another place for our class, one without lengthy approvals. I'll bring the sharpodonty back to you when I can.
Avgust: Will there be no class in the diamond caves, today?
Avgust: Pasono and Nina want to have class there too. There are so many caves to play hide and seek in!
Vila: I'm sorry, child, not today. Maybe later, or after we get back to Rayashki.
Vila: It's time to go, Avgust. Say goodbye to the lady and gentleman.
Avgust: Okay.
Avgust: Bye-bye, Mr. Polar Bear, Mrs. Polar Bear!
Foundation Staff I: Goodbye.
Grabbing at the corner of Vila's shirt, Avgust follows her down the corridor, gripping his sunflower tightly in his arms.
As they move beyond earshot of the chatting staff members, she poses a gentle question.
Vila: Avgust, why are you out in the hallways all alone?
Vila: It is best to stay with our other comrades while we're in an unfamiliar place. Do you understand? It's for your safety.
Vila: Hmm. But why are you out here, little Avgust? Will you tell me?
Avgust: Uhm ...
It is strange to see Avgust hesitate. A dreadful series of imagined dangers pop into her mind.
But she leans on her experience, waiting out his answer behind a patient, tender smile.
Avgust: Vila, you didn't turn into sea foam or even a squeaking line. Does that mean you have an "eternal soul"?
Vila: What?
Avgust: What is an "eternal soul"? I think it is something for people with beautiful tails—something that keeps them up so they won't sleep forever.
Avgust: But Pyotr said it was like pretty clothes that never get dirty, "im-acu-late" that keep you safe. He said his mama tells him about a place where people get them, called a church.
Avgust: But I told him, "Clothes can't protect people! Because I saw Evgeni, and he was wearing clothes when he turned into a sea swallow."
Avgust: Name Day says you will know the answer, but even if you don't, I think you must have one. That's why you have a pretty tail and you don't turn into sea foam.
Vila's eyes widen. She stops and turns to him inquisitively.
Vila: Turn into sea foam ... I understand now. You're thinking about that fairy tale, aren't you?
Vila: You know that story came from the legends of the Rusalka, or perhaps I should say the stories humans told about us.
Vila: But they're only stories, nothing more.
She stoops down, looking into Avgust's eyes, searching for a better answer to match his own search. His questions never had conventional answers.
Avgust: You didn't turn into sea foam.
Vila: No, I didn't.
Vila: People fold paper into different shapes and give them names. That's just what they do; the "eternal soul" is very much like that.
Vila: And a little like a paper plane.
She tears a page from her notebook and folds it swiftly into a paper plane.
Avgust: A sea swallow!
Avgust: I can fold one of those, too. Does that mean I have an "eternal soul"?
Vila: No, that isn't so.
Vila: This paper—sea swallow, the shape doesn't really matter, nor does its name. You can call it an "eternal soul," a "sea swallow," or even "Comrade Patrik's pot."
Vila: Anything you'd like to call it.
Avgust: But it doesn't look like a pot! I don't think it would work like a pot either! So it's useless! Even the hole in my hat has its uses. At least it helps me to see my friends.
Avgust: And even if it is a sea swallow, it can't protect you either.
Vila: You're right, little Avgust. No matter what we call it, it's only a folded piece of paper.
Vila: Once it flies away ...
Vila: It disappears.
Avgust: I can never catch the sea swallows that Pasono folds. They fly very, very far.
Avgust: And when they're flying, they are so free. They can't be caught by anyone, even on tip-toes.
Vila: But just because you can't catch others doesn't mean you cannot make your own. Like your frogs, sunflowers, and polar bears. These things you fold for yourself, they will be there for you, Avgust.
Vila: These paper shapes, they aren't really frogs and planes. We just call them that, like we call it "an eternal soul." But to name it, that doesn't give us any special protection. No. We have to protect ourselves.
Avgust lowers his head, the slowed wagging of the sunflower reflecting in its own way, a measure of his thoughts.
Vila holds her hand out to him. Not long after, the little boy reaches for it as a smile returns to his face.
Vila: Now, a mission for you, Comrade Avgust—tell me, where is Mr. Name Day?
Avgust: He is with the others; they're going to see Comrade Blini! We will need to climb the stone stairs first.
