Brisk, lively running footsteps echo between the walls of the empty hallway.
Leilani: Ms. Lilya! You are here! Here you are! Heh heh ...
Leilani: Our teacher asked me to give you this and asked you to help us to ... um, what was it?
Leilani suddenly stops herself. She scratches her head bewilderedly.
Lilya: To evaluate the mock exam of Zeno's enrollment procedure.
Leilani: Oh right! That's it! I couldn't find you anywhere. They said you are in the rehab center so I came here ... pants as quickly as possible ...
Leilani: Well, turns out the moment I saw you, the thing just slipped my mind ... Heh heh, I'm overexcited.
Lilya: Alright, I got it.
Leilani: I'll head back then! It's a great pleasure to see you today!
Leilani: Ms. Lilya! Whoo-hoo! Go for it! Allez! Ganbatte!
Leilani waves at her, running away delightfully.
Lilya: Why "go for it" me ... Do I look like a new recruit to her?
Lilya: Anyway, let me check ...
Lilya: Elevation: 2500 feet, mountainous terrain, dense forest area, good atmospheric visibility. Enemies: ... groups of ground-based wood critters and airborne Olitiau species 04.
Lilya: If we were to engage the enemy in this dense forest and fight in close range, our mobility will be largely reduced, and we can't "barrel roll" to dodge attacks from the ground. But if we pull up and deal with the air force first ...
Lilya: Hmm ... close enough. Ready to fight.
Lilya signs her name on the paper.
COMBAT
Lilya: That's it? Boring.
Lilya: What kind of new recruits they will let in by giving out such a simple exam ...
She takes a few mouthfuls from the military canteen hanging on her belt.
Z: Are you evaluating the battlefield mock exam for this year? I heard Zeno has updated their question bank.
Madam Z walks up to her from the other end of the hallway. Not far away from her, a dressy stranger follows.
Lilya: Nah, just killing time.
She throws the exam paper aside, looking up and down at the wand-holding newcomer. Their eyes meet.
Lilya: ...
Druvis Ⅲ: ...
Druvis Ⅲ: I smelled bison grass.
Lilya: ...?
Druvis Ⅲ: In your canteen.
Lilya: Ha ... right. Authentic Żubrówka, one of the few pastimes I have here.
Lilya: Wanna have a sip?
Druvis Ⅲ: No, thank you.
Druvis Ⅲ: It smells fresh. Tender. Like thyme and lavender in spring. I believe it is precious.
Lilya: You can smell things.
Lilya: Fresh indeed, made in 1929. I'll say it's already about ... Forget it, I don't do maths.
A sensitive time. Without saying any more words, they all cast their eyes on the closest window.
Behind that window, on the bed, lies a patient, securely packed by magnetic coils, rubber tubes, and a transparent helmet.
Lilya: So ... you are here for Vertin too?
Z: I'm showing her around the Foundation, and decided to drop by the rehab center.
Druvis Ⅲ: ...
Mesmer Jr. sits by the bed. She has noticed the visitors at the window, but she doesn't turn around to them.
Her back stiffens even more. A sign of vigilance.
The ward is also guarded by several staff members of the rehabilitation center. Their state-of-the-art equipment spirals up their uniforms.
Druvis Ⅲ: Does she dream?
Z: Sometimes.
Madam Z stares at the reflection of Druvis's face on the glass.
Z: ... Let me show you somewhere else.
Druvis does not say another word. Silently, she follows Madam Z and moves towards the other side of the hallway.
Neither of them looks back. At one point or another, their figures overlap each other, as if they were the same person.
Lilya turns her eyes back on the inert person in bed.
She jiggles the canteen in her hand. It's still half full.
Lilya: You have a good taste, "bellwether."
Lilya: Never tried the vodka from 1929 before. Good for you to get this in the U.S. when both alcohol and coumarin were banned.
Lilya: The thing you said about "Take care of them for me when necessary" ... I'll consider it.
Lilya: Raise a glass, friend.
Lilya: To your health, your soon "recovery."
Lilya: To our better lives.
Lilya: To this unknown date, to this messed-up time.
Lilya: Cheers!
Z: You have a basic idea of this place now. I'll walk you to your room.
Z: Is there anything else you want to know?
Druvis Ⅲ: ...
Druvis Ⅲ: What do I have to do so you will release Vertin?
Someone has hit the nail on the head.
Z: ...
Z: It depends on what you hope to achieve.
Druvis Ⅲ: Depends on us ... Is that what you said?
Druvis Ⅲ: Vertin, the person we rely on, is being hypnotized in the rehab center.
Druvis Ⅲ: That suitcase, the world we inhabit, has been taken away for research purposes.
Druvis Ⅲ: It's as if the whole thing was manipulated to leave us high and dry and isolated, so that you would have something on us.
Druvis Ⅲ: We do not have a choice, Madam Z.
Z: However, if we change the condition, that "something" they have can turn the negotiation around and in your favor.
Druvis Ⅲ: I ... I do not understand what you mean.
Z: Before she went to the rehab center, Vertin asked me about which department you would be in.
Z: And we have worked out a feasible proposal.
Druvis Ⅲ: ...!
Z: But a catalyst is what we need at present.
Z: The quiet, mild, and tranquil status quo makes the change seem unnecessary.
Z: A proper gust of wind will vitalize the wave of change, and push it to the cusp of revolution.
Druvis Ⅲ: You mean ...
Druvis Ⅲ: But ... it is risky.
Z: That's true.
Z: I cannot give you any promises.
Z: But a fixed pattern of management will only impede the development of everyone. I hold the same idea as Vertin's in this case.
Z: Or, there is another path in front of you. Sign your name and become an official member of the Foundation.
Z: A path that many arcanists who cannot support themselves yearn for.
Druvis Ⅲ: ...
Druvis Ⅲ: So ... you are not inducing me to join the Foundation?
Z: I'm here to show you around.
Z: My senior asked me to make sure that you had a comforting tour.
Z: I hope this tour is helpful for you.