[Anka, the gray one with horns on his head and blond hair is your guest. A dragon.]
A strange voice echoed through Csendez's mind.
She was genuinely surprised. Then another voice followed.
"Thank you, Zero. But why is he wearing a mask? Don't dragons like to show their faces? The information we received never mentioned anything like that."
The second voice startled her even more. It sounded exactly like her own.
What in the sunlight is happening...?
Is this my memory? That doesn't make any sense. The timeline doesn't fit, and I couldn't have left the Phoenix Planet to work as a servant aboard a siren ship...
Before she could reach any conclusion, the two guests began walking toward the private rooms.
The girl's body immediately followed them in complete silence.
Inside her mind, however...
"This elf is so energetic. Are all elves like that? The information said elves are usually cold and serious..."
That is almost exactly what I thought when I first met Uituba.
[Anka, every race has its own stereotypes. Just because they are elves doesn't mean they are all the same. They are still individuals. How do you think humans are described throughout the universe?]
Anka... So that's her name. I must have missed it earlier.
And this system is surprisingly mature and logical. Nothing like my childish little bird.
"Humans are probably seen as... hmm... emotional... weak... foolish... I really can't guess. Enlighten me."
Emotional? What does that even mean? Do humans cry all the time or something?
Csendez quietly listened to the conversation.
[Yes. Humans are often seen as foolish creatures who keep trying to climb an impossible ladder while risking their short lives for others. They willingly hurt themselves for someone else's sake.]
[Because of those actions, many races consider humans emotional and irrational. Do you think that description fits you?]
"Not really. Maybe the part about working hard to become stronger... but nothing else."
So not every human behaves like this?
I really want to understand what 'emotional' actually means.
[Exactly. In the same way, not every elf matches the stereotypes associated with their race. The same applies to every species.]
"I understand."
[You have two hours left to complete your mission. Be prepared.]
A mission...?
So this really is connected to the previous dream...
Or rather... another shared vision. Something that happened before the present... or perhaps something happening right now.
I need to see the date. If this is the same universe, the date will answer many questions.
"Thank you, Zero. We're almost finished here, so don't worry."
The group eventually reached the corridor leading to the guest rooms.
Unlike the other visitors, the elf and the dragon hadn't brought any attendants with them.
Only the two human servants assigned by the ship remained nearby.
The servant assigned to the elf appeared to be a grown man. He was energetic and physically strong, but completely inexperienced. His movements lacked the refinement expected of a servant, making several of his attempts feel awkward.
Csendez still hadn't seen Anka's face, but judging from her thoughts, she didn't seem nervous at all.
Instead of separating and entering their own rooms, the two guests walked into the dragon's room together while continuing a conversation about a place called Palogonus.
"Palogonus is a restaurant on the Pegasus Planet, if I remember correctly. But that planet is closed to outsiders. How were they able to go there?"
I didn't even know it was a restaurant... or that it was located on a Pegasus planet.
It's rather embarrassing that this human knows more about the universe than I do.
After all, from my previous dreams I saw how humans enter the Universal Registry. Their education is... brutal.
The Damionus probably plays a major role in that, but still... until those dreams, I had never even heard of humans. I thought those scenes belonged to some distant era. But now...
I really need to see the date...
There, hanging on the wall not far from where the girl's body stood, was a calendar.
The date was written in large characters.
There was no way to miss it.
While Anka was preparing the room, I was too focused on my own thoughts to notice it.
What a mistake.
Let's see… the date is…
The eleventh day of the fourth month.
Year 2000, Pannikkatti Calendar.
...
The Academy entrance ceremony was on the tenth day of the fourth month.
...
That was yesterday. I really am dreaming...
And now I'm seeing another part of the universe..?!
How is that possible?
Csendez remained silent for a few moments.
She had expected almost anything from these dreams by now, so she accepted the new information surprisingly quickly.
Those really are my classmates.
But... wasn't it forbidden to leave the Academy?
Shouldn't they be in serious trouble?
Or is there something special about this ship that allows Academy students to board it?
No...
They even visited the Pegasus Planet...
What's going on?
Several possibilities appeared one after another in her mind.
She dismissed every one of them.
Analyze later. Observe first.
The two human servants remained quietly beside the entrance, exactly as they had been instructed.
Meanwhile, the two guests continued their casual conversation.
Eventually, it shifted toward something Csendez wanted to hear.
"That class yesterday was so boring." The elf frowned. "I really want to convince my family that I don't need the Academy for my career, but they refuse to listen."
He sighed.
"They even threatened me with an arranged marriage if I didn't enroll."
Another sigh escaped him.
"Our planet has already sent nineteen children to the Academy. Why did they have to send me as well?"
He leaned back into the sofa.
"I'm not like those... immature children. I've been in the public eye for years, and I've managed our family's business without any problems."
He looked toward the dragon.
"Do you think I should insist and leave the Academy?"
The dragon calmly picked up his teacup and took a slow sip. Only after setting it back down did he answer.
Csendez's attention shifted to his mask.
Interesting.
It changed shape so smoothly that I didn't even notice when it happened.
Now it only covers the upper half of his face.
His mouth was completely visible now.
"Tenin," the dragon said calmly, "you already know the Academy is important right now. The heads of your family made that decision. You don't actually believe what you're saying."
He looked directly at the elf.
"You're only trying to vent your frustration. Maybe the Academy is exactly what you need. Leave the past where it belongs."
"What a deep voice..."
The words appeared inside Anka's mind at exactly the same moment.
What a deep voice...
Csendez noticed the coincidence immediately.
This is strange.
Tenin gave a small nod before grabbing one of the decorative cushions from the sofa.
He began squeezing it repeatedly between both hands. The childish gesture felt oddly familiar.
It reminds me of Uituba.
"Also..." Fahim continued after a brief pause, "weren't you happy to see your older sister again?"
He waited until Tenin finally stopped taking his frustration out on the poor cushion. Tenin carefully placed it back where it had been before letting out a long sigh.
"I was happy. But..."
He looked down.
"It didn't feel like she was happy to see me. She didn't even answer my greeting. It was... awkward. We're in the same class now. On the same floor. And yet… I didn't feel close to her at all. Maybe she doesn't remember me. Or maybe...she hates me."
Csendez quietly connected the information. A conclusion immediately formed in her mind.
She ignored it.
Analyze later. Observe first.
"You waited all this time, worked so hard to become more independent from your family, and finally met your sister again..." Fahim smiled. "...and now you don't even know how to start a conversation with her? Haha..."
"Fahim, you..." Tenin pointed at him. "...come here and fight me!"
"Hahaha..."
"Stop laughing!"
"Hahaha..."
After calming down a little, Fahim leaned back against the sofa.
"Do you want some advice?"