The sun rose. Along with that, people of Zuta did as well, except for a few Knights, who were already awake as they'd been assigned to watch over a certain alien boy with a creepy tail by taking turns.
Kapel wished to continue to ask about Jogrin's origin and the reason he was here, but before he could proceed with it, he was forcefully dragged away by Proxer so that he wouldn't stay up for an entire night, which might've looked like an offense to his superior, but Kapel resignedly complied.
As for Jogrin... Kapel and the others were flabbergasted to find out that Jogrin had never slept in his life... At this point, they felt surprised about being taken aback by his properties that were being revealed gradually.
In the end, Kapel still wasn't convinced about the existence of the so-called "mind tampering," but he didn't pursue for further answers as he thought there was no point in making Jogrin talk more about the incident - he was going to keep saying it was the "mind tampering" anyway.
As frustrated as he was, Kapel couldn't do anything else for now, except seeking for more answers from the soldiers involved in the incident.
Jogrin, accompanied by Proxer, Kapel and the Knights, walked down the hallway they came from after disembarking the flying vehicle. And now, other than Kapel, they were about to get on board again.
The storm might be put to a pause, but the root of the adversity as well as the subsequent dilemmas it brought along have yet to be resolved.
"Fa- Grand Commander Kapel, I know my comrades have brought about the bombardment, but please, I'm imploring you to listen to and go easy on them..." Proxer nervously asked.
"It depends on the answers they will give during the interrogation. I will of course attentively listen to what they shall say to me."
After the incident, the soldiers were transferred to their own base after it'd been confirmed that they weren't aggressive anymore. Now, they awaited the interrogation which would be primarily carried out by Kapel, the one who oversaw all military forces.
"Thank you..." Proxer meekly replied. It appeared he was glad to hear Kapel's claim.
"Commander Maladin, if you could be so inclined." One of the Knights, who walked ahead of the group of soldiers, beckoned to Proxer. Behind him was the exact platinum-white vehicle that took them to the "Palacial."
"This shall be where we part ways for now. Please give your family my regards." Said Kapel with a composed tone as he sent Proxer and Jogrin off. Proxer did the same with a soft yet grim smile, and boarded the vehicle with Jogrin who glanced at Kapel for the last time until they'd meet again.
Kapel caught sight of his glance and was reminded of the conversation he had with him just last night. Jogrin hinted at him about the proof of his claims of "mind tampering" affecting their actions: the wiping out of their memories during the entire bombardment. If it was as he'd said, all of the soldiers should tell him...
"The crater suddenly appeared before our very eyes as we were preparing to engage."
They'd also claim that they, unknowingly, put their Commander in jeopardy, much to their dismay.
Just like before, after confirming everyone got on board, one of the Knights, turned on the engine of the vehicle, followed by it taking off. Kapel watched the vehicle slowly vanishing into the clouds before he turned back and asked with a solemn look.
"I have to return to the base of the emergency deployment force. I have to borrow one of the one-person flying vehicles which can store documents securely. Will that request be granted?"
"Yes, please feel free to use any one of those over there."
"I am grateful for your assistance. Then, I shall prepare the documents and be back in around half an hour."
"Noted. We will reserve one of the vehicles for your use."
...
After all the flips and turns, Proxer and Jogrin were once again engaged by awkward silence, except that this time more people were embroiled in it. The one broke it was Proxer.
"I'm sure you have a myriad of questions that you're going to throw at me, so... feel free. I'll answer to the best if my abilities." Amidst the interior of the flying vehicle, Proxer stated so, giving an inkling to Jogrin that he could just ask away.
"Would it be fine if I started with the heaviest topic?" Without stuttering, Jogrin returned a blunt query to Proxer.
To that query, Proxer responded by a nod with a troubled smile.
"The term 'Telestrophe' had been mentioned various times. Upon its being mentioned, I could sense that everyone felt grievous... If I'm not wrong, it seems to be a mix of 'tele-' and 'catastrophe'. It also seems to me that you were deeply related or involved with that incident. Lastly, it appears your attitude towards it is a result of your behavior in that bombardment just then. What actually is it?"
Jogrin was extremely curious about the novel term he'd heard several times after arriving at Zuta, so he sought to clarify some mysteries regarding it.
Proxer knew this was coming as soon as Jogrin wanted to ask about the "heaviest topic". He didn't show any signs of being startled.
"Yes, you're right about the first one. It's a mix of those 2 words... As for what it is precisely, why it's making especially me so dour, and why it's making me go to such length for your sake... You don't mind listening to an old man reminiscing about the past, do you?"
A stoic look emerged from Proxer as he jokingly called himself an old man, albeit looking nowhere near middle aged. Nonetheless, there was no way he could keep his sorrowful, mournful emotions hidden, not even to someone without "emotional perception."
"Yes, please do." A courteous reply from Jogrin.
The Knights around them didn't make a sound as they looked around, at anything except the duo. Even though they were still wearing a full-body gear including the helmet, which hid their faces well, Jogrin could easily tell that they felt anxious and melancholic with "emotional perception."
A caring person with a seemingly traumatic and painful past.
Proxer paused as he began to brace himself by taking deep breaths. Though Jogrin yearned to know about this past of his that might have changed him as a person, he patiently waited for Proxer to mentally prepare himself.
Hence, with Jogrin's focus fully on Proxer, the flashback of Proxer initiated.