It had been more than half an hour since anyone'd spoken in the dim space. Kapel, Proxer, and the Knights who remained here waited for when the youngsters who fell victim to "mind tampering" to leave the encampment so that they could take Jogrin back with them.
Alas, since every one of them needed to be questioned, and the fact that they weren't really in the best state for interviewing, the time required for that was much longer than usual.
In the meantime, Jogrin'd sending gazes between Kapel, Proxer, and the pile of silvery ash, which was still here since the wind couldn't reach this space. The air felt stagnant because of that, literally and metaphorically.
Proxer, on the other hand, was too concentrated on digesting the discussion between Jogrin and Kapel that he didn't pay attention to his surrounding ever since the silence began.
"You have been looking at me again and again... Is there more which you have yet to tell me?"
Jogrin didn't respond as he kept staring at Kapel, befuddled.
"... Jogrin?"
"I'm just wondering now, what's with your attitude?"
"Excuse me?"
"Sorry. What I'm saying is, your attitude towards me now is drastically different from before I took off. I can't even sense anger from you anymore ever since you'd arrived here."
While this was something that Proxer might've been intrigued to hear, he didn't catch what Jogrin said at all. His head was lowered as he stared at the pile of ash. Kapel glanced at him once, before replying to Jogrin.
"The reason is simple. Before, I had to stop you no matter what. I was aware that you might not really hurt those who were bullying Zanphia and the rest, but there was still a chance that someone could have seen you flying in the air. I was also concerned that witnessing an event similar to what you had gone through might trigger an emotional response from you, which might confer to you using your powers against them."
Having experienced a supernatural event five years ago, Kapel learnt that it was important to conceal such events from the public, even if it meant lying to them. He failed to do so because that was the first time anything like that took place. The result of that was public panic, which took much time to resolve.
It was due to this lesson that he vehemently tried to stop Jogrin, for fear of repeating the past.
"As for my current attitude... What was done was done, and it is undoubtedly irreversible. Instead of letting my emotions take over and throwing accusations, it's more preferable to know what happened."
"I see. Your reasoning does fit your character."
"Excuse me?"
"Forget I said anything."
Jogrin blurting out incurred a glare from Kapel, but the latter just let it be with a "Hmph."
While there were moments where he'd let his emotions get the better of him, such as when he met with the Second Order, and back at the campsite earlier today, it could be concluded that Kapel was a logical thinker. His acumen was also an asset of his that made him who he was.
"Um, Father?"
Proxer broke out of his chain of thoughts and proceeded to call out to Kapel, worry written all over his face.
"Proxer, I know what is on your mind. Unfortunately, there is nothing any of us can do. It will be a repeat of five years ago."
"Kapel, wording."
Jogrin warned Kapel, and the latter furrowed his eyebrows at him in wonder. But it took him a few mere seconds to realize what Jogrin meant, and immediately turned to Proxer.
"Proxer, I am sorry about-"
"Oh, it's okay, Father. I get what you're saying. You're talking about the news about Jogrin spreading, am I right?"
"... That is indeed the case..."
It was glaring obvious that the new threat had really shaken Kapel, let alone the others who were present to hear it from Jogrin.
"Then, what should we do with Jogrin then?"
"I believe even I do not have a say in this, since the higher-ups are surely going to issue an order regarding Jogrin."
"Are they actually going to make use of me?"
"Make use? What do you mean by that??"
"Jogrin, please do not speak of classified information without permission."
"Does it really matter at this point? They're going to send someone to 'retrieve' me and force me to become a part of their military power, are they not?"
"Jogrin!!!"
"Father, is what Jogrin said true?!"
"That is... Jogrin, what are you trying to achieve by divulging this information?"
"While it's my desire to protect the kind people of this planet, I will waste no time to return to the Darkian planet if a means to do so appears. That is to say, I'm not here to add to your military force by becoming a soldier with powers. Though unlikely, what if they have something that can tie me to Zuta?"
Jogrin yearned to avoid that at all costs, and apparently that was why he felt it was necessary to tell Proxer, and even the Knights about that. Then, Jogrin noticed that Fron was acting a little weird.
"Sorry... I have something to confess..." Fron raised his hand, his expression still melancholic.
Everyone's attention shifted to him.
"I've already heard about this, and have been mulling over it..."
Jogrin and Kapel instantly came to a conclusion that Tyron was the one who did that, as they narrowed their eyes unanimously.
"Um, please don't blame him. I just kept asking because he looked so troubled..."
"While I would like to reprimand him, we already have too much on out hands."
"Thank you, Grand Commander Kapel."
"What are you two cents on this?" Proxer wanted to hear Fron's thoughts.
"I've observed Jogrin for quite while now, both from up close and afar. I... I just want to say that... he doesn't seem to be a bad guy. I'm sure many of us share the same opinion."
When Fron said so, Jogrin perceived that the other Knights present concurred with such a statement.
"I think it's as Captain Ryov said before, Jogrin deserves freedom. He should not be unwillingly bound to the military... and Zuta."
"So you're saying you want to send me away?"
"To put it simply, yes. You said you want to go back as soon as possible, and there's no doubt in my mind that people are going to go on a protest, or even go the extreme of commencing a riot against you."
"Knowing my existence would drive them to chase me, the source of fear, away."
Unlike the "Telestrophe" incident, where the source of this supernatural phenomenon was never known, the people of Zuta had a clear target of who was imposing the threat this time. This fact would indisputably prompt them to do whatever it took to drive Jogrin away.
"So... I would like to propose that-"
"Halt. Before you go any further, are you aware that what you are about to propose would be a blatant offense against the higher-ups?"
"I am... That's why we'll do it clandestinely."
"Even if we can be elusive, how can we achieve something as ludicrous as that?"
Kapel refuted Fron's idea before he even had a chance to share it. Jogrin also knew what Fron was getting at, and he nodded at Kapel's words.
"There's... I don't know..."
"Because it's just not possible. Unless I can freely fly in space while also knowing my way back, that plan of yours will never work."
"But having you stay here is just..."
Fron wished to insist on his proposal, but secretly sending Jogrin back to his home planet was an absurd, infeasible idea. Acquiring a shuttle secretly was a no-go either. He sulked as he struggled to refute Kapel and Jogrin.
"I'm with Fron on this one."
"Proxer!!"
"I wasn't not sure what Jogrin's been thinking so deeply about, but now I realize it was mostly about his origin and his kin. I've held him back this whole time, so I'll make an effort to save you."
Proxer held his fists tightly, and whispered softly.
"Maybe there will finally be closure for me. Even if there won't be, I want to help as much as I can..."