Ellisa and Zaroshi stand across their family members, bags in their hands, ready to depart. Ellisa's father checks their to-do list,
"Clothes, check. Other belongings, check. You guys are expected to hop on with the captain and others at 4, right? That's 4 minutes and 34 seconds away. Let me just go grab lunch for you guys real quick!"
"Okay, dad!"
Ellisa's older sister huffs at her,
"I better not hear of any complaints, all right? You both WILL do your best and more. No slacking off, pure discipline. Heed all advice given to you and make the most of this year."
Ellisa giggles, "Okay, Sigma.", Her sister pinches her, making her squeal. Zaroshi's mother clasps his hand,
"My little Zar, all grown up now. Can't believe we will have to spend another year without seeing the both of you. But then again, we rarely saw you kids during the Academy days as well," she caresses his cheek, lightly touching his eye," Be careful out there, all right? You too, El. I'd hate to see you guys hurt again. Especially with the heart and the..."
"That's enough, Auntie. Let's not bring up the past, now. This is pretty much a new beginning for them, so let's let them push all bad memories past them."
Ellisa yawns, "Are we done here? It's almost 4!"
"Yeah we should probably leave now."
As they turn, their uncle knocks into them,
"I'm so sorry, I was just- in a hurry-," he gasps, "here! I got you guys juice and ramen. The self hearing pot is with you guys right?"
"Yes, Dad. Can we go now?"
"Wait a minute!" He pulls them into a tight hug. Ellisa's sister and her aunt join them.
"Come back in one piece, all right?"
"Sure, Dad."
"Okay, Uncle."
Afterwards, they both hopped on the train and waved their family goodbye.
"I'm going to miss this place," Zaroshi whispers.
"Me too, I guess..."
They're both quiet afterwards. Ellisa speaks up,
"Listen, don't be too sad about me going to Winqis, alright? Alex and Printel will be there with me, the supervisors will be there with me, so I'm sure I'll manage somehow."
"No need to be so humble, El. We both know you will. It's just about the heart and..."
Ellisa groans, "why does everyone keep bringing the surgery up!? I got that heart when I was a kid and I've never been better since. I highly doubt that heart will suddenly let me down when it hasn't done so in the past five years."
"It's about the Residues, damn it!"
Ellisa laughs, "you're still buying that crap from our doctor back then? About that weird ass researcher and the so called artifacts?"
Zaroshi blushes, "It's true, alright!? I've seen... things. Herr and there. I got that eye from her too, you know?"
"That's probably related to some psychological issue. Geez, I can't believe people like you and I are supposedly the top of our generation."
"Yeah, the generation is probably doomed then, " Alex chimes in from behind, putting his arm around Ellisa. The others are close behind him. He whispers in Zaroshi's ear, "If you're really so worried for her, you can swap places with her at the last minute. The consequences? Fuck them."
Amanda mentions, "is that Ramen? Let's go make it, then."
After three hours, the train has reached the capital of Melholm. They all hop out of the train.
"This place is beautiful!", Ellisa exclaims.
"It's just a train station, meathead," Alex says. He looks around, "Where's Amanda?"
"She left with her supervisor, already."
"Geez, didn't even say goodbye, huh? When is your supervisor coming, Zaroshi?"
"Well, he did say he'll be running a bit late, due to a job he got caught up in," Zaroshi checks his watch, "When are you guys leaving?"
The captain states, "They will be leaving with me on this train, which will depart to Winqis any minute now. Guess this is goodbye, then."
They all glance at each other as Zaroshi gives them a formal pat on the shoulders. As the train stirs, Zaroshi pretends to be busy finding something in his bags.
"You should get off now, Zaroshi?"
"Zar?"
Right before the train turns up it's spee, Zaroshi throws Ellisa outside the door. He lands on the platform on her back, dumbfounded.
"Idiot!", the Captain punches him, "Irresponsible Idiot! You have any idea what you've done?"
Blood gushes out of this nose as he grins, "The right thing, ofcourse."