Sonia looked at Thales who had drifted into a trance with a thoughtful expression.
"You know, on this trip back to the Royal Capital, I found that everyone is very much at ease," she said after a moment, with a light snort as she took out her tobacco pipe and tobacco again to start rolling another cigarette, "unlike a few years ago when everyone was constantly anxious and ready to pack up and flee, worried that the northerners might attack any day."
"That's a good thing," Thales nodded, "and you have made remarkable achievements by defending the fortress."
But the Fortress Flower snorted with a sarcastic tone:
"In fact, just last month, I led a group north to the Territory of Black Sand to camp on Chaman Rumba's lands—essentially, for reconnaissance."
Thales did not turn around but just gazed at the distant Star Lake: "Quite bold."
