Neige and Emely talked about the technicality of time travel around a cup of coffee while Silva and Sepide looked at them with confusion. Silva focused on her beloved's voice, ignoring the meaning of the words. The blind girl only snapped out of it when the young engineer called her name multiple times.

"Silva!"

"Huh? Sorry, I wasn't listening."

"Yeah, I see that. We were talking about the leader, have you seen her today?"

"I don't think I did, you should ask Neige, he knows her better than me."

Neige shook his head, a bit sad for some reason.

"That's why I asked you all, not only she wasn't in her room, but she left her watch on her bed."

Silva took another cup of coffee without much worry and took a sip before answering.

"She's probably taking a long shower or something, you worry too much."

"Yeah, you're probably right..."

The group stayed silent for a moment, Neige still concerned for his friend. Gwyn passed right next to them, despite the doctor looking in a hurry, Neige still decided to stop her in her tracks.

"Gwyn, have you seen Polyetta?"

"No, something happened?"

"Yeah, she's nowhere to be seen and she left her watch here, I figured you might know something."

"She's fine," Silva said, interrupting the conversation "At least wait for a day or something before worrying."

"Yeah, I'm sorry Gwyn, I know you're busy and-"

"The moon."

Gwyn's words surprised everyone, they couldn't understand what she meant and stared at her with disbelief.

"The moon? What about the moon?"

"That's probably where the leader is."

"And... How do you know?"

"Therapist's knowledge."

Emely stepped into the conversation, visibly not convinced.

"But, the watches can't land on the moon, we merely pass there."

"She used her book to go there, you should probably hurry if you want to change things."

Without further explanation, the doctor left the group in a hurry. Neige considered following her but instead stayed with his friends to discuss what they should do.

"Is it even possible to go to the moon?"

"It should be." Answered Emely "I'd need to update the watch though, maybe tomorrow it should be possible. But why would she go there? It's probably the only place where we can't reach her, is she dodging us?"

"Well... Polyetta did act in a strange way lately, she's probably preparing something."

"I hope nothing bad. I'll go get to work right away, you want to come?"

"No thanks, I have something to do today."

"I'd like to stay with Neige." Said Sepide "I wanted to ask him something."

"I see, have fun you two. You want to come my pretty bat?"

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"Yeah, just a minute."

Silva poured another cup of coffee and followed Emely. The two girls waved at their friends before going, leaving Neige and Sepide alone.

"You wanted to ask me something, Sepide?"

"If you're not busy, yeah."

"We can talk on the way, it's nothing complicated, just important."

The two friends walked on the hallways, while they were doing so, Sepide took a deep breath and asked the question she had on her mind.

"Neige, did the leader ever talk about me when you were alone together?"

"Maybe a few times, why?"

"Do you think that she loves me... Like a daughter?"

Neige stopped in his walk and turned toward Sepide with curiosity.

"I... Can't recall anything like that, why so suddenly?"

"It's a bit hard for me to feel confident about the future, I guess it's the role of parents to help then but... I suppose that the leader is my mother. I just never saw her like that, she always was the one that told me what mission was next for me."

"Gwyn could probably help you more than me for that... You just want a parent, right?'

"I don't know, Remiel has Emely, it's unfair."

Neige chuckled, a bit amused while looking at Sepide's annoyed face. Neige gently took his friend's hand and brought her closer to rub the top of her head.

"Now I understand, you're just jealous of your friend. You know, none of us really had parents."

"Really? But how were you born?"

"Well, we had people that gave birth to us, but not parents if it makes sense. You already know about Silva's parents, right?"

"Yes, they were horrible to her."

"It's kind of the same for everyone, my parents died when I was young and Polyetta's died of sickness. We had to face our future alone, and it's partly why we're so close now. Emely lived in a world where human connection was rare, even between family members. Ina was an orphan, Kairo had a hard relationship with his father-"

"I understand, but what does it have to do with me?"

"It's just to tell you that everyone here understands. Polyetta is a bit too immature to have a child, don't take it too personally. But I'm here for you, Silva's here for you, and you're here for us. Together, we form the family we never had... I see you and Silva like sisters, isn't a soul connection better than a blood one?"

Sepide leaned toward Neige and grabbed his shirt, gently closing her eyes. Neige took her in her arms, gently caressing her hair.

"Neige... I'm glad I get to be your friend and everyone else's. I want to keep going and see how the future will be, even if it won't be easy."

"I'm sure it will, I just hope Polyetta won't do anything stupid."

"You know what she wants to do?"

"I think... She always talked about creating a world without any problem, I'm afraid she actually tried this time. I can't see why she would flee us like that if it weren't the case."

"So we'll need to fight her?"

"Probably not, don't worry, we'll be able to talk this out... I mean, I can't beat her in a fight, so we'll have to talk this out."

Sepide's eyes widened as she stepped back from Neige's embrace.

"The leader is stronger than you? But you're so quick and strong!"

"Yeah, I think using a sword might help though, I don't know how to use weapons as well as her. She used to play with sticks and pretend she was a sword master, she's insanely skilled with a blade."

Sepide paused for a moment and remembered the tournament they went to with Silva and the leader. Her leader managed to fight back against the anomaly and practically dominated Kairo in a fight.

"There's no way I can fight her then, I think I could manage to use a sword though."

"You could, but I can't imagine it being practical."

Neige gave a head pat to Sepide, who seemed glad about it. Before they could leave they were stopped by Ina, who ran toward with concern on her face. She had to take a few seconds to take her breath before telling them the reason behind her behavior.

"Neige! Sepide! Is that true? The leader disappeared?"

"Yes, she's in the moon apparently. Emely is working on it, but I was searching for Ada, maybe she could help us."

"Ada?" Ina thought for a moment, a bit confused at first "Oh, miss nun. The leader sent her on a mission somewhere, I don't know where though, she said it could take a few days."

"By herself?" Asked Sepide "Doesn't that break the rules?"

"Yes, I was surprised too. We have to leave in groups of at least three, I figured that the leader knew she wouldn't be in danger."

"I don't think so..." Neige said with a serious tone "Maybe it's her way of getting rid of the anomaly, she knew we'd try to get to her if we could."

"It has to be important then! I hope the leader finishes quickly then."

"I don't think she should, I have a bad feeling about it."

"But Neige, aren't you her best friend?" Ina asked, a bit disappointed "You should trust her."

"It's because I know her so well that I'm worried, she could be doing something dangerous just to create her perfect world."

"A perfect world..." Ina stayed silent for a moment, thinking about it "Do you think it's that bad of an idea?"

"I think yeah, she'll probably brainwash everyone if she could, just to make sure we're happy."

"It doesn't sound like a good life to me, you need to stop the leader. If there's anything I can do tell me, I'll gladly help."

Neige smiled, glad to feel Ina's desire to help.

"Just make a good meal for the leader once we bring her back here, she'll probably feel sad."

"Will do, I hope you'll bring her back without too much difficulties."

"We will, don't worry about it."

Neige put his hand on his dagger, even if Polyetta was his friend, she probably wouldn't hold back if she was determined to accomplish her goal. All he could do for now was wait and prepare for the next day.