Ever since hearing that story, I started thinking a lot.

  Not just about Hermes-IX, but also about Nox, Luma, and myself.

  -Why did it fail?-Why is being "too" something a mistake?-Do I also have a "too" in me?

  These questions hovered in my mind like shadows I couldn't shake.

  ---

  During combat training with Nox, I stopped acting purely on instinct and began thinking about the meaning behind every move.

  Why could Nox always predict my punches? Why could he always counter me so easily? Why couldn't I learn?"Why?"

  I no longer just accepted the training passively-I began asking him questions.Nox still gave brief answers, sometimes only a look, but there was something thoughtful behind his gaze now.

  ---

  While learning from Luma, I was no longer satisfied just listening.

  Why is the sky blue? Why does rain make sound when it falls? Why do people in the city always look at me strangely?

  Luma looked at me and smiled gently."Vera is starting to think deeply."

  ---

  When I went shopping in the city, I noticed things I had never paid attention to before.I used to just pay, get the goods, and return home.

  But this time-

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  I saw rich people giving money to beggars, just like the man from the other day-filled with madness and hatred.I saw a thief steal something, and others not only didn't stop him, they helped him escape.

  ---

  Then I looked at the money in my hand for a long time.

  My money was different from everyone else's. Theirs was a card, which the shopkeepers scanned and returned. Mine was a handful of dark golden coins, finely engraved, heavier than cards. That made me uneasy.

  ---

  At first, I only thought the shopkeepers acted a bit strangely.They always paused when they saw my coins, then casually accepted them. But when taking others' money, they didn't do that.

  Why? They don't know me. If the coins are strange, they shouldn't accept them, right?

  "Nox, Luma-what exactly is the money I've been using?"

  ---

  Nox looked at me, lips curling into a smile.

  "It's humanity."

  -Humanity?

  What did that mean?

  ---

  "That money is actually real gold coins, predating the current currency."

  "Anyone doing business knows their value."

  "So they will accept it."

  Nox paused, then slowly added:

  "One real gold coin can be exchanged for more than regular currency."

  "Let alone the fact that you never use just one."

  ---

  I froze.

  So then... wasn't Nox worried the shopkeepers would talk?

  "Businesspeople won't spread word of these coins."

  "Otherwise, they'd lose their own profit."

  ---

  I looked down at the coins in my hand, feeling a strange emotion well up.

  So that's why their expressions were so odd.But more importantly-

  I realized something:

  I'd always taken Nox and Luma's care for granted.

  They fed me, housed me, taught me to fight, taught me knowledge...

  But I had never wondered-

  Who are they?Where did they come from?Why are they taking care of me?I... actually know nothing.

  ---

  I began asking more questions.But it was like they had expected this. They never gave direct answers, letting my questions build up instead.Yet this time, I didn't feel uneasy.I felt... excited.I wanted to know.I wanted to know more.