"You've never... uh... visited Neptune?..." Actually this isn't the question Stairmount wants to ask. He just tries to change the topic from the pending question he was going to ask earlier. That is why his tone falters when he asks that question.
200Please respect copyright.PENANA7T8EjKsgIp
"Never."
200Please respect copyright.PENANAoqn77l97X6
"You want to go there?"
200Please respect copyright.PENANA7yJ1tLsCBq
"Of course I want. I want to travel to as many places as I can."
200Please respect copyright.PENANAFrB8bTIdHo
"I mean... perhaps you want to go to Neptune more than any other place, since Neptune is the land your ancestors came from?"
200Please respect copyright.PENANAT2xUyyi3mz
"Hmm, I don't get that far..."
200Please respect copyright.PENANA8mb2Fdy7sI
"Really? I think you should have more willingness to visit the land where your ancestors came from?"
200Please respect copyright.PENANAPOhI5fCjGV
"Hey, Sir, your words remind me of what Dad has ever said. When he was alive, he always complained that he really wanted to go to Neptune since Neptune is the land where our ancestors came from, but he never got that chance, because the central government always makes it harder for us to go there..."
200Please respect copyright.PENANAXFI2hsr9ua
"Eh, why?"
200Please respect copyright.PENANAVYLKfZj13C
"Here, we Neptunian ethnic groups are closely monitored by the government. Because separatist leaders who want to liberate Sapphire are cooperating with Neptune, they suspect Neptunian Ethnic groups of collaborating with them."
200Please respect copyright.PENANA9AKBNdkBUs
"And how about you?"
200Please respect copyright.PENANAn9P5rGUXnG
"No, of course not!" Daphne shakes her head firmly.
200Please respect copyright.PENANAGU7ysXGYhv
"You support the government?"
200Please respect copyright.PENANANBWMnOyeJn
"To be honest... I don't care. Indeed, my fellowmen often tell me to be more nationalist, and love my own clan and ethnicity... but even Dad, who is the most ethnocentric one in my family, doesn't have such spirit. We don't care about that. Dad always said, politics is complicated and dangerous, and the best choice is to stay away from it."
200Please respect copyright.PENANAxHgrTa9LIq
"Your dad is a wise man. I agree with him."
200Please respect copyright.PENANAi4YxdOfVKF
"How about you, Mr. Rivers? Have you visited Saturn?"
200Please respect copyright.PENANAAQal3p5KOc
"Me?..."
200Please respect copyright.PENANA0IFUHVdhxw
"Yes. To the land of your ancestor."
200Please respect copyright.PENANAs600JszvMf
"Ah..."
200Please respect copyright.PENANAuyDU0UrCGL
"Is that right, the land of your ancestor is Saturn?"
200Please respect copyright.PENANA2F0sV8uieo
"Yes, that's right..."
200Please respect copyright.PENANALJjQUU035Q
"You have visited it?"
200Please respect copyright.PENANApaLcgdqqCG
"... even your ancestors are not willing to see you!..."
200Please respect copyright.PENANAwCFnSKYuXK
Copyright ©️ by boundless_universe
200Please respect copyright.PENANAOF4RXMWtL4
After a brief pause, Stairmount shakes his head. "Never..." When he answers, his voice is so low it is no more than a whisper.
200Please respect copyright.PENANAirmv2Dv2PU
"Then, we are the same, Sir. We are not the indigenous people in our country, but we never go back to the land of our ancestors."
200Please respect copyright.PENANAgvEId1Ha1F
Stairmount turns his head away, and looks out of the window. He does that on purpose since he does not wish his sudden gloomy face to be seen by a student he has just known for a few days.
200Please respect copyright.PENANAjV3eBBtgKG
"If I have a chance, I want to go to Saturn. By the way, Mr. Rivers, you can take a trip to Neptune. Hey, does it mean we are doing tour swaps for visiting the land of our ancestors, whereas we ourselves have never visited there!"
200Please respect copyright.PENANAJXF1bnEYel
If you get caught setting foot on either Neptune or Saturn, you'll die.
200Please respect copyright.PENANAVzGFDZras8
"Hmm, that's a great idea." When he replies, Stairmount's face beams in happiness, and he curves a wide smile. He stretches out his palm and places it on the table. "Come on, we promise to do that. And, to return to the lands of our respective ancestors."
200Please respect copyright.PENANARfvOPvDcWf
"Promise? You mean?..." Daphne is confused as she stares at the palm that her lecturer is holding out.
200Please respect copyright.PENANAftk7BY4Vg3
"According to the Callistos, this is an augury to make a promise. One puts the palm of his hand and another puts his palm on the back of the hand of the previous one, those who make the promise are bound to implement it. Whoever makes the promise, they can't break it."
200Please respect copyright.PENANAdzGQLfdI1h
"Eh? What a hard promise! What if the central government still forbids me to go to Neptune?..."
200Please respect copyright.PENANA5WCFNHIaLp
"That's why we make this promise. My Callisto friend said, the energy of the agreement throughout this way is very powerful. After we make a promise, a powerful energy will rise, and nothing can stop it."
200Please respect copyright.PENANAwGT7truwTh
"Including the government."
200Please respect copyright.PENANAdUo7sUu5lM
"Everything."
200Please respect copyright.PENANAUWT0olE1Yv
The gleam of the morning sun enters the laboratory room, spreading a little warmth this winter. Daphne holds out her hand with hesitation. Knowing the girl still does not believe him, Stairmount nods reassuringly. With a jolt, Daphne suddenly gets the urge, and becomes absolutely sure. She puts her palm on the back of Stairmount's hand.
200Please respect copyright.PENANABR04sSUUnD
"I promise," Daphne said firmly.
200Please respect copyright.PENANAnA7i9SHXnj
Stairmount replies to Daphne's steady words. "Okay, we promise."
200Please respect copyright.PENANATtKqrU0OeR
Copyright ©️ by boundless_universe
200Please respect copyright.PENANASc56wWWQ5p
Please support me at:
https://ko-fi/boundlessuniverse
ns 15.158.61.52da2