The two conversed some more about lighter topics, as they joined the others for lunch. Julian was particularly interested about the breakthrough.

"So, what exactly does it actually feel like?" Julian asked out of curiosity.

"Like the biggest epiphany possible in the human experience." Rui replied. "For a moment you no longer care about anything in this world. You experience true happiness and satisfaction, and your mind has absolute clarity."

"Hmmm..." Julian hummed, engrossed in Rui's explanation. "Remarkable, really."

"Hey! Pay attention to your food, you haven't even touched it yet!" Myra, the head cook of the Orphanage, insisted. She had always been quite strict about all matters regarding food and meals.

"Yes yes." Rui laughed.

"You're as strict as ever." Julian sighed with a resigned smile.

Rui proceeded to inquire about the Orphanage affairs, wanting to catch up on having missed a whole year of their lives.

"You must have seen the fully-fixed roof when you came right?" Lashara asked, while showing an affectionate smile to Julian. "Julian was the one who paid for all of that."

"It wasn't that big a deal." Julian smiled modestly.

deal?

while also able

have been far more children out on the streets these days." Lashara sighed with resigned melancholy. "I've wanted to do something for these children

end up this way?"

caretakers. Another part of it is..." Lashara's voice trailed

Rui tilted

a series of child trafficking busts." She sighed, as an even more macabre expression creeped onto

widened, before sharpening. He recalled when he was almost abducted by a random man who spoke about selling him like he was no more than goods in demand. This was in one of the outer districts of Hajin. Was Hajin home

Lashara sighed. "I'm glad that

several had chosen to stick with the

orphanage was constrained by the number of caretakers present,

attention. "Will you be staying for the Winter Festival? It's day after

for the first

a nation-wide festival. It was celebrated in some form or the

outer districts this time as well?"

to the outer districts where they could visit the festival fares

planning on going on the last day, as usual..." Lashara paused. "But since you won't be here for the last day, we'll

well for me." Rui nodded. "I would hate to miss

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