Providence

The Freedom from Unfair Punishment

No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

--- UN General Assembly, 1948, Universal declaration of human rights (217 [III] A). Paris. Art. 11.2

Erin never liked the cafeteria. The hall is cramped with long brass tables and equally brass benches. The designers of this space seem to have done everything in their power to maximise the number of students that could sit here, and it still was crammed to the brim. Every time Erin ate here, she had to deal not only with the terrible food, but also the ear-shattering noise of students laughing, yelling, and making other unnecessary sounds.

Erin pokes her metal fork into her food. According to the Photosynth generator, this is supposed to be 'chicken curry'. In reality, it is a bright yellow sauce, with tasteless grey cubes in it. Erin sticks one of the cubes in her mouth and retches at the bitter chemical aftertaste. Disappointed, she puts her fork back down and looks around.

The cafeteria is so full that some of the students were eating standing up, yet the seats across and next to Erin are empty. Seems like word of her insubordination has spread like wildfire through the student body, and other students were avoiding her like the plague. Erin doesn't mind. If anything, she likes it. Now at least people will leave her alone.

The moment she thinks those words, a girl with long brown hair takes a seat across from Erin. Erin looks up and sees Gwen sitting in front of her, her pale face decorated with her signature bright smile. She gestures at the plastic box with 'chicken curry' in front of Erin. "Looks like you still have your food privilege."

"Great," Erin says sarcastically. "I am so grateful for this food."

She picks up another cube of 'chicken', and removes some of the disgusting sauce with the side of her knife.

"Did you ever wonder why they call it chicken?" Erin asks.

Gwen shakes her head. "You are overthinking things again, Erin. It is just the name of the food."

Erin searches in her bag for a bit. Between her course books and notebook, she finds a large, heavy hardcover, called 'encyclopedia of common animals and plants.' Erin opens the book and shows it to Gwen. "No, this is supposed to be a chicken." She points at the large flightless bird depicted on the page.

"This," and she points at the food on her plastic plate, "is chemically made. Not the bird."

Gwen raises an eyebrow. "All the animals on Tartaros went extinct decades ago. I don't understand what point you want to make. Are you insinuating we should eat animals instead of food?"

Erin looks again at her plate. "It probably tastes way better than this crap." She throws her fork down. It hits the metal table with a loud clattering noise. "I can't believe I basically sold my soul in exchange for this."

Gwen is taken aback, her eyes wide. "What do you mean, sold your soul? You didn't summon a demon or something, did you?" Her voice shivers a bit. "I knew you were a heretic, but that would be quite far, even for you!"

Erin laughs. "No, not like that, Gwen. The church agreed to reinstate my food privileges and erase my rap sheet if I went on a pilgrimage tomorrow."

"Oh," Gwen says. "That is great! Why aren't you happy?"

"Are you kidding me, Gwen?" Erin yells. The students sitting two seats away from them look up at Gwen and Erin, and one of them shakes their head in disapproval.