Mountains and Buffalo.

Chapter 16: Pillar of Foreign Affairs: Base.

The Communication Pillars: A group of three buildings, serving as the cornerstones of Kommunikatsya. Each building was relegated to a specific purpose. There was one for domestic, foreign, and business communication, respectively. Considering the nature of our mission, Rover and I were naturally heading towards the Foreign Pillar, which just so happened to be the furthest away from us, on the opposite side of the city where the stables were.

I didn't curse my luck. In fact, I relished in the noisy, yet calming stroll such distance provided me. Even Rover seemed to have eased up, her face returning to her neutral– and thus, joyful –expression.

But, as tranquil as our stroll was, deep inside me was an anxiety in the form of a knot, one I couldn't untangle no matter how hard I tried. Even after Rover's inspiring words, I still couldn't help but worry about the unaccounted factor; that thing that's resting in the city, festering like a nest of wasps until it bursts and causes everyone grief. Though, from the way I felt, calling it a nest of wasps was too kind.

"Haa..."

I chomped on my finger. It eased the tension in my body, it made me feel secure. In a moment of clarity, I realized how correct Flinty was.

This was a bad habit I needed to quit.

"Hey, what are you bleeding for?"

"You phrase things in the worst way possible. Don't mind it, alright?"

She raised an eyebrow far more inquisitively than I've ever seen.

"Bleeding out of nowhere is pretty bad, you shouldn't be so stubborn."

"You... it wasn't out of nowhere. I just bit on my finger too hard."

"Eh? What are you biting on your finger for?"

Truly, I held no good response to this question. Simply avoiding it would just make her ask me harder, and that would do a number on my patience and mood.

"It's a good nerve-killer."

"Blah, a good one? You're just hurting yourself! I'm sure a pint of beer will help you more."

"...Pff."

She looked taken back as I snorted at her sentence.

"What!? Are you making fun of me!?"

"I'm not drinking age anyway, and neither are you."

"Hmph! I knew that!"

I kept walking while occasionally chuckling to myself, indifferent to her brash attitude. I didn't bother to question how such a tragic misunderstanding befell her—not knowing made it all the funnier.

"Well, at least you look better now."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

She turned her gaze to me and stuck her tongue out, continuing to walk like normal after the quaint gesture.

"Wait... was that an intentional joke?"

The prospect was ridiculous, yet I couldn't dismiss it. And then, I started to believe it, and I became dumbfounded.

–

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The title of "Pillar" grew more and more appropriate as Rover and I crept to the tower. In many aspects, simply calling it that would've suited it better.

The street around the Pillar didn't move. Rather, it was cramped and stagnant. An entourage of transporters and lettermen alike were waiting outside Pillar's base. The crowd was thick, but not suffocating, making the task of weaving through them perfectly manageable.