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Ever since arriving in the city the minds of the six Ouroboros users have been hit by a constant stream of revelations. Shania and Monica really weren’t kidding when they told them to save the excitement. As beautiful as the path to the city was, the vast distant land stretched below them, the city was more than could ever be expected.
As Mio sat in the park at the end of the day her mind sat muddled, unable to process everything. The one that was clear to her was that she was furious. With only a month remaining, everything has completely changed. She was already furious at Moebius for, well, everything. The night in the crumbling tower, regretting her outburst yet glad to get it off her chest. She realized that she wanted more to life than just fighting. Of course she is afraid of her end, who wouldn’t be. Now that all that could be is before her eyes, she knows that there will never be enough time. The warmth of that little smile, so pure and innocent, the fragility of life. That is what she wants to live for.
Before Mio is able to finalize the train of thought she is on she spots Taion and Noah making their way into the, what was it called again? The City has much more elaborate names than the gray woman has been used to in the colonies. That's right! The Memorial Hall. Even the concept of memorializing people is a shock to what she has lived her entire life. She doesn’t have time to think back though, all she wants to do is look towards the future. The Boys can have their history tour, there’s no harm in them learning about the founders. It's simply just not what she wants at that moment; a flash of Noah’s smile towards Taion probably discussing the plaque they stare at together.
The vastness of the city starts to set in for Mio. Being so close to the person she cares the most for, yet so far. Thinking about it, Noah and Taion haven’t even noticed that she is sitting on the bench just across from the founders hall. For the first time in months, spark maybe her entire life, she feels completely alone. Her face stares at her hands, contemplating all they've done and all they've seen; her ears perking up suddenly brings her to attention. Even though she wasn’t listening for it, she could barely even hear the boys from so far away, she swears she just heard Noah say her name. That's it, no more time for moping. As she steps up the staircase to leave, she keeps her ears tuned in to catching Noah’s words. She had always loved how keen her sense of hearing has been, especially now to catch the sound of Noah asking Taion if it makes sense, everything that he feels towards Mio.
Monica had mentioned that if they ever had any questions that she could often be found either in Michiba Canteen or in the War Room. The latter felt more right for what she had been thinking. She needed a clear strategy for her future, no time to talk slowly over dinner. Funnily enough Monica was still making dinner in a room just slightly outside the war room. She could smell the delicacy on the elevator's descent and already knew that even if she wanted it to be straight to the point, Monica wasn’t going to let her leave on an empty stomach. Softly knocking on the door to the little kitchen Monica had installed for late nights “...Monica? Is it ok for me to ask you some questions right now?” Mio's voice came out quieter than she expected. The swift turn of her new mentor’s face to a warm smile set her at ease, letting her speak more confidently “I want to talk about my future, and I was hoping you could help me strategize it.”
Before she knew it she was sitting with Monica at the war council table. She’s glad that it was a quiet night for the Lost Numbers as well. Monica had explained that she was just making some monicurry as she put the finishing touches on her report from the day. It had been a lot for her too, but it was clear to Mio that this was Monica in her element now. “Only a month…I can’t imagine how terrifying that must be for you. For all of you kids, it's not right…only having 10 years” Monica’s voice was softer now, yet still stern. It’s not every night she is sitting with someone with so much to learn. “Alright, do you have some paper? You may want to write things down to remember everything” “Oh! Yes I have my journal that I’ve been keeping along the journey.” She pulls out her clean white book, opening it to the page marked by her red string that she started using as a bookmark. “It’s been helpful for me to clear my mind before bed by writing these last few months. I didn’t just start writing when we became Ouroborous, it was after…well…I can tell you that story later if I have the time. So, what does it mean to love…”
Returning to the dorms that had been assigned to them earlier that day, it was likely midnight by now. She was sad to miss eating with her friends that night, but they all had so much they wanted to do. Eunie had, at the urge of Lanz and Senna, spent some time outside working on her fear of heights, waning to give some time for all the other new information they learned that day. Noah and Taion spent most of their evening wandering the city learning what they could, the Memorial Hall, perusing main street, Taion was particularly excited about finding new things to read with some new teas he had acquired. Mio was the last to return to the dormitory, but saw that the rooms Noah and Taion were assigned both still had their lights on. Listening closely she could hear Taion going into detail talking to Eunie about the different teas he has obtained today and their effects, Lanz and Senna snoring loudly from their rooms as they do each night, and from Noah’s room the hum of the Kevesi offseeing tune. She knew exactly his intentions, it was always easy for her to see through him. She leaned with her ear to the door, starting to hum her own Agnian song of remembrance and accepting an end to the lives they lived until now.