“Refugees and other people forced to abandon their homeland were often looked down upon by others, but it was amongst these people that some of the hardiest, most determined individuals could often be found. Hardship and meager conditions forged these people like a blade and drove them to excel where they might have otherwise languished.” - Nesulcar Marguote, Philosopher from Posuin, circa 72 VA.

“These folks look like they don’t trust us to behave or something,” remarked Celia when she and Aideen had retired for the night to their room at the inn.

They had stayed the night in the City of Boroes itself, but while the city welcomed travelers and merchants from other races, Celia had not missed the many looks of wariness and suspicion that were directed towards them. While she was unable to tell what most therians thought by their facial expression, their eyes were just as lively and informative as most people’s.

“Can’t blame ‘em,” replied Aideen from her bed across the room. The two of them technically had not even needed the room at the inn. Celia had grown more used to her unliving state over the past few decades, and had acquainted herself with the advantages it had. Amongst those was the minimal need for sleep. Unliving like them could get away with a few hours’ rest every other week or so if they needed to, after all.

As such, the main reason they booked a room at the inn was more to blend in with the rest of the crowd, which they preferred to drawing attention to themselves.

“The people here had a long history of bad blood with all their neighbors, after all,” Aideen continued. “The current state of affairs where they get to use their strategic position to prosper from trade is a very new thing for them. I bet many of their elders still remember when their neighbors were enemies to be wary about rather than partners to trade with. All that considered, it was to be expected that they’d be wary of us, since we’re humans.”

“I see… I guess I didn’t think that far,” admitted Celia. “That said, you seem very used to people like them, aren’t you, Miss Aideen?”

“You can say that, yeah. The largest Empire in the southern continent is predominantly populated by Therians like them, if of slightly different descent. I’ve spent quite a few years in their lands in the past as well. Still got some good friends there, even,” Aideen replied, with a nod of her head. “My late husband was a therian as well, so I’m likely more familiar with how they express themselves than most.”

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“I… see. Sorry if my question brought up unpleasant memories,” said Celia in apology.

“Think nothing of it. I do miss him still, though he’s been gone for over a century now,” said Aideen in return with a slightly wistful look on her face. “One thing that generally holds true with their kind is that they’re generally far more open and honest about their feelings, especially when compared to us humans. It’s why you noticed the looks they gave us so easily. They won’t even think about hiding their wariness and suspicion from us.”

“I should note those down. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve seen their kind before we came to this country at all,” Celia said. “Are they just rare?”

“I do believe they’re not native to Alcidea, yeah. There’s plenty of them down in the southern continent, but from what I could tell, the ones here were refugees who fled north a long time ago in the past,” replied Aideen with another nod. “Combine that with how most nations around here tend to be rather… racially insular and it wasn’t strange that they chose to band together and form their own instead of integrating with the already established nations.”

“Clangeddin and Knallzog are pretty much the only major nations around here that accept people from different races as citizens, so it wasn’t like they had much choice either,” she continued. “I didn’t know how the situation here in Alcidea was like when their ancestors fled and arrived, but it was probably bad enough back then to make them decide the path they have walked since.”

“I wonder if they wouldn’t feel homesick or have desires to return to their once-homeland,” Celia murmured in a curious tone. “I mean, even though my home village was a pretty shitty place back then, I sometimes still get the pangs of homesickness while we were in the plains.”

“It’s just a normal part of our nature. I think all people, no matter the race, have such instincts in them,” noted Aideen in agreement. “As for the people here, they likely had thoughts of returning, but they probably lacked information about the southern continent, given their location here. Since returning to the south would be an endeavor that required commitment and no small effort, they probably grew used to the life they had here, and over time lost the urge.”

“To eke out a living in foreign lands might not be what someone chose for themselves, if they had a choice, but you know how it is with life at times. All too often, we simply had no choice in the matter, and could only do our best with the cards we were dealt,” she continued, her expression deep in thought. “In a manner of speaking, both you and I are in that boat as well, with us just making do as best we can after we’ve been granted our current lives.”

“If you put it that way, it’s true, I suppose,” admitted Celia with a thoughtful nod. “I guess it’s up to us, who had the fortune to be blessed with an everlasting life to make the most of it. I would have just felt… horrible for all the others who had no such chance if I were to waste this second life of mine, I guess. Is it wrong to even think this way?”

“That’s up for you to decide and no one else, Celia,” replied Aideen with a smile on her face. “As long as you believe that you’re making good use of your life, let nobody else try to dictate otherwise.”