Later on, the two decide to drop into Ascentia for lunch. The golden sun is shining down, emanating light over the streets filled with Angels and the occasional God or Goddess. Being the higher class world of any of the three, Ascentia tends to have quite excellent food, and it only gets better the closer you get to the epicenter of the capital city. Those of Bea and even some beings from Descentia make arrangements to travel to and set up in Ascentia where they can bring more culture to the world of the Gods, resulting in a rather large variety of choices to all.

Alain insisted on a small cafe with excellent tea choices, though she orders a simple cup of tea despite that. The cups are classic and trimmed with gold paint, which matches the overall look of the shop. The front face of the cafe, however, has more modern, wide window panes tinted to hide the sun’s glares. Some guests give suspicious side glances towards the Human and Aether Elf sitting together- regardless of them being just work partners and friends, it is irregular for separate races to be a couple in Ascentia. The main populace, primarily Angels, are nearly perfectly incompatible with any being that is not an Angel, so the general idea is that one race doesn’t mate with any other race. That is not even to mention the fact that, historically, Aether Elves don’t even associate with anyone but their own race.

Cas, opposite Alain, ordered the same flatbread sandwich she did and was given a glass of water after neglecting to decide on a certain tea. “You didn’t want to come here for the... extra perks, did you?”

“Nope.” The quick response tosses through his mind from hers in a somewhat sing-songy voice.

“So, why here?”

“I hoped we could... enjoy ourselves for an afternoon.”

“I can enjoy myself just fine back in Chassa.”

“Ourselves, Agent,” Alain snaps back, like stabbing at his mind. She lifts the cup to her lips, eyes dropping to just slits looking down at the translucent, steaming mixture.

“Do you not typically enjoy yourself, then?” Cas tosses back, halfway a joke designed to lighten the mood. He doesn’t get a response, however, and she keeps her eyes down at the cup, sipping silently. Come to think of it, I have no idea what Alain does in her free time.

“Nothing,” she replies, seemingly not in response to his question, but his thoughts.

Thought bleedover, damn. Caspian turns his eyes from her, looking to the side. “What do you mean, ‘nothing’? Surely, you do something outside of your normal day to day life.”

“I train and learn, but that’s it. My home is... the place where my bed is. I don’t have friends like you do, or a family anymore. It’s... Oh, I shouldn’t burden you with this, Agent.”

Seconds of silence go by, the man thinking on her words. Finally, he responds, “Well, if you’re so sure, then I’m happy to spend the day with you, Controller.” He places extra emphasis on the last word, inadvertently pointing out how she constantly calls him ‘Agent.’ “Do you have hobbies or interests? I thought you used to paint when we were younger.”

“Not anymore, no. I... hobbies? I’m unsure, truly.”

“Perhaps bothering me is your main interest?”

“Main-? No, no, don’t be ridiculous. I’ve never wanted more than to finally hop over the hurdle that you are.”

Cas’ eyes turn back to the Elf. She’s placed the cup back down, but is staring to the side at the window. Her nose slopes downward so prominently and confidently into a curved point, its faint tone complementing those piercing sapphire eyes. Before watching too long, the man sends back, “How am I a hurdle?”

“All throughout school, I could never surpass you. You were more sociable, stronger, or more quick-witted than I. Even now, I’m still no match. No matter what I do... so, what’s the point?” Alain continues, but as a part of the mental bleedover as it doesn’t seem like she’s trying to speak to him at this point. Why do I continue to try when there’s no matching him? I fail constantly, and- and when I do, I despise myself further. I loathe myself- this rigid body, this weak mind- it’s all too much, I-

Alain suddenly stops, her eyes flipping to the table where a hand is squeezing hers. The simple touch is enough to put her in a daze, one shocking enough that the Elf doesn’t notice a near seamless change in scenery. When she does, her hand retracts quickly, her head looking around the new room with confusion. “Where-...?” she mumbles, standing up. She finds herself now in a cozy little office. There’s a velvet, blue-colored couch she was sitting on, dark, though brightly trimmed wallpaper, a bookshelf, and Cas sitting next to the couch on a leather chair. A small end table separated the two pieces of furniture, it holding a lovely chain-operated lamp. “Where are we?”

“Home,” Caspian replies, standing as well. “I brought you to my home. It isn’t much, I know.”

“You-” Alain spins, taking in the atmosphere. There is a faint aroma of smoke in the parlor-like room. The lamp is the main source of light, with small candlesticks set up on walls around. They are pristine, as if they had just been swapped out. A large door leads out, it being adorned with a large, wooden symbol representing the Below- an inverted arrow with six bars through the handle. There is a painting of an Elven woman, her eyes a brilliant, soothing purple hue. The painting is by far the most lustrous item in the room, it having two lights illuminating it from above and below. Alain finds herself staring at it a bit longer than anything else here.

“Aethea- Do you remember her?” Caspian asks, stepping over to the portrait.

“I... yes, I do.” The Elf drops her head, spotting a short table with a book left on it. Theory of the Divine, it’s titled. Stepping around the table, Alain joins her friend. “She was always so kind to me.”

“At times, I felt as if she loved you more than I,” he jokes, giving her a small grin. “She certainly treated you better than I.”

“Aethea never placed a hand on you, silly, I know that.”

“No, she didn’t. In all honesty, she was an incredible mother, to both you and I.”

“Had she not been there for me, I can’t imagine where I would be now,” Alain whispers, almost intangibly. Certainly not in Chassa.”

“Well, you’re here now,” Cas speaks up. “Sit, Allie, let’s talk.” He walks back to the leather chair, dropping down after removing a thin coat. Today, his outfit of choice is yet another vested shirt, this vest being a deep blue tucked over a gray shirt. Long sleeves are pulled up to his elbows as Alain makes her way back to the couch. “Make yourself comfortable, please.”

Alain removes her jacket, slowly setting herself down once more. “Allowing me into your home, wishing me comfort, nicknames... what’s gotten into you, Agent?”

Neglecting to make anymore small talk, Cas cuts to the chase. “I’m worried about your wellbeing. What was that, in the cafe?”

Her eyes drop to her hands. Uneasy, her fingers fiddle with each other over and over again. “You heard that, huh?” Seeing his nod from her peripheral vision, she begins, almost silently. “I... Being, ah, a Controller means I have practiced combining with minds of others before, like temporary use of what the Council uses. At first, I felt like my normal self. After beginning to understand how a few others operate and learn, I realized how different I truly was... truly am.”

“Explain, please.” Cas leans back, his eyes boring holes into her from across the middle table. Whether it’s for security in the upcoming mission or for honestly looking out for Alain, or both, he doesn’t say.

“I don’t think like everyone else. For others- you, too- there is a pattern to be understood. They have real goals, feelings, emotions... I just hold aspirations... brief moments of relief or... what I think is happiness. I don’t feel happy, though. It feels as if I’m just lying to myself when I smile. It kills me to think about how others have dreams and places they want to reach, but I’m stuck wondering if I’m even content where I am or not.”

“Go on,” he prompts, asking for more.

Alain looks up, her eye being caught for a fraction of a second before she looks away again. Leaning over to unravel the laces of her boots, she continues. “I don’t feel wanted, but it’s like I’m at fault for it. You’re the only one I still know from school- you were the only one I actually knew in school. Now, I have to go to work to converse with others.”

“Do you not go out to see acquaintances? What about Tourn?”

Now with just socks on her feet, Alain turns and puts her legs up on the couch, sliding downwards. “I can’t get myself to see others just to see people. It feels impossible, like some unachieveable goal that pushes me down further and further. I don’t feel alright, I feel like I’m broken... or defective, I don’t know. I don’t understand why I feel so different than all others.”

“Did you ever really believe that you were anything but abnormal, Alain?”

This time, when Alain meets his eyes, she holds the look. What do you mean?”

“You have never been normal, but that’s just fine, isn’t it? I imagine it would be quite boring to be like everyone else, anyways.”

“Well... You’re right, but I still don’t feel whole,” she replies. “Why do I never get to feel as if I’m happy, or- or content?”

“...I’m not sure I have the answer to that question.”

Alain drops her view, looking down at her lap. “It isn’t fair that I must endure this. I can’t bring myself to enjoy my life.... It’s ripping me apart and I don’t know how much longer I can hold together, Cas.”

“Can we work on this together?”

“Toge-?” Alain is dumbstruck, trying to understand what she had just been told. In her life, Caspian was always the one working to be the greatest one in the room. He would assist when asked, but never reached out or sought out opportunities to bring others up with him. It was likely because of that reason that the two of them were so inefficient as a team. Alain’s timid nature and Caspian’s desire to press on at all cost collided disastrously, and... here they are. “Maybe choosing you wasn’t the best choice after all. What good does it do for you to have someone hold you back so much?”

“We were given a second chance. I don’t think you’ll forgive yourself if you throw it away, Alain, will you?”

She shakes her head grimly, confirming his thoughts. “I just want to do right without falling apart in the process.”

“We won’t let you fall apart, then, partner.”

“We?” Partner? Does he mean...? “Why do you say those things?”

“Hm?” Caspian’s tone and composure have been kept quite calm throughout their talk. One leg crossed over the other, he’s sitting straight up and looking over her with a watchful gaze.

“Nothing, nothing.” I just want you to be honest with me. “I feel a bit better, though. Are you doing all of this because your life will be in my hands, or...?”

The man rises, moving towards the door. “I’ll be right back.” He disappears for a bit, appearing once more with a large blanket and cup of steaming tea, much like what they had at the cafe. The cup is placed on the table and he goes so far as unfolding the blanket and draping it over her. “Stay,” he orders, leaving her alone in the room once more.

He truly cares, she thinks to herself, a giddy smirk on her face. She lies down further, noticing a pillow has appeared under her back. Did he do that? Incredible. Alain doesn’t know all of what Cas can do, but understands he is severely augmented to endure almost any environment.Feeling comfortable as ever, she pulls the blanket up to meet her neck and gives a heavy sigh. I could live like this.

When Caspian eventually returns, he’s carrying a tray of snacks that he places down on the small table, which he nudges over to be against the couch within his Controller’s reach. Along with the tray, he puts down a tablet of light, which had remained unused up until this point. “Here, for your entertainment,” he says, stepping back to take any additional requests.

Alain oversees everything she was given, then turns her sight to her Agent. “Why are you doing this?”

“Don’t you already know?” He settles back down on the chair after taking the book into his hand. “I care. Plus, you need to boost your mental health before the week is over. I can’t have you ruined right as I am dropped in.”

She smiles warmly, her voice sounding with a chirping, “Thanks, Cas.” Her attention soon turns to the light tablet and the snacks. “For a lonesome person, you sure know how to treat a guest.”

“I suppose it was a hope of mine that, at some point, I would have someone by. You aren’t the only one who doesn’t get out much, Allie.”

There it is again. Why does it feel so nice to hear that? She reaches for the tablet, activating it with a jolt of her energy. “Oh, you’ve... never used this?” The screen she sees is a purely default one, prompting her to create an account.

“It was a gift from an overzealous God, and it sort of was just left for a rainy day. I guess this is that day, hm?”

“Guess so,” she beams. As she goes through the process of making her own persona on the tablet, she notices Cas open the book he had been reading. Maybe I shouldn’t worry so much about being better than him, but... I should just be happy that we are two uniquely different people. Alain gives a deep sigh, cursing herself for being so ignorant before.

The two spend the rest of the day together in the one room, enjoying the presence of one another. At one point, they sit together on the couch, watching movies in just candlelight. Alain, throughout the day, overflows with happiness due to the kindness she is shown. It’s true she doesn’t have many friends, and Cas had been lost to her for a long time after they left school and she became a traveling envoy. Now, however, they are bound together by their work, and this thought excites her more. Caspian and I- us.