Having just awoken, Label first needed a few moments to figure out if he is still dreaming. He first stood up, but soon sat back on the soft bed burying his face into his palms.
Waiting for the dizziness to pass, he looked around the room. It was a small but cozy metal room with a round window overlooking Para City. Having a look outside, he came to terms with the fact that yesterday really happened. He had his own life back.
Having an eternity spent inside another, it would take some time before he could awake normally, being sure of himself and reality. On the table was a meal of sorts. Something native to Vapeur, he thought, as the smells were unfamiliar to him.
A note with instructions was drawn for him. The pot and a metal circle. A button. It all looked confusing with arrows pointing around, but after looking at the actual machines in front of him, he figured out what the instructions were trying to tell him.
Label lifted the pot and warmed up the food with his fire manipulation instead.

I guess they forgot I don’t need any of that… still, it’s the thought that counts.

He smiled and then sat down to enjoy the meal. After resting on the bed and staring at the ceiling for some time, someone knocked on his door.

"Come in."

"Pardon me," Noix entered, closing the door and sitting by the table, since Label was stretched on the bed with his hands behind his nape.

"Meditating?"

"I’m trying to sort out everything in my head," he admitted.

"I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of a mess it must be," the professor was hardly good at organizing things himself. But that’s what he had Lalane for anyway.

"So, I messed up the testing, didn’t I?"

"Not quite. We found out a lot of interesting things. I already have a theory that would explain some of it. But I do not want to bother you with such perplexing problematics this early in the morning.
As for other tests, we took the liberty of doing them while you slept. We used to do it like that when you were comatose before and so all our equipment was designed with that in mind, thus our little mishaps yesterday while trying to do it while you were lucid."

"I completely lost it yesterday… I hope Lalane didn’t think I was weird."

"Lalane has a very open mind. She is the most intelligent woman I know. Do not worry about any of it. In fact, she can’t stop talking about you. She has a soul of a researcher after all."

Noix had noticed the way Label was looking at him so he added.

"Figuratively. Not as in a sense that she could summon a researcher… you know what I mean."

"Hahaha," the blond man burst into laughter, watching Noix awkwardly wave around his arms.

"On that subject; today you will spend your day with Anciel. He has opened up his otherwise busy schedule for you exclusively."

"Oh…wow. I get to be graced with the Master’s presence. Lucky me…" he turned to the side, now facing the wall.

Noix obviously didn’t like that so he sat down on the bed to get closer to the man.

"Label…" he sighed, "Listen. I know how it all must seem to you, but please try to understand. Anciel found his purpose in life here. There are millions of people here in Para City depending on him. I am positive he’s already working on it to transfer some of his duties to the citizens, as well as to automatize the process—"

Noticing how his blabbering makes little sense and is of no interest to his friend, Noix decided to simplify.

"Give him some time. For now, just take my word for it; for him to leave his position today and give you his time, he had to sacrifice a lot of other people’s needs."

"…okay. I trust you," the blond man sat next to him, "I’ll try to do my part as well. I don’t want to be a burden. I’ll ask him to remind me the basics, so I can pull my own weight, since I think all my arts, while a lot stronger, are a bit lacking in control."

"Glad you understand," tapped him on the shoulder and stood up.

"Can you help me find him? This city is really something else. If I am not supposed to jump around over roofs, I’ll get lost pretty easily."

"Not to worry. He is in the temple close by. Hard to miss. But if you insist, I will accompany you myself part of the way. Follow me."

The two headed out through multiple hallways and staircases, even crossing to the other building over a bridge.

"It’s a little windy here, so hold on tight. We should definitely put some safer handrails here, or even make the thing a glass tunnel, alas so many things to do, so little time," Noix was pointing at the clock strapped to his upper arm.

Label’s hair was flailing in the wind as he was crossing and watching the birds that had an expression like men should not even be here on these heights.

"I noticed you still insist on wearing the clock on a shoulder, even though others are putting them in pockets and on wrists."

"At this point, it became more of a fashion statement," he yelled to overpower the noise of the howling winds.

They entered the other tower-like structure, reaching a station of sorts.

"This, my dear friend, is a cable car."

"Another one of your inventions?"

"I’m afraid not. I can only take credit where it’s due. In any case, it will lower us down to the train station. From there it’s only a couple of stops away, with only a transfer between…" he noticed Label is not following, "I’m starting to agree on the idea I should not send you out alone."

"Why’d you make it so complicated?" he was looking at a map of the city, marked with numerous multicolored lines and icons representing different means of transport.

"Unfortunately, this city was already beyond untangling when I arrived. I do try to simplify things with my inventions, but people always find ways to misuse them, making me sometimes wonder if it would be for the best if humans go back to roasting a wild boar while their children sleep in a cave. But I digress.
This city is not the worst place out there. I think we are doing a great job at bringing all the nations together and promoting peace."

Noix flashed his badge at the guards and they let the two into the cable car. The thing swung left and right, making Label a bit cautious at first but immediately after adjusting to it, Noix had to stop him from shaking it on purpose.

"Sit down, please. These things are not as sturdy as you may think."

"Okay, okay. Hey, you mentioned arriving here. Where are you from exactly?"

"My family originates from what is now called the Lost Lands. It was once a beautiful land that got torn apart between Emnikatia and Toukoku, while they couldn’t agree on the ownership."

"That sounds rough."

"Not at all. It all happened during my grandfather’s time."

"Mr. Nixx Smythe who invented the steam engine, exactly fifty…sixty years ago in 49-eeeehh…" the blond man tried.

"4940! You remember my ramblings as if they were yesterday!" the professor stood up from excitement, but sat back when the car started shaking. Label was glad he made him happy.

"Well… for me, they were a month ago or so. Or a few million years ago, depending on the perspective I take," he added.

"Fascinating that. In any case, you can easily recognize anyone originating from the former Capitol, now known as the Lost Lands in or New Borders depending who you ask."

"Mhm… So how do you recognize them?"

"Oh! Yes, but of course," he removed his blue shades, pointing at his eyes and then head.

"Yellow eyes? And…light blue hair?"

"Precisely!"

"Hmm… Nexus had the same features."

"So I heard. Well, people who once lived there spread across the world, now forgotten by the times."

"And yet, here you are, making yourself known for ingenuity."

Noix was taken aback a bit, wiping his eye with a tissue and returning his shades.

"I must admit, I did not expect such profound words of encouragement from you, Label."

"I guess your fancy talk is rubbing off on me."

The view from the cable car was magnificent, if not frightening, as the thing slowly descended from the metal skyscrapers into lower districts.

"Is that the temple?" Label opened a window and stuck his head out like a child.

"Yes, these are the training grounds for any nomads looking to hone their abilities. There are plenty of masters already, teaching young generations discipline, control, and of course, masteries over the cosmic states. Anciel is only the overseer of the whole process, sharing what he knows with those masters, but so far he hasn’t had a single pupil."

"Maybe you know why?"

"When I asked, he said no one was worthy."

"Oh wow, so stuck up."

"Haha, I thought the same thing. But in reality, it would be a mistake to give power to those who would misuse it. I doubt he was measuring their talents, but rather their wisdom."

"You think he’ll train me?"

"I have no doubts. I even think he intentionally left the open slot, especially for you," Noix winked.

The car arrived and the door opened with a swoosh, letting them out. There were hundreds of people at the train station, all walking their own paths looking busy.
Label noticed some people lying on benches and on the marble floor.

"Are they resting?"

"Not quite. You see, like with any economy-driven place, there are those who lose their way and end up on the streets. Unfortunately, we can’t go around and tend to every single case specifically…"

"Why not?" Label looked puzzled.

"Why…? Why not? I mean… where would we end up? People with troubles are lining up faster than those solving them. It’s a losing battle, Label."

"I’m sure we could help everyone. By just pushing one person up, we got another companion working for us. The more people we let sink, the more problems arise."

"… true," Noix put a finger on his chin, thinking about the new perspective he just gained.

"True, but listen…I am already doing my best to help everyone prosper. Anciel, Mai… all of us are trying our best," Noix said.

"I know. But we could help all of these people at once. We just need to uproot the core problem."

"You are beginning to sound like a scientist yourself, Label."

"No, nothing like that. Just speaking from my heart," he then went to one of those people and crouched down.

"Hey… you okay?"

"Wha…who’re you? Whaddaya mean 'ok'? Do I look ok to you? You came here to make fun of me?" the man swung his arm at him.

"Calm down. If you’ll be like that, you’ll chase away even the most genuine people trying to help you…"

"Help me? You wanna help me? Then gimme’ some silver. Even copper will do," the man offered a hat, turned upside down, in which there was already some change.

"I have nothing like that," Label turned his pockets inside-out, "What I meant was—"

"You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me. Look at that suit. And you claim you’ve no money? Get outta’ my sight," he waved a hand.

Label stood up and scratched his nape while puckering his lips to the side. He returned to Noix, who was standing aside with arms crossed, leaning to a marble station pillar.

"See what I mean?" he looked at blondie over his shades.

"Yeah… it’s not his situation that’s the problem. It’s his attitude. He probably wouldn’t manage anything even if someone gave him a chance."

"Exactly. Alas, pinpointing the people who suffered unfortunate fate, between all who made their fate insufferable is not an easy task, but a near impossible one."

"Everything is possible, with the right attitude," Label had an unusually serious face, surprising even Noix.

"You know, to any lesser man, I’d say; you can’t change the way the world spins, but to you, I wish all the luck you can get."

"It spins?"

"Yes, it spins."

They descended down a wide batch of white stairs, leading from the station towards the area that looked as if it belonged somewhere in Toukoku, not here in Vapeur Republic.
It was decorated with small ponds crossable via little wooden bridges as well as large trees that boasted beautiful red, yellow, and pink colors. Inside the large park were temple grounds, hosting a variety of oriental-looking structures, of which the most amazing one was the temple itself.

"Wow!" Label’s gaze shifted from one thing to another as the area was in complete contrast with the rest of the otherwise metal, tangled, and busy-looking Para City.

"Anciel claims the city is meant for anything but the peace and quiet atmosphere that would provide the fertile ground for meditating and achieving spiritual balance, or whatever it is they are doing inside, and thus we built this place," Noix was proud of the city’s achievement.

"It’s beautiful," many colors reflected in his eyes as he absorbed the harmonious scenery.

"An absolute marvel, but I really don’t see why we couldn’t at least install some basic equipment like radio towers, water pumps, fire extinguishers, alarms—"

He noticed the blond man strolling away while he was talking.

"Note to self; not everyone is interested in technology. Especially those who have no need for it," the professor pointed to his forehead.

Label stopped on top of a wooden bridge, leaning to see the frogs up close, almost falling into the pond.

"Aren’t you glad we build those handrails high now? Do excuse me if I keep ranting sometimes. Consider it a vent, or a valve of sorts. In this city, people often need to release some steam. No wordplay intended."

"It’s okay. I got used to you talking all the time," Label had no problem speaking his mind.

"It wouldn’t kill you to put some gloves on sometimes…" Noix fixed his glasses.

"I don’t like gloves."

"I meant figuratively."

They continued down the bridge.

"I just have a lot on my mind..." the blond man tried his best not to sound like he was whining.

"Do share some of it with friends. That way, the burden and troubles may start to seem smaller."