"Do you know why the people behind you are staring at us so vehemently?" Hedrik asked after the waitress took our menus and walked away. The restaurant was surprisingly chaotic despite the time, especially since the place seemed like a bit of a hole in the wall. The smell from the kitchen wafted over, making me feel even hungrier than before. I had to assume that we picked a good restaurant because people could rarely afford to eat out, yet plenty of people were here.

"How old are they?" I asked as I poured tea for myself and offered some to Hedrik, who declined.

"No thank you, they're old, definitely. They have to at least be in their sixties," Hedrik said as he stopped looking at the people behind me, probably to not seem rude.

"Doesn't surprise me. They think we're dating," I answered as before I drank some of the tea. I don't know how restaurants do it, but it's like the tea always tastes the same no matter where you go.

"Why would they care?"

"Oh, old people are old people. They stick to their traditions," I said in the nicest description possible.

"And that means?" Hedrik questioned as he decided to pour some tea for himself.

"Bluntly? Stick to your own race, Hun," I said in the rudest description possible.

"Ah, I understand. My mother was like that when my sister dated an African for a few years. It's also why the relationship broke off, sadly. He was probably the best man she ever dated because honestly, she has an ability to attract abusive people," Hedrik said before he drank some of the tea, his face showing he obviously didn't like it.

"It happened to my parents, that's why I know what it is. They always joked about it since it rarely got worse than staring or the authorities repeatedly asking my mother for identification papers despite the fact they knew she's lived there for a decade. I wasn't as fortunate, so I was homeschooled. Thankfully, too. All that was being taught then was propaganda against Astrya, which is not helpful when you happen to obviously look different. ...Please don't look at me like that, something as inconsequential as that doesn't merit pity."

"Sorry, I just rarely notice this kind of thing since I'm probably the most white you could be who grew up in the Republic of Saxony. I just notice it now because people stare at me all the time here," Hedrik said as he had an odd moment of introspection.

"Well, they're mainly staring at you because they think that you're affluent and want to pickpocket you, but decide against it because they can feel that you'd be able beat them up in a minute if they get close enough."

"What does that mean?" Hedrik asked, actually curious. I thought he would have read about this before but I suppose he didn't.

"Back when all the countries were collapsing and magic types were assigned depending on where you were born and on heritage, yadda, yadda, you know the story, this area of Shangandai was the ability to sense other's magical abilities. That's why scouts are always from this area," I explained before I cleared my throat with more tea.

"Ah, that's why I get more fearful looks here than everywhere else," Hedrik muttered to himself.

"Yes, more powerful people tend to originate farther north along the border, you won't find too many people down here," I responded as a waitress came and put down small bowls of different types of foods that were made to last. A lot of fermented or pickled vegetables and a bowl of fish cake pieces as an example.

"And where are you from?" Hedrik asked as he noticeably struggled with using chopsticks.

"The Western Plateau. The Roof of the World, if you will," I answered before picking up my own chopsticks with eats and taking some of the fish cake.

"Isn't that the Black Sheep of Shangandai?" Hedrik asked while trying to pick up some fermented cabbage.

"That's putting it nicely considering they've been fighting for independence even before Shangandai existed," I said before having enough of his struggling and put a piece of the cabbage into Hedrik's chopsticks, him looking at me rather amused.

"And they're allowed to? Or are they just ignored because they're too far away?" Hedrik asked just before the cabbage dropped out of his chopsticks and onto his lap, which he luckily had a napkin on.

"Neither. It's comment to see authorities standing guard who will shot without remorse. Not to mention I saw at least five people self-immolate. And that's saw, mind you," I said as I put down my chopsticks, suddenly not feeling hungry.

"Forgive me, but what's self-immolation?" Hedrik asked before picking up the cabbage with his hand and putting it in his mouth.

"They set themselves on fire in protest," I said as I tried to focus on the food in front of me and not think of the time the neighbor's teenage son did it in the front yard after refusing the demands of an officer.

"Oh.... Sorry for that...."

"Don't be, I brought it up first. In other words, they aren't exactly the Saxony of Shangandai that can get away with whatever they want," I said as I pick up my chopsticks again.

"They won't be able to soon if they keep up what they've been doing the last year. Unless I happen to get a promotion, I'm afraid Nikita will continue his jingoistic streak and will call for a swift crackdown in protest. As it's currently the words of a Major General against a Lieutenant General, I'll lose. It only annoys me more that he'll do it just to spite me," Hedrik said as he picked up his chopsticks again.

"Who's Nikita?" I asked cautiously, trying not to seem too suspicious.

"He's what he sounds like. A jingoistic and spiteful asshole who gets highly jealous very quickly. He's mad that I managed to get promoted as fast as I did in three years while he's spent his whole life in service. I can't say I blame him, but he's a man-child in how he acts," Hedrik said, clearly annoyed as he chose to just stab the cabbage and not even try to pick it up after he spoke.

"Ah, I know people just as annoying, but it's worse since they're disgustingly good at sucking up to authority like damn leeches. They also seem to be of the opinion that Jian Bai is going to be our savior in diplomacy when anyone else with any common sense can see that he'll just piss off the other side," I said truthfully, wondering what his response would be like.

"That... person? Yes, I can assure you he's fighting most... fervently... for his ideas," Hedrik responded as his face twisted into a very unhappy one before relaxing and asking, "You all discuss politics?"

"Yes. Of course, it's not technically proper etiquette, but nobody does anything about it," I replied as I took some of some pickled vegetables that were cut into thin squares.

"Speaking of that, aren't you not allowed to be eating until...."

"We're not in the palace, and I'm quite sure we're here as equal currently, right?" I stated as I waited for affirmation that came in the form of a nod before I continued with a smile, "Therefore, it doesn't matter."

"Fair enough."