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Chapter 1. "Studying Ancient Books"
An echo carried through the empty room.
— Sei, are you back?
— Yes, I'm home, Mom.
— How was your day, son? Did Uncle Fox explain how the tour-machine system works? — she asked with a smile.
— Yes, — I replied. — But… to be honest, I didn't understand anything. Uncle Fox didn't even care about me.
"He was, as always, closed off, and his grim view of the world scared me," I told myself with relief.
"I didn't want to upset my mother, after all, it was my first day at work."
— Okay, go to your room, I've made fried meat with my special recipe, — she said from the kitchen.
— Okay, Mom, I'll just wash my hands.
— Ugh… I'm so tired of this meaningless life… Why me? Why are all my peers happier than I am?
— Or maybe… it's just adolescence?
— No… I know the reason. All the people close to me turned their backs on me because I'm an orphan?
— Or because my parents are of a different race? — I shouted from the bathroom.
— No! This can't go on any longer!
— If only all races could unite into one… Then there wouldn't be this wall of hostility, no constant feeling of living among monsters… among all these hateful people who do nothing but drain the life out of you, — I shouted with all my might, trying to express everything I had bottled up inside.
— Sei, are you okay? Why are you yelling like that? You'll wake your dad, — she said quietly.
— Yeah, I'm fine, Mom. I was just talking to myself.
— OK, come down quickly, I've served your meat, it's on the table. I'll run to the store real quick — we're out of milk. I wanted to make pancakes for breakfast, — she said.
— Mom, are you sure they won't kick you out like they did Dad last time? He came back really sad… After all, you're of a different race, and they treat you like animals…
— No, I'll go to the far store — Dad has some acquaintances there, they'll definitely help me, — she replied.
— Lando, just come back quickly so no one points fingers at you…
— Don't worry about me, everything will be fine, — and she left.
20 minutes later
— Sei, I'm back. Did you eat? — she asked.
— Yeah, Mom, it was delicious. I'm going to my room to finish the tour-machine sketch.
— Okay, you better get started, or Uncle Fox will scold you tomorrow.
Morning comes
— Sei, wake up! I made pancakes, — she calls.
— Mom, I've been up for a while and already started drawing the sketch.
— I'm not hungry. I'd rather go to work.
Sei at work
— Good morning, Uncle Fox.
— Good morning to you too, Sei.
— Here are the new blueprints. I drew them at home in advance.
— Good job, Sei. There are more tour-machine blueprints in that box — you need to work on them. Good luck, — said Fox.
— Okay… "Same thing every day," I told myself.
4–5 hours later
— Uncle Fox, I'm heading home.
— Did you finish the blueprints?
— Yes, just one left — I didn't understand it. I'll finish it at home.
— Hey, Sei!
— Hi, Marten.
— What are you doing in the library? — she asked.
— I borrowed a book a week ago. Just returning it.
— We've got some new books.
— Really? Who reads them?
— Only your uncle Fox, — said Marten.
— Can I take a look?
— Of course, go ahead.
— Marten, I've taken a few books. I'll be going now.
— Alright, Sei. Say hi to your mom for me.