The first day of the conference came and went as the room started to clear out. Many wealthy and important people left feeling a wide range of emotions. Disappointment, despair, satisfaction , excitement and other things. However Marth didn't feel one single emotion.

The best word to describe what she felt is confused. Confusion plagues her mind as she thinks about Swire's question and how she doesn't have an answer. Eventually she stopped thinking about it all together and just sat in her seat, absentmindedly.

"Hello, Terra to Marth? Are you alive there?"

Marth was snapped out of her daze as she spotted Closure in front of her holding a small piece of cake.

"Oh, sorry. I was thinking about something." Marth said apologetically, her hands were moving an absurd amount.

"I can tell. If you weren't able to understand what they were saying, that's fine. They went over a lot of complicated things back there." Closure said as she ate more of the cake.

The Rhodes Island team return to the hotel they are staying at. Closure looked at the clock to see that it was slightly past midday meaning that one thing for her.

"Time for lunch. Do you want to go out Warfraim?" she asked.

"I'll have to pass, I have a meeting with a medical provider here about our last agreement. They apparently had a change in leadership and the new guys are trying to undermine us." Warfraim explained.

"I hate when companies do that, just because we are a pharmaceutical company doesn't mean we are pushovers." Closure whined as she jumped out of bed. "Then who am I supposed to go with?"

"You should take Marth, before we left Apollo asked that either me or you take her out to explore the city. He said that Marth hasn't been to Columbia before and he really wanted either me or you." Warfraim said.

"Why us two specifically?"

"He didn't say, just that it would help Marth in a lot of ways." Warfraim explained.

"I'll ask the others if they want to join." Closure said as she left the room.

After a series of questions, time and a bus ride the duo of Closure and Marth arrived at Closure's favorite local restaurant. Marth adjusted her hat as she followed Closure inside.

The interior wasn't anything special, tables, seats, kitchen and people. The two were seated and they were about to place their orders.

"I would have four pancakes with chocolate strawberries on top, along with some water." Closure said.

"Sure, sure, whatever." The waiter wasn't hiding his dislike. The man's eyes are trained on Closure's blood eyes showing her vampire blood without care as he turned to Marth.

As Marth looked at the waiter she felt her heart sink slightly as she looked into his eyes. It's a sight she isn't too unfamiliar with, disdain, hate or other words that are similar in nature. Marth followed the man's gaze as she could see him move up and down her body. Then the man's eyes softened and turned neutral.

"What can I get for you ma'am?" He asked.

Marth told the waiter she wanted three pancakes with nothing on them. However before he was out of reach she could hear him muttering something offensive about Closure being here.

"Damn eyes, why are they in this country?" was what he said.

"Ms. Closure, did you do something before? The waiter seemed annoyed by you being here." Marth asked.

"Probably because I'm a Sarkaz. Columbia, like many nations, hates us, but at least it's miles better than what happens in Laterno apparently. I heard from a Outcast that Sarkaz are not even allowed in the country." Closure said as she looked out the window.

"Does it bother you?" Marth asked.

Closure fixed her gaze at Marth. She took in the way Marth presented herself. Thick clothing that didn't reveal any skin beyond her hands, a hat that is slightly too big for her head, along with her fidgety movements.

To people like Closure, Warfraim and many others the emotion Marth was feeling was clear. Closure understood why Apollo wanted either Warfraim or her to hang out with Marth. She hates that she is a infected, she hates that she is a Sarkaz. The child hates everything about herself.

'I never considered Apollo to be an idiot, but I haven't considered himself to be a genius nor did he present himself as such. But if there is one thing I'm happy to see is that he truly is a good person.' Closure thought.

"It doesn't bother me." Closure replied.

"How, I don't know how you are able to deal with it all. All the hate just for existing, you wouldn't do anything wrong. Hell you could be a saint,but the world will only see you as a devil, something that shouldn't exist." Marth said.

"While that may be true now, perhaps not in the future. The world is always changing and there are people who care about us, see beyond our physical features. Just depends on the crowd you are with." Closure explained.

Marth didn't say anything until their food came. Closure enjoyed the sugar filled dish as if it was her last, while Marth consumed hers at less than half the pace. They enjoyed small conversations, mainly Closure talking about Apollo and asking questions if they could combine magecraft and their technology.

"It's good to see you all here today."

The two turned around to see a young woman, her hair was not quite messy but you wouldn't say she spent a lot of time on herself. Large round glasses that had clear fingerprints markings.

"Hello, do you need something?" Closure asked as she took another bite of her food..

The woman quickly dug into her pocket, pencils, and pens clicked on the ground as they fell out. She soon presented two identical cards to Closure and Marth.

Rhine Lab

Structural & Originium Arts

Alyssa Miller - Researcher

"Makes sense that Rhine Lab would be here. What can I do for you?" Closure asked.

"I just wanted to introduce myself, I'm relatively new to the position. I only got hired half a year ago, I heard some talk about you guys during work so when I saw the Rhodes Island lanyard I knew I had to introduce myself." Alyssa said.

It took a few moments for the dots to connect. "Rhine Lab, isn't that the place Ms. Saria used to work?" Marth said.

Alyssa flicked at Marth, her eyes glowing in excitement. "You know Ms. Saria, what is she like? Is she just like how the others described as, strong, stoic, a glare so strong that you will die on the spot?"

Marth felt overwhelmed as Alyssa kept throwing more and more questions about Saria, Alyssa made it sound as if Saria was some living legend that could move mountains just by existing.

"While Ms. Saria is a strong person that I have a lot of respect for, she is also a very gentle person. Not once did it feel as if she was annoyed by me or anyone else." Marth described.

` "That would be favorable to hear if I ever meet her." Alyssa stuck out two fingers at both Marth and Closure. "May I ask who you two are? You two know my name so it would only be fair."

Closure placed down her fork." The name is Ada Church but everyone calls me Closure. I'm an engineer more on the technology side of things for Rhodes Island and this here is Marth, just like you she's new to the job."

Marth waved her hand and Alyssa did the same.

"Oh you are Ms. Closure. Mayer and Mallgallen told me about you two whenever we talked." Alyssa said.

"Oh, I didn't expect that. I mean fair enough I am the one and only Closure." Closure said boastfully.

Alyssa sat down across from Closure causing Marth to feel slightly uncomfortable by the new person entering her life, but she chose to not say anything. The two talked about various technology discussions they heard during the conference, all things that went over Marth's head, so she continued to enjoy her pancakes in her own world.

"Marth if you don't mind me asking but I heard from Closure that you are learning both arts and magecraft I believe, correct?" Alyssa asked,

Marth's head snapped towards Alyssa. Her mouth was slightly opened. "You also know what magecraft is? Are you also from Mr. Apollo's homeland?" Marth asked, causing all her words to sound like one word.

"I am not, just that Closure said how whenever she or the others at Rhodes Island try to understand anything he has they are stuck, they apparently don't even know when to start." Alyssa said.

"Oh…but I am learning those two things, why do you ask?" Marth asked, feeling slight disappointment.

"Because it seems like Closure and I are in a similar situation. One of our explorers came back from Sami a few months ago. They saw and brought back a fairly sized cube, around 9 feet each way.

Alyssa leaned in closer causing Closure to move in as well. "However, the crazy thing was that every time we tried to understand it we came up with nothing. My theory is that it is a container for something."

Alyssa was planning to continue until Marth spoke up. "Uh, Ms. Alyssa not trying to be rude but is it ok for you to be sharing this. Like Ms. Closure wasn't supposed to talk about Mr. Apollo and him teaching me.

Both of their faces paled as they realized what they did. They said things they shouldn't have.

"Marth, I do whatever you want but don't tell Apollo I said anything, he's going to kill me, bring me back just to kill me again." Closure said as she sped up her pace of eating due to the stress.

Alyssa on the other hand had her hands together in front of her as if she is thinking of her sever her screw up is and if she is going to lose her job, something she worked so hard to get.

"I promise I won't say anything. I don't want either one of you to get in trouble for an honest mistake." Marth said as she drank some water.

The three enjoyed themselves as various topics came and went. Once all the food was finished, the three were planning to say their farewells.

"It's been a pleasure meeting you two, if you two are ever free then you can always call me or visit the lab we have here. I'll try to see if I can get clearance to show you guys the cube I mentioned earlier." Alyssa said as she slurped on a hot chocolate she ordered.

"I would love to have a tackle at it, tragic that Mechanist isn't here. He's more knowledge on physical engineering than I do, but I'll try my best." Closure said.

"I hope I'll be included in the Rhodes Island- Rhine Lab collaboration deal. I would love to meet Ms. Saria so badly." Alyssa said.

"I'm sure she will be happy to see a fan of hers." Marth said,

The three said their goodbyes before heading home.

Night soon felled on the Country as the Rhodes Island team were relaxing for the night. Everyone is stuffed after eating dinner, Marth, Melantha and Cardigan are already in their pajamas.

"Oh, Marth, I like those pajamas. They look so good on you, where did you get it?" Cardigan asked.

Marth wore pajamas that are mostly white with long ears that flop to the side. The inside of the ear had a hot pink color while the edges were colored blue. Marth looked like a white bunny with extra colors.

"Mr. Apollo knitted it for me when I told him about my birthday. I mentioned it offhandedly and a week later on that day he gave me a present. It was right before we left so I didn't have the chance to wear it until now." Marth said.

"It looks like it was based on something, don't you agree with Melantha?" Cardigan asked,

Melantha merely nodded her head in agreement.

"Mr. Apollo said it was based on a pet his friend had, I think they named it Fou." Marth said as she sat at the desk with notes covering its surface.

"I might have to ask him if he can knit me something too, it feels so fluffy." Cardigan said as she stroked the soft material.

Melantha didn't say anything but joined Cardigan in feeling the pajamas.

The hours passed by leaving Marth awake still studying the material for magecraft, but feeling the need to take a break Marth set her pencil down. On the table was Alyssa's business card. Closure said later in the day to Marth that if she has free time she will drop by over there and use the excuse to further their partnership.

The conversation she had with Alyssa stuck out to her along with the conversation she had with Swire, as facts started to come together.

'A few months ago Ms. Swire found Apollo appear in her truck, as if he was teleported there. No one came near the vehicle all day so it doesn't seem likely that he was placed there. Then add the fact that a random cube just showed up in Sami, also a few months ago, could they be connected?'

Marth left herself this question that could hopefully be answered tomorrow.