12. Obstacles And Boundaries

Business was relatively slow at Illuminata's shop today, so she made Arganan take Amber on a tour of Selphia. Amber did know her way to various places like the Clinic, for example, and all the citizens of Selphia already dropped by the Flower Shop to introduce themselves to Amber, but she hadn't gone on a full tour of the whole town, yet. Arganan figured the tour would be a good excuse to get some fresh air, now that he had his newly-repaired metal leg back (he got it reattached earlier this morning, just before he went to work), and so he accepted the task.

"Up ahead should be Bell Hotel. That's where Xiao Pai and her mother Lin Fa works."

Amber looked up at him with those wide eyes of hers. Honestly, how old was Amber? Arganan had no clue. She looked no older than sixteen, at his best guess. Maybe seventeen or eighteen, but that was pushing it. "Lumie told me they have hot springs. Maybe we can check it out?"

"Uh..maybe after the tour is over. And if you have three-hundred gold on you."

"Okay!"

Just as the two were about to head in, Arganan heard Vishnal speak up from a couple feet away.

"The Bell Hotel is this way. Just up ahead!"

"Thank you." The baritone voice that answered made Arganan freeze. Therius. "I appreciate the direction. I'd like to speak to Lady Ventuswill after I check in…"

"I'll let her know that you're headed to the castle."

"Thank you."

Arganan knew that if he got any closer to the hotel right now, Therius would probably bump into him. And right now, he wanted to avoid the white knight. Especially with Amber by his side. Looking around quickly, he pointed at a few butterflies he noticed near some flowers, in a bush just a few feet behind them. "Hey, Amber, erm, those Toy Herbs have some butterflies on them…"

"Really!?" Cue Amber turning around to see the butterflies, a happy gasp escaping her. "They're so cute! Hee hee!"

Amber half-dashed towards the butteflies. The butterflies didn't instantly fly away, and Arganan had a feeling it was because Amber used to be a butterfly monster herself (and still remained some of said traits, as of currently). He also followed her, thankful that he was in the opposite direction from the Bell Hotel, if only temporarily. He turned his head briefly to see Therius' familiar white hair and armor, the younger man walking into the Bell Hotel. Crisis avoided.

Where else could he avoid Therius' presence? At least for a little longer, just long enough to complete most of (if not all of) touring the town with Amber?

"Amber?"

She looked up from the butterflies and flowers. Two of the butterflies somehow made it on the top of her head, beating their wings in unison as they nestled in her hair. Arganan tried not to think of how odd it was as he continued.

"Have you seen Selphia Lake, yet?"

"I've been there once with Lumie." Amber managed. "She thought the voices might come from there, but they weren't…"

"We could go see it again right now, if you'd like." Please say yes. Anything to get away from Sir Therius right now. Funny, how he once often sought the whereabouts of his niece, and now he was running way from a knight. "I'm sure there might be butterflies there at this hour."

"Really!?"

He wasn't actually sure, but he might as well roll with the idea. "I'm pretty sure of it, yes."

"Let's go!"

Cue him and Amber half-dashing off (or in Arganan's case, half-limping off) in the direction of Selphia Lake.

Selphia Lake was a beautiful, shimmering lake at the west side of town, glowing in the light of the sun. It was large enough that one could probably swim around in it a bit, and there were plenty of fish within it as well, so it made it a nice fishing spot. Much to Arganan's gratitude, there were indeed a few butterflies around the various wildflowers growing in the grassy area, not far from the actual lake itself. Amber was immediately occupied with said flowers and butterflies, giving Arganan the chance to be by himself, if only for a moment or two. Taking a deep breath, he took the time to reclip his bangs out of his face and just take a look around. There was currently no one else around Selphia Lake. Apparently, this was a fun spot for the townspeople to hang out, whether it be for dates, fishing, or even some festival-related activities like fishing contests or just celebrating the first day of summer. Arganan vaguely recalled Dr. Jones telling him, at some point, that there was a fishing contest for every season, but Arganan doubted he'd be very good at it. It wasn't like he ever went fishing (even for sport) when he was Count, after all.

Selphia Lake was also empty at this time of day, it seemed, and it was also not a location that Therius would check out first, given the intention behind his visit. Besides, if he was currently checking in at the Bell Hotel and then visiting Ventuswill immediately afterwards, that would buy Arganan some more time with Amber. He had no idea how he was going to talk to Therius about any of what happened with him, other than just lay it to him straight. But he certainly didn't want Amber around to hear about it, especially if the topic of his past as Count reached the conversation. That was something he wanted to tell her on his own terms. Same went with Frey.

He wasn't even sure how he'd break it to Frey, what he'd done. He had a feeling it might come into play sooner than he hoped, especially since he did have the Outsider's power. It would be easier to mention close to nothing about the past if he didn't have it.

"Arganan?" He blinked, realizing Amber had her gaze turned towards him. "Are you okay?"

"Just thinking." He admitted, approaching her. Amber turned to wave the butterflies goodbye, and they flew off. She then turned to face him again, beaming at him. "You know, I just wanna say thanks! For giving me a tour of the town so far."

Her smile reminded him of Calista, but when she was younger. He hoped she was smiling more, now that he wasn't physically present in her life as much as he used to be. It was for the best. It made him wonder if sending that letter to her just made it worse. "You're welcome, Amber." A soft sigh escaped him. "I'm more surprised Illuminata didn't get around to the whole tour with you herself."

Then again, he guessed, he supposed she would've been busy with work and helping Amber get used to things in town. It made sense that way, that Amber wouldn't get a full tour until now.

"Lumie told me that you came from outside town."

The former Count immediately restrained himself from cursing. "Amber…how much has Lumie told you about me?"

"She said you came from a place called Lazulis. And that…" Amber frowned mildly. "That I hurt you. Back in the forest. I'm sorry I broke your leg."

The battle with the butterfly beast came back to mind. Arganan still remembered the pain searing through his body as he absorbed the hits from that time. He shook his head a little, offering her a reassuring smile, or at least trying to.

"It's not your fault, honestly." He managed. "I can't imagine you had much control over that, given that you didn't remember anything before waking up. I'm not angry at you. Besides," He gestured to his newly-repaired metal leg, "I got my leg back, now. I'm okay, I promise."

He saw her smile again. "I'm glad to hear that!"

He heard a few footsteps in the grass, and then he turned his head to see…none other than Sir Therius, who just entered the grassy clearing beside Selphia Lake.

"Sir Therius." Arganan's voice came out more hoarse than he hoped, as the white knight looked him in the eye. "It's been too long since I've last seen you…and longer than I've hoped."

Amber turned to see Therius, staring at him. "Do you know him?"

Arganan knew he had to get Amber away from Therius, as fast as he could. He didn't want her standing there and listening to what he and Therius were about to discuss, after all. "Er, yes. Amber, I'm going to have to cut our little tour short. Do you know your way back to the flower shop from here? Go past the castle, straight through town square…let Lumie know I'm talking with Sir Therius, okay?"

"Yup! I know the way." Amber beamed up at him. "I'll let her know. See you!"

Amber left. Therius didn't move to stop her, instead stepping aside to even let her pass. After Amber disappeared from sight, Therius took a deep breath. He wore the same white armor that he used to wear, back during the war against the Gurak. There were a few differences; mainly an extra gold pin or brooche at his collar. Perhaps it signified him rising in rank. Arganan wasn't sure.

"That was Amber?" Therius asked.

Arganan could only nod. "She literally just came to town a few days ago. Whatever you do, don't subject her to questioning like you're doing with me. Especially on extremely short notice."

Therius frowned slightly, but he shook his head. "Lady Ventuswill already informed me about the incident in Yokmir Forest. There's nothing else I know about Amber's condition, save for her amnesia. Similarly, Frey also has a case of amnesia herself, though it's from an entirely different incident. The Princess falling from an airship is not what I expected."

"It's not what I expected, either. Did you and Calista know nothing about this until after my letter and Lady Ventuswill telling you everything?"

"Arthur was also present." Therius managed. "And I am also aware that he and Frey have…switched places, for lack of better words."

Arganan swallowed. Shit. "Whatever you do, we can't let it spread to the main capital of Norad. Not yet, at least."

"I'm still trying to understand how this was so quickly legalized, but I can't do anything about the Divine Wind's decision in that matter. I will have to report this back to Calista, but I don't think she will want to freely tell that secret."

"Speaking of secrets, and Calista…" Arganan thought of the letter she sent back to him. "How is she? And why did she send you to see me, specifically?"

Therius paused. He almost completely looked away, towards the lake, but he quickly answered after that brief moment. "Lady Calista is well. Lazulis and the Gurak Continent have mostly drafted their peace treaty at this point, or at least as far as I heard before I left for Selphia. As for why she sent me here…Lady Calista is hoping to open up trade routes and other opportunities with Norad, starting in Selphia. I'm assisting her with that task, so she thought it pertinent that I should also go see you while I was in Selphia."

Arganan supposed that made sense. Any sense of allyship had to start somewhere, even if in a small town such as this one. And Selphia, though small, was a good being a trade and tourist area. He was sure Frey and Arthur both would have heavy hands in developing Selphia as such. Lazulis was known for trade on top of being the 'sword arm' of the Empire, so it worked out that both would be open for trading.

"Is her sending me here have anything to do with the hopeful attempt at trade routes in the future?" Arganan asked. "Or is it really because she wants me out of my life? I assumed she wanted nothing to do with me after the war, hence her sending me here. And yet she sent me to a place where she wants to open trade with."

Therius shook his head. "I do not know her intentions behind her having both you here as well as wanting to make trade with Selphia in the near future."

"It does sound like she wants to keep an eye on me, though. I imagine she was surprised at what I'd done, after the whole letter I sent her."

"She told me its contents." Therius admitted. "I was rather surprised that you survived what you went through."

"Yes." Arganan let a sigh leave him as he eyed the white knight. "I'm aware what I did was reckless, Sir Therius. It could've gotten me killed, and I should technically be dead by now."

He thought he saw a smile flicker on Therius' face. "And yet you live."

"And yet I live, yes."

"Because of the Outsider's power." Therius's gaze shifted towards the former Count's right hand.

Arganan shrugged, raising his hand for Therius to see better. "Partially. It was also because Forte and Frey saved my arse at the time. They struck the finishing blow. All I did was defend them briefly, then get knocked over while they finished the job."

"Lady Ventuswill did mention that as well." Therius paused, before he took out a large envelope, offering it to him. "Miss Mirania sent copies of the reports about the Outsider with me, to give to you, Dr. Jones and Ms. Nancy. The first copies she made of them were supposed to arrive last week, but…they went missing."

"What?" Arganan raised a brow as he took the envelope out of Therius' hands. Missing? "How?"

"I don't know the full details," Therius admitted, "But according to your niece, they were lost on the way. So, we had no choice but to make more copies of the research and have me take them to you."

"Do they have any idea where those copies went?"

"Lady Calista is tracking them now. That's all I know."

That did not sound good. Arganan knew the situation was out of his hands, and certainly in Calista's own, but he hoped those reports were simply 'destroyed' in terms of being lost, and not 'stolen.' Stolen documents on something like the Outsider presented a possible future danger, after all.

"Is there anything you would know that isn't already written on the reports?" Surely Therius had to know something that might not be written in there. Asthar and Mirania did go through ample amounts of research to create what was in that envelope, and who knows what wasn't mentioned?

"Everything they ever learned, as well as what I learned, is in those documents." Therius managed. "However, it's not necessarily complete. Miss Mirania wrote it down in there, but she did personally tell me that she had a theory of the Outsider's power working differently for each user."

Arganan raised a brow. "Hence why I make magical shields that temporarily block foes' attacks?"

Therius stared at him. "You can do that?"

Before Arganan could answer, he noticed Vishnal run over, panting a bit as he stopped in his tracks and looked up at Therius. "Sir Therius, Lady Ventuswill wanted to…" He then paused, realizing Arganan was there with him. "Oh. Arganan. My apologies for interrupting both of you."

"Vishnal." Therius turned his head to face him. "What is it?"

"She just wanted me to let you know that Arthur wanted to speak with you tomorrow morning, at 10 a.m." Vishnal managed, swallowing. "That's all."

"Thank you, for the message."

Vishnal was about to excuse himself, but Arganan quickly cut in. "Vishnal, can you stay a moment or two?"

"Uh, sure." Vishnal paused, turning to look at Arganan. "What is this about, if it's alright with me asking?"

"It's about my powers." Arganan held up his hand to show Vishnal. "I was telling Therius about me making magical shields. Mind if I use you as a demonstration? You're not getting hurt if I do this right, promise."

Vishnal swallowed. "If you do this right?"

"I don't remember how I pulled it off at the time, so we might need a few practice tries." The former Count admitted. "Therius, make sure you don't get Vishnal Clinic-bound."

The white knight gave him a look. "Meaning?"

Arganan glared right back at him. "Don't kill him, you idiot. Try to just punch him after I put up the shield."

Therius and Vishnal stared at Arganan for a moment, as if the man was just possessed. However, both exchanged awkward looks with each other, Therius shrugged, and Vishnal seemed consigned to his new fate of potentially getting punched in the face. How else was Arganan supposed to demonstrate, after all?

Vishnal visibly paled. "Should I be worried, now?"

Arganan shrugged. "Worst case scenario, Therius knocks you out and it's his fault."

Therius shook his head. "Says the man who asked me to do it."

Arganan decided it was best to just summon the shield. Focusing on Vishnal, he hoped that the butler would not get hurt. A soft, blue light appeared around Vishnal in a dome-shaped form, similar to how it worked with Forte and Frey back in Yokmir Forest. Vishnal jumped a little at the new shield around him, but said nothing, just observing it quietly.

Therius stared at the shield, his expression blank. Then, he drew a fist back, and hurled it at the shield as hard as he could.

The moment Therius punched the shield, the barrier glowed in a rippling effect, as if absorbing the blow, before sending it right back at Therius. The white knight went flying across the clearing, hitting the grassy ground with a stifled groan. The former Count gritted his teeth as he felt the pain of the punch ripple through his own body, knees shaking slightly, before he stared at the heap on the ground that was Therius. "…That didn't fully happen, last time."

A loud "OHMYGOD!" escaped Vishnal as he ran towards Therius' side, helping him up as the shield disappeared. "Are you okay!? I'm so sorry!"

"It's not your fault." Therius managed with a grunt, before looking towards Arganan, his eyes widening at the sight of him. "Are you…?"

"I'll be fine." Arganan hissed back, using his cane to keep himself steady. He did eventually regain strength to fully stand on his own, before looking towards Therius. "And you didn't answer Vishnal's question. Are you okay?"

Therius borderline glared at him before speaking. "I'm fine." He finally answered. His gaze shifted towards Arganan's right hand. It glowed blue, faintly, but the glow then faded completely. "Has that happened before? Repelling me after I hit it?"

"No." He recalled his battle with the butterfly beast. "That's the first time. Last time, I just endured the attacks until I couldn't take them anymore."

"I see." Therius paused, and Arganan wondered what pieces the white knight put together in his mind. "It seems your power is growing stronger. It would be good for you to continue taking note of any developments. Zael's power also developed over time as he continued using it, as well."

"Makes sense." Arganan looked down at his mark, then the envelope he'd received from Therius. "I'll make sure to tell Jones about this. Is there anything else you need to tell me? About who is getting all this information about me, for example? Or about Selphia?"

"Concerning Selphia," Therius answered, "I will relay this information to Lady Calista only, and what she does with this information is up to her. For you, it would be best to keep both your having the Outsider's power and the issue with monsters under wraps, as much as you can in the meantime. In terms of the previously missing research, however, and the fact your niece hasn't found it yet…" Arganan thought he saw a hint of worry in Therius' gaze at the next words, "you should be careful. And take those notes to Dr. Jones and Nancy immediately. That will be all."

Arganan nodded. "Of course."

Therius turned to leave, but that was when Arganan quickly spoke up again. "Therius, wait. How long are you going to be here?"

Therius turned to meet his gaze again. "I'll be here until the end of the week. I have much else to discuss with Arthur and Frey, as well as Lady Ventuswill about Lazulis and Selphia."

"Thank you. That's all."

Theirus bid him goodbye, before leaving. Arganan watched him go, but that was when he heard Vishnal clear his throat.

"Hey, Arganan?" Arganan's gaze looked towards Vishnal. He saw the younger man's brows furrow a little. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." He lied. He wasn't sure if Vishnal really bought that, but he hoped he did. The news of the missing reports hung like a shadow over his mind, despite the attempts to ignore it.

Arganan had a feeling he should go see Frey, and so he went to visit her at the castle, a couple hours later. Before said visit, he dropped off the notes with Jones and Nancy, even having dinner with them before he went to see Frey. He wondered if Frey met Sir Therius yet. After he arrived and asked about it, it turned out that she was present when Therius went to go speak to Ventuswill after his conversation with the former Count, and so heard the whole conversation.

"He seems very formal. Even more than Forte and Arthur." Frey frowned. The Princess was in the middle of preparing some "I can't tell if he disapproves of me being Princess of Selphia or not because of that frown on his face, though."

"He didn't mention anything to me about what he thinks of you as a ruler." Arganan admitted. "However, it doesn't seem like he distrusts you. And I imagine you'll have other meetings with him during the next few days. From my experience," He shook his head, sighing, "He's a very formal man in general. If he doesn't make much reaction out of anything, that's probably why. Likely the result of his being a knight for so long."

"Arthur will be there, too. And same with Venti." Frey passed him a plate of Pancakes. "Here."

Arganan stared at the plate. "For me?"

"Venti told me she liked them. I made some for her, earlier." Frey offered him a grin. "Besides, I think we both deserve some pancakes for snack, after all of what happened today. I hope it's not too much!"

He couldn't help but grin a little at that. "Thank you, Frey. I appreciate it."

The pancakes were delicious. Arganan wondered how Frey had the time to teach herself cooking ontop of all the farming, Princess-related duties and so on. Then again, other than the voices echoing everywhere during night, there wasn't anything strange going on since the whole incident with Amber, so that probably spared a lot more time for Frey than before.

"I learned something from Venti." Frey managed. "She told me that there are special locations in this land known as Rune Spots. That's where Runes are found in high concentrations. The place where Amber found was one of the four spots, and another one is the Water Ruins."

"The Water Ruins?" Arganan looked towards her. "Do you know if there are other Rune Spots?"

"I think there are. I didn't really ask Venti at the time. However, she did give me something to help me out when I go there." Frey took a feather out from her pocket. The green and white colours of it reminded Arganan of Venti, and then he paused.

"You said she gave it to you? Did she…pluck it from herself?"

"Yup!" Frey beamed up at him. "Her power is in it, so it should help protect me from monster attacks. And I was planning to upgrade my armor and weapons before I head out tomorrow, too, so…"

"Tomorrow?" Arganan stared at her. "You're already heading out tomorrow? What about your meetings with Arthur and Sir Therius?"

"I know they're a priority," Frey managed, sighing as she put the feather back in her pocket. "And I will attend those first. But in the afternoon, after all of that is over, I'm going to the Water Ruins. I'm taking Illuminata and maybe Amber with me. Or maybe I should just ask Forte this time…"

"You could bring Bado." Arganan suggested. "I'm sure he'd love an excuse to not work."

She burst into a giggle at that, shoulders mildly shaking. "You might have a point! Maybe I should just invite him!"

Arganan couldn't help but chuckle as well. It would seem like Bado to easily abandon the forge to just fight a couple monsters for a while. He seemed like the type of man to get bored easily, in Arganan's opinion. Might do him some good. Besides, it was for a good cause, if it would help get rid of those odd voices at night.

Frey hummed a little, taking a bite of her pancakes and swallowing. "I wonder how many 'Princess Points' comes from sending Monsters back to where they came from, anyway…"

"Princess Points?" Arganan frowned a little. "What are those?"

Frey shrugged. "Venti explained to me, when I first started all the farming and so on, that it's a way for me to help develop the town. I can get them by fufill requests, getting rid of monsters, and so on. The more Points I have, on top of other resources like lumber and stone for example, the more I can do things like open new shops, have existing shops provide additional services, and even boost tourism."

A whole points system, to develop a town? He wondered if it was just Selphia that functioned this way, or perhaps every place in Norad had similar functions. "So that's why you've been fulfilling requests left and right, on top of all the investigation."

"It's a reason to get them done. If I don't do anything, I don't get points. And," She took another bite of pancakes, chewed, and swallowed again, "If I don't do anything, nothing will get done. I do have responsibilities to fufill, after all. Even my usual duties can slowly accumulate points, like shipping crops for example."

"So it's an accountability-type system, then." Arganan mused. "The more social good you do, the better."

There's something I wish to do. And, I can't do it if I'm busy running the town…

Arganan's first meeting with Arthur came to mind, and his gaze snapped towards Frey. "Arthur must have known about this system before coming here. That's why he traded places with you!"

"What?" Frey stared at him, almost dropping her next forkful of pancakes. "What do you mean?"

"Arthur was supposed to rule Selphia first." The former Count explained. "Then, you dropped in for whatever reason. I don't know what Arthur wants to do, but clearly he couldn't do it if he had the whole Prince or Princess Points system hanging over him while ruling Selphia. Without any fixed accountability system hanging on him ontop of all the usual duties of ruling this place by giving up the role to you, he can do whatever he wants. You being here conveniences whatever plans he has."

"You make that sound like it's a bad thing."

Arganan swallowed. This was an issue that breached into royalty that he did not know very well. It wasn't like he read up on Selphia and all of Norad's politics before coming here. "What I'm saying is that Arthur took advantage of your presence to get away from his duties. He literally told us to our faces that he didn't think being the Prince was important, when we first met him. And it's not fair to you, especially given what you know you've went through before ending up here."

"He's been helping me understand the whole running-all-of-Selphia as is." She managed, frowning. "And I know he's still keeping him and me switching places a secret from the main capital for now. He's been using what contacts he has to help with tourism here, too. Maybe he wants to focus on helping Selphia in a way that people in noble positions couldn't do."

"Help Selphia in a way that nobles can't?" Zael came to Arganan's mind. "My nephew-in-law would be like that. He literally rejected a knighthood from me, when I was previously Count of Lazulis."

Frey stared at him. "He did? Why?"

"He had his reasons. He wanted to be a knight, initially, and I was impressed by what he'd done so far in the war at that point. I also knew he had the Outsider's power, and his and Calista's close bond was…fortuitous, politically and because I knew Zael could use that power to defeat the Gurak. That's why I offered the knighthood to him."

"Did he defeat the Gurak, even without the knighthood?"

"Yes. But he did it his way, instead of mine. His was significantly smarter, so it turned out for the best." At least Zael hadn't stupidly attacked the Lazulis half of the Outsider, like Arganan had, to try activating its power.

Frey looked down at her pancakes, then up at Arganan. "I still don't remember why I was on an airship on the way here, assuming I was coming here. Maybe I was going to be a Dragon Knight, like Forte."

Arganan looked Frey up and down. He knew she was powerful, given how he witnessed her in battle, but a knight? Her? "A knight?"

"I mean, I know there are knights other than just Forte around here. Another one would always be helpful for the people of Selphia." Frey mused. "Then again, I'm sure someone would have said something if they thought I came here to fufill duties as a knight. Maybe I was on the way to somewhere else. Or someone sent me here for reasons similar to Arthur's, with the whole tourism thing."

"Whatever the reason," Arganan managed, after he ate a forkful of his own pancakes, "You're the Princess, now. And as much as I feel cautious about Arthur using your presence as an opportunity for whatever plans he has, I think you've been doing a good job as Princess so far."

"That's what you've told me already."

"I know." He couldn't help but grin a little. "Maybe Arthur realized how good you were that he choked upon seeing such good leadership from you."

"What!?" Frey tried to hold back laughter, but it just came out in little sputters as she covered her mouth with a hand. "I still remember him asking me if I could officially take over. It was so awkward!"

Laughter left Arganan's lips, and he realized, after a few moments, that he hadn't laughed so hard like this in a long time. There was nothing but glee, if only for those moments, and he felt his mouth ache a little from the smiling he wasn't used to doing yet.

A little yawn escaped Frey, and Arganan looked towards her to see her covering her mouth a little, before lowering her hand from her face. "Oof, I should clean up and get some sleep, soon. It was really nice talking with you, though."

"Ah, that's fair." Arganan paused, looked towards his pancakes. "Do you have a box or something I could take these home in?"

"Oh yeah!" Frey put her mostly-finished pancakes aside, standing. "I can get you a box…"

Sudden sounds pierced the air, echoing. If Arganan wasn't mistaken, they sounded like horses neighing. Frey groaned a little, before looking towards him. "The voices again. Will you be okay on the way back by yourself, so late? I can probably ask Clorica or Vishnal to escort you back to the Clinic, if you'd like."

"I think I can manage myself, but thank you for offering." The former Count managed, shaking his head. "But…it was nice, talking to you."

"We should do this again." Frey managed, and Arganan felt himself smile just a bit.

"Agreed."