"You look... stronger," Jiehong said to Zan once he walked close to, he and Whiskey. They were outside, training, going through some basic physical exercises when Zan found them.

  "Yeah," Zan replied, his skin slick with sweat, his war-gear traded in for the softer practice sweatsuit. "I've been watching those lessons. Surprisingly physical. Once I remembered you wanted to talk to me, I couldn't focus on my video lessons. So, here I am, what did you want to talk to me about? We should also, soon, go over our translated list. Start planning for an expedition to each location."

  "I agree. What I wanted to talk about is, well... I met my parents over our time in Hope-Ridge," Jiehong said.

  "Our parents were in Hope-Ridge? When -- why?" Zan stuttered, Jiehong didn't know what caught Zan's tongue about the parental visit, but he had guesses.

  "Yeah. It wasn't a planned meeting or anything. I ran into them by accident just as I was passing through the wealthier part of town. I was going to a Sunstar-oriented eatery. I happened to pop-into them. I won't keep you in suspense. We have a very lovely conversation. They were very eager to help us. They directly told me I need to help you..."

  Zan's face betrayed his confusion by showing his discord. "B-but... they didn't want to see me? Do they really not care about me?"

  "Things are just weird right now. I don't know what it is with them. They're one way for a while then they shift like the tide and come to an entirely different shore, you know what I mean? They asked me to continue helping you. And they wanted us to ask for help in the future. That's something, Zan," Jiehong explained.

  "You're right. That is something. I only wanted more, I guess," Zan replied.

  "I know. We all want more. What we have now is the best we're going to get, so we should make the best of it," Jiehong said, clasping his half-brother's shoulders in solidarity.

  "Okay, so, how do they want to help us?" Zan asked.

  Jiehong explained how they were eager to become pillars of support for them and their Order.

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  "Considering the last time, I saw them we angrily went our own ways, what do you think brought this change of heart?" Zan asked.

  "I have no clue. I honestly don't, Zan. Our parents have always been fickle. You know what I mean. Remember all the times as kids where they wobbled on letting us do things because one of them at a great idea at the last minute? All I know is this: they left that bunker because it wasn't rich enough for them and now, they are moving to bigger places and where more important coins do the walking-and-talking."

  "Sounds like them," Zan said, considering Jiehong's words. "Okay. Thanks for letting me know. Can you do me a solid and take a look at the translated list, see where the locations are?"

  "Sure thing, give it here," Jiehong said. "At our last meeting, the topic got away from us in all the discussion of bunkers and holy law. Yeesh. I knew about the 'no killing' law but nothing about this 'True Status' law. How many darn holy laws are there?! Let me see the list."

  Zan gave Jiehong the list.

  "Your contact did good work. Not everyone could have taken that old tongue script and turned it into something legible. Whoa!"

  "That good, huh?" Zan said.

  "Yep. Your man is listing some locations which are coming to my mind; what he translated roughly gives a description of the land where the bunker is located. This makes sense, yeah? Whatever settlement was there long ago and whatever that settlement was called, it clearly no longer exists. Good for whoever it was who put this list together for thinking of long-term geographical change," Jiehong said, raving a little too much.

  "What does it mean for us? Do you think we will be able to find these places with our current tools and knowledge?" Zan asked, getting their topic on track.

  "I have no idea, Zan. We have descriptions of the areas in question. But that is it. We will need to find a Naturalist if we have any chance at finding these places."

  "Does the list say what the old locations names were?"

  "No. If the old names were in the original description, they could not be translated. Either because you source lacked the talent or because there was nothing in the original script to begin with. We will need to find a local scout of the land. These descriptions make it clear what we are looking for is rural. We could do worse than asking the old timers if they've encountered anything which matches our description," Jiehong said, finishing what he had to say.

  Zan's face lit up. "That's a good idea, Jie. Do you want to take point on this?"

  "Actually, perhaps Whiskey should? Well, really, all three of us can do this. We all can ask the older fellas questions. Whiskey. Is this agreeable to you?"

  Whiskey, who listened with great patience across the whole exchange, said, "Of course. I am an easy talker. I can clean up and then start out and probe the locals. Jiehong could accompany me to Thundervale and the nearby sites."

  With their next moves planned out, Zan bide them farewell, as he returned to his basement room, where the glowing sizzle of holographic projection became his friend deep into the night.