Chapter 10: Chapter 8

"I've never seen even a military rocket such closely? But why is it so close now? Does... Neptune attack Sapphire?!?"

The loud boom they have just heard seems to be a mere imagination. Now everything is really peaceful and serene. Silence dominates the atmosphere of this wide, quiet path, with the occasional sound of the winter wind drifting a bit loudly.

"Mr. Rivers also gets instructions from the military?" Daphne asks Stairmount, while the young man is busy reading and sending telepathy texts on his ultra-cyber minipad. "As for me, they gave us instructions since more than a week ago. The official promises that we can be at ease since Neptune is focusing their attacks on Amethyst, so we can live and do activities as usual, and the difference is just we should pay close attention to some instructions that may appear at any time. But until now they haven't given any instructions. The different thing is just, now there is a curfew, but everything else has no significant difference..."

Despite Daphne's long talk, Stairmount remains busy with his activity - fiddling with its ultra-cyber minipad with a pale face.

"Mr. Rivers?" Daphne calls once again, in a much louder voice.

This time Stairmount has just "woken up". He turns his face to Daphne, "Yes, Daphne?... Sorry... there was a sudden call..."

"Has Mr. Rivers got instructions from the Jupiter embassy?"

"Ah... of course! The embassy warns us to be careful... and even tells us to return to Jupiter..."

"So you will go back to Jupiter?!? But didn't you say that you will still stay here?!..."

"Oh, not for me. That's for the other Jupiter people, but not me. I'm already contracted to teach here, why should I break the contract, while everything is alright here?..."

Daphne knows, to be a good student, she should be glad that her teacher returns home soon so that he can live safely. But she has to admit, that automatically she feels relieved as she hears Stairmount's statement.

I'm sorry, Mr. Rivers... maybe this war makes me scared... so I'm glad if someone accompanies me through these uncertain days...

"Ah, now, no military rockets are passing through. Maybe that was a Neptune rocket which went out of line." Stairmount tries to keep Daphne at ease. "Jupiter pays very high attention to this matter. They and all the countries of Nature Continent as well as their allies are now giving Neptune detention for their barbarity. This war won't last long. Soon, we'll be able to live in peace like before."

"However, the Sapphire separatists are increasingly carrying out their provocations against the government..."

"Really? I've never heard of that. How do you know about that?"

"All of my messagegroups often talk about that. Even more, many of them also join the movement. While in the past the separatist has had many followers, then now they can obtain followers much more than before."

"Really?" Stairmount stared closely at Daphne. "Then, how about you?"

"Me?"

"Yeah... you are Neptunian ethnic, aren't you? Do you... support the separatist? Support... Neptune?"

"Me..." Daphne's hands begin to tremble. She bows her head.

"Ah... I misspoke! Ouch, how can I say such rude words! I'm so sorry! This reckless Jupiter of mine is showing up again. Please don't take it personally, just pretends that you've never heard of it!..."

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"Actually... I'm so scared..." Daphne's hands grip each other, tighter and tighter. "I'm afraid of death... I'm afraid of being killed in this war... and... and... I'm afraid... of losing the one I love once again..." Daphne mumbles. "I've lost my father... I don't want to lose my mother... no, really..."

Daphne's answer makes Stairmount gasp. He soon feels uneasy in an instant. At first, he thought, as a Neptunian ethnic, Daphne must be happy that Pluto, who is famous for being the oppressor of the Neptunians in Sapphire, is finally attacked by their ancestral land. Because he knows, many Saturnian-Jupiterians have such thoughts, for example, his father. If Jupiter -  who has often discredited the Saturnians all this time - is attacked by Saturn, as Saturnian ethnic they will cheer happily for the attack for sure, as they think it is the time of Saturn's revival.  But it turns out... Daphne isn't thinking the way he thinks. It turns out that, Daphne is just like anyone. Just like all human beings on this Planet who are afraid to die, who are afraid to lose everything they love... who just want to live in peace and tranquility.

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And more, I won't necessarily be very happy even if Saturn really attacks Jupiter...

"... you're the traitor to your country! Even the Ancestors are ashamed to have descendants like you, who prefer the Jupiterian foreigner over your own blood!..."

And then, Dad accuses me that way.

Stairmount decides to remain silent since he doesn't know what actually he has to do. Of course, he really wants to comfort Daphne, tell her that everything will be okay, that this war will end quickly and things will be back to normal again... but on the other hand, a pang of enormous guilt grips him - the guilt of his inhuman words just now. And, he is sure that stale entertainment such as "I believe the war will end soon and everything will be back to normal..." is unbearable, no more than a mere boast. Because no one can guarantee the final outcome of this war - not even the God of Death.

Daphne looks heavenward. "Ah... everybody says I'm too timid. Most of my fellowmen have the same thinking as yours, Mr. Rivers, especially the men. They often push me to join the pro-separatist movement..."

"Don't participate, Daphne."

"Yes, Sir?"

"Don't participate!" Being afraid that the volume of his voice is too small, Stairmount raises his voice. "It's very dangerous. If you dare to participate in it, everything you worry about will become real."

"Re... really? But... many of my relatives take part in this movement... so, they will..."

"Well..." Stairmount gulps "If they still decide to participate... they will die..."

"Then I must inform them!" Daphne takes her ultra-cyber minipad, and begins to send telepathy texts, but Stairmount immediately stops her.

"Don't do that!" Stairmount looks so panicked as he grabs Daphne's wrist and makes Daphne wince in pain.

"Aaww!...w...why, Sir?!? It is you who said that?!?..."

"Eh... um... it's not an official notification... even... uh... to be honest... it's no more than my excessive fear... because... uhmmm... I find that you're really scared... uhm... and such activities usually lead to the sacrifice of one's life... so errr... that's why I forbid you!... But, if you forbid your relatives, they will be angry with you and even say you are launching a hoax. If the separatists  target you because they don't like you, won't it be dangerous?..."

Daphne turns silent, and keeps thinking about it. A few minutes later, she smiles. "Thank you very much for your caring, Sir, even you pay so detailed attention to my safety..." She puts her ultra-cyber minipad back in her pocket. "It's true, you are too anxious. Just like me. But it must be. Who won't be scared in such kind of situation, right? But, as long as we can support each other, everything will be alright. I believe, we will get through all of this very well."

Daphne looks up to the sky, which is now dotted with a mix color of red, orange, blue, and purple twilight. Stairmount also does the same.

Peace will become more beautiful for many folds, especially after we have fallen into suffering, and experienced it by ourselves.

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