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His dreams had ended long ago, as Michael's vision had long drifted away into the cozy, comfortable and unconscious darkness. And the day slowly passed. Or does it? Even though the sun had given its light touch of its beauty onto the world, it could never do to make amends the ugly painting created by the sinners and heretics of this land. The sky was just as bleak and cloudy as yesterday. The chilly humid morning fog began to creep into the room like a crawling snake running through the corners of Michael's cheeks, trying to leak into his unseen, unfelt, unheard darkness yet manifested into his jerking knees to the chill. And then Jean's call and tap on his shoulder began to pull him out of the otherworld, and back to his battered body, tattered by gunfire and fatigue. 

To his own eyes, he was among the first to return to the lands of the living. His eyes were heavy, burning like sticky hot rubber as he slowly sat up from his bed. On normal weekends, back then, he would have been lying on the beds for hours on end, his breakfast skipped, his lunch delayed. Everyone said that it would not reflect good to be so tardy, but hell, you couldn't blame the physiology born from the love of the Lord to be a mistake. But here tardiness would earn him punishment. Once and twice he had automatically learnt to obey the call, even if he didn't like it or not.

Then he felt like he was holding something. At the very end of his arm was still that delicate hand. Both of them were still connected. That light chest movement and the cute purr of her lips. It was just like Hill 58 now and then. As much as he would like to let the angel be, he couldn't go anywhere without her releasing him. Literally. She had an abnormal strong grip. After a couple of tap on Lucia to make sure she woke up as well, Michael finally got his freedom. And he took that liberty to slowly make his way on his feet then onto the previous room he had dried his clothes the day before. He slammed the door shut and quickly checked on his bandages, seeing if it needed any replacement (it does), retrieved his hat still hanging dry along with Lucia's, put on his uniform properly then left for the squad's meetup. 

It wasn't anything too surprising. They'd have to leave this ugly ruin as soon as it could get. The mission awaited. And Michael knew that. Autonomously, the sapper just nodded to Jean's command as they moved out into the fog. The chilly mist tightly embraced the squad in the fear of yet another ambush, but the same fear and thoughts had begun to grow old. He was still lightly but visibly shaking but nullified. Instead, he began to look around. The squad. Isaac, Britta, Kalisa, Reyna, Jean and everyone surrounding him, trying to protect him from threat. Did they have a good sleep? Probably not, but were they rested enough? It felt surprisingly homely to be at the very center at this cold morning, with the fear equalizing everyone. 

The journey stopped right before an old house. No, it looked a little big to be a house. Perhaps a public house. A quick conversation was carried out by Jean and the Imperial, to Michael's surprise was Green Fox. No joke. The guy who Michael had feared for long appeared right in front of him. The man who Michael was afraid of ending his own lives now saving lives from misery. The whole idea of a neutral no-fire no-hostility seemed like a joke to Michael, but the way he spoke, the absence of stress and non-eye contact, it was messing the cogs in his mind. But then again, miracles come in the most unexpected of places. When the mere absence of humanity birthed more of them.[hr][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqEI0SRi3Y4[/youtube][hr]He was still staring in disbelief to what was offered in the inn, to which he had been informed as White Hart, when Luke offered him his support. A note of gratitude was given to the man as Michael was generously given a two-man bedroom thanks to his reference. It was nice getting a big room for himself. It felt like his old mansion a little bit. Not at all by much, but hey, at least he still got to enjoy the soft comfortable bed for himself only...but why though? Didn't the inn already have a couple of soldiers here already, along with his squad too? It would be pretty wasteful of a huge room for a tiny hulk of flesh like Michael. Was he actually serious about getting Michael a girl?

He waited for a bit, but no one actually came. Well, maybe he could offer a share to save spaces. But for this moment only, Michael enjoyed the solitude of his own company. His first task was simply unpacking his heavy equipment and then quickly removed his dirty uniform. The bandage had gone dry from the rain yesterday, and it was beginning to glue onto his skin. He spent the next hour just to deal with his wound. He'd never have the chance to have this peaceful of a day to regain his sanity after everything that just happened. 

Gradually the bar downstairs and the loudmouths of a couple of Imperials and some who he personally recognized caught his allure. He left most of his stuff up the room before closing the door gently behind him. Down the stairs to the laughter and drunken ramble of so many people losing their minds in booze and alcohol, Michael couldn't help but half-jokingly muttered his thoughts.

[color=bf00ff]"You all sinners..."[/color]

An amused smile spread across his face as he tiptoed past the new Europan War that had been established in this small inn. He enjoyed the happiness of his comrades and the peaceful, highly improbable but totally not impossible, treaty between the Federation soldiers and the Imperials. Between humans and humans. It was a sight of God's creation after all. It was his teachings that was universal love and respect, even to those who deserved it least. And that's where it was happening right now. But he really should excuse himself from the crowd. It was not in his keen.

From the ground zero of the war that probably would end up with both on the floor, preferably but probably not vomiting, with the hammer drilling in their heads the next morning, Michael retreated to the silent and more personal corner of the inn. Inside this cozy room was a couple of armchairs and bookshelves. The dim yellowish light perfectly carved the complete white to the blacks of the energy outside: the scene of calm, serenity and aloneness. His private study. He could probably spend hours on end on just one single spot on a soft cotton cushion of the armchairs.

But then he realized that he wasn't at all alone. In one of the armchair, almost obscured from Michael's point of view was a brownish figure. A man with ginger-like hair combing over his head, sitting with his legs crossed, his arms one on his cheek and the other holding a book that Michael could not see what it was about. He was silent. Dead silent. One could even think that he had suffered a stroke, having died in that exact spot with that same posture and that nobody had noticed him. His breathe was almost non-existent - his chest didn't even move. The only thing that Michael could discern the alive from the dead was his active eyes, as the thin layer of liquid seemed to serve only to magnify the curiosity and passion to learn more about the knowledge of humankind. The eyes that seemed to speak ambition and intellect. The eyes that quickly detected the presence of the Edinburghian sapper in the room.

His instinct almost caused him to reach for his gun, which wasn't even there to begin with. But upon seeing an injured man with a shallow chin and hopeful eyes, his muscles rested. But his voice did not. And the frost came almost defensively.

[color=fff257]"What do you want Fed?"[/color] 

Michael was taken aback by the cold response. But he was calm enough to stand up properly to him.

[color=bf00ff]"Just to see if you mind a company next to you?"[/color] 

His icy glare did not cease. 

[color=fff257]"No. But don't talk to me."[/color] 

His eyes quickly went back to the book. Tentatively, Michael went for the bookshelf and grabbed one for his own before sitting down on the chair right opposite of him, making himself comfortable. Anywhere though but the book for his eyes, and his mind. He couldn't really keep an eye away from the other book, or the man holding it. His eyes found its way back and forth between the book cover page and his own almost withering yellowish paper. The dance of irises also caught the attention of the Imperial, as expected to Michael really. Seeing that he was acting suspiciously, Michael simply just closed the book and was about to voice his thought before...

[color=fff257]"I said don't talk to me."[/color] Again the ice cold responses.

[color=bf00ff]"I'm sorry I can't help but be curious."[/color] Michael replied, a little modestly at first. 

[color=fff257]"About what?"[/color]

[color=bf00ff]"The book you're holding."[/color] The Fed pointed at the cover page. Engineering At Its Finest. A not very known book out there, but it was one of the best selling books of the field of engineering science. A must-have for any car or machine enthusiasts. Something that the Imperial found a little intriguing to say the least. He never knew this Fed, and he had nothing to lose from his solidly carved ideologue of the ignorant and arrogant pricks from the Federation, but the young Fed's restless eyes seem to say something beyond the veil he had been seeing. 

[color=fff257]"What about it that you are curious about?"[/color] The temperature began to rise.

[color=bf00ff]"Well...everything."[/color] Michael could then finally rest his head on the chair. [color=bf00ff]"I've always wanted to find this book, but it's not sold anywhere."[/color] 

[color=fff257]"I wouldn't be surprised."[/color] The Imperial sneered.

[color=bf00ff]"I was going to try my university library, but I was never there before all of this happened."[/color] Michael didn't mind the passive-aggressive remark. [color=bf00ff]"Maybe I will try there when I come back."[/color]

The Imp was now even more surprised. This Fed is university educated? That's rare. And yet he's at the frontline? With nothing on his sleeve to show his authority? Was this guy a humble individual and a complete idiot or he was actually for real in this one the soldier was trying to weigh the chances. But he was university educated. He couldn't be the former case. 

[color=fff257]"Say..."[/color] His glacial eyes were down. [color=fff257]"I just want to know how well you know before I can lend it. What is the Royal Rose's first car ever made?"[/color]

[color=bf00ff]"First car?..."[/color] Michael pondered shortly. [color=bf00ff]"A 10hp, I remember. There is also the 15hp, 20hp and 30hp model soon after that also."[/color]

The Imperial's eyes seemed to miss a blink just as he tilted his head over to the right. [color=fff257]"Impressive."[/color] He commented before handing Michael the book. 

[color=bf00ff]"You know..."[/color] Michael also found some newfound interest in this adversary in front of him. [color=bf00ff]"Instead of enjoying books by ourselves silently, how about we uncover the veil to our common interest."[/color]

The Imperial shrugged indifferently, but with a light smile. Today had been his day of firsts. And the ground was grassed with wonders and knowledge...[hr]
The passage of time could not sway these two individuals from their shared endeavor. The two individuals who were once adversaries on the battlefield, archenemies who would spare nothing of the other party, now engage in a battle of wisdom and knowledge. A ground that ironed itself out of the bonfire that humanity had created for itself. Michael was surprised at himself as well. He'd probably had said much more in a couple of hours than during the two months he had spent inside that training camp and even during the time on the train. It felt so good to have a like-minded individual who knew what they were talking about, and understood what the other party was saying. And surprisingly so from an enemy. 

[color=fff257]"You know this has turned out unexpectedly."[/color] The Imperial sat up straight on his chair. [color=fff257]"The most intellectual person I've met is my enemy."[/color]

[color=bf00ff]"Likewise."[/color] Michael smiled briefly. [color=bf00ff]"Not even my best friend could force so much out of my mouth."[/color]

The Imperial chuckled at the gesture, though his tone dropped quite steeply just as he made his point clear. [color=fff257]"Though don't get me wrong here, that does not change my mind at all about you Feds."[/color] 

And then there was the whole propaganda ideology from the Imps. It was probably inevitable that it came to this. His irritation clogged in this throat, but he couldn't find himself speaking out loud what he was about to say. He knew he wanted to return the favor. He knew he wanted to say shits about the Imperials too. They committed numerous atrocities. They weren't innocent at all. And many Imperials were even oblivious and proud about it. It was just hypocritical. But then again, like an unknown hand reached out and stopped his vocal chord from formulating a word. What good would it do to turn the table? The man had had such an interesting conversation with Michael. His morality aside, his intellect was something to be admired. Would he want to throw that all away? But perhaps more importantly...why? Like every intellectuals, the fundamental question had begun to formulate. Why? Why would he think what he thinks? Why would he judge people by simply their association with something? And why could both of them having two different viewpoints just like that, and both believed it to be from God's teachings? He wanted to know. As a discoverer, he wanted to know.

[color=bf00ff]"...I'm not here to judge anyone. That's not our job."[/color] Michael muttered. [color=bf00ff]"I just wanted to know...why?"[/color]

[color=fff257]"Hmmm..."[/color] It was the first time it had ever occurred to the Imperial. He was expecting contempt, anger or frustration, or outright disrespect and condescending sneer. But yet before him wasn't that. It was something that had been sorely lacked ever since he decided to part way from his father, far away from his protection and love. It was something called...respect.

[color=fff257]"Well, if you want to know then..."[/color] The Imperial sat up once again, now with a smile on his face. Not a confident, smug or condescending smile, but the one with the one intent to return what was given. And the talk continued. Man-to-man. Earnestly. Straightforwardly. And respectfully.