An Unchanging Face

So it's true, you really can fly anywhere, past or future?

Then if I asked you to fly me somewhere in the past, would you?

Nope. I do not know you. Aldo may have that right, but some man I've never met before? I don't think so.

Man? Then if I were a woman, it would be a different story?

Correct. A gentleman battleship like myself could never deny a request from a lady.

Despicable. I never realized that artificial life-forms were capable of such sexism.

E-Excuse me?

True chivalry isn't about favoring women.

It's about gender equality, and treating everyone with genuine kindness, whatever the situation.

I...I... Mmpgh! Hmgmgh!

Looks like Master Hydra's getting some push-back!

Leave it, Clughorn.

This is no time to be picking a fight.

Don't get me wrong, Amy. I'm not trying to quarrel. He refused my request for an irrational reason; I am merely trying to persuade him out of it.

But you weren't persuading him, you were arguing him down.

Anyway, what was the request? Is there somewhere you wanna go?

I wanted to see where the battle with the ogres took place.

You mean the Ogre Wars? Then, the Ancient Battlefield?

You know the place? That's great. Would you mind taking me there?

I dunno, that place is...

Ugh... Fine. Mind if you do the honors, Hydra?

Certainly. Who could turn down such an earnest request from a young lady? Not a gentleman battleship such...

Seriously?! Weren't you listening to a word I said?!

All right, all right, that's enough! Let's just go to the Ancient Battlefield already!

So this is where the battle happened. It's certainly...bleak.

We're in the Dusken Lands here. It's forbidden territory.

Very few people ever come here. To be honest, I didn't really wanna come here either...

It's untouched? That's great. Only means there's a greater chance of hidden treasure.

Treasure? That's why you wanted to come here?

Wait. Look over there.

I've never seen such a creature before. Is it a monster?

Nope, it's a Nopaew. It's harmless.

Nopaew? Strange. I never read about any "Nopaew" in the history books. Hm?

Poh-paew!

......

HEY! What d'you think you're doing?!

Let me handle this.

Listen up, Nopaews!

Poh?

You are all brethren of the same species. Whatever discord there may be between you, it is barbaric to gang up and throw rocks at your fellow kin.

If you are capable of any rational thought, you will cease this foolishness and...

Gwah?!

Po-paew! Po-paew!

Clughorn...

......

...... Hmph. These Nopaew lack the most basic rationality. They are clearly an inferior species.

Look, don't let it get to you, okay? I mean... The Nopaew Clan don't understand human language. How d'you expect them to get what you were saying?

You might have said that before...

Whatever. More importantly...

Your kin were throwing rocks at you. What is the reason for your falling out?

...But I suppose this is rather useless to ask if you can't understand what I'm saying.

......

They're gone...

It appears that individual has been ostracized from the group.

Hm? Who are you?

This is Macminal the merchant. He's been a huge help to us in the past.

Macminal? As in, the founder of the Macminal Museum in Nilva?

Oh, you know of my museum? Then you are also from the future?

That is correct, yes.

Fascinating, fascinating! I think you and I are going to get along great! Tell me, what do you think of my collection? An impressive array of rare pieces, don't you think?

Yes, very impressive.

(So impressive that Mildy and Clughorn decided to steal the Ogre Key from it...)

Great, great! That makes all this effort I go to, negotiating with the Nopaew Clan, feel so worthwhile.

You negotiate? With those creatures?

Yes, they have a remarkable knack for finding relics, and they're happy to trade their discoveries with me.

At first, I admit, they were a little more interested in pummeling me with rocks than opening up a trade deal...

But a small price to pay if it means expanding the museum's collection!

I see.

(Why's he being so awkward?)

As you seem to be somewhat of an expert on these Nopaew, let me ask you this. Why is that one Nopaew being treated like that?

Hmm... I believe he is unable to speak.

He can't speak? Why not?

That, I can't say. It's not like I can ask him. But they are a species that values conformity. Any difference, in this case, muteness, is seen as heretical.

All because he can't speak?!

Amy, you head back without me. I'm gonna hang back a while.

Hang back? And do what?

Explore. Maybe I'll find some lost relics like the Ogre Key.

......

Oh, don't look at me like that! I'm not plotting something nefarious.

I'm simply curious. I'm interested to find out what kind of relics would harbor such energy. So, you mind picking me up in a little while?

Oh, honestly...

Don't be stupid. You think I'm gonna leave you alone in a place like this? Besides, I know that's not the real reason why you wanna hang back. So let me help you.

Nothing gets past you, huh?

Well, come along then. Let's go find this stray Nopaew.

Aha! There's our Nopaew.

But there's the main group, just up ahead. Not good. If they see the lone Nopaew, they're just gonna pummel the little guy again...

Wait. Something's not right.

Poh?!

What the... That li'l Nopaew's really going an eye for an eye, huh?

Was it out of desperation? Or revenge for being ostracized?

That seems unlikely.

Back so soon? What about business?

Ah, I confess I was also a little concerned about that lone Nopaew. Business can wait.

You know a lot about their ecology... So tell me, is there some reason for that Nopaew's behavior?

There is. The Nopaew are social animals that live in groups, much like us humans. If an individual has been expelled from their group, they will usually either run away or beg forgiveness.

True... I can't say I'd do what they did in that situation.

......

Shouldn't that be the other way around?

Clughorn?

I want to ask him.

And how are you gonna do that? Macminal said he can't speak.

And that would be a problem, if it weren't for the fact that I can use ESP. Although I've never tried it before, I should be able to hold a simple telepathic conversation.

What?! Can psychics seriously do that?

Oh, this is nothing. Not compared to what the other two can do.

Hn?!

......

......

Did it work? What did he say?

He said as follows... Paew. Po-po, po-paew-po.

Heheh, you've gotta be joking!

If all you got outta that was gibberish Nopaew-speak, what was the point?

Yes, I'm inclined to agree. Perhaps my telepathy skills are falling a little short.

Hmm. You're saying you can use some strange power to communicate with him?

Well, would you like me to translate for you?

Oh yeah, you can understand the Nopaew language! You know, I've actually always wondered... How did you manage to learn it?

Oh, I didn't do anything special. Simply by interacting with them regularly, I grew to understand them.

But just because I can understand it, that doesn't mean I can speak it.

Still, that's really incredible...

Yes, the fact that you successfully attempted to communicate with another species is worthy of praise indeed. I will take you up on your offer to translate. I tell you what the Nopaew tells me, you tell me what it means.

Wait, how's that gonna work? Listening is only half of a conversation...

We neohumans are capable of parallel thought. Don't tell me that you've forgotten. If I listen telepathically and analyze his words simultaneously... We should be able to hold a decent conversation.

You're something else. Both you, and Mildy.

You've lost me a little, but I'll do what I can to help. But do you mind if I ask why you're doing this?

I don't like it.

Hm?

It is foolish and unreasonable to exclude others on the grounds that they are different. I cannot abide such foolishness, nor can I overlook it.

Heh.

Did I say something funny?

Nope, nothing at all! Now let the training commence!

Clughorn, are you okay?

I'm fine. I just over-exerted myself a little. But thanks to that... I now have a much better grasp of the language. No easy task, when its structure is so unalike our own.

You've already picked up the Nopaew language? Astonishing! You must be quite the genius indeed.

I won't deny it; I am pretty great.

But that's all.

Huh? What d'you...

Ngh!

Hey, wait!

After him, Amy!

I can't see him anywhere! Where'd he go?

That voice...

Clughorn?!

Ngh!

A monster? No, a ghost. Must be one of the soldiers who died on this battlefield.

Gh-Gh-Ghost?!

Pull yourself together, Amy. We have to help them.

Ugh... Are you and Mildy cursed or something? Is that why these strange things keep happening around you?

Ugh... You know I'm not good with this sorta thing.

Okay, fine, I'm in! But I'm staying behind you!

With all the strong residual thoughts permeating this place, my ESP would work well here. I could free its Ego...

But I'll refrain from wasting my energy. I don't like waste.

I-It's gone now, right? It's not coming back?

Hm? What's that?

Is this...a fragment of ogre armor?

Looks pretty beat up. Maybe the Nopaew Clan dropped it when they ran off.

The beauty of its form, the sharp cracks, it is exquisite. So this is ogre armor, huh?

Priorities, Clughorn. Your little hobby can wait.

Apologies.

But I feel a special power emanating from this relic, like the pulse coming from the Ogre Key. Besides, those monsters weren't remotely interested in us. They were only interested in the Nopaew.

S-S-So you're saying they were ogre ghosts or something?

If it's been wandering this place for thousands of years, I almost feel sorry for it.

......

Wait. Where are you going? You've fulfilled your duty, so you're just going to leave? Is that it?

Clughorn?

I'm sorry, but I can't let you do that. I won't tolerate such irrationality.

All right, let's go.

Um? Care to explain what's going on?

I just used telepathy to ask him to take us to the others.

I believe I finally found the reason for the Nopaew's strange behavior.

Pow! Po-paew!

They REALLY don't like him...

Hmph...

Poh po. Paew-paew poh.

......

Wait, was that Clughorn?!

Well, I'll be! How did he ever manage to pick up the Nopaew tongue within the space of a day?!

This is what he said: "We mean you no harm. So please, listen to what I have to say."

Popo paew-poh.

Paew-paew po-po, po-po paew.

Po-poh poh. Poh paew poh.

Poh...

"What attacked you earlier were ghosts that had possessed the ogre armor you found." "It would appear that they were seeking to kill you in revenge for touching their belongings. In any case, they are gone now." "The Nopaew lost their voice in shock after being attacked by those ghosts."

So that's what happened...

Po-poh paewpaewpopo. Po-paew... Popoh popaew paew popoh.

*Gasp!*

"He had no choice but to throw rocks at you to warn you of the approaching danger." "He fought bravely to protect you from the monster." How tragic...

He risked his life to protect them, even when they turned their backs on him? That takes real courage.

Poh!

......

Ngh! ...Poh... Poh...po-paew?

Whoa! Did he just...speak?!

Now he'll be able to rejoin the tribe! What a relief!

He must be so grateful for all your help, Clughorn.

I didn't do it for gratitude. I did it because it was the right thing to do.

Anyway, we should head back. I can't keep you and the battleship waiting around forever.

Thank you for all of your help...

And...please accept my sincerest apologies.

A-Apologies? For what?

Umm... D-Don't worry about it, okay? J-Just forget he said anything!

Are you sure you're ready go back? You never even got to uncover any relics.

It's fine. This trip was as much about curiosity as it was anything else.

But I have a bone to pick with you. Were you holding back laughter when I was speaking the Nopaew language?

Whaaat?! I-I'd never laugh at...

Poh.

Pffahaha!

Sorry, it's just so funny...

I understand, there is something rather absurd about the whole thing.

I've always been that way. I used to get bullied over my name, and I was always getting into trouble. I moved to high school and tried to better myself, but whenever I told a joke, people would take me seriously. If I kept quiet, people found me intimidating.

I suppose I don't really mind. I see it as a weapon in my arsenal that the other two lack.

I dunno, I think there's more to it than that.

You don't tolerate injustice. You get angry on other people's behalf. You don't just think about what's in it for you. You may go about it in an awkward way but you're a good guy.

......

I knew why you wanted to hang back on the battlefield straight away. So I don't think you're absurd.

Though, I really am interested in relics. It's one of my few hobbies.

Besides, you're far more altruistic than me. You were always running about for someone, be it Mildy or even a total stranger. A lot of the time you were just running around in circles...but the thought was there.

Heheh, they were fun times back then, just the three of us...

Hey, um, did you know...how I felt?

I, um...

I knew, but I pretended not to. I'm sorry.

Oh... I should've guessed.

You don't need to apologize; it's all in the past now.

But...

......

Ugh. It all seems so stupid now, doesn't it? How did I EVER fall for someone like you? So unfriendly, and stubborn, and arrogant.

Hey, you've changed your tune! What happened to all that "good guy" talk?

I dunno, let's just leave the past in the past, yeah?

Things are different now. I finally feel like I belong somewhere. Same for you guys, right?

Yes, very true.

Our first reunion might not have gone down so well, but we're traveling companions now...

I hope we can continue to be friends like we were once before.

When people lie, the fluctuations in their mind produce a particular type of psychic wave.

You're so easy to read. Even for me. However...

I'll take these fluctuations in your mind as proof of our friendship.