Elina followed the man before her to a rest area where many people from Calth had gathered. This vast Orbital Platform housed migrants from countless planets, and naturally, people from the same homeworld clustered together.
On an unfamiliar planet thousands of years away from home, even the sound of a familiar accent was enough to feel comforting.
"I'm fairly familiar with the guards here. Through them, I can hear some bits of news. If you need help, don't be embarrassed. Just say so."
"People from Calth should help each other out there, shouldn't they?"
The man led Elina to an area crowded with women and children, found her a place to sit, and returned the heavy items he had been carrying for her.
His considerate gesture made Elina warm to him, and her trust in him grew considerably.
"Don't resent those guards. They have their reasons for not letting us wander around." The man sat down, meeting Elina's eyes at the same level. "These are dark times. We're both from Calth, so we naturally know what that means."
Elina nodded in understanding. Martial law had also been imposed in Calth's underground cities, meant to guard against enemies lurking in the darkness like rats.
"The paperwork will come through. Only after we pass the review can we change from temporary citizens to official citizens." The man smiled. "At least, that's what the previous shift of guards told me. They had no reason to lie to us."
Elina lightly bit her lip. She needed a legal identity, or she would never be able to search for someone she knew only by name in the capital of the Five Hundred Worlds.
Lox's appearance surfaced in her mind.
"Lox. His name is Lox. What else? I need more. Think harder—why is that all you