Honorific Name

Another meeting, another familiar scene. Anderson and Danitz seemed to have embarked on their old course as well. Neph pressed her lips together, her brows drawing slightly inward, unsure whether she was pleased or not.

She feared changes beyond her control, but the way events kept circling back to a particular track worried her even more, especially after her conversation with Laila.

In Laila's description, fate was like a winding river. No one knew which way it would turn next, but Neph feared that this river had a predetermined destination.

The urge to change something surfaced again. Neph knitted her brows in irritation, and her restless air caught Edwina's attention. She looked up and asked Neph, "What's wrong?"

Neph gathered her wandering thoughts, looked at Edwina, and smiled faintly. "Nothing."

She seemed unwilling to talk about it.

Edwina realized this, but she was hardly in a position to express concern for her, nor was she good at such things. As for casual conversation, judging by what little she knew about the girl before her, the two "Hunters" on the deck might be better choices.

So Edwina merely asked, "Would you like to go talk to Danitz?"

Neph paused. Rather than agree or refuse, she simply smiled. "Why don't you ask about my mother?"

That was the information she wanted to "give" Edwina.

She made no attempt to hide her intentions, so Edwina put aside her other thoughts and smiled in return. "I'm very curious, but I thought you seemed reluctant to say much."

"I'm only reluctant to say much to Danitz," Neph answered sincerely. "You're his teacher. I'm sure you understand why."

Edwina seemed to understand exactly what Neph meant, but she did not linger on that subject. Instead, she asked, "-I see.

"Then would you be willing to tell