Chapter 13

After Neil went to his private laboratory in the basement to check Navile's Whistle Device which was allegedly error, Navile and Sachi continued to have dinner with Kana. Navile's nervousness didn't show on his face but since the first time the two of them came, Kana had been watching him silently. It was as if Kana had known Navile for a long time.

"Don't think too much about it, maybe what Neil said is true, right? If you keep keeping things to yourself like that, your face and brain might be older than mine, you know."

A small laugh escaped Kana's mouth after she finished her sentence. There was no purpose in the laughter other than the desire to shake off the stiffness in the dining room.

"Auntie is right," said Sachi later. "Navile's always been like that, he seems to have fought too much to forget how to smile and laugh. All day I've only seen a gloomy face."

Navile took a deep breath. He was sure he would not win if he faced the two women in front of him. The two of them would continue to mock him until he admitted defeat and forced a stiff smile.

"It's... already... you better finish your food quickly—" Navile didn't continue his words. Kana's excited voice just came out and forced Navile to shut up.

"When it's finished, do you want to soak in the recovery pool together?" she said excitedly. It seems Kana forgot that Navile is no longer a child.

When Navile and Sachi were little, they used to take a dip in the recovery pool after doing physical exercises. The recovery pool has extraordinary abilities. The pool was made by Neil at the request of Vedas. A pool of warm water mixed with the photon energy of Vedas. The pool can speed up the recovery process of their stamina, and even accelerate the regeneration of damaged body cells.

"No," replied Navile curtly. There was a blush on his face and it was still visible to his interlocutor even though he looked down.

"Eh? Why?"

"I want to take a bath alone. Auntie and Sachi can go first if you want. I want to wait for Uncle," he said to cover his embarrassment.

If he reasoned that he was an adult and didn't deserve to be bathing with Kana and Sachi anymore, surely this debate would have no end. After all, there was something he wanted to talk to Neil alone. He didn't want Sachi to worry. If Sachi knew, her response would be too excessive . She would be bombarded with endless questions.

But then Navile thought that Sachi might have to know since it's related to their mission. He felt guilty if in the future he kept hiding it from Sachi. But not now, he would first confirm the real situation and ask Neil's opinion.

"You're really no fun, huh."

"Indeed. I am indeed boring, ma'am."

Kana pursed her lips after hearing Navile's words. Feeling that his protégé has thoughts that are much older than his appearance. She admitted that Navile had experienced many terrible things in his new life. Until his personality does not match the teenager his age.

"That's it. Then you can wait for your uncle in your old room, Navile. Sachi and I want to change first. Your clothes are there."

The strange smile that spread across Kana's face made Navile remember the rules in this house. Staying or even just taking a bath meant he also had to follow the unwritten rules of this oriental couple's cake shop. He immediately took a deep breath and rubbed his forehead. It was as if he had fallen into a trap more terrifying than the depths of a monster's lair.

If he wanted to soak and stay overnight, it meant he had to wear the same clothes Neil and Kana wore. Navile didn't understand the reason behind the strange rule. Maybe the two of them used to be from Japan and still love their culture even though it's been a long time.

Now the homeland of mankind is gone. The destruction of the earth and the planets around it occurred a hundred years ago. Currently the remaining humans have evolved and settled in outer space. Form a fleet to search for habitable planets like Earth.

Navile walked reluctantly towards the room that used to be hers. Even now that was the case, but he was mostly by Veda's side—on the main ship of the Whistle Fleet.

Navile looked around the room which wasn't too big but everything he needed was in it. The books are still neatly arranged on the iron shelves and the table is also clean. It seemed like his uncle and aunt always took care of the room even though he rarely visited.

Fatigue that suddenly attacked him made Navile so tempted to lay down on the floor which was covered with a soft fur carpet. But he remembered Kana's words. Navile restrained herself a little and then immediately opened the wardrobe with the sliding door in the corner of the room.

"Do you really have to wear old-fashioned clothes like this?" he grumbled as he took a dark green jinbei suit. Again Navile took a short breath when he saw the clothes that must be used in the house.

Even though he didn't want to, he still changed his all-white outfit with the jinbei that Kana had prepared. After changing clothes that he thought were cool with old-fashioned clothes, Navile took the television remote from the wall hanging shelf next to his closet.

After pressing a button, a brief beep sounded as the flat-screen television appeared from above the ceiling.

Navile pressed a few more buttons to select the channel that was broadcasting the progress of the Defender entrance exam. He wanted to know everything. Especially about the core test that will be conducted on Planet Eldian next week.

"What do you think they all look like, huh? Are they going to bother me?" he mumbled as he plopped down onto the soft fur carpet that had been calling for him since he entered his room.

Information shown on television is minimal. He wouldn't get what he was looking for just from newscasts. Surely the Whistle media will cover the important part. But for him a little information might be able to help him later.

"If I want to get complete information, I have to come directly there, huh? But I'm lazy to meet many people. But if you don't know anything, it's a hassle. Ah…."

His thoughts made his head spin. He closed his eyes to get rid of all the bad thoughts. But, instead of disappearing, the images that might have occurred during the Defender entrance exam became clearer as he closed his eyes.

He quickly opened his eyes again. "I'm not allowed to calm down at all? Huff… Uncle Neil, by the way, it's been a long time. What should I follow?"

Navile waved his hand in the air. "Not. I don't like that room he calls the lab. Lots of suspicious stuff in there. Besides, I'm afraid to be near him when he's in the lab. He must be constantly thinking of ways to test me again."

Navile laughed bitterly as he remembered the events from a long time ago. He closed his eyes again. Even though he didn't want to, the memory tugged at him and he fell asleep without realizing it.