Well, well.
Would you look at how speckled I am now.
Padparadscha, how do you feel?
Fantastic!
How long has it been?
231 years, 11 months and one day.
Well that's a stunning new record.
I operated on you 300,030 times...
Well I'll be!
It was all because I'm such a failure.
Or because I've just got no luck.
No!
If I can't even fix the misfortune that has befallen you,
what good does my practice serve?!
Someone new?
You're the little pebble always hiding out behind Sensei, aren't you?
You seem...
different.
A lot has happened...
Are those arms some kind of alloy? You're just like me, then.
You poor thing.
You've been through quite a bit, huh?
Padparadscha...
There's something I want to ask you.
Rutile, am I good to head out?
Best time of the year!
Yeah...
You been sleeping all right?
Not really.
You been listening to Sensei?
Not really...
A little troublemaker, huh?
Probably.
I want to try and talk with a Lunarian.
I want to try and figure out the truth for myself.
Do you think that makes me a troublemaker, too?
Now, see...
I want Rutile to give up on this puzzle of mine.
I want to take that burden off the table...
But what sort of reaction would that provoke?
A pure, unbridled truth might leave its own wounds.
And it might change things in ways you've never imagined.
So make sure you keep your composure.
And be mindful of your actions.
Yeah...
Did you ask what you needed to ask?
We only got to talk about the weather.
Is that so?
It...
It's an honor!
Thank you for taking me in!
I'm starting to feel like Sensei is hiding something from us.
You mean in relation to the Lunarians?
They've all made an unspoken agreement to trust in Sensei no matter what the truth might be.
Even you?
I'm still debating it.
What are you going to do?
Th...
Thank you for today!
I... I was completely ignored.
Wh-wh-what did I do wrong?
Bort hates me... Bort hates me...
Bort hates me...
Today was a-
Failure.
I didn't see you there.
Here I am.
Yeah...
Please help me!
You're freaking me out! No way!
Come on please! Please!
No way! Come on please! Please!
You're scaring me!
Huh?
No luck at all, huh?
Well, Bort isn't exactly the talkative type.
I thought it would be rude if I was the one who started a conversation.
I bet it's because Bort's last partner, you, were so beyond my level.
I can't live up to your spot.
I doubt that...
Even though you and I are almost the same age, I always saw you as some little kid.
But now, all of a sudden you've shot right past me.
What have I been doing?
That's why...
That's why I've been thinking, maybe I should try losing my arms or legs or something too...
Wow.
Yeah, you're definitely psychotic.
Bort lives by logic and hates inefficiency,
so if something disagreeable comes up, you can be sure you'll hear about it.
Have a little confidence.
Thanks.
You always had confidence if nothing else.
Okay, you could have said that nicer.
Did you ever have a sense you'd turn out this way?
No way!
It's strange, thinking back on how I lived spoiled, following simple hunches...
I'm jealous.
You're jealous of...
your old spoiled self.
You're biggest weakness...
is Yellow Diamond.
You always carry the fear of losing that person with you.
You think only of protecting Yellow Diamond, which means you have never utilized your full potential.
You don't need to worry or concern yourself like that with me.
Just try giving everything you've got.
We'll talk after that.
Rutile!
I heard Padparadscha is up!
For a moment.
Dangit...
I wanted to chat about the good ol' days.
A gathering of the senile, then?
RUTILE!
You certainly seem to have time on your hands.
I just left Zircon with Bort.
Oh, as part of that trial and error attempt at finding a suitable partner for Bort?
Must be lonely.
Who me?
Zircon and Bort.
I think they suit each other well.
You old folk sure are clever in your bluffs.
RUTILE!
You hold your sword too tightly.
R-right!
I'll try and talk Sensei into pairing those two up.
Zircon should be safe with Bort.
Bort would never bungle things and lose a partner like I have.
Tell me it's not a bad choice.
I'm tired from thinking so long about this.
Hey...
Would you mind if I slept here beside you?
Just kidding.
Alex.
Are you busy?
A bit, yeah.
We're airing out the documents from the library.
Are you in a rush?
I want to re-study all about the Lunarians.
Down to every last possible detail.
Think you could teach me?
Hey!
Where do you want to start? Come on, where?!
You idiot! That's the source copy of our texts!
"Geological Structures, Part One".
I don't remember any of this.
I'm sure Sensei taught me all this before, but...
"Erosion rates along the shore"...
"Changes in clouds and air pressure"...
This could be bad...
Is there anything I remember...
out of everything I learned?
You seem to have gained a fair enough understanding of language.
So today we will have our first lesson.
Okay!
We'll start with the formation of this planet.
Six shooting stars once visited this world...
Can you see? Six shooting stars once visited this world...
Cute, huh?
So cute!
Enough!
Sensei! Is that one gonna fight?
It's too soon to say.
But this one certainly has a kind heart.
Alex, I found all the pages.
Alex?
First question!
What type of Lunarian appeared 109 years ago on the second day of the fifth month?
Official names only.
Are you kidding me? So this is all going to be done like a trivia game?
I thought it might be more fun this way.
I just want to take this seriously.
Then here.
You will be tested on all of this.
A test...
What a horrible thought.
Your test will be carried out trivia style.
So basically, you just want to do some trivia.
Next question.
Out of all the old type Lunarians of level 5 sheen, which had the 12th fewest vessels?
The su...
No...
The elliptical streamlined elevated high-rise form.
Bingo. Impressive.
Look who's talking.
Picking through random statistics from last month to determine their rank like that...
It all just comes so naturally now, Alex-sensei.
Yeah? Glad to hear it.
Alex-sensei, do you...
Do you think it's possible to talk to the Lunarians?
We don't have insight into their language.
We only have such brief moments of contact that we just don't have enough information.
Alex, do you like the Lunarians?
No.
My research is an attempt to overcome my condition...
And because...
Not so long before you were born, they stole Chrysoberyl away from me.
That's why I spend every day thinking about the Lunarians.
So that I never forget that fresh feeling of hatred I have for them.
Fresh, huh...?
I forgot my sword!
Do you...
Do you understand these words I am speaking?
F...
"F..."?
Cinnabar!
Cinnabar, wai-!
You again!
Out here without even a sword.
Thanks. You really saved me.
New... work?
Time for work.
Wait!
Cinnabar!
Why are you running away?
Because of the terrible sense of foreboding I get from you!
Wh-who, me?
You're trying to capture me, I know it!
Who, me?!
I've found it.
I've found something. A job for you.
Or more aptly, a job that I can only do with your help.
I want your help.
What happened to "better"?
Huh?
What about the "better" part?
You didn't say this job is any better.
"I'm going to find something better than the night watch that only you can do..."
Those were your words, weren't they?
Th-this probably won't be much better. Not at all.
It's absolutely zero percent fun.
I'm sorry...
The job I want you to help me with would be uncovering the truth about Sensei and the Lunarians.
What's better about that?!
Right?
You asked me what I planned on doing...
First off, I tried getting to the truth of it all.
The more I questioned it though, the more everything Sensei did seemed off...
So much so that I can't even tell if I'm looking at anything the right way anymore.
I want you to be there with me to always offer your opinion.
And then what?
If it turns out Sensei has done the unforgivable, what do you plan on doing then?
If you can't even think past that point, then I can't help you.
I knew it...
I knew you were both extraordinarily prudent and clever.
And that's exactly why...
I need you with me.
I'll come by again.
Was that gasp an attempt at speech?
Were its colored eyes a sign of something?
I found no real answers.
I don't know why I thought I'd figure things out if I could just meet one.
But it looks like this is going to take far more time.
The closer I get to an answer, the more I realize I am ignorant of.
And that's exactly why...
I want to be free of the night.
But I can't...
I feel nothing but distrust.
But...
If you just wanted to team up, well then...
The elliptical streamlined elevated high-rise form...
Wonderful!
That size is just perfect!
Well?
How do you like my newest creation?
It looks good on you, 84.
It looks really good on you too, 33.
Hey! Give this new sword a try too!
I bet it would go great with that outfit!
There, there.
No sign of them...
Cut the chatter.
Right!
You're still holding that sword too tight.
R-right!
My "spoiled old self..."
One, two, shoot!
How could I lose?!
I won?
Speaker, good work again today.
Thanks, Euclase.
I'll go report in to Sensei.
No, it can wait.
It's meditation time now.
What?!
Sensei...
Ah, right.
Phos! I know you're here!
Phos!
Sensei is looking for you.
Right.
Morga!
Goshe?
There's sunspot activity in the sky to the south.
It's small, but we need to alert Sensei!
Perfect! Cute!
Dignified!
It's strange, thinking back on how I lived spoiled, following simple hunches...
Reporting.
I'm jealous of my old self.
Sensei, you called for me?
Indeed.
So make sure you keep your composure.
And be mindful of your actions.
Be mindful...
Phosphophyllite.