Nay Nion, Nay

Lux was now strolling across the fields along with Matthias and Jesse.

"Why are we going to your house again?" Asked one of his buddies.

"My money's at home, that's why you're accompanying me." Lux explained.

Jesse grunted and complained. "Couldn't we just wait here?"

Lux quickly thought of an incentive.

"You don't want shroomballs?"

The two kind of agreed and nodded neutrally.

Thinking of ways to make them fully commit, Lux immediately thought of an idea.

"My treat." He offered.

His friends were surprised and so they cheered. Immediately,they fastened up their pace.

"What's the requirements for schoolmaster Law again?" Matthias asked as he swiftly turned his gaze on his left.

He stared directly at Lux.

Remembering what happened earlier at the bathroom, Lux  couldn't try to answer. Baffled, he pondered if all of that was a bluff. Yet he could still remember Pyro's eyes locking into his, like they were trying to say something.

"Lux?"

It took him a long second before snapping out and replying.

"I-I don't know."

"Stop worrying about that nonsense." Jesse interfered.

"We should instead worry about our universities. Where you off Lux?"

"Here." He said, ever so blankly.

Matthias and Jesse suddenly had their ears check. They were stunned by Lux's answer.

Not being on the same page, he repeated.

"No, seriously, here."

"You're joking, you're gonna stay here in Nion, a mediocre town right at the edge of Siakwa?" Jesse incited.

Lux eyed at the vast ocean on his right. They've reached the port.

"Yeah? What's the problem?" Lux cluelessly asked.

"Dude, nothing happens here." Jesse pointed out.

"There's no buildings, no noises, no city lights and more importantly, no hotties." Matthias accentuated as he gestured towards their surroundings.

Consequently, Lux scanned where they were. Walking past the busy wet market while countless men carry their fishy catch.

"In short, it stinks here." Jesse grunted.

Thinking otherwise, Lux paused for a moment. He gathered his thoughts before answering back. There were nothing to say about their town, it was all too... simple.

'That's it.' He thought.

"It doesn't 'stink' here, it's just, simple. How often can you feel the warmer breeze here from the lagoons and lakes?"

"Always. Everytime I take a breath." He saw the irony on Matt's face.

Lux chuckled and mocked them.

"Yeah, exactly, tranquility, that's what I'm living for."

"Hey, did you just forget who you are? You're Lux Moreno, the top student of our batch! You did many things that none of us were able to do. You're bound to become a legend." A praise that Jesse handed.

Once again, Lux kept silent. He never knew how to respond with praises, even after receiving them virtually everyday. So, he sort of just listens to them, even though he hated it.

"Think of the opportunities. Right now you might be heating your own food with your brand new pulselet but tomorrow, you'll be serving the whole continent, or even better, the world." Matthias added.

Finally getting something to say, Lux replied.

"I am planning to serve the continent."

"But dude, wake up! Nion's not the place for a guy like you. I mean, me and Jesse will probably have to settle with other professional jobs, but you're one of the few who qualifies for being a soldier." Matt insisted.

"Props for being at the top 3 spots." Jesse added.

Now at the bottom of the hill, the squad proceeded to step up. Lux has delayed yet another reply, but once his thoughts lined up, he spoke.

"Look, I get what you're saying, if you do have the chance to be at the city or maybe at Occidental universities, then you would take it. But I've got everything I need here."

He paused walking and talking.

"I got you guys."

The statement caused a smile on his pals. Flattered, they decided to stop urging him to leave.

"Shoot, he does have us." Jesse realized.

Lux sighed, for he escaped talking about why he wanted to stay, but then someone else got the clue.

"And Minsie." Matthias mentioned along with a grin.

The young man quickly blushed, ashamed, but he was lucky. His friends were being sincere.

"Plus your caretakers." Jesse finally completed the sentence.

They were now at the midway from the bottom, and the largest tree was getting visible. As steps grew closer, the trunk grew taller. They're a few more treads before reaching the house on top.

"But Lux, I'm just curious, you sure that's what you want?" Matthias questioned.

Lux was confused, so he waited for him to continue.

"You said that's what you needed, that we're everything you needed. Do you think that this is really what you want?"

The two waited for a response, but Lux had an idea. He wanted to explain them visually, so he rushed up and stopped.

He directed his hand towards the bottom of the hill. Both of his friends looked back and saw the lands, like a bird's eye view from top of the hill.

Down below, as far as the horizon, the crystal cyan waters were sparkling, waves reflecting the light coming from the sun. In contrast, the biomes were full of greens from trees and colors from flowers. The winds were especially colder at this altitude, but the overall view was what took it all.

It was like a paradise, a place impossible to hate.

Finally at their destination, finally at his home, Lux decided to give an answer.

"Yep, this is what I want."