“Loch. You’ve come back to have a talk about the grander schemes of our world, I take it.”

“Why, Ganze, I could very well have been asking if you’d like to go out to a Vitelian bistro. A more inland styled one, not so fond of Halmeggian obsessions with seafood.”

“We could certainly not go together. If you are feeling like eating such, you could merely ask for it here.”

“You’re not in a good mood, are you? Why, has the object of affection assigned for you not been feeling like coming any closer?”

“Yours neither, Loch.”

“You wound me. That does remind me, though…did some of our friends have to die? I was under the impression that regrettable losses were a mistake.”

“On some level they were. On another they weren’t Sigmund would have understood. I’d like to believe he does, at least. Don’t you agree?”

“Somewhat. Though I wonder if your conflict would be the same as mine if there was a similar regrettable loss for you.”

“Humph. So I take it that she asked you about him, and you had no answer to give?”

“She had her suspicions. I told her nothing that was secret. As unsatisfied as I am with some things, there is a greater purpose in motion. Alexander’s ambition, that his life was too brief to see through, and his ideology too self-centered and flawed to accomplish with what time he had. That for the sake of its greatness to come, Humanity must become something beyond its individual parts. A Grand Organism, a proper sum of its history, accomplishments, and potential.”

“How many decades were spent by our friends and mentors for such a lofty dream.”

“Alexander thought it might be like raising a dog, or perhaps a child. As one of his position and ego was wont to do. He himself was not evolved enough in his thinking, because of that view of himself as such an individual force. His ambition would have been more like raising a tree. Perhaps even a forest.”

“And here we are, perhaps able to see this orchard bear fruit, perhaps not.”

“Yet for how many decades one plan was in motion, how many centuries were the others making for a similar plan? They will stand in our way, if they are not already. Regardless of what of their whims we fulfill. Yet you’ve come to me to bemoan that a woman does not favor you?”

“I am frustrated, admittedly. We are brethren. You were hiding nothing from me, were you?”

“Of course not. Never. Are you from me?”

“My answer is the same as yours.”

“Then we are in agreement. There are other matters to speak of, while we are on this track. The troubles to the west are set to intensify once more. We ought to hold some meetings to see what we can do about them.”

“Yet we have our own internal difficulties, Ganze. Hence why I am remaining home so much longer now. I’m not cowering here like a whipped dog.”

“Yes…the situation is not good, but I believe in us. In our people. We will find some way to overcome. We have sufficient might and will for that.”

“Most certainly.”