At 5 A.M. Bill fires up from his bed for he can no longer control his excitement of what await him. 

A MAM workshop class! a chance to use MAM for real at last. 

Even with last night restless sleep won't stop Bill from getting his hand on one today. 

To Bill surprise Calamity is already up and dress even though he told them yesterday that he don’t have class today. 

“Early bird get the worm but you guy are not bird...” Josh complain barely open his eye to look at Calamity and Bill. 

“It’s a habit from work” said Bill as he think of himself and his mother who must work from dawn till dusk or risk skip meals. 

Unlike Bill Calamity doesn’t share his reason but Bill just go shower and dress up. 

“So where are you going today?” Bill ask when he see Calamity is leaving their room. 

“Stadium”  

“ok” Bill wave bye to him not sure how much he should be friendly with this wolf. 

Looking back in the room he can see Josh sleeping so Bill get his bag with MAM inside then quietly head out. 

The city at dawn are covered in cold dark gloom, only here below in the street where lamp lit along the road does Bill feel the warmth of safety. A lone owl fly above in the cool wind as Bill races alone to find a path to his dream. 

A thin fog that cloak Bill sight fade as he arrives closer to street lamp power by magic which reveal a path to walk in a small garden. 

Compare to his old neighborhood Bill feel quite safe here on the school ground and with this refreshingly clean air of dew he can breathe in as deep as he want and will only feel better for it. 

“What a calm plaza I didn’t know that a silent can be so much rewarding” once again Bill can’t stop but compare his life in New Terra with city of Alana. 

How can it be so different? Doesn't this city built by human too? Bill question and wonder how does a city govern by one man can be so much better than a republic. 

He don’t know at all how this city was run or built. He heard a tale of a Chief who run this city from top of white tower and a tale of ant being great architect, perhaps it was them who built this city but he is certain that it’s human who built the power line that connect all these street lamp and home allowing it to light up by both electricity and magic. He keep ponder until he reach MAM workshop. 

“This is going to be the best day of my life” Bill extend his hand to open a door and intend to explore every floor until class start. 

Click..click 

“Lock? But the workshop should already be open?” 

Bill then spot a paper on notice board which read 

“All MAM class are postpone for today, Professor Roy was asked to assist in investigation of yesterday accident” 

A cold wind blast Bill by as he stood in shock and dazzle. 

“This can’t be happening...Dam that bomb! What am I supposed to do now?”  

In his hopelessness Bill sit in the garden until the sun rise and start to wandering around without goal onto the street where people return. 

Seeing all kind of new food, clothes and specialized MAM for other purpose than production line does brighten up Bill mood a bit but then he would see a core price that sink his hope back in to the abyss. 

Even the cheapest one on the street would cost from 50,000-90,000 Nil. He didn’t even dare to enter a MAM shop which sell premium core fearing it would give him a panic attack. 

‘How can I afford magic when I can barely afford food.’ 

He’ll be back to check out all these shop has to offer one day...just not now. Now he need to worry about how to afford a core to be able to study with his MAM. 

It was around noon that Bill spot Calamity, who also spot Bill back but hesitate whether to approach Bill or pretend not to see him. 

“Calamity I thought you will be at the stadium today?” Bill walk up to Calamity first. 

“I did but got bore so I come check the bomb site instead”  

“Really? Got any luck? All the road there were block I can’t get close at all” 

“Well there is one place I was heading next, it was on the roof of hospital we should be able to see it from up there” Calamity point to the hospital on the right. 

“Lead the way” 

As they are walking a wolf in robe walk pass them by making Bill wonder “So Calamity I was wondering...do you believed in god?” 

Calamity surprise at the question but still answer “Not really” 

“I see” Bill nod. 

He understand people like Calamity somewhat, there are human like Calamity too who do not believed in an existent of god. 

“My religion also kinda don’t believed in god too but we still have some concept of sin” since Calamity answer about his believed Bill decide to share his as well. 

Calamity turn to look at Bill and give a nod back. 

At this moment Bill feel like understanding Calamity more but they didn’t speak to each other again until they reach the rooftop. 

When they open a door on the roof the two found that Eirian is already there. 

“Oh, Hello Calamity, Bill” Eirian turn to greet them. 

“What are you doing here?” 

“The same reason you two are here I presume” Eirian think of the most logical possibility. 

“The bomb” 

Eirian nod. 

As they watch from above the warehouse look rather small but they can see from up here that a bomb cause the whole warehouse to collapse. 

“The bomb seem to come from underground” Eirian comment. 

“One of the ant tunnel teacher talk about maybe?” said Bill. 

“It could be an accident but it doesn’t make sense to close all the road like this, not to mention all the restriction and guard” 

“Professor Roy was asked to help with investigation too my class was postpone today.” 

“Yes, a normal accident wouldn’t need a war veteran help” Eirian starting to think of many reason that would align with the city guard reaction but none fit the profile. 

“I smell meat when I was walking around, the illegal kind” said Calamity. 

“Maybe it was a meat in the warehouse that got burn in the fire?” Bill suggest. 

“No, I think it was human, goat and maybe even Amiel, one that I can sniff out anyway” said Calamity. 

“You know what a roast Amiel smell like?” Eirian turn to Calamity imply hostility in his eyes but also a tint of curiosity. 

“Well Calamity does really have good nose right” Bill try to interject fearing something would happen. 

“A dog nose yes” said Eirian in complement tone. 

“Thank” Calamity accept. 

Bil is quite certain that Calamity didn’t catch Eirian meaning. 

  “Stop!” a sound shout from the wall caught attention of trio. 

There was a blue jay with a camera attach to her leg trying to fly over a warehouse. A few guard is trying to stop her. 

One of the guard spot our trio on the roof and shout as he chase the blue jay “You three get out of there too don’t make us kick you out”  

“Let’s us go for now” Eirian lead three of them down and out of hospital to where no guard will disturb them. 

“From what we can gather so far it seem this accident was caused by meat trafficker if Calamity word can be trusted” said Eirian. 

“I don’t give false information” said Calamity. 

“Why would a meat trafficker set bomb in a warehouse?” asked Bill. 

“Could be to escape from the city guard, cover their track or even  destroy evident. We’ll have to investigate inside the warehouse to know more” 

As Bill listen to Eirian plan of how to get pass the guard he starting to wish they would stop and go spend their afternoon with something more safe like eating. 

From Bill experience these thing usually involve bribe and corruption which will lead to death or disappearance of people who don’t know their place in New Terra. 

And as much as Bill would love to know who responsible for shattering his hope for finally using his MAM today he love his life more. 

“Maybe we should just left this to the city guard?” Bill suggest. 

“I got nothing better to do” said Calamity, for which Bill have no replied. 

“That might be a safer choice” said Eirian “but don’t you want to see a real bomb site at all? An explosion like this is rarely happen now a day  This one was properly cause by some kind of MAM” 

Eirian know that Bill interest in MAM and Magic so he mention this fact he discover since he believed Bill knowledge in MAM can be useful at the warehouse. 

“MAM?” Bill interest peak. 

There could be an object of power that survive the bomb! 

Then he won’t have to pay for a core cost. 

“Then what are we waiting for?”  

The three of them then choose an small alley in dark corner that was block with no guard and start to climb inside. 

With Eirian magic and Calamity nose the three of them slowly make their way inside a warehouse from behind which at the time most guard seem to have left in a hurry. 

“They must have found something” said Eirian. 

“Look there look like a shatter part of MAM” Bill point at a mark location where a pieces of evident was gather in a box, nearby is a giant hole that was cover with blanket. 

“They found a cause of explosion, it was a MAM indeed.” said Eirian as he add to Bill disappointment “ There’s no core inside.” 

“Yeah” Bill feel sad a little but he know nothing is easy in this world “The glyph inside was interesting though”  

“Can you tell us what it do?” asked Eirian. 

“Most of it was blow off but this is properly a glyph of fire and time with mark set to go off 30 minute after activate.” 

“ 30 minute after plant a bomb? Then a culprit must still be inside the city since they lock everything down immediately. No wonder most guard is not here they must be looking for bomber.” 

Eirian look up from a crate and see Calamity sniffing around so he call out to him to try this bomb. 

“Smell anything?” 

Calamity smell for a while before saying “Yes...a perfume very faint” 

“There our lead!” claim Eirian. 

“Do you plan to make me sniff everyone in Alana?” Calamity ear twitch. 

“Well...” Eirian smile guilty. 

“I guess this is as far as we go” Bill start to look around for anything he can salvage. 

“Too shame. I was hoping for something more” said Eirian  “You know what, how about I treat you guy for dinner?” 

“Sure” Bill speak normally but is secretly super delight while Calamity just nod. 

However as they climb out of the alley they sneak in, Calamity caught a scent of this perfume from a wall. 

“The bomber use this very same alley to escape” 

Bill glad they found more clue “But now we just taint all our smell around criminal escape route” 

“Let hope a wolf guard don’t care about us” said Eirian as they let Calamity lead them on. 

Following a smell of perfume is not easy but Calamity somehow just keep leading them without stopping. 

“Is it this easy to track with smell?” Eirian whisper to Bill since this investigation is going way too easy. 

“Our neighbor have a trailing dog, they say scents can last from 5 to 14 days.” Bill whisper back don’t want to mention a normal dog in front of Calamity since he don’t know what Calamity would think about them. 

They are just normal dog that didn’t transform like wolf after all. 

“We’re here” said Calamity as he stop in front of a house where a city guard car was park outside. 

A female human is lock inside a back of car where there only one window but block with bar so she can’t escape. 

“So they already caught a bomber?” Eirian is very impress at the speed of city guard. 

“No I didn’t plant a bomb!” a women shout back from behind bar. 

“They wouldn’t put you in there for nothing” 

“I...I accept bribe to let them sneak illegal meat into the city but I really don’t know anything about bomb!” 

Calamity get close to a window and confirm “It is your smell that on the bomb” 

“They clearly frame me” denied the women. 

“Maybe but you still accept bribe so let the court judge your crime.” 

“I need the money! I am sick from smog in New Terra since young I don’t mean for anyone to get hurt. Please kid help me get out of here I have some money hidden away. If you help me I”ll tell you where it is.” 

“No chance. Criminal like you have no right to complain, your action could have kill so many people for your own selfish gain.” 

“Now wait a bit there Eirian, she just accept bribe to pay for medicine there no need to be so harsh on her” Bill feel the need to interject since he know getting sick from smog is no joke especially in chronic case. It can last a very long time and very painful until the final moment. 

“No we can’t sympathize with them” Eirian insist “If only everyone just keep on being virtuous and good we wouldn’t have so much problem in the world” 

Hearing Eirian word Bill replied “Maybe some of us can afford to be more good and happy to other because they already have everything so easy”  

“What is that supposed to mean” Eirian look back at Bill confuse where this is coming from. 

“Let’s get out of here” Calamity tap both of them as someone is coming out of the house. 

It was professor Roy and city guard. There is one wolf among them. 

“Look like they already got everything” Eirian conclude as the three of them quickly walk away. 

“Professor those three kid seem to be talking to suspect maybe they work for...” 

“No, just some student being curious. Let’s us finish here before more people noticed.” Professor Roy then get on the car with suspect and they all head to police station to find a true culprit as soon as possible before more problem arise. 

But Roy knew that they might need to blame it all on this women soon to keep the state of peace they work so hard for. Alana cannot afford to have each races turn on one another and cascading into the next conflict. 

As the trio was approaching their dormitory Eirian ask “So Bill what was that all about?” 

“Don’t know” Bill don’t feel like talking about it. 

Eirian consider turning to Calamity for help but decide against it. 

“I noticed you are very caution around me, everyone did really” Eirian smile “but since we are to work in the same group now I would like to assure you two that you don’t have to be nervous around me at all. If you should want my help with anything feel free to ask any time.” 

Calamity just nod while Bill decide to speak up “Do you really believed that we all just need to be good and all the problem will go away?” 

“Of cause” Eirian answer with conviction “Magic bind all thing around us Bill, If we just follow the flow and act according to nature in all that is good and not fight against it there wouldn’t be so much problem in the world.” 

“Magic is poison to us Eirian.” Bill remind his Amiel friend “Not all of us are born with wealth or power enough to live so care free” 

“Being Amiel is not so easy as most people would believe Bill” Eirian disapprove Bill’s view of his life. 

“Then tell me how is you Amiel are having it so hard than human?” 

“You don’t know anything about my life at all” 

“I think so too” Bill walk faster to get away from Eirian. 

Eirian look at Bill and just walk off in other direction. Leaving Calamity stand confuse alone. 

As Bill angrily walk back to his dorm he think of professor Rio lesson on global mindset “Understanding other huh, what about them understanding us? How can we could possibly live and work with each other, we have nothing in common!” 

“growl” a sudden stomach cry stop Bill in his track. 

As he consider how long he can go on without food Bill remember Eirian promise of treat. 

“Wait...God dammit!” 

Now he will have to pay for his own dinner tonight. 

Frustrated, Bill sit in a food stall near his dorm and remind himself of his place not to mess with people who are more rich and powerful than him. After all it could have gotten a lot worse like how someone in New Terra was beat up from looking at someone in a wrong way. 

“If only I just shut up and nod with everything he said I would be enjoying good food right now.” Bill take a spoon of rices. 

Amiel is indeed prideful and arrogant as rumors say, meeting miss Hellen make Bill change his opinion on Amiel somewhat but he’s now suspect she might be an exception rather than the norm. 

“Just do your job, let go, get money and get out” Bill recite his life philosophy. 

As Bill is eating a crow in merchant suit walk up to Bill and sit at his desk “Mr. Bill Henry Smit I presume?” 

Hearing his full name Bill tense up and look at this male crow with caution and get ready to run. 

“I don’t want to buy anything” 

“Oh I’m not here to take your money Mr. Smit, no no. I’m here to offer you a way to fill your pocket.” the crow in merchant suit utter a word money like someone talking about god. 

Bill who is about to get up and walk away pause at the word riches and look at this crow from top to bottom “Who are you?” 

“Edward Bernays, at your service” a crow bow his head to Bill who is clearly younger. 

“This money making opportunity...is it illegal?” Bill whisper. He does have history of some illegal activity here and there but he tend to avoid it unless truly necessary.  

And with the core price he saw so far he really need some of that “money” 

“Not at all sir” Bernays smile trying to comfort Bill but he doesn’t buy it. 

“After all I know the factory where you work” Bernays throw his card out to see Bill reaction and indeed it work.  

For Bill he know what this line mean, a mark of third class citizen. A poor and worthless people of New Terra who doesn’t belong here among the rich and powerful. 

“You must be mistaken sir I don’t go near any of those dirty factory at all” Bill denied, trying to act disgust at the idea of going near one. 

“Please, you are the first man from third class who got an internship with a remarkable score. You should be more proud of your heritage Bill, can I call you Bill?” Bernays try to get closer. 

Bill didn’t replied. 

Shouldn’t his score and personal information be confidential? Bill know because he check with staff already. 

Bernays seeing Bill not deny he continue “So Bill, I believed such a young man in your position can benefit greatly from working with me, a smart man like you would know that rejecting my offer would be a great mistake.” 

“A blackmail? Is that it?” said Bill, already give up his power over this crow remembering his place to stay out of more problem. If Bernays want to blackmail him to do his bidding, there would be little Bill can do anything about it. 

Risking expose his birth and then be bully or pressure into quitting school by other is not an option. Bill saw how some third class citizen got a chance to go work up top in New Terra only to resign from peer pressure who doesn't want anything to do with him. 

“No my dear boy” Bernays reject Bill thought “I want you to work with me Bill, to be a middle man between me and The forge of Alana, Professor Roy in particular” 

“School MAM workshop? What do you want with them? And what make you think professor Roy will even talk to me” Bill ask to gather more information and leave the part about how the professor might already knew about him from miss Hellen. 

“Oh don’t worry I suspect he will take a liking to you Bill” 

“Why would you think that” 

“you see, he come from a third class too, although that not what they were called in the old day” 

“Major Roy who lead a battalions of men to hundreds of battles come from a third class?” Bill couldn’t believe it. He thought only a high class can hold position of power like military. 

“A war that could end your species tend to change people perspective and prejudiced.” 

Bill consider what he heard and think that if he just be a middle man for Bernays it might not be too bad  

“And what do I get?” When doing business you must be clear what you give and what you get. 

“For start...how about a shiny new core for your MAM” Bernays put his beak inside his bag and pull a mercury ball not bigger than Bill’s pinkie out, a blue light shine out from its crack. 

A real core! 

Bill almost reach his hand out to touch it but he control himself “Is it even safe? Will it not explode as soon as I put it to use?” 

Bill asks but he already agree to Bernays offer. He once saw a core in worse condition and it is quite stable as long as you know what you are doing. At this moment He doesn’t even care if he could be poison. 

Bernays who see Bill eyes simply say “It is completely safe. I like to consider myself a trader in high quality goods, here let me prove it to you” Bernays then look down at his leg. 

Once Bill noticed that a bracelet on Bernays leg is a MAM Bill forget himself “a modify MAM to fit on bird leg! I never thought other species could change it shape like this” Bill get up from table and went down to look at Bernays MAM. 

Bernays don’t mind Bill touching his feet, seeing the boy enthusiasm make him confident in his decision of choosing Bill more  “It just a tool after all, you see I plan to make MAM popular among other species one day.” 

“But they can already use magic why would they want a MAM?” 

“In time Bill in time, but for now let me show you what this little thing can do” Bernays use his right feet to slide open a MAM panel and put a core into core holder which shut completely and then use another talon to activate his MAM. 

“Still working on how to activate this thing you human use finger to tap switch right? but not all of us have it easy” Bernays mock his own funny pose. 

“Using other leg might not be so bad if it’s easy to turn on or off” Bill look at Bernays and imagine how most bird move and remember Doran “maybe a neckless? A bird can activate it by bend his head down to tap switch, they gloom their feather with head all the time anyway.” 

“Neckles? Hmm it might be difficult to engrave a function glyph but it might work, good idea Bill” 

Bill smile accept compliment, a rare occurrent for him to received one except from his mother. 

“the bracelet already do it job can you tell me what does it do?” Bernays test Bill. 

From the appearance there is nothing different about Bernays at all but Bill know most MAM either just give off magic to power machine or equip with glyph to do basic magic. 

‘The ring doesn’t shine so it not light glyph, earth or air? But I don’t seeing any element being move around Bernays’ Bill then hold his hand just above the bracelet to feel temperature. 

“It cold” Bill know immediately what this bracelet do “This MAM have been engrave with glyph of ice to help keep it wearer cool”

“Right on the money, well done” 

“It just a basic knowledge really” Bill stroked his hair. 

“None sense, most of the people I ask still think it’s a water glyph, different function entirely” Bernays then turn his MAM off and hand his core to Bill. 

“This one is stable so it safe to handle by hand, try feeling it” Bernays let the mercury ball from his beak into Bill hand. 

This is the first time Bill get to touch a core made of mercury by hand. it surface is quite smoot not rough at all even at the crack where blue light emit. There are no gag, shock or bite this core is indeed very well made. 

Bill isn’t sure which grade is this core but he doesn’t care anymore. 

Bernays smiles at Bill reaction and put a paper on table “Here a paper for professor Roy to sign, it just a recommendation paper so I can get a permit easier. You should have no problem convince him to sign just put in a good word in for ‘Mercurius’ my company who will be helping Alana spread human ingenuity to other races and bring them closer to unity.” 

“My shop are on the west side of the city please come visit anytime” Bernays get up and put some 100 nil on the table along with Mercurius’s brochure “Consider my treat, see you around Bill” Bernays then fly off. 

After finish his meal Bill read the paper one more time before take the money and go back to his room thinking of how to approach his teacher.