"I find it refreshing," Aldrec said. And it's coincidental, actually."

"How is it coincidental?"

"Because I like plants too."

"Well, of course you do," Mericlou said flatly. She waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. "You're an elf, after all. I mean, if you could, I bet that you'd probably live in a tree."

"Ah, now who's trusting in stereotypes?" Aldrec said.

"You mean that not all elves like plants?" Mericlou said. For some reason, she was disappointed at this.

"Well, it's true that we all have an affinity for nature," Aldrec said, "but that doesn't mean that plants are all we ever think about. There are other things that take up our time, after all. For me, it's my work."

"I think I understand," Mericlou replied. "I guess I don't know as much about elves as I thought."

"Cheer up, now," Aldrec said. "Elves aren't all the same, just as androids aren't. Things aren't all as they seem. We all learn that, and you will too-"

"-With age," Mericlou said, finishing the sentence with a bland tone.

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"I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself," Aldrec said, slightly abashed. "That's not something that I do often. It's just that it is the truth, what I said. No matter how much knowledge you glean from the Orb Network, no matter how much data you download into yourself, knowledge can never take the place of experience."

He then took note of the slight boredom etching onto Mericlou's expression. "But all that aside, if you like plants, then I wish to show you something. You'll love it, guaranteed."

"What is it?" Mericlou asked, her android curiosity piqued intensely.

"Now, now … what good is a surprise if you already know what it is?" Aldrec said, waving a finger. He flashed an impish look. "You'll just have to wait and see."

"Does it have something to do with leaving the city?" Mericlou asked. She had noticed that they had turned to the right when they reached the street intersection. The road led to Lusea's outskirts, and beyond the hilltop where they stood, the expanse of the northern countryside, the Daina border, and the hazy peaks of distant mountains lay before them.

"This surprise we can only see by taking the transcon," Aldrec said as he crossed the road. Up ahead, the transcontinental railway station's blue and white striped flag flew high above a clump of oak trees.




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