The door opened, and Menium slunk into their cramped quarters. Walking up to Felix, he presented him with a handful of berries like he’d discovered a great treasure, chirping loudly in excitement.

  “Not now, Menium. Just put them on the table, I’ll have some later.”

  Felix gently pried the excited Menium off him before lying back on his bunk bed. Crossing his arm under his head, he stared up at the ceiling, continuing his contemplation.

  Seeing this, Menium’s shoulders slumped as he looked at the berries he’d managed to swindle from the uncle at the fruit stall with so much difficulty. With his eyes beginning to water, he put the berries on the table next to Felix before he slouched out of the room.

  “Menium, wait.”

  Felix called out just as he was about to close the door again.

  “I’m sorry, buddy, come here.” Felix opened his arm for a hug.

  Menium rushed into his arms and held on like he was afraid he’d be chased out again.

  Felix could feel his heart break as he listened to Menium’s sad chirps as he cried into Felix’s chest. He slowly started stroking the monkey’s back.

  “Hey, what happened, buddy? Are you ok? Did someone hurt you?”

  He listened to Menium’s fragile chirps as he asked a question that made Felix’s stomach churn.

  “What?! No, of course I don’t hate you. Why would you think that?”

  Menium chirped, softly mentioning every moment he’d tried to connect with Felix and every time he’d been chased off. To Felix, the journey had been a blur, a constant rush to cut down their travel time as much as he could. He spent his nights trying to deal with the frustration of how far they needed to go. Without realising it, he hadn’t just been focused, he’d been absent.

  Now listening to it all from Menium’s perspective, he remembered just how young the little monkey still was. To Menium, it felt like Felix had started ignoring him after he convinced them to go to the Smiling Monk’s Pagoda.

  Felix had to listen as Menium cried into his chest that he didn’t want to go anymore. He just wanted Felix to love him again.

  Felix felt like he was going to be sick. He couldn’t believe how much damage he’d done with his brooding, that Menium would be willing to give up on his dream because he thought Felix hated him.

  “Menium, I’m so sorry.” He hugged the monkey tighter.

  “You didn’t do anything wrong, buddy. I still love you, that won’t ever change. I’m not mad at you for wanting to go to the Pagoda, I’m just worried, that’s all. You were really clever when you suggested we go.”

  Menium looked up with teary eyes, searching Felix’s face like he was trying to see if it was true.

  “Really, Menium. I’m so sorry. I’ve made it hard for you, haven’t I?”

  Menium nodded as he cautiously told Felix how hard he had to work for the uncle at the fruit stall to give him the berries.

  Felix felt touched that Menium went through all that to try and cheer him up, but at the same time, he felt rage that he was forced to work for the old fart manning the cart just to get something he was entitled to get for free. He swore he’d make the bastard pay later.

  For now, he focused on what actually mattered. He quickly plucked a berry from the side table and ate it before bringing his arm back to stroke Menium’s back.

  “Thank you, Meni, it’s delicious. You really worked hard.”

  He pulled back to look into the monkey’s teary eyes.

  “Menium, I don’t know what I would do without you. Not just because you keep me safe while we’re travelling. Do you know how lonely I’d be if it weren’t for you? I was never mad at you.

  “I was upset, no I am upset. But it’s not because of you. Think about it like this, could you imagine hearing that Vaelis is in trouble and it would take you months just to find out if he’s ok?”

  Menium screeched in panic.

  “No! No. He’s not actually in danger. But you see how panicked you felt? That’s how I’ve been feeling this whole time. To me, those girls are family, I didn’t mean to ignore you, I’ve just been trying to keep it together and make sure we get to them as soon as we can.”

  Menium chirped back.

  “No, that’s alright. You already pulled the cart as hard as you could. You don’t need to pull it faster. Don’t worry, the train will reach Agrona’s Stonehold overmorrow, you’re going to love her. She’ll help us figure out how to get to Lara quickly”

  Felix smiled a sad smile as he continued stroking Menium’s back and listening to his chirps that were starting to get some liveliness back.

  “Yes, I’m really sure Vaelis is fine. He has Aunt Erylis looking after him, remember?”

  Menium only had to think about it for a fraction of a second before he breathed out in relief. Uncle Valenther might have been a little hurt to know that in spite of his position as head of the Explorer’s guild in a town as large as Ilmaréth, it was his wife’s protection that calmed Menium.

  “How about this? Let’s get dinner together. I’ll even give you my dessert to say sorry.”

  While Felix thought Menium would spring up in joy, the monkey looked uncertain instead. More than anything, that drove home how much Felix had harmed the trust between them.

  “Besides, I have an idea for how we can get back at the guy running that fruit stall.”

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  Menium looked at him in surprise and chirped a question.

  “Of course, we need to get back at him. You’re allowed to have as much fruit as you want. It’s included in the ticket price. He’s there to help you, not make sure you don’t take any.”

  Menium looked at Felix in total shock, which quickly turned to outrage. He angrily chirped his protests at Felix.

  “I know, I know. Just follow my lead, this is what we’re going to do…”

  Entering the dining cart, Menium subtly pointed out the fruit guy working the fruit stall, confirming the same guy was still on duty. Felix was surprised to see how young he was, he might even have been younger than Felix.

  Felix tried very hard to convince himself that Menium saw the man as an uncle because of his stubble, and not his age, lest an existential crisis ruin their plan. Felix quickly regained control of his emotions and walked up to the little shit jovially.

  “Are you the one who taught my monkey that new trick?” He asked with a great smile on his face as he approached the young dwarf.

  Felix could see him relax, having clearly expected some trouble when he saw Felix entering with Menium.

  “Ah, yes! I hope I didn’t overstep, sir.”

  “What? Not at all, not at all. In fact, I should reward you.” Felix started reaching for his coin pouch, then stopped.

  “No, no, this is too crude, let me speak to the trip conductor, I should tell him of your hard work.”

  “Sir, as much as I appreciate it, I don’t think the conductor will do much if you speak to him.”

  Felix, still pretending to be overjoyed, flashed his identity token.

  “Nonsense, I’m sure he’d want to hear that you’d managed to go above and beyond and render services to a Traveller on their path. I specialise in beast taming, you see.”

  At that, the young dwarf’s eyes lit up. Travellers might not be exactly rare, but they still vastly outnumbered the general public and were generally seen as great customers.

  The young dwarf quickly ran off to fetch his boss, letting Menium and Felix share a knowing smirk without his notice.

  It took only a couple of minutes for the boy to rush back, looking slightly flushed, with a well-dressed older dwarf following behind him.

  “That’s him, Alfred. This gentleman wanted to speak with you.”

  “Of course, how may I be of assistance?”

  “Ah, you see. I’m running an errand for my uncle, who runs the explorer’s guild back in Ilmaréth. The journey has been quite taxing, so I’ve been spending the time in my room resting while allowing Menium here to roam the train.”

  Felix patted Menium’s back.

  “Imagine my surprise when he brought me a handful of berries, telling me about the tricks he performed for this young man to get them.”

  Felix kept up his pleasant tone and smile, confusing the conductor. But a slowly forming frown told Felix that the man wasn’t exactly pleased with his employee’s behaviour.

  “I’m not sure I follow, sir.”

  Felix nodded sagely.

  “Of course, of course. Menium, why don’t you introduce yourself?”

  Menium, who was hiding behind Felix’s legs, quickly stepped out, gave a formal bow and darted back into hiding. Felix completed the introduction by handing over not only his identity token but also Menium’s, along with both their tickets.

  “Good job.”

  He patted Menium on the head.

  “I’m Felix, and this is Menium, my officially registered companion.”

  The conductor’s face fell at Felix’s words, and the more he examined everything Felix handed over, the more the colour drained from his face.

  “Don’t you think it’s nice that your staff had him perform tricks to get the food he was entitled to as part of his fare?”

  Felix asked with his voice still dripping affability, while the smile had vanished from his face. Something the conductor definitely noticed as he handed their things back, trembling.

  “I see, this is certainly a most unfortunate misunderstanding. I’m sure we can come to an arrangement to compensate you for this oversight.”

  “Oh, I’m sure we can. It just so happens that I’ve already discussed this with my companion. You need not worry, we don’t intend to make a big deal about it. Since your employee had Menium entertain him with tricks, then it’s only fair that he entertains Menium for the rest of our journey, don’t you think?”

  “What? I’m not doing that!”

  Felix didn’t say anything, simply allowing the silence to linger. The conductor didn’t seem convinced, and Felix could see what he would say by the look on his face long before he actually said it. Still, he didn’t interrupt him. He gave him time to think things through.

  “Sir, we can’t allow that. It would tarnish the Grimshaw Rail’s name to have one of our employees act as a playmate for Mr Menium. We’d be more than willing to refund you for your trip, or perhaps give you a discount on one of our VIP lines.”

  Felix nodded in understanding, but he didn’t smile.

  “I understand, we need to take Grimshaw’s Rail’s reputation into account. Of course, it would be beneath its employees to treat non-humanoid beastkin as people.”

  “Not at all, sir! We would never–”

  “Huh? I’m confused. Why then would it be humiliating for your employee to be treated as a playmate, and yet it isn’t humiliating for your employee to treat Menium as a playmate? This is very confusing.”

  Felix nodded to himself as he’d come to a decision.

  “You know what. I kept in contact with one of the Guides from my first journey. If memory serves, his family is one of the first tribes. I shall write to him and ask for clarification. Seeing as he’s very much on the edge of what could be considered humanoid, I’m sure he can educate me.

  “I’m so sorry for disturbing you due to my lacklustre education. C’mon Menium, we’re going.”

  Felix turned to leave, only for the conductor to stop him.

  “Sir! Wait. That’s not it at all.”

  Felix kept walking.

  “I mean, of course, our employee will serve as Mr Menium’s playmate for the rest of your journey. It’s the least we can do.”

  “What?! No, I won’t! Just let him write to them or whatever, it’s not like it’s a big deal, and even if it was it would be his word against ours. Who’s gonna believe some nobody? It’s not like they have VIP tickets.”

  Felix clenched his fists as he struggled to control his expression.

  “I see, I see. So that’s how it is. I should mention that I’m a mind mage… and I specialise in memory.”

  Felix could see that the conductor instantly realised the implications of his words. The man wasn’t a Traveller, so it wasn’t as if he could confirm it, but if it were true, it would be the equivalent of saying he’d recorded their conversation. Felix could see in real time the moment the conductor realised that he’d lost.

  “Hildemar, that’s no way to speak to a customer! Let alone an esteemed Traveller. You will be personally taking care of Mr Menium’s needs for the rest of this journey. You will follow his every order to the letter, or you will be disembarking at our next stop. Do I make myself clear?”

  Even Felix, who’d seen it coming, was shocked at the conductor’s abrupt change. Hildemar was so shocked he even forgot to protest.

  “Sir, please allow me a moment to speak with him to make sure he understands his duties. He’ll be with you in just a moment.”

  The conductor quickly pulled the young dwarf into another cart and closed the door. After a few minutes of listening to muffled raised voices, the young man returned without the conductor.

  “How may I be of service, Mr Menium?”

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