Parto 0: La Nesto. 04: La Preparo

“There you are, Arakil!” Said my instruisto with a smile as measured as the lines they were drawing on the wall. “Just the person we need. Could you lend a hand with these streamers?”

Instruisto 4-5, like all instruistoj, embodied precision. Measured movements, a calm, even voice, the standard grey uniform, and that ever-present gentle smile. They were not unkind, but neither were they warm. They were present, fulfilling their function within La Nesto. It was this very perfection that made me uneasy. It felt like an act.

“Of course,” I said, taking the roll of shimmering blue streamers.

“This year we’re aiming for a ‘Grand Ascent’ theme,” Instruisto 4-5 explained, gesturing to the decorations. “Think clouds, stars, and endless skies. It’s meant to evoke the boundless expanse of La Granda Ekstero.”

La Kerno was a whirlwind of activity. Colorful streamers crisscrossed the high ceiling, and the enormous banners we painted a couple of months ago, which depicted stylized images of La Granda Ekstero, adorned the walls. Children scurried about, carrying decorations, setting up tables, and chattering.

“You know, there are places in La Granda Ekstero where you can walk for days and never see a wall,” Akerke, the oldest from Ĉelo Unu, said to a group of younger children.

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the group.

“Can you imagine that?” Akerke continued, spreading their arms wide. “No walls! Just open space. You can walk in any direction you choose, for as long as you want.”

“And you don’t learn things from books there,” Reuben, from Ĉelo Nulo, added. “You learn from doing.”

“Doing what?” asked one of the smallest children.

“Well,” Reuben began, pausing for effect, “remember when we learned how to cultivate plants in the garden? All those lessons about soil composition and sunlight and watering schedules?”

The younger children nodded.

“Outside, you will decide what to grow, how to grow it, and you will also take care of the harvest. You’re responsible for feeding yourself, and maybe even others!”

“That’s because there are no instruistoj out there,” Akerke interrupted. “So you better make sure that you ask them everything you want before it’s your turn! Because once you’re out there, you’re on your own.”

The children looked at each other with a mixture of eagerness and apprehension.

I continued to hang the streamers, listening to their conversation. The ideas of endless space, of having so many responsibilities, of being your own guide. All of them were foreign concepts.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something fake about La Nesto. The hidden cameras, the instruistoj, the predictable weather. And Kimiti’s message. There had to be things that were hidden, things the instruistoj didn’t want us to know.

And I was about to leave, about to face whatever the reality of La Granda Ekstero was. I had no answers.

“Right, Arakil?“ a voice startled me. It was Kanako.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.” I had no idea what they said. They tilted their head.

“Are you okay? You look awful. You slept well today, didn’t you?” Kanako got close to my face, examining it.

Gabino’s voice cut in from behind me, startling me. I hadn’t even realized they were there.

“They’re fine. Some people need more sleep than others. Arakil manages with, I don’t know, an hour. And then Medusa sleeps all day long.”

Kanako looked at me, expecting an answer. I forced a reassuring smile.

“I’m fine, yes. Just thinking about everything.”

“Okay, okay! You’re just nervous! I’m going to be a wreck next year,” Kanako exclaimed, their eyes shining. “I can’t wait to finally be out there!”

I looked around. That excitement was everywhere, as if it was contagious. A wave of unadulterated hope. I envied them all. I wished I could feel that way. An idea possessed me. What if I told them about it all? Would they believe me? Maybe they could find something else in my absence.

“You know,” I lowered my voice, “what if it’s not what they say it is? What if it’s not this place of endless freedom?”

Kanako frowned, and Gabino looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“What do you mean?” Kanako asked.

“I mean… we’ve never seen it, have we? We only have the instruistoj’s word for it. What if…” I hesitated, then took a deep breath. “What if La Granda Ekstero isn’t what they say it is?”

Kanako’s smile faltered, and Gabino opened their mouth, but didn’t say a thing. There was a moment of silence, which felt like half an hour. Then Gabino chuckled.

“Ah! You’re trying to scare us, aren’t you?” Gabino said, forcing a laugh. “Let me guess, you’re going to tell us that the elevator just goes up and up and then… boom! We’re in space!”

Kanako, however, didn’t laugh. They stared at me, their expression unreadable.

I hesitated. Even if they believed me, what was the point? It was just a stupid dream. The voice of Indigo echoed in my mind. I didn’t want to leave them worried about a stupid dream.

“Ah, you got me!” I said, forcing a laugh of my own. “Guess you’re not a small kid anymore, Gabino!”

“Plus, your stories are always too silly to begin with,” they said, fidgeting.

I needed to diffuse the tension I had created. I clapped my hands and turned to Kanako.

“So,” I said, trying to sound cheerful, “if you could travel anywhere in La Granda Ekstero, where would you go?”

“Ooh, that’s a good one!” Kanako exclaimed, tapping a finger to their chin. “I’d go to a place with giant waterfalls that flow upwards! Imagine that! Water flowing up into the sky!”

“That’s impossible,” Gabino scoffed, but they were smiling. “I’d go to a city that’s so high up there are clouds as ground, so you can just bounce around all day.”

“And you said my idea was impossible?” Kanako retorted, shoving Gabino. “Clouds can’t hold you! You will just fall right through!”

“Maybe…” Gabino shrugged, now grinning, “But what if they were reeeally fluffy clouds?”

Kanako laughed, and Gabino followed. Their laughter infected me and I could relax a little, too.

“What about you, Arakil? Where will you go?” they asked me.

“I…” I started, then thought for a moment. “I think I’d like to see the sea.”

“The sea?” Kanako’s eyes widened. “Oh, that’s amazing! I’ve seen so many pictures of it! It’s so big! And blue! And it stretches all the way to the edge of La Granda Ekstero.”

“I read about the creatures that live in it!” Gabino added. “Not like the small fish we have here, no! Giant creatures! There’s one with eight arms!”

“The octopus,” I tell them. “Did you know they have three hearts?”

As I was trying to remember my octopus facts, my eyes drifted across La Kerno. And there, near the entrance to the garden, was Instruisto 2-3. They seemed intrigued by something outside. My heart pounded in my chest. They were staring at the base of the tree where I had hidden the message.

I could hear Kanako and Gabino talking, but my attention was on the instruisto. They began walking to the garden. I stopped breathing. They were going to find it. I felt dizzy, a wave of panic washing over me.

“Arakil? Are you listening?” Kanako asked. “You’ve gone all quiet again.”

I forced myself to look away from the instruisto, to meet Kanako’s gaze. “Sorry,” I mumbled. “Just… thinking about the sea.”

When I looked back I couldn’t see the instruisto. Where did they go? Did they find the message? I had to check.

“Guys… I think I need to go to the bathroom,” I excused myself. I didn’t wait for a response before turning and bolting towards my room.