CHAPTER 1: EVENTS AROUND CHERWIND

***Somewhere in the north plains of Cherwind…***

In some unnamed place in northern Cherwind was one of the few remaining ‘independent’ dog tribe villages, scattered in the aftermath of the last conflict against the humans. As it was outside the safety of the Enclave’s ‘Outer Walls’, its population had to make do with wooden palisades and artificial mounds to protect themselves from external threats, mainly the monster hordes. However, though the settlement itself afforded relative safety, the villagers still had to venture out into the vicinity of the place, which was dangerous, for the fertile soil for their farmlands were beyond their village’s boundary.

However, in the recent times, danger and destruction came not only in the form of the rampaging monster hordes, but also wars between humans and Beastmen, and between Beastmen forces loyal to Lady Konka and Lady Ruro as well. Their battles caused damage to wide swaths of land across Cherwind; also adding to the dog tribesmen were the increase of the monster hordes, left unchecked when the human forces retreated to their settlements. The human caravans plying the trade routes disappeared, and the last source of protection for them—the armed merchant escorts—were gone as well.

Hunger and despair.

These were the reasons why Lady Konka opted to visit the village, bringing along crates filled with foodstuffs, as well as a part of her army. Her purpose, though known only to her, was clear: to not only help her fellow Beastmen in their predicament, but also to exert enough good will and influence to sway the villagers to support her cause. Another step in defeating her rival, Ruro.

“Open up!” the sentry at the entrance called out to his fellow guards once Konka’s contingent appeared, “Lady Konka has come!”

Without further delay, the wooden gates of the settlement were opened for the Insetus woman and her army. Upon entering, she was immediately greeted by the village’s elder, and his retinue.

“Ah, we humbly welcome you to our modest home, milady!” the dog elder smiled and gave his respects, “What can we help you and your companions this time?”

“It’s been a while, Old man Kayan!” Konka hugged the elder, “We came here not to ask for aid; rather, it’s us who are going to help!”

On her command, Konka’s men brought the crates of food before the villagers.

“Milady!” the elder’s face couldn’t hide his shock, “W-What are these for?”

“My village in the mountains had just experienced a good harvest, and, uh, we thought of sharing some to your village since yours is one of the hardest hit by the battles and rampaging hordes lately.”

“But—”

“Don’t worry about it, Old man Kayan!” Konka winked at him, “We beastfolk should help each other in times like this.”

“No, no! Milady, please listen,” the elder bemoaned, “we—our village—can’t accept these, no matter how generous your offer is!”

“W-Why?”

“Our village is now well-off, milady!” the dog elder backed his statement by showing to Konka and her men the state of their village. Dog tribesfolk happily going around, minding their own businesses; dog children playing around as if everything was normal.

“W-What’s the meaning of this?” the Insetus woman’s bewilderment was clear on her face, “I thought…”

“So we are, milady. We also thought it’s the end of our village, and our people. After going on for so long without food and water, we surely prepared to die. However, some people from the Enclave—”

“The Enclave? You mean the humans?”

The elder nodded, “And not only humans; there were also Beastmen among them. A girl from the Insetus Mantis tribe led them, and she was well-versed in human medicinal knowledge.”

“How…”

“Well, they came here from the sky, flown by Avinus Eagles. They brought us food, water, steel weapons for defending ourselves, clothing and building materials. I think they’d come back again after what they call a ‘week’.”

Konka exchanged glances with one of her companions. Both of them were having a hard time in believing what they just heard.

“Don’t worry about us anymore, Lady Konka. We’re already fine,” the dog elder bowed once again, “though I sincerely offer my gratitude to you. Please give this food to other villages that might need it instead.”

“Old Kayan, a question, please.”

“Yes, milady?”

“That girl who came here, uh, who is she?”

The dog elder fell silent for a moment, as if searching his memory for the answer. Then, “If I can still remember right, I think that beautiful girl’s name is Lady Rishnu. She claims she is the Chief Royal Doctor to the Queen of the Beastmen, Ursura, and her king, Kuro of the Orphans.”

----------

It was about time for the ‘long sleep’ when Ursura and her company returned to their encampment, high on the slopes of the Wessen Mountain Ranges. The journey was relatively short, yet exhausting, as her men were carrying crates full of food from when they went down to the plains and when they went back.

“Milady!” it was her second-in-command, the bear-man Banu, who welcomed her, “I thought you’d be giving those food crates to the villages below?”

“Perish the thought!” Konka growled, “I’ve been outwitted!”

“Huh? Outwitted? What do you mean?”

“That human, that Kuro…I should’ve killed him when I had the chance!” though she may have not noticed it, Konka was chewing on her nails, “He’s grown dangerous than I initially thought!”

Banu remained silent. Deep inside, he was happy to hear some good news about his human friend, though he had to control himself from showing any favorable emotion…or his liege would have none of it.

“Banu!”

“Y-Yes, milady?”

“Listen. I just learned a most outrageous news. That human, Kuro, had just founded a kingdom, together with that arrogant bear-woman, Ursura as his queen. Could you believe it? He, a human, defeating the others of his own race and uniting the Beastmen and humans?”

“I don’t know, milady, but you have seen how the Lord Kuro can turn the impossible into possible. Isn’t he the ‘Commoner General’, the servant of the Human Saint that defeated the undead hordes and the mighty Empire of Chersea?”

“Are you on my side, or not?”

“F-Forgive me, my liege.”

“Tch. He’s only human—not a saint, though he may have the god-powers. His affiliation with the Human Saint reveals his true colors already, and yet, the fools back at the plains are all happy about ‘human and Beastmen coming along in peace’. What buffoonery!”

“I don’t understand—”

“And neither do I, Banu!” Konka slammed her fists on a nearby pillar, causing it to crack a little, “Humans and Beastmen are like oil and water; they don’t—and won’t—mix. Our people are vastly superior to those weaklings, in strength and even in child-bearing!”

The bear-man continued to listen to his liege’s rants. Nevertheless, he tried to console her when he had the chance.

“Don’t give up, milady!”

“You don’t have to tell me that, I certainly will! I have the support of the strongest warriors in all of Cherwind, and as well as the true claim to Sainthood. My will be done in the end!” Konka then took a deep breath before continuing, “Alright, Banu, gather some men and watch what’s happening at the Enclave.”

“As you wish!”

At once, the bear-man set out to gather people for the mission he was given. Meanwhile, Konka could only stare at the food crates her men had painstakingly gathered and carried…

“Cherwind is the land of the Beastmen, and it shall remain so until the end of the seasons,” she muttered.

----------

***The Beastman Saint’s cave-palace, at the middle of the Cauldron***

For a long while now, Her Holiness’ home had been silent and gloomy. The guards themselves could feel that something had changed ever since their saint returned with the battered fox tribe’s army, and her captain seriously injured. Also, their liege never went out of her palace after that; she would only send messengers to give orders, and it seldom happens.

It’s as if Lady Ruro withdrew from the affairs of the land she’s supposed to govern…

Aside from her messengers, those who were allowed inside the saint’s residence were the fox tribe’s witch-doctors. They were always being summoned, to watch for the health of their most precious patient, Kashca Telis of the Fox.

“Her feet were twisted in unnatural way,” a witch-doctor confirmed, “and when we got to her, it healed halfway that we can’t bring it back to its proper position without breaking her limbs.”

“W-What…does that mean?”

The witch-doctor had a sorrowful expression on his face, “Your Holiness, honestly, we don’t think that Lady Telis could walk properly again.”

Ruro, though she never took her eyes off her captain, never missed the painful words of the witch-doctor. She blankly stared at Telis’ sleeping face, all the while the prognosis slowly sank into her heart. Her hands inadvertently touched her companion’s legs.

“We’re terribly sorry, Your Holiness.”

“I-It’s alright,” the wolf-saint smiled, forcing her lips to do it, trying her best to hide her feelings. “I know you did your best to save her; what’s important now is that Telis is alive.”

The witch-doctors then gave their respects and took their leave. Left alone with her sleeping captain, Ruro’s thoughts slowly drifted into her past, when she first met Telis…

----------

Ruro’s memories flashed back into that blood-red time, when she was being relentlessly pursued by her own kin, the Wolf tribe, simply because she could use magic. She could still feel the fear that enveloped her body as she ran, and hear the shouts of the Wolf warriors, chasing her through the forest filled with harpies, leviathans and groundworms. Those angry, desperate voices were clear, as if it was being spoken right beside her ears.

“Don’t let her escape!”

“Surround and block the exits!”

“Kill her! Kill that heretic!”

Ruro expected none of those to happen to her, especially when she accepted Lady Cassandra’s offer to give her the ability to use magic. In fact, when she received that blessing from the esteemed sword-mage, she was happy. For once in her life, she could become a hero—of equal standing with Lady Terebia and JimmyN Rubinforth. And all that she had to do was to become the Saint and ‘prepare the way’ for a more powerful and wise being worthy of taking over Lord Gaius’ throne. Yet, when she came back to her tribe, her kin hated her, and they believed Konka’s lies instead.

“!!!”

Upon reaching a clearing, Ruro tried to activate her magic. She couldn’t get to the other side without being seen, and so she desperately searched her memories for what kind of magic she should use.

Disappearing magic! I’ve seen JimmyN use it many times before!

However, could she even properly cast it? As a member of the Beastman race, she was only given with great physical strength and agility, compared to humans. The knowledge of magic was denied to her. But, she knew she had to make it work, or she’d die.

“There’s the heretic! Shoot her!”

“!!!”

The wolf archers took up their positions, as they surround Ruro to make sure she won’t come out of that forest alive. The wolf-girl desperately uttered phrases in her vain attempt to activate her magic spells.

How do I disappear? Lady Cassandra said that I should just imagine it, and say the keywords. But it doesn’t work! I’m about to get killed!

“Shoot!”

The archers let loose their deadly arrows towards their cornered foe. At that very moment, Ruro’s mind went black, and she just closed her eyes to wait for the inevitable…

So this is the feeling of death. I feel…nothing. Only complete silence. I can’t even feel the arrows piercing my body…

“Are you alright?”

“!!!” Ruro slowly opened her eyes, and prepared for the worst. However, much to her confusion, what stood before her was not a member of the Wolf tribe. It was a young fox-girl instead, with a beautiful purplish-white hair and fur, and a pair of bloody swords in her hands.

“Lady Terebia have expected this to happen,” the fox-girl told her, “So she asked my tribe to protect you. Tell me, are you Lady Ruro of the Wolf?”

The wolf-girl only gave her a nod.

“Greetings! I’m the daughter of the Fox tribe’s elder, Manabu. Please call me Kashca Telis of the Fox!”

----------

Tears brought back Ruro to her present self. Apparently, she fell asleep crying, and she also awakened by crying. Wiping her tears, she fixed her companion’s blanket before returning to her seat. The wolf-saint never left Telis’ bedside unless necessary, so that she could see the progress of her blood-sister’s recovery.

“…”

The fox-girl remained unconscious. Ruro took hold of one of Telis’ hands and whispered, “I…I’m sorry I took you and your kin for granted, Telis. You’ve been kind to me, even though I’m an outsider to your tribe, and yet…” Various ugly scenes replayed in the wolf-saint’s mind, including the atrocities she committed against the fox tribe. The pain and anguish in her increased as she delved deeper into her memories, and she unknowingly pressed Telis’ palm.

If she could only do something to help her blood-sister, she would’ve done so. However, Ruro knew she had earned the anger of the Human Saint—the only one in this world that could help Telis walk again.

Wait…

“Kuro!”

Yes, her master! Kuro had gained the power of the Human Saint, so fixing this kind of injury would be trivial to him. And she knew he’s kind enough to help her even though she had wronged him before…

“I’ve wronged him…” tears had once again welled-up in Ruro’s eyes as she remembered the suffering she caused Kuro when she brought him to Cherwind, “…would he even listen to me now?”

Ruro then shook her head. She wanted Telis to walk again, and she would do anything—even if she had to beg—to make it happen. Steeling her resolve, the Beastman Saint took a deep breath and—

“I know what you’re thinking.”

“!!!”

The wolf-saint’s eyes immediately fell on Telis. Much to her pleasant surprise, her blood-sister was now awake, though Telis remained lying on the bed.

“Milady, don’t do it.”

“Telis…”

“I’m fine with my injuries,” the fox-girl told her, “Still, I will serve you with all my heart, mind and body. I don’t need healing, especially from those who caused you pain.”

“But—”

“Milady, you bow to no one,” Telis reiterated, with her voice emphasizing her words, “As long as I am alive, I’ll make sure that your greatness and magnanimity will always be told to the next generation.”

Ruro couldn’t find any answer to that sentiment. She wanted to say thanks, but knew that words simply don’t match the gratitude in her chest. Nevertheless, she should tell Telis what she really felt, “Telis, as your blood-sister, I—”

“My apologies for coming in, Your Holiness!”

“!!!”

Telis and Ruro’s moment together was rudely interrupted when a sentry barged in the room. The young fox man’s face was pale, and he was trying to catch his breath.

“What happened, Yuya?” it was Telis who asked, “What’s the urgency all about?”

“C-Captain, we just received news from the land of the Serpentinus that the Grand High Priestess, Lady Sebastenerva, and the priests, are withdrawing their support for Her Holiness, Lady Ruro of the Wolf! They are now proclaiming the Queen and King of the Beastmen as the rightful rulers of Cherwind!”

----------

***The newly-founded Royal Academy of Cherwind, in the city of Malvette, capital of the Beastmen Kingdom***

“If we’re to apply the steam engine on this machine, then we can have a powerful mode of transport able to cover the entire land of Cherwind within days, or hours!”

“Hoh…”

“What’s with your weak reaction, bear-woman? To think that I did my best to prepare a good presentation of our invention!”

Salis of the Owl and the queen, Ursura of the West Ursus, exchanged glares at the end of the former’s discussion about Kuro’s plan for a better way of transportation. The room where they were in was immediately filled with tension, that the others who were with them slowly distanced themselves.

“Ah, don’t worry about Her Majesty, and the Royal Chief Scientist, Lady Salis!” Minahaba was quick to diffuse the awkward atmosphere, “They’re so close that they could exchange insults candidly! Ahahaha!”

“O-Oh…is that so…” the human and Beastmen representatives eventually calmed down as the falcon-woman separated the two.

“Ahem. To continue…” Salis resumed on her explanation, using a scaled-down model to show her points, “…His Majesty the King gave his input about this machine we’re designing. See, if we put tracks on the path of this machine, and stops at regular intervals, we can create a system of transportation that can benefit the population in trade, and communication. His Majesty calls this a ‘railway system’. Also, it can also connect Cherwind and Chersea too!”

“Whoa!” the humans and Beastmen were delighted to watch the train pulling several carts towards the top of a small mountain model, they couldn’t keep themselves seated and approached the dais where Salis was presenting to get a closer look.

“His Majesty the ‘Commoner General’ sure knows a lot of strange, yet good things!”

“Isn’t he from the same world as the hero, Cassandra David?”

The murmurs and silent praises kept on pouring as Ursura remained in her seat and listened. Deep inside, she was getting annoyed at what she was hearing, though she had to content herself in tapping her foot to release tension.

“Hey!”

“!!!”

Ursura was returned to her senses when Minahaba tapped her shoulder, “I’m really impressed with Chief! Not only did he establish this Royal Academy, he also attracted people with talent to study here! And imagine, he even thought of a better way to deliver goods and travel with that railway system!”

“Hmph!”

“Eh, what’s the matter, Your Majesty? Still in a bad mood?”

“Well, I’m pissed at these humans praising Kuro. They threw him away when they have no use for him!”

“Hmm…maybe it’s another set of humans.”

“Of course I know that!” the bear-woman pouted, “It’s just, I couldn’t help but get irritated whenever I remember that story of his. Heh, if these guys would only see how hard that bloke is working for them…I bet their respect for him would even increase!”

“Sounds like it’s not good, Your Majesty.”

Ursura never gave a response.

“I knew it. Chief is pushing himself again way above his limit.”

“I’m impressed you can read my thoughts that easy!”

“Well, if it comes to the Chief, I can clearly read your feelings, Your Majesty,” Minahaba winked, “I mean, it’s not that I’m different from you. Like you, I always look and yearn for him…”

The bear-woman took a glance at her companion and saw that her face was red.

“Better tell your sentiments to him now, Mina,” the queen ruffled the falcon-woman’s hair, “Make him realize the people who truly love him before it’s too late.”

“Eh? What…”

“Nevermind me. Listen to that Owl-girl, or she’ll get angry again.”

However, Minahaba knew that there was a meaning underneath that long stare of Ursura into the unknown. Nevertheless, she didn’t ask her what it was all about.

----------

“Hey, good work with that presentation about railways.”

“…”

“Come on! I’m being sincere here, Salis!”

The owl-girl took the bottle of cold water offered by Ursura and drank it, “For a second there, I almost thought that it was a completely different person.”

“Your mouth is as foul as always, no?”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“I really like listening to both of your banter,” Minahaba chuckled, “Anyway, don’t waste your break in fighting, alright? I think we still have a class to teach this afternoon.”

“After that talk with the Beastmen elders and human chiefs, I got a schedule at around 2 p.m.,” Salis admitted, “It’s a science class.”

“I see,” the falcon-woman nodded, before turning to Ursura, “And you, Your Majesty?”

“I think I have a sports class later? Let’s see…by 3 p.m.,” the queen answered, “Yep, I’m going to meet those cocky brats again.”

“Hoh…I didn’t know you’re into sports, bear-woman. You’re always the delinquent whenever the Human Chief is teaching.”

“H-Hey! I’m just filling-in for Kuro, you know!” the bear-woman couldn’t hide her embarrassment, “I’m not…err…that smart like you and Kuro, so I took over his physical education class for now.”

“A queen teaching the students how to play…” the owl-girl smirked, “…this is the first time I heard of it. Human queens don’t do that stuff, you know?”

“Well, I’m not some sheltered human queen, and I’m trying to make myself of use here,” Ursura countered, “Kuro’s been taking over a lot of my duties as a ruler, so I guess it’s reasonable that I help him from time to time.”

“Good bear…though if you just kept your mouth shut at the council before, you wouldn’t end up as a queen.”

“Shut up. I…wasn’t aware that being a ruler is this exhausting. If I knew for even a bit, I would’ve been silent myself.”

“Consequences of being impulsive, huh? But, speaking of exhaustion, seriously, bear-woman…” Salis asked, “…how’s the Human Chief? It’s been a while since I last saw him.”

“Uh…the usual. Kuro wakes up to take his breakfast, then goes back to his room to study the proposals and plans he had made. Go out by lunch, meet with our ministers for their reports, then go back to his room again to look at the proposals and plans. Emerge from his room by dinner and talks about the affairs of the kingdom with some of the governors. Once done, he’d return to his room and only the heavens know what he does after the hour of the long sleep.”

“Wow. Is he a machine, or what?”

“Heh, typical Chief.”

“Don’t say that Mina!” the queen rebuked her, “A king should pay attention to his own needs as well!”

“Like, what, a visit in your chamber during the long sleep?” Salis teased.

The bear-woman blushed terribly, “W-What are you saying? I-It’s n-not that I-I’m looking forward to it…b-but I-I w-w-w-wouldn’t mind…”

“Your Majesty, look at that steam coming out of your head.”

“There is?”

“Of course Chief Minahaba’s joking, bear!”

“I don’t know, Salis,” Ursura sighed, “I wanted to do something for Kuro, at least. So I’m taking over some of his responsibilities.”

“For someone who’s averted to being a king, isn’t the Chief taking this way too seriously?” Minahaba’s wry comment was on point, and Salis nodded her head in agreement. However, she answered her own question immediately, “Well, I guess that’s part of his charm; the Chief is never enticed by the privileges of the position, but does his responsibilities with utmost diligence.”

Salis and Ursura were united in their approval.

“But yes, I think my father told me something before about wheels getting worn or something…?”

“Keep turning the wheels, and it would be worn out soon,” the owl-girl corrected her, “Yes, it an old saying about a person who’s working way too hard and ends up utterly exhausted, with no work done.”

“And Kuro is like a wheel that keeps on turning…” Ursura commented, “Guys, we should do something about it.”

Minahaba and Salis gave her a weird stare.

“What?”

“I’m surprised you realized that just now…” the owl-girl smirked, “…and come to think, we’ve been conversing ever since the start of lunch break.”

The queen’s face was red as beet, “A-Anyway! I don’t know about you guys, but I wanted to do something about Kuro’s attitude towards his duties…even if I had to force him away from it!”

“Ah, what a coincidence…” Salis chuckled, “…for I am also of the same mind.”

“Heh, don’t forget about me. And I knew of some ‘human’ ways of relaxing; we can use those,” Minahaba extended her arm in front of the other two, at which, the queen and the owl-girl also did the same.

----------

***The barracks of the Black Feathers, on the outskirts of the city of Malvette***

The stillness of the mid-‘morning’ was broken when the shrill sound of the whistle echoed throughout the royal barracks housing the training camp of the famed Black Feathers.

“Chaaaarrge!”

“Haaaaa!”

Two competing groups of Chicken tribesmen, some humans and their commanders: the two dog-siblings Rumia and Luka, met at the very center of the courtyard for a mock battle. Using wooden swords, the opposing teams tried to take down the other, the winner being the last team standing. The older sister, Rumia, led the white forces, while the younger Luka was in command of the black army. Their top commander, Sir Loin, was the one overseeing the progress of the entire affair.

“…”

While their weapons were supposedly non-lethal, the parka guy told the two groups to fight as if they’re aiming to kill their foe. Because of that order, the fighting was bloody, with a good number of warriors bleeding in their heads, or limbs. However, Sir Loin was never fazed by such a sight. He just silently watched his soldiers ‘train’ until only two of them—Rumia and Luka—were still on their feet.

“Hoh…so it’s the commanders who remained, huh?”

“Well, I’d place my bet on Lady Rumia. She’s better than Sir Luka.”

The murmurs among the others watching began to surface. Rumia heard those words herself, and though she wanted to confront those people, she had to focus on their training instead.

“Well, this is interesting…” the dog-girl quipped, making sure that everyone heard her praises for her brother. “I can’t believe you can now fight on par with me, Luka.”

“I always trained in secret to surpass you, sister.”

“Hoh…then—”

“Hey, Doggie-chan and Doggie-kun!” it was Sir Loin, “Quit your yapping and finish the job! Your enemies won’t waste time chatting to you in real battles!”

Rumia rolled her eyes and returned to her ‘guard’ stance, “Well, you heard the man. Only one of us should be left standing.”

“And it won’t be you, sis!” Luka then charged his sister, aiming to hit her in the neck.

Rumia had intended to let her brother defeat her. However…

“Doggie-chan, if you don’t take this seriously, you’ll kill us all in real battles!”

So the dog-girl was forced to follow her brother’s movements and quickly parried his thrust. Rumia never let him recover from his surprise; she followed up with a counter, hitting her brother at his buttocks. Sir Loin then blew the whistle, telling them to stop.

----------

Luka was sulking in a corner, after their training session. Not only did he had to endure the shame of losing to his sister, he also had to contend with the fact that he lost because he got hit in the most unlikely part of his body. Because of that, the dog-boy missed his lunch, preferring not to show his face to everyone else.

“…”

His train of thoughts were broken when he heard the door of his room open. Much to his surprise, though, instead of his sister, it was Sir Loin who came in. On his hands was a tray with a bowl of food and a glass of water.

“I was wondering where Doggie-kun went,” the parka guy started. “It’s great that I found you here; I’m lazy when looking for sore lose—I mean, sore people.”

“I’m sure you really meant ‘sore loser’ with that, Sir.”

“Yeah, I did,” Sir Loin then brought the food on the table. “But don’t worry, it’s okay. You can always try next time.”

“Ugh, I can’t seem to win against my sister! She’s that good.”

The parka guy looked at Luka for a few seconds, before saying, “You’re right. Rumia’s good in fighting. However, if you’d ask me, you also put up a great fight there. And that’s what matters in real battles, you know?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, your sister’s not your enemy, so you can compete with her. In war, the ability to kill your enemy before they can kill you is what matters. So, yeah, what I’m saying is, you’re doing good, Doggie-kun. Keep it up,” then Sir Loin gave Luka a pat in the back before heading to the door, “Eat your lunch; we still have more training to do.”

Though the dog-boy remained silent, he eventually reached for his food and took small bites. Once the parka guy made sure that Luka’s eating, he exited the room, only to crash into Rumia.

“!!!”

“Are you eavesdropping on us?” Sir Loin had a nasty smirk on his face.

“Err…uh, wh-why would I d-do that?” the dog-girl fiercely countered, though her cheeks were red.

“Well, alright,” he laughed. “By the way, I think you should talk to your bro. Not only his ass is painful but also his heart.”

“Why do you think I’m here for, then?”

“Figures,” then Sir Loin waved his hand and went away.

Rumia watched his back as he disappeared in a corner, uttering a whisper, “I heard everything. Thank you…”