Leo's melancholy was evident even to Rutile; dutifully, they examined the photos of strange people he showed them, allowing him his reminiscence. "It is difficult to be without your family," they said. "But your experiences here will strengthen you so that you'll better be able to serve them when you return. Try to keep that in mind."

If their words rang hollow, it was because they were that. Rutile too struggled with being separated from their life and their work, and unlike Leo, they had no images of their home for comfort. But Leo was clearly not even of age with the juniors, and it thus fell to Rutile to see him taken care of. That much, at least, they could do.