At dinner that night, I tried to learn more about Amara. Even though I had been here for a fair amount of night, I knew next to nothing about her. She always seemed to turn the subject either or something else. Was she just shy or secretive? So at the table eating greens and what tasted like a steak in an apple sauce, I had a special reason for questioning her. I wanted to do something special for her.

"So, what did you do before I came along, Amara?"

"I was training others for the same purpose as you. If we are to go to war with the Celenians, then we need as much power as possible." She said curtly, and then took a bite of the steak.

"I didn't know that. So all Bismillans can do this with training?" Amara looked at me quizzically.

"All beings can do this with training, but Bismillans don't need as much of it as others," She sipped her glass of milk. From what animal, I couldn't guess. It had a purple tinge.

I began eating my meal. It was actually really good, despite my still-lingering apprehension of alien foods.

"Did you cook this?" I asked. Perhaps I could make a special meal or something for her.

"No, food gets sent here from a center in the city. Stored food would rot too fast here," she replied.

"Oh," I paused, thinking. "Do you have any hobbies?"

"Hobbies?" Amara questioned, as if she didn't know the meaning.

"Like things you like to do in your free time, not training me." I said. Training only took about 6 hours in the day.

"I sleep, or eat. But that's with you." I sighed, frustrated at her answer, but also slightly amused at it.

"No, not like that, Amara. Like when I'm not training with you, I like to paint."

"Oh," she said, realizing what I meant. "I don't do that stuff." I huffed in frustration. Finally I told her straight out my intentions.

"What can I do to make it up to you?" I shouted. Probably not the best way to get the message across. Amara looked up, her face blank.

"Do good for me," she said calmly. Then she broke into a huge grin.