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He’d have to keep thinking about that moving forward, Roman decided.

In the meantime, though, he didn’t see much point in fussing about it. Without more to go on, it would just be agonizing for agonizing’s sake. Fruitless frustration.

And right here, right now, he saw something else that might be much more productive.

The new man in their party, now wearing gray metal armor like the rest of them.

Roman was bringing up the rear, so he quickened his pace in order to catch up to the guy.

“It’s good to meet you, by the way,” he said, extending a gauntleted hand. “My name’s Roman Fullister.”

The man needed a moment to respond, apparently. “I am Loren,” he said as they shook hands, metal clinking against metal.

“Heh, well, I already knew that much,” said Roman. “What’s your last name?”

“I... don’t have one.”

That gave Roman pause. “Really? Where are you from?”

“...Ah. I am Vaelish by birth.”

“Oh wow. Beautiful place. I visited for the first time a few years ago, and I’ve been meaning go back ever since.”

“...Yes.”

And Roman waited, but the man offered no further elaboration.

Heh. Not much of a talker, eh?

Well, that wasn’t a problem for Roman. “That a sore spot? Your homeland? I apologize, if so. Just trying to make conversation.”

“I... do not have very many fond memories of it, no.”

“I see. Sorry to hear that.” Come to think of it, the place did undergo a brutal civil war some years ago. And despite its reputation for beauty and tourism, it did still have some lingering attachments to historical controversies.

For one thing, the war had been fought over slavery. And yet at the end of it, slavery had not been fully outlawed. Extensive regulations had been placed on the practice, but as far as Roman knew, it was still technically legal there.

He hadn’t witnessed anything like that during his own visit to the place, but then, he’d mostly stayed in the more luxurious areas of the country.

Moreover, there were rumors that the practice wasn’t even as regulated as the politicians claimed it was--that it was mostly just “legalese” for the purpose of making the country look better internationally.

Perhaps they hoped to prevent certain foreign powers from taking a “humanitarian” interest in their nation. Intar had a long history of that, after all. And it even played a role in their civil war, too.