Find New Beginning In Defeat

Huilu could guess, that even if she said that Irso shouldn't pay for her he would be as stubborn as she and end up paying for her nevertheless. So even though Huilu saw Irso counting the money required for their orders she didn't mention it, and rather planned how she would pay him back in the future. For Huilu never forgot a debt, and she had her ways of repaying them without the other person even realizing it.

Japan and India. Two countries with rich culture and natura that Huilu was very much interested in seeing and experiencing. But before she could comment Irso stood up to go and order. Huilu let him go, and watched after Irso as he made his way to the cash register. His mannerisms made her smile, and she couldn't help but stare. Thankfully she realized her staring before Irso turned back, since it would probably have been unsettling if Huilu kept her eyes on him continuously. And when Irso sat back down Huilu smiled, having pretended to look around the shop and people in there.
"Welcome back."

The thought had also passed through Huilu's mind, but she hadn't voiced it. She had thought of it as acting much too familiar, Huilu hadn't known Irso for long enough to go on a trip together with him. Even if she wanted to. So Huilu was surprised when Irso instead suggested it, and as she looked at him you could see how her face brightened slightly. But Huilu made sure not to seem too happy, it would've seemed strange.

"I'm rather fond of that idea, and the idea of not losing my favourite talking companion."
Huilu chuckled, acting more nonchalant about the topic than she was feeling. Somehow Huilu felt like she was young again. Well, younger. And when the one she had held attraction towards had asked her for a flight. This feeling was similar to that, although more subdued, made more subtle with age.
"I have learned many languages, but I have not visited nearly as many countries as I wish to. It would be wonderful to experience those countries, it would most definitely give me inspiration for my art."

Of course Irso was intrigued that Huilu knew many languages, she had expected that. Huilu chuckled and leaned forward as well, leaning on the table with her elbows.
"In our community we speak a special form of Draconic, that has influences from some European languages, mainly French. When we first began opening our community many of us found it rather easy to learn French, and other European languages, and many of us had high learning rate in the first place. I can speak French, Italian, Spanish, German and some Slovak. I wish to try and learn Greek and move on to Turkish from there."
Huilu loved learning new things, and languages were among her favourites. She found it fascinating how so many different people groups had been able to create such different beautiful sounding languages. Her dream was to some day know all Earth's languages, and it wasn't an impossible dream in the least. Huilu would live for a long time, she had multiple opportunities to study.
"I also wish to learn languages, that are in the verge of extinction. I find it a shame to let something unique and special to disappear. If at least I alone could help the language live on I think that would also preserve the memory of those who once spoke it."

Huilu as well heard a number being called out, and it was theirs. Before Irso could stand up Huilu did, and she smiled down at Irso.
"Allow me. I cannot let you do all the work."
Huilu chuckled, and made her way to fetch their order. When at the pick-up station Huilu steadied the tray of an older man, whose hands were shaking quite badly, and helped him return his dishes to the station meant for them. Then she picked up her and Irso's tray and made her way back to the table, carefully sliding the tray on the table. Huilu sit down and pulled her chair back, and looked at their food with slight hunger.
"This looks quite delicious."
Huilu commented, and picked up her warm sandwich. Or more like hot, but that was even better.

"The hatchlings tend to make large dinners, so a light snack such as this suits me very well."
Huilu said cheerfully, and carefully bit into her sandwich, remaining cautious since she received burns much more easily than was normal and the sandwich was still slightly hot. But it wasn't too hot, and Huilu was surprised to find melted cheese inside the bread. It stretched in a string as Huilu brought the sandwich away from her mouth, leaving her with a long cheese strand hanging from her mouth. Huilu chuckled a bit at herseld and then bit down and cut the string, setting her sandwich down. She sipped her ice tea, and it was just the right amount of cool to soothe the slight burning on her tongue.

"Spanish was, in fact, one of the first languages I learned. Well, old Spanish, to be exact. There is, I mean, was an elderly dragon in Akt'Anir, who was quite stubborn and preferred speaking in her own tongue. So I requested she teach me the language, so I could chat with her, and she told me most fascinating stories of the outside world. And I learned modern Spanish quite quickly thanks to this old friend of mine."
Huilu told her story, and got a slightly sad expression again when she remembered the now passed elderly dragon. She had arrived in their community 1000 or so years ago, and she had already been elderly then.
"We used to teach the young ones as a community, each willing person provided them with knowledge from their area of expertise, and each clan taught their own young and clanless young were divided between clans. But only recently we implemented a system that allows all the willing individuals to learn the same knowledge in same amounts, each taking their own individual time."

The elder Huilu spoke of had been...a hermit, so to say. Due to her origins and temper the clan had not wanted to deal with her, as they had been afraid of a punishment for knowing too much about the outside world. But Huilu, who had been so young then, had dismissed these fears and learned a language in secret from her father and their chief. It had been the secret of her and the elder to the day she died just few decades ago. Huilu truly missed her. Huilu also saw Irso mouth something, and although she did not know what she suspected it had something to do with respecting the now passed mentor Huilu was talking about. And she felt deeply grateful for that.

"It has already worked out succesfully. Although I say recent it has nearly been 10 years since we began experimenting with a new educational system. There were bumps, naturally, but because of collaboration between all clan leaders and members who were willing to work together and test new things we were able to develop a system that works for most."
Naturally there were still people, that were fixated in the old ways and did not think they should need to learn languages, or Earth history or mathematics. But it was the sad truth that you cannot please everyone, and the aging population of Akt'Anir was happy simply living quiet, simple lives.

As Irso asked if Akt'Anir had any intentions of sending more of their young to the island Huilu shook her head slightly.
"We have all the intention of doing so. Especially since the young we have already sent here are adjusting very well, and I would dare say are thriving. They were an experiment of sorts, and now I believe many parents who were initially hesitant will dare let their children experience the island, the outside world and a whole new life."
The Akt'Anir had sent young in more central positions on purpose. Whisp and S'loo from the Rukt'In clan, and Frysta and Hwum who were both going to inherit the position of a leader in their respective clans. Seeing these figures succeed and thrive would surely give courage both to the parents and their children.

Huilu sipped her ice tea, and was able to take a bite of the sandwich without the cheese performing tricks on her again.
"I understand the worry of the parents over sending their young to a new environment. But after I've seen how this place affects the children, how they seem so alive and happy, I truly believe that it is what our community needs. What we must do in order for us to build a better future for ourselves."

Huilu was surprisingly hungry, she had not had much appetite during her time away and now that most of her stress was disappearing her body reminded her it needed to eat. So Huilu finished her sandwich surprisingly quickly, and was left to sip her ice tea and listen to Irso. His words were kind, as always, and Huilu smiled.
"That would be a dream I would be nothing but happy to see come true. The mountain peaks and valleys will always be our ancestral home, but to see planets and planes beyond this? Even my imagination has trouble picturing it."
Huilu had a far-off look in her eyes for a moment, as she did imagine it. Her children, or perhaps the children of her children, spreading Akt'Anir to another planet, or universe, or perhaps even another dimension. It was...a magnificent thought.

Huilu was snapped out of her daydreams by Irso's question, and she shook her head slightly.
"Unfortunately I haven't found time to do so yet. But now that I have less duties I have considered making the trip. I imagine it must be beautiful, I cannot wait to see it."
Huilu's voice and expression were full of toned down excitement, and there was a wide smile on her face as she sipped her ice tea. An idea popped into her head, and she set her tea down for a bit.
"Would you like to come with me? Whenever you have free time."