Aurora is polite. And the pleasant conversation continues.

Rabbit-girl takes a glass and drinks wine. The taste... is simply amazing. It is extremely difficult to find something like this in modern wastelands.

The second glass is in the hands of the man. He also drinks wine.

Aurora begins to ask him how exactly he achieved such high skills in the art of creating sculptures. Leonard answers in detail and tells about the methods of processing different types of stone and how to use specific tools.

Then he begins to unobtrusively ask Aurora about her past, about her settlement, about her favorite activities and about her family.

Perhaps in a different situation, Aurora would not have decided to tell so much detailed information...

However, a friendly and charismatic interlocutor is quite disposed to the manifestation of frankness...

This conversation lasts for many hours and the main leitmotif of the dialogue becomes the value of art.

Aurora, feeling relaxed due to the wine, says: "I am surprised... At first, it seemed to me that your settlement was just another community of wild and superstitious persons. These phrases... seekers of truth, Spiritual Flame of True Nature... Superstitious nonsense! I am pleasantly surprised that you are different from the rest of the inhabitants of the Meram settlement!"

Leonard smiles mysteriously and answers: "You are right, Aurora... But this is not surprising at all... If you think about it - in any community there is an extremely small group of persons who are different from the majority. Persons who can reflect on highly intellectual topics. Persons who can create art and understand its value. Persons who are alien to prejudices and who are the highest elite of any community... I can assume that in your own settlement you yourself belong to such a small elite group. Your very name symbolizes the dawn of a new world… I think that you have always felt your potential hidden under the oppression of everyday life, which is fettered by primitive philistine norms. Isn't that right, Aurora?"

These words make the rabbit-girl blush slightly with embarrassment. But the idea is extremely pleasant. And this idea corresponds to her unspoken spiritual aspirations. Few people in the settlement of The Warren could fully appreciate the artistic value of the works of art that Aurora created. Most perceived her art only as a secondary entertainment. They treated her condescendingly, as a spoiled child from a rich family. And Aurora often felt irritated by this attitude towards her personality.

Leonard listened with particular interest to the story about the dangers of the path along the gorge and the attack of a pack of cazadores. At the words about the dead Luna, a fleeting spark flashed in his black eyes…

Aurora did not notice anything. She was too busy telling the tragic events and her tormented emotions. Leonard sympathetically soothed her mental anguish and convinced her that there was no basis for guilt.

His words seemed to be imprinted in her consciousness weakened by ****: "Aurora - you are not guilty of anything! Remember that the feeling of guilt is a vile poison that poisons the mind and weakens creative abilities. The feeling of guilt, the feeling of sin - all these are disgusting tools for suppressing the true nature of a free person! These are tools for turning the psyche of a genius into the psyche of a ****! You are destined by fate itself for greatness and for creating brilliant works of art! The most important thing is your pleasure, because it is pleasure that leads to the disclosure of your creative potential. Ignorant philistines will always envy you and try to hinder the flight of your creative imagination. But I hope - that you will find the strength in yourself to fight back and break the chains of hypocritical philistine morality! "

Guided by the remnants of a sense of caution, Aurora, during a long conversation, tried to ask about the customs and beliefs of the inhabitants of the Meram settlement. However, Leonard's answers were vague: "Aurora... You are an intelligent and educated person... Obviously, that in order to control the mass of the philistine majority, some norms and customs are required... You should not take this too seriously and clutter your memory with details... The main thing is that our customs promote freedom of creativity and the breakdown of absurd pseudo-moral restrictions that fetter the initiative of creative individuals. Remember that uneducated philistines should not dictate to such brilliant creators as you! Such ideas are the essence of our customs..."

Leonard asked Aurora with interest about her observations and her drawings. He enthusiastically agreed to her offer to show samples of her drawings (she carried a sketchbook in her backpack).

At the end of the conversation, Leonard gave Aurora something...

A small spiked knuckle duster made of light and durable silver-white metal. At the top of the knuckle duster was a small sharp blade about ten centimeters long.

Mysterious incomprehensible symbols on the metal...

Thus, Aurora now has a new melee weapon: a knuckle duster knife made of light and durable metal of a silvery-white hue.

As Leonard said goodbye, "I am impressed by your skills and courage, Aurora. You have the ability to create and understand art, and your heart is also fearless in the face of the dangers of the wastelands. Know that you will always be welcome in the Meram settlement..."

So, Aurora was enchanted by Leonard's communication...

She left his room only five hours later...