I sat through most of it without falling asleep.

[At least, Nie Huaisang is being honest?]

Some of it I didn't fully understand but I think I got the general gist of why we're here. There are too many worlds and not enough resources to keep them going so Aurora is deciding which ones to keep and which ones to get rid of, right?

[Despite the frosting on his mouth, his expression turns more serious and grave at this point. His eyes grow cloud over and turn troubled at this point. He might not be anywhere near academically inclined enough to grasp all the scientific terminology that was used but he certainly understands the crux of the matter.]

And we were all brought here to undergo trials to see which worlds are worth saving and which ones are fine to discard? If I recall correctly.

[It's honestly all very concerning to him. Nie Huaisang's ever scored well on a test in his life and an outlier like himself is probably the worst pick for a sample of the people in his world. Still, here he is, regardless, and reaching for another cookie.]

[It doesn't take Nie Huaisang very long to decide he appreciates this woman as he listens, taking a sit with her to listen while she speaks. She's thinking about this situation logically and many of the questions she's giving voice to are sensible considerations, even thoughts that have surfaced in his own mind though in far more articulate terms. Much of his nervousness about this situation stems from the fact that there are so many unanswered questions about what the these trials are supposed to show or what criteria must be met for a world and its people to qualify for existence.]

My first inclination is to cooperate with the trials, to take this matter seriously. That we are even here to begin with shows that whoever is doing the choosing, whether it's Aurora or someone she merely represents, has a very long reach and power to pluck us out of our homelands to bring us here.

[It's unusual for Nie Huaisang to display his intellect so openly but he's yet to see anyone that warrants playing dumb. And if anyone else from his world arrives in this place, well, he'll figure out how to deal with them later. When their whole world is at risk, including those under his own leadership back home, his personal grievances must be put aside or none of the work he's put into his plan or the sacrifices he's made in the process of it all will even matter.]

There are people who look to me for leadership back home, whose lives are in my hands. Even here, so far away from them, I still have a responsibility to them. I cannot afford not to take this potential threat to their safety seriously.

[Somewhat detracting from his little speech, Nie Huaisang wipes the icing from his mouth with his sleeve.]

Not cooperating and doing my best, whatever that means to Aurora or those above her, is the same as condemning them to death, is it not?

[Most them will die anyway, if they continue the cultivation path they're on but Nie Huaisang's not so arrogant to think he has a right to help them along by doing nothing here.]

Nie Huaisang. Most people simply call me Huaisang.

[He offers a faint smile of his own. Ellana's words make it clear that she understands the level of cold calculation required to make decisions of this magnitude. Between them and her appearance, it's enough to pique his curiosity. She seems to viewing all of this with a level of rationality and pragmatism that Nie Huaisang tends not to come across in most people.]

It takes a ruthless individual to deem an entire world, its people, and all living creatures that dwell within it as unworthy of existence. All its achievements, its history.... Simply gone as if it never was. It takes a degree of coldness to decide such a thing that I'm unsure I would ever be capable of.

[Nie Huaisang likes to think that he's incapable of making decisions that heartless and cruel, even to save his own sect from extinction but he hopes to never be put in a position that puts that resolve to the test. Even he's surprised himself at some of the extremes he's been willing to go to out of filial loyalty and revenge.]

It would be a terrible thing, I fear, if the number of the representatives of the worlds being tested exceeds the amount of worlds that can be saved. But until we know more, I believe it best to cooperate with one another, especially those new to this situation. I have not left this building yet so I do not even know how many others are even here yet. Or if any of them are of a cooperative mindset.

[He pauses a moment, brushing crumbs off his robes. Clearly, he's had quite few cookies. Stress eating, perhaps?]

I don't even know what the world outside looks like.

[Nie Huaisang follows her out of the hospital and freezes. An unfamiliar city is certainly one way of putting it. The building they're now leaving had been very strange, too; he probably shouldn't be surprised the great outdoors seems equallly so.]

I've never seen buildings made of materials like this or built quite so tall before. Does that look like glass or metal to you?

[His eyes are locked on one of the skyscrapers in the distance, trying to fathom how anyone could find such a blocky structure to be appealing architecture but he keeps that rather inane thought to himself. There's more important things to focus on right now like where to go from here.

He looks up and down the street both ways.]

There doesn't seem to be many people about. Is there even anyone else here, I wonder?

[The feeling has an empty feeling to it and it sounds very quiet to him, nothing at all like the hustle and bustle of the cities he knows back home but one direction seems to lead to an area that looks a little more.... natural? Perhaps? On the other hand, the other direction seems to look just as strange as the building they just left.]

How adventurous are you feeling? It looks as if there may be a little countryside that way -

[He pauses to point offin one direction, toward what may be countryside before pointing in opposite direction toward another rather large building, not too dissimilar from the hospital.]

- or more buildings like the infirmary over there. I'll accompany you in either direction. I'm not sure how I feel about travelling in this place alone yet.

[There's safety in numbers and Nie Huaisang would rather not be killed before he can get a better read on the situation they're in.]

[It's not the tip of Nie Huaisang's tongue to say something about the language barrier because now that Ellana's pointed it out, that they're capable of understanding each other at all, truly is very strange. He opens his mouth to voice his agreement but before he can even speak a word, the strangest doll he's ever seen in his life walks up to them.

He's going to need a moment to process what he's even looking at here.]

What the...

[He trails off, at a loss for words as he just gawks at the helper bot. It doesn't seem to be hostile, judging from its cheery words and the blocky hand it's waving in a surprisingly friendly gesture. Unsure of what the etiquette for this situation is, Nie Huasiang lifts his hand hesitantly to awkwardly wave back.]

H-Hello? A-Are you one of the natives of this land? A servant of Lady Aurora, perhaps?

[His guess is that it's animated servant of some kind. The idea that it could be biological doesn't even occur to him but with how weird everything else in this place is, that wouldn't even surprise him. He leans over to whisper in Ellana's ear.]

I don't suppose you have any idea what that is either...?

[Definitely not helpful to a pair of clueless strangers at a total loss but it gives a small lead on where they might be able to find other people in this place. Nie Huaisang's had to work with less than this.]

Places of residence? Can you guide us to them? These buildings are strange to our eyes. We don't know what your residences look like.

[At least, he thinks it's safe to assume that's the case for Ellana, too, judging from her responses so far. An inquiry about where to find other necessities might worth making as well. They'll need food, clothing, medicine, and various other supplies to get by here, he thinks, especially if they have no luck finding anyone.

Then to Ellana:]

It doesn't seem to bear us ill intent but it might be wise to remain on guard, just in case.