The formally dressed young man and the beautiful brunette made brief eye contact before fully turning toward each other.
"It's you!" the woman said, displaying her apparent pleasure as she leaned in.
Too close…
A light perfume lingered in Ernst's nose as he stood near the lady in front of him.
At this point, the only women Ernst had been close to were his sister and Hannah, whom he had known since late childhood. While he had no trouble speaking to women at the bakery, he had few opportunities to engage with them outside a work setting.
"You were at our bakery yesterday, weren't you?" Ernst asked, his voice carrying an uncomfortable air.
"Yes! Your pastries were delicious! I especially love the macarons!"
Upon exchanging these words, Ernst began to feel less awkward speaking to the lady in front of him. However, hearing her compliments provided him with a vague sense of confidence.
"That's good to hear. My sister and I are really glad you enjoyed your visit."
Observing the woman, Ernst noticed she was wearing the same monochrome long coat as yesterday. Her wavy brunette hair lightly danced in the cool fall breeze. Standing closer now, he noticed how her heeled boots made her slightly taller than she actually seemed. Even with this height boost, Ernst remained a bit taller than her.
Her outfit was well-suited for professional environments: brown leather and wool pants paired with a crisp white linen button-up shirt.
"My colleagues really enjoyed our time there, too!" the brunette said, putting her hands into her coat pockets. "The macarons were not too sweet, and the muffins were baked perfectly."
"You're too kind. We do hope you and your colleagues get the chance to visit us again," Ernst responded politely.
Ernst was focused on finding work that day, and this conversation was a welcome break from the stress he had been experiencing.
"Forgive me, but I didn't quite catch your name," the lady asked cheerfully.
Although distracted by her beauty, Ernst forced a response. "It's Ernst—Ernst Adler. It's nice to have a chance to talk to a customer outside a business setting."
"Nice to meet you, Ernst. My name is Sonia—Sonia Rosenfield—It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," the woman said with a genuine smile.
As they continued exchanging pleasantries, they instinctively began strolling together around the university campus.
Ernst learned that Sonia was visiting the university for work. Although they had intended to stop by yesterday, their boss had taken a detour into the Adler family bakery.
"Our boss really likes to slack off, as you might tell from my expression. However, when push comes to shove, he truly excels at his job," Sonia said with a soft smile. "Additionally, if he hadn't taken that detour, we wouldn't have been able to enjoy your family's baked goods."
Ernst's thoughts drifted briefly to the Iscalvian girl, but social norms prevented him from mentioning her. He chose to mostly listen throughout their conversation.
Sonia continued to chat as she glanced around the campus, observing the architecture.
"Are you a student here?"
Ernst let out a light laugh. "Just graduated a few weeks ago."
Her eyes immediately lit up, and she pulled Ernst's hands toward her.
"Congratulations! That's a big accomplishment!"
Too close…
Ernst's face reddened as he thanked her for the acknowledgement. Although he had felt comfortable moments ago, her sudden burst of energy caught him off guard.
The two eventually found a bench and sat down.
"What did you study, anyway?" Sonia asked expectantly.
"Nothing notable—just philosophy," he replied.
"That sounds wonderful! Learning about what it means to be human, how the world functions, and our relationship with potential creators—it has a very poetic feeling to it," Sonia added.
Ernst glanced at her as she spoke with a relaxed intonation.
While the study itself is noble… my intentions weren't…
Reminding himself why he had first studied philosophy, Ernst allowed himself a bit of self-deprecation. A person who wished to disprove divinity might not be well-regarded by others.
Although his career prospects had changed, Ernst's belief remained static. He truly believed the gods had abandoned humanity—perhaps to the point of never having existed at all.
Ernst glanced at the sky. "Those are all wonderful questions. One could even argue that these are questions one can't answer in a lifetime. To be honest, everyone has their own definition of what is 'right.'"
His eyes followed the few clouds slowly passing above. "To me… I believe we're simply here to exist… nothing more, nothing less… There is no higher purpose for human beings. We eat, sleep, and breathe. We assign meaning to ourselves to make ourselves feel better. We create gods so we don't fear death. Although it sounds cynical, that's the truth I believe in."
The air became still between them. Ernst looked dazed as he shared his deepest thoughts.
Though the bustle of the city could be heard from afar, the solemn atmosphere made it feel distant and indistinct.
I spoke too loosely… Ernst thought, cursing himself. While honest, he worried he might have made Sonia uncomfortable.
Glancing at her to gauge her reaction, Ernst was surprised. Rather than a look of disgust, her pupils held no judgment. They conveyed seriousness, yet softness. To Ernst, Sonia seemed wholly present, her eyes gentle and accepting of his words.
At a loss for words, Ernst blushed and croaked, "I-I didn't mean to ramble… I apologize if I've made you feel uncomfortable."
Sonia looked at the shared sky, which was clear for a calming midday walk. The company of someone else made it even better.
"While I don't agree with your claims, you're very candid, Ernst."
Hearing this, Ernst paused as he met Sonia's dark brown eyes.
"But! Maybe you're right. Perhaps no gods are overseeing us. Perhaps there are, but they've simply abandoned us. Regardless of our differing beliefs, we're here on Earth now. I'm not much of an optimist either, but I do want to believe each of us has a role to play in this world."
Ernst's eyes widened at her perspective.
It had been so long since he had shared such a conversation. During his time as a student, he had often watched peers debate with professors on the validity of the world's many beliefs—but he had never dared to stand out.
In a country clinging so strongly to theology, he would inevitably have been seen as a black sheep.
Perhaps the last time he had such a conversation was with his now-deceased father. Although brief, he recalled a vivid image of a young boy leaning against a tall, rough-looking man. Sometimes they would play a game of chess, other times merely chat in the cozy dining area of their bakery. Such memories were deeply cherished by Ernst.
"Even if it's not handed to us, we should strive to give ourselves meaning."
These words gave Ernst a slight twinge in his heart. Despite his discomfort, a small warmth followed.
Giving ourselves meaning… Sonia's words lingered in his mind.
Sonia stood from the bench and signalled Ernst to follow her.
"Heading out?" Ernst asked.
"Nope! Just hungry from all this walking and talking. I saw a café nearby that I wanted to try. I'll come back some other time."
Patting his pants to remove potential dirt, Ernst stood and followed Sonia.
Having someone to talk to other than his sister was a refreshing change. Since the death of his parents, he had been too focused on studies and work to hang out with peers. Karl and Hannah occasionally visited, but they had their own lives.
All he had was his sister and occasional customers at the bakery.
Sharing a conversation about his deepest interests made Ernst feel a bit happy.
Sonia and Ernst walked until they had left the university campus. Leaving the quiet atmosphere, Ernst re-entered the bustling streets of Bauner.
It was only a few hours past noon, so lunch was in order.
They stopped in front of an elegant café. Flanking the door were two large oak pillars, and large glass panes allowed a full view inside.
The café sat on a fairly busy street frequented by upper-middle-class citizens on the weekend.
"Lune Café"… a far cry from our humble bakery… Ernst thought.
Holding the door for Sonia, they entered and were escorted by a waitress to a window seat for two. Scanning the menu, Ernst could not help but scoff at the prices.
80 peffings for a sandwich?! How are they charging this much?!
Ernst instinctively rubbed his wallet. Their own bakery's prices had always been far lower, due to location and clientele.
At least twenty times the price of our stuff…
Sonia hummed happily as she traced the menu with her finger, seemingly unfazed. Ernst, however, fretted over his tight budget. He had only about 2 markings in his wallet—enough for coffee at most.
Sighing, he decided to bite the bullet and order anyway. He immediately lost 40 markings to a latte.
Once I get a job, I'll make it back easily… It's only six markings…
"Figured out what you want?" Sonia asked.
"Yes," Ernst responded, feigning eagerness.
Signalling the waitress, they placed their orders.
"Could I just get one Lune Latte?" Ernst asked.
My wallet…
"Sounds good! And for you?"
"I'll have a Lune Latte as well… and a Bauner Steak Sandwich," Sonia said, eager to try the café's food.
"Wonderful! I'll have your orders out shortly." The waitress left.
While waiting, Ernst observed the café. Unlike their bakery, the interior was larger, with more tables and a counter showcasing desserts. Despite it being Monday, many fashionable customers dined in, similar to Sonia.
Feeling out of place, Ernst self-deprecated silently.
"By the way, if you've just graduated, what brought you back to the university?" Sonia asked.
"At the moment, I am just job hunting. It's difficult nowadays… though I have a degree, teaching isn't popular among men. I don't have many qualifications to work at the university either. Regardless, I thought it was worth trying."
Though they had only known each other for a few hours, Ernst felt close to Sonia.
"That's a shame. I'm sure you'll find something soon. Anything in particular you prefer?" Sonia asked sympathetically.
"Not really. At this point, any job would be a blessing. As long as I can help support my sister, I'll be fine."
At that moment, the waitress returned with a tray holding two large ceramic mugs of smooth brown liquid. The lattes were decorated with leaf-shaped cream art. Beside them sat a large sandwich, with roasted beef, melted cheese, and sweet sauce held between toasted buns.
After placing the order, the waitress excused herself.
Ernst looked down at his latte. Though it cost six markings, the portion was satisfying.
"Here you are!" Sonia's voice interrupted his thoughts.
Beside his drink lay half of the sandwich Sonia had ordered.
"This is for the free donut holes you gave us yesterday. I shouldn't eat too much, though…" Sonia said lightly.
Ernst felt she had intuitively understood his position. Sonia was refined and tactful, he realized, even after only a few hours of knowing her.
It would be rude to refuse.
He looked down at the steaming steak sandwich. "Thank you," he said gratefully.
They clasped their hands together and said grace. Once finished, they began to eat.
The breading was perfectly crisp. The steak was juicy, full of flavour from its seasoning. The cheese balanced the saltiness and complemented the crunchy bread with its soft texture. The sweet sauce added uniqueness.
As he critiqued the dish, Ernst considered potential additions to their bakery menu—but a line of meat products would be troublesome.
After finishing, they enjoyed their lattes.
"By the way, have you received any offers from employers yet?" Sonia asked.
"Not yet. I only started searching today…"
Sonia's eyes twinkled quietly. She set down her mug.
"In that case, why don't I offer you an interview? We're looking for someone right now."
Ernst felt excitement, though he masked it to maintain composure.
"What sort of job is it?" he asked.
"I can't share specifics yet. I still need to consult with our boss. But I will put in a good word for you. Meeting you, I feel you'd be a perfect fit." Sonia leaned back, smiling.
Ernst felt his confidence grow slightly.
To seem marketable, one must act as more than they are—a principle he had long applied to selling baked goods. Now, he applied it to himself.
"I'll gladly accept the interview."
"Great! I'll meet you at your bakery tomorrow afternoon," Sonia said brightly.
Although Ernst outwardly mirrored her enthusiasm, internally,y he was far more excited.