(Date: The Fourteenth Day of the Eleventh Month — Yalta)

  During the night before his first mission, Sachi dreamed he was being chased through a dark and familiar path: the woods behind his home in the East Meadows. The purple-cloaked Elves were hot in pursuit behind him, hacking at the air with their daggers relentlessly. There was a hunger for blood in their eyes, a hunger that would only be satisfied when Sachi was torn limb-from-limb. The half-Elv ran as hard as he could, but no matter how hard he tried the hooded figures only inched closer, and closer still. They chased him until, finally, Sachi could feel their cold blades grazing the hairs on the back of his neck.

  Each time Sachi glanced back at the pursuers he only regretted it more. The faces of his pursuers twisted more with each cowardly peek over his shoulder, until they were unrecognizable distortions of fear; their ears growing heavier and long as tails, their noses more stretched to look witchlike, those eyes stretched wider and became more deranged in expression until they lost irises and pupils entirely. Monsters were nipping at his heels.

  "Please! Anyone! Please save me!" Sachi yelled his lungs out into the chill night air, but no one arrived to help him. "Mira!" His cries silenced once he passed the already deceased bodies of his father and brother on the ground, both mangled by the hands of the same men pursuing him. He had to keep running, to escape death somehow. But no matter where he ran there was no one in sight to save him.

  A great blaze ignited behind the purple monsters, roaring more violently with each of their steps. A roar of chaotic flames was erasing everything their boots touched. There was no hope in that mad dash for survival, until the powerful voice of the Hero, Helen ?thena, rang from above the burning trees.

  "Take my hand!"

  Sachi reached out and held tight onto his savior.

  She continued to call out to him, "I'll show you the way home!"

  Sachi saw a familiar mark glowing on the side of his thumb, a symbol he saw once before in a dream. That's when Sachi realized what was happening, this was a nightmare—one he had run through over a dozen times since that night in the East Meadows. The sudden realization forced Captain Helen to drop him from the flight. Sachi flailed as he fell back down into the burning woods behind his childhood home, reaching for the impossibly strong woman to save him once more. She did not.

  Landfall awoke the young soldier from his nightmare, forcing him to sit up fully on his bunk. Sachi opened his eyes to feel his entire being was soaked with fear's sweat, his blanket thrown on the floor beside his bunk sometime ago. He was safe now. He was in the barracks where no purple-cloaked deviants could touch him. The Captains, Commanders, and even his Hero were all here.

  I'm safe.

  He looked down to his thumb and scratched at a hot itch upon the skin, but his eyes must have still been misty from his nightmare. For a fleeting moment Sachi could have sworn he saw that odd symbol from his dream still lingering on his hand, glowing brighter than any candle-lit street lamps of Palos by magnitudes. But after blinking his eyes a few times to wake fully, the golden glow was gone, replaced by the sight of his dark skin under shadow and moonlight.

  Officer Shelik was already waiting outside Sachi and Faron's barracks the next morning wearing an uncharacteristically energetic smile. The unexpected sight led to the young men's stomachs dropping at their first steps out the door.

  "Finally... There you boys are. Are we ready to go?"

  Sachi, Faron, and their Training Officer marched together to the Red Charles. When they arrived, Victoria was already waiting outside at full attention, armed from head to toe as if going to war that morning. She had two pistols holstered on each side of her waist, a pair of magazine-fed handguns and another pair of higher-caliber revolvers. A knife was also sheathed to the side of her right thigh, making Faron and Sachi feel underdressed in their military-issued white shirts and camouflage pants. She wore a different face today as well, but whether she was angry or nervous Sachi couldn't tell; he just knew she looked different.

  "Good morning!" called Sachi, but he was given no greeting in return. Victoria had a focused state on her face that said not to bother her. So, their squad continued marching south toward the capital gates together. From there, they would continue further south to Posidon to rest for the night and head toward the western wall for their mission.

  The oversized gates of Gilgamere split the valley leading into the capital from shore to shore, a fortress door forged from th?dia, rynx, and iron with help from the Titanese members of C.R.M. It was designed to be impenetrable to any force aiming to breach their gate and take the Ash Lord's crimson throne. The monument was far too tall, a pristine, black goliath measuring over seven-hundred feet in height to protect the noble Humans of the capital. This was Sachi's second time seeing those gates, for on his way into Gilgamere he was hassled quite a bit with Mira while trying to gain entry.

  He recalled how the brothers were asked to state their purpose several times, unsure if Mira was lying about his age. Alas, enlistment was the only viable option for most folk from the Green Edge to be permitted entry into their Kingdom's capital, and those two boys had been all too determined to join up. Now, Private Van'Heatah stood before that mountainous gate with a view altered by what truly slumbered within Gilgamere. What he thought "superb" would look like was far different in person. Those gates no longer felt like a barrier meant to keep him out, but a monument to his odd purpose in the world. The new Private was duty-bound to protect the Capital and its citizens, his life having gained no more value than when he delivered papers in Palos. Yet he had his foot in the door.

  One day... Sachi thought to himself. I'll find a way to end all this hate, just like you wanted.

  Still unaware of their first mission's details, the Privates of Sachi's squad passed through that monstrous gate to find an aerial wagon being packed just outside the capital gate. A tall woman with wide shoulders carelessly tossed luggage and rations alike into the back of the tarp-roofed carriage. The soldier had a small, mousy face for her size, standing out from the sea of red capes and black armor with grey leathers complimented by a series of light blue holsters down her legs and below the armpits. When the woman spotted Zayne Shelik and his Privates, she tossed her unbrushed, chestnut hair aside and gave them all a wide smile.

  "Zayne!" The strong woman called out with a voice higher than Sachi expected given her strong stature. "Good to know I'll be riding out with an old friend!"

  Officer Shelik's face sank in within a finger snap when the woman called his name "Toya..." he grumbled through a frown. "I had no idea we'd be riding out with company..."

  The woman crossed her defined arms, a sight Sachi immediately credited to years within the Royal Military's service. "Neither did I until a few moments ago, word just came down from baby Holo." She let out a chuckle at her own joke. "Sorry, but it looks like my new squad will be joining on your way down to Posidon—at least until you can drop us off in Urbsári. We'll make our own way to Neel once we're by the lake."

  Zayne spoke under his breath, but it was still loud enough for Sachi to hear with his Elvish ears. "Damn it, Revin." The Officer then composed himself back to his usual slouch and motioned for his Privates to move into the wagon. "Go on then. We should get moving before the day slips away."

  Sachi was happy to hear a familiar voice call out from inside the long wagon being hitched up.

  "Sachi! That you?" Dallis Ventin had been peeping from the carriage's rear and waved at his bunkmate with a happy smile. The chubby boy had made a seat in the wagon's cabin atop a bundle of red and black patterned packs.

  Sachi halted at the back of the wagon with a raised brow. "Dallis...? What are you doing in there?" He looked around the wagon and saw Dallis wasn't alone. At either side of him sat the members of his squad: Connor Bane and Lukas Joyvall. Connor was clearly part Blood with those sharp fangs and lanky arms. As for Lukas, well his long tail coated in black fur was all the evidence anyone needed to place him as part Felid.

  "We're hauling supplies out to some hungry folk by Lake Velli." Dallis chuckled weakly, adjusting his place to get a better view of Sachi's squad. "Captain Holo said y'all wouldn't mind dropping Blazār Squad off for our first mission." Again, Dallis chuckled through a forced smile, a clear attempt to cover how nervous the Private was about seeing the River Towns once more.

  "Blazār Squad?" Sachi repeated his bunkmate's words with wide eyes, glancing over Dallis' companions with an approving smile. "A very powerful name. Silver Ash has always been shit for forging blades, but it makes excellent blunt weapons—always was my favorite ore to craft with a child." The pointy haired boy tapped at his chin as he recounted his experiences with the Silver-grade metal. "The high melting point makes it a bit difficult to smelt, tough to smooth out too, but my father's set of Blazār smithing tools was his most valuable possession in the world." He turned back to Victoria, eager to pass on more fun facts about metals to anyone who was still listening. "It's beautiful too, candy blue like no other stainless steels or silver could glow. It's what all the royal family's crowns are made of before they get dyed black." The Duchess didn't look impressed, so Sachi turned back to Dallis. "Did you all come up with the name together?"

  The nervous teen waved a dismissive hand, "Course not. The Captain gave it to us—every new squad gets named after one of the graded metals. Figured you of all folk would know that, Sachi. Didn't your T.O. tell y'all?"

  Confused, Sachi spun around to meet Faron and Victoria. "Did Officer Shelik say anything to either of you?"

  The pair of Humans stared at their squad-mate as if the answer was too obvious, but Faron was the only one who answered.

  "Are you really surprised? He never tells us anything." He pointed to their Training Officer with a thumb.

  "Well, what the-..." Sachi cut himself off and turned again to meet Shelik's less than enthusiastic face. "So, do we have an amazing name like them?"

  Zayne removed his spectacles to polish the lenses with the top of his shirt, annoyed his Privates hadn't loaded their gear into the wagon yet. "Yeah. Why?"

  "What do you mean, 'Why'!?" Sachi tossed his arms over his head, finding himself crumbling under the stress of their first mission far earlier than he would have liked. "Why wouldn't you tell us?"

  "You never asked." The Officer's answer was delivered with a carelessness Sachi could only attribute to years of apathy and disappointment within the C.R.M.

  "Well..." Sachi said impatiently after hearing how impressive Dallis's had been. "What is it?"

  Zayne finished cleaning his lenses and sighed too loudly. "Huff...! If I tell you, will you get in the damn wagon?"

  "Of course!" The half-Elv's eyes lit up in anticipation. "Please!" The Private fixed his too happy smile, embarrassed he might be acting too much like his older brother.

  "You're Goji Squad. Now get in."

  Sachi's joy shattered. "Goji...?" He repeated softly. He took in a deep inhale to gather his thoughts before speaking again. "Can we swap?"

  "No. Move." Officer Shelik's eyes said clearly that the conversation was over.

  Sachi held up his end of their bargain and turned back towards the cart. He shook his head and whispered under his breath as he walked back towards his bunkmate. "Fuckin' Goji... Course we get that."

  "What's the problem?" Dallis said honestly. "Goji's a Silver-grade too. Plus, I hear it's mixed in most armor sets because of how tough that shit is."

  "Yeah..." Sachi didn't want to look up, he knew how superficial he was about to sound. "Goji Metal is incredibly durable, mostly used for shields and all that... and yeah. It pretty much bonds to any other Silver or Gold-grade ores to make them harder to crack..." He frowned. It's not like the fresh Private expected their squad to be named after one of the Golds like Mannite or Th?dia; he would have been happy just to be named after a Bronze or even Steel grade like Bismuth or Iron. But Goji Metal was the path Fate had set him on. "It's just... Goji is so ugly."

  Private Ventin let out a howl of a laugh at the revelation. "Is that all, Van'Heatah? Had no idea you Green Edge kids were so posh!"

  Sachi smiled again, still feeling embarrassed by his squads name. Finally, he climbed aboard the wagon with a chuckle. "Well, I mean Rnyx ore is at least-"

  Suddenly a hand shoved Sachi's ribs into the wagon's side. The half-Elv was rattled, but the voice of his least favorite squadmate made it clear what had happened.

  "Shut up about metal and let the Humans go first."

  Sachi stumbled to one knee and watched Faron climb into the aerial wagon. Victoria's hand quickly darted into the half-Elv's vision before he jumped at Faron in retaliation. She helped him back to his feet without saying a word, then motioned for him to step in before her. Sachi climbed aboard stubbornly, but made sure to let out a long exhale of frustration before stepping up into the wagon.

  Plenty of time to fight on our mission, he thought to himself.

  "Alright." Sachi said as he made a seat for himself across from Dallis. "Let's ride."

  Most civilians and cargo traveled by horse-drawn carriage on the Royal Road via its many branches, usually two steeds at a time, six if they were pulling industrial-sized shipments or a wagon belonging to nobility. However, due to the Corvus Kingdom's size and growing requests for Military assistance throughout the nation in the past five decades, a solution for quickly traversing the over-thousand miles from one end of the Kingdom to the other was refined.

  Alicanto were a species of bird commonly found in the Corvan Plains surrounding the Kingdom's mining colonies. They weren't predatory like the barn-sized Rocs that Dallis feared would snatch him from his home in Neel as a youth, instead feeding primarily on hay and wheatgrass. They were long-legged, feathered with a rock-like pattern of dark oranges and light browns, each with three long tailfeathers that swooped down to the ground no matter how tall the birds stood. For over a century, the Mortals of the Corvus Kingdom believed the Alicanto were a flightless species, a roadrunner that looked like it was spawned from a beautiful union between a peacock and an emu. Most knew the creatures had impressive footspeed, but it wasn't until a squad from the wildlife-research faction of Division Three took interest in seeing just how fast they could run that the Kingdom learned the birds' secret; the Alicanto only took flight in the dead of night and flew low to the ground. Their second discovery was that the tall birds were by far the fastest flying species within the Kingdom's borders; the most impressive of which clocked in at slightly under four hundred miles per hour unweighted.

  So, the graceful flocks of Alicanto were trapped by soldiers and relocated to farms just south of Granvere's gate for breeding and domestication. Fortunately for the C.R.M., the researchers from Division Three tended to be geniuses, and the instinctual Alicanto habits of only flying low and under moonlight were corrected through a combination of positive and negative reinforcement practices; as well as selective breeding. Now, in Sachi's rookie season, the birds served as steeds for the Royal Military's aerial wagons. Month-long expeditions across the nation by carriage were possible in a matter of hours with two Alicanto pulling a carriage, and much to Goji Squad's delight, their over twelve-hundred-mile journey to Posidon would be over in less than eight hours of flight.

  As Privates unfamiliar with high-speed movement techniques or travel via aerial wagon, the members of both Blazār and Goji squads felt sick and terrified as the gorgeous birds pulled their party across thin air. Each bob and dip of turbulence created by flaps from the birds' wide wingspans sent packs jumping and hands reaching out to grip anything stable. Sachi of all people knew how slow the mode of travel was compared to those with Radiances like Mira and Helen, speedsters and masters of flight who could end their journey to Posidon in minutes instead of hours. Yet such is life. Sometimes you must be patient when there is no solid footing and trust a pilot like Officer Shelik will land you safely where you need to be. And sometimes, even the bravest of Mortals find themselves packed two-bodies too many into the back of a sweaty wagon.

  The skies leading south were plagued with bumpier skies the higher Sachi's wagon flew. Endless miles of open sky shrank the majestic capital and tall palace into a table-sized model of Gilgamere; then to a smudge; then to nothing but a memory in the unseeable distance. A tailfin atop the wagon and sleek skirt below helped to keep their carriage from wobbling up or down more than a few degrees at a time, but the bumpy vibrations were constant; an unending rattle that prevented the Privates from resting. It was tough to sit comfortably without feeling the urge to stand, for the constant jolts from the flight's movement jiggled the soldiers' legs until they felt weightless; tingling and numb all at the same time. It was on this ride that Sachi learned just how talkative Toya Smoag was in comparison to his own Training Officer. It was as if every passing river and tall tree below reminded the woman of a story from her past; stories she felt compelled to share with the young soldiers around her.

  "And that..." she concluded, "is how I beat our Captain Holo in an arm-wrestling competition." She smiled proudly. "We were young—sure—but it still counts!" She raised a finger to punctuate the declaration.

  "Right..." Faron rolled his dark eyes incredulously, an uncomfortable amount of sweat seeping from his mohawk in the cabin's swelter. He'd never feared heights before, but looking down over their Kingdom's landscape from so high wasn't exactly a thrill for the farm boy. He hollered up to the front of the wagon where Officer Shelik held the reins of two soot-feathered steeds. The Alicantos screeched like harpies in protest of the harnesses slung low around their beaks and necks, strappings that allowed for riders to steer correctly. "Ey, Mr. Zayne! How damn long does it take to get there anyway?"

  Officer Shelik responded promptly even with the winds battering his face, clearly in no mood for conversation with so much to focus on in front of him. "Just take a load off for now, Private Ali. We'll be dropping off Officer Smoag's squad after we give the birds a chance to rest." Whether he was annoyed or distracted Faron couldn't tell. But Officer Shelik seemed especially uneasy in his response. "Try to sleep if you're bored. We'll be in Posidon before nightfall if the weather keeps."

  It wasn't the answer the fearful teen had been hoping for. Faron never cared for riding horses in the Green Edge, and the lack of faith he had with Officer Shelik at the reigns was unfathomable. But the mohawked Private had no choice in his circumstances either, deciding it was best to take his Training Officer's advice and found a crevice among the supply packs to rest in.

  The distance between Gilgamere's gates and their final landing point in the city of Posidon spanned twelve hundred and eighty-two miles, and although the Alicanto could pull their aerial wagon fast enough to arrive before day's end, the wagon slowed the birds down. Even purebred creatures like them would need a chance to rest with so much weight on their wings. After seven to eight hundred miles of flight, their aerial wagon planned on landing in Urbsári, the C.R.M.'s major fort regulating the River Towns, to drop off Blazār Squad and let the steed birds rest for a few hours before making the final leg of their journey to their Kingdom's largest city: Posidon.

  Sachi had spent the last two hours trying desperately to sleep whilst Officer Smoag recounted her stories. Yet no matter how hard he focused his energy on ignoring the chatty woman, there was no respite for him or any of the other soldiers on board; just more stress from the flight. Sachi had never traveled by air before, and frankly he didn't care for the sensation. It was noisy with all the wind ripping through their small cabin, and the noise made it hard to hear anyone who wasn't shouting like Toya. The constant jostling of the wagon was enough to turn his stomach, and much like Faron he found himself soaked from the heat of all those bodies being smashed together in such a tight space. The smell of sweat didn't help either, for it was clear someone forgot to shower that morning.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  The stench and heat didn't seem to bother Officer Smoag, for she rambled on without a hint of discomfort, not talking to any specific person so much as the space itself. "Just imagine it now, Zayne! A spacious corner office, right on the Captain's floor where all the Division Two action is. Ooh, Ooh! Maybe you'll have a private lounge area—even a furnace if you sweet talk baby Holo a bit." She kept poking at Zayne, "Every morning you'll walk into a neat, tidy space. You'll sit quietly, undisturbed by a single person who doesn't have an appointment. Who knows? One of those cute maids might even fall for you." She let out a hearty laugh. "That is... If you don't fuck up this mission. I mean, that would be the worst!"

  "Can it, Toya!" The sluggish Officer Shelik had been tenser than usual since first seeing Officer Smoag outside the capital gate. "I don't need any of your negative energy in my life right now. I'll complete this mission without a single hiccup! Then, I'll ride home and claim my new office—victorious! Simple and clean. Stop overthinking it."

  Again, the chatty Officer giggled as she spoke. "Oh, relax. I'm just pullin' your chain, Zayne! I'm sure Revin is having an office cleared out for you as we speak." She paused and studied Officer Shelik for a moment. "How did Revin even get a lazy slug like you to agree to be a Training Officer? You hate kids."

  Officer Shelik did no more than grunt as a response, eyes forward, occasionally peering down through the midday fog lingering around their unpaved road above the world. It had been nearly four hours, their landing point would be coming into view soon. He called back to Officer Smoag while keeping his eyes open for Royal Military flags. "Revin may be a bit of a wild card as of late, but he's a man of his word. If I do well with these kids, train 'em to be real rank-climbers—the types with Lieutenant and Captain potential—I know he'll reward me. He's not the type to bait-and-switch."

  "He's always been a good friend." The cheery woman let a thin-lipped smile creep over her face. "You remember how he used to be, right, Zayne?" Toya kept her stare fixed on the back of Officer Shelik's head despite the man's refusal to turn back. "Our 'Captain' was such a diva when we met. He hated going on missions—hated anything involving effort, really." She shook her head, still smiling. "That brat thought he was better than all of us just because of his granddaddy."

  "Aye, Toya," Zayne called back. "I remember. Funny how nowadays he's the peppy one looking to prove himself, and I'm the one who hates being dragged out of bed."

  "Well, time does funny things to us all." Officer Smoag caught herself from laughing too hard into the rushing winds. "Baby Holo really does deserve to be our Captain..."

  "Aye, Toya..." Zayne repeated. "Some would say it's his birthright. Like Revin did when we all met." Zayne let out half a chuckle, eyes still scanning for their drop point.

  "No, no!" The leader of Blazār Squad waved off Zayne's joke. "It's not just his name, or anything about Ren, really..." She shrugged, searching for the right way to phrase her statement. "Do you remember the first time our rookie squad got shot at? The two of us were scared shitless. But somehow, through all the yelling and gunfire, Revin called out to us. He rallied us to our feet and knew exactly what to do. I knew he was just as afraid as us, but he had a certain grace-under-fire in that moment I've still only seen a few Lieutenants possess. If it wasn't for him, well... I don't know if either of us would joking around about all this right now."

  Zayne swallowed hard and let out a sigh. "He always was incredible, even when we were children. That wasn't the last time he saved my life either. It's no wonder Revin's been promoted so many times. Plus, his Radiance is outright frightening when he stops playing around."

  Sachi's pointy-ears perked up at that comment. The Captain is that strong? He imagined Revin Holo as he'd seen him; how his Captain was constantly late, the unprofessional demeanor, how Revin preferred dressing in clothes that looked fresh from expensive tailors. Now that he thought about it, Sachi had never seen his Captain in the same outfit twice; never even repeating the same pair of footwear. The thought of such an ostentatious man being such a bold warrior sounded implausible. Then again, the man held the same rank as their Kingdom's Hero, Captain ?thena. The half-Elv wanted to speak up with a question, but a sudden shift in his Training Officer's tone quickly destroyed the semi-relaxed mood of their aerial wagon before he could ask.

  "Toya... you should really get out here." Zayne's half-smile was gone, and it was obvious something was off despite his attempt at remaining calm. "One of the locals is following us."

  "Damn it! Not this shit again..." Officer Smoag groaned but was on her feet and out the wagon's front before Sachi could blink, strapping herself into the passenger seat beside Zayne without any fear of slipping overboard as she crawled out of the cabin's front and into position. As the Blazār Squad leader left to assist Officer Shelik, a stillness crawled into the wagon's cabin to take her place. Bumps of turbulence became the welcome reminder their wagon was still soaring well and on course. A sensation of dread fell upon the Privates, each of their eyes darting back and forth from one pair to another as each jolt became rougher. Officer Shelik's once smooth steering started to feel more jerky at every turn.

  Faron was first to break, his voice sounding strained with fear. "What's out there, Mr. Zayne? Are we safe?!"

  Officer Smoag was quick to bark back to let Goji Squad's leader focus. "Stay inside, kid! Find something sturdy and hold tight!" Her tone suddenly became desperate. "Now!"

  The Privates inside all knew these words were a direct order. Something was about to strike them from the clouds and drag the soldiers back to their world's surface. Sachi managed to crawl close enough to one of the wagon's walls, digging through supply packs for one of the many handles built into the siding; Victoria and Dallis did the same. Unfortunately, Faron and the other members of Blazār Squad found themselves digging at the carpet and clinging to the cabin's internal roll cage to avert whatever disaster was about to befall them.

  Toya Smoag's voice rang out once more from the wagon's head, a sound that faded into rushing winds as soon as it was spoken. "Hang on!"

  Sachi felt his stomach hit his heart. Officer Shelik sent his Alicanto steeds into a vertical nosedive without slowing from their over two hundred mile-per-hour speed; a desperate move to escape a worse Fate.

  "Craaaawww!" A murderous birdcall from above screamed its way through the deafening gusts as their wagon dipped.

  Shadows from unexpected flames flickered above the wagon's tarp, an uncomforting heat entering their cabin soon after. Another screech louder than any electric siren sounded over the rookies. They were under attack, but by who or what Sachi could not say. The sudden claps of two gunshots came next from Toya's seat.

  Are we being robbed? Sachi looked around desperately for any answer. A quick glance around the cabin made it clear none of the other rookies from either Blazār or Goji Squad had a clear idea of what their Training Officers were evading either. He glanced to Victoria. The Duchess's unblinking gaze could've cut steel in those moments. She clung at a stability handle tightly with her left, managing to stay seated while the half-Elv was doing his best to find gravity again throughout their unexpected nosedive. He noticed his partner already had a pistol drawn in her right hand despite neither Private knowing what chased them.

  Sachi stopped admiring his partner's poise quickly, his prayers for gravity being answered quickly when Officer Shelik jerked their Alicanto steeds to level out and swing their wagon swiftly to the east. Sachi was thrown to the floor as their descent's end returned him to his full weight, landing on his shoulder so it twisted at an angle that would have broken Human bones; his emerald flames erupted internally to stitch a small fracture and several ligament tears.

  Again, a blast of heat entered the rear of their wagon, a shadow from some frustrated inferno spread above their wagon's hardly translucent tarp of a ceiling, and the horrid sound of a bird in pursuit of its next meal forced itself into each Private's ear canal.

  "Craaaawww!"

  "No... Not again..." Much to everyone's surprise, Private Dallis Ventin knew what was attacking them when the predator roared that final time. The other rookies flipped around to the River Towns lad for advice, but the horror in his eyes rendered their questions moot. Dallis spoke on, his voice shaking with terror, unblinking and completely caught in fear's grasp. "I know that sound..."

  "Spit it out!" Faron tried to get up, but he was too large to stand up fully in the tight space, afraid to let go of the scrap flooring he'd found during Officer Shelik's evasive maneuvers. "What's out there?!"

  "It-..." Dallis rejected reality, wrestled with it it, then accepted his ironic Fate within the span of three seconds; the boy's chubby face made every expression a man could make in that small spell of time. "It's a Roc..."

  "A what!?" Faron screamed back, angry and confused by the simple answer. He wouldn't have to wait long.

  "Get down!" The voice of Officer Smoag blared through the wagon's cabin in the form of a panicked scream.

  A talon large enough to snatch up a sloth-bear snapped through the wagon's roof. Lumber and fire-retardant covering shredded, the bird's claw barely missing Dallis' friends from Blazār squad as it crumpled the roll cage and knocked most of the steel away. Both boys hit the deck to copy Faron's floor hugging technique. The shrieks from upon high were now blasting at full volume throughout the cabin. The Roc cocked its long beak upwards, readying itself to slam into the cabin to get at the Privates inside.

  "CAAAWWW!!!" A hawk-faced bird, larger than any avian Sachi knew existed in their Kingdom screamed with ferocity. The beast's feathers mostly shaded like dead leaves apart from a few bright reds about its face; patches that could've easily been mistaken for splotches of fresh blood. Sachi had a full view of the Roc's outstretched wingspan, mentally comparing the size to the multi-storied barrack Sachi had been living in. the Roc won that size comparison.

  The too-large bird slammed its beak at the Privates, but two bangs rang out in the cabin before the Roc could stab any of them. Sachi managed to look back to see the smoking barrel of Victoria's pistol. The bird screamed out again, reeling its neck skyward as the two shots landed. The Roc let go of the wagon corner it'd been clasping onto, easing off but not fully retreating from its pursuit.

  Officer Shelik graced his squad with his voice once more. "Nice work, Ramses—this isn't over! Keep holding on!"

  Sachi followed orders again and tucked away quickly, falling onto a pack filled with mess kits that clanged loudly as he crawled over them to find another stabilization handle. His fingertips caught what he searched for in the nick of time, and Officer Shelik steered the Alicanto into another unexpected drop directly toward the ground. Through the massive gash in their roof, it was clear to see the Roc was still chasing them. Officer Smoag was making use of her Light's Radiance to stave off the beast, tossing condensed waves of flames at the predator. Zayne assisted with one of Toya's pistols whenever he wasn't jerking their long-necked steeds in one unnatural direction or another.

  Officer Shelik pulled the lead in his right hand harsher than what was considered humane. The Alicanto on that side screeched in pain, halting its pace completely for a brief moment that allowed the aerial wagon to spin over one-hundred-and-eighty degrees. He let the tightened reign loose once more and cracked it down to get the bird up to full speed once more. Zayne's trick worked, though the rookies riding inside certainly didn't appreciate the maneuver's complexity with all the whiplash they felt. He'd avoided the Roc's talons once more, sending the cathedral-sized bird in another circle to catch up with the aerial wagon.

  Zayne dove once more, finding the only clearing available with enough treetop coverage to prevent the monstrous bird from being able to track them any further. The Alicanto were able to tuck in their wings and slip past any branches Zayne was racing through, unlike the much larger Roc.

  "SCCRRRAAAAWWWWW!!!" The Roc flanked Zayne's wagon before its prey sank too low. The wagon's left side crumbled as the Roc's talon broke through for a second time, a splash of splinters and frayed tarp followed the claws like a boat's wake. The Privates aboard did their best to dive out of the way, but not everyone aboard had Fate's favor.

  The aerial wagon crashed through the canopies just south of the River Town known as Flood Watch. The Alicanto maneuvered through the slim branches just as Zayne planned, forcing the Roc to cut its chase off once their wagon dropped low enough. However, without either Officers' notice, their escape plan had failed.

  Sachi patted at himself to make sure no silverware or loose pieces of roll cage had punctured him through the rough flight. He was unscathed, so was Victoria when he found her in the chaotic state the Roc's last attack had left them in. Faron didn't have any cuts either, not a bruise or welt in sight. All aboard were unharmed. Still, Sachi felt a sick feeling in his gut. Something was wrong. The half-Elv started recounting the soldiers aboard, then a cry sang out from above—a voice he recognized immediately.

  Dallis!

  "Help!" The big-cheeked boy shrieked with all his might. Dallis' face had turned a ghostly-white shade from his worst fear being realized. Sachi shot up in his seat, watching as Dallis thrashed around wildly in the claws of a great bird growing smaller their wagon fell.

  "Please!" Dallis screamed from the distance. "Somebody help me!!!"

  The aerial wagon touched grass at last, rough as the landing was. Their cart was mostly broken with both Alicanto were weary to a point of stumbling. The birds waddled in exhaustion, tucking their beautiful wings and squatting to rest off the morning's work; each looking ready to keel over and sleep just like that.

  "No!" Officer Smoag was the only one with strength in her lungs to call up at the Roc. "Dallis!" She howled and let several rounds loose at the bird to no avail. "Damn it!"

  The Roc appeared unbothered by the shots, drifting further as the Officers continued to aim their rounds at the Roc's wings. It was too late. With a single flap of the creature's farm-sized wingspan, the creature soared to heights far higher than the gates protecting Gilgamere. Dallis' squad-mates shouted his name in unison as the king of their Kingdom's sky flew higher and higher, dropping feathers every dozen yards or so as it disappeared above the clouds. There was nothing the Privates could do but watch on as their comrade slowly faded into obscurity; faces still processing the ride they'd shared thus far.

  Now that the roof was gone Faron was able to stand up fully. He brushed himself off and jumped out of the broken wagon. "Wha-... What the Hel was that thing?"

  Officer Smoag ignored the question and hurried back inside the wagon from her seat up front. "Is everyone else alright?" She peered around to see that no one else was injured, finally expelling a large sigh of relief. "Well, that's good." She wandered through the wreckage, picking up her pack and tapping both Connor and Lukas on the shoulders, signaling for them to gather their belongings. She continued speaking, "We can't leave him out there." Connor tried to ask a question, but his Officer was quick to cut him off. "Our mission has changed. The people of Lake Velli will have to wait a few more days for help."

  "Are you sure you can track it?" Officer Shelik seemed genuinely concerned for a change, handing Toya back one of her engraved pistols as they exchanged words.

  "I'd bet my career on it!" Officer Smoag shot a thankful look to Victoria. "Your girl managed to clip its wing. I'm sure that will help with the feather trail we need to follow if we're gonna get Private Ventin home safely. Now come on, boys! Dallis is in trouble, and he needs our help!"

  Sachi, Faron and Victoria all stood up too, ready to assist in Dallis' rescue. However, the voice of their own Officer sent them back into their seats.

  "Not you three. Our mission hasn't changed."

  "But he's-!" Victoria tried to protest, but Officer Shelik would have none of it.

  "I know. But Toya can handle this—it's her squad's new mission. She's more than capable." Zayne motioned towards their exhausted steeds. "Besides, we need to feed them before going anywhere."

  Officer Smoag nodded back to Officer Shelik and hurried the rookies of Blazār Squad out from the broken wagon. She took off in a sprint heading west, eyes determined on tracking down her captured Private.

  Goji Squad's Privates watched in angst, wishing they could assist in Dallis' rescue, Sachi especially.

  "Shouldn't we go with them? Or anything?" The young half-Elv managed to ask with a shaky voice. "Dallis is my friend..."

  Officer Shelik sighed and walked up close to Sachi. "I know." The man slung a limp hand on the boy's shoulder, meeting the young man's eye level, and spoke in his most comforting tone. "Your friend is in good hands. Toya is a well-respected Officer. I've trusted my life to her more times than I can count when we were younger. If she says she'll track the Roc, she will." Zayne let his hand fall off Sachi's shoulder and turned back to the wagon. The Alicanto were still shaken up, panting deeply through meek squawks, so the Officer calmed them with a soft shushing sound and gently patted at the sides of their faces. It was feeding time, so he fumbled around in the back of the broken wagon to find the feed bags for his steeds.

  Three hours later the Alicanto were back on their feet. The remainder of Goji Squad's flight to the city of Posidon was one of solemn silence. None of the Privates cared to speculate aloud on what was happening to Dallis or his squad. With less people aboard, the three of them were able to be far more comfortable, but mentioning such a thing felt disrespectful.

  An old Corvan adage sounded in Sachi's mind as he thought about his bunkmate: To live is to burn. He tried to shake off the thought, but a question remained. Had Dallis already flown too close to Holy Sola? Had he fought hard and freed himself before the Roc killed him? And was it luck or Fate that Dallis would be snatched up instead of him? However, such questions regarding Fate would have to wait until the day Sachi was granted an audience with Battle's God of Truth, but even Samael's answers were unsatisfying that day. Frustrating as it may be, Fate plays a tune that no one, neither God nor Mortal, can recite back with absolute clarity.

  None of the young Privates cared to speculate aloud about what was happening to Dallis or his squad, though each had their own grim imaginations. The foggy afternoon faded into a clear yet equally humid evening. The sky was cloudless, endlessly black and starless too. Several hours after Holy Sola had completely retreated for the day, a soft illumination from Posidon's nightlife revealed itself at the end of their path. Sachi's stomach hadn't churned as much after the Roc attack due to how long he dwelled on his bunkmate's current situation. As city light illuminated their path, he reminded himself, We're soldiers now. Sachi's own mission waited just ahead, and he knew all things burn for a reason.

  To live is to burn.

  Posidon stood as a city without walls. The steep coastline of the south and the cliffs to the west protected the city from any formal army invading the Kingdom. It was here the tallest monument in all of the Corvus Kingdom, the Spire of Coexistence, stood high enough to be seen miles out from the city at just over five hundred feet in height. The spire was a seventy story clocktower, ticking ceaselessly since the foundation of the Kingdom centuries ago. It was an elegant piece of crimson stonework, one that caught the eye no matter where you were in the city; not just for its immense size, but more so for the structure's unique build. The spire twisted in a perfectly even pattern all the way up to a clockface on the north side, giving a warped appearance to the stonework that made the monument appear ageless, like a relic unbothered by time's passage. For Sachi, such a sight was old news after living in Posidon with Mira for the summer. However, for Victoria and Faron the grand clocktower was a marvel they had only dreamed of seeing with their own eyes. The pair of Humans oohed and awed as their wagon drew closer to the city and more of the region's architecture revealed itself.

  Sachi leaned forward toward his Officer as the city roads revealed themselves from the fogs below, paved and smooth. "Excuse me, Officer Shelik?"

  "What is it, kid?"

  The half-Elv felt a bit embarrassed to ask, but he pushed his nerves down and spoke all the same. "Could we make a stop on our way through town?"

  Goji Squad's aerial wagon made its final approach on the southeast corner of Posidon, landing at a designated landing strip and stable area to house Alicanto between flights. The Officers stationed about the Division Four base were surprised at first to see such a busted wagon coming in, but after Officer Shelik explained the Roc no one had any more questions. The Third-Lieutenant who greeted them and helped unload their wagon told another Officer to contact the village of Flood Watch to have a party sent after Blazār Squad, telling the man to ready an aerial wagon to fly north at once to scan for any Roc nests about the area Dallis was taken. From there, packs were loaded onto the next wagon, a two-horse cart to carry them to the location of their mission.

  As a boy, Sachi's father could only afford to rent horses to assist in their travels to and from Posidon whenever Wilhelm was given permission to sell wares outside the Green Edge. He'd always wanted one, silly as the thought was, but the young half-Elv always felt a certain allure toward that which was out of his circumstances' reach. He smiled warmly at the two old mares as he finished loading up their new wagon, a wider model with taller wheels compared to the vessel they flew in on.

  After entering the coastal city's Legal District, Zayne steered their new wagon to the Steel District at the city's northmost end before it grew too late at Sachi's request. They passed an endless sea of multi-story housing buildings, all weathered and beaten by the salty air that gave Posidon its trademark aroma of sea air and fish scales. A few heads turned to study the soldiers wagon as their horses carried them down populated avenues. Some of the residents nodded, most glared. There was no doubt that winter was upon them, for down south the chill through the breeze had a much tougher bite to it; most rooftops already gleaming with light amounts of snow-shine. After an hour of rolling down the inconsistently paved asphalt of their Kingdom's largest city, their wagon arrived at a five story walk-up made of mismatched grey and red bricks. It was certainly a humble abode, with windows that bore cracks that let in the season's nip without much resistance, and a wild series of untrimmed vines that wrapped around bricks.

  Faron scoffed as they rolled up to the apartment building. "The Hel's this place? Looks fuckin' haunted."

  Sachi was quick to respond. "It's my home... At least, it was for a bit." He climbed over the packs and out the back of their carriage with only a bit of trouble, then dashed around the building's side, disappearing up a rickety-looking staircase. It took Sachi a few minutes to reemerge from the housing complex, and when he finally did, the teen looked the same other than a small knapsack of clothing he had on his back. The only real difference was a wide smile that he was doing a poor job of concealing. When Sachi hopped back in the new wagon, he reached in the bag and revealed a sheathed blade.

  He presented the weapon to Private Ramses. "Check this out!"

  The young woman's eyes went wide for a moment, and she found herself looking for words as she unsheathed the dagger. The Duchess scrunched her forehead as she studied the weapon's craftsmanship. "What is this thing?"

  "What do you mean?" Sachi said defensively. "It's just my knife. You have lots of knives, so I thought you might think mine was cool."

  "Sachi..." She paused to stare at the blade's edge. "This isn't just a knife. Its so light... it's scary. I mean, I've never even seen this kind of metal before." She flicked it gently with a nail and glanced back up to her Elvish friend with a perplexed look. "Where did you get this thing?"

  "Uhhh... I kinda got stabbed with it a few times before Helen saved me. She told me to keep it after." It was a half-truth, but given Dallis' present circumstances he didn't feel like being asked what dying felt like. It wasn't pleasant to remember all that emptiness. "But isn't it cool? My dad never worked with anything like it when I was a kid. I don't even think the material can be found in the Corvus Kingdom."

  A hand from the front seat of the wagon cut Sachi off before he could finish gossiping with Victoria, and suddenly Officer Shelik was holding the knife. He hummed and scratched at his chin as he examined the blade. Finally, the Training Officer spoke. "This is Aniplex, 'Titanic steel'—nearly unbreakable. I haven't seen this stuff since..." He trailed off, studying Sachi's ears for a moment too long. "Anyways, it's a fine blade. Does it have a name?"

  "Of course! My brother Mira told me all great weapons and attacks need to have names." Sachi cleared his throat and smiled proudly. "The name of my knife is Fear."

  There was a long silence in the wagon until Faron spoke up.

  "That's a really stupid name."

  (To Be Continued...)

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