The camp settled nicely between two large hills. Fires crackled, conversations whispered through the tents. Corrin himself was sitting around a campfire, looking at the numerous people to whom he had called over. After nearly a week of walking, they all would have much rather been sleeping at this time. Corrin turned to a woman, Mary.

  Mary, of course, was Omna’s granddaughter. After the battle of Avitou City, many distrusted her upon learning of Omna’s betrayal. Omna, none regretted to hear, had not survived the battle. Avitou was now led by whichever Council members remained alongside Corrin and Tutsoi. The people that sat around this campfire were the last remaining council members.

  “Mary, what of the scouting mission?”

  Corrin said in a raspy voice, one that had not had much water. In fact, water was the most difficult thing to come by. Tutsoi had been making regular trips into the Fali Realm to gather resources, and many volunteered to help get them. Unfortunately, a dozen buckets full of snow every hour is not enough to give nearly three hundred people enough water for a week.

  Mary puffed up her chest, clearly feeling valuable.

  “The small squadron is getting closer. I fear they may be upon us soon.”

  Corrin nodded his head. Mary had been the lead of the scouting mission. Or, had been told so. She did not yet have the skills to be a leader, and instead had been given such a position because Omna was her grandfather, and she was adept at carrying a sword, which many others could not have said.

  Furthermore, a small Vrebathian squad has been spotted coming in their direction for the past few days. Corrin feared that they could be similar to the Hidden Vanguard; an elite force with a specific mission. Using his knowledge of the Hidden Vanguards skillset, it was far too likely that their mission was an assassination mission.

  “Soon we’ll come to the Canlian Kingdom border. From what Aren says about recent hostilities between Vrebathia and Canlia, I find it likely they’ll accept Anees refugees into their borders.”

  Aren, an old though slightly fit man nodded his head. He had heard of Vrebathian hostilities on the border between the two nations via guards talking near the cells. He was another council member. After Omna’s death, he was the eldest council member and the most experienced.

  Just then, a cracking sound emerged to their right. A spinning portal formed, breaking reality around it. A group of people ran through it with Tutsoi as the last. All of them carried numerous items. The portal closed abruptly. Some shivered from the cold air that came from the portal.

  “We have tents, weapons, and some food.”

  Tutsoi walked over and patted a man on his shoulder, shivering slightly. The man nodded.

  “Thank you Tutsoi, we’ll put these with the other rations.”

  Just as Tutsoi was about to go back through the portal, Corrin stood up.

  “Tutsoi, come over here. Your team needs to take a break.”

  Tutsoi looked at the others and nodded, thanking them for their help. He then proceeded to walk over and sit around the campfire. Corrin looked at everyone that sat near them.

  “Today may not have been a good day. Tomorrow may not be a good day either. But I know that one day we’ll be able to look back on that day and say that it was a good day. All we have to do is get to Canlia. When we reach the Canlian Kingdom, they’ll help us. Now good night, everybody.”

  They all got up and dispersed among the groups of people. Without trying, Corrin had become the unofficial leader of the refugees. His courage and fearlessness allowed him to gain the respect of nearly every Anees there. Even the council members gave him their respect. Corrin called for Tutsoi. The two walked off to the side, where they knew nobody was listening.

  “Tutsoi… we need to talk. About leaving.”

  Tutsoi looked around as well, he, as well, hoped that nobody was listening.

  “What do you want to talk about?”

  Corrin sighed and clenched his fist.

  “The longer I spend with these people the less I want to leave. They look up to us, Tutsoi. What would happen if we suddenly left?”

  Tutsoi shook his head and stepped back.

  “This, again?”

  Corrin nodded his head. He had already told Tutsoi everything there was to know about why they needed to go. He had mentioned Oknata already and told Tutsoi everything about Oknata. He had mentioned his visions, and how Rotix was controlling him through the shard of Time, somehow. All of these things Tutsoi knew now, and now he understood the urgency of it all.

  Soon, the Mostiis Empire would have enough energy to bring back Katan, the god of the Shem. With Katan back alongside the Shard of Power, he would be unstoppable. He would finish the war against all races aside from the Shem and Mostiis, and everyone would either be dead, or bow down to him. Tutsoi looked at Corrin.

  “I like these people too. They’re good people, but might I remind you what will happen if we don’t go? We have to go. To protect these people we need to go to the Mostiis Empire, Corrin.”

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  There was a sudden shuffle behind them, and both Corrin and Tutsoi stopped and turned around. They walked up to a tent, the source of the shuffling, and looked behind it.

  “I won’t tell a soul. I haven't been since the tower!”

  Kerea sat holding his hands up in surrender. Corrin placed his hand on the handle of his katana.

  “How long have you been eavesdropping on our conversations?”

  “I- I haven’t! Honest… I was just… sitting.”

  Corrin slapped his hand against his forehead and walked away, trying to gather his thoughts. Tutsoi offered a hand to Kerea and hoisted him off of the ground.

  “Listen Kerea, you can’t tell anybody anything. I’m sure you’ve kept your mouth shut since we told you far too much at the tower, but you must not tell anybody where we are going or why.”

  Kerea nodded.

  “Okay.”

  Tutsoi gave a stern look to Kerea.

  “We will leave you alone tied to the next tree we find out here if you tell anybody, you got it?”

  “Got it.”

  “Good.”

  Tutsoi stepped away from Kerea and turned to Corrin, who was annoyed and freaking out that somebody had found out their plan. Kerea was about to turn away, but stopped himself. He turned back to Corrin and Tutsoi.

  “Can I go with you guys?”

  Both Corrin and Tutsoi turned to Kerea. They looked at each other for a moment. Corrin walked up to Kerea.

  “You don’t even know the true extent of why we’re going.”

  “Well… to kill a god… or something.”

  Corrin walked back and set his hands on his hips.

  “Unbelievable, he really has been eavesdropping on our conversations.”

  Tutsoi sighed and walked closer.

  “Not to kill a god. Rather to steal a shard that the god has. The Mostiis plan on-”

  Kerea nodded.

  “I know all that… I… have heard a few things here and there. Accidentally, of course-”

  Tutsoi turned to Corrin.

  “We could use the extra hands.”

  Corrin looked at Kerea, weighing the pros. Corrin was sure Kerea wasn’t aligned with the Mostiis Empire or the Shem, but he could not be so sure that he wasn’t a spy for the Vrebathians. Either way, Tutsoi was right, no matter how much Corrin wanted to believe it, they could not steal a shard from a god, one that's been trapped in a realm alone for the past thousand years or not, alone. Corrin looked at Kerea.

  “It’s going to be dangerous, Kerea. You could die.”

  Corrin wasn’t even sure if Kerea could fight properly. All he had seen Kerea do was volunteer for helping hand out rations. Or set up tents, or eat food. Kerea seemed like a kind, stand-up individual, though it could all be a ruse. Despite Corrin’s warning, Kerea seemed adamant.

  “I’ll go! These people… don’t treat me kindly anyhow.”

  Corrin sighed and left the scene. He needed the rest perhaps more than any other individual there.

  For many more days he led them all through the hills. The whistles of the wind pierced their ears and they soon became desensitized to the sound. Food was difficult to come by, and Tutsoi regularly expressed his concern that the food stocks in Avitou were running low, and soon they would be without food. With the warnings weighing heavy in the back of his mind, Corrin pushed forth, hoping desperately they would soon eye the Canlian border.

  The whistling hills soon turned to stone. The rocky hills were much more difficult to travel along, and Corrin knew they were approaching the Canlian border. Each day became a struggle for food and energy. Some people broke away, losing faith in Corrin’s leadership and left for other places. Others kept strong, trusting in Corrin’s judgement.

  Nearly a week later, Corrin climbed a large stony hill and saw upon the horizon a large wall. The wall stood many feet high and atop the walls were many guards. Many of which were not only Erthari, but also many Othari and some Anees. Corrin knew that the Canlian Kingdom was the only place left in the world that was not hostile towards the Anees. The Othari were in a far greater number than the others, their blue hair and blue skin was also the most exotic compared to the other races save for perhaps the Shem.

  Relief washed over Corrin as he smiled. He knew that the Anees of Avitou would be safe, and his journey alongside Tutsoi, and, regrettably, Kerea, had just begun.