《A Fiction On War About Two Different Perspectives》


 Chapter One鈥擳o Savor The Taste Before A Storm

    Chapter-1: To Savor The Taste Before A Storm


    Word Count: 15.545


    Kliment Smirnow peeked over the wooden fence to the scenery.


    A mass of green, gold, and brown spread all the way to the horizon, then went beyond his sight to a gray mountain range cloaked by mists. The peaks stood tall and neat, and their tip, unlike Klyuchevskaya, remained flat. The locals called it, as per custom, the Flat Peaks.


    From their stone-laced house to the Flat Peaks resided around eleven thousand and six hundred villagers. Kliment once traveled through all fifteen villages across the mountain range with his father and asked a lot about any matters pertaining to population and geography, and he also asked about odd people and weird events, so he could make a guess for better or worse¡ªhe was the only earthling in this region, or worse, the only person from Earth.


    It wasn¡¯t a far fetched thought at first. When he hit five years of age, or forty-nine if his other life counted, and received a feather soaked in a rather strange green liquid¡ªintended for younglings to admire and work harder towards scholarship¡ªhe understood this place was somewhere different. Thoughts of this place being a rural region crossed his mind, but after following his father on his trade missions and listening about all around, he concluded that was impossible.


    He was alone. Here, at least, he was foreign, from another world.


    ¡®¡¯Kliment!¡¯¡¯ A voice rose behind. Kliment let go of the gap-wood between the fence and lowered his feet to the ground. He wore leather shoes knitted by his mother herself, who arrived with another basket in her arms. He saw a trail of socks and a pair of underwear behind her.


    ¡®¡¯Can you fetch those back dear?¡¯¡¯


    Kliment nodded and went past her. He grasped the socks that remained between the red-wood door and picked up the underwear on the way. Being eleven, he no longer had to sit down to grab things, which was a comfort that belonged to those of old age. Little bits like that kept him reminiscing of his old world, and the barracks¡ª


    ¡®¡¯Here.¡¯¡¯ He said. While his mother hung the laundry on a few lines stretched between slender sticks, he rounded behind her and grabbed the empty stool. He stepped up on it, took out his light brown shirt, then threw it on the line.


    ¡®¡¯You don¡¯t have to help here¡ª¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Then where should I help?¡¯¡¯


    Kliment¡¯s mother let out a rueful sigh. ¡®¡¯Boys your age should go out and play, fight a lot, swim in mud or something! Haven¡¯t you talked with your uncles yesterday? Didn¡¯t they also do the same, and look at them. All my brothers are big and strong, and they have good jobs from the guilds¡ª¡¯¡¯


    Kliment interrupted,¡¯¡¯ Sorry, mom,¡¯¡¯ then shook his head. ¡®¡¯But I don¡¯t want to. Doesn¡¯t Fahri¡¯s mom complain all day about him slacking off? Aren¡¯t I a good son compared to him?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯A good son knows how to balance them both, ugh,¡¯¡¯ She shrugged. ¡®¡¯And don¡¯t talk about her parenting methods, they aren¡¯t for me.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯But her tactics are, right?¡¯¡¯


    She stood silent for a moment, then let go of the white blanket in her hands. Kliment, with rather dreadful experience, climbed down the stool and started running back into the house. He rushed past the open garden door and passed the low kitchen table. His elbow scraped the side, yet he let out no yelp. From behind came hurried footsteps, and the sound of something hitting her mother¡¯s palm.


    He knew he shouldn¡¯t be talking back at his mother, but age had its own thing going on.


    But the same age, he cursed, doesn¡¯t fucking help when she beats me...


    Thinking of the pain he would have in his left palm, he turned around the small corridor, brushed past a large floor clock and pushed open the door to outside. A small slope appeared in front of him, laid with grass on both sides and planted with stomped green all over a stone trail. He climbed down there as well, then turned left.


    ¡®¡¯You¡¯ll eat this stick either way! Late or now, brat!¡¯¡¯


    How fearsome his mother was, both here and in the past.


    Taking on a knowing smile, Kliment waved back at her and disappeared from her sight. This was her way of sending him outside, so he had to loiter around for a few hours before coming back.


    If it was any other day, he would either take a stroll amidst nature, visit Fahri¡¯s house to learn more about his home country Chosert, or ask around the Guild for his uncles¡¯ current whereabouts. But today, the square leading to all three of his considerations seemed to be buzzing.


    Between the white, brown patterned stone cottages waited a crowd of people, around two or three hundred, which was quite a lot for their moderate sized village. There was no chaos, pushing or throwing around, so Kliment went past the gathering with his small figure. Along the way he greeted a few elderly men and women and Fahri¡¯s own father, the head scholar of the guild. He stopped right there and looked over a few armored men setting a stage at the square.


    Standing beside the lavish-looking purple-fitted brown man, Kliment turned to Fahri¡¯s father.


    ¡®¡¯Uncle Salim, what happened?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Well...¡¯¡¯ His brows furrowed, he seemed hesitant about something. ¡®¡¯We¡ªI also don¡¯t know. We¡¯ll see now what happens.¡¯¡¯


    Nodding, Kliment diverted his attention back to the front. To his luck, the gap remained wide enough to allow him a clear sight. The armored men, all clad in reddish plate armor from head to toe and carrying halberds and knives on their leather belts, put down one last plank on the wooden stage and got up. Like the crowd, Kliment watched with curious eyes.


    ¡®¡¯Hm, hm hm,¡¯¡¯ The leading soldier¡ªthey raised the flag of Aymon only now, hence Kliment¡¯s realization¡ªcoughed a few times. ¡®¡¯Can those at the back hear me!?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Yes, sir!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Of course!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Ye...¡¯¡¯


    Following the scattered responses, the soldier nodded and took his helmet off. He had a face full of scrapes, a stubble that remained sharp, and a grizzly wound that slid down his left eye to his neck. His long hair hid it behind brown tendrils.


    ¡®¡¯My name is Ivan Smirnov, a lieutenant from Fort Ascendance! I am a named knight of the Aymon Council and a Senior Instructor at the Military Academy of Aymon Union! I¡¯ve come here with two of my colleagues and eight third-year Hall Guards under the orders of Aymon Council¡ª¡¯¡¯


    Kliment felt his palms turn wet with sweat for some reason. For a moment, as if intended, Lieutenant Ivan halted and cast a short glance at him, then resumed.


    ¡®¡¯The Military Academy of Aymon Union lacks necessary talents after the fifteen year war with the Lisan Kingdom! So, it is our intention to recruit talented young men and women, be it strategic minds or strong warriors, to have them educated under the wings of our academy!¡¯¡¯


    There was a short silence with his words. Lieutenant seemed accustomed to this sight, so he waited for another moment.


    An abrupt cheer erupted.


    That instant a flood of questions came: Since when were they lacking talent, how many people would they recruit, what would those that wish to join had to do, would there be any fees, what were the benefits, the post-graduation job prospects...instead of answering them all, or a few select ones, Lieutenant remained silent.


    Combined with his stern gaze and his cold demeanor, the crowd settled down. He gave a short nod, then spoke again.


    ¡®¡¯I will have general requirements and benefits in slates and hand them at the entrance of the square! We will have the first tests tomorrow! But those that remain out of the criterias I will mention right now should not even bother to come!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯First, they have to be between ten or fourteen years old, with no health complications from birth or accidents, and blessed by the monastery!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Second, they have to have a lineage free of serfdom for three generations¡ªthe extended family is not included beyond the parent¡¯s immediate relatives!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Third, there are no fees, and all expenses of the student will be accommodated by the academy! But! These expenses will be paid by the students themselves one year after their graduation! Do not worry, your guaranteed salary post-graduation is more than enough to pay it back!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Fourth, you will naturally be away from your family for an extended period¡ªeven years! Do not expect any return here except dismissal of your registration or self-resign!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Fifth...¡¯¡¯


    While the lieutenant continued listing the general conditions, Kliment turned around and left. He brushed past the thighs of some adults and the shoulders of same-aged children, and he once stumbled past a pair of men whispering about the lieutenant. It took him a few moments to get out, and more than a minute by leaning on the cold wall of a house to calm his breathing.


    Military academy...another military academy...I didn¡¯t even know they had one!


    Kliment raised his head and looked over the crowd. More than a dozen children ran back to their homes to tell of the news. Their sight made him cool down in the same instant.


    He saw excitement and fervor on the children¡¯s faces. That made him think of his first day in the military college, right after his parents death.


    I was excited for a different reason though...


    In his last life, he turned a soldier for revenge. Yet in this life, with his father dead from disease and his mother living fairly-well on her own, he didn¡¯t have a need to be a soldier again. Life of a soldier was, while joyous and honorable, still arduous in his time. He doubted a regressed society like Aymon, or any other kingdom for that matter, had the same level of infrastructure or organization to provide more ease.


    As his mother had said, a good job at the Guilds was something he could aim for in a year or two, and it wouldn¡¯t take more than a decade to approach his uncles¡¯ positions. Unless he married, which his mother seemed to wait a little to expectant, he could support his mother alone. It didn¡¯t sit right with him to turn back to being another man in line, a line in ranks, or a rifle to shoot people dead.


    And I can¡¯t leave her alone...how could she bear here without me, or take care of herself?


    Kliment rose up and scrubbed the back of his leather jacket. The cold seemed to seep too deep inside and left a chill in his spine. It felt uncomfortable. For a moment, he doubted its source and put his hand over his heart. Though he listed many reasons to himself, and thought many more, he felt drawn to the feeling of being in a rank again.


    Not the recoil of a gun, nor the sight of dripping blood. It was the barracks¡ªthe comrades he made along the way, the brothers and sisters that accompanied him, the memory of smiles and laughs he received when he returned as a veteran from his children and wife. What drew him was the honor, the first value of men.


    ...she should know this though. He sighed.


    Nodding to himself, Kliment started walking towards his home. But a few steps in, he stopped.


    But first, I should get Fahri as well.


    *********


    ¡®¡¯Are you serious?¡¯¡¯ Fahri¡¯s mother asked.


    ¡®¡¯I didn¡¯t listen to the details, but Uncle Salih is still there. He might tell you further¡ªso can I borrow Fahri?¡¯¡¯


    Looking at Kliment¡¯s mud-raved shoes and ankles, Fahri¡¯s mother Aisha gave a soft shake. ¡®¡¯I can¡¯t let him be bad. He needs lesson deserve...um, punishment?¡¯¡¯


    What did he do again?


    Kliment stood silent for a second, then from the corner of his eyes saw an unruly black hair sneak past Aisha¡¯s back. The face below it was someone too familiar, and he understood the despairing gaze it held in the same instant.


    ¡®¡¯I¡¯m sorry aunt Aisha, but I really need him to come with me.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Why?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯My mom is a little grumpy these days, so I need a shield...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Hah,¡¯¡¯ She gave a short laugh, revealing her white and crooked teeth. ¡®¡¯He might better do that and do good than stay. But still I answer no. Punishment he needs and your mother too tender of hearted, little Kli.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯That is right.¡¯¡¯ Kliment nodded with a smile. He peeked behind her again and saw Fahri climbing up the kitchen window. It would take him no longer than a few seconds to round the house and join him back on the crossroads.


    ¡®¡¯...then I¡¯m sorry for disturbing you. Please tell him I came here though.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I will, and thank from me your mother for her medicine. It helped swell down my foot.¡¯¡¯


    After giving a short bow Kliment left her side and climbed up the small hill of green. He came to the top of the slope, cast a short glance to the woman that hid her dark hair with a chestnut veil, then started running towards the right. He went past fields of wheat and fresh-planted corn, descended another small hill to his right and stopped beside a post-sign pointing north and southwest. Former read Fort Ascendance and the latter read Sparkle Beach.


    Thinking of the blue sea he once saw in his early years, Kliment kicked patches of mud off his shoes. Some stuck inside, however, so he crouched and picked them apart one by one. While looking at his chipped nails and rather abnormal creases of his palm, a shadow cloaked his sight.


    ¡®¡¯Klimal!¡¯¡¯ Fahri crouched beside him with panted breaths. His dark cheeks had a tint of red within them, and his eyes remained wet from sweat. ¡®¡¯ Did you do that on purpose?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I did nothing¡ª¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯If you didn¡¯t tell her to check on me, she wouldn¡¯t have found out!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯She would have, smart boy,¡¯¡¯ Kliment said and stood up. He brushed his fingers together to clean his finger nails. ¡®¡¯And it is better if she learns early¡ªshe won¡¯t be that angry when you come back.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You think so?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯That is what we do all the time, yeah? Now stand up if you rested enough. We need to go see my mother.¡¯¡¯


    Fahri scratched his messy black hair. He didn¡¯t seem to have any desire to rise.


    ¡®¡¯Why me, though? I overheard as well¡ªdo you think I can join as well? Is that why we are going together?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Uncle Salim has been in Aymon for twenty years, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem. But...that isn¡¯t why I want you to come with me.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Hm, hm, hm, huuuuuu,¡¯¡¯ Fahri let out a deep breath. Kliment reached out with his hand and the boy on the ground responded with a strong grip. He pulled Fahri up and let him rest for another moment.


    ¡®¡¯Then why?¡¯¡¯


    Kliment didn¡¯t respond at first. He started walking up towards the square again, Fahri followed close behind.


    ¡®¡¯It is to convince...¡¯¡¯ He said.


    ¡®¡¯Convince me to join.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You? Not your mom?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You know my mom won¡¯t make any trouble about it. But...¡¯¡¯


    Fahri hastened his pace to stand beside him and gave a short pat. The boy, while a year older than him here, was still a child. Yet, he seemed to understand what he worried about.


    ¡®¡¯My mom loves your mom as well, and she has many nice friends and brothers. She will be safe here.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯But she will be lonely.¡¯¡¯


    Fahri gave another pat and pulled him a little closer. ¡®¡¯Say my little Klimal¡ª¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Don¡¯t call me an idiot,¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Hehe, but you are!¡¯¡¯ Fahri gave another strong pat. ¡®¡¯And that is why you don¡¯t realize, do you? She will be lonely whether you are here or not at the moment. Just because you will be here won¡¯t help her at all. Instead, you are a burden.¡¯¡¯


    Isn¡¯t that a little too harsh, my young friend?


    Here Fahri let go of him and put his hands inside his black leather pants¡¯ pockets. ¡®¡¯She would be better if you were in the academy. It is the second-best in the whole Union, right? And everyone knows you have a knack for thinking.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯And you do so as well.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I am a born genius, Mister. Unlike you, I don¡¯t dwell much on one point. Think this way¡ªwouldn¡¯t it be better for your mother if you were safe and sound in the army, with a salary twice or thrice of a Guild Apprentice? She wouldn¡¯t worry over you. I always tell you¡ªwhenever we visit, she talks only about you and your future.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You need to show her a future like that, so she will only be lonely, not worried. That is whole another matter to consider.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment gave a short nod without answering. Fahri sounded right¡ªhe knew it from his experience as well. When his own daughter managed to enter a prestigious university in Moscow, he felt more happy than lonely. After all, unless she made too many mistakes, she would have a stable job ahead of her in more than a few fields. He didn¡¯t want her to be like himself, suffering for years between military exams and interviews to no avail.


    But being a parent and being a child was, no matter the age, still the same. Even if he understood Fahri¡¯s, his, and his mother¡¯s views, he couldn¡¯t come to accept it right away. After all, for eleven years he thought he would be here. Forever.


    Why do I even consider this offer...can¡¯t I just say I don¡¯t want to?


    But he did want deep inside.


    Shaking his head once more, Kliment led Fahri over their front porch and pushed open their door. A few steps away from them, inside the corridor with a stick in her hand, was his mother staring at the dark-brown floor clock. The hour-hand and minute-hand beyond the blurry glass casing showed a frozen time: 06:17.


    It happened after his mother learned of his father¡¯s passing and rushed home. She had stumbled on the door and hit her head on the clock, where in a coincidence his father let out one last whisper before the clock froze.


    Her blank gaze lingered on both hands, her back crooked and mouth dry. It seemed she stood there for a long time.


    ¡®¡¯Mom, I¡¯m back.¡¯¡¯ He called out. Fahri stood to his right, scratching his head.


    ¡®¡¯Uh, huh?¡¯¡¯ She turned around, put the stick beside the floor clock, then showed a soft smile. ¡®¡¯Welcome back¡ªoh Fahri, welcome to you too honey. What are you two doing here?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯There...can we settle for a talk?¡¯¡¯


    Kliment saw her mother¡¯s smile retract a bit. It had become a habit to impersonate his father¡¯s speech, and she always noticed it when the habit reared its head.


    ¡®¡¯Of course,¡¯¡¯ She turned around and led them into the kitchen. ¡®¡¯Let me give you both something to drink.¡¯¡¯


    With that they settled down and faced each other, while his mother continued preparing. A while later, she put down three glasses of water and milk-like steaming drinks.


    ¡®¡¯So, what happened?¡¯¡¯


    *********


    ¡®¡¯So...they will be here for a while. I will check the exact requirements tomorrow. But...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯But?¡¯¡¯ Kliment¡¯s mother repeated after him. She leaned forward on the table and grasped the empty cup. Tips of her fingers, though it was still early-autumn, had cracks from the cold. ¡®¡¯It is an excellent opportunity, dear. Weren¡¯t you interested in the military as well? The Military Academy of Aymon Union only accepted high-lineage families before¡ªyour...father mentioned, right? It will be better than any education Guilds will provide to you¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Yes, but still...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...dear, do you not want to go?¡¯¡¯ Her voice had something that irked Kliment¡ªas if she found something funny. Lowering his head, then waiting, he told nothing. ¡®¡¯Dear, you don¡¯t want to go there?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I¡ªI don¡¯t.¡¯¡¯ He said at last. Fahri, who had been silent for some time, opened his mouth right after.


    ¡®¡¯Then why hesitate? Why are you so pressured? Aunt Agniya won¡¯t judge your decision, right?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯That is one thing,¡¯¡¯ Agniya, Kliment¡¯s mother stood up from her chair and left the room for a moment. Her footsteps went afar, came closer again, then Kliment saw her raise the long stick in her hand over his head.


    She flung it down.


    ¡®¡¯Wha¡ªow!¡¯¡¯ The long end struck his shoulder, sharp and precise, and sent a sizzling pain that shook his whole body. His face contorted¡ªhe didn¡¯t have the same pain immunity as before, after all¡ªthen calmed down a few seconds later.


    ¡®¡¯If you don¡¯t want to go, then why do you even consider going there tomorrow? What need is there to look for the details, idiot! Just say what you want, brat!¡¯¡¯


    She flung it once more, this time to his left shoulder.


    ¡®¡¯Alright!¡¯¡¯


    Seeing his hands up in defeat, she stopped it above his shoulder. Agniya put down the stick and faced a cupboard sealed with compact wood. She took out a small flask, popped off its lid, and came beside Kliment.


    ¡®¡¯Of course you don¡¯t listen to the monks and priests and nuns¡ªyou always doze off when they speak. That''s why you don¡¯t know why honesty is good, right? That must be why you are so stupid. Take off your jacket¡ª¡¯¡¯


    Her finger slid on some sort of a green and yellow mix cream, which she pressed on Kliment¡¯s revealed right shoulder.


    ¡®¡¯Be like Fahri more. He is a good son¡ªlook how honest and behaved he is. And he knows when to play and when to help, and he is obedient, right Fahri?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯E-exactly!¡¯¡¯ Fahri nodded with vigor. He had a bashful smile.


    ¡®¡¯You have a good friend but how come you can¡¯t be like him? Why...do you have to worry me so much?¡¯¡¯


    As if she said something wrong, Angeya bit her lower lip and stood up. She sealed the flask, put it back on the cupboard, and cleaned the table. Once done, she let out a deep sigh and turned to Fahri.


    ¡®¡¯Take him with you, walk around to clear your thoughts. And...while you are at it, do you want to join the academy as well?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I want, but they didn¡¯t mention foreigners as far as I know...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯That is enough.¡¯¡¯ Angiya helped Kliment put on his jacket and gave them a pair of glasses of water. ¡®¡¯If they didn¡¯t mention it, that means it is up to the recruiters. I will talk with...Aisha and Salim about what we can do.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Thank you auntie! You are my best aunt!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I am your only aunt¡ªnow go out! Go play or something, I still have work to do!¡¯¡¯


    Kliment gave a short glance to his mother, then turned towards the door. With each step, his heart beat louder and louder. Something kept hitting the veins, shaking them whole and threatening to burst the blood out in an explosion. He understood the reason right away, so he had no hesitation in turning back.


    He ran back to the kitchen, stepped hard on the cold ground, then leaped towards his mother.


    ¡®¡¯Mom!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯What happened, dear?¡¯¡¯


    She caught him in the air and held him up¡ªhe had forgot how strong she was. Kliment didn¡¯t speak for the moment; he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her neck in a tight hug.


    ¡®¡¯Thank you mom...I¡¯m sorry.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...what is this hurry?¡¯¡¯ She smiled a little bit and responded with her own hug. She shook him in the air left and right, laughing. Her white cap flew off and revealed dark-brown hair most like his and his father¡¯s¡ªthey danced in the air and around the wrinkles of her smile. When she seemed to be satisfied, she stopped, then put him down when Fahri peeked at them through the door.


    She took the cap from the floor and put it back on. A few tendrils of hair sneaked from the gaps.¡®¡¯First get that scholarship, then you can say your farewells. Don¡¯t make your friend wait.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Alright! Don¡¯t tire yourself out, I¡¯ll take care of the sweeping later!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You...¡¯¡¯


    Without hearing what she said after his back, Kliment ran down the corridor and slapped Fahri¡¯s shoulder on the way.


    ¡®¡¯Stop peeking, lets go to your house.¡¯¡¯


    Fahri followed after him to run a while, then his steps froze. In the middle of a field of yellow and green, overlooking the flat peaks, the still-crowded square, and the rest of the village his face paled.


    ¡®¡¯Why now!?¡¯¡¯


    *********


    Instead of approaching the fuming Chosertian woman, Kliment and Fahri circled away from her and shouted the news. Shouting back at them in a mix of Chosertian and broken Aymonian, Fahri¡¯s mother Aisha tied her veil all around her half-open neck and put on her sandals. Before their roads crossed, the pair of boys ran down a small hill. Past the same field of wheat and fresh-green corn they noticed a group of three children¡ªtwo girls and one boy.


    They were also local children and Fahri¡¯s occasional playmates: Anya, Katrina, and Igor. Katrina had the same surname as Kliment, while Anya and Igor had Kuznetsov as a surname¡ªyet none of them were related to each other. Smirnov and Kuznetsov being the national heroes of the Aymon, many Aymonians had them as their surnames for generations.


    With their heads shades of different brown and yellow, the group halted and greeted each other.


    Fahri asked while scratching his head.


    ¡®¡¯Have you guys told your parents?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Yes!¡¯¡¯ Anya balled up her fists. Her voice came cheerful. ¡®¡¯They said I could try¡ªif I can be a soldier, I can see my brother, right?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯He is in Nordu¡ªonly the best of soldiers go that far.¡¯¡¯ Igor said after her. He had the face of an average haughty boy¡ªwith a smile proud of himself for knowing everything to know about. ¡®¡¯I¡¯ll tell him you said hi, you don¡¯t need to thank me.¡¯¡¯


    Katrina made no comment. Instead she came and put her arm around Fahri¡¯s shoulder and whispered something. The boy¡¯s face flushed for a moment, and in the next he took a step back to use Kliment as a shield.


    Since he didn¡¯t know what to do with the children his age, Kliment hadn¡¯t been in touch with them except festivities around the summer and winter. So he couldn¡¯t decide on how to handle the bickering Anya and Igor, or why Fahri was flustered around Katrina.


    ¡®¡¯So why are you guys here?¡¯¡¯ He asked.


    ¡®¡¯To play of course.¡¯¡¯ Igor answered this time. One pinky in the nose, he scrubbed it clean while walking forward. ¡®¡¯May Pa said boys need to relieve stress before important moments. Or else we couldn¡¯t stand straight.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It would be bad if we trembled and crouched, right?¡¯¡¯ Fahri nodded. ¡®¡¯All soldiers I see have long and wide backs.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment took down the image of Igor¡¯s father by a notch while the unaware discussed. And, while he realized it only now, they had started moving towards the Sparkle Beach. This subconscious accustoming to the group¡¯s actions reminded him of the time he practiced marches and demonstrations within the Fifth Division.


    His first promotion was through one of them. When Crimean lands sunk and the country found itself lacking in officials, they selected good looking men and women to promote among those in presentations and marches with good backstory. While he looked fairer than average, it was his history that made the Colonel in charge raise Kliment up the rank. They both were victims of the UAF.


    The same colonel was there when he became a lieutenant in charge of Pretty Squad, who were all recruited based on their looks to promote the army and attendance in demonstrations. While many in their division and Sub-Formation Army ridiculed them, it was Kliment¡¯s squad that charged right into Moscow¡¯s conflict zone¡ª


    ¡®¡¯Why are you walking on mud?¡¯¡¯ Anya asked in front of him.


    Kliment blinked twice and looked around. Fahri and Katrina were waiting a few steps ahead, while Igor stood beside him to look at his feet. Kliment turned his gaze down and saw both ankles deep in road-side mud from yesterday''s rain.


    ¡®¡¯In mud¡ª¡¯¡¯Igor said. ¡®¡¯Do you need my help?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯No¡ª¡¯¡¯ Kliment twisted both feet left and right for a few seconds, then jumped to get out. He sat on the half-dirt half-mud road and took out his leather shoes. Mud filled every corner inside.


    ¡®¡¯Take a stick,¡¯¡¯ Anya said. She looked around, and Kliment looked around, then they both saw Igor hang from a dry branch with both hands. He jerked twice and broke a sturdy part from the stump.


    ¡®¡¯Here,¡¯ He huffed. There was a splinter in his palm.


    Kliment felt ashamed for a moment¡ªinjuring a child¡¯s hand because of his absent-minded actions weren¡¯t something he could be proud of. To not make them wait further he wiped the surface areas clean and put the shoes back on. The legendary stick was thrown away into a field of short grass.


    ¡®¡¯Thank you¡ªand where are you going?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Going to the same place as always,¡¯¡¯ Fahri replied as they approached closer. His gaze went everywhere but on Kliment, though. ¡®¡¯You never come, mister, that¡¯s why you might not know.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You must be joking ~¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯No I am not, mister introvert.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I am mister good son, mind you.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Self-proclaimed good son.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment said no more at the remark and let Fahri lead them forward again. They walked past empty patches of grass and mud, with wide-leaved trees not so far off in the distance to their east. Their steps rang loud with splashes and thumps, and every once in a while a grandpa or grandma would pass by them carried by old donkeys. One particular grandma gave them small candy¡ªlemon-flavored and teeth-breaking hard.


    ¡®¡¯Did some foreigners visit recently?¡¯¡¯ Kliment asked while waving at the departing old woman. Her bracelets clinked every time she waved back.


    ¡®¡¯Why do you ask?¡¯¡¯ Anya said.


    ¡®¡¯We don¡¯t have these candies in Aymon-Al or Aymon-Dor, right? They must have brought them from outside.¡¯¡¯


    Aymon-Al was the Sixth Province of the Aymon Union. In the past, they had been the six ducal housheolds of the Aymon Kingdom, supporting the Royals in the current Aymon-Birh. Starting from the first, they were named as Aymon-Birh, Aymon-Ki, Aymon-Uch, Aymon-Dor, Aymon-Besh, and Aymon-Al.


    ¡®¡¯Yeah, my pa said some visited a while ago,¡¯¡¯ Igor said beside him. He looked at Anya while speaking though.


    ¡®¡¯They¡¯ve been visiting here for more than five years already. They always bring strange weapons and numerous spices. There are also notes and books from famous people. My pa had one book he bought a week before¡ªhe said the guy was some philosopher or something. You know how there aren¡¯t many serfs anymore? Pa said that guy was the reason.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Just because of a book?¡¯¡¯ Katrina said. ¡®¡¯Isn¡¯t that stupid? I can also say being a serf is bad.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It is all about the language,¡¯¡¯ Fahri replied. ¡®¡¯He must have said it some roundabout way like all the nobles. Those people don¡¯t understand common language.¡¯¡¯


    A cold gust flew past them. Kliment pulled his coat over his chest.¡®¡¯Aymon-Wo...don¡¯t you think we will learn it in the academy?¡¯¡¯


    The children all fell silent for a moment.


    ¡®¡¯Fuck no!¡¯¡¯


    Igor was the first to reject.


    ¡®¡¯I won¡¯t!¡¯¡¯ Anya and Katrina were the second.


    ¡®¡¯But it is a school for the noble families, right?¡¯¡¯ Fahri thought aloud. He continued scratching the mess of a black hair. ¡®¡¯It will be forced, even if we don¡¯t want.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯That instructor¡ªLieutenant¡¯¡¯ Anya was among those early in the crowd, it seemed. ¡®¡¯He didn¡¯t say difficult words.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯He is more a soldier than an instructor,¡¯¡¯ Kliment replied. ¡®¡¯Not all nobles are soldiers. Not all soldiers are nobles. Almost all soldiers are normal like us from rural or urban areas. How many noble families are there in the Aymon anyway? In our Aymon-Al, there are thirteen, and we have the biggest land among the six Aymonians. Aymon-Besh has eleven as well¡ªdidn¡¯t you say so Fahri?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Yes, my dad used to work for the Sanyo Family, so I know them as well.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I see,¡¯¡¯ she nodded.


    Stopping the talk for a moment to ascertain their roads, Fahri led them forward again. Their pace hastened.


    Not far from them was an intersection of the same-kind in their village. Two wooden planks stood erect on top of a crooked half-dirt road. One plank pointed towards their village, to the northeast, and the other to southwest. A small trail of dirt went away from them both and led into the forest. The children seemed bent on going to the woods. Their carefree manner made Kliment crease his brows.


    ¡®¡¯Your usual spot is in there?¡¯¡¯


    Kliment stopped. Seeing him halt, the others followed in suit and turned to face him.


    ¡®¡¯We¡¯ve been here a few times. It isn¡¯t something dangerous.¡¯¡¯ Anya said.


    ¡®¡¯Yeah! There is no wolf or boar there. We never saw one.¡¯¡¯ Igor added.


    Kliment turned his gaze away from the children to the level-headed Fahri. Though it was another matter that he wasn¡¯t much familiar with the three children here, what made him question the situation here was Fahri¡¯s usual character. For one, he very much liked taking risks with his family, but outside of it he was timid. At this age and time, how did he dare to go into forests in the first place?


    ¡®¡¯I...uh...¡¯¡¯ Fahri seemed to realize the meaning behind his half-glare half-glance. ¡®¡¯Well, just as they say. It isn¡¯t dangerous. There are no people there, and even if there are they are the hunters from our village. The season is not here yet, so they won¡¯t disturb us¡ª¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯The problem is that there are no people there, Fahri.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment took two steps forward and gave the boy a hard flick on the forehead. Fahri gasped, then stumbled back. ¡®¡¯That hurts, you idiot!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It needs to, idiot.¡¯¡¯ Kliment pointed his right index finger at the stomped patches of grass leading to the forest. Further than their position, the interior didn¡¯t seem well-lit, and caused the leaves¡¯ shades to loom over the rest of the landscape in an eerie manner. ¡®¡¯Who gave you brats the confidence to go in there alone? Just one man with a stick is enough to beat you all senseless there!¡¯¡¯


    Kliment froze for a moment. He saw Katrina get in front of Fahri, and the other two children take a step back to put some distance between him and themselves. A moment later he realized he was shouting¡ª


    ¡®¡¯It is just his habit, what are you pushing me around for?¡¯¡¯ Fahri looked incensed to some extent, but still approached Kliment.


    Kliment saw Fahri raise his hand, make a quick circle, then strike him between his brows.


    He leaned to the side to avoid, yet to no avail Fahri¡¯s left arm came and pinched his cheek.


    ¡®¡¯I.Said.You.Think.Too.Much.¡¯¡¯ Clenching each word between his gritted teeth, he stopped pinching at the end of his sentence. ¡®¡¯You need to stop shouting at some point.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment made no comment on his remark. He rubbed the red patch on right cheek and cast another glance towards the woods. The light and dark green mixed together under the shadows to create a mystical ambience with darkness at its horizon. He heard no birds nor running water, and he also heard no wind blowing here. Only the faint breathing of the children and Igor¡¯s impatient taps with the soles of his shoes sounded around them.


    There was also a shuffling.


    Kliment turned his head a little further to right and saw the silhouette of a man bearing a sword.


    ¡®¡¯Fahri, look at that man.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯No, you aren¡¯t deceiving m¡ª¡¯¡¯


    Kliment grabbed him by the collar and twisted his head towards the man. ¡®¡¯Just look you imbecile!¡¯¡¯


    The others turned as well, and they all noticed the dripping blood at the same time.


    There was a large splash of blood across the fancy suit on the man¡ªyouth. He looked no older than sixteen or seventeen, yet he had the build of a middle-aged adult. Wide shoulders and straight back, with glistening shoulder-guards clasped beside his nape indicated that this youth was someone of high stature. Everyone here could admire his looks, had his wet golden hair not been stained with blood.


    The youth, with their exclamations, also noticed the group. He turned around and faced them. Kliment realized that somehow he could see the pupils of the youth across them. They were black and haughty.


    With a smirk on his face, the youth whipped out his left hand towards them and revealed a simplistic firearm.


    ¡®¡¯RUN!¡¯¡¯ Kliment shouted with all his might. The children, as if awaiting this answer, reacted in one motion and revolved around, then sprinted. Kliment noticed the youth¡¯s eyes again, this time surprised, but paid no more attention.


    ¡®¡¯Crouch while running! Don¡¯t let him shoot you!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯He has a bow!?¡¯¡¯ Fahri shouted right behind him.


    Kliment slowed his pace for a moment and let the boy pass him, then matched his pace with his. The other three had long gone ahead of them, being the athletic children they were. Fahri and Kliment could only watch their backs as they opened the distance.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    ¡®¡¯Not a bow! A fucking pistol!¡¯¡¯ Kliment glanced back and saw no one following them. ¡®¡¯There is a motherfucker with a pistol and you say this place is safe!?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯What is a gun anyway!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Just run!¡¯¡¯


    First ten, then thirty seconds passed. They heard no steps nor voices behind, yet kept going with all their might. A minute passed, then another one, and at last, while in sweat and filled with adrenaline, they saw an entourage in front of them.


    There was a large carriage, made of splendid red-glistening wood, and pulled by two silver stallions of bulky physique. Around the carriage were ten soldiers bearing mail plates and face-guards, embedded with the symbol of a bear with a half-moon in its jaws. They all had long pikes just a inch shorter in their grasps, and there were also three children following behind them.


    When Kliment and Fahri saw the three well and worried, they stopped and waited for the group to reach them. They panted and took deep breaths, and let them out without taking in any. His body, Kliment realized, wasn¡¯t as powerful as he thought, but when he looked back and saw no sign of the place they once were, he took that opinion back.


    Adrenaline was, his instructors said, the most dangerous drug to expend.


    ¡®¡¯You two!¡¯¡¯


    Kliment and Fahri lifted their heads to see another horse, a humongous destrier, trodding towards them. The rider himself was more familiar than the brown horse¡¯s breed¡ªLieutenant Ivan Smirnov.


    His long locks of hair shook with the steps of his mount and calmed down when it stopped in front of them.


    ¡®¡¯What happened? Where is the murderer?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Murderer?¡¯¡¯ Kliment cast a glance at the three children, then back at the Fahri. Seeing no reaction except fearful gazes, he took a deep breath and straightened his back.


    ¡®¡¯We just saw a young man get out of the village¡¯s forest¡ªhe had a sword and a gun, and he was all bloodied.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...a gun? A firearm?¡¯¡¯ The lieutenant seemed baffled. However, his widened eyes shut down in the same instant. ¡®¡¯So?¡¯¡¯


    Is he checking the accounts or something?


    ¡®¡¯...he- he pointed his firearm at us and seemed like he would shoot, so we ran away. That''s it.¡¯¡¯


    The Lieutenant left his destrier to huff and puff as it wished while thought. A few seconds later he gave a curt nod and pointed with his thumb to the road leading the village.


    ¡®¡¯The road is safe from here, you children go back and prepare for tomorrow. You all are going to participate in the test and interview, right?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Yes sir.¡¯¡¯ Kliment gave an answer on behalf of the children.


    ¡®¡¯Good, then get going.¡¯¡¯


    He said no more and left to go beside the carriage. Kliment saw the shadow of another man across the veil, but he couldn¡¯t discern either the shape or the age of the man. The other party paid them no mind¡ªin a few moments they rallied again and went forward towards the crossroads that led into the forest.


    Listening to the loud neighs and wheel rattles that winded down, Kliment gave a short pat on Fahri¡¯s back.


    ¡®¡¯Let¡¯s go home already.¡¯¡¯


    *********


    After sending off Igor, Anya, and Katrina at the crossroads, Kliment and Fahri walked towards the latter¡¯s house. They found it empty from outside and received no answers after three knocks on the door. Assuming the best, they walked back towards Kliment¡¯s house. Fahri kept complaining about their encounter, the noble appearance of the youth, and the lackluster reaction of the entourage. To him, and to Kliment as well, they behaved quite unnerved to the matter. No frown, nor questions beyond what happened. They didn¡¯t ask for the youth¡¯s profile¡ª


    Well, someone bloodied with a firearm should be an obvious sight.


    In the time Fahri threw off the event¡¯s shock they came beside Kliment¡¯s house. Kliment took out a lock from the inner-pocket of his coat, slipped his muddy sandals on a sharp corner to wipe them clean, then went inside. The Chosartian boy repeated his actions and followed behind.


    As the Sun set low, with at most an hour away from blinking out of sight, his mother had prepared the candles and put them on the shelves of various rooms. None were lit.


    They walked past the empty bedroom, toilet, and the kitchen, then stepped inside their backyard. Like sails on a wide mast, dozens of white clothes were hung on lines going from one tip of the fence to the other. They flapped and floated with the wind, letting them take a peek at the black and brown and green dresses, and shirts and jackets and pants that laid behind them.


    Two steps behind that line as well were two stools, and a pair of feet dangling from them¡ªone dark and clenched by sandals, the other somewhat tanned and bare.


    ¡®¡¯¡ªand he tells me he likes not the appearance, but what I do? I pray so I wear it. It is frustrating, They come and bang our door at night, and they-try- try to look my head empty. Agi...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...those people are the worst.¡¯¡¯ Kliment recognized the answering voice as his mother, and the complaining one as Fahri¡¯s. Their sounds came in whispers, a little muffled.


    While it took a moment to figure it out, Kliment raised his voice to stop any mishaps happening on Fahri¡¯s side.


    ¡®¡¯Mom! We are home!¡¯¡¯


    The women¡¯s voice did not falter nor stop. Instead Agniya pushed the long skirt in front of her and peeked at them with Aisha, then smiled. ¡®¡¯Come over here.¡¯¡¯


    The duo rounded the laundry, lest they dirtied them again, and came before the two women. They settled down next to them on the grass and kept their back straight, watching the laundry flutter. There was a faint touch of wind against their backs and the smell of fresh earth.


    Aisha said a word in Chosertian, then stopped and reverted back into Aymonian.


    ¡®¡¯What is wrong your faces? You are tomato!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯They really are tomato,¡¯¡¯ Agniya added and looked down at them. Both of their wrinkles showed with their smiles.


    Fahri and Kliment cast a short glance, then laid their backs with sighs. ¡®¡¯We just ran too much.¡¯¡¯


    That was the truth.


    ¡®¡¯Don¡¯t be tired yourself.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You should tire more.¡¯¡¯


    The mothers looked at each other, then at their sons. They made no more comments on them, instead they continued speaking of the everyday occurrences with half-smiles. Listening them chatter, Kliment took a deep breath and turned his gaze up.


    Clouds seemed to run dry today. Not one of them was in sight, most had already declined far from where he could look. All in front of him was the ever-expanding blue and orange sky and beads of sweat yet to be rid of.


    While he attempted to swipe it off, Agniya noticed it before him and wiped them with her red-patterned dress¡¯ sleeve. All the while she kept speaking and smiling.


    Kliment made another note on his mind and stopped thinking about anything for that matter. He forgot about the academy, their walk, the gun-wielding youth, and the faces of the scared children.


    All that remained in his mind was how to spend the next few days in peace. After all, he was confident.


    He would get into that academy either way.


    *********


    The morning had too big of a bustle in their home.


    The first visitors came around seven in the morning, carrying papers in their hands and dragging along a still-drooling Fahri with both arms.


    Kliment took his friend away from Aisha and Salim, then left towards the garden again. In the kitchen, his mother Agniya had some ink and finger-slots prepared to stamp the adoption papers.


    Listening to them talk about a few more things¡ªwith the word ¡®Thank you¡¯ the most frequent¡ªKliment led Fahri towards a small jug full of water. Apart from the steam drifting over the scenery of the village, many leaves of red and yellow and pale green flew around. Today was October thirteenth, the day Autumn prospered; where air turned colder and trees shed in bulk¡ªtwo days before the big harvest.


    Kliment picked up a wide, bright-red leaf and let it dry on the ground. Fahri, now half-awoken, turned his gaze towards the large spoon. The tip had crystal-clear water, fresh warmed with ember-cloaked coals standing in a pile next to his feet. He took out his right glove and put it under the curved, bowl-like tip, and grasped the handle from Kliment with the left.


    Watching the boy drink the water that he intended for him to wash his face, Kliment tightened the coat around his neck. Wind blew heavy¡ªthe strings of laundry his mother had yet to lift shook and whizzed. One of them snapped an hour before, but since they would have a few visitors she couldn¡¯t take care of them.


    Beside him, Fahri took another large spoon of water.


    ¡®¡¯Don¡¯t drink it-¡¯¡¯Kliment said and retreated a few steps back to get a cold stool. ¡®¡¯Wash your face and get inside. You¡¯ll freeze like that.¡¯¡¯


    Fahri¡¯s head wobbled up and down. Kliment let out a sigh and hurried his steps.


    One by one he went through the two remaining laundry-hangers. Though unbinding the string from one side was easy, taking it out from the other turned a little difficult with his height. He had a small stature after all. And the gloves itched. Getting into the herb and medicine made her mother swamped with work, so she knitted his winter clothes in a haste. This pair was made early today.


    It took him a few minutes to finish the first hanger, and he turned at that time to see Fahri standing still. He didn¡¯t look much sleepy, and Kliment saw droplets of water drip from his face. He glanced behind, saw Kliment¡¯s half-interested gaze, then threw another batch of water in haste. This, of course, helped Kliment notice the slight red under his eyes.


    An insightful child is still a child...Kliment smiled. He isn¡¯t misunderstanding this adoption thing, right?


    Whistling a common tune his father taught him, Kliment took care of the second line and gathered them in an empty basket at the kitchen door. He saw Agniya and Aisha staring at him for a moment, then falling silent. Salim, however, gave a silly smile and waved his hand from a few steps away.


    He knew he shouldn¡¯t be here, so ran back to Fahri¡¯s side.


    The boy had his tears dry up and his face wetted again by another spoonful of water. The jug seemed half-full.


    ¡®¡¯It isn¡¯t like you to cry¡ª¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I am a human, good son.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Yes, you are a human,¡¯¡¯ Kliment gave a soft pat to his back. Fahri fell silent again, then threw his arm around Kliment¡¯s shoulder. He responded the same.


    Their leather pants and shirts weighed more than before, and the coats cloaking their necks and wrists were even bulkier. And now, with their arms put on each other¡¯s shoulders, the pair of children found themselves a little lacking in strength.


    It didn¡¯t help that both of them applied more pressure than normal.


    ¡®¡¯I...¡¯¡¯ Fahri voiced after a moment. His gaze stuck to a certain leaf flinging around in the air. ¡®¡¯I don¡¯t know why I cried. I saw a dream where I was all grown-up, and my mom and dad were still the same age. I mean, there wasn¡¯t anything wrong. I just looked at them throughout my whole dream, then woke up.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯What did you talk about?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I don¡¯t remember. I just...I just know we were happy and sad.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Isn¡¯t it fine then?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...mmmm.¡¯¡¯


    He must have seen a future.


    It was a common thing for humans, especially ordinary humanity members to have dreams of a future. The theory of Subconscious Clairvoyance in his past-world was one that said human children from ages seven to thirty could predict the outcome of their future from derivations of the subconscious. The present state of mind, the past memories, expectations, and the reactions to these by the environment could spark a kind of inspiration even in the Sparkless humanity.


    Of course, the result wasn¡¯t definitive, or even close to what reality might have intended. The future Fahri saw was one that could only be possible with the help of witches, Kliment, for one, had not seen or heard of them here.


    Well, this is why it is an unreliable method.


    ¡®¡¯Be brighter, that means you¡¯ll still be happy in the future.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Or just at that moment...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You little pessimist,¡¯¡¯ Kliment applied more strength and bent the boy¡¯s back. Fahri responded with greater force, and he had much greater with one year of growth above him, so Kliment grunted and fell as well.


    ¡®¡¯Even a moment means you will still have the chance. Why worry?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Uhhhhhh- I don¡¯t know alright?¡¯¡¯ Fahri smiled and retrieved his arm. The leaf he looked so intently had fallen in the jug again, rippling the surface.


    ¡®¡¯But okay, I¡¯m fine now.¡¯¡¯ He repeated. ¡®¡¯I¡¯m fine.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Then it''s all good.¡¯¡¯ Kliment nodded and retracted his arm as well. His mind went to what the guild-novice said in the evening. ¡®¡¯Will you be fine with the written exam?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You talk as if it isn¡¯t a problem for you¡ª¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Well, it isn¡¯t.¡¯¡¯ Kliment smiled and raised a thumb.


    ¡®¡¯Don¡¯t you brush your teeth?¡¯¡¯ Fahri took a step back and closed his nose with one hand. ¡®¡¯Even if you pass the written exam, they won¡¯t let you in with that breath.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I didn¡¯t have the chance, because a certain someone drank my water.¡¯¡¯


    Fahri froze, shot his head left to look at him, then let out a deep gurgle.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t natural.


    ¡®¡¯Anyway...the written exam should be fine for both of us.¡¯¡¯ Kliment said. ¡®¡¯Your handwriting is good, and any common knowledge is fine as well. The mathematics and simple biology should be alright, right?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You know my dad,¡¯¡¯ Fahri shrugged.


    Being a scholar¡¯s son is good as well.


    ¡®¡¯The problem is interview.¡¯¡¯ Fahri said. Wearing his right glove, he put both hands in the pockets of his coat. ¡®¡¯Guilders said the content was hidden.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯What does uncle Salim say?¡¯¡¯ Having no idea of how an interview would work here, especially for children, and even more so for a high-lineage school, this part made him a little nervous as well.


    ¡®¡¯General format differs for each occupation, but he said military has a little soft handling on this matter.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Not rough?¡¯¡¯


    Fahri shook his head. ¡®¡¯Not rough. My dad had a Viscount¡¯s son under his tutelage in Aymon-Ki, plenty up north near those marshes. The young viscount had an interview with the Royal College of Excellence in the Arms Department, and my dad said he faced more than a few questions about practicality in battles. Since he was a viscount¡¯s son, though, he passed with lackluster answers.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯What were the questions and his answers?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯First one was about the difficulties of traversing the marshes of the extreme north. He answered...¡¯¡¯The cold is bad, the ground is sticky and deep, and any shallow water can turn out deep if you aren¡¯t careful.¡¯¡¯¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Is that bad or right?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯My dad said bad. What he said, my dad explained, is essentially a surface definition of the marsh. Ideally, he would have told about the landmarks and effects of the air, the necessary clothing or mapping skills, reconnaissance, and any fields that hold military and related context to the question.¡¯¡¯


    So it is right and bad at the same time.


    ¡®¡¯What about the second?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯The second is¡ª¡¯¡¯ A voice interrupted from their backs. Both children turned around and saw Salim with his ever-flashy purple robes. This time, he had fur gloves and a rather-wide coat over his shoulders. ¡®¡¯¡ªIn the face of a enemy outnumbered by your forces in an unfavorable terrain to you, how can you employ your forces?¡¯¡¯


    Strategic thinking? Is it to test how many variables they can add or ask from the instructor?


    Salim let out a cloudy breath and ruffled the head of both children. ¡®¡¯The young lord answered ¡®¡¯Unless there is an enemy behind or near, I would deploy a fragile amount of troops to check the surroundings, then charge the enemy whatever possible with the rest.¡¯¡¯ And that isn¡¯t a wrong answer on its own. But...¡¯¡¯


    Here he looked at Fahri, who looked at Kliment.


    ¡®¡¯...but?¡¯ Fahri asked.


    Salim didn¡¯t answer. Instead he looked at Kliment.


    ¡®¡¯If there is no enemy behind or near, and no force coming unimpeded, it is better to wait¡ªbut that also depends on us. In reality, the unfavorable terrain to us can, and most likely will be unfavorable to them as well. A castle can be encircled, a mountain can be barred, a forest can be lit, a marsh can be smoked, a river can be barricaded, and any other. While a large entourage means large expenditures, it is better to have hungry fighters than none at all. Meanwhile, the act of defending itself is more tiresome. It is, after all, the larger and advantageous force that decides on when to attack and retreat in a confrontation between armies.¡¯¡¯


    That isn¡¯t exactly the case as well and Guerilla tactics, of course, are a different matter. And this information is too vague to work on. His own thoughts that he revealed were not satisfactory to Kliment.


    ¡®¡¯Right, that is the crux of the problem.¡¯¡¯ Salim nodded. ¡®¡¯What they want, at least it was some ten years ago, from students is to list possibilities, answer the things they listed, then counter them in another way. They want a discussion in which the student can contradict himself without losing faith. After all, in all wars fought with Lisan and the overseas Biku, the rough terrain beyond the borders could not be mapped properly. That meant an instantaneous improvisation and understanding was needed on the strategists and generals¡¯ part. Thus avoiding pure belief in newly established doctrines and a static train of thought was something vital to the military academies¡¯ teachings.¡¯¡¯


    Here he stopped and cast a glance back. Kliment and Fahri followed the gaze to the two women urging them back in.


    ¡®¡¯Of course, it has been a few months since war with Lisan ended. The requirements and the focus might¡ªnay, will definitely change in this interview. You...we aren¡¯t nobles, but we had broader experiences than most children. So do not get caught up with these examples and be free to answer as you wish.¡¯¡¯


    With a face that seemed to tell more than his words, Salim revealed a soft smile and pushed the two boys back into the house. Kliment and Fahri¡¯s mothers had prepared breakfast, a little luxurious with honey alongside a handful of cheese. Eating their meals and straightening their looks again, the two boys left with Salim towards the square.


    On the way, more than a few elders lined up with children as well, walking towards the Guilds¡¯ building a dozen steps away from the square. Children had large and fur-covered clothes: cute gloves and barrets and thick shoes, and Coats that were colors of light-brown, black, or sometimes white¡ªin which case were thinner than most, as they were of cheap linen. On the ground that still remained soft from two days before rain, the children wrapped in the counted clothes left their footmarks towards a hopeful future.


    Being a soldier was like any other occupation some twenty years ago¡ªit brought money, and if you died half of your will would be the union¡¯s. Three years ago the Union implemented the Martyrdom Act, in which if your death was written and documented with witnesses, be it the most simple footsoldier or a cook or an engineer, not only would your will be untaxed, the union would provide a year¡¯s worth of grain to the immediate family.


    The pay, from the annual five-hundred Ymon notes, also rose to the six-hundred and fifty Ymon, or six and a half Amon, worth five grams of gold. When mentioning relative safety, a soldier had more guarantees than his guild counterparts; artisans had fees to deal with in their apprenticeship, merchants couldn¡¯t start businesses without local lords¡¯ permits, a common school teacher had to pass five to six exams depending on the region...


    In short, it is much more troublesome than being a soldier.


    But the situation in his hands wasn¡¯t of a simple soldier, but a military graduate. Someone who could attain the rank of a Sergeant right after graduation, or even possibly a Lieutenant. The pay, the royalties, the martyrdom and status benefits were all on a different level.


    After all, no matter how much it invested in common education and individual freedom in the past thirty years, Aymon Union was still a militaristic country in its core¡ªits history was written with the blood of all six Aymon provinces, and the Lisanians¡¯ and Bikurduns¡¯ and the foreign Antadushs¡¯.


    And these children on the way, who all saw the benefits and not the difficulties of such life, were bound to stumble a lot in Kliment¡¯s eyes.


    It took them some time to reach the square, greet the guild clerks and apprentices and novices who set up booths and emptied the floors of the Guild building for the exam, then pass the mandatory search point. That was the point they parted and were led through a corridor into the inner chambers.


    Unlike other Aymon and Aymonian architecture¡ªthe two words had a distinct definition, first being the race and the second being the nationality¡ª Guilds¡¯ buildings all had their own specialized looks.


    From the entrance to the first corridor, there would be statues of eight professions: Merchant, scribe, artisan, scholar, teacher, blacksmith(In decline and rarely seen these days), engineer, and laborer. Between each statue would be fifty centimeters of space, and twenty centimeter away from each statue, covering ten centimeter square ground, would stand iron poles with torches straddled at the top.


    The buildings were made of stone and bricks to not let them rot except the roof, which would be changed between the exotic trees of southern Aymon-Besh and the southeastern timber of the Aymon-dor. Since it was winter, they used the slender and pale-red trunks of the Aymon-Besh forests.


    This was a matter of utmost importance in all Guilds¡ªas this was a direct result of the founding myth of the Aymon people.


    As such, Kliment and Fahri found themselves away from the cold and vibrant outside and thrown into the most solemn of the places in the region. Shadows of the torches danced around them, free with no windows in sight, and spread through the seemingly endless corridor to the heavy gates in their sight. The guild-apprentice leading in front kept silent as well, but Kliment saw him a little amused.


    This was, after all, a way of intimidating the children. The serious mood, the eerie lights, the loud and reverberating footsteps; they had two intentions only, and both in essence came down to show this place¡¯s importance. His father mentioned it a lot¡ªhe had never been one to believe Kliment would get a job in the Guilds, and thus told him more than any other Guild Worker might have approved.


    When Kliment smelled the fresh and cold air of autumn again, he found himself and Fahri inside the inner chamber.


    The stone gates behind closed with a boom, the apprentice disappeared with it. Another apprentice with a short bowl-cut hair came and greeted them, then led them up a flight of stairs inappropriately-long for a child. They climbed up, took out their coats to hang up on a hanger beside the apprentice¡¯s pointed finger, then came before another door of small stature. The apprentice pushed it with a squeak and they saw the classroom inside.


    Rows of desks lined up, thirty-six , with two steps of distance between each one. The classroom itself, which would be used by the elementary teachers on saturday and sunday mornings, still carried that smell of chalk and holy water.


    ¡®¡¯There and there¡ª¡¯¡¯ The apprentice pointed to two desks, one at the far left and the other at the front row. ¡®¡¯Please sit down and wait. All necessary tools will be delivered to you by the instructor.¡¯¡¯


    Sneaking a glance at the torches lit on the walls, then to the open windows that let the Sunlight in, Kliment nodded and took his seat. Fahri gave him a soft pat on the shoulder, greeted two more kids, one of them Igor, then settled as well. The children ranging from ten to fourteen years of age waited with anticipation, worry, and a degree of excitement.


    Two minutes later, with one last child filling the last desk, came inside the chain-mailed figure of a man¡ªcarrying a sword on his hip, a helmet under his armpit, and a scar across his face. He distributed the feathered pens and ink and chalk, and papers and questions, then turned to face the whole class up on the wooden stage before the black board.


    Lieutenant Ivan smiled, gave another suspiciously obvious glance to Kliment, then spoke.


    ¡®¡¯Sixty questions: Twenty Aymon Language, ten Aymonian Culture, Twenty Physics and Mathematics, ten Biology. Ten discussion sections: five on nature, three on war, two on future. Three hours is the limit and...¡¯¡¯ Here he stopped and took a look at a watch pinned above the blackboard. It showed nine past twenty.


    ¡®¡¯You can start now.¡¯¡¯


    *********


    Kliment looked over his answers one last time.


    ¡®¡¯On Nature: Explain the Cycle of Seasons and discuss your findings on their effects...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...so, it must be considered that Winter should both be the most comfortable and the most dangerous season to our people¡ªthe cold is a comfort to the citizens but a disaster for the external trade...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯On War: Out of the Three Queens of Revolution, which one had the biggest impact? Explain their role and present your thoughts...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...Hence, Queen Zandra, Shield of Aymon-Thum, laid the road for young noble women of the Aymonian descent to gain splendid ranks among the administration in the Exile Era. Sixty years later, the percentage of women commanders and strategists in the military, as well as the establishment of the union, is an indication of her success and...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯On Future: Which professions are more likely to be popular or unpopular five years later? Discuss your ideas and present examples...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...blacksmiths, then, are bound to be scarce in the face of the rising artisans and capable companies of Aymon-Birh. This loss of workforce and unemployment is an issue...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...¡¯¡¯


    Kliment raised his head and looked at the clock. It showed twelve past ten. The classroom already had a few seats emptied of the children, who were either incapable of producing any more answers or had given up already.


    Did I give too much thought into these answers?


    No, he said to himself and left the paper and the quill on the desk. Children of this age should be capable enough¡ªeven Fahri will write more than me.


    Not that it was a matter of concern. While he didn¡¯t know why he thought of this matter as worrisome for a second, in the other he cleared all doubts. His identity wasn¡¯t something important anyway, and his father and Fahri¡¯s father were both men of great experience and education; the latter a scholar and the former a successful trader with many connections. It was his savings that helped his mother get into medicine school in the first place.


    Giving another nod, Kliment rose from his desk, made it clatter in a moment of daze, then delivered his papers to Lieutenant Ivan. One of the children at the front swore at him for the noise.


    The man didn¡¯t pay attention¡ªinstead he fondled the right side of his long hair and cast his gaze at the immediate surface. Kliment didn¡¯t wait for his approval and left. He walked past a Guilds Apprentice who opened the path back and led him outside.


    Though it neared mid-day, Sun still hid behind a rather thick group of clouds. Air was cold and stuffy, and his hands were chilled. He realized that he left his gloves in the classroom, which he inquired about to the apprentice.


    ¡®¡¯I will ask about it,¡¯¡¯ the young woman replied. ¡®¡¯There are tables set near the square and a fire for warmth, you can wait there for the interview time.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Thank you,¡¯¡¯ He gave a curt nod and ran towards the square. Beside and near the Guilds¡¯ building, as well as the square and the scattering embers of the bonfire, were the villagers. Elderly men squatted with the middle-aged, sometimes taking a puff of bitter tobacco unlike Kliment¡¯s past world. Their breaths and the smoke of the tobacco mixed in the air, one gray and one white, then disappeared before reaching the almost-blackish mist of the bonfire.


    Some women and their young children sat near the fire itself, away from the awful smell of tobacco and discussions of farms and property. Most elderly women, however, waited at the door of the guild itself. They also carried gloves in their hands, which they went back and forth from bonfire to the Guilds to keep them warm.


    When he came beside Salim, who had an audience of young children around him, Kliment didn¡¯t disturb and instead sat near to listen.


    ¡®¡¯...So Alexander replied: ¡®You take my hands and feet, and you take my head and heart, but you can¡¯t take me! I am here, I will be here, and no matter how much you struggle, one way or another you will be here stuck with me!¡¯ The Lisan soldiers became afraid then. They were in front of a King, the son of the Third Revolutionary Queen, and the most powerful men of his entire army. He could kill ten men in one blow at his worst, and he, at the top of that mountain, was at his best. The Lisan commander William Whalesword stepped forward at his words and took out his sword¡ª¡¯¡¯


    It was a story of, as Kliment expected, the Fourth War of Fasshut Concession. A classic for the patriots and the children who liked war stories, it entailed the gruesome last stand of King Alexander the Second against the combined forces of Lisan and Antadush Empire far southwest. It was the worst defeat in Aymon history, which they still were recovering from. For the past twenty years, and a foreseeable ten years more, Aymon Union owed Antadush Empire Fifty-thousand Amon annual reparations.


    This amount, originally eighty-five thousand, only came to be this low after the Treaty of Trade and Division with Lisan¡¯s defeat a few years back.


    Kliment paid attention to such knowledge ever since he was conscious of his surroundings. He had an attunement for this matter¡ªhe was still capable of maths, incapable of biology and literature, and could not figure out a single thing about physics. Yet, his memory that proved to be average worked out of expectations in military or state affairs. Making deductions and uncovering hints were a hassle still, his observational skills remained low, but his memory¡ªwhat he heard and remembered all gave him enough context to form an idea about his country.


    As such, he also knew the story Salim told letter by letter. Still, hearing it from someone expert in teaching was another joy.


    After a few minutes of fervent speaking, when some among children cried and shouted with anger and sorrow, Salim calmed them down and sent them away. He stood up from the small stool, carried it with him, then came beside him.


    Patting off a few stray leaves of red off his shoulders, he took out a pair of cool gloves. His other still hadn¡¯t arrived.


    ¡®¡¯Uh...I forgot about it. I¡¯ll treat you a warm soup later, alright? So don¡¯t tell your mother.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment gave an understanding smile and took them over. He put them on, stretched his fingers, then stretched them closer to the fire. A few more minutes passed and the crowd behind was overtaken by fervor. The children came out in batches and lines, some calm and collected, some crying, some breathing in relief, some pale¡ªany expression one could have after coming face to face with a big challenge.


    Fahri was one oddity that smiled, and it drew the ire of many children. The boy turned red from embarrassment and ran towards them, holding Kliment¡¯s gloves with one hand and his in the other.


    ¡®¡¯How did it go?¡¯¡¯ Salim asked with a warm smile.


    ¡®¡¯Without a hitch,¡¯¡¯ The boy raised his thumb. ¡®¡¯But the biology...I almost went mad.¡¯¡¯ Here he turned to look at Kliment. ¡®¡¯How was yours?¡¯¡¯


    Salim¡¯s smile stiffened for a moment. He turned and looked at Kliment, who still had his understanding smile.


    Two of his fingers were raised.


    ¡®¡¯Uh...alright, I¡¯ll treat you guys one and a family meal later, okay?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯That is a given, uncle,¡¯¡¯ Kliment said, ¡®¡¯Were you going to spare a banquet from us in the evening?¡¯¡¯


    Salim let out a soft sob and wiped his tears. ¡®¡¯You might as well eat my coin pouch...alright, let¡¯s take you boys to a soup station. The guilds¡¯ people should announce the results in about two hours.¡¯¡¯


    The children agreed and went along.


    *********


    After a hearty meal and a period of discussing the general exam, the group of three came before the building again. While Lieutenant Ivan was nowhere to be seen, his colleagues and students were at the gates, standing on stools to gain a higher view of the crowded street. One of the young students, donning chain-mail and a mail-hood opened two sheets of large parchment.


    ¡®¡¯Can everyone hear me?¡¯¡¯ He asked. A few voiced agreements, so the young soldier nodded and continued.


    ¡®¡¯Out of the one hundred and seventeen children, twenty-eight passed the exam. I will read the names and the scores from high to low, and after the last name I speak everyone will enter for the interview.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯First place, Fahri Akmar, ninety-eight points!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®Second place, Anya Kuznetsov, ninety-six points!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Third place, Kliment Smirnov, ninety points!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Eleventh place, Igor Kuznetsov, eighty-two points!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Eighteenth place, Katrina Smirnov, seventy-six points!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Twenty-eight place, Vladimir Lenin, seventy-points!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Please empty the square¡ªthose who had their name spoken please ready your registration documents so they can be verified and come with us. All interviewees will wait inside.¡¯¡¯


    The crowd parted in a few moments and twenty-eight children were left with their parents. Under the envious gaze of many, the parents delivered the children¡¯s documents and let them go inside. Fahri and Kliment followed the suit. Though this time, they were led in as a whole group, which made everyone tense up more.


    Passing through the squeaking and rattling gates and climbing up the stairs to the second floor, all children were placed in a classroom adjacent to the Teacher¡¯s office. A few minutes passed there as well, and Kliment greeted Fahri¡¯s friends with him. Their discussion didn¡¯t last long when the first name was called.


    The boy called Vladimir, most-famous for his short-fuse and aggressive demeanor around the village, seemed rather timid today. Of course, the bright red mark of a hand on his nape, as well as the bald hair of his told of his family¡¯s hopes for him.


    All it took was...three minutes.


    In three minutes the boy came back with a smile, bid good luck to his friends(?), then left in large strides. The other person was called, and she came back with a smile as well. The hopes of everyone inside were raised further.


    Then seven children in a row were rejected. These came back paler in skin, and tears brimming in their eyes. But none of them cried. They had strict education from birth, and children of the rural communities grew harsher than most. If they wanted to cry, or couldn¡¯t help but cry, they would only do it in the bosom of their parents.


    The next few people also passed and failed, and Katrina and Igor were among the successful. They bid farewell and wished good luck, then left with bright smiles. Igor, especially, seemed dazed at his own success.


    Then the time came for Kliment.


    He followed the Apprentice from before and approached the office.


    ¡®¡¯Did your friend bring your glove?¡¯¡¯ She asked meanwhile.


    ¡®¡¯Yes, thank you again.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯No worries,¡¯¡¯ She replied and opened the door. Inside were three people, all familiar to an extent.


    To the left of the wide, bright-brown wood table was the Guildsmaster of their village, a man of short stature and old age¡ªwrinkles and messy white hair filled his face. He sat with both arms around his elbows, and his eyes behind the glasses seemed supportive.


    To the right, below a set of hung maps and cupboards was the village elder, Wife of the Guildsmaster, a woman of same character and same disposition¡ªexcept that she had a warmer look and leaned more towards her right, to a particular person. She whispered something to him, then left him to his own devices.


    The man at the center, holding onto his papers that he could see a few steps away, turned around and showed his scarred face. He smiled, then pointed to a single chair facing them across the room.


    ¡®¡¯Sit down, Kliment.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment nodded at Lieutenant Ivan and took his seat.


    Under a wisp of light seeping from the window, Lieutenant put down his papers¡ªdiscussion seciton open at the forefront¡ªand turned towards him.


    ¡®¡¯Let me re-introduce myself. I am Lieutenant Ivan Smirnov of Fort Ascendance, and also a Senior Instructor of the Military Academy of Aymon Union. If fate wills so, and I am sure the top five will definitely be, I will be your teacher for eight years¡ªfour for elementary courses and four for senior courses.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯There is no need to be nervous,¡¯¡¯ He said in a rather soft voice. It wasn¡¯t something expected from a man of his stature and demeanor. After all, he still was a knight in essence¡ªa noble.


    ¡®¡¯There are three general questions that we ask everyone, and after that I will ask whatever comes to mind. I expect you to answer all of them fully and...truthfully.¡¯¡¯


    His gaze, then, turned to one of a noble. It reverted back in the same instant.


    ¡®¡¯Understood?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Yes, sir.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Good. First, this will be verified by Village Elder¡ªgive me a summary of your general situation and past.¡¯¡¯


    This is...this was rather strange. But he didn¡¯t mind much. Not that it would have any effect if he asked about it. This was the place he needed to answer, not ask.


    In a sense, this was the very-first moment of his re-enactment into the military¡ªto the chain of command that let no one defy its orders.


    ¡®¡¯I am eleven years old this year...¡¯¡¯He thought a little bit. ¡®¡¯My general health is good. I am not athletic. Our family is doing fairly-well thanks to my father¡¯s inheritance and my mother¡¯s medical skills. Since there is only t¡ªthree of us, it makes things easier.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Give me more details.¡¯¡¯ Lieutenant said.


    Kliment thought a little bit more.


    ¡®¡¯I have a strong education because of my father and my step-brother¡¯s father, who is a renowned scholar. I generally help around the house, if you are curious about any work I do, and sometimes come to the guilds to provide help for payment.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Payment?¡¯¡¯


    The Guildsmaster smiled. ¡®¡¯He is a diligent boy. His uncles are traveling all around Aymon, and he always asks about them. But it isn¡¯t easy to contact...so he helps around a little bit and we recoup the letters¡¯ expenses.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I see...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯As for my past...I grew up healthy. There were few instances where I fell sick, and they were simple colds only. As I mentioned before, my father provided me great education, and the reason was his own level of scholarship. He was also a merchant, so I frequented between the villages all around here and the Flat Peaks. When my father died after contracting a disease brought by the West Expansion Navy, I no longer frequented out.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I took my education in the Guilds and some lessons from Uncle Salim, my step-brother¡¯s father. That¡¯s...it.¡¯¡¯


    The man looked thoughtful for a moment.


    ¡®¡¯What was the disease?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I don¡¯t know.¡¯¡¯ He replied, and explained. ¡®¡¯It was transmitted by blood¡ªthats all we knew.¡¯¡¯ Here Kliment looked at the Village Elder.


    ¡®¡¯It was...strange.¡¯¡¯ She spoke. Her voice was hoarse and stuffy. ¡®¡¯It didn¡¯t matter if you were near or beside him in the same room. But a simple touch to his blood made you sick. A traveling doctor contracted the disease when he was wiping his blood as well. Kliment¡¯s father...died in two day¡¯s time. The doctor died not long after bringing him into their home. We couldn¡¯t clean their house until his own wife carried the deceased out and cleansed them with the monastery priests.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I understand.¡¯¡¯ Lieutenant nodded. ¡®¡¯Then let me get to the next question.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯What do you expect from the academy?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Education.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment said the answer right after. He kept his eyes on the Lieutenant, and the shade of his half-shining armor blinded him for a moment. A few seconds passed, then he spoke again.


    ¡®¡¯Also opportunities. I expect everything you sir have mentioned, as well as experience and opportunities to further my career and wage. I expect a school, some friends and teachers to make memories with¡ªbut out of them, what I expect most is safety.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯A military career for safety?¡¯¡¯ Lieutenant smirked. ¡®¡¯Good thinking. That is enough I suppose.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Then the third question¡ªwhy military?¡¯¡¯ Here his eyes went to the Guildmaster. ¡®¡¯Old man said so, did he not? You are a bright kid, good and dutiful, and everyone here likes you to some degree. And with your education¡ª¡¯¡¯


    He raised the papers and pointed at Kliment¡¯s answers. ¡®¡¯¡ªthere shouldn¡¯t be any hurdle for you in joining the Guilds. It will be much easier for you to become a novice or journeyman than to be a Sergeant in eight years.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You wanted safety first ande foremost, yet what you choose is a military career. Benefits wise it might seem nice, but in the end the world you are about to join isn¡¯t one suited for safety. Rather¡ªin this line of job, it is your duty to forsake your safety.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Now, tell, Kliment, why military?¡¯¡¯


    Kliment stood silent for a few seconds. He looked at the warm-gazed Guildsmaster, then turned right to the warm-smiled Village Elder. Then, smiling, he faced the frowning Lieutenant.


    ¡®¡¯Because I belong there.¡¯¡¯


    Lieutenant Ivan kept his frown. He didn¡¯t seem satisfied, yet it seemed enough to some degree.


    A few more seconds passed, and at last he smiled.


    ¡®¡¯I understand. You are much alike him.¡¯¡¯


    Him? Who is he?


    The guildmaster and the Village Elder smiled as well. The former nodded at him and the latter started writing down the general discussion from before to record it down.


    ¡®¡¯Then that is enough for the general questions. The questions I will ask now are vital, so heed and hear them well. There will be another interview for the passing students at the academy to ensure fairness, and the one leading them will be a Professor and a Commander¡ªso consider this practice.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Your answers in the exam are enough for you to pass already, but there are a few areas I will have to point out. If they hit you from here and you don¡¯t give a satisfactory answer, the Committee may have second thoughts about your enrollment to the Senior Course. Are you ready?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Yes sir.¡¯¡¯ Kliment nodded.


    ¡®¡¯Good,¡¯¡¯ Lieutenant said, scratches of the quill sounded right after him. ¡®¡¯First: in all answers of your Discussion Topics, your answers are too varied in focus. This isn¡¯t an issue in itself¡ªall of you children focused more on the question than the context of your exam. You all forgot that this is an exam for the military, hence you should consider everything in a sense of strategy and focus on military.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯As I said, it is a normal mistake, and everyone covered for this oversight in the On War section. You...however, did not.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯What is the reason for you to discuss administration and political topics in the second question? Explain it.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...the reason lies in the question itself.¡¯¡¯ Kliment started explaining after a moment. ¡®¡¯May I ask you to read it out loud sir?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯¡®¡¯On War: Out of the Three Queens of Revolution, which one had the biggest impact? Explain their role and present your thoughts...¡¯¡¯¡ªso?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯While the topic itself is strictly On War, the question¡¯s focus is on the impact of the individual itself. In a focus on war, The First Revolutionary Queen would have the biggest impact on warfare¡ªher tactics and modern ideas for the cavalry divisions, as well as the organized structure of logistics had the biggest impact on Aymon Army¡¯s history and its military. But¡ª¡¯¡¯


    Here he stopped and thought a little more.


    ¡®¡¯But, the person who had the biggest impact, while not at her time, is the Second Revolutionary Queen herself. Her title The Lawmaker is there for a reason¡ªestablishment of Guilds, new ranks for military, structural change of bureaucracy, the exchange of the currency are all matters that can outclass First Queen¡¯s accomplishments on their own.¡¯¡¯


    Lieutenant raised a hand for him to stop, and he watched Kliment with his brows furrowed. ¡®¡¯What about the focus of your answer?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯That is the essence. Her practices ,first, were an example that the previously seen useless noble women did, in fact, have a worth and potential¡ªand second were a path that led the way to a system that could allow women to be integrated in it. The enlargened workforce and the new careers for women were also¡ª¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯These are all good observations on their own, Kliment.¡¯¡¯ Lieutenant waved him off and rested his padded hand on his forehead. ¡®¡¯But just as I said...you need to focus more on war.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Sir...what do you consider war to be?¡¯¡¯ Kliment asked.


    ¡®¡¯...Nothing but a conflict of interests. A wrestle between nations for the medal that is profit. It is written on the front page of your notebooks, is it not? And what do you think it is? How does it explain your answer?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I, sir, see War as a political tool. Politics itself is a system built over conflict of interests, and when it comes to conflicts between nations, war is the ultimate tool to deliver their stance.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I see what you mean.¡¯¡¯ Lieutenant, however, still kept his frown. ¡®¡¯Since administration and war are both under the same umbrella, that it is a tool, a work of politics, or a policy, it naturally means they are related, right?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Yes, hence¡ª¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Kliment!¡¯¡¯


    Kliment jumped in his seat, the elderly couple frowned.


    ¡®¡¯Boy, why are you thinking so much? Did no one tell you to calm down for a second?¡¯¡¯ Lieutenant raised his voice further and threw Kliment¡¯s paper towards him. ¡®¡¯Look here! Look, and think again.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment picked it up from his lap, which he found strange, and looked over his answer. He didn¡¯t find anything wrong with his answer, but he looked over again. Then again, and again, and again...he read it more than a dozen times, and for ten whole minutes he searched something wrong in the answer.


    ¡®¡¯Nothing?¡¯¡¯ Lieutenant smirked again. ¡®¡¯What are you looking for, tell me?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Something wrong, but I can¡¯t see anything in it being so sir.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Your answer doesn¡¯t have something wrong in it. Your answer is wrong. This should be too simple for you, Kliment. Aren¡¯t you a bright boy? Stop thinking about the answer for a moment. Use your logic¡ªthen look at your own logic.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Let me make it simple in the way¡ª¡¯¡¯ the lieutenant reached towards his belt and took out a sheathed dagger. Kliment hadn¡¯t seen it before, so it must have been hidden in a side-pocket. ¡®¡¯Old man, give me a scissor.¡¯¡¯


    Guildsmaster, although with a little hesitation, walked over to his wife¡¯s side and took out a scissor from a cupboard. He put it near lieutenant Ivan and stopped beside the Village Elder.


    ¡®¡¯I¡¯m not doing something dangerous, don¡¯t worry,¡¯¡¯ he assured them and turned to Kliment. ¡®¡¯Now, consider this knife for trimming, and the scissor for cutting branches. They are both a gardener¡¯s tools, right?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Yes sir.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Gardener is politics, scissor is administration, and the knife here is military affairs. Now, your logic dictates that both of them are tools for politics, hence related. Is it true in both contexts I presented to you?¡¯¡¯


    Kliment nodded, yet confused at Lieutenant¡¯s aim. ¡®¡¯Yes sir.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Easy. They are related, and they are both tools¡ªthey are means by which the country achieves their aim. Yet in your logic, you make it that the scissor is the same as the gardener. Then when I ask you about how the knife works, you tell me scissor is sharp like the knife, and forgo all about it.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Do you understand it?¡¯¡¯


    Politics...its effect on administration and war...military...tools?


    Tools.


    TOOLS.


    Am I an idiot?!


    ¡®¡¯I...I understand sir. I completely misplaced the order of business, the relations, and how they affect each other. Military and general administration¡ªpolicy are different means to an end. Bureaucracy is also a tool, but it exists in both of these means, and it is also dependent on the country and is controlled by it. What I proposed was that changes in administration would also affect military, since they share a close bond by the name of bureaucracy, but I forgot that affecting it doesn¡¯t mean it¡ª.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Stop, stop, stop!¡¯¡¯ Lieutenant Ivan sighed and waved his hand for him to silence. ¡®¡¯You are thinking too much again. You just lost focus of one point, that''s it. Do you understand? Focus! That¡¯s it!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯That¡¯s...it?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯That¡¯s it.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment¡¯s train of thoughts froze.


    ¡®¡¯I understand why you are a bright and dutiful boy, not a genius.¡¯¡¯ Lieutenant Ivan spoke again. ¡®¡¯This is an issue you need to handle¡ªwhile I can see you working well at the logistics or technology departments, in strategy or on field you will be hopeless. Hesitation is a sin on the field. The committee most likely won¡¯t want a rigid commander after the last war.¡¯¡¯


    Lieutenant Ivan stood silent for a moment or two more, then sighed.


    ¡®¡¯But I understand your point¡ªthe question wasn¡¯t well prepared enough as well. It will be addressed later...and your issue as well. At this time, however, we will continue with the questions.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I understand sir. Please go on.¡¯¡¯


    The lieutenant nodded at his curt response and looked around. His eyes went back and forth on the table, then the Guildsmaster nudged him towards Kliment¡¯s side.


    Lieutenant Ivan smiled and reached out with his hands.


    ¡®¡¯Papers, please.¡¯¡¯


    Chapter Epilogue: One Room Above


    *********


    One room above the teacher¡¯s office, where various students were interviewed by Lieutenant Ivan and the general administrators of the village, a pair of nobles remained seated.


    In the Guildmaster¡¯s room full of exquisite documents and furniture, one young and the other being old, the nobles faced each other over a small coffee table¡ªbeside them both were two ranks of Awakened Knights, graduates from the Royal College of Excellence. They were not only the favorite, but also the most common choice of the noble families across the Aymon Union.


    These two, one being the current head of the House Sanyo of Northeast Aymon-Ki and the other the named Heir of House Zaftor of Southwest Aymon-Al, had also brought plenty of guards with them.


    Viscount Sanyo was quite old, perhaps much older than his colleagues who all remained thirty and forty years old¡ªsixty years of his life carved themselves wrinkles on his neck and lips. And there was also a charred-red on his left eye, making the pupil look blank.


    Baron Zaftor, or the heir to the Zaftor Dukedom, was in contrast a very young man¡ªalmost a teenager. While his looks said something around eighteen, his actual age remained between thirteen and fourteen, which was considered abnormal even in the circles of the high-nobility. He wore, unlike Viscount Sanyo, not a bright jacket and long white pants, but a simple shirt made of linen and shorts designed to ride horses. On his feet were leather boots stained red from blood.


    ¡®¡¯His excellency should be more careful in the future¡ª¡¯¡¯ Viscount Sanyo said. ¡®¡¯What if these buffoons rushed at you instead of running away? These wild children are all stronger than they look.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I had my sword and my pistol with me, viscount, it wasn¡¯t much of a worry.¡¯¡¯ Baron Zaftor shrugged. His motion shook the Wheellock pistol hanging from his belt.


    ¡®¡¯That might be the case...but I can not help but worry.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯What makes you worry?¡¯¡¯


    Viscount Sanyo remained silent for a moment, then waved his hand for a guard at his side. The man, or woman, cloaked by the plate armor led their entourage. Baron Zaftor followed the suit. When the last squeak from the door came, Baron Zaftor crossed his legs and stared at the old viscount.


    ¡®¡¯There were two peculiar children among those five. Have you noticed?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...Only one. You encountered them on the way as well?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I forgot to mention, my apologies,¡¯¡¯ The viscount gave a curt bow and continued. ¡®¡¯Which one would that be, may I ask?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯The one with gloomy eyes. I only stared at him for a moment, but his blac eyes were too peculiar¡ªhis reaction more so. The boy recognized my pistol and rallied them in a few seconds.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Hah,¡¯¡¯ the old viscount smirked. ¡®¡¯Anyone would be frightened by your attire...but I see. He seemed...too excited to me on the way back. And him recognizing a firearm, forgive my ignorance, but aren¡¯t they still being developed in the capital?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯They are,¡¯¡¯ Baron Zaftor replied. ¡®¡¯That was my concern¡ªbut Lieutenant told me that his father was...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯He is? Is he a noble bastard? Or a past nouveau-riche?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯No, forget it. His father is long dead, so it is not something to worry about. Instead, his father might have shown him a few of them. Sparkle Beach is not far away and Antadushs have a great connection there.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I see...but his attitude is another. He had a queer excitement when we stumbled upon him near the village. He might have what you need, your excellency.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I asked Ivan but...¡¯¡¯ Baron Zaftor let out a deep sigh. ¡®¡¯He is against it. After all, he came to this place for that child alone.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Why would he?¡¯¡¯


    Baron Zaftor didn¡¯t speak.


    For his father, of course. But he had closed that topic just a while ago, and the young heir did have an inkling as to what the old Viscount wanted. A wish that he was not so fond of.


    ¡®¡¯Orders.¡¯¡¯ He said and finished it as vague as possible. ¡®¡¯We can¡¯t touch him for now. I will try to get on his good side, however.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯What about the other queer one, viscount? Which one was it?¡¯¡¯


    The old viscount made a ¡®¡¯Hmm¡¯¡¯ and reclined back to his seat. His back straight and eyes above, he replied.


    ¡®¡¯The fast one, Chosertian.¡¯¡¯

 Chapter 2-Bitter Taste of Iron and Blood

    *********


    CHAPTER PROLOGUE


    ¡®¡¯You can go out. Tell the attendant outside to wait five more minutes.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Yes sir.¡¯¡¯


    Ivan looked at the young child forcing a bow. His waist bent, revealing a rather skinny neck and thin shoulders, then rose and revolved to aim for the door. He heard a few words from the child  just as the door squeaked close. There was a faint moment among them¡ªno words, no movement; a wind howled outside and brought a chilling cold from the loose wood over their heads.


    ¡®¡¯Old man,¡¯¡¯ His gaze shot to his left, over the pauldron almost as high as his hand¡¯s length. The silver-ish gleam reflected inside the eyes of the Guildsmaster. ¡®¡¯Be honest with me.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯What is wrong with that child? Spouting big words as if he knows what they are...¡¯¡¯


    The elderly man let out a sigh. Below his hands rested the shoulders of the V?llage Elder, who accompanied him with a lowered head. She held one hand up and held her husband¡¯s hand, then they both looked towards Ivan.


    ¡®¡¯His father.¡¯¡¯ Village Elder said. She glanced at the door, then back at him. ¡®¡¯He changed when his father died.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...I expected that much. No, I didn¡¯t, but I assumed. How could he be fine anyway?¡¯¡¯


    Ivan leaned back and crossed his hands together. Free from the weight of the gauntlets, he stretched and pulled them, popping the joints. ¡®¡¯But...but he isn¡¯t broken or something. I don¡¯t see him being upset, nor I see any emotional baggage.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯All I see is a half-lunatic acting like an adult.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Lunatic, huh,¡¯¡¯ Village Elder muttered. ¡®¡¯That is wrong, m¡¯lord. The boy isn¡¯t a lunatic. He is dead-set on his views. It isn¡¯t that he is acting like an adult, Lord Ivan, but that he is like an adult.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯There is indeed a difference.¡¯¡¯ Guildsmaster added. He massaged his wife¡¯s shoulders while she rested her messy white head on his bulging stomach. ¡®¡¯It is more than obvious, m¡¯lord, and you¡¯ve seen it in the children before. When they act serious and grim, and they show off and act mighty and clever, it takes no more than a glance to know their act.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯But Kliment doesn¡¯t act grim. His seriousness is no act, even. He seems like an adult because to some extent, he is. He matured after his father''s death¡ªhe changed, because he had his mother to take care of.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Take care?¡¯¡¯ Ivan raised a brow. Even though most women were weaker, he never saw a frail widow. And Agniya was that man¡¯s wife. How could she not be strong enough in his death with a child?


    ¡®¡¯The first year, I think Kliment was around nine, she didn¡¯t get out of her house. She couldn¡¯t take care of the wounded or sick, so we had to call for another doctor from the ministry. So the boy had to live on his uncle¡¯s wages¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t accept the grace of anyone else. Except Sir Salim and his family, they had no contact as well.¡¯¡¯


    Ivan snorted.¡®¡¯He was that proud? What does a kid have the need for pride.¡¯¡¯


    The Guildsmaster stopped. He didn¡¯t utter anything, nor did he stop his hands. Instead, the Village Elder spoke.


    ¡®¡¯To not make his mother suffer more, I suppose. He is diligent, we said to you m¡¯lord, and he is bright, because he has pride. He never stops learning, nor does he stop short at helping people. As a good man, he has a certain kind of pride that is not so arrogant¡ªand he knows his mother has the same kind of pride as well.¡¯¡¯


    Village Elder had a sharp falling of the gaze in her eyes, and for once a clear tone to her hoarse voice.


    ¡®¡¯Even Yaromir held onto such feelings, whether required by his trade or not. It goes in the family.¡¯¡¯


    Yaromir...


    Thinking of the extravagant man with the bright smile, of his brown hair barely-grown, and of his calloused grasp mighty enough to crush bones, Ivan closed his eyes. His fingers clutched each other, his mind sounding for the memory of a voice long unmet.


    A few seconds later, his hands parted.


    Yaromir...poor Yaromir...


    Look at what your pride has gotten you, and now look at your son from above.


    Pride...


    His eyes shot open,


    ¡®¡¯Call the next student!¡¯¡¯


    A small voice replied affirmative out the door and left with heavy footsteps.


    Glancing towards the door, he thought of the small boy with his small back.


    ¡®¡¯Such a meaningless thing.¡¯¡¯ He whispered.


    *********


    2-Bitter Taste of Iron and Blood


    ¡®¡¯To secure peace is to prepare for war¡¯¡¯ ¡ªCarl Von Clausewitz


    The evening came by like a flash and left at the same pace. The two families had an extravagant meal and drank till the eve of night. When Fahri fell asleep, his half-drunk father Salim and sober mother Aisha carried him back to their house, bidding goodnight.


    Kliment slept for a while, tossed and turned on the coarse bed, then woke up around an hour later. He knew the reason right away¡ªhe was restless. How much he said didn¡¯t matter, nor did it help to alleviate the peculiar feeling.


    He turned left to look at his mother, sleeping a few steps away from him on a large mattress made for two. They, she and his father had no bed, since their entire childhood both were poor. The hard floor and its chill was long familiar to them and any softness beyond it would make them unable to sleep.


    At least, that''s what they told him. To a simple, or a rather wealthy family among the middle class, a half-decent bed was still too big of a luxury. That bedding was all he convinced them to buy, and one side went unused right after.


    His gaze moved from her rough hands to the ceiling. There were some stains, and a brown-ish moss spread from the far-right corner. For a few seconds, eyes still on the ceiling, he listened to the village dogs bark and howl.


    He stood up and threw the blanket off. Dragging it over from the bed, he covered his mother with it, then walked out of the room towards the kitchen. He stepped out of the closed kitchen door, put on the oversized slippers of his mother, then came beside the fence and hauled himself over it.


    ¡®¡¯Whooooooooooo,¡¯¡¯ He took a deep breath¡ª


    ¡®¡¯Hooooooooooooo¡ª¡¯¡¯then let it out as a thick steam.


    His nightwear was neither thick nor thin, but against the onslaught of the cold wind it provided no protection. The chill did clear his mind, however.


    For an unknown time, amidst the bark of the dogs and chirps of the few birds that couldn¡¯t migrate south, he watched the moon arc over his back.


    ¡®¡¯...¡¯¡¯ Kliment muttered. Another gust of cold wind scratched his reddened cheeks.


    ¡®¡¯...¡¯¡¯


    Melancholic, he stepped down on the ground and went back inside. Right before entering his room, his gaze landed on the broken longcase clock.


    Clasping both hands together, he gave a short bow towards it, then went back to sleep.


    *********


    The day after the interview, the successful ones were called with their families again. Lieutenant Ivan and the Guildsmaster implied more than once that the test and interviews here were enough, but the academy would do another round with the Chiefs of education. After all, Kliment assumed, most parents didn¡¯t know how the general affairs in the capital proceeded. Their family, unfortunately, was one of them to an extent.


    The evening of the same day they had another meal with the Chosertian family, and the following three days passed in relative peace. Instead of sticking to his general routine, Agniya allowed Kliment to stay at home and help her around. She herself couldn¡¯t do much work¡ªthe only proper one she managed was packing Kliment¡¯s necessities and buying more with their savings.


    On October 18th of the Aymonian Calendar, Year 953, their journey would begin.


    Which was today.


    *********


    Kliment wore his thick leather cap while his mother covered him with a large jacket. She threw a thin blue cloak over it, his father¡¯s most beloved color, and strapped his boots tight so that wind couldn¡¯t seep in his feet. She got down on one knee, then unbundled the top three buttons of his jacket. He had arranged them wrong.


    ¡®¡¯...¡¯¡¯


    Dragging her hands, she put on his belt around him and clenched it to the core. Her expression, likewise, was forced.


    Kliment looked at her messy brown hair, and the visible cracks on her fingers and wrinkles under her eyes. Three days. It took only three days for her to turn this way. He had another pang of regret there. His pupils dilated. He recognized what she felt as a parent in his own right, as he was in his own right.


    His mother noticed it right away.


    ¡®¡¯What are you doing?¡¯¡¯


    She snatched his fingers away from his palms and opened them up. Even if he wanted, he couldn¡¯t make them bleed¡ªbut her sorrow while looking at the deep white in his palms hurt more than it would have.


    ¡®¡¯...¡¯¡¯


    His mother caressed his fingers for a moment. He felt warmth from her palm.


    ¡®¡¯You¡¯re already freezing...put on your gloves.¡¯¡¯


    He reached out to the bed to grasp at them, but his mother acted quicker. She picked them up, rubbed them against each other to bring more warmth, then took a hold of his hands and slid them inside in order.


    ¡®¡¯Is it comfortable?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯They are.¡¯¡¯ Kliment nodded.


    ¡®¡¯Is it a little tight here?¡¯¡¯ She pressed on his thumb. ¡®¡¯You¡¯ve grown too fast, so I forgot to widen the leather.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It is okay, my hands are rather small.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Here?¡¯¡¯ She pressed on the tip of his index finger. ¡®¡¯Is it good?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It is okay. My fingers are thin as well.¡¯¡¯


    She rubbed the wrist bands around the gloves.. ¡®¡¯What about here? Does wind get inside?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯No, it is the exact measurement. It is comfortable.¡¯¡¯


    Her hands moved further, then a little higher, then a little further more. At last they reached around his neck, and she leaned forward and pulled him from the back into a hug.


    ¡®¡¯Mom...¡¯¡¯ Kliment smiled. ¡®¡¯It is fine. I¡¯ll be fine.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯But...¡¯¡¯ she stuttered for a moment. Her head leaned a little more forward and laid itself on his shoulders. ¡®¡¯But...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯But I won¡¯t be fine.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment¡¯s heart shattered at the whisper.


    ¡®¡¯Ahh, no, no no no,¡¯¡¯ Agniya sniffed once and twice, and her eyes turned wet from tears. ¡®¡¯I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have said that. I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. You¡¯ll be fine¡ªI¡¯ll be fine. We both will be fine.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯See,¡¯¡¯ She pressed her head on his right shoulder, and Kliment tilted it to wipe some of her snot. ¡®¡¯I couldn¡¯t even lay my head on you back then. You were so little. Your arms and legs were like your nose, they were so tiny and cute.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯And I couldn¡¯t hug you as much as I wanted¡ª¡¯¡¯ She motioned with her two fingers, as if squeezing a twig. ¡¯¡¯You were too little, too weak. But now you are good. I can hug you as much as I want, and I can rest my head on your shoulder. Its nice.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯And your hand,¡¯¡¯ She took one of them away from her back that Kliment used to pat, then put it closer to her face. ¡®¡¯Look at how big it is. Soon it will be as big as my face, right? You can already hold your weight, and look at  your palms. They already are calloused, right? It is nice...it''s nice.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It''s so nice...that...that you¡¯ve grown. It''s so...so nice...mm...hm...m....¡¯¡¯


    Her voice turned faint, then incoherent, and at last fell into silence. Kliment kept his embrace tight, but she relented. She took both of his arms from the wrists, then with visible ease pushed them away.


    ¡®¡¯I¡¯m okay. I¡¯m sorry darling, I didn¡¯t want to make you sad as well. Please don¡¯t cry.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I¡¯m not crying.¡¯¡¯ said Kliment.


    He put one hand over his eyes, then felt it warmer than usual. And wet, still flooding with tears dripping from his black eyes. He wiped them away, but another surge came. He wiped, then wiped again, and then wiped again and again and again.


    ¡®¡¯It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s okay.¡¯¡¯


    His mom kept patting his head, then gave him another light hug. She pressed at his nape and forced him to wipe the tears on her dress.


    ¡®¡¯It¡¯s okay.¡¯¡¯ He said.


    ¡®¡¯It¡¯s okay.¡¯¡¯ She repeated.


    After a while, Kliment calmed down. His heart heavy, and his eyes still burning, he grasped the large bag and the flower-patterned satchel from the door. His mother escorted him all the way to the door, where the ever-bright-donning Salim and his level-headed son Fahri waited for them.


    ¡®¡¯Ah, sorry,¡¯¡¯ Agniya went inside, then came back with a hastily tied headdress on her dark brown hair. ¡®¡¯Thank you, Salim. Please take care of him...take care of them both.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I will do Yenwi(Wife of my brother),¡¯¡¯ he nodded and took the heavy baggage of Kliment¡¯s hands. ¡®¡¯You take care as well. I¡¯ll come tomorrow morning with my wife, alright?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Alright.¡¯¡¯ She said. ¡®¡¯Now go off, you two. Don¡¯t forget to take care of each other on the journey, and in the school, okay?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Of course,¡¯¡¯ Fahri said. With a smirk, he gave a soft pat and pulled the still-shaken Kliment over to his side. ¡®¡¯He is my Gashaq(Brother), right?¡¯¡¯


    The two adults smiled.


    ¡®¡¯Then...take care.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment looked at her eyes. Perhaps they would stare at each other forever,


    ¡®¡¯Kli...let us depart.¡¯¡¯


    Salim patted his shoulder and led them away.


    While descending the slope in front of their house, Kliment had a feeling that his mother was still in that hallway, staring at the door beside the longcase clock, watching his back shrinking into the baby he once was. As if he felt what went through in her own heart, reliving memories of his long gone family.


    ¡®¡¯How much are you going to cry, Klimal?¡¯¡¯


    Kliment turned to Fahri, who swept his sleeve all over his face. His snot and tears left a stain on the boy¡¯s dress.


    ¡®¡¯Now is our time to shine! It is academy time! What awaits us is glory and excellence! Right? Right!?¡¯¡¯


    Kliment looked at him, then at the smiling Salim, and at last to the home he left behind in a daze. His mother was nowhere to be seen, and the door was shut.


    ¡®¡¯...right.¡¯¡¯ He said.


    ¡®¡¯Right!¡¯¡¯


    *********


    The journey began with a rather relaxing start.


    The sun hid behind silver-white clouds of massive width, layered like scales of a fish across the blue sky. There was also wind sweeping both trees and the capes of the soldiers, and the hair of the few village children who peeked outside of their carriages. Fifteen kilometers northwest of their village were already new sights for these younglings.


    This held true for Kliment to some extent, but was not the case for Fahri.


    One was the son of a merchant that saw his fair share of travel in this life, with another forty-some years in a foreign world, while the other was the child of a renowned scholar abroad. And he was blessed with great memory, too, so while he had been three or four years old, Fahri could recount most events they encountered with his family.


    ¡®¡¯...these kinds of trees end around fifty kilometers to our northeast, near Fort Ascendance. Those trees don¡¯t have as many branches, but look like they have skirts with pricking needles. We passed by here when I was five and settled down in the village.¡¯¡¯


    So he was five.


    ¡®¡¯How nice...¡¯¡¯ Kliment muttered. ¡®¡¯I wish I could remember everything like you.¡¯¡¯


    The faces in his memory had long been blurred to gray specks of light. He did not remember the appearance of his parents, nor of his wife¡¯s and daughter¡¯s.


    ¡®¡¯IT isn¡¯t that nice¡ª¡¯¡¯ Fahri, sitting across from him with both arms crossed, pulled his legs together. ¡®¡¯Like that bloody affair...the man we met in the forest. I still feel nauseous thinking about it.¡¯¡¯


    Their carriage went over another bump and rattled for a few seconds. The roads here were better than usual, but good in this world¡¯s standards were a little too overvalued.


    ¡®¡¯You better get used to it.¡¯¡¯ Kliment straightened his posture and looked outside. He could only hear the clopping hooves of the soldiers¡¯ horses. ¡®¡¯We will be military-men. It will be our job to see blood, or make it appear.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...¡¯¡¯ Fahri looked straight at him. His gaze, for the first Kliment noticed, held some aversion.


    ¡®¡¯Who told you that?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Is it something others need to tell you? What do you suppose soldiers do?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I know, but there are more than soldiers in the military. Klimal.¡¯¡¯ Since the carriage was wide enough for both of them to sleep on the couches, Fahri had no trouble laying on his side. Turning his back, with a little more force behind his voice, he spoke. ¡®¡¯And stop forcing your ideas on me.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Why do we need to see blood as soldiers? Why is it our duty to spill red? Because someone ordered? Because the nation needs cotton, wood, coal, or iron mines? If I need to...if I need to kill someone, it will be when I am defending my family from them¡ªnot while standing against people like us.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment looked at Fahri¡¯s tiny back, then at his trembling fist half-buried inside his jacket¡¯s pocket.


    ¡®¡¯You see¡ª¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I won¡¯t see anything. Shut up, idiot.¡¯¡¯


    Sighing, Kliment no longer tried to talk to him about it. A tree had its shade, but resting under it was the choice of another. If Fahri didn¡¯t want to understand, and he too could understand why he would not want such things, he had no way of helping. But did it really matter?


    Did it matter?


    When Fahri turned into another name in his memory, when he was buried in another no man¡¯s land with no grave to his name, and no family to return to like the tens of thousands, would it really matter? He would die, and Fahri would die as well. There was no pushing back that fact. So did it matter?


    Does it matter if he dies without knowing, not understanding what he is expected to do here? Does it matter if he inflicts the same pain to his family one way or another, by death or by living? Why should it matter?


    It is pointless to force him to listen, and force myself to teach.


    In life, five percent of all knowledge could be acquired with effort. Five percent more with money, and the remaining ninety percent with experience. That motto was his everything. And to Kliment, the true nature of war and its consequences were amidst the majority of the ninety percent. He couldn¡¯t expect young Fahri to view things in a pragmatic or rational manner. Or view anything, for that matter. It was not the job of a child to think, though it was better for them to think, but it was to act. Consequences, troubles, all were words belonging to the adults.


    But, even if it was only for him to be aware of the possibilities, Kliment wanted to speak as such. Since he didn¡¯t want to listen, however, it didn¡¯t matter.


    After all, those who didn¡¯t think of death did not belong to the military.


    *********


    Carriages sped through patches of land and at some point merged with another convoy of carriages built around the same manner¡ªdiffering in the colors of the exterior woods with plenty dark brown, chestnut, brown, and gold-lined.


    Gold-lined indeed, as a familiar carriage accompanied them¡ªnot the convoy but Fahri and Kliment¡¯s carriage, as the road widened and let two sets run side by side. This was the same one that was led by knights, which was still surrounded by them except its leftmost window that faced Fahri and Kliment.


    ¡®¡¯Fahri?¡¯¡¯ Kliment whispered. All he received in response was the ever-sounding soft snore of the boy.


    Kliment shielded his eyes from the setting sunlight and peered at the silhouette behind the curtains. It seemed...different. Definitely not of the same height as the old one, nor as thin. And also not memorable, hence his immediate realization that this man was someone else.


    A teen, as a voice called out to him.


    ¡®¡¯What a splendid day, is it not?¡¯¡¯


    A hand peered out of the curtain¡¯s bottom, wielding golden rings and adorning a sleeve of silk. He was a noble no doubt.


    ¡®¡¯The sun has such a striking, scarlet color, yet is still cold enough to not cause any discomfort. I like it very much. What do you think?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It indeed is m¡¯lord.¡¯¡¯ replied Kliment.


    ¡®¡¯So do you like it?¡¯¡¯


    Kliment had a feeling that the man smiled behind the curtain. It was his tone of voice, warmer than most nobles that he thought so. He had the chance of meeting some barons, but even they weren¡¯t considered proper nobility by today¡¯s standards¡ª The only difference they had from a farmer was the size of their land, generally a ratio of six to one. So they were much humbler in the face of commoners, yet still carried pride in their voice.


    A title was worth a lot, after all. The blood, the name that came with it couldn¡¯t be compared with simple money. In that sense, having a noble address to him with such warm words seemed too disoriented to Kliment. But it belonged to a youth as well, so it was a possibility that he wasn¡¯t too sure of his role in the society.


    Kliment inspected the half-roughened hand grasping the carriage¡¯s window. No, sure is the wrong word. He isn¡¯t aware.


    Or aware wasn¡¯t the right word as well. He just didn¡¯t care? He wasn¡¯t mindful of it? These two carried different meanings, both only converging at the idea that this noble man, or a half-man evident from the spirit of his voice, felt that speaking to him didn¡¯t need considerations of what he said. Be it pride, ignorance, arrogance, or better yet¡ªand worse for Kliment¡ªcunning, this half-man noble was a proper noble.


    Such a contradiction...haha. What would cunning noble-men want from a nobody?


    Kliment smiled as well, though the noble couldn¡¯t see from the curtain.


    ¡®¡¯It is great. I like the tone of the Sun¡ªit isn¡¯t quite scarlet, and it isn¡¯t quite cool, so looking gives you neither pain nor trouble. It is the perfect end to a relatively calm day, I say M¡¯lord, as I feel days like this are rare.¡¯¡¯


    The other side went silent for some time. The silhouette turned towards the inside, mumbled something Kliment couldn¡¯t hear, then turned back to face him.


    ¡®¡¯It seems that we both hold the same opinion, then?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It seems so, M¡¯lord.¡¯¡¯


    The other side remained silent for a few seconds more. Then the hand over the window moved up and lifted the curtain over the young face of the blonde noble.


    Haughty, dark eyes welcomed him, and the same shoulders with pads bearing three stripes of gold and one silver. One silver was a baron, three silver was a viscount, one gold was a count, and three gold was a duke. Three gold and one silver meant this youth, whom he met under a not so desirable situation, was a barony holder of a duke¡¯s bloodline.


    ¡®¡¯It is good to see someone near my age who has some sense.¡¯¡¯ The baron replied.


    Near? Kliment frowned for a moment. Being a child and acting like one made his expressions much easier to read than before. And also a loving family¡ª he had nothing to hide from his family except his past in this life. In this circumstance, it was this perk that allowed the baron to understand his thoughts.


    ¡®¡¯I have come of age a year ago, my new friend.¡¯¡¯


    So he was thirteen.


    ¡®¡¯I am older than you by two years.¡¯¡¯


    I know. Kliment nodded and gave a short bow from where he looked.


    ¡®¡¯M¡¯lord has...seems much stronger than my age.¡¯¡¯


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    ¡®¡¯Stronger? Not older?¡¯¡¯


    The baron showed another warm smile. ¡®¡¯I like your choice of words. I am indeed stronger. Not by a whole lot, but just enough to beat a dozen of my age¡ªbut it is not something worth bragging about.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment liked the baron¡¯s attitude to some extent, or to the extent that he could put his bloodied image aside for a few minutes. ¡®¡¯Boasting does not make your qualities lesser, m¡¯lord. You know the tales from soner-northeast. Warriors who don¡¯t brag are no warriors.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯If there are no tales, there is no truth, you say. I do agree, though I wonder who informed you that I was not proud? I am not fond of flaunting myself, that is all there is.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment smiled at his words as well. But inside, his heart threatened to burst off against his chest. It thumped and bumped at a rapid pace, sending random splashes of red flush over his neck and ears.


    ¡®¡¯Then forgive my rudeness, m¡¯lord.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Ah, that was not something rude. No need to worry about that¡ª¡¯¡¯ the baron waved his hand in the air a few times. ¡®¡¯You are a friend. A future classmate, and a colleague if Angels of War allow it. There shouldn¡¯t be such reservations between us.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment nodded and mimicked another bow from where he sat. He kicked Fahri in the butt, though the boy did not flinch.


    The baron held the curtain again ¡®¡¯Then...¡¯¡¯


    As he spoke a series of shouts rose from the front, traveling down the lines of vehicles. They were to stop soon.


    ¡®¡¯¡ªWell, I was going to take my leave but it seems it shall not be necessary.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment peered over the side and saw the trees dwindle further in numbers. They left their place to a large gathering of plains, merging dirt and half-grass roads, and rolling hills suitable for grazing up the horizon. The few figures he saw should be the local shepherds, he assumed, as at most two kilometers away were small dots of four-legged animals running around.


    The leading horsemen, among them lieutenant Ivan, rode off under their sight towards the shepherds. In the meantime the string of vehicles veered away from the path and gathered near three mounted lancers awaiting at the side. These three separated at some point and, taking them out from a quiver hanging on their belt, plastered iron rods around the empty plain. In a half-decent order the carriages followed and stopped between these rods, then let their passengers out into the open.


    Kliment woke Fahri up and waited for their turn. The young baron¡¯s carriage went further away from the crowd of children and soldiers. A quick glance showed their numbering around hundred total, with the baron¡¯s carriage away from them. It made towards a more secluded spot circled by twenty knights wearing sky-blue capes.


    Fifteen minutes passed before the lieutenant returned with another officer of the same rank, called Captain Gustav, from the Timber Pass Fortress to their northeast that merged Aymon-al and Aymon-Besh¡¯s borders. They rained orders on the carriagemen and some soldiers, who all got into work regardless of men or women. Of course, the men still exceeded women in number by three to one, and they were assigned to heavier tasks than female soldiers.


    Some of the children helped along the way, carrying the tents and the stones, and some went alongside the soldiers to find dry timber and more materials for the campfire.


    Right after Fahri left for Lieutenant Ivan¡¯s call for another help, a knight approached Kliment and tapped his shoulder.


    ¡®¡¯His Highness Maksim Zaftor calls for Yaromir¡¯s son.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment¡¯s eyes glanced at the dull blue eyes of the knight.


    He nodded.


    *********


    Maksim smirked at the confused Kliment.


    ¡®¡¯How fancy to meet you so soon!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It indeed is, m¡¯lord.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Alright then,¡¯¡¯ without any mention of...anything, nor speaking to the knights and the old-looking noble towering over them, Maksim Zaftor turned around.


    ¡®¡¯Come with me, friend. Let us hunt a few hares to eat tonight.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment cast a look behind, but several knights and their neighing mounts cloaked the campsite. It took a few seconds more to ponder what happened, what he could do, and what could happen. His line of sight was blocked, so he had no chance to send glances to Fahri or Lieutenants. A fight was not even in his mind, and fussing like a child or crying would just do nothing but make his situation worse.


    All left to him, of course, was to follow. He feared what a noble was capable of to some extent, both for himself and for his family.


    Stepping right behind the noble, they walked out of the entourage¡¯s scope and came before one of the few trees leading into the forest. They walked a minute more, and the surroundings grew darker, and more grim, full of dark-green pines rising further as they delved in. If he counted the steps right, a habit of the forces, at most five minutes had passed since they left the encampment.


    It should be around now, right?


    Kliment raised an expectant glance, but the back of the young lord remained steady. His pace still fine, but now a little softer on the steps, he kept walking.


    Another two minutes went by, and now all he could see was Maksim¡¯s back and the few different kinds of trees that he resembled to oak.


    ¡®¡¯Here.¡¯¡¯


    A little unnerved, but not distracted by the long silence, Kliment raised his hand forward to hold...a small, gold-adorned dagger in a sheath of the same-manner.


    ¡®¡¯You do not need it, or will not need it, but it would be improper of me to let danger come your way. Mister Yaromir would be troubled, I assume.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Ah...thank you?¡¯¡¯ Kliment raised a brow. He pulled the dagger closer to his jacket and put it near his waist, clenching with the right hand. ¡®¡¯And...may I ask a question, m¡¯lord?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I call you a friend, but you call me your lord¡ªcease it. But if you feel more comfortable, address me as sir Zaftor.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Yes, sir Zaftor.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Now, you can ask, but be quiet in voice and feet. I do not wish to have an accident like the last time.¡¯¡¯


    Zaftor¡¯s intonation of last was quite peculiar to the ear. In this exact circumstance, Kliment felt it to be threatening, and it was to some extent with its meaning clear. But it also had a taste of amusement.


    ¡®¡¯Thank you.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment took the dagger to an overhand grip, in case he had to stab it deep into something fast. His steps faltered as well and rose from his heels, having himself standing on the tip of his toes¡ªor as much as his shoes allowed him.


    Zaftor made a soft hum as acknowledgment, then took out his pistol as well. Kliment made to have a better look at it and indeed it was a quite primitive pistol, one of those his father carried around. This one¡¯s cover and marks, the inscriptions on its hammer and the general shape seemed more refined though, and that was to be expected. His father¡¯s pistol was over five years old when he saw it first, and it had been three more years since he sold it.


    Eight years of development should have sufficed for some changes.


    ¡®¡¯So? What are you thinking about? Have you forgotten your question?¡¯¡¯


    Awakened by the whisper, Kliment apologized. ¡®¡¯-sir Zaftor, how do you know my father?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Mister Yaromir was a good merchant with excellent morals, well-known by the few families here and there, and most familiar with ours. He also was one of the few that dealt with weapon trade among other commodities, so he had a little fame in the noble circle.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯But that is what you might call an official description of your father, my friend.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment repeated the words in his head.


    Weapon trade and excellent morals?


    He knew his father sold some weapons; but he mostly dealt in seashells, salt, sugar, and textile from overseas. To be known by nobles as a war merchant? With excellent morals? He never heard such contradictory words used together.


    ¡®¡¯Are you curious?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...I am, sir.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Then join me with your friend over the evening¡ªan acquaintance of mine mentioned your friend was son of Salim The Black?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯He indeed is.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Hm, good.¡¯¡¯


    A few seconds passed with silence. Zaftor kept his eyes all around, and Kliment kept his eyes all around where Zaftor glanced at. Another moment passed¡ªZaftor whipped his pistol right and pulled the trigger.


    Gunpowder exploded, his ears rang, and smoke filled his vision. A squeal came right after, and with it Zaftor¡¯s loud laughter.


    ¡®¡¯It worked this time!¡¯¡¯


    He took quick strides to the direction of his shot and Kliment followed. The smoke didn¡¯t last long in this weather, so he noticed the collapsed hare. Its gray-ish fur had blood all over the hind-legs. The bullet, somehow, either pierced both legs or pierced one and exploded over the other of the poor animal¡¯s.


    ¡®¡¯You see, with utmost concentration and a good sense of distance, it is a good weapon.¡¯¡¯


    Zaftor kneeled and patted around his clothes, then turned to look at him; he frowned at his way of holding the dagger, and smiled. ¡®¡¯Can I borrow that back, friend?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Here you go, sir.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Thank you.¡¯¡¯


    While the noble boy kept himself busy with taking care of the hare, Kliment had more than a few questions about the situation they were in. And he also needed something to divert his mind from; he knew himself well, and he knew he didn¡¯t really have the skills to predict people¡ª adults, in the narrower sense, as he once had a daughter to reference for children. Reading their nature was all he could do.


    He cultivated that ability in terrific moments of his life that he did not want to reminisce about. He overcame his past life a long time ago, on chilly nights spent on trade carts with his father, but the heavy burden of theirs weighed on his heart. For that reason, and to get away from the peculiar state between him and the young noble, he voiced a concern most natural about him.


    ¡®¡¯Sir Zaftor, sir, wouldn¡¯t it be more appropriate to have your retainers handle the carcass?¡¯¡¯


    The young noble twisted his head and gave him a bright smile. ¡®¡¯I do not trust them.¡¯¡¯


    This admittance was quite gutsy.


    ¡®¡¯But they are your knights?¡¯¡¯ Kliment pressed a little. A young noble he might be, and a person who could topple the entire balance of his life at a word. Yet he understood there was some sort of a circumstance that didn¡¯t allow for such an outcome. His father¡¯s name being the most obvious, but still lacking, he thought it would be the best to try and see what it was.


    ¡®¡¯Knights are noble people as well, my friend. They could not exactly take care of a bloodied corpse with good manners, or skin it good enough for me to eat fine meat.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Then...may I ask why?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Why?¡¯¡¯


    Zaftor let out a laugh. He raised the furless carcass of the rabbit above with his right, and the dagger with his left.


    He thrust the sharp blade out of the rabbit¡¯s skull.


    ¡®¡¯Because they are all humans. They are all nobles. They like to betray, they lean for betrayal. Do you know how many times my esteemed father suffered from poisoned meals? Random accidents, falling chandeliers, angered drunkards? Or how many times I got stomach aches, bloodied coughs, fever-ridden illnesses?¡¯¡¯


    He took the blade out and stabbed the earth with it.¡®¡¯It is commonplace for treachery to abound between them, so it is only I who can do this. Only I can procure my own food, prepare my own meal, feed myself.¡¯¡¯


    The boy¡¯s heaved breaths came to a halt when their eyes met.


    ¡®¡¯Ah, pity?¡¯¡¯ Zaftor smiled again. ¡®¡¯Indeed, it is a pity. The fine rabbit went to waste, didn¡¯t it? Now it won¡¯t last back to the camp. What do you say, should we eat it here, friend?¡¯¡¯


    Kliment had no reason to refuse. He knew the boy was aware of repercussions, whatever they might be, and since he didn¡¯t feel concerned about it Kliment had not one reason to do as well.


    ¡®¡¯I¡¯ll get some dry wood.¡¯¡¯ said he. Zaftor nodded, got up to his feet, then took a turn to gather some himself from the opposite side.


    Kliment did not need to go far away. A few paces away and all around them were seasonal trees and their fine-quality dry branches ripe to collect. He took as much as he could stuff under one arm and picked up two hand-sized stones laying around. He put them aside, strolled around the perimeter to get a few more stones, and returned to see Zaftor already producing sparks on a pile of wood juxtaposed between stones.


    ¡®¡¯Wait a little, sir,¡¯¡¯ said Kliment.


    Alongside the stones, he took out the yellowed wild grass and twisted them upon each other.


    ¡®¡¯Ah, forgot about them. My gratitudes.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment left him to do what he wanted to do. He took a seat across him and watched the young noble procure the beginning of a small flame.


    ¡®¡¯My first warm meal was like this.¡¯¡¯


    Zaftor¡¯s attitude took a small turn. The tone same, but the expression a little peculiar. He smiled, but it also seemed like he wasn¡¯t smiling at him. Kliment took a second to smell out the artificial nature of this mood.


    ¡®¡¯A man with a bright smile came to our estate that day. I was six. My father had been weary from the matters of state and the duchy, and he always had the worst manners when tired. His language turned less refined...and he cursed a lot. Even then, when that man came he smiled like him.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯They both had gutsy smiles. They talked alot about matters that I couldn¡¯t understand then, matters of state and trade and responsibility. I still do not grasp the depth and range of their discussion, but seeing my esteemed father so free and relaxed left a deep impression on me.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯While I sat beside them for over hours and meal time came, the man stopped my father from ordering the servants. He had us wait for well over fifteen or twenty minutes, then came back with one of our reared rabbits in the estate¡¯s garden. He had guts, truly, like his smile presented. They were worth several hundred just for their fur alone.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯He did not even get utensils¡ªhe cooked it in front of my father¡¯s fireplace and had us eat it with our bare hands.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯My father did not complain once. He ate like it was the most delicious thing in the world.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I also took a bite¡ªand I hated it.¡¯¡¯


    The flame in front of them shot up in blazes, roared, then settled to a calm crackle that kept the forest bright.


    ¡®¡¯But it was warm.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment made no sound nor comments. He knew who the man was by now, and why Zaftor supposedly remembered his father.


    ¡®¡¯Your father, Mister Yaromir, was a fine man. I saw him thrice in my life, and in all three, be it old or young, or wounded and fine, he showed the same gutsy smile. And when the news of his death came I remember my father retreating to his estate...he remained silent for a week, spoke to no soul. He was a dear friend to him, I would like to assume.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...thank you, sir.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It is nothing to be thankful for.¡¯¡¯ said Zaftor. He put down the water flask and wiped several spots on the wet rabbit meat. ¡®¡¯Up until my eleventh age, I  ate warm meals only from his hand. They are good memories for me. You also seem like a fine fellow, my friend Kliment. You lack the warm and gutsy smile of your father, but your looks seem like a replica of somesorts.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯My eyes are gloomy, sir.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯His were as well, yet he smiled.¡¯¡¯


    Zaftor gave him another smile, then got on to the cooking part. The crackle of the flames accompanied their silence.


    ¡®¡¯...that is why, if you need anything, come find me. Or I will come find you...is what I would very much like to say.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯But there is no need, sir. Do not feel troubled about it.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Indeed...there is no need!¡¯¡¯ Zaftor laughed. ¡®¡¯Your father might have had rivals, but be assured that he had no enemies. He was friends with everyone, and brothers with some. That lieutenant Ivan of yours, our teacher-to-be in the academy, is also someone who received his graces for the longest time. And some more nobles, and more commoners all around the capital and beyond. You can even say that half of Aymon is Yaromir¡¯s work.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You might face prejudice, and the life ahead of you in the military will be full of thorns and walls. But you won¡¯t fall. There are too many that would like to pay back for his deeds, after all.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment remained silent for some time. He raised both eyes, met gazes with the young Zaftor, and gave him the hearthiest smile he could muster.


    ¡®¡¯That is the Yaromir spirit! Now, take a little bite. I¡¯m sure it tastes better than your father¡¯s peasant-level food.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment took the extended rabbit thigh from Zaftor and bit down.


    He munched a little, swallowed, then licked his lips to savor the taste. It truly tasted better than the charred skins and chipped bones he remembered.


    ¡®¡¯Even mud was better than his cooking, sir.¡¯¡¯


    *********


    The duo returned to the camp post-haste after the meal. Young lord had a chew stick he used to brush his teeth while Kliment had nothing of sorts. So when he arrived at the designated campsite for him and Fahri, the boy made some unsavory remarks he preferred to forget. Kliment made sure to remind Fahri of the young lord¡¯s notice of him.


    Mentioning Zaftor, he had no such quarrel with anyone. His guards were silent, circling him from the sights of all around their fire and providing no company. And they did so on their feet with their weapons quick at bay. ¡ªToo tight¡ª Fahri commented, and Kliment found him right as well. How suffocating it looked must have been but a fraction of how the young lord felt.


    But this matter did not last much on their minds. The two quickly found things to talk and comment on, and at some point their friends from the village came to their side and  joined the conversation. Any semblance of serious topics they had, as it is with many children, descended into talks of the much greener sights and taller trees, and of the soldiers around and the small interactions children had with them.


    The difference between a guard and a soldier, and a knight made themselves evident here. Their village guards were militiamen in essence, patrolling the villages and towns they belonged to and dealing with local public order. Soldiers committed professional duties and trained most of the time, and if a bandit problem occurred they would set out led by Knights, who remained nobles in name but not in status.


    The bearing of each, however, had such stark difference that the profound imagination of the children could make quick work of how it would be like to become one. Igor, ever boorish like his father, thought only of martial arts and swords. Fahri told of the guards at their village, port-bellied and drunkards, while Katrina supported his statement. Anya kept poking Igor with a stick and went off on a rant about how most knights were better-looking than the village-people, and the violent Vladimir nodded his head at whatever the others threw his way.


    Kliment couldn''t keep up with their conversation. How the amount of individual discussions that happened kept being a coherent whole wasn''t something he could fathom, nor understand in real time. So he copied off the poor Vladimir and nodded throughout the hour.


    Instructor Ivan told them off after a while and led everyone back to their sites to sleep in. Throughout the night, the soldiers and knights both would take watches to ensure safety¡ªthough nothing existed to threaten them in these parts.


    Before getting onto his bedding, Kliment saw young lord Zaftor looking their way. Their eyes met, and the young lord gave him a short nod. Kliment bowed back. Then when he made to get into the bed again, the young lord nodded once more. He gave another bow, then he saw a wide frown form on Zaftor¡¯s face.


    A moment passed and he remembered his words.


    ¡®¡¯Fahri, get up.¡¯¡¯


    The boy crawled out of the sheets and looked at him. He was the most active one tonight, beside Igor and a girl from another village called Maria. Igor was the same old Igor, playful and too energetic, while Maria was an astonishingly intelligent girl when it came to religion. If he knew his stuff, and Kliment knew he sure did, she was most likely an orphan from a monastery.


    Fahri was the son of Salim The Black, so his rich repertoire of folklore and legends of Chosertia kept all children excited. Some of the soldiers paid attention too, so he had a bit of a haughty air in him.


    Kliment slapped his nape and signaled behind. ¡®¡¯The baron is looking for us. Get up.¡¯¡¯


    If there was any sleep left in him after that slap, now Fahri did not know a word of it. He shot to his feet, trembling, and held Kliment by the shoulder.


    ¡®¡¯What do we do? What is he going to do to us, Kli? Is he...Is he seeking to silence us?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯If he wanted, he would have done so back then. Don¡¯t be paranoid.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯But we ran away so he couldn¡¯t!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I mean earlier in the day, when I accompanied him.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You accompanied him? Kliment, are you insane? He took you to the woods with force! That is not how accompanies work!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯What was I to do, Famal?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Shut up! Oh Great God, help me on this journey. What does he want from us?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Since you ran off your mouth for so long, maybe he seeks to test your mettle?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Oh Great God forbid, Kli!¡¯¡¯ Fahri scruffed his hair left and right. ¡®¡¯What if he knows some of them? I¡ª¡¯¡¯


    His voice turned into a whisper.


    ¡®¡¯I made some of them up from scratch! There is no way I could remember them all! What will I do if he realizes it?¡¯¡¯


    Kliment was...surprised. He did not doubt for one second any of Fahri¡¯s tales were untrue, if not over the top.


    Was his memory not that really good? Or was it the excitement of the situation? Either way, he felt impressed by the vivid imagination and narration of his friend.


    So he pushed a little more out of him.


    He put one hand on his shoulder and turned him towards the campsite of Zaftor. ¡®¡¯Now now, you can just say it is a different telling from another region.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯No, Klimal! You don¡¯t understand!¡¯¡¯ Fahri pushed the earth with his legs, but Kliment did not stop his movement. They dragged soft dirt after them as the flames grew brighter in their front. He was weaker than Fahri, but with how sluggish he was, though unaware of it, he did not put up much resistance. ¡®¡¯He is a noble!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Yeah, he is a splendid noble.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯No! I mean, yes!¡¯¡¯ Fahri glanced to see if anyone had heard him. ¡®¡¯But he is cultured! He knows all stories, all words, all rules! He also knows law, so if he realizes I fabricated them he will have me hanged and drawn and quartered!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Unless you betray the nation, no such punishment will be given.¡¯¡¯


    They both cast a look forward and saw the young lord standing in front of them, arms crossed. He had none of his accessories on him, with his hair recently soaked. He had a fresh look. Also, they were still a few dozen steps away from his campsite, so he must have moved toward them.


    ¡®¡¯I presume you will not?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Ah, oh...aah, of course not! No, I love Aymonia Union and all of its prefectures and regions!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I appreciate the depth of your love and passion for my country, but such passion is not appropriate at this hour.¡¯¡¯


    Indeed, most children shook, sleeping, and some of the entourage too. If not for the young lord¡¯s presence, Kliment knew they would get scolded by lieutenant Ivan or Captain Gustav.


    ¡®¡¯I!¡ªI understand. Thank you my lord.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Good, now would you spare me some time of your own? I would very much like to speak with the son of the acclaimed Salim The Black.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I...¡¯¡¯ At the mention of his father Fahri calmed down. Kliment saw Fahri a little irritated. ¡®¡¯I may not be as great as he is, but I will try my best.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Do people try their best when they speak? I learn new things everyday in countryside.¡¯¡¯ Baron Zaftor took a turn and signaled with his index finger to follow after him. ¡®¡¯There is no need to try, of course. I would not adore a conversation catered to my tastes¡ª and the purpose I have asked for you is not because I expect your father¡¯s company from you...you have never given me your name.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment was sure Zaftor knew Fahri¡¯s name. He cast a glance at the young lord¡¯s retracted shoulders, then something clicked.


    This realization made him more alert, and also judgmental of the teen.


    ¡®¡¯Fahri, my lord.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Fahri. Your company is your own company, you do not need to be your father¡¯s replacement.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯But you...¡¯¡¯ Fahri did not end his sentence.


    Zaftor did not seem interested in finishing it, nor answering it for Fahri. He led them and that was all he did for a while until they settled beside the cackling flames. A sea of stars streamed above them, no clouds in sight.


    Kliment watched the red glow wash over the two children and felt pity.


    ¡®¡¯What do you think, Fahri?¡¯¡¯ Zaftor asked.


    ¡®¡¯About what, my lord?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯As of right now. What goes on in your head?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Nothing.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯What is nothing? Did you not think of anything else, in a trance, or did you not think of them worthy enough to tell?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I...I was in a daze, my lord.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Why were you?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It is so late at night and,¡¯¡¯ here Fahri stopped speaking and shut his eyes with a hiss. ¡®¡¯I mean, I have a lot to think about now that I am away from my home.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯So you were thinking.¡¯¡¯


    Fahri grimaced. Kliment smiled at that.


    ¡®¡¯And what about you, Kliment?¡¯¡¯


    He took notice of the knights a little away from them. ¡®¡¯For me, m¡¯lord, I just appreciate the scenery.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Is it so terribly interesting?¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It is, m¡¯lord.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯How so?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It is rare to see a foreign scenery.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯How is it rare? These trees are not just in Aymon-al but in Aymon-besh and in Aymon-Birh as well. The ground is the same brown and red wherever you go, and the wind is nothing so different.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯But I will not be in this place any soon, m¡¯lord. I will be away for years unless Angels forbid I return on some misfortune, and no place will have the exact same company here even if the scenery is.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I see.¡¯¡¯ Zaftor nodded. ¡®¡¯You like living in the moment, Kliment?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I do like living in general, m¡¯lord.¡¯¡¯


    Fahri let out a small retort. ¡®¡¯Don¡¯t we all?¡¯¡¯


    Zaftor laughed out loud before Fahri could regret his honed backfire reflexes. ¡®¡¯Well said, Fahri. Though I am amused by how different you two are. It is more common among us to find friends alike than unlike.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Are we?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯We are?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Hm.¡¯¡¯ Zaftor nodded. ¡®¡¯No doubt. One of you is a soldier, the other is a commander.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment and Fahri exchanged glances.


    ¡®¡¯He must be the commander.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯This guy is a commander.¡¯¡¯


    Zaftor laughed again, not caring for the sleeping bunch or the watch-holders. ¡®¡¯Are you two doing this on purpose to entertain me? Please do not do so. I can not be so improper to disturb the rest of my future colleagues.¡¯¡¯


    The young lord continued his chuckling for a while, then threw his long golden hair back on his shoulders. ¡®¡¯But I see. Kliment might be a commander as well if it is like this.¡¯¡¯


    So I was the soldier? That strangely made him happy.


    Even if he did not intend so, Fahri showed joy at that realization as well. Then he covered his blush with his gloves.


    ¡®¡¯No need, no need. Do not take my words to the heart, anything can happen in this world.¡¯¡¯


    Young lord cast a glance to his knights, then turned back to them.


    ¡®¡¯So, let me ask about those stories I heard...¡¯¡¯


    *********


    ¡®¡¯...it feels somewhat exciting.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...why?¡¯¡¯


    Kliment heard two whispers behind him. He woke up quick. On the battlefield where lived and died, he never enjoyed a deep sleep. Now in this life, perhaps in his toddler-age alone he did, there was no free slumber for him to enjoy. He woke up at the slightest of sounds and vibrations.


    Since he recognized the voices, his eyes remained shut.


    ¡®¡¯My heart is beating. I am afraid of going there...seeing it with my own eyes.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It doesn¡¯t feel real, does it?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It does not.¡¯¡¯


    The duo let out a deep sigh inflicted with age. They had seen more than enough to know where they went, what to expect. Same broken things all over again.


    ¡®¡¯I...I feel the same. Even if I am afraid, there is this small excitement in my heart.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment, for some reason, felt a sense of dejavu.


    ¡®¡¯I feel, I feel. This is all we have been saying these past few days.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It is all we are capable of, Ivan.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯That is that, but it is starting to annoy me.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Are you afraid of facing yourself?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯What about myself?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You do not want to acknowledge, do you? But I do. I know my own heart. We are excited at the thought of fighting. It is thrilling when I think of all those scenarios in there.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...I can¡¯t control it.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I know.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It maddens me. I don¡¯t want to feel like this. It is fucking disgusting to know I want to kill my own kind, out of my will.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯That is what propaganda does to you.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Nah, I don¡¯t believe that bullshit.¡¯¡¯


    Another silence overcame the duo. Kliment felt cold in his back, a chill crawling inside his ears. He tried to move, pull the covers on himself, but his body did not budge.


    ¡®¡¯I understand that feeling, but unlike you I''ve accepted I will feel that way. I don¡¯t know why I feel that, though I know I am supposed to. It gives me assurance. I won¡¯t break down in the middle of gunfire.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It would be funny to see you cry.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Would it?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...it wouldn¡¯t.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It would be funny to see him cry, though. Never breaks that ice-cold face. Right?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Right, Lieutenant Kliment Smirnov!¡¯¡¯


    Kliment felt a pair of eyes on his back, then trembled. He knew this conversation. It did not end this way. It did not end with him. They noticed him awake long before, then came over him and¡ª


    *********


    Kliment stared at Lieutenant Ivan holding his blanket.


    ¡®¡¯Kliment Smirnov! What is up with you, boy?¡¯¡¯


    He took a look around and saw almost everyone up and tidy, Fahri watching over him, and the young lord Zaftor climbing to his carriage.


    ¡®¡¯I¡¯m terribly sorry, sir.¡¯¡¯ He said. ¡®¡¯I don¡¯t know why I slept that deep.¡¯¡¯


    Lieutenant cast him a questioning frown, then leaned for a whisper.


    ¡®¡¯I will ask you later why you called my name.¡¯¡¯


    Then he raised his head and shouted.


    ¡®¡¯Now go into your vehicle!¡¯¡¯ He turned around and addressed towards the general crowd of children hubbling inside their carriages. ¡¯¡¯You are all no longer mere children, but candidates for military officers! Let me announce beforehand, we will inspect your discipline all journey long until the academy itself¡ªyour manners and speech and contribution to workforce will all be noted down for the next evaluation!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Take care!¡¯¡¯ He made a fist. ¡®¡¯And beware! A soldier is not what we need from you, so act in that regard!¡¯¡¯


    Kliment regarded the words for a few seconds before meeting up with Fahri. They went into the carriage, sat across each other and waited until the entourage returned to due course. The rattling wheels and neighs of the horses drowned any other across the winding path. Another forest came into sight from far afar, and a mountain range to their north-east separating Aymon-al from Aymon-Besh.


    There, he regarded the dream.


    Is this a sign?


    But signs were not so potent in this world. Not every dream amounted to something here. Sometimes all they did was to mess up his day with useless scenarios. Then some other times they were just fragments of his past life with no purpose to them.


    This seemed much relevant to pass on with usual nonchalance.


    Conflict of a soldier...those two idiots were talking before the assault on Novgorod. They weren¡¯t afraid of death, but of killing. They were still struggling to resolve themselves to be a soldier in its essence. So am I still that way? Am I having doubts after a peaceful childhood, or is there something I am not aware of that will force me down the same spiral of self-destruction and hesitance?


    Did the young lord¡¯s comments make me vulnerable? Was it his ties with my father that sprang up the specific memory? I went along with his sympathy play for now, but his manipulative nature is too apparent for me to believe his story. Does my subconscious want to believe him, then?


    The manipulative genius of the young lord did not lay in his vague skewed interpretation of truth, as most politicians would cultivate, but in the contradictory statements that relied on sentimentality to stand solid. His father¡¯s military trade and ethics was one point he thought long into the night. On one side, being friends with someone who regarded his father fondly made him feel assured. He felt safe, and thought warmly.


    On the other side, weapons trade was no business for the weak-hearted. Weapons trade was the business of the corrupt and the heartless, who fed the flesh and gnawed the bones of the living. His father could never be someone like that.


    Or could he be?


    A sense of unease filled him. A weight laid down on his shoulders, curling him back into the hard couch of the carriage. He stared outside the sunny window and saw a few of the children peek through their carriages, watching the knights in shining armor. Their horses, stallions, were in a league of their own. Unflinching under the weight of plate armor, they did not neigh. They roared. But also silent most of the time, trotting.


    Majestic beasts, he regarded them, and saw the children focus on the knights¡¯ armor more than the horses.


    Kliment realized a serious issue before his thoughts died there.


    He was regarding everything with his experience. His experience from a different world.


    Then dread felled his tree of confidence. If he were unable to rely on his own judgment, what was he to rely on? All he had in this life was his experience. If he did not have that, the wisdom and the gains of his past, what was he to be?


    ¡®¡¯Fahri.¡¯¡¯ He spoke out. ¡®¡¯What kind of people deal in weapons trade?¡¯¡¯


    Fahri flinched at his sudden voice, recoiling back. ¡®¡¯What is the problem?¡¯¡¯


    Kliment fell silent, then turned to gaze at him. ¡®¡¯I...am just wondering. What kind of people are they? What kind of background do they need?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Why ask me?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You are smart.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It is my father that is smart, not me. I just know what he taught.¡¯¡¯


    Kliment raised a brow.


    ¡®¡¯What you know is what you know, not others¡¯. What kind of logic is that?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It is how it is.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Have the young lord turned you into a fool, Famal?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You stupid donkey.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Manners.¡¯¡¯


    Fahri breathed out of his nose. He glared at Kliment, then let go of his fury.


    ¡®¡¯...mostly nobles. For the most part, access to weaponry requires a permit from the nearest city council for commoners. If you hold a position of security or military significance, even after you retire you can hold onto the right to arm. So it is elderly military-men or militia that supply villages like ours.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Only villages?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯They can¡¯t do much else. Nobles hold the rights to arm themselves and others, a grace given by the Angels. Though Great God forbid, if it is true. So they claim smithies and workshops and sell their products by themselves to their territory. There is a known saying about it: Blades are a devil¡¯s arm, forging is the devil¡¯s will, swinging is the devil¡¯s work.¡¯¡¯


    Religion shuns them, and the monopoly is on the noble houses...


    Was this not a direct confirmation of the status and character of weapon peddlers?


    Then his father could not be a weapon merchant. What was the point of lying to him about that, anyway?


    ¡®¡¯Interesting.¡¯¡¯ He said, and said no more. He came forward, laid his body onto the door and watched the scenery pass by. For a while they remained silent, listening to the rattles and the few chirps of the migratory cranes that flew over before winter.


    ¡®¡¯Thank you, Fahri.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯¡¯You¡¯re welcome. It is nothing.¡¯¡¯


    He laughed at that.


    ¡®¡¯You really underestimate your worth, don¡¯t you?¡¯¡¯


    Fahri snorted at him and turned his back. The rest of the journey progressed the same.


    Then a week later, the entourage arrived at Fort Ascendance.