“Ancestors!” Marron muttered as he glared down at the crystal screen. He felt his blood rushing up to his head and his sight tinged red at the edges. “Why is Mum doing this?”

A glance at his sister made him sigh. He recognized that stubborn light in her blue eyes and the way she ate, chomping down on her food aggressively. However, she would occasionally stop eating and stare blankly out the window looking lost. She didn’t want to just follow, she wanted to fight back but she didn’t know how.

As a child, Yuriko had always been persistent and stubborn, more so if she felt she was being prodded into something. In fact, the easiest way to get her to do anything was to simply ask. If mum had asked her to consider taking this course in the Academy over the martial path, then Marron was sure Yuri would consider and weigh her options properly.

But doing it like this? Just straight out telling the girl that she’d arranged everything for her and all she needed to do was follow? That was a sure path to Yuriko rebelling. Perhaps Sadeen Mishala hadn’t spent enough time at home. Marron certainly felt it so. If not for how striking their mother looked, he felt that they would have forgotten what she looked like.

Mum had left back when Rami had barely weaned and Marron doubted that their youngest brother had any impression of her beyond being a bearer of gifts every other year.

Marron pushed aside his anger and focused. Dwelling on the problem wouldn’t present a solution. He had graduated from Agaza Academy more than a year ago. His entrance there had been easy. Too easy if he stopped to think about it. None of the examinations, both off-site and on-site were of any particular trouble. He knew it was the same for Kato.

The fact that their father was one of the few Knight-Captains in Rumiga might have had something to do with it but ultimately, it was the fact that both boys received the same Heritage. Their Facets were different but were of equal utility.

Yuriko’s Heritage was still a mystery. She had inlaid her Facet and it turned out to be a knowledge-based one. Her next Facet, when she advances to Apprentice Level, would determine the general trend of her progression and would determine which Path she should take.

Courses at the Academies actually had a lot of overlap. She could enrol in Sharom, the academy known for training Spellweavers, Rune Scriveners, and Sorcerers, and take lessons on the Martial Path in Agaza. Doing so would allow her to still be eligible to join the militia or a Legion once she graduated.

No, all was not lost, Marron decided. He knew full well, just as his younger brothers did, what Yuri wants to do with her life. She wants to explore. She wants adventure. Getting tied down to one place for the rest of her life was not part of her plan.

The myriad planes, and even the Chaos Sea, were filled with wondrous things but danger lurked in the hidden depths. Their Da’s and Mum’s stories had filled their children’s heads with the desire to see what they’d seen and to experience what they’d gone through.

“We’ll find a way,” Marron said. Of course, if they find their Da, he’d be able to counter their Mum’s meddling. “Tomorrow, see us off.”

Little sis glanced up at him, eyes limpid and filled with sudden hope. “How?”

Marron swallowed some lavan juice before he answered, “I don’t know. Not yet anyway.”

She nodded. The rest of dinner with the family was filled with idle chatter. The mission tomorrow loomed over Marron’s head. He didn’t know what they would encounter but he supposed nobody did.

“So,” Kato said smoothly, “how are you spending the Harvest Festival?”

Marron grunted, “I’ll probably still be in the Tidelands.”

“You’re right. You’ll miss the Blessing of Mayari.”

“No, I won’t,” Marron snorted. “We aren’t moving beyond the Mid Marches. The moon will still protect us. Especially during the Harvest Moon. It’s still a Dark Moon.”

“Ah, yes. Chaos recedes during the Dark Moon.”

“It seems you’ve been spending too much time with Caera and not enough with your books.”

“Ehehe. Give me a break, big bro. It’s the school holidays.”

“Hmmph!”

“Anyway, what about you, Yuri? Going with anyone special?”

“Hmm? Go where?” she asked absently.

“The Festival.”

“Probably with Krystal and Mikel.”

“That’s nice,” Kato answered quickly. Marron let loose a relieved sigh that made her stare at the two of them suspiciously.

“What?”

“Nothing. Well, enjoy yourself. This is the first year you’ll be part of the real celebration.”

“Yup. No more sticking around in the children’s park for you. Oh, Rami will be alone this year.”

“Don’t mind me, I’ve got my friends with me!” Rami said cheerily.

“What’s going to make it different anyway?” Yuriko asked idly.

“You’ll just have to find out,” Marron laughed.

“Fine.”

The two youngest cleared away the dishes and started washing them. Marron stared pensively at them; Yuriko towered head and shoulders over Rami. Of course, the kid hadn’t hit his growth spurt yet. He wondered how tall she would be in three years or so. Mum wasn’t as tall as Da, but she wasn’t that much shorter. He wondered too if Yuri would keep her slender figure or if she’d grow curvy.

Shaking his head at the thought, and wondering how much trouble he’d have to fend off when that time came, Marron wandered off to this room. It was mostly unused nowadays though there wasn’t a speck of dust inside. He grabbed a change of clothes and took a hot shower after which, he settled down to sleep.

He was up before dawn. Yawning, he washed his face and changed into his militia outfit. He needed to be at the Watchtower in an hour and a half.

“Good morning,” Yuriko greeted when he went down the stairs. His little sister sat on the lowest step, putting on her running shoes. She wore a pair of shorts that barely went halfway down to her knees and a white tee.

“Morning,” he mumbled. “That’s a bit skimpy, isn’t it?”

“Huh, no it isn’t.” Yuriko frowned at him.

“Right, sorry.”

“What time are you leaving?”

“In an hour,” Marron shrugged.

“Stay safe.”

“I will.”

She jumped to her feet and headed out to the front yard. Marron followed her to the door. She paused with her hand on the knob. Her sudden hug surprised him, especially since for some strange reason, she had grown in strength enough that she squeezed all the breath out of him.

“Yuri…” he squeaked.

“Come back to us. With Da. Please.”

Marron patted her on the back while she loosened her grip. He inhaled sharply while staring at her thin arms. They were toned, he could see, but still thinner than his biceps. What in Chaos?

“Maru?”

“Yeah, I’ll come back. With Da if we can, or news of his team otherwise. We won’t return until we discover what happened.”

“Good.” She released him and walked out of the door.

Wait. “And don’t call me ‘Maru’!”

Yuriko just waved back as she started to run. Marron could practically see her grinning while he fumed.

Grumbling under his breath, he went back inside and prepared a cup of kaf. He took the bitter brew as it was, feeling his Animus stir as he did so. The strands pulsed inside his Anima, clashing against the bounds of his core. His reserves were as high as they could hope to be, and the feeling of fullness, of Sollus, had been around for more than a year now.

Maybe this foray into the Tidelands could change things for him. He had started on the same path as his Da but somewhere along the way, he found a fork in the road and he had taken a different branch. He believed the destination was the same though. His ideals were the same: destroy the enemy before it could approach; destroy the enemy before it could harm.

His methods were different. Where Virgil’s were to destroy from as far away as possible, Marron’s were to destroy as many as possible. After all, he wouldn’t always have the advantage of extreme range.

Therein lay the problem. He would have already advanced to Knight if he followed directly in Virgil’s footsteps but he was pretty sure he’d be stuck in the same rut, too. After he’d pushed his range to a league, what was next? Two leagues? Three? Marron didn’t quite feel that that was the right way to go.

When he finished his cup it was nearly time to leave. He had left all his supplies at the Watchtower so he only had to bring himself back there. Still, it was always best to return early.

The two other boys were still asleep. Kato’s snores were loud enough he could hear him through the bedroom door when he passed by his room. He grabbed his personal effects from his desk. He pinned the insignia of the Watchtower, a circular badge an inch across with three red dots arranged in a triangle, on his sleeve. He grabbed the white jade key for the flying shuttle and whistled tunelessly as he made his way to the garage.

The sun had risen over the Zarek Mountains by the time the flying shuttle rose over the rooftops. The broken homes beyond the Central District were slowly being repaired. Even this early most people were already an hour into their day. Festive ribbons were on every lamp post--those that still stood anyway.

A brief flare of Animus into his eyes and Marron easily found Yuriko running. Only, why were there four boys chasing after her? Narrowing his eyes, he made out one of the boys to be Mikel, and behind him was Krystal. Both of them were panting heavily. Of the other three boys, he recognized Balliol Muryh’s son and a pair of strangers. Every now and then, Yuriko slowed down and watched one of the strangers, identical twins, as he slowed and leaned on his knees, breathing heavily.

‘Maybe I should send a crane to Kato and Rami to warn them.’ he thought idly.

Yuriko suddenly started to look around her.

‘Oh?’

The next moment, her face turned towards him and Marron could clearly see her eyes glow gold with her Animus. Her eyes narrowed when they met his. Marron grinned sheepishly. She stuck out her tongue at him but a moment later, waved.

“Take care,” she seemed to say from the movement of her lips.

Snorting to himself, he channelled his Animus into the shuttle and flew off. He arrived at the Watchtower in good time. He returned the shuttle to the garage and deposited the key in the armoury.

He hurried up to his quarters. His backpack was filled with rations, spices, and clothing. He strapped his Plasma Caster over his shoulder and picked up a side-blade and secured it on his belt. He didn’t rate a backup Plasma Lancet or a slug-thrower though he picked up a collapsible spear and secured it on his pack. A small Resonance Buckler strapped on his arm completed his ensemble. In addition, he secured a couple survival knives on his right boot and two more on his left sleeve.

He headed back down to the ground level and to the assembly point. Niamh was already there, bouncing on the tips of her toes when he arrived. She gave him a cheery wave. Vice-Comm was off by the side, tapping his foot impatiently. Decanus Killane wasn’t there yet, though a half dozen red-coated legionnaires were.

A few minutes later, the Decanus arrived, following the Tribunus. Both women nodded at him while he offered a salute to the second-highest officer of Vagaris.

The legionnaires’ kit was quite a bit different from the militia’s. For one thing, their backpacks seemed sleeker. All of them carried a Plasma Caster and side-blade, as well as a Plasma Lancet. More than half of them carried Resonance shields, buckers or a larger targe.

“Good morning,” Tribunus Manuella began. “I pray to the Ancestors that your foray into the Tidelands will be a fruitful one. I don’t expect too many Wyldlings around considering the Dark Moon, but be wary anyway. Watch out for remnants from the Wave. I bid you good fortune and may the Threads of Fate be kind to the ones you seek.”

A troop transporter pulled up not far from them and the lot of them entered. Vice-Comm pulled Marron aside and gave him a couple of vials filled with dust tonic.

“Just in case,” he said grimly. Marron nodded his thanks, knowing full well that the overture from the older man was nothing more than a token.

In short order, they were ferried to the line, the divide between Rumiga and the Tidelands.

Decanus Killane stepped forward and, following tradition, spoke the benediction and warning.

“The first step is always the hardest, but every journey begins with that single step.

Steel your minds, for it will be tested. Fall not into temptation for it will lead you away.

Keep your heart into the land for it will protect you.

Keep your home in your heart and it will lead you back.

Think not of your fears, your nightmares, or your dreams for in the Chaos, they will come true. Think only of the Sun and the Moon for they hold the Chaos at bay.

Do not falter or waver, think only of the goal.

Know where you want to go and the path will be before you.

Glory to the Empress, may she forever hold the peace.”

All of them spoke by the time the Decanus spoke the second line. Marron felt their Animus resonate with each spoken word, binding them in purpose. One of the legionnaires activated his Facet and tendrils of purple light touched each of them, a dozen men and women strong.

The next moment they stepped through the divide, and just like that, they were no longer home.