Soon my birthday comes and it is treated like a festival.

Cousins are invited from the branch families.

After my display with Marshal Li, my male cousins have tempered their animosity.

Now, they come with mostly genuine goodwill and respect.

My father leaves me to play host as he finds the branch heads to discuss heavier matters.

"Thank you all for coming," I say from the seat of honor. "Our family grows stronger for each of you."

I level my gaze on those who hated me only a year ago.

"This day, we may be gathered here for me. But, all of you deserve respect for what you've achieved in the past year. Thank you all."

I end my speech with a bow.

The cousins are surprised by my actions as the feast begins.

Mai comes over to me from her place by the female cousins.

"But, all of you deserve respect," she mocks in good humor.

"Humility is worth more than gold, little sister."

She smirks, "So that's what you've been learning over the last year?"

I smile, "Yes. I've realized how little I'd known in the past."

Mai sighs, "I'd rather live in ignorance."

"I'm sure you will," I tease.

She tries to look angry as she lightly punches my arm.

As she returns to her seat, I survey the feast.

My family is so much larger than what Meridian knew.

Without a father or mother, I had no ties. Nothing binding me to the land.

But, now, I have a home.

I watch as one of my younger male cousins rises and walks over to me.

"Cousin," he says. "I know of your prowess with the sword."

He pauses, as if uncertain as to how to form the right words.

"Cousin, I was hoping that you could practice with me tonight. If it doesn't detract you from the party.

I smile my support.

"Of course, cousin."

I look around, "Perhaps after the cake."

He nods enthusiastically.

The feast goes on until everyone has had their fill.

And, at last, the cake, or cakes, are brought out.

It's relatively plain. But, the sweet melts in the mouth.

Even those who had eaten beyond their limit find room for the dessert.

The party comes to a close and the branch families each bow their respect.

One cousin remains behind.

"It was cousin Yu, wasn't it?"

Yu nods his head enthusiastically.

"Come on."

We find the courtyard I used to practice in. The wooden swords stand undisturbed in one of the rooms.

Weapons in hand, Yu and I face off.

His guard looks solid. But, other than that, he lacks almost all competence with a sword.

I ease my effort and slow down to a speed he can react to.

"How long," he pants, "have you been practicing?"

I smile, "10 years or so."

Yu looks defeated, "Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. I can't compare."

I find myself feeling irritated.

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"You would give up as soon as you begin. Perhaps, you are not suited for the sword."

Hurt shows in his eyes before he strikes out at me.

We carry on through the night.

He lacks skill. But, he is an eager student.

Sweating and exhausted, Yu holds up his hands.

"I can't go on."

I nod my agreement.

As I put the weapons away, I think.

"If you want to practice more, you can return to the mansion. I've still got a couple of weeks before I have to return to the academy.

Yu smiles, "I would like that, cousin."

We part and he finds his way back to his family.

I watch the moon as it passes through the heavens.

This comfort is an odd thing. I find myself at peace.

The heretic's purpose remains.

For some reason, in my moment of peace, the skull and bones man's words stir me from my complacency.

War is returning to the land. And, the Jal will pay for their crimes.

I check myself.

At times, the ghost of Meridian tries to take me over.

The Jal were Meridian's enemies. Not Adams.

Living two lives can be exhausting.

I settle on the floor of my room and close my eyes to the world.

The next couple of weeks pass as a pleasant blur.

Mai practices her poetry in front of me. I find she's quite good.

Yu comes time and again. And, I find he's become marginally better than when we first clashed.

Father and mother are beatific figures in my life, sources of great kindness and warmth.

But, the joys of home life are fleeting things as once more I depart.

This time, Mai attends my farewell.

As they watch me depart, I can't help but feel some emotion stirring in me.

But, I harden my heart and carry on the path before me.

I leave Reyl behind me as I seek out the wide world beyond.

I feel them with spirit before I hear their footfall.

The two, I recognize as the Boros brothers. But, the third...

The brothers come to a stop before me.

However, a goliath of a woman with six-pack abs and arms three times as wide as mine barrels onward.

In her hands, a club that looks ready to flatten me like a pancake.

More than muscle, this woman commands chi to enhance her power.

The air before me whistles as the club craters the dirt I had just stood upon.

Faster than one would imagine possible, she swings up. Dirt and debris fall on the air where I just stood.

She goes into a sequence of strikes that use the momentum of her every attack to lead into the next.

Breathing heavily, the woman stops.

"So you're the rat claiming Meridian's reputation."

She eyes me evenly.

"I'll concede that you're stronger than I'd expect from a pampered rich kid.

"But, I don't believe for a second that you're Meridian."

I chuckle, "It's good to see you too Ivona."

Suspiciously, she turns to the brothers.

They shrug.

Her eyes find mine, "So, you know me. That proves nothing."

"You're right, it doesn't." I turn to the path I had been walking upon.

As I begin to walk, I feel the wind as her club blasts through the air.

Effortlessly, I evade the weapon and continue on my way.

"Wait, damn you!"

I turn to the angry barbarian of a woman.

"What's this all about?"

I look to the Boros brothers. They look somewhat embarrassed to have let my secret out.

I sigh.

"My name is Adam. It's a pleasure to meet you Ivona."

She chews on her lip.

"Are you his reincarnation?"

"Yes."

"Then," delight registers on her face, "You'll be fighting with us."

My gaze carries a note of anger, "Fighting with who? Most of the people I fought with sacrificed me to the Jal."

A sad look crosses Ivona's face.

"The people need you."

I chuckle, "You changed your mind rather quickly. To trust some pampered rich kid."

"They believe you," she motions to the brothers.

I scratch my head.

"I am still working on my education. I don't have time to run revolutionary."

Her nostrils flare, "Meridian wasn't a coward."

I shrug, "I'm not Meridian."

She looks like she wants to say more as I turn back to the road.

I walk a ways until I hear, "You will fight with us, Meridian. It's your destiny."

I can't help but feel bitter at the thought of destiny.

The trio fades into the distance as I walk.

My mood is somewhat melancholic as I return to the Royal Academy.

My stay with my family was too brief a respite.

But, I have things that I'm looking forward to in returning.

The lectures are enlightening and my thoughts catch when they get to Siri.

I find my dorm undisturbed from when I left it.

The next few days before the second year begins I spend my time in meditation.

My spirit seed has changed over the past few months.

It's like watching a flower sprout from a seed.

The dividing has ended. But, now, I watch it transform.

I recall the Heavenly Way texts I stole.

The spirit seed is a precursor to something greater.

I test the limits of my spiritual power at night on the training field.

I can level the field with the weight of my spiritual force. My jumping strength adds agility to my combat skills. The pop of air collapsing under the force of my strikes is like an explosion.

Other than testing my limits, I keep mostly to myself.

Locley grows more vital as youths come to the Royal Academy with the hopes of passing the entrance exam.

The recruits will take over the role of fresh meat.

And, many of the cliques and clubs will try to add to their ranks.

I watch on impassively as the school starts the process of opening up.

Robert finds his way back to our dorm room.

"Ah, brother. How was your vacation."

"It was good. I-"

"Mine was a blast," he interrupts. "The ladies were all over me. Something about this school drives them wild."

He carries on for some time before I make an excuse to leave.

In the commons, my eyes find her.

I can't help but feel she's grown prettier in our time apart.

She's busy chatting with old friends.

I don't intervene and keep on walking.

Despite my effort to go unnoticed, I see her eyes find me.

She excuses herself and walks toward me.

I can't help but feel butterflies in my stomach as she looks at me.

"Adam," she says calmly. "It is good to see you."

I'm startled by how formal she is.

"It's, uh, good to see you too."

"This evening," she says. "I' 'll see you on the training field."

With that, she turns from me and walks back to her friends.

I can't help but feel that that could have gone better.

It could also have gone worse.

The day winds down and I find Siri waiting for me.

Wordlessly, we take up our weapons and begin sparing.

There's a coldness to her style. Very regimented. Less adaptive.

"How was your family?" I ask.

She is stirred from her focus.

Her eyes look down.

"My family was well. Thank you for asking."

I can't help but feel it must be stressful being born into a powerful family.

The protocols one must adhere to.

I think about how warm my own family is. Hers seems to lack that warmth.

The hours tick by as we score points against one another.

"Thank you," she says stoically.

As she leaves, I can't help but wonder what happened to her over the break.

I meditate on thoughts of my fiance as the night passes.