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Sweat poured from Jack as he lay on the grass staring at out of reach white wisps sparkling in the sky. Stella was sitting forward looking out to the distance with strained breath. No doubt she was replaying the battle in her head. It was unlike the other training sessions, it was borderline abuse, but they made it through. They have to be better for it.

"That was interesting indeed. The ice sword I expected from the Ice Queen, but to be able to throw it and Jack call it to his hand. Mimic sharing is rare already, so mimic sharing Ice is pretty crazy. Where did you learn it." Nine paced back and forth after gifting them water.

"Ace...let us learn...from...Trebles," Stella answered.

Jack took a deep breath while Stella was struggling. "I recently learned to use compound magic...I think that helped us get better with the ice, but I somehow can't use ice myself."

"I like that a lot, but to learn it in a short time like that is still drastic. Do you just love each other or something?" Nine asked.

Stella's glare looked deadlier than any of her attacks for the night. Jack stumbled before answering. "O-Of course...I love all my teammates. We are like a huge, huge family." Jack's outstretched hands made sure it expressed how huge it really was.

"Moving on...I also saw a lot of two-handed techniques with your swordplay. I recognise a lot of Oshanian sword moves. I like the idea, but doesn't it clash with Ace's swordplay? He doesn't advise against it?"

"We learned that from Noa. The one..." Jack sighed.

"Ace never really told us how to fight. He would just ask us questions on decisions and give us alternatives on what he might have done. He always leaves it up to what feels comfortable to us," Stella took over.

"I guess that is the difference between learning it second hand and from the source." Nine took a seat directly in front of Jack. "You probably don't want to hear this from me. If I didn't stop Ace, Noa might be alive today, but blame yourself. Blame yourself. Hate yourself to the core and hate me if you have to.

"You made the decision to liberate a kingdom from a situation you didn't believe in and what was even more grand was you brought them over to your side. I am not sure you understand how big a feat that was, but such grand actions have consequences. You are in the world that is constantly mixed with life and death now. Both of your mentors have taken countless lives for the ideals of others and that comes with its consequences as well. It was your ideal that caused your friend to fall, so burn that in your mind because that is what you do every time you make an action like that. Can you handle it? It is impressive that you fight for your ideals without taking the lives of your enemies but that has more consequences than most leaders would like.

"Is it going to stop you? Does the death of your friend cause all of Kofka to go back to how things were? Noa was going to die eventually and so are you. You stepped foot in this world and shook up the lives of hundreds of people already. What will your reflection be at the end of your life? Are both of you going to blame everyone for the misfortune of the world...regret the places that it puts you in...ask yourselves why you are doing all of this. Find the reflection you want to see at the end and then keep fighting for it. Countless things will take you away from it but claw your way back. That is where the people you are fighting for, fighting against, fighting with, stand. Do you deserve to stand here as well?"

Jack felt his chest sink. He did blame himself. He did have a hatred burning but it aimed at everything in the situation, never sitting too long on one target. He hated that Noa couldn't get out of the way. He hated that Noa pushed him away. He hated that he died on the whim of a killer. He hated that Maio and Meo couldn't accept change. He hated that Ace couldn't keep his promise.

He hated that he blamed Ace at all. He hated that his choices caused this. He hated that he wanted to be a hero. He hated that he was so weak. He hated that he used to think like them before. He hated that he wasn't used to death. He hated that he might have to get used to death. He hated everything right now. He hated it all.

Too bad it was only in his head. If he told them that he hated them, would they drop dead? Would their heart sink into despair? Would they just laugh at him? It wouldn't change anything, the person he could blame was himself. He could hate himself to the core and work on being better. Revenge, sport, malice...it was a path that Ace never wanted him to walk down. It just hurts so much...it just hurts.

"No, I think that you are the person I needed to hear it from. It feels wrong saying it but thank you," Jack answered.

"Thank you," Stella accompanied.

"You guys are great. I should talk to others more often, but I have the feeling that it is just you guys. Jack was the one that kept Ace around, and Stella was the spark to create an era. I don't like that you turned me down for the position, but I will keep it warm for the future. We have some years until."

"You know...for someone who doesn't talk much, you really talk a lot." Stella drained the rest of water in her canteen.

"Funny. I hope you all enjoy being chained up and smelling rancid next to each other in that cage. That is great punishment for criminals such as yourselves. I really am the greatest in the empire." The Dog chuckled behind his mask.

***

"This is all moving too fast. I feel like we haven't had a second to mourn yet," Jack said as soldiers bound his hands behind him in chains again.

"I am sorry about all this. I heard your story and...I am sorry," the soldier whispered.

"Jack, please bring Ace back," Stella said as her hands followed suit.

"I will."

"Be careful with him. He isn't dangerous...just help him," Stella called as the soldiers dragged Ace forward to the cell.

They all fixed into their positions from earlier. It was dark but Jack could just barely see her violet eyes fixing onto his. He chewed slightly on his lip. He didn't know what to say. Ace was the mentor. He was the one that talked to him. Jack didn't even understand what was going on. Ace had seen death so many times, and even if it never gets easier, how could he go this far? How could he leave them alone right now? They needed him too. Is it because he couldn't keep his word? Is it because he failed? He should know they wouldn't hold it against him. How could he tell him that?

"Lights out in 3, any objections? 3...2...1..." The soldier doused the last remaining flame. Night fell and Jack found relief in not seeing the violet eyes asking questions. He had a few more seconds to thi—

"Ahhhhh! Ater! Where did you go again?" Ace startled them with his blood-curdling yell. He snapped the chains around his hands and tore through the cage before dashing to the night. Calls for Ater distancing itself.

"What was that?" Nine arrived in an instant.

"It was Ace, we don't know what is going on," Stella panicked.

"Free us. We will catch him," Jack commanded.

Nine ripped the chains off and lead the way. He was far ahead but a green path let them keep up. The Dog found Ace looking around frantically. Nine grabbed his arm and crashed into the ground on top of him. Ace became even more riled when pinned, his fist crashed into the ground as a small crater formed. He forced his way onto his back throwing Nine into the dirt.

Ace ripped into his bandage, tossing them aside. His nails tearing into his flesh as blood dripped onto his hand. He screamed in agony as he smeared the blood along his arm before placing his palm onto his forehead. Jack and Stella arrived with a green glow.

"What did you do!" Stella rushed to her mentor holding down his arm, but he didn't fight back.

"He did it himself, but it is what calmed him down," Nine replied. Ace in a soft cry with his hand over his eyes, the red covering his forehead.

"He is scared of the dark," Jack said from his distance.

"That is him being scared? No way." Nine sighed. Soldiers rushed over to the commotion, a circle forming quickly with weapons drawn. Jack rushed down over his mentor.

"Stella...Jack...is that you?"

"We are here. It is us." Stella used her Jacket to grip tightly onto his wounded arm.

"Ace...talk to us. What is wrong?"

"I am so sorry," Ace said through the tears. He reached and grabbed onto Jack's leg. "I am so sorry."

"We know Ace." Jack took a seat and let his mentor's head rest on his leg. He held onto the hand that was covering the blood smeared eyes that struggled to open. "It isn't your fault. We know you tried your best."

"Nine! Please...please just let us stay here. Watch over us, we won't go anywhere. Please just let us stay here," Stella yelled.

Nine waited a couple of seconds. They were unsure if he experienced shock himself, no one seemed to be fully adept to the scenario that presented itself. "You heard the lady. Head back."

"He talked to us."

"This is serious."

"Let's head back."

"Wait! Please bring us some bandages, and a fire," Stella begged. Nine nodded as the soldiers dashed away. The amenities were brought, and Stella did first aid. Ace quiet the entire time, the soft cry faded but his eyes remained closed. Stella placed her head on Ace's stomach and held onto the injured arm's palm. Nine found his place with his back against Jack's to help him remain upright while his mentor's head rested on his leg. The night whispering to the silent huddle for a while. Everyone soaking in the moment.

"I guess we aren't going to talk about what happened," Nine said.

"As if we know what just happened. You know his story, you tell us," Jack responded.

"I know who he was, I have no idea what happened to him. There was just this strange sentence in the book that made me think he could come back. I never really thought he would, or that it was possible. You guys think this is the cost of coming back? Do you think he came back from the adventure after death?"

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"You believe in the Trebles. I don't know why I didn't expect that from you." Jack kept his calm tone, as if he was drifting slowly to sleep.

"I never really thought about it. Always just figured that is how it is...do you not believe in the adventure after death."

"Ace told us that The Three never said there was an adventure after death. Just that we would figure out that story when the time comes. I would like to think that it isn't an adventure but just a peaceful life with those you love. A life with what you value from this one."

"Quite a beautiful thought. I guess that means Ace doesn't know what happens after death."

"I guess not." Jack finished as another short moment of silence passed.

"Jack." Stella took her turn. "I think Nine was wrong."

"Oh, and what was I wrong about Missy."

Stella took a tighter grip on Ace's hand. "I don't think you should hate yourself. Billy and Monica were really great people. We caused them trouble, but it feels like we made a difference in their lives. I have a strange feeling that Ophelia and Lyon are going somewhere. Cho and Raymond also look relieved these days. There is a new spark in their eyes, and Kara gets to train with the others. She even gained a couple of pounds.

"I am proud of what we have done. I am grateful for your unrelenting ideals and our childish mentor. I am grateful I have my sister again. I am grateful I befriended a Mystical Creature that always seems like he knows too much. I am glad I met a cocky writer who needed a friend as bad as our teacher, and the sweetest girl in the world. I don't hate you and I don't hate myself. I love all my teammates too."

Jack remained silent. It felt like she was in his head, but the lump in his throat kept him from confirming. The tear in his eye let him know that she was right, or at least he wanted her to be right.

"I guess I could have been slightly wrong," Nine said.

"I think Tana would burn the world if something happened to us." Jack mustered up his strength.

"Sweet and Spicy." Stella chuckled.

"Thank you." Jack said as he reached his other hand to grip Stella's free one. The faint orange glow dancing on Ace's face. His eyes closed and his breathing calmed. The night carried on as a couple of them drifted asleep.

***

The sun pried open the eyes of Jack. His blurred vision sharpened to see Ace tending to the fire. He turned to see Stella still sleeping with Ace's jacket covering her face from the eager sunshine. Jack released a yawn as his back removed from against Nine's.

"You are up." The Dog yawned himself.

"How long were you up...and you? How are you feeling?" Jack asked.

"I am okay now I think." Ace's smile felt more refreshing than the morning breeze sweeping through them.

"I only fell asleep for a little, but I just got up myself. He was up long enough for a lot of my questions to be answered before I dozed off. This life is a strange one." The Dog chuckled.

"What could that mean?"

"It means that I will probably see you in the future. It seems my offer might not expire after all. Right Ace?"

"I told you that it is completely up to them."

"Ugh! You are so loud. Do you have any idea how—" Stella sat up. "You are okay, right? You are you right?"

"Yea I am. I must have freaked out really badly this time." Ace had an awkward smile plastered on his face. This seemed to enrage Stella enough to toss his jacket back at him.

"You really don't remember last night?" Stella inquired.

"I don't. It all feels like a jumble. The last thing I remember is..." Ace poked a log with his stick. He stared at the embers floating away. "I am sorry about it all. I am really sorry about Noa. It hurts."

"It is okay," Stella answered. "We don't blam—"

"I blamed you." Jack stole all of their gazes. "I blamed you and I don't want to lie about it. You promised us that you wouldn't let us die."

"I know...I fai—"

"You also promised us to show us the world. I guess none of us expected a world where there would be people that could take you on so easily. Makes me question if I really have the best mentor."

Jack heard Nine chuckle behind him. "You got guts kid."

"It just seems that both of your promises contradicted with each other. Things happen, you are human, I think. People fail, and it was a failure that will haunt all of us for a long time, but we failed too. Noa failed in his own way too. I was wrong for blaming you because I was scared to fully blame myself. I needed my enemies to show me that. This world is filled with events. How we see it, makes it so, correct?"

"You have my gratitude Mr. Nine. I guess you earned your title as substitute mentor. It isn't easy. I don't want to be hypocrite, but I want to tear down everyone in this camp. I want that man's head for picking on the weak, but I know the duties of a soldier. I know my duties as their teacher. I will say it once again. I am sorry I let you all down but thank you for picking me up when I fell lower."

"We could have saved all the sentiments till after breakfast." Stella's face still red.

"Who said you prisoners were getting breakfast." Nine stretched his body.

***

True to his word, the crew were only gifted dinner. They were graced with a large meal since Vidar hunted a couple of boars while on the road. Ace seemed to be fine, but he still refused to eat anything. It could have just been because of who prepared the meal. Ace let them train under Nine for the days as well and talked through a lot of his process. Nine seemed more thrilled than all of them, he wanted to train all the time, even going as far as trying to fight Ace. Ace told him that he would give him a proper fight the next time they meet, he was worried about how he was feeling at the moment. They told him that he could break them free, and that Nine wouldn't kill them, they insisted over and over, but Ace didn't seem to believe it. Better safe than sorry he said.

The nights came as a worry, but Ace promised he was okay. His friends still extended their feet against his as they were tied. Nine even spent the night with them in the cage, the pair was convinced that he was worried, but he insisted it was to guard the gaping hole Ace made the first night.

The fourth mourning rolled around as they approached a nearby village to restock. They were aware that this was always the plan, but the twist came from a soldier racing toward the stationed convoy on the hill. A note carrying the summons for the emperor's right hand.

"This is a trap." Nine tossed the letter away.

"And if it isn't. This is your fault for leaving the capital on a whim. The generals were already out, and you insisted on travelling with us," Vidar barked. He picked up the letter. "It has the emperor's seal."

"Why wouldn't they send it with someone from the castle? Why did it make its way to this village. Magna probably has a way to know of the emperor's seal. He wouldn't attack the castle so hurriedly. Stop being an idiot."

"You are going to risk it all on that. What do you want me to tell the emperor when I go in your place? That you couldn't do your job because you insist on nurturing this broken man that you imagine is great. I let you do what you want in my camp, and I respected my loss, but this is my mission and if you are failing to do your mission then I will make sure you regret it."

Nine sighed. He turned to those in the cage. "I won't tell them about you. No one would believe me anyway right. I wanted to use all my leverage, I honestly thought I won. I won't hunt you down, I will let you live your peaceful life unless you make me come for you. It was an honour to get to meet you. You guys as well. You got lucky that I am not in charge here, but you can still come with me, on your own accord. They can't stop you if you are travelling with me."

"No can do. You know my plans," Ace said.

"You two have a lot of guts to be talking about escaping. You make it your purpose to piss me off." Vidar scoffed. Jack was sure that the general's black eye made his words feel lighter. "I can guard against three pathetic rebels. Just get out of my sight. If Magna himself shows up, then make sure and send word."

Nine took the horse the messenger road on. A quick gallop off into the distance. Jack was unsure about the entire situation, but he knew they were gifted with a lucky break. Nine seemed really bothered by the entire thing. Was Magna really attacking the capital because he was away? Jack feels like there was a lot bubbling under the surface of Sovalan that he had no idea of. Has something big happened already?

"When are you going to break out?" Stella asked her mentor.

"The Mutt isn't here to protect you. Watch your mouth girl." Vidar kept his gaze ahead of him, waiting on the soldiers to arrive with the supplies.

"Nine was right. You are stupid, he was here to protect you," Stella barked.

"I hope you try something. I wouldn't mind having all of your blood on my hands. That will probably piss the Mutt off more than anything."

"We will sneak out," Ace whispered.

"I can still hear you! I will crush your skull first if you keep talking." Vidar finally looking back. This seemed to curl the moustache to a smile. Stella wondered what he would have done if he wasn't keeping his promise. She thought back to Nine's fight. Ace was like that, but with the goal of taking lives. She has probably said it thousands of times by now, but that is a fearsome person sitting across from her.

***

It took less than an hour for the cart to meet them and be stocked again. Nine had told them that it would take roughly three days from this point to the capital, but he didn't say if that was three more days counting today or...this probably wasn't the right thing to think about. Jack just felt a weight off his chest. Too much has happened these last few days, but he can go back to his friends. What happens from there is anyone guess, but they will all do what they can. Stella's words echoed in his head louder than anything, besides the images of Noa. It didn't hurt as much when it flashed through his mind, the echoing words felt like a buffer. Like a cold thick blanket of snow just before he hits the ground.

It was a couple of miles out from the village when road was blocked by a lone man crashing to the ground in front of them, grinning at the halting carriage. Brown sweeping hair with a few strands falling onto the thin framed glasses. A scanty moustache and beard decorated the smile, but his armour was the standout feature. Shoulder guards and thick military-esque clothing under them. Gauntlets adorned with a black stone material at the centre. A green stone material made up the entire hilt of his sword with a branching silver tree as the pommel.

"It looks like the Mutt was right. There is no way you would let you commander march on the capital, and you be here to entertain me." Vidar hopped off the wagon. "I was hoping to take your head at Kofka, but here is fine."

The Lusca Axe was tossed into the ground to the side of the General that took his time picking it up. The smile still on the face of the obstacle. "You still refuse to wear shirts. It is cold outside, look even your chest knows it. I really didn't want to have to deal with you. Couldn't it have been Nane, or Misia? Oh, that would have been way more delightful."

Jack noticed all of the soldiers stepping away from the battlefield, putting as much distance as they can while getting enough of a visual. He needed to be serious, this man must be a monstrous threat. Ace already had his hands free and was looking ahead. The sharpness in his eyes made the mood change.

"Just you?" Vidar asked.

"You know it would never just be me. I even prepared for The Dog." The man launched a red orb that scattered in the air. They could barely count a second before 3 more people appeared around the side of the cage. A young blonde woman greeted the prisoners with a smile. The other two consisted of an older man sporting a full beard with a mean scowl and a young man with narrow eyes and a menacing grin. Their clothing not too far from the first enemy.

"Three of your makeshift generals and the vice commander. You really wanted my head, but you know that you will be starting a war. Is that old man finally ready for it?" Vidar's eyes darted around to the different opponents but fell on the older man that clicked his tongue after the general's response.

"Ha, I am sure if we take your head, Ors will give us a reward. No one likes you," the narrow-eyed man remarked.

"Booo! Don't be mean to Viddy. Don't listen to them, Vid, especially not evil smile over there," the blonde one called from her side.

"General, we really wanted to take your head. We even have a squadron coming from behind you to slaughter your men if we are tied up. I told The Commander to not waste this opportunity, but he made some fair points." The man with the glasses raised his voice but Jack was already able to hear everything they were saying.

"The thing is, we have taken quite a strange request. We are to retrieve those prisoners without anyone dying. We hope that is to your liking, Hummingbird. We are hoping to leave a good impression with those three over there so they can listen to our demands, so make this a bit easier and less satisfying by surrendering. Release them and head back home."

"You messed up Wain. There is no squadron, there is no way they could have kept up with you all, and if you don't plan to kill me then there is nothing to fear. I can take at least two of you before I go down." Vidar swung a water torrent at the Wain, who quickly dodged.

"Viddy is so dumb." The blonde dashed at him. She forced a punch into his ribs, but he barely winced before swinging the back of his axe inches from her retreating head. Vidar's right hand grabbed onto the full beard's jaw before attempting to slam him to the ground, but a twisting tunnel of dust ripped into his chest and sent him crashing into the cage.

Wain stepped in with a massive punch to the gut and another to the jaw, but had to step back to avoid a grabbing Vidar. With every step back, another fighter attacked and their archer picking up any gaps with torrents of real wind. Vidar's bloodied face finally rested on the ground but only after the knuckles of Wain were torn up.

"Damn he really is tough," Wain said while slowly wiping the blood off his hands, wincing as the cloth passed certain areas. "He also did really well to figuring out it was just us. His battle sense definitely outshines his normal sense."

"We should take his head. Magna would forgive us," the man with the full beard reminded them.

"Sheesh, sounds just like Michael," the archer said.

"You decided to stay with us over Michael. Have some faith in us Raph." Wain walked over the sleeping mountain. "Atala, go through their supplies and get us some water."

"Aye, aye sir." The blonde girl marched towards the back.

"Okay, so we have, 1 Hummingbird, 1 Ice Queen and 1 Moustache. Good to go." The glasses locked eyes with Jack. "I am Wain, that big one is Raphael, the guy with the bow is Jin." Wain signalled to the man picking up Vidar's axe.

"What? You snooze you lose, am I right?" Jin's smile unsettled them.

"Good thinking. The girl is Atala, but I am sure she will introduce herself a couple of times before we get back. Anyway.

"We are with the revolutionary army. Nice to meet you."