“You’ve lost many things, haven’t you?”

I slowly turned around, the voice familiar. Standing there was a girl, maybe fifteen or sixteen years old. I knew that I knew her, yet nothing came to mind.

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came, only an aching thump in my chest, my heart beating when so many others had stopped.

“You don’t have to tell me. I know.”

A grown man, and yet I couldn’t help but fall to my knees. I felt my eyes burning, tears so desperately wishing to fall, and yet unable to free themselves from me. The girl I somehow both knew and didn’t know stepped closer, holding my head close to her.

It hurt, it hurt so badly, and yet I knew, I instinctively knew, that this wasn’t the worst of things to come.

“I never wanted this. Any of this.” I croaked, my voice aching. “When I was a kid, I wanted to be a guard, maybe see a little more of the world. I….” My voice drowned out.

“I know. It’s what we both wanted.”

I looked at the girl, really looked at her, and it was like a black cloud lifted for a moment.

-------------------------

“Sarah?” I awoke, a whisper on my lips.

“Are you all right there?” A voice brought my attention to my surroundings. Alice was standing there, looking at me with concern.

“Probably not, but then I’d be some sort of unfeeling monster if I was.”

“Hey, the people of Theronhold probably thought you monster enough,” Alice said, handing me a bowl of oats and shriveled fruit.

“Not that I needed the reminder.” I sighed, taking my breakfast gratefully.

“Well, lucky for you, we will be on friendly ground soon.” Alice pointed toward the horizon, a faint line appearing. If I enhanced my vision, I could make out the city, a city that felt like I’d fled eons ago.

Akadia.

I didn’t expect to be back so soon. Or ever.

“So… you still having those performance problems?” Alice lightly elbowed my side, clearly attempting to focus my attention on thoughts other than my haunting dreams.

“Well-” I reached a hand forward, summoning mana through my Sage ring as I called out. “-Rainsplitter.”

I was promptly met with a splitting headache, my brain feeling as if someone had lopped through it with a rusty axe.

“So, that’s a yes.” Alice sighed.

“Damnit,” I grunted through the pain.

The proof was in the pudding.

I had lost my connection to Rainsplitter.

Fuck.

Rainsplitter was my greatest weapon, one I’d begun relying on more and more as I’d advanced my Sage rings and become capable of summoning it for extended durations and even fully manifesting it without outside mana aiding the effort.

And now it was all gone. After… whatever had occurred in the Theronhold plains, I’d become aware that something was off. It was like a strange itch coming from my arm. And unlike a spider or mosquito bite, this itch came from inside. It had only taken a little bit of investigating and testing to determine the cause, which was my Sage ring harboring Rainsplitter’s spell form.

I didn’t even know it was possible, but I’d broken my connection to Rainsplitter; the Sage ring still operated just fine for mana storage and concentration, but the word magic within was unresponsive.

No, it was worse than unresponsive, it was downright screwed. Any attempt at summoning Rainsplitter caused a massive headache.

How had I caused it? It's simple, really. The magic within had changed, grown, and evolved into something different.

Again, another magical first I hadn’t even known was possible. If it weren’t for the fact that it crippled my combat abilities quite severely, the chance to discover an entirely unknown facet of sage-related magic would have had me buzzing with excitement.

How do I even fix this? Where do I begin?

What happened in Theronhold exceeded expectations, beyond even my and Wisdom's planning. I’d tapped into some hypothetical, paradoxical existence, a living concept, the very soul of Rainsplitter removed from time itself.

Or, more accurately, I tapped into something Rainsplitter is only a single fragment of.

I’d had moments of touching into vast powers more incredible than I could have ever hoped to have achieved; it was how I’d managed to survive the Hollow within the Citadel of the Moon, Wisdom’s leftover research facility-turned dungeon. I’d drawn upon some of Wisdom’s mana and utilized power that would likely only be possible around the seventh ring.

Yet, compared to the potential I’d felt from the mystery sword soul….

Seriously, what was that?

The greater soul of Rainsplitter had told me not to bother trying to comprehend it at the time, that it was beyond me, but I couldn’t help attempting to wrap my mind around it.

Maybe I’m misunderstanding its word. It wasn’t that I shouldn’t bother trying at all; more like there was no way I could figure it out at that moment. Maybe figuring it out is the clue to fixing Rainsplitter.

Whatever it all meant, the simple reality was that I would be without my most potent weapon for the near and potentially far foreseeable future.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Just going to have to live with it.

As much as I didn’t like it, there was no getting around it. At the very least, the rest of my abilities still functioned just fine.

I need to pick up a new sword in the meantime.

“How long until we reach Akadia?” I questioned, tired of my thoughts.

“Uhh, another two hours or so?” Alice scratched at her chin as she thought about it. “Depends on the tide heading in.”

“Enough time to get ready.” I sighed, stretching my muscles. I rose to my feet and quickly took my stance, memories spent training at the bottom of a dungeon returning in full force. “Well, care to join me?”

------------------------------------------

By the time we drifted into the docks of Akadia, I’d managed to perform the entire routine I’d learned from the Vestige of Wisdom twice through; Alice had tagged along for some of it before excusing herself, sweating profusely.

It was one of perhaps the few pleasures I would allow myself, the entertainment of watching others struggle with the exercises I’d learned years ago. Plyometrics meets yoga from hell; it was how I always kept myself in fighting shape, even when I’d purposely kept a low profile.

After I’d finished, I’d taken a quick bath, and now I was waiting on the ship's deck as the city of Akadia was presented before me. It took everything I had to keep the memories from flooding through me. Accompanying us were two ships which had begun escorting us as we drew near. Further out, a line of ships cruised up and down the coast and even a bit into the deeper sea, always on guard for a sudden naval assault from the Crown.

What surprised me was standing on the dock as if waiting for us were none other than the Viceroy of the central region, Alexandria, accompanied by a man I’d seen once or twice before, her leading general whose name I’d long since forgotten.

“We supposed to have a welcome party?” I questioned, looking at Alice and our ship’s captain.

“Our escort called us in.” The captain answered quickly.

We stood silently until our ship had docked completely before stepping onto the sandy-hued stone dock.

“Zero. Or perhaps I should say, Professor Koor.” Viceroy Alexandria smiled at me, a warm but professional expression I’d grown accustomed to. “Welcome back. I apologize that you had to depart from our lovely city last time so quickly.”

“Well, I was being falsely accused of mass murder, arson, and terrorism, so I didn’t have much of a choice,” I said, only a hint of anger creeping into my voice at the memory.

“Yes, well, those instigating forces have been dealt with,” Alexandria said cooly. “We received word from the North during your journey back that you succeeded. It pleases me to hear as such; being pincered between two hostile forces made it difficult to maneuver our forces effectively, and it was only due to our foresight in advanced troop preparations and movements that we were even in a position to begin with.”

“That’s why you’re the bigwigs.” I snorted in an attempt at humor. “I was only ever meant to be a teacher.”

“But now you’re one of our leading forces.” She responded, her tone surprisingly guarded.

“Weapons more like.” I snorted again; no humor in it this time. “I’m well aware of my role and will do it well. The fact that you’re here to welcome me personally tells me they’ve already got something in mind?”

“You know your allies well,” Alexandria responded. “Yes, there are already plans, but first, why don’t you take a day or two to yourself? You’ve got some visitors who unsurprisingly found out of your arrival, even if that information should have been classified by all means.”

As if waiting for their queue, three figures appeared around a corner, smiling widely as they saw me. The first person was the one I was least surprised to see. She was connected to every information outlet within the city and managed it on behalf of her family, so for her to have found out about my arrival wasn’t surprising.

“Scyla?”

She was wearing a light blue and black overcoat with a black and grey tailored uniform beneath. It was undoubtedly interwoven with some cooling magic, knowing her interest in enchantments; otherwise, such an outfit should have been uncomfortably warm. Temperature aside, she looked as if she could have just as easily been about to go to some high-society event as she was to be raiding an ancient temple.

Stepping close, I was met with a cordial handshake before she pulled me in for a quick hug.

“Missed you.” She whispered into my ear before stepping back.

Scyla aside, the next person to approach was one I had thought would have been taken somewhere else long ago.

“Rosalina? Wasn’t Scyla supposed to get you away from here?”

“Well, after... everything happened, I hid in a safehouse for a bit, then the Crown forces were dealt with, and soon enough, the city was squarely within the control of the Viceroy. Due to that, I was able to remain here.”

“Right.” I nodded before hugging her tightly. “I’m happy to hear you’re safe.”

“Yes, well, I heard some rumors about what you were up to.” She raised her eyebrows at me before smiling. “Also, I finally got to meet her.”

Jerking her head over to the final of the three, my heart hammered.

Mom. She stood there, arms crossed, watching me with the same expression she had when she knew I’d gotten into trouble as a kid. Several seconds passed before her expression finally broke as she looked over at Scyla, a smile appearing on her face.

“Yes, well, I never had a daughter of my own; I had Rook here getting up to trouble when he was young. So, I was more than happy to spend some time getting to know his self-proclaimed adopted sister.”

Unable to hold back, I rushed forward, embracing my mother tightly.

“Oof, do let up. You're not exactly a child anymore.” She patted my back.

“What are you doing here, Mom?” I questioned.

“Your… mother was here on behalf of the Baster family.” The Viceroy spoke up. “It is due to good fortune that she was here.”

I glanced at my mother, looking to see if that was all there was to the story.

“What she says is true.” My mother confirmed. “As the member of the family who has spent the most time within Haerasong, I’ve been sent here most often of the family. ‘Revolutionaries’-” My mother rolled her eyes as she spoke “-that we are; you think our family wouldn’t end up working with Alexandria here and Nochesuki?”

“I… Yeah, that makes sense.” I said with a sigh. “So, are you, like, directly involved or….?”

“No, I’m merely an advisor.” My mother said, alleviating my concerns. “Not that it matters much, as I’m not who the family is most concerned about right now.”

“Who?” I questioned, puzzled.

“You.” She poked my chest. “Your grandfather makes it quite clear he wanted me to convey that you are quite welcome to join the rest of the family and leave the fighting to others.”

“Huh,” I mumbled. It was a strange feeling. I’d never really thought much of my extended family. In my mind, my family was my mother and Rosalina. The next closest would have been Scyla, but that was in an entirely different direction.

It was strange to hear that my grandfather, whom I’d never met, and my family were actively thinking of me.

“So, what changed?” I questioned.

“In truth, nothing and everything.” My mother said with a sigh. “Ever since I had returned home, they wished to see you, but your whereabouts were usually vague at best, and even then, while you were, of course, facing danger as an adventurer, there was a rather stark scale of difference between that and participating in a civil war for another country.”

“Another country to them.” I corrected. “Anyway, to answer the question, I’m not about to turn and run. But… maybe after.”

After all that I had suffered, the pain and heartache I’d received within Haerasong, perhaps leaving for some time, maybe forever, and joining my family would be best for me.

But it wouldn’t be for the near future, at the very least, not until I’d put the haunting memories to rest.

“Well, Zero, do have yourself a pleasant evening.” The Viceroy gave me a curt nod before turning around. “Tomorrow, I’ll have a runner fetch you. Scyla, Mistress Baster.” She nodded to my mother and Scyla, and then she was off.

“Love important people.” I sighed before returning to look at the rest of my group. “What are you going to do, Alice?”

Alice, hanging back for the entire exchange, gave me an exhausted smile. “Well, I’ll report to whoever is in command that would be of my station. From there, I’ll probably be assigned to a ship.”

“So, this is where we part ways?”

“Indeed.” She said with a shrug.

Unsure how to react, I stuck my hand out as she met my grasp and shook it in return.

“Take care of yourself, Rook.”

It was a rather anticlimactic farewell as she returned to the ship, talking to the sailors we’d been accompanying. Turning back toward my mother and accompanying women, I gave a quick shrug.

“So, shall we get going?”

Accompanied by my mother, my adopted sister, and… whatever Scyla and I were, I left the docks behind, taking in a deep breath.

Here we go.