"Focus Carl, you won't be of any help if you sway every time ruler's utter a word. Now, kneel." Erwin commanded again.

Carl felt his body betray his intentions. He wrestled against an oppressive will and he felt he had no chance to win. His legs buckled underneath him and his forehead touched the ground.

"Can you say…something…less demeaning?"

"Yes, I can. But that would not be as motivating as this I'd wager." Replied Erwin, while holding out a hand to Carl. He accepted it and was hefted back on his legs. "If you hate what you are commanded to do, it is easier to resist. At least a little. Cormac's orders will always trump others in a fair fight, but he is not as strong as he needs to be yet. You need to learn to avert the words of a ruler by yourself."

"I know…but it is not…easy."

"Nor will it ever be, but you need to find your anchor. What makes you, you. There is nothing better for a defiant attitude than a strong sense of self. Remember that. Now, again. Kneel."

Carl quickly thought of the things that made him, him. The music, the Stonefist family, the choices he had made. He tried to recall all there was to him. His entire self. But he felt himself stoop down to the ground yet again.

"See, I think you might be doing something wrong." said Erwin as he helped him up again. "What were you thinking about exactly?"

"Me…what I have….been through."

"That might be it. I feel you misunderstood me. Do not remember all there is to remember about yourself, such thoughts are complex and unspecific. Do you remember what happened to Cormac? You can say that this is fairly similar. At least in the sense that your essence needs to be potent, for you to be able to defy."

"So…think less?"

"Uh, alright. Let's go with that for now. Again. Kneel."

Carl thought about his injuries, he thought about singing, about the violin. He felt his legs buckle again, so he thought only about the violin. He thought about how he played, the music each string made, the gentle movements off the bow.

But when he opened his eyes, he was kneeling on the ground again, though at least his head was not on the ground too.

"Progress! Beautiful. But still weak. I am not putting much into these commands I'll have you know. I want you to resist my full will, at the end of the training. But, that is some time away. Now, again. Kneel."

Cormac sat in an armchair. He was feeling content, more than he had been for quite some time. He was celebrating, something he had not been used to yet. And best of all. The tea was actually quite good.

"I honestly did not think that that was possible." Nery said with astonishment.

Obscurno put the kettle back on the stove, then he flew back at Cormac's shoulder.

"Nor did I at the start. But Obscurno is crazy smart, really. The problem was just figuring out how to tell him what I need."

"And how do you do that?"

"Well, I kind of think about it very intensely? It's very hard to describe the feeling you know? It's like I explain things without using words. Just impressions emotions and stuff like that."

"That is very unspecific." Nery rolled her eyes.

"It's not like I am trying to keep the mystery of my secret sauce. It's just very complex."

"Yeah, yeah. If it was that complex, I doubt you would make sense of it." She nudged him with her shoulder.

"Oh! We are going to be like that are we? Let's see what are these royal hands going to do about it!" he screamed a battle-cry as he started jabbing his index fingers at her belly. She tried to defend herself, but Cormac's training let him stuck to her like a tick.

"Stop!" she yelled in between laughing. "Stop it! My belly hurts!"

"You know the rules." Cormac replied.

"Mercy! Give me mercy!" Nery yelled.

Cormac stopped his jabs and looked at her with a smile.

"Oh, hide that shit eating grin! My stomach hurst like hell."

"Yeah. That is what you get for your brazenness."

"You'll be lucky if I allow you to eat dinner today young man!" she replied angrily.

"What we having?"

She looked at him from under her brows, but her anger subsided quickly, when she realized that Obscurno and Cormac had an almost identical expression.

Cormac had trouble understanding why she started laughing at him like that, but well…he did not mind it either. Nery did have a great smile.

"Cormac." Erwin made himself known. "I need a word with you. Alone, if you do not mind."

"Alright…is something going on?" Cormac did not like the serious tone with which Erwin talked at the moment.

"I would rather not describe the situation with my daughter here." Erwin looked at Nery. It was not the gentle and kind expression he wore at most times. It was an urging one, absolute. Nery nodded at her father and excused herself, though she seemed irritated at her need to leave.

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"I will have to depart quicker than I thought Cormac. Much quicker. Things have been happening earlier than they should have and I cannot stay here any longer. Your training is nowhere near done and I will not be able to continue to monitor it. I am obligated not to tell you outright, but I can point you to a right direction, with a simple saying. The heart of the scourge lies in the head of the beast." Erwin said though he laughed a little afterwards, betraying his serious tone. "Not a lot to go on, I know. I apologize, but as I have stated before…"

"The orders of the past. I know, you told me."

"Yes." Erwin said. Then for the first time ever and much to Cormac's surprise, he seemed to have some difficulty finding the next words to say. "I know that, a lot is bound to happen and I trust that we will see each-other again and I wish for a day where you can command me to tell you everything…but until that day comes." Erwin looked into Cormac's eyes and his usual confidence and bravado game way to sincerity. "You need to learn more, you need to grow, you need to be ready."

"I will. I promise." Obscurno cawed on his shoulder, making Erwin smile again. Though it was a somber smile.

"I know you will Obs, you are no mere bird after all."

Cormac had no chance to ask how Erwin understood what Obscurno said, he had no time to ask any additional questions, nor did he have the time to say goodbye.

"Thank you." said Erwin and then, as he was wont to do, he disappeared into thin air.

Carl was clenching his teeth, he was ready for the next command. He would not falter, he would stand. He had enough of falling under pressure. He was so sure, he was as ready as he could be.

But all that gone away as soon as Erwin's expression changed. When carl understood that the next command would not come.

"I thought that we would have more time together, but…" He quickly took a few steps towards him and looked at Carl. His yellow piercing eyes were soft, sad. "I hoped to see you grow into the man you were bound to become with my own eyes, to learn of who my…well, learn of who you are. Unfortunately, destiny seemed to dislike the idea."

"What are…you…"

"I have to leave Carl, for quite some time. I hope that I will be able to return. I hope to be there, support you three when you will need it. But right now, I need to go. I need to depart to something urgent. But before I do, I need you to swear something to me Carl. I need you to swear It with the same vigor that you grasped during this training. Swear to protect my daughter. Swear to protect Nery."

"I…" Carl wanted to ask numerous questions. He disliked having to swear to such a thing out of nowhere. But he realized, that he had the intention even without an oath.

"I…swear." Carl felt a flow of something intertwine in him. A few strings of power making a gentle knot around his heart.

Erwin smiled at him. With a smile that was sad and grieving, a smile that complimented the man's music.

"I hope you will find your music again Carl. I really hope so." he said, right before he vanished. Leaving Carl alone on the training grounds.

The atmosphere at the dining table was palpable. Neither of the three had any words to exchange. It seemed that Erwin talked with Nery at the same time as the boys, since she posed no questions at his disappearance.

Some five months ago, Cormac would have never guessed, that he would miss the presence of the stranger, of Erwin, of the man that seemed to guide his journey.

Looking back, Erwin probably was always there. God knows how many times he just decided not to reveal himself. Now Cormac felt as if his guardian angel had to leave his post. As if the compass he held stopped pointing on his way.

Even if he was gone just a while, even if they were used to him leaving for days at a time. This time, it felt definitive.

Instead of eating quickly and wolfing down each and every scrap of the food, like Carl normally did, he played with a bit of meat with his fork. He moved it around the potatoes and carrots. Only when it caught something by itself did he put it in his mouth, just to chew slowly.

Cormac forgot about everything. It was so peaceful here, so nice. It was a home for him now too, a place where he felt safe, comfort. A place where he was appreciated. It was so much like home, that he forgot how little time he spent there. Spent hiding from what he set out to do.

The murders, the framing, his family…his real family. Cormac had to know.

Erwin even told him himself, he needed to learn, needed to grow.

Cormac stood up from the table. He was sure of what he needed to do.

"I will have to leave, soon. There is a lot I need to figure out still. Me and Obs will go."

"Where?" asked Nery, her voice betraying hints of fear.

"I have a few places to visit. Erwin left me a cryptic message, but I have no idea what that means yet. I need to go to my family's estate for starters. There are a few questions I have, that demand answers. I need to talk with my father. Ask him for help, tell him that I am alive."

"And what? You are just going to leave us here? To stress about what might have happened to you? Fat chance!"

"You can't come with me Nery. It will be too dangerous. I had a bounty on my head. Though they might think that I died, if they find out I did not, they would lock up everyone with me."

"Do you think I care about that?" Nery stood up abruptly, dropping her glass on the table. "I don't! I won't stay here alone anymore!"

"Carl will stay here with you. Someone wanted me dead and who knows, they still might want to. I can't protect you Nery…"

"I can. I can…protect…both of you." said Carl.

"No. Carl I…"

"I made…my choice…I can't….leave it be…" Carl looked at Cormac. His eyes were resolute as was his tone. "You are…not...the only one…affected…by it."

Cormac looked at them, unable to form rational arguments to keep them in the house.

"Seems like things are decided!" Nery nodded at Cormac, her expression still fierce.

"But, what about the house?"

"What about it?"

"It's your home? What if something happens to it?"

"And if it does? I love it here, but it is not home when everyone is away. If need be, we can build another one after this whole ordeal will be over. I am not going to settle a moment before that is true."

"Is there any way I can persuade you to stay?"

"No." replied Nery.

"Seems like…we have a…journey…to prepare for."

Cormac did not like it, he did not want everyone to take a risk just for him. It was unresponsible to let them. He needed to…

He felt Obscurno send him something through their bond. Impressions again. It was a small nest, he was there with a few other hatchlings, his siblings. He saw how the others learned to fly faster than Obscurno, how they left the nest, until he alone stayed inside it. They all left, even with his parents. Obscurno was scared, scared that he might not ever learn to fly. He stayed there like this for a full day. Alone and cold. No one came for him, his brothers and sisters did not return, nor did his parents. He would have died where he was, had he stayed there. He climbed on the end of the nest and saw the way down. He knew he would die, if he fell straight down. Even then, he jumped, as it was his only option to do so.

Cormac did not fully understand, what his companion meant by the memories he shown him, but he accepted them still.

Obscurno just gently cawed at the group, as he rallied them to war.