Sorin sat on the couch he had healed Euryale on not but two hours ago about to be able to really move to his goals of figuring out the best way to get home.

He would have had access to awesome information, equipment, training, and a host of other benefits....but now it was gone for at least 10 years. His son who was now 5 would be around 15 years by the time he left the mines and who knows how old he would be be the time he got back home if ever.

He looked up at the floor to ceiling mirror across from him and didn't see the man that had left his world, but a much younger version of himself.

He looked like he did when he was in his early 20s. He guessed that had to do with the infusion process, he might have an extended life span, but that didn't mean he wanted to spend much time away not being able to watch his boy grow up.

If he went back, would he retain these abilities? Would he outlive everyone? He looked down at his left hand where a silver ring sat on his ring finger.

Tears came quickly and wouldn't stop. He had been bottling everything up for months now. The stress, the worry, the heart ache. He had to keep it together, but now at the end of everything where all he thought he was moving toward was ripped out from under him, he cracked and let the tears fall.

For minutes he just sobbed and let everything out for a time and just let himself feel. He was unguarded and by himself so he felt no shame.

Euryale and Reeger knew Sorin wouldn't and couldn't go anywhere so they had just given him space after everything and to be able to recieve her graduation certificate and rank.

About an hour later Sorin was laying across the couch tears had dried and he had returned to his usual composed self looking at the energy field that collar produced. It moved and flexed more than it did before, he assumed it was due to his new artifical gravity skill that he couldn't see for details currently.

The door opened as Euryale and Reeger walked in. Euryale snagged a chair on her way and Reeger slapped Sorin's legs to make room, which Sorin did as he liked the older man and he sat up as Reeger sat down.

Euryale wore a new gold bar on a special section of her robes over her heart denoting her new rank of a 2nd lieutenant.

She placed the chair in front of Sorin and sat down crossing her legs with the regal manner he had become used to with her.

"Congratulations ma'am on your graduation and promotion." Sorin started.

Euryale smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. Too much had happened that overshadowed everything else.

"I appreciate it Sorin, but it's hard to be happy about all that right now. I'm going to call a spade a spade and cut to the chase. You're good man and incredible asset to my family and myself. On that note I have spoken directly with my father the duke. I explained everything you have done for us. He will petition the Empire to adjust your sentence to the mines and push you over to our care. The royal family can be fickle so it's a coin toss for success." She explained.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Sorin nodded and tugged a little on the collar that had needles into his neck that constantly hurt.

"Is our deal still good ma'am?" Sorin asked.

"Euryale." She replied. "You have saved my life, my path, and helped my family. I count you as a friend of mine and my family many times over. Our deal is good for a few reasons. One because you are a friend to me and my family. Second because you defended me, you are headed to the mines. We will repay this debt to you. My mother even spoke to my father about the petition and she hasn't spoken to him, but a handful of times since my birth and has asked for nothing. She explained.

Euryale continued. "Lastly because you have honored your word I graduated as an elite of my class second only to the prince himself. I will honor my word and do everything to figure out how to get you home and see it done. Perhaps even meet this wife who has inspired you so and this son you have told me about."

Sorin looked at Euryale. "You're a good woman. Since being in this universe there are few I would label as such, but you are it. I hope and pray you get the best of what life has to offer and should I make it back home, you and yours will always have a place at our table for what you are doing for me."

Euryale blinked a few times not sure what to say. Before she could come up with something to say the door opened.

"Lady Aegis, the mine transport vessel is here." The official said.

Euryale nodded and waved him off.

"I suppose we are out of time. I know you will probably feel abandoned in there, but please hold on to hope."

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a bracelet with symbol of her house.

"This is a bracelet given to those who have earned the favor of our house. It should offer protection. Each on is inscribed with the name of the one made for and is recorded by serial number in our logs."

Sorin took it and placed it on his right wrist where it liquefied and became a cuff with the viper fangs bared in the green and black.

"Thank you. I suppose we shouldn't drag out feet Euryale. The sooner I'm off the sooner I'm back. When we do get back to earth, I loom forward to introducing you to everyone. Perhaps you will even want to stay."

She smiled. "Perhaps."

They all got up and walked out the door to the ship headed to the mines.

- 3rd Region -

*shatter! Clink clink clink!*

The aether tablet exploded in the hand of Belloraphon when he recieved the news that his son had been killed by a conscript no less, but worse he had failed to stop Euryale Aegis from passing. She was to return with empire assigned troops to their planet under her command and his house had nothing. House Aegis now had the advantage and what made matters worse, Prince Amaru got involved in a proceeding concerning his son where it was proven that he targeted Lady Aegis. Word had no doubt gotten to Duke Phorcys.

"My Lord, there is a delegate from house Aegis requesting an audience with you." Said a servant kneeling in a salute.

Belloraphon put his palm to his head as he felt a headache coming on which shouldn't be possible for him as a tier 7.

"Show him in." He commanded.

After a few minutes a dignified Gorgonian man stepped forward and bowed.

"On behalf of Duke Phorcys Aegis, we offer greetings and well wishes in the presentation of a message from him to yourself." He said presenting a sealed envelope arms outstretched still in a bow.

Belloraphon's personal attended rushed forward taking the message and giving it to the duke. Who cracked the seal and began to read.

After a moment he let the letter fall from his hands.

"As expected....we are now at war."