"Rebecca, please bring me the red bottle lying on my desk" Bartley carefully helped the man walk to the living room, who by now was almost unconscious. He made him lie on the sofa, and as soon as the mother brought what she was told, Bartley hurriedly poured some of the liquid into the man's mouth.

Nobody said anything for the next 10 minutes. Bartley took the package he had hidden before and had locked himself in his study with that. The kids were sitting in one corner, Rebecca kept her right hand's forefinger on the half-unconscious body, she kept it moving in order as if drawing some geometrical lines over and over again. The kids couldn't say what it was, nor did they bother.

I can't go to the army, my life is gonna get ruined. Ella thought.

Oistin, on the other hand, was completely blank, and in the blank and dark thought of his, something glowed suddenly, something like a circle with a Hexa-star in it. He saw it with his own eyes just a while ago, on his mother's left neck. He was sure it was not there. Mum might have got it this afternoon, but I wonder why she has always hated Tattoos, especially those ones with stars. But that is not the strangest part, how on earth it glows?

"Bartley, Ikar's awake" Rebecca shaded happy tears. Ella went up to him, Oistin followed. The study's door clacked to open, and Bartley came out.

"Beautiful, as you always were Rebecca" Ikar smiled.

He was fine now, none could tell his prior condition, he looked a bit young too, Oistin noticed, what medicine did dad use that cured him this fast?

"Still, stout and strong. Bartley, how did you manage yourself so well, brother?"

The father just smiled.

"Your boy's more like you Rebecca, I can tell by those eyes and his long black hair."

It struck him, "Sorry..., but, excuse me?" Oistin couldn't resist now "I don't know what is happening, how can you tell that I have long hair?"

"Why, child? If you are thinking that it is illegal so I'll send you to a rehab then you are wrong my boy" Ikar laughed out loud, so did his parents.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Ella was quite silent for long now she made her way "That was not his point, Mr. Ikar, how could you tell that he has long hair, you can't possibly look through that metal hat, can you?"

"I'm afraid, young lady, I can" he looked directly into her eyes, making her believe in his words.

"What are all these? Can anyone please explain, I'm dying of curiosity and why?" Oistin stood in front of his mother "Why do you have that glowing Tattoo?"

Oistin read his mother's face, it said she was regretting. "You guys have no time, your bags are already packed" Rebecca again started to cry "Ella, please bring those here, right now"

"No, mum. I'm sorry but I am not going to the army, never." Ella was furious and looked at her father, now she pleaded to him "Dad, please. I don't want to go. Why are you guys doing this to us?"

"For your safety, my angel" Bartley too had tears.

Oistin was perplexed he had never seen his stout father having tears. "Dad, I'll obey, I'll go to the army but before that, you are to explain all this, all of it"

"We are running out of time Bartley," Ikar pointed to his wristwatch. "By the way, can I borrow a hat? SCF police make it a big deal with these long hair, why did they ban long hair?" he sounded so casual.

It was killing Oistin, he wasn't angry at that man, or his parents, but on the situation. he was feeling suffocated without knowing the truth.

In the meantime, Rebecca had brought the luggage herself and handed it to the kids, "There's some money. But, so sorry sweeties couldn't collect much in this short --"

Bartley stopped her and moved forward to Oistin "You have always been the curious one my boy, the-past-seeker-queer; that's what your classmates call you isn't it?" he put on a fake smile and handed the same package to him.

It got heavier, Dad must have put something Oistin thought. "This has few answers to your questions, I'm afraid; my knowledge couldn't afford more, just a little bit of history, that I've known"

"What's 'History' Dad?" The siblings asked and Ikar laughed "You don't know what History is? That's an English word, which standard are you guys in?"

Bartley didn't bother his words "The study of past, what you have been looking for all these while, Oistin"

"Okay, okay, Bartley Rebecca, now hug your kids it's time to say 'farewell' " Ikar said.

Rebecca continued to cry, so did Ella, "But I don't want to go, dad, mum?"

Bartley hugged his boy real tight, "I hope to see you soon, son" then he moved to Ella "Even though you're younger, you are more mature than him, so you have more responsibilities, take care of yourselves"

The door opened, Ikar moved out first, dragging Oistin, Ella's feet didn't move for a few seconds but at last, she had to go. The night had descended a while ago, everything was calm but the artificial lights hurt the eyes, there was hardly any darkness, probably brighter than the days, the only difference was, this time the light didn't come from the sun. From a distance, a fading voice whispered "Farewell"