Symphonies of stampeding splicers roared from outside the guild hall as the alarm bell rang. I opened the front doors and was immediately greeted by the mass migration of citizens running up and down the Academy District, most heading toward the Barracks. The twins’ heads popped out from behind my back, investigating the street for themselves.

“Hurry now. Out you go.”

Soothing, warm flames enveloped my body along with the twins, lifting the three of us slightly and then pushing us out of the guild and onto the street. Their heat was like that of a comfortable bath as we floated onto the cobblestones. Hait and Tawny were completely awestruck by the event. Tawny’s breath shallowed and sped up, poor thing nearly hyperventilating at this point. Hait was seemingly more calm, until I caught a glimpse of his wide eyed expression. The twins stayed like that for the entirety of the brief flight.

“That was…” Tawny started.

“Amazing.” Hait finished. Both twins checked the other’s body, probably looking for any burns or singing. I did the same the first time Len used that little trick on me.

I turned back to find Len locking the guild doors. Or that was my assumption at least. I had no clue what the bright red sigil that appeared on the doors were. It very well could have been a fire bomb trap or something like that. Which, not gonna lie, would be pretty damn cool. I kind of wanted to throw a rock at the door and see if it would go off.

Len nodded at the crimson sigil, which then faded away as soon as he turned away. “Alright, Barracks then.”

“That’s the plan.” I said, while searching for an opening in the stream of people heading in that direction. My search bore fruit as I spotted a good target a few yards away. Three very large and in charge looking men with horns strode along. Everybody gave them some space, so a small pocket opened up behind them. I pulled on the twins’ arms to get their attention. “Let’s jump in…three…two….”

Len cleared his throat before I finished my countdown. “Hold on.”

“What? You were the one who shoved us out the door in a hurry.” The three brutes passed right on by as I turned to the old man.

“Have you forgotten who you’re with? I’m a Legion Commander.”

“And?”

“Just give it a moment. He should be here any minute.”

“Who?”

“Just hush already. I swear, the impatience of youth.”

“Yes and the hesitance of the old.”

“Churlish brat.”

“Ancient bum.”

The twins watched as Len and I traded a few more worthless platitudes and insults about our ages with curious expressions. Their heads swiveled back and forth between the two of us, to whoever spoke last.

“Sorry, do I need to go back and get your cane? Walking gonna to be a bit too much for you?”

Len’s face twisted into a sinister grin. “Don’t need one. I already have this.” Flames swirled for a second next to his hand, then it appeared. The most cursed item in this twisted bastard’s arsenal. The damned training stick.

I shut up immediately upon seeing the flame mage wielding it, poised to strike my head…or my torso or my back or my legs. Any body part really, he didn’t pick favorites when it came down to physical punishment.

The twins snickered to each other at the obvious fear that washed over my face as Len swung the stick around, as if he was testing it.

After a couple of minutes waiting(cowering) on the street, the sounds of what I believed were wooden wagon wheels echoed off the stone path. I turned and saw a wagon about the size of a mid size SUV being pulled by a large tanned man with horse shaped legs. It was your basic medieval wagon, wooden base with a white cloth top. It was odd that a person was pulling the cart, but it made sense. I never found a single sign of the Kinyans domesticating any monsters. Cattle didn’t exist here. But I couldn’t help but think it was a far too humble job. Almost slavish.

The crowd running down the street parted ways to allow the wagon to travel uninhibited. The horse hooved man slowed down and finally stopped at the guild entrance.

“Commander Ainsworth.” Said the horse in a deep voice accompanied by a genteel nod.

“Gerre, how have you been? Kids doing alright?” Len walked over to the wagon and hopped up to the vacant driver’s seat. Why does it even have a driver’s seat? It's pulled by a person.

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“Aye sir. The eldest just started at Academy Seven last week. Tough boy. Strong like his father.” Gerre answered with pride filled words. He turned over and looked at the twins and then me. “Guests Sir?”

“Yep, come on kids. In you go.” Len said, waving us on.

The wagon’s back wall fell backwards, making a ramp for easy access. Passersby clicked their tongues as we climbed in. Two benches ran along the full length of the wagon. Maybe room to sit ten people if packed tight, yet more than enough for me and two teenagers. Tawny and Hait sat down on opposite benches near the front. I turned back, looking for a way to close the back ramp, but Len’s flames were already lifting it.

“Lock it.” Len yelled from the front.

Once his flames held the door in place, I found two large deadbolts on each side of the door and pulled them, locking the wall in place.

“Head for the Fourth my good man.” Len told Gerre, while I found a spot on the hard wooden bench.

“Right away Sir!” Gerre said, finishing with a literal neigh. My body jerked as the wagon accelerated far quicker than I thought possible from a single man’s pull. But monster gene’s were powerful.

“We should arrive in fifteen minutes.” Len said from his seat.

I sat away from the twins, who had already made themselves busy, staring out of the wagon through small rips in the cloth top. Hait reprimanded his sister with a smack when she tore into one of those openings to make it larger. Then shamelessly joined her and looked out of the newly made window.

I watched the two siblings bicker and prod at each other as they commented on people we passed by. Both excited beyond measure. Yet I felt nothing but anxiety as each bump shook the wagon. The realization of where we were heading finally set in. This wasn’t a trip to the park. We were about to head to war. These kids were about to head to war. These two who looked like they would barely be allowed to drive back on earth are expected to fight and possibly give their lives.

I closed my eyes, tuning them out. My thoughts turned inward as my heart began to race. Why did I just hop on in? Wasn’t I on the fence about this whole raid business? What am I doing? Shit, I trained with our squad for all of one day.

“Liam, join me up front.” Len’s voice carried through the wagon, bringing me back to reality.

“Can we?” Hait asked, his sister nodding quickly next to him.

“In a moment. I need to discuss something with Liam first.”

“Sure.” I said, standing up and balancing myself. I walked to the front of the wagon, ignoring the pleading eyes of the twins, then climbing up to the passenger seat. I looked down from the perch and saw the musclebound Gerre pulling the wagon forward, not even breaking the slightest of sweats as he ran forward. And we were moving pretty quick, probably like fifteen or twenty miles per hour.

Len didn’t say anything for a moment, his eyes squinted against the wind. He spoke when he turned his head up, looking at the nearly twilight sky. “Here’s hoping the sun stays out long. Night raids are rough.”

“I kinda figured all raids were rough.” I couldn’t help but look back at the twins as the words came out. Len’s eyes followed mine.

“It hasn’t sunk in with them yet. What’s actually going on. How equally chaotic and tragic the next few hours will become.”

“They’re just kids, Len. I understand me being forced into this. But they can’t be older than like fifteen. Are they even level five?”

Len turned back, facing the road. “They are actually seventeen. And yes, they are both a full level ahead of you.” He said with a grin.

“Really?” I asked. “No way. Is it a,” My head spun around. Then I whispered the rest of my question. “A half elf thing?”

Len chuckled and then touched the tip of his nose.

“You don’t know anything about that academy you defended do you?” He asked.

I shook my head.

“That was Academy Thirteen. Also known as Prodigy’s Launch. Where Laurelhaven sends its best youths. Those with limitless potential. Something these two are positively brimming with.” He pointed behind his shoulder with his thumb.

“Laurel doesn’t see many elemental mages like them often. Not very populous in the gene pool. Most like them are found in Tiamantis. And the government there is not keen on letting them go.”

“The government gets a say in that kind of stuff?” Then I realized how stupid that question was. I wasn’t allowed to get married here or own property. Yes, this world’s government would do something like that. ”Nevermind.”

“But I do agree with you.” Len said.

“They probably aren’t ready for this. In fact, no one ever is. They’re lying to themselves if they say they are. But that’s where we, the older generation, come in. It's part of our job, of a squad’s job, to make sure we protect them while they learn what it means to fight. So put some trust in your fellow squadmates. And Fennel as well. I know he can be a bit goofy but he’s a good…” Len trailed off.

“Good what?” I looked over to what Len fixated on. Another wagon rushed in our direction. A man with large tusks sat at the front. He gave Len a disgusted look as his wagon passed by.

“Lovely fellow. Friend of yours, Len?”

Len didn’t answer. All of the previous cheer left the scruffy man’s face. “No, no he is not.” Len’s face twitched. “Oh I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

We arrived in the Barracks after a silent five minutes. Len was still brooding over the brief encounter with the other wagon. Other squads ran around the camp, getting themselves ready and hopping into wagons of their own. Gerre had to slow down as other wagons filled with squads crowded the road.

After another couple of minutes, Gerre halted in front of our squad hall. The large front doors were wide open. But something was missing.

Tawny and Hait stuck their heads through the front and asked the obvious question.

“Where is our squad?”

Sparks flew out of Len’s mouth as he grinded his teeth.

“Blasted woman. Why didn’t I see this coming?” Len rapidly tapped his foot on the floorboards. He smacked the side of the wagon. “Gerre! Full speed to the launch zone. Bonus pay if you can catch up to that wagon Barnz drove on our way here.”

“Aye!” Gerre answered, skidding to a halt, then turning the wagon around. “Though sadly I doubt I will be able to catch up to him. Not with all these others heading out.”

“What's going on?” I asked.

“Drat!” Len said as he rubbed his forehead. “A really shitty game.” Literal fire flared in his eyes. “One I don’t intend to lose.”