Looking at his father, Sain could clearly see how the years had affected his once vital father. His brown hair was heavily streaked with gray, he had sunken cheeks and blotchy skin from past abuse of alcohol.
So, it was a nice relief to see him beaming with happiness as he sat opposite his two sons. He shifted slightly on the stool he sat on, hunched over somewhat as Sain and Niall sat on the couch opposite him.
“So, why are you here Niall? Shouldn’t you be preparing for your Graduation from the academy?” asked Sain’s father as he leaned back, his back pressing against the wall for some modicum of support. Sain looked sideways at Niall then, curious as well.
“That’s the reason I’m here actually Regas. All the students have leave until next week. The ceremony is a few days later. But once graduation is over, we will all be assigned our military positions. There is no telling where we might go. It’s entirely possible that some of us will end up on the F.K.E front, so we are taking the opportunity to visit families while we still can. I was just lucky that one of my friends lives in Rindai as well and I was able to travel with him on his private airship. I’ll be here for another two days taking care of some other business before we head back” explained Niall, a non-committal look on his face, as if he expected his ride to leave earlier at a moment’s notice.
Sain’s father took on a look of annoyance at Niall for a moment, as his eldest son called him by his name, but after a moment he just sighed.
“I see. So, you might not have a chance to actually return home before you are posted. How the military has changed these days. Hell, we did not have these airships when I served” Regas stated and shook his head.
“Well, when you served Regas, only nobles could be officers. Now as long as you pay your way into the academy, you can become one. I promise I will repay you some day for it” Niall stated softly, leaning forward as he spoke. Sain continued to look at his brother not really knowing what to think, or how to feel about Niall being in the military. Glancing at Regas, he saw the man look downcast a moment, before smiling sadly.
“I didn’t do it to be thanked. Your mother wanted you to be a soldier, remember. Her being the only child of a Knight, she wanted you to remake the family. I would rather you be an officer than some musket infantry with low chances of survival” Regas stated, his mood turning somewhat sober. The room fell to an awkward silence then, and Sain looked up to the cabinet in the room, the only other real piece of furniture between the couch, table and a few stools in the house. Sain's gaze focused on the black and white photo sitting upon the cabinet, of his father and mother, and Niall as a baby. He just felt a lump build in his throat.
“But that’s old news. You knew that already. I am just happy I have two healthy sons. Ones even a caster! Can you believe that!” Regas stated and stood up suddenly, and stepped closer, reaching out to pull Niall and Sain into a rough hug.
Sain wrapped his arms around his father, feeling his hand connect with Niall’s on the small of Regas’ back. They stayed in the embrace a few moments, and then Regas broke it off, and beamed down at the two.
“Now you are both here, we should have a good dinner. How about you boys go and get some groceries? I will give you some money” Regas stated and slipped a hand into the inner pocket of his coat.
“Don’t worry about it. I will pay for something nice. I have saved up from my side job in the capital. It is no trouble” Niall stated, getting up and holding his hand out, splayed outwards. Sain stood up too, and stuffed a hand into his coat pocket, pulling out the coins Clyde had given him.
“I have money too. My master gave me some today and told me to eat some fatty fish!” Sain stammered out, and both Niall and Regas looked at him sharply, and then laughed.
“You already smell bad enough. Let's not add fish to the aroma” Regas let out and both he and Niall laughed again for a few moments, before letting it die off.
“Alright son, if Clyde told you to eat that, then so be it. Hand the money over. I need to actually go down to the docks to see my boss now I think about it. So, I can see the fishmonger while there. You two just catch up while I am gone” Regas stated and held out his hand, and Sain handed the few coins over, followed by a half dozen from Niall. Regas pocketed them, and then just went to the door, and took his bowler hat and cane from the hooks on the wall. Then he was gone, leaving the small house, a cold rush of air entering before he closed the door.
Niall and Sain stood in the room for a few moments, before with a sigh, Sain sat on the couch, sinking into the leather cushions. Niall on the other hand, moved to the cabinet and looked at the photo of their mother and father briefly, before looking at the radio perched next to it. As Niall started to play with the dials, some static and voices being heard, Sain just pushed his hand into his coat again, and produced the small notebook Clyde had given him to read. He stared down at it in his hands, before opening it to start reading.
Hearing some sort of opera come on the radio, Sain looked up and saw Niall coming towards him, before sitting on the couch beside him.
“We are supposed to be catching up Sain. Not just bumming around. What's that you got there?” Niall asked, looking at the notebook.
“It's some notes of my master. He asked me to read it. He makes me read heaps now that I have gotten better at it. Want to read it too?” Sain asked and held it up for Niall to see. The older youth just shook a hand dismissively.
“Nah, I am good. I don’t want to read some old dudes field notes or whatever they are. Good thing you can read better though. So few people can” he added and just leaned back on the couch.
“You can tell me what’s in it though” Niall stated and placed his hands behind his head, totally relaxing. Sain shrugged at the reply. He then just went to read the notes in silence, the broadcast on the radio rather soothing, and helping him to zone out somewhat. After what felt like a few minutes but was likely longer, Niall shifted and sighed.
“Well, what’s it about?” Niall asked, his voice totally letting Sain know how bored he was. Sain sighed, somewhat irritated.
“It's about Etherum Crystals, their applications and what you can do with them. Like, how Crystals embedded with different elements function. Water crystals pump water, and aid buoyancy. Air crystals make things levitate. Earth Crystals strengthen or change materials. Fire Crystals generate heat, and power electrical things. Um, and lightning crystals are better than Fire crystals” Sain stated, pulling from the shorthand notes of his master's messy scrawls.
“Right. Interesting stuff. I learned all that at the academy too. Levitation magic is what makes our airships fly. Earth Crystals actually make radio transmissions possible too. That was a massive leap in technology that was” Niall stated and huffed, clearly still bored.
“Well, there is mostly stuff in here about what casters can do with the energy. Probably not stuff you have learned” Sain stated and scowled, closing the book with a snap. He just shoved it into his coat again though and stood up, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over him. Last night's episode was catching up to him. Fast.
“Um, I am gonna have a sleep. Wake me up when dad gets back with the food ok” Sain stated and looked to Niall who just frowned.
“Yeah, ok. Rest up kiddo” Niall stated, looking at Sain with what Sain thought was concern. Maybe he looked as banged up as he felt? Anyway, he just smiled at his brother, then headed to his room for a nap.
***
Hearing the noises, and voices in the kitchen, Sain lay on his back, just staring up at the dark ceiling, his mind whirling, with Clyde's notebook on his chest from where he had fallen asleep reading it.
What happens now? I need to see Jalel. After all, I have no idea about the situation. Where I stand? I mean, I did not really fail or anything. I wish I had read this book before that whole fight as well. Things would have been different. So different. Sighing, Sain cut off the questions in his mind as worry gnawed at him. Instead, he tossed off his blanket, feeling the cold air biting at bare arms and feet. Standing up, Sain closed the book and placed it on his pillow before he pulled on some socks and his coat. Patting down an inner pocket of his coat, he found some crystal shards he had brought from the factory, and pulled two out, looking them over. In the gloom, the empty shards just glinted somewhat. Almost sparkled. Smiling, he just held them tight in his hand and went to his door.
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As he stepped out into the small room, he felt the warmth from the open stove wash over him, even as Niall and Regas turned to look at him. He just smiled at them, noting the shadows on their faces, more from the glow of multiple lit candles about the room, than anything else.
“Welcome back to the world of the living sleepy head. I tried waking you earlier, but you were out cold” Niall stated from the couch as Regas turned back to the stove, attending a pot of something cooking away atop it.
“Yeah, I did not get much sleep last night. I was out alright. Exhaustion caught up with me” Sain stated as he sniffed the air, the smell of fish somewhat on the air.
“Well, lucky you are up son. Dinner is about ready. Pull up some stool's lads” Regas stated. Niall and Sain did just that, taking their seats at the table. A fresh loaf of bread, and even some butter was laid out at the center of the table, which Niall started to cut up, and butter, just as Regas placed wooden bowls of steaming stew on the table for everyone. As Sain got comfortable, he placed the Crystals he had been holding onto the table, picking up his spoon in their stead.
“Eat up. It’s my famous turnip and potato stew, with a special ingredient of fish. Lots of fish” Regas stated as he took a seat as well. Without further ado, the three of them started eating, grabbing pieces of bread to dip in it. Silence reigned as the three of them ate, though Sain finished far quicker than the others, his hunger seemingly having come out of nowhere.
“Well lad, you finished that quick. Help yourself to seconds. There is plenty” Regas stated before looking to the crystals Sain had deposited earlier.
“Those Etherum Crystals?” Regas asked, nodding at them. Sain looked down at the clear, glass-like shards and then nodded.
“Yes. I have been assisting my master with an experiment involving them. We are not really making a whole lot of progress though” Sain replied, and instead of collecting a second helping of food, he picked up the crystals and held each up for the others to see, each held between a thumb and forefinger of each hand. Each one was about the size of his thumb, so could not hold a large amount of energy.
“Huh... interesting stuff. You learned how to use them yet?” Regas asked, looking at them curiously.
“To a degree. I am a quick study. Here, I will show you” Sain stated and leaned forward, holding one of the crystals above the flame of a candle set upon the table.
“Light in the darkness, essence of flame, I bid thee to lay within this vessel” Sain intoned, and the incantation took hold, the small shard gradually taking on an orange color, small flames appearing to flicker and shift within it. Taking his hand away from the candle, he shifted his grip on the crystal, holding the bottom of it, and pointing one end up towards the ceiling.
He then centered his mind's eye on the crystal, seeing it pulsating with the energy, and he just pulled on it, and as it rippled in his grasp, he pulled a small sliver of magic from his still depleted core, and wrapped it around the fire energy, giving it the form of a candle flame with his thoughts alone.
As he held the crystal, a small lick of flame, no bigger than what a candle would produce appeared at the tip of the crystal, and locked there, generating a small light and gentle warmth. As he held it, he looked at Regas and Niall, who were both smiling, though what they were thinking, Sain could guess not.
“That is impressive son. Tell me, how long does that flame last? Can you use it to heat the stove instead of coal or charcoal?” he asked, and Sain frowned, thinking. He did not actually know the answer.
“Um, I am not sure. I suppose with a big enough crystal, I could do it for a while. Though, I would still need a proper fire to recharge the crystal” Sain stated, and looked to the flame at his fingertips thoughtfully, as it still burned happily. I made pretty big fireballs from small amounts of energy, so this could last a while. After all, Etherum acts as an energy amplifier too.
“Could you use levitation magic to make it hover too? I have seen such things in the Capital” Niall asked, and Sain looked at him in surprise.
“I guess I could, though I haven’t used it like that before. I might practice it though” Sain stated, a thoughtful expression on his face once more.
“Hah, well if you do son, do it outside. I don’t want you sending a fireball into the ceiling” Regas stated, and Sain looked at him sharply, then chuckled. He placed the burning crystal down though, and as soon as he let go, the flame dissipated, leaving the rest of its energy untouched.
“That is a very real possibility. I shall practice it another time” Sain stated and chuckled. It was then though, that a ringing bell was heard, and the three of them froze around the table. Sain’s gaze darted to Regas, who stood up and moved to the kitchen window, and pulled the shutters inwards, the ringing bell getting louder and clearer, a distant shouting voice accompanying it.
“Hear ye, hear ye, listen to the Imperial Announcement radio. Hear ye, hear ye, listen to the Imperial Announcement radio” came the cry over and over, and Regas just closed the shutters and strode to his radio on the cabinet. He messed with the dials a moment, until a song came onto the radio. A song that was only ever broadcast when an Imperial announcement was due to be aired shortly. It was like a sad drawn-out opera, with low, baritone vocals.
Both Sain and Niall shifted on their stools to look at the radio as Regas sat on the couch, staring hard at it as he leaned forward, chin resting on his closed fists, with his elbows positioned on his knees.
They stayed like this for around ten minutes, waiting in complete silence, with an air of tension among them. Eventually though, the opera finished, and a new, feminine voice hit the radio broadcast.
“This is an Imperial Emergency Broadcast, to all citizens of the Holy Gestonian Empire. Heed these words. Two nights ago, the Former Kratsch Empire was accepted into the United Federation of Nations and by majority vote, the Federation council declared war on The Holy Gestonian Empire. Immediately following the declaration, General Commander Brach of the Federation led an offensive against Gestonian forces garrisoned in the eastern Kratsch. In the surprise move, many of the Commanders of Gestonian forces, including Princess Phidel were defeated, and in ensuing battles, over half of the territory gained by our Great Empire in the last year has been lost in the following days. Under the command of Princess Phidel, Imperial forces have managed to halt the offensive and are now besieged in the city of Liguad awaiting reinforcements from friendly forces. With this move, the world has now entered into the second U.F.N, H.G.E war. And now we go to a broadcast made directly by his lord majesty, Emperor Alden the Third”.
A brief moment of silence fell, and Sain just leaned forward, breath baited. He looked to Niall briefly, seeing his brother staring at the radio as well, though with a dark, and intent look on his face. Sain's attention snapped back to the radio though, as a new voice broke through the silence. A thick, gravely and masculine voice. Just hearing it sent shivers running down Sain’s spine.
“My people, my nation, my children. A short time ago, the scum of the west, under the banner of the U.F.N made a grievous mistake. They consorted with my enemy. The very people that have taken the lives of so many of your sons and daughters, your brothers and sisters, your fathers and mothers. They accepted the Kratsch into their fold and declared war on our great nation. They have insulted my right to rule and for this insult they will pay dearly. This is not a time for pretty words, but for swift and deliberate action, and I beseech you, my people, to support this new war wholeheartedly. To seek out and exterminate the weak men of the west wherever you may find them, wherever you may see them. To defend yourselves against them and their oppression. They seek to undermine our way of life and disrespect our very existence. So, my people, we shall remind our enemies of who we are. That we are a nation born of war. A people who revels in seeing our enemies scattered before us, who take enjoyment from the spoils of those we have conquered. So, we shall defeat and utterly destroy the U.F.N and remind the world that we are nothing short of Titans. ALL HAIL GESTONIA!!!” the man roared, causing Sain to wince at the loudness of it.
Regas cursed and moved forward, turning off the radio set even as cries of ‘Hail Gestonia’ broke out from nearby houses and pubs. He stomped away muttering before he just flopped down onto the couch, a look of anger on his face.
“For fucks sake. War, fucking war, that’s all this nation has ever known. I can’t even remember the last fucking time this nation was at fucking peace. I fought for half my fucking life and not a motherfucking thing has changed for the better. Your mother died fighting in one for fucks sake! If anything, shit has just gotten fucking worse. And now you will have to travel half the way around the world to fight in yet another meaningless and pathetic fucking war Niall” Regas practically spat, his rage rather real. Sain was shocked and he leaned back, eyes wide at the rage that was displayed by his father. He had rarely seen the man like that, and it frightened him. His wide-eyed gaze shot between both Regas and Niall as his brother stood and moved closer to Regas. After a few moments Niall spoke, and Sain watched him like a hawk.
“Look father, I knew what I was getting into when I enlisted. You knew the possibilities when you outlaid the money. I didn’t become a recruit to just sit in some political shit hole for some piece of shit desk job. I’ll do my duty as a soldier and do my best to stay alive, so you needn’t worry about me” answered Regas′ eldest son with a rather serious expression. He was meeting Regas′ anger with a cool and calm attitude and it seemed to work in assuaging some of Regas′ anger.
“I know you will son, I know you will” Regas stated softly as he seemed to deflate, accepting Niall’s words.
“But it’s never as simple as that. When it comes to war Niall, it doesn’t matter how good a soldier you are. Sometimes all it comes down to is how lucky you are” he muttered; a calloused hand being lifted to pinch at the bridge of his nose.
Unable to stand the room’s atmosphere any longer, Sain picked up the crystals he had deposited earlier and stood, before heading straight to his room, his mind blank and face expressionless. He pushed into his room, slamming his door as anger suddenly flared.
“I don’t want you to go Niall” he shouted out, and then just threw himself into his bed, face first into his pillow. He stayed like that a while, hearing a muffled conversation continue between his father and brother. But he understood none of it, as they kept their volume quite low. Huffing, Sain felt something press into his scalp, and he moved his hand to it, realizing it was his master's notebook.
With another huff, he just sat up in his bed, pressing his back into the wall. Producing the fire crystal, he again created a small flame, flipped open the notebook, and continued reading it. He was not going to sleep again tonight most likely.