What does it take for man to see others? What releases one from their narrow path, and onto the long and infinite tangle that is kinship?

What drives them to broaden their horizon, to open their arms and hearts to the world?

-excerpt from Iadaelus’ Journals.

“So why put it on a stick?” Enix asked. He sat next to >&@#$%<, who was testing a strange weapon. It was a spear but with a triangular sharp piece of iron. He had called it a pilum.

“The stick gives me a range I am much more comfortable with. Plus, I can throw it. It’s designed to pierce better through armor. Nothing of those stone creatures you talked about, but it's what I’m comfortable with.”

&#+$ rolled her eyes, having sat before them, tying her bowstring.

Over the past few days, they have taught him many things. They have shared their basic education with him, teaching him things such as their increments of time. Sun cycles were days, they told Enix. He has learned about hours, days, weeks, months, and years. He has learned how to use and fill out their maps and properly navigate using stars.

Now, he was learning about their weapons.

“If you ask me, I still prefer these. Or,” She pulled out what she had called a plembata, a small iron-weighted dart, “these. They do a better job at a distance.”

“You haven’t seen the bigger things around.” >&@#$%< said before turning to Enix. “How about you? Which do you prefer?”

Enix thought about it for a moment.

“I think I prefer my hands. I used a stone weapon for a while, but it wasn’t effective against anything I've had to deal with. Ended up breaking after a bit.”

It was quiet for longer than Enix was comfortable, and he looked up to see them both staring at him.

“What?”

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“Enix, who were you with?”

“What do you mean?”

“None of our people recognize you; you have these weird abilities. Where did you come from? Are there more people like you?”

“No,” Enix answered. “It’s just me.”

“Then how were you able to survive so long?”

Enix hesitated to answer. “Well… I had some help.” Enix stepped outside their tent, crouching down and digging a bit before rhythmically thumping his fist into the ground.

“Hey, I’m not sure that’s-” Enix shushed &#+$ from talking as he felt the ground tremble slightly. Ingot was timid and did not show itself entirely, but it poked his head out, moving Enix’s fist up as the boy rubbed his companion’s head.

“Time to go, bud. Don’t want the others to get nervous around you.” Enix knocked on Ingot’s face plate, which retreated into the ground. Enix turned to look at &#+$ and >&@#$%<, who both stared while holding each other. They stood silent until >&@#$%< huffed out a laugh.

“You continue to amaze me.” >&@#$%< slapped a hand on Enix’s shoulder. Enix only shrugged, feeling the heat rising to his face.

“You must have been pretty lonely,” &#+$ said.

“Well, Ingot was good company.”

“He does seem like a good conversationalist. Are you hungry?”

“Starving!”

“Good.” They led Enix to a different hut, introduced him to the rest of their squad, and gave him some food. They then took him outside, sitting down as they shared their plates, conversing about the food and laughing at Enix’s reactions.

“-And it wasn’t that bad, surviving with just him. But then I landed in the Foundry and met Vice-” Enix showed his metallic wristband, “-and I was stuck there for a while. Someone named Ghiri began to test me. He fought me and won. Then he put me somewhere dark for a while, trying to get me to escape.”

Enix watched their faces. >&@#$%< was quiet, looking at &#+$, who herself looked ill before she spoke up.

“... I saw something like that. I fell into a strange place. It was dark, and I was separated from our group. I saw someone, kind of like who you described, but she just told me to help someone.”

&#+$’s eyes were unfocused as she went quiet.

“Let’s talk about something else.” >&@#$%< chimed in as her face grew paler, leaning forward, stopping her from continuing.

Enix had a flash of clarity then. They had saved him from the Gryphons; he had only seen them as one thing since then. They were older than him, by how much he didn’t know. To Enix, these were warriors, fighters, and adventurers.

Yet, at this moment, with &#+$ sitting there and sharing an experience that shook her very foundations, Enix voiced his realization.

“You’re like me,” he whispered as &#+$ and >&@#$%< looked at him. “You went through a lot. You’re…” Enix didn’t finish, but the word lingered in his mind.

Kids.

“We’re angry.” >&@#$%< kept his gaze down. “We lost a lot of people, and we need to fight back. We need to gain as much strength as we can.”

>&@#$%< stood, hefting his now-finished spear and leaving their tent. &#+$ followed him after giving Enix an uneasy smile.

Enix stayed for a bit, watching the two walk away.

Now, you have mine.