Kyle leaned around the corner to see who was talking to his father, "Alli, Kyle does not even know that the form you take is to make him feel better than having a mother that looks eight or ten depending on how you look at you." Kyle saw the woman as his father called her his mother's name.
"I know, and we have to tell him everything before he leaves so that he can figure out if he belongs with the other fools or not." Kyle stared at her, seeing that it was his mother, he whipped back around the corner. Kyle's heart racing at the sight of what his mother looked like. "Besides, you know my nickname?"
"Yeah, Alli, the Ancient." Kyle froze when his father said the words. Time slowed around him; Kyle's mind raced to try to make sense of what his parent was saying. "Anyway, Kito made his report a while ago."
Kyle finches hearing his brother's name. "What did he report?"
Gotama shifted himself to one side. "Demora is getting some forces ready to strike the southern kingdoms, and that he suspects a traitor."
"Does he suspect…"
Gotama shook his head, "No, he does not suspect him besides he changed his name before entering their ranks eight years ago."
Alli grabbed his sleeve. "Did Kito ever tell you his alias?"
Gotama shook his head. "No, I don't even know what he looks like now. All I know is that he is doing everything to help us, and I hope he is never found."
Kyle gripped his heart, "Brother…" Kyle's words were soft as he whispered, so his parents did not hear him. He got up and headed back to his room.
Kyle sat down on his bed, waiting for his parents to finish talking. He looked over to his photo and saw a note underneath. He picked the letter up and opened it.
/Dear little brother, /
Kyle's eyes widened as he read the first line, it was from his brother. He looked around, seeing if he could find him hiding in his room. Kyle did not see any signs, then turned back to the note.
/Dear little brother, /
/I heard that you are going to the academy to join the army, well I hope for the best even if I am wholeheartedly against it myself. Alas, I am unable to stop you from going, but I hope we can meet up while your there. Well, I hope to be your instructor. I am going to pull some strings in my end to do so, yet you might not know who I am at first. You will figure it out very quickly. /
/Do you remember that little game of ours, the one with the secret phrases we had? If you hear anyone say them say something like "happy to serve Master Lin," and if the response is… "Very well, little feather," it's me. Just don't tell mom or dad my new name that I took up. They would kill me if they found out all that I have done. Well, that's all for our little interaction. Hope to see you soon. /
/Your loving, Big brother, Kito/
Kyle smiled as he read the note and felt proud that he was going to see his brother.
The day came when Kyle left with the soldiers to take him to the academy. He looked over at his parents seeing his mother trying to hide her fears and his father squeezing her close. Kyle heard the click of the reins as they began to move. He noticed the boy Lovell staring at him from the crowd, Kyle says that Lovell was angry and yet somehow it made Kyle wonder if he would ever see him again.
He looked over to see the other children cower in fear as they watched their loved ones sent them off. They were older than him by a year or two than him. An uneasy feeling dwelled in the pit of his stomach, as his own fears began to settle in.
The gate to the academy screeched open, causing many of the children to cover their ears a line of soldiers greeted them. One soldier caught his eye, he wore a different uniform room the others, and had a bow on his back, with a rapier at his side. The carriage stopped, and the soldiers ordered them out. Kyle watched as they pulled the others as they screamed to go back home. Dragging them one by one out. Once they reached Kyle, he got up without a fuss. The men were surprised as he glared at them. The men smiled at him.
"You'll fit right in the young man." Kyle ignored the soldier as he lined up with the others.
One of the other soldiers then called for their attention, "Alright newbies, this is your new home till you graduate so—" the soldier stopped short as the odd soldier walked forward. "Councilor Vail?"
Kyle stared at Vail, his face stiff as he looked at the others, "So, this is the new crop, all seem scared, but you have nothing to fear as you will find, you will find kinship and the trials that we, the faremin people must face, to protect the world," the words felt fake and real as if Vail did not believe his own words. Kyle noticed he was glancing towards him. "from the tyranny of the goddess that we hunt. As she is the one who betrayed the world. A God that does nothing but sit on her throne…" Vail continued as the others gained confidence that they were in the right place.
They were then led to their dorms, Kyle ended up with no roommate as he settled in. Moments later, a knock at his door caught his attention, the door opened, and Vail entered his room, Kyle attempted a salute, but Vail cautioned him to stop.
Kyle let confused, and Vail stared at him with a smile. "State your purpose, apprentice wind?"
Kyle recognized the phrase, "happy to serve, Master Lin."
Vail's smile grew, "Very well, Little feather."