New Dawn

"Are you sure?" Aeneas sighed. "I don't know. I don't see what good that will do you."

"Please." Kaleia said. "I don't know how to raise him." She shook her head, then looked up at him. "I...I'm trusting you, Eni."

"You need to be stricter with that boy." Aeneas said, shaking his head. "He may be from the otherworld, and who knows, maybe he lived longer than his behavior might suggest, but he's still your son. If he can't even recognize and respect you to-"

"Eni."

"Kali, please."

"If he really is a Celestial Hero, then he's probably already had an identity long before. I don't think it's fair for me to try and interfere with that, right?" Kaleia smiled sadly. "It's ok Eni. I...I'm used to standing on the sidelines so...train him well for me. Please." Kaleia leaned forward and grabbed Aeneas's hands.

"Alright." Aeneas looked down at her hands. "You know I can't say no to that. But...just promise me one thing."

"Yeah?"

"Don't let him go around calling himself the Celestial Hero. You know what they do to false claimants, right?"

"I promise you, I can take care of that much."

"Good. That's...all I need to say then, perhaps." Aeneas began to walk back. "Hey...Kali." He stopped to turn around. "You know-" Aeneas looked around nervously, biting his lip. "That day, in the Blue Valley, when Ely confessed to you...what did he say, exactly?"

"Huh?" Kaleia stepped back, surprised. "What...why is that...relevant?" A warm blush appeared on her cheeks.

"Nevermind." Aeneas turned away, hiding his own blush as he turned away. As the gentle footsteps amidst the snowy road crunched under his feet, Aeneas turned to the great palace that could be seen from a distance. "Alright Ely," He said, "this one's for you as well."

~~*~~

Clunk!

Asta swung his wooden blade at the dummy. The sword bounced off of the dummy's chest.

"Wrong angle!" Aeneas shouted as he walked towards Asta. "Iwen, what did I tell you about the armored parts?" He pointed to the dummy. "Dark brown is the armored parts, the padded light brown is the flesh!" He gently gripped the sword and helped Asta swing the sword in the right direction. "Like that. You get it?"

"Yes sir." Asta nodded. It had seemed like a skill that could come in handy someday, so he hadn't been acting up as of late. Partially borne of guilt, and partially born of pragmatism, he had been trying his best to please both Kaleia and Aeneas.

Thwack!

Asta watched as Eliza's own blade impacted the target right on course. It had been a few days, but Eliza wasn't performing all that badly either. He got up, and aimed right at the soft spot.

Thwack!

The atmosphere had noticeably changed since the his outburst days earlier. Guilt welled up in Asta, but he spent it all firing it at the poor dummy that lay in front of him.

Thwack!

"Iwen." Aeneas walked over. "You doing okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Asta looked down at the ground. "It's just...I feel like I've forgotten something that I really shouldn't have. Someone, even."

"Might that be your own mother?"

"I...no, but I suppose I should apologize to her. She's not too upset, is she?"

"She is your mother, Iwen! Ask her yourself!" Asta bit his lip, then tightened himself as he took another swing. He missed, and spun around, almost hitting Aeneas in the process.

"Whoa! Alright, alright. No." He grabbed Asta and pulled him over to the side. "Anger and grief can be a good source of fuel in a fight. Trust me, I've been there, and I won't say you need to dull yourself in a fight. Anger or grief can be what pushes you to victory." Aeneas gave the boy a slight smile. "Negative emotions give you strength, they give you the power to attack harder. But they can also decrease your battlefield instincts and sense of logic. If your feelings will be an impediment, it's best for us to deal with it. So, you're going to tell me. What is it that's troubling you?"

"A lot of things, I guess."

"Like?"

"I...suppose mom is one of them." Asta looked down. "And...also my sisters."

"Well, Eliza seems to be fine. Who's the other sisters then?"

"I..." Asta pulled out his hand and showed it to Aeneas.

"She's here. She's in this world. That's what the goddess told me. Her name was Sylbia-"

"Goddess?" Aeneas exhaled. "Oh boy, I recognize why Kaleia said this was beyond her paygrade. I...I can't really help with deities either. And to be honest, even if your 'Sylbia' were still here, I'm not totally certain she would still be going by that name, or even be born in the city, let alone the continent. But...I know what it's like to forget about a loved one, yes."

"What...what do you do?" After a brief moment of solitude, Asta asked Aeneas.

"Lots of things. Think about happy times. The adventures you went on. The things you did together. The hobbies they enjoyed, their quirks, and their dreams. It's been years since I saw my friend, but as long as I remember all the adventures I went on with him, I almost feel as if he's still next to me. I...think your mother does the same." Aeneas smiled, and looked down sadly. "So close, yet so far. Damn that Claudia..."

"If I become king...I could find him for you." Asta said.

"No, you're not becoming a king. The throne is hell, Iwen. Hell. It's not worth a single tear of the boys who were chained to it and forced to become monsters or puppets." Aeneas closed his eyes. "Not a drop."

"I think I could be different."

"That's what they all say." Aeneas looked down. "That's what he said." After a brief moment of silence, Aeneas asked Asta a question. "So...by the way, was the country you lived in...before, a monarchy?"

"Huh? I think so, it's kind of complicated. There was a great overarching kingdom, but the state I grew up in was a republic..."

"Well doesn't that sound like a mess?" Aeneas stood up. "You're going to have to tell me more about home sometime. In the meantime then," he pointed at the wooden dummy, "let's let that poor dummy walk away with some bruises, shall we?"

~~*~~

Much like the two twins, Asta and Eliza had noticed Jason and Hanna, another sibling duo, hang around the training groups as they had trained. Eliza had befriended the duo already, and their happy chatter soon sounded into Asta's ears.

"Hanna, Jason! You should meet my brother, Iwen!" Asta sighed internally as he met the pair.

"Hey!" The annoying looking boy walked up to him. "You're Iwen, right? I'm Jason, nice to meet you." Jason stuck out his hand for a handshake, which Asta reluctantly took. "Jason Thame. It's nice to meet you."

"Uh, pleasure." Asta shook Jason's hand. "I'm...I suppose I am Iwen."

"Anyways, I'm Hanna. I'm Jason's little sister, just like Eliza is with you." Hanna gave Asta and Eliza, but mostly Asta, a twirl. "Pleasured to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." Something about Hanna's smile put Asta at ease, and he figured he may as well humor the pair. "So...are you two...also training at the garrison?"

"Pretty much." Jason said.

"Is that grumpy looking man your teacher?" Hanna asked.

"Aeneas? Yeah, he's our teacher! He's really cool." Eliza said politely.

"Hanna..." Jason chided."I'm sure he's a great man. Hanna is just a bit of a kid." Jason grabbed Hanna and rubbed her head. "I'm trying to fight in the old style, just like old cadre of Valor Company did." Jason gave the two a proud smile.

"If you really want to fight like the old cadre, the professor said you should learn from our house guards back home though." Hanna said, with a pout as she slipped out of Jason's grasp. "I miss home..." Jason laughed.

"I'm sorry, Hanna's country bumpkin is starting to show." Jason grabbed Hanna and ran his fingers across Hanna's hair again. "You little rascal!"

"Hey!" Hanna said, pulling herself away from Jason. "It's rude to touch a lady's hair like that! It's all messed up..."

"Hanna, of all the things to call you, you are anything but a lady, you brat." Jason stuck out his tongue and teased Hanna.

It was the way these two acted. Something about it was familiar. Something about it felt the way it should be. Something that he had done with Sylbia, and not poor Eliza.

To be an actual brother.

"We're from the County of Bernice. Erm, I'm going to be the Earl of Bernice someday." Jason said, turning back to Asta and Eliza. "That's where the ruins of the old capital are, if you've ever visited."

"No...can't say I have. I don't know much about the hinterlands, sadly." Asta said.

"Oh! Well, you can find us in Bernice, if you ever get curious. We'll be in the capital for 3 years for study. Uh..."

Asta and Eliza turned around and looked at Aeneas, who were looking at the kids with a smile.

"Oh, don't mind me children. I'm just making sure these two are safe." Aeneas grinned, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Go on. Friends are always nice to have."

"We were just about done sir. Are...are you good at fighting?" Jason awkwardly asked.

"Want me to teach you a little something as well? Well, I don't see why not. I'm training Iwen and Eliza tomorrow at the same time, so if you want to come by, you're free to do so." Aeneas looked over at Hanna and Jason. "Yeah, you're free to do so."

"Alright, I'll see you around then sir! Eliza, Iwen, I'll see you tomorrow." Jason excitedly smiled, and hopped off.

"I'll see everyone tomorrow too then." Hanna ran after Jason. Aeneas chuckled again.

"Like old times..." he muttered. Though it was brief, Asta caught Aeneas gazing at the palace again. "Welp, I suppose I should bring you home around now. I'm sure your mother has made something delicious for you two." Iwen gazed off into the sun, which was starting to set.

"Yeah, I suppose so. Are you dropping by for dinner?"

"Wasn't planning to, but thanks for the invitation kid." Aeneas grinned. "I'll take it."