Chapter 13:

One More Farewell

Gray Skies Below


Gazing wistfully out the window of his dormitory, Erebos Afkoran sat in solitude. In the Eastern Wing of the Capital Academy, Erebos was supposed to have had a roommate until the incoming class nearly halved in size. It was only logical to expect Rafdino and Torgemprino students to sneak off back to their nations, and over the last two months, half of the student body disappeared to their hometowns and villages.

It had only been two months since the end of his first academic year and the start of the Great War, but Erebos was far less affected than he would have expected. Other than the underpopulated school and heightened tension in the air, his second year at the Academy began without issues. Countless professors resigned, and the fewer students perfectly fit the number of classes. Some had gone to fight themselves, and many fourth and fifth-years joined the Capital Army as well.

Erebos would be content with saying this had little bearing on him if it wasn’t for the fact that he had kicked off the war in the first place, but thinking like that would only distract him from his studies. He had accelerated quickly through the first-year classes and earned a spot in third-year lectures, probably due to a combination of actual skill and a need to fill certain vacancies.

His formula for daily life deviated little from his first semester, merely reflecting his path from the West to East Wing. Far more of his time was spent studying and working than how much he got a week into his first year, giving little time to spend with his friends.

What little time he did share was with Jiron, Vanov, and Rumina, who all decided to stay in the Capital instead of escaping to their homelands. Erebos didn’t have much of a choice to go back, but Jiron said that he’d go with wherever Erebos decided. Vanov didn’t see too much value in his old life and made the decision to stay with his sister, while Rumina said that she was too invested in her education to return and didn’t have a clear home anyway.

One way or another, they had all decided to remain while their other friends and acquaintances disappeared around them. Most of Rumina’s friends had gone back to Rafda, leaving her to almost exclusively hang out with Erebos and Jiron. Since Erebos was handling his workload most of the time, it usually ended up with her and Jiron doing their own thing with Erebos joining every once in a while for lunch and whatnot.

He couldn’t tell who was worse off for the other, but at least they were getting along. It did make him a little sad to miss out on their time together, but he just couldn’t understand how either of them found enough time to do their work outside of class.

Erebos normally wouldn’t be sitting around like this either, but he had more time than usual. His current period of history was cancelled for the day, and since that was his last class, he didn’t have much else to do besides work and study. He was caught up with all of that for the first time in a while, however, so he found himself lazing about. He hadn’t even seen Jiron in a day or two, so after rationalizing that his work wouldn’t be impacted, he started on his quest to find Jiron and possibly Rumina or Vanov with him.

He checked the usual spots of the outdoor classroom next to the Northwest Wing and the refectory to no avail, wandered the central hall for a few loops, and finally resigned to return to the outdoor classroom and see if Jiron would happen to show up. On his way back, however, he happened to spot Jiron emerging from the East Wing and taking a right into the central hall. Catching up to his back, Erebos tapped him on the shoulder.

Erebos: “Hey, Jiron, I was thinking-”

Jiron: “Ah, Erebos! H-have you seen Rumina around anywhere? She never showed up…”

Interrupting Erebos and then trailing off, Jiron seemed particularly anxious when he turned around to face him. He was bordering on erratic, but Erebos didn’t have the words he was hoping for. He hadn’t seen her during his walk, and strangely enough, he also noticed that the rest of the fourth and fifth-years weren’t around.

Erebos: “Um, I don’t think I saw her, but I…”

It was hard to explain how Jiron’s expression sank from anxiety to sorrow with barely a single movement, but Erebos felt that he had said something far more distressing than its denotation.

Erebos: “I-I haven’t seen any fourth-years today, and one of my professors also called off. Maybe there’s something going on with all of them today she didn’t know about?”

That proposition did seem to call him for the moment, so Erebos decided to push through the confusion of the interaction and ask for the source of his agitation.

Erebos: “What’s up, anyway? You seem pretty erratic, or more than usual, at least.”

Jiron. “Ha, y-yeah. I guess I’m just a little nervous, ‘cause I had something pretty important to tell her today. It wasn’t really a planned meeting, just what we usually do, but still…”

Erebos was still a little confused as to why he was so nervous about that, but he figured the least he could do was spend his free time now helping to find her. Erebos didn’t like seeing Jiron so upset like this, so finding her was something pretty manageable to help that.

Erebos: “I’m pretty free right now, so how about we both go look for her? I haven’t hung out with either of you for a while, anyway.”

Jiron: “Huh, oh… yeah, I guess. Sure, let's go look for her.”

He sounded hesitant at first, but quickly came around and got his characteristic smile back. He clapped Erebos on the back and shoved him along, making their way towards the Northeast Wing. Passing through the central hall, Erebos noticed that once he started looking specifically for older students, there wasn’t a single one in sight. Once they made it to the wing itself, it was entirely abandoned except for a few people at the far end. It looked like a few students making their way to the end of the wing, so Erebos and Jiron decided to follow them.

The wing itself was eerily silent save for their echoing footsteps, so they hurried down and tried to catch up. Before Erebos and Jiron could get close enough to reasonably call the students’ attention, they slipped outside through the large door at the end of the wing. Once Erebos and Jiron finally reached the end, they pushed the door open themselves and peered out onto the scene outside.

The students they had been going after joined a large formation of students, presumably the missing fourth and fifth-years. The numbers certainly seemed to add up, and even the professor for Erebos’ history class could be seen among a line of other staff.

Erebos: “Maybe it’s just a guard drill, huh? I didn’t think that all the older students would be in it, though.”

Jiron: “They all got training, but… I don’t think anyone there looks too happy about whatever’s going on.”

Taking a closer look at their faces, Erebos noticed what Jiron was talking about. There was a mix of blank, worried, and outright fearful expressions scattered across the crowd. Some of the girls even seemed to be crying, so whatever was happening must have been pretty serious.

Jiron: “Keep quiet, there’s some guy down there giving an announcement.”

A voice quieted by the distance could be heard once they both hushed, and they both focused on the indistinct words. Erebos couldn’t make out all of it, but he heard enough to piece together the situation.

“...severe shortage… more combat artificers… conscription notice… deploying immediately.”

The announcement abruptly ended. Whatever murmurs in the crowd falling to a dead silence broken only by an occasional sob.

Jiron: “D-deployment… They’re all… getting deployed…?”

If how Jiron acted earlier was unusual, his current face was something only describable as foreign. His expression was that of absolute misery, complete shock, entirely shattered.

He turned back and started staggering down the wing. The distant voice shouted a dismissal as Erebos started to follow him, and he flashed one last glance towards the formation. Catching the gaze of one girl in particular, he saw a stoical visage with a lone tear.

***

Avoiding the returning crowd, Erebos retreated back into the wing. Jiron wasn’t too far down, so Erebos caught up quickly and started backpedaling in front of him. It was painful to see Jiron like this, so much so that Erebos was willing to act a little out of character to try and at least calm him down.

Erebos: “W-wait, don’t give up just yet! She’s not gone, and now it's even more important that you hurry and find her before they all leave!”

Jiron slowed down for a moment and cast his gaze upwards. Erebos hadn’t ever seen a look so pleading and desperate from Jiron, and all he could do was make a pitiful one in return.

Jiron: “I… don’t think I can. It would’ve been awkward enough already, but now… it’s just pointless.”

Erebos: “What did you even want to say…?

The idea of Jiron getting so upset over wanting to say something was pretty disconcerting, so it would at least help to know what he was going to tell her. That was Erebos’ idea, at least until Jiron’s gaze turned into a glare.

Jiron: “I told you, it’s pointless to even think about it. If I wanted to tell her something and then say that there’s no point anymore, just drop it.”

Lurching forward into a heavy walk, Jiron tried to step around Erebos but was blocked again. Some of the students had already made it through the doors into the wing, but Erebos was no longer paying attention to his surroundings.

Erebos: “I’m not going to accept that, and it's pretty obvious that you’re upset over not telling her. I don’t care if it's nerves or whatever, but you’re going to stay here and tell her.”

Jiron raised his eyebrows along with his scowl, and slowly shook his head.

Jiron: “It’s always “I” with you, isn’t it? Maybe try thinking about how I feel. You think I’m happy about storming off and arguing with you like this? But I already told you, there’s no point in telling her now.”

“Telling me what…?”

The bickering pair both jumped away slightly when they heard a voice directed at them from their side. Both of them had been too absorbed in their argument to notice that Rumina had slipped out from the crowd beside them. She bore the same stoic expression as Erebos saw before, but now she had a tinge of curiosity mixed in.

Rumina: “Sorry I didn’t say anything, but they had that thing going on outside. A bit of a bummer, huh? Especially because anyone who wanted to be a soldier already left. Guess they’re really scraping the barrel now.”

Her words bore the same frivolity as usual, but her tone was of complete dejection. She usually kept a pretty even temper, but even Erebos could see through to her despair.

Rumina: “Anyways, what was it that you wanted to say? Make it quick, cause it looks like they’re making all of us move out tomorrow morning. This’ll probably be the last chance to say goodbyes.”

Flicking her gaze between Erebos and Jiron, Rumina waited for them to elaborate on their previous discussion. Erebos and Jiron, however, merely looked between each other as well, not wanting to rekindle the dispute.

Jiron: “It was about tomorrow, so it doesn’t really matter anymore. So, I guess that’s it. See you again sometime.”

Cutting his farewell short and brusque, Jiron turned and slipped into the passing crowd. Erebos and Rumina didn’t have time to react before his figure disappeared amongst the taller fourth and fifth-years, and they could only longingly look into the direction he had disappeared.

***

Knocking on the door of Jiron’s dormitory, Erebos waited for a response. He put his ear against the door, listening for a hint of his presence. There wasn’t any reply last night, so Erebos figured he would wait until morning and try again. It was the weekend starting today, and he was ready to cast away any work time to get to the bottom of this.

The thought of Rumina leaving without a proper goodbye was heartbreaking, an almost unthinkable outcome which Erebos wasn’t ready to accept. It didn’t matter if his desire for Jiron to snap out of his stupor was selfish or not.

He was ready to keep knocking, but before he could continue he heard a click from the other side. The door swung inwards and revealed a somewhat disheveled boy, but rather than bearing the same defeated look as the day before, he looked far more embarrassed.

Jiron: “Oh… Hey. I was just about to find you and talk about yesterday. I’m sorry that I got a little worked up without explaining anything, and I don’t want us to keep arguing.”

He spoke softly and stepped aside, waving Erebos to enter the dorm. They both sat down on his bed in an awkward silence, finally broken by Jiron’s continued apology.

Jiron: “I just didn’t think anyone would have to leave so suddenly, against their will at that. If it’s not too late, I’d like to see if we can find her. I think I’d be able to say what I wanted to.”

Erebos: “I’m not sure when they’re leaving, but clean yourself up. If we hurry, we’ll at least be able to say we tried.”

Jiron smirked a little at this statement and stood up, grabbing the rest of his uniform and matting down his messy hair. They were out of the door in minutes and almost jogging down the wing, determined to make it to wherever the upperclassmen would be departing. Heading down the Northeast Wing to where the announcement was given yesterday was their first choice.

A sudden voice interrupted their advance, however, echoing through the sparsely populated halls. It was a voice broadcast that could be sent through the whole Academy with some clever artificery, but the usual voice of the Headmaster’s secretary giving announcements was absent. Instead, a voice resembling the one that gave yesterday’s announcement boomed overhead.

“Attention all second and third-year students. Along with the conscription notice of your upperclassmen, an order to attend basic combat artificery classes has been initiated. Remain in your dormitories until a staff member has delivered a bulletin detailing your revised schedules.”

Ending as abruptly as it started, the voice died down in an echo. The students around them complained and groaned about the instructions but started sauntering to their dorms. Erebos and Jiron merely looked one another in the eye, both expressing dismay and defeat.

But something about Jiron’s expression, almost saying, “It’s all right, we tried,” was too much for Erebos to take. Getting halted in their final chance to see Rumina off wasn’t all right. Erebos had said long ago to the Headmaster that he didn’t want to be involved in the fighting, so getting trained for it wasn’t all right. A sudden heat burned in Erebos’ chest, and he felt compelled to grab Jiron’s hand and keep marching off to their destination.

As Jiron started to turn and head back, Erebos did just that. Rather than act surprised, Jiron broke into a smile and quickly rebounded, catching up to Erebos and bumping him on the shoulder.

Jiron: “I thought you would’ve turned back, but if we’ve got a mission, we’ll follow through, eh?

The first cheerful expression Jiron had worn since before yesterday was enough to convince Erebos he was making an important decision. Jiron didn’t even know about the extra dimension of Erebos’ recalcitrance at being made to train for combat. Those details weren’t important anyway, for at the moment, they both disregarded their justifications. They had one objective in mind, and they wouldn’t let that new order stop them.

And if it was being stopped that worried them, they needn’t be concerned. The Northeast Wing was entirely abandoned, which was worrisome considering they were looking for someone. They set their path towards the door at the end, hoping that they were just gathered outside as yesterday. But as they made it to the end and opened the door enough to peek through, they only saw a trail of caravans taking off and a long formation of students, now soldiers, marching alongside.

This was perhaps an important formative moment for Erebos. Logically, one would resign their goal as too far off and past its achievable deadline. Rumina was somewhere in that formation, and intruding upon it would be unacceptable and probably grounds for punishment. There wasn’t much they could do at this point.

If Erebos was strictly operating by logic, however, he wouldn’t have made it to this point. Looking at the receding contingent, Erebos took hold of the heat in his chest and pushed through to the other side of the door.

Erebos: “I didn’t come to the Capital to be a soldier, and I didn’t come to see a friend leave as one either. This might be a ridiculous, stupid, illogical, irrational decision, but if you want to follow that caravan, I’ll do it with you.”

What was he saying? Stupid, irrational, whatever words he could think of couldn’t embrace the absolute foolishness of that decision. He had responsibilities to his education here, as well as a responsibility to the Headmaster. But thinking of the latter only stoked the heat of his defiance to the new order.

Jiron: “It’s like… you're an entirely new person, and I couldn’t ask for more. We came here to be artificers, not to attend some military school, right? We’ll come back once they decide to give us a proper education!”

That irresistible grin spread across his face once more, and Erebos lost the ability to retract his offer. The time to think of his idiocy was later, for at the moment, they had to figure out how exactly they would follow the procession.

Jiron looked around atop the staircase they had yet to descend, noticing something off to the right side. He scrambled down the steps and approached a few canopies suspended over the ground. They looked to be covering a few student gardens, but Jiron paid them no attention and ripped one down. He draped the large fluxcloth over himself and held up one side, beckoning Erebos to come over and join him.

Jiron: “It’s a shame to steal it, but they shouldn’t be able to spot us if we stay far enough away from their lights. It’ll eat up any natural starlight on us and I’ll be able to keep our distance, but you’ll have to be my eyes for where we’re walking.”

That sounded like a good enough plan, so Erebos ducked under the fluxcloth and made sure it covered enough of them.

Erebos: “What’ll we do for food?”

Jiron: “I kinda hoped for this, so I brought my coin pouch for when we pass any markets or inns. We can probably steal from the caravan if we run out.”

Erebos: “What about clothes and baths?”

Jiron: “Not important. We’ll steal new pairs and have to go without them for a bit.”

Erebos: “Are you entirely prepared for this to be a mistake?”

Jiron: “Absolutely.”

And with that short exchange, they hardened their resolve and set off towards the periphery of the formation. One traveler wasn’t quite sure why he had gone along with this irrationality, but the other was certain of only one thing. The gentle ticking in his pocket coincided with the beat of his heart. As long as he followed those, he wouldn’t be misled.

Glitch
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