Recollection

Tiria

Over the next three weeks, Tiria settled into an interim administration while investigations into the former officials continued.

Mico, Hank, and Harold remained imprisoned beneath the capital as the Crown Warden investigated how much they had known about the specialized operatives.

Warui kept training and Malia continued observing him.

With enough concentration, he could now call the dark red blade directly into his hand.

Usually.

Once, the weapon had appeared in open space nearly a meter from him, followed immediately by Warui losing consciousness. No one had been able to determine what he’d done differently.

The longer the blade remained manifested, and the harder Warui pushed himself while using it, the greater the toll became.

Memory.

Consciousness.

In the worst recorded case, Warui lost an entire day. The blade always vanished the moment he lost consciousness, and that, at least, remained consistent.

Commander Lionel Dirk and the interim administration also reached a decision regarding Mercer: for the duration of the Callineth reconnaissance mission, Duncan Mercer would be stripped of command.

When the squad returned, his authority to order deployments beyond Tiria’s borders would be stripped indefinitely.

The Callineth mission was reconnaissance, not occupation. They went without uniforms or rifles, each soldier carrying only a concealed dagger and flintlock handgun.

Then they left Tiria.

One Day West of Valeria City

“Emmerson?” Warui looked toward Nash as the six of them walked along the dirt path. “I’ve heard that name before.”

Nash scratched his cheek. “Yeah, well... my parents own a lot of property in Seria.”

“So why join the military if they’re well off?”

“Be—”

“Because Sarah joined,” Yuri said. “And he always follows my little sister.”

"What? That isn’t close to my reason."

"Too bad he got stationed in Seria while Sarah’s in Valeria," Yuri added.

Nash clicked his tongue. “She’s the one missing out…” Then, to Chena, “So, how long has your hair been brown?”

Kiel muttered behind him. “What a strange question.”

“All my life,” Chena answered.

Nash nodded seriously. “It’s really cool how it only looks noticeably brown in sunlight.”

Warui looked at him. “Were you really staring that hard?”

“No, I’m aware of my surroundings—”

“Hey!” Yuri cut off Nash. “I didn’t bring you here to flirt.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“So, Squad Leader—”

“Just say Yuri.”

“Okay.” Khyrie looked farther down the path. “If people are occupying what’s left of Callineth, what’s your plan?”

“I really wish the commander hadn’t left that up to me.” Yuri considered it for a moment. “…Maybe we blend in.”

Nash pointed between Khyrie and Kiel. “That ain’t working... these two scream soldier.”

“It’s called training,” Kiel said.

“I can tell Chena trains—”

“Why is she your example?” Warui asked before he could finish.

Nash glanced at Warui, then back toward Kiel and Khyrie. “But she doesn’t scream soldier.”

“What do you think Chena’s good at?”

"Swordsmanship," Nash answered Khyrie.

She winced. “Err… she’s better with a gun.”

The argument spiraled from there, Kiel correcting Nash, Yuri correcting Kiel, Nash defending himself, and Khyrie somehow making the whole thing worse.

Warui let the voices drift behind him.

Chena stepped closer. “Are you nervous?”

"I’m holding up. I just… don’t know how I’ll feel if I see Callineth occupied."

"It’s not like you can control whether it is or isn’t." Chena was quiet for a moment. “…We’ll get our home back.”

He didn’t answer.

From behind them, Nash raised his voice. “It’s a little unfair that he has a weapon that’s more than concealed.” When no one answered, he called again, “Hey, you hear me?”

No response.

“Let me hold your handgun.”

“We’re…” Chena's voice changed. “We’re almost there.”

Seeing Warui and Chena stop brought Yuri, Khyrie, Kiel, and Nash to a halt as well.

Warui took in the field ahead, sparse trees breaking up the open grass and the land rolling gently beyond them.

Chena’s hand slowly rose to the square pendant at her chest. “This is where Warui and I picked apples for our…” Her eyes dampened. “Our parents.”

Warui came alongside her, meeting her eyes with a quiet nod. Chena wiped her face with her arm. “Mm.”

Fifteen minutes later

The squad made their way through the field. Yuri took in the open grass around them with a faint smile. “What a relaxing place. I’d definitely nap out here all the time.”

“We did that a lot,” Warui said quietly.

“I wish River were here to see this.” Chena’s attention caught on the trees ahead, slowing her pace. “…Warui.”

He followed her attention.

“…That tree.”

He saw them.

Not fully.

Not really.

Shapes beneath the branches.

Faint.

Almost transparent.

“Warui.”

He turned his head. “Huh?”

Chena stood beneath the tree with a woven basket full of apples.

Her silver necklace rested against her clothes.

“I’m telling your mom you didn’t even help me pick any.”

“Wait, no.” Warui reached toward the branch above him. “I can get one right now.”

“I’ve got enough.”

The image faded.

The tree remained.

Warui stopped at the sight of it, Chena beside him. Neither spoke as the others continued ahead.

Kiel looked back. “How close are we?”

Warui forced himself onward. “Once we get around this hill…”

The rise filled the path ahead.

“It’ll be… Callineth should be there.”

Twenty-five minutes later

Beyond the hill, tents and four small cabins stood among the ruined buildings. People moved between them while smoke drifted from scattered fires.

“This is your hometown?” Nash asked.

“Yeah…” Chena’s answer barely registered with Warui.

“That’s Callineth…”

Nash took in the ruins. “Shit. I read about it back then, but this…” His words trailed off. “What hit it?”

Yuri studied the settlement. “Those people must be squatters. Try not to stand out.” The others listened closely. “We'll act like we’re passing through and need shelter for a few days.”

A child in the distance stopped at the sight of them. “Hey!”

An older woman turned behind him. “What is it, dear?”

“There’s people, Grandma!”

The child waved. “Where are you all coming from?!”

Yuri lifted a hand. “Hi! We’re coming from Tiria!”

The boy tilted his head. “I’ve never heard of that country!”

“It’s over a day’s travel from here!”

“Oh.” He brightened. “Well, if you need a break, feel free to settle down here with us for a bit!”

“I think we’ll take that offer!” Yuri said.

“Come on!” The boy jogged ahead.

“Be ready.”

Nash looked at Kiel quickly. "Ready for what? To shoot a little boy?"

“We’re not shooting anybody unless we absolutely have to,” Yuri warned.

“That’s almost a yes.”

“Sarah would think you’re being a wimp.” Yuri bumped Nash hard enough to throw him half a step off balance. “Focus on the mission.”

Five minutes later

They settled onto logs around the campfire while the boy passed wooden cups around the circle. “The water’s fresh from the well.”

Yuri took a sip. “We appreciate it.”

The boy sat down. “So where are you guys headed?”

“Back to Haryun.”

He studied their faces one by one, lingering on the shape of their eyes and their complexions before pointing toward Warui, Chena, and Yuri. “Only you three look like you’re from Haryun.”

Nash scratched the back of his neck, but Yuri answered before he could say anything. “Khyrie, Kiel, and Nash are friends of ours from Tiria. They’ve always wanted to see Haryun, so we’re taking them there.”

"Oh, okay." After a brief pause, he added, "I’ve heard the waters in Haryun are really pristine. Especially along the Jade Coast and the Keshin Peninsula."

“Yeah, it’s really beautiful—” Yuri caught herself. “Actually, I’m Yuri. This is Warui, and that’s Chena.”

Khyrie leaned forward. “What’s your name, kid?”

“Micah.” He smiled. “It’s nice to meet you all.”

“Nice to meet you,” they answered.

“So, Micah…” Khyrie gestured toward the ruins around them. “What happened here? The state of these buildings is a little alarming.”

“Oh. Yeah.” Micah gave a quick laugh. “Everyone living here is from Orienne.”

“The Kingdom of Orienne?” Kiel jumped in. “Why are you here? For how lo—”

Khyrie nudged him before he could finish.

Kiel stopped himself. “Sorry. I got ahead of myself.”

Micah laughed it off. “No, I’m sure anyone would ask.”

The fire crackled between them. “About two years ago, Orienne became harder to live in. Food prices went up, and my grandma said the tax collectors started pushing people harder.” His tone grew quieter. “I don’t really know why.”

Warui listened closely.

“Some adults, like my grandma, decided to leave. We traveled east for days until we found this place.” Micah smiled again.

“Wow, that’s—”

“A while,” Warui cut in before Yuri could finish.

Micah looked toward Warui. “Hm?”

“You’ve been here a while.”

“Yeah.” Micah’s smile lingered. “It’s such a nice place to be.”

Warui stayed quiet.

“Orienne is nice too, but here we can actually grow our own grain and raise our own animals.”

“That’s nice, Micah,” Chena said softly.

Micah looked between them. “How have you not passed through here if you’re heading west?”

Yuri froze.

“Wouldn’t you have had to leave Haryun and then go back?”

Yuri recovered quickly, pointing between herself, Warui, and Chena. “The three of us are from Haryun, but we’ve lived in Tiria for the last five years.”

“Micah!” His grandmother called from across the camp. “Come here. Let the people rest.”

Yuri raised a hand. “Micah isn’t bothering us at all.”

"You folks shouldn’t have an eight-year-old asking so many questions after all that walking."

"Yuri said they aren’t bothered.”

"Just come here. You can show them around later."

“Fine.” Micah got to his feet.

“Bye, Micah. We’ll see you later,” Chena said.

“Yeah. See you later,” Khyrie added.

“Mhm.” Micah grinned and headed back across the camp.

Kiel leaned closer to the group. “Let’s take a look around ourselves.”

Nash blinked at him in disbelief. “Isn’t this enough information already? We could leave now.”

Yuri went to elbow his oblique, but hit his elbow instead. “Ow. Shit.”

Nash jerked back. “Ahh, what the hell?”

Yuri rubbed her elbow. "You were talking too loudly.

"We can’t just leave. We told them we’re heading west to Haryun, and they’re from Orienne. We'll stay a few days and make sure these are really all the people here...

“Maybe they have soldiers. Some kind of protective force.”

Chena looked toward Kiel. “Why’d you suddenly ask so many questions?”

“I wanted to know how they ended up here.”

"I told you, he screams soldier," Nash whispered. "At least Khyrie comes across all bubbly and cute when she talks."

Kiel pointed straight at Nash’s face. “Don’t repeat that—”

“Shut up already,” Yuri whispered.

That finally silenced them.

“We’re not in a rush.”

Underground Prison, The Capital City of Tiria

River and Sarah descended the stairs. Sarah noticed the tremor running through him. “Why are you shaking like that?”

“He’s going to chew us out.”

“You know…” Sarah considered it. “I’d be scared too, but he’s behind bars. And maybe he’s assigning us to some kind of special squad. He did ask Malia to send us down here.”

River shook his head. “Why else would Captain Zay ask that? We're not being assigned to a special squad.”

Sarah stopped near the bottom. “Take a breather before we walk into the hall.”

River drew in a deep breath, let it out, and kept walking with Sarah.

Zay sat on the floor of his cell with his back against the wall.

River stopped in front of the bars. “Y—yes, Captain?”

Zay looked toward him. "I’m not going to chew you out. Relax."

Sarah leaned toward him. “See?”

“You guys did well proving our innocence.” Zay looked between them. “…And getting me in here.”

“We’re sorry about your friends… I just—”

“Don’t explain yourself.” Nothing in Zay’s demeanor shifted.

River’s apology died there.

“I question Commander Mercer often.” Zay knocked the back of his head against the wall twice. “Before you two joined, the bastard put us through a lot of shit... Avelorn was the cherry on top of that pile of shit.

"And look at him now... being punished for that stunt."

“Sorry, Captain… why’d we change the subject?” Sarah asked reluctantly.

“Because...

“The squad wasn’t sure whether they wanted to keep following me.”

Zay watched both of them. “…You guys think you were right?”

“I…” The words failed him. “I’m not sure.”

Sarah said nothing.

“I don’t either.” Zay's hand tightened slightly. “I’m only…”

The prison faded.

Thuds above the foster home.

Everyone looked up.

The assassin stopped screaming.

“Ela. Lio.”

Ela nodded, grabbed Warui, then ran.

The street.

Ela on the ground.

The hollow wound through her skull.

Lio pinned against the building.

Five clear needles.

One through his head.

Zay lowered his head.

“…Facing consequences.”

River and Sarah stood silently outside the bars.

Callineth

“Warui.”

He barely seemed to hear her, caught by how familiar the stones around the well still looked.

Almost the same.

“Warui.”

He finally pulled himself back to Chena. “What?”

“Micah is showing us around now.”

“Right.” The moment at the well passed. “Let’s go…”

GKI: Generally Known Information

Callineth

Established as an agricultural road town rather than a fortified settlement. Its population consisted largely of descendants of Haryuni migrants.

Houses near the town center commonly rose two stories, while farms along the outskirts remained low and broad, with barns, workshops, and animal pens connected directly to the household.

Timber was the dominant material and fieldstone was used selectively, mostly where it solved mechanical problems.

The settlement developed around three necessities:

The road.

The well.

The harvest.

Its central road was wide enough for wagons carrying grain, timber, livestock, and manufactured goods. Inns, smithies, storehouses, wheelwrights, and merchants gathered along this route, while orchards and cultivated fields began only a short distance behind them.

After Callineth’s destruction, much of its masonry survived only as foundations and rubble.

The settlers who arrived afterward built simpler wooden cabins among these remains, often reusing stone and timber left by the former inhabitants.