Isaac would have insisted he escorted me to the pier himself, along with the armed escort. He's been escorting me from post to post lately, though those were all on-island. He's gone from silent to angry to paranoid in such a short time I'm almost impressed.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsu8N692C1
Edwin resists the urge to tap his quill on the page. The day was hot, the War already bleeding into the midyear. He was sat in a carriage, which was headed to the West Pier. Samuel had finally decided on stationing the Seconds off the main island and assigning them to other strongholds, and he was the first to leave. By now the other Seconds would have left town as well with escorts of their own.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6QyAWfLRS
copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡOX1zkegrp7
Across from him was a healer. Edwin didn't know their name, and didn't care to know it. They were one of the few Life wizards he hated. They sat silently across from him, their gaze fixing on him momentarily before slipping away again, back straight and hands folded. They were probably one of Jae's more 'trusted' messengers. Worse, they were also assigned to the same stronghold he was. It made him suspicious.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡDY0wi4RyuN
Outside, there were three Fire, Ice, and Storm wizards, all walking next to the cart he was in.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7X6wkmZGh
Edwin turns back to his journal.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡYF7S3aFwBO
I wouldn't mind Isaac's company by now. He had been back to talking as of late, thankfully, though it's mostly the idle chat one would initiate in at celebrations. Other than orders and commanding the section, he's refused to talk about the gloves still, or his blessing. He still seems to be collecting himself, slowly but surely. I wonder when I'll see him again.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmZ7ptqPMg
Outside, what he couldn't hear, was a small 'click'...126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EgnDozAxc
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"Edwin?" Isaac calls, knocking on his door. Still no reply. Frustration was growing, but he didn't want to barge in.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1cNchLZhF
"Isaac," Comes a soft voice, and he turns around to look at Anora, "He left a few hours ago."copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrNNyebkkR
Isaac blinks.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA7qXL5qL0
"Left?! I wasn't informed he was going to be---"copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXqnVo0hcU
Anora tugs at her sash, eyes cast to the floor as if ashamed. "I-It was very last-minute, a-and you were sleeping."copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡINphMDI0GF
"Where is he going?"copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEt9yNtbbg
"I-I don't know! Jae was the one---"copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4Tbw0Ymzj
Isaac grabs Anora by the shoulders and stares at her eyes.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyUrrvvHLT
"Is Jae available?" He demands.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSmszs24N1
Anora's face twitches, and her eyes brighten, Finally, it settles into a scowl. "What do you want, Isaac?"copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsgCI7PKMr
"Jae, where's Edwin going?" Isaac asks her.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD9tSur978
"He's heading to the West Front. A ship has been prepared to take him to---"copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgDUftoX4W
"West Front?!"copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LDofblJep
"Is there a problem with West Front?" Jae asks in annoyance.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnjNcv57u9
"It hasn't exactly been the most secure as of late." He growls. "I'm sure you've heard about the troubling reports that have been coming in as of late?"copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFVH1pDBYY
"You get them too?" Jae asks, as if surprised.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuBdwbKoqy
"Stars..." Isaac mutters to himself, as if realizing what he had just said. He shoves Anora aside and runs down the hall.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSV9nhKQhZ
"Isaac!" Anora - Jae - calls behind him. He doesn't stop.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qaZ3Zxqvy
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Spies, people going missing, street muggings. That was only what his mind forced him to remember as he ran. It was mostly a Life and Myth port, so of course he got the reports.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJwHe8cbRB
The dirt road was empty, cutting through the large forest of the island. The trees whisk by him in a flurry of color as he uses his magic to propel himself forwards. His heart pounds in his ears.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QRMfel9ME
You cannot stop it. Treasure him while this lasts.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqwtyzrNSZ
A part of him hoped that today wasn't the day.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKwwOJbllL
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He stops farther down the road. Pirates dressed in green, twigs and leaves clinging to their hairs and clothes, surround the remains of a cart with their Sparkguns. The barrels were big and clunky and imitated Storm magic to a degree, but was shot at high velocity.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxSJGvyDPX
He didn't care. He tears his gloves off at the sight of the bodies, most piled together carelessly as if ready to burn, as the pirates hovered around another on the ground, sneering.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLoSLzLBIN
Of course they got in through the West Front.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3BgJ7MMVT
"HEY!" He shouts. The pirates turn to look at him, and their cocky attitudes quickly fade. Isaac raises his hands. He hadn't even thought of doing this since...copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0x0lIfUT2
"DIE, ALL OF YOU!"copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIupB8Bie5
He shuts his eyes and claps, pressing his trembling hands together. After a moment, he hears bodies hit the dirt. His eyes snap open in an instant, then runs to the wreckage.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡcazVKlskmb
The pirates had all been standing around Edwin. His chest was still heaving, though Isaac knew...copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HTsF68s4W
He kneels next to his friend. His eyes were half-open, gaze distant. His mouth hung partly open, with a line of red running from the corner to the ground, streaking his cheek. He was shot in the chest, the hole black.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7BylFg6TO
"Edwin..." Isaac's voice chokes. Tears sting his eyes. "Edwin, I knew..."copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqwFRsaHld
"I realize that now..." Edwin whispers, a quiet voice in the wind. His eyes still don't move. He was out of energy. "Isaac..."copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBZmCvGjmY
Isaac leans forward. He grips Edwin's arm, tears streaking his face.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡF41X1k8wPi
"Take care... of Anora..."copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4s3McY2SJ
Isaac nods. "I will."copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Wfdh5zf1e
Edwin's mind was slow, like a wheel coming to a stop. He was also thinking about his journal, under the cart, that he had brought with him. Isaac would take care of it, too.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡOulfNlYGRT
The Second's mouth twitches, wanting to smile, but instead he exhales and slacks. His mind goes numbingly cold. Isaac bites his tongue.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡPs1n59eDjo
Slowly, he stands and moved to the cart. With a wave of his hand, it disappears, revealing the small leather-bound book underneath. It was open, pages in the dirt. The quill lay next to it, ink spilled on the ground. Slowly, he picks it up and flips through it.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡOL9dK4iCBi
Edwin had been writing. A streak of ink as he was flung unexpectedly, and he lost his grip on it.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG9UVBHIAp
Isaac closes the journal. He had to take care of Anora now.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ssvXJwNDF
Mercury looks up from the book and over at Isaac's bedroom, gut twisted in knots. The General was reading, as always, though glances in Mercury's direction when he feels his eyes on him.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡe09gRgXtyW
He knew what Mercury was thinking.copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGZiuyaICY
"Even if you win the war," Isaac says, "You still lose battles."copyright protection122ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0skM5qn0a
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