The four recruits collided once more.
Dust burst upward as Kibo's wings beat against the earth, lifting him several feet before carrying him across the training grounds.
He smiled.
For the first time…
Flying felt natural.
Not forced.
Not unstable.
He banked sharply around Poison before folding one wing inward, using the other as a blade.
Poison ducked beneath it.
"You're getting better."
Kibo laughed.
"I stopped trying to fight the wings."
He landed lightly.
"I started moving with them."
The wings flexed behind him.
Each feather glowed with a faint blue aura.
Unlike before, where every movement was rigid and uncertain, they now responded almost before Kibo himself thought to command them.
He no longer viewed them as weapons.
They had become another pair of arms.
Another part of himself.
Nearby…
Ren gritted his teeth.
Black and crimson energy crackled around his forearms.
His breathing remained steady.
Again.
Nothing.
Again.
The crimson aura erupted before immediately collapsing.
Ren lowered his hands.
"…Come on."
Nothing answered him.
Not even silence.
Only frustration.
He remembered Seth.
Not the god's power.
His words.
Power without discipline becomes its own prison.
Ren closed his eyes.
He wasn't trying to understand Seth anymore.
He was trying to force him.
And Seth had never been a god that yielded to force.
Across from him…
Magnolia stumbled.
Lightning erupted beneath his feet.
His own legs betrayed him.
His body jerked sideways.
He barely avoided falling.
Poison frowned.
"…Again?"
Magnolia forced himself upright.
His breathing had become uneven.
Golden lightning crawled across his left arm before fading.
Each pulse hurt.
Not physically.
Spiritually.
He reached inward.
Searching.
"…Ra…"
Nothing.
Only a faint warmth.
Distant.
Like sunlight hidden behind storm clouds.
Magnolia clenched his fist.
"I can't…"
The mark Baron had left upon him pulsed again.
The curse spread like roots beneath his skin.
Every movement became shallow.
Every strike predictable.
Every attempt to reach Ra felt…
Further away.
Kibo slowly lowered his wings.
"…Something's wrong."
Ren nodded.
"We know."
Poison stepped closer.
"…That restriction."
"It isn't weakening."
Magnolia shook his head.
"It feels…"
He struggled for the words.
"…Like something is standing between us."
Silence.
None of them knew how to remove a curse left by another contractor.
For once…
None of them had an answer.
…
Elsewhere across the training grounds…
Sous blocked another strike.
Arya spun her spear before stopping inches from his throat.
"Again."
Sous immediately reset his stance.
Sweat dripped from his brow.
No complaints.
No hesitation.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Luna trained nearby against Abraham.
She noticed Sous glance toward the palace.
Again.
Then again.
Finally…
She lowered her weapon.
"You still want to check on her."
Sous nodded.
"…Yeah."
Arya turned away to correct Abraham's footing.
Saijew had begun speaking with Emma.
The opportunity presented itself.
Luna quietly whispered,
"Now."
The two slipped away.
…
Several corridors later…
They arrived outside Luna's chambers.
Sous carefully opened the door.
Inside…
A young girl sat curled beside the bed.
Moxie.
She immediately looked toward them.
Then smiled.
A tiny one.
Almost too small to notice.
"You came back…"
Sous smiled.
"Told you we would."
Luna walked over carrying fresh bread and fruit.
"You've been eating?"
Moxie nodded quietly.
Before another word could be spoken…
A familiar voice echoed behind them.
"I wondered where my students had disappeared to."
Sous froze.
Arya stood within the doorway.
Behind her…
General Saijew calmly folded his arms.
Neither appeared angry.
Only curious.
Sous instinctively stepped in front of Moxie.
Arya noticed.
"So…"
She smiled softly.
"Who's this?"
Moxie immediately hid behind Sous.
Her small hands grabbed the back of his shirt.
Saijew slowly knelt.
Making himself shorter than she was.
"My name is Saijew."
"I won't hurt you."
No response.
Arya followed.
She removed both daggers from her belt before setting them on the floor several feet away.
"There."
"No weapons."
Moxie slowly peeked around Sous.
Arya smiled warmly.
"You don't have to be afraid."
Luna finally spoke.
"We found her."
Saijew looked toward Sous.
"Tell us everything."
…
Minutes passed.
Sous explained the slave traders.
Their conversation.
The beating.
The murdered parents.
Judgment Hammer.
The monster he'd seen within the man's soul.
Luna filled the details Sous missed.
Arya remained silent throughout.
When they finished…
Saijew slowly exhaled.
"…You did the right thing."
Sous looked surprised.
"I did?"
"You protected someone who couldn't protect herself."
Saijew nodded.
"You'll never hear me criticize that."
Arya looked toward Moxie.
"We should bring her to the palace scribes."
"They'll care for her."
Moxie's eyes widened.
"No."
Everyone looked toward her.
She stepped closer to Sous.
"I…"
"I want to stay."
Her hands gripped Sous's arm.
"Please."
Arya knelt again.
"The scribes are kind people."
Moxie shook her head violently.
"No."
"They'll take me away."
"I don't want strangers."
"I want…"
She looked toward Sous.
"…them."
Silence filled the room.
She began crying.
"I don't want to be alone anymore."
Arya's expression softened.
She stood.
Then looked directly at Saijew.
"…Maybe."
Saijew raised an eyebrow.
"…Maybe?"
"Maybe we don't send her away."
Arya folded her arms.
"Not yet."
"If she's going to remain around recruits…"
"We determine whether she possesses a contract."
"If she does…"
"She deserves the same chance every child here received."
Saijew studied Moxie.
Then nodded once.
"…Bring her."
…
Several minutes later…
The throne room doors opened.
The Pharaoh looked up from the table before him.
Saijew stepped inside first.
Followed by Arya.
Sous.
Luna.
And finally…
A frightened little girl hiding behind Sous.
The Pharaoh raised one eyebrow.
"…Explain."
Saijew did.
Every detail.
The slave camp.
The rescue.
The request.
The possibility of a contract.
The Pharaoh quietly listened.
When Saijew finished…
Silence settled across the room.
Finally…
The Pharaoh stood.
"If she truly possesses a contract…"
His sentence stopped.
Midway through.
Something moved.
A tiny black serpent emerged from within his braided hair.
No one reacted, nobody noticed..
The snake slithered onto his shoulder.
Its tongue flicked once.
Twice.
A faint…
Almost imperceptible…
Hissing echoed through the chamber.
The Pharaoh's golden eyes narrowed.
No one else heard words.
Only quiet rattling.
Only soft hissing.
Yet…
The Pharaoh listened.
Completely still.
Seconds passed.
The serpent slowly withdrew.
Disappearing once more into his hair.
The Pharaoh's expression had changed.
Only slightly.
He looked toward Saijew.
"The situation has changed."
Arya frowned.
"What happened?"
"Jerusalem."
"They've launched their assault."
"They've engaged Greece."
The room became silent.
The Pharaoh turned away.
"The examination of the girl will wait."
He walked toward the chamber doors.
"There is now an opportunity."
His voice grew colder.
"If Greece and Jerusalem bleed one another…"
He looked back over his shoulder.
"…Egypt shall ensure neither stands again."
He reached for the communication earpiece resting upon the table.
His voice echoed throughout the palace.
"Kahn."
"Asam."
"Gather every recruit."
"Immediately."
…
Only minutes later…
The entire company stood assembled.
Poison.
Magnolia.
Ren.
Kibo.
Sous.
Luna.
Emma.
Matthew.
Sofia.
Valentina.
Amelia.
Abraham.
Alongside…
Saijew.
Kahn.
Asam.
Arya.
Even Moxie remained near the rear of the chamber, watching quietly from beside Luna.
The Pharaoh stepped onto the central platform.
His golden cloak drifted behind him.
"Our plans have changed."
No one spoke.
"Jerusalem has begun its invasion of Greece."
A ripple moved through the recruits.
Poison immediately remembered a General.
Kibo slowly folded his wings.
Ren crossed his arms.
Magnolia's expression hardened despite the pain still running through his body.
The Pharaoh continued.
"They believe they wage war against one another."
"They are mistaken."
He smiled.
Small.
Measured.
"We shall enter as the third force."
"We will strike both armies."
"We will ensure neither nation leaves that battlefield with victory."
His gaze swept across every recruit.
"Your training is no longer preparation."
"It has become necessity."
"The next battlefield…"
"…awaits us all."
The throne room buzzed with quiet conversation.
Valentina stood near Abraham and Kibo, stealing curious glances toward the unfamiliar girl standing behind Sous and Luna. The child looked no older than the recruits themselves. Dirt still stained her clothes despite attempts to clean them, and she kept both hands tightly wrapped around the edge of Luna's cloak.
Valentina tilted her head.
"Who's she?"
Every eye in the room followed hers.
Moxie shrank behind Luna.
Sous instinctively stepped forward, placing himself between the girl and everyone else.
"This is Moxie."
Silence followed.
Ren frowned.
"…Never seen her before."
Matthew scratched the back of his head.
"So where'd she come from?"
Luna answered.
"We found her during our visit."
"Found?" Amelia repeated.
"She was a slave."
The room fell silent.
Emma lowered her eyes.
Abraham's expression hardened.
Even Poison, who usually found something sarcastic to say, remained quiet.
Sous finally spoke again.
"They murdered her parents years ago."
"They beat her because she wouldn't obey."
"I wasn't leaving her there."
No one argued.
General Saijew folded his arms.
"You made a dangerous decision."
Sous nodded.
"I know."
"…I'd make it again."
Arya smiled ever so slightly.
The Pharaoh's expression remained unreadable.
His golden eyes rested on Moxie.
"You possess courage."
The young girl looked up.
"…Thank you."
"But courage alone is not enough."
The Pharaoh continued.
"You will remain here."
"I want to determine whether you possess a contract."
"If you do…"
"…your future changes."
"If you do not…"
"…we shall still find somewhere safe for you."
Moxie's shoulders fell.
"I want to help."
"You will."
The Pharaoh answered calmly.
"But not today."
She clenched her fists.
"I don't want everyone leaving me again…"
Sous glanced toward her.
"You won't be alone."
Luna nodded.
"We'll come back."
Moxie slowly nodded.
"…Promise?"
"We promise."
Only then did she reluctantly step beside Kahn.
The towering warrior looked down at the child before letting out a quiet sigh.
"…Looks like I'm babysitting."
Arya covered her mouth, failing to hide a laugh.
"Kahn."
"What?"
"You look terrified."
"I've fought armies."
He glanced down at Moxie.
"…Children are scarier."
Several recruits laughed.
Even Saijew couldn't stop a faint smile.
The brief warmth disappeared as the Pharaoh stepped forward.
His presence alone silenced the room.
"It is time."
Everyone stood straighter.
"You are no longer twelve individuals."
"You are soldiers."
"You will fight."
"You will think."
"And above all…"
"You will trust one another."
He raised his hand.
Three symbols of light appeared in the air.
"They are your new squads."
The first symbol drifted toward Magnolia.
"Squad One."
"Captain…"
"Magnolia."
Magnolia blinked.
"…Me?"
The Pharaoh nodded.
"You have already proven yourself capable of leading others."
Names appeared beneath him.
Emma.
Valentina.
Luna.
Saijew stepped beside Magnolia.
"I will oversee your squad."
"The battlefield will be your classroom."
The second symbol floated toward Ren.
"Squad Two."
"Captain…"
"Ren."
Ren looked surprised for only a moment before composing himself.
Matthew.
Amelia.
Sous.
Asam stepped beside him.
"I'll make certain none of you embarrass yourselves."
Matthew grinned.
"No promises."
Asam simply stared.
"…You already have."
Laughter broke out across the room.
The third symbol settled before Poison.
"Squad Three."
"Captain…"
"Poison."
Poison folded his arms.
"Knew it."
Kibo rolled his eyes.
"You've known for six seconds."
"I was right."
"You guessed."
"Still counts."
Sofia shook her head.
"You two are exhausting."
Beside Poison stood Kibo, Abraham, and Sofia.
Arya walked beside them, resting her spear against one shoulder.
"I'll keep this one alive."
She pointed at Poison.
"The rest of you are bonus points."
Poison smirked.
"I appreciate the confidence."
"I didn't say confidence."
"I said effort."
Another ripple of laughter eased the tension.
The Pharaoh waited until the room quieted once more.
"The generals accompanying each squad are not replacements for your captains."
His eyes settled on the three young leaders.
"They exist to advise."
"Not command."
He turned toward Saijew.
"You and Magnolia will command Squad One."
"The eastern wing of the Greek palace."
"Break their defenses."
"Secure every entrance."
Saijew nodded once.
Magnolia's heartbeat quickened.
He would be leading soldiers into enemy territory.
The Pharaoh looked toward Ren.
"Asam."
"You and Ren will strike the central palace."
"Cripple their command."
"Asam smiled faintly.
"Finally."
Ren tightened the golden wrist brace beneath his sleeve.
"I won't fail."
Lastly…
The Pharaoh turned toward Poison.
"Arya."
"You and Poison will lead the assault upon the front lines."
"Meet Jerusalem head-on."
"Hold nothing back."
Arya twirled her spear once.
"Sounds fun."
Poison smiled.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
The Pharaoh slowly looked across every recruit.
"This battle is unlike your last."
"You now carry responsibility."
"Your victories…"
"…and your failures…"
"…belong to everyone beside you."
No one spoke.
No one needed to.
Outside the palace…
Soldiers had already begun preparing weapons.
Horses were saddled.
Supply wagons rolled toward the gates.
Messengers sprinted through the streets of Per-Set, carrying orders to every division within the city.
War had returned.
Only this time…
Egypt would not be arriving to defend.
It would be arriving to conquer.