We left the palace after that strange encounter with the supreme commander. His words, 'Who knows if you will get this food again,' were ingrained in our minds. We were spaced out, uneasy. Captain Pierson noticed and asked us.
"What happened?"
"His behaviour was strange. Not of a supreme commander." Ferry continued. "For instance, he said, 'Who knows if you will get this food again?' Moreover, he was staring at Martin all the time. His gaze didn't come off him once." "And what did he say to you while shaking your hand?" He asked me. "Martin?" His words snapped me back.
"He said that the days ahead are harsh; be careful."
Captain Pierson slowly nodded. "I…Don't understand. It really is senseless."
"It felt like he was telling us that we are going to die soon," Barnett added, and looked at us.
"Oh, no, no. Don't overthink." Pierson rejected her opinion.
We couldn't understand it. The others seemed to relax and forget it, but it kept bugging me. The stare, his tone towards me, and the words. All of it infested my mind like a parasite. My gut was telling me that something was wrong. But not exactly what.
"I hate him. His face told that he is stupid." Alfred spoke.
All of us broke into laughter. "I never liked him from the beginning." I continued.
"Why? What did he do to you?" Pierson was shocked
"His old speech, his stupid decisions…" Ferry interrupted me.
"Oh, please, Martin, don't start yapping your stupid politics now. Please, no."
"Yes, no." Barnett gave the same response.
"Hey, let me hear his opinion." Pierson protested. But they denied and didn't let me speak further.
Ten minutes later, we were in front of the Crescent Army's headquarters, known as the "Crescent Head". We stepped out of the jeep. And saw Colonel Yornus walking towards us. When he was close, we saluted.
"The brats are here…" He stopped and began to look at our new badges. "You all became lieutenants? That was fast." He patted Valkin's shoulder. "Well…not brats anymore." He smirked.
"I have some work here. It will take time. You can go back to Egnisk or wait." Captain Pierson informed us.
"We will wait," I responded. And he left with the colonel.
"Now…What are we going to do?" Ferry asked me.
"We could go to our homes and meet our families," I answered.
Alfred stepped forward and placed his hand on my shoulder. "You are the only one who lives in the city." He said with a straight face.
I realized that they all live in either cities or villages far from Pharkis.
"Why don't we all go to your house?" Said Barnett.
"Sounds good," Ferry responded.
"Okay…Let's go," We informed the sergeant, who was the driver, and began to walk towards my house. On the way, we saw many children running around, playing, and happy. Some old people were sitting around a fire. Upon seeing us, they waved, and we waved back. The people were happy. Because they knew that someone was there to fight for them. They knew that someone was going to defend them. They believed every soldier of the Crescent Army, rather than the supreme commander alone.
After a walk of twelve minutes, we stood in front of my house. I remember the last time I came here. It was after Egnisk. I stepped forward and knocked on the door. The door opened, and it was Aldrin, now ten. His mouth opened upon seeing me.
"BROTHER!!" He shouted and hugged me.
I laughed and patted his head. "Hello, Aldrin."
"Hello," Barnett got down and extended her hand towards him. Aldrin shook her hand.
We went inside, and my grandmother was sitting beside the fireplace in her wheelchair. She smiled happily and extended her arms to hug me. I went ahead, sat, and embraced her. She held my face with her cold, fragile hands and kissed my forehead.
"My boy…You are lively and handsome as ever." And she hugged me again. Then Ferry, Barnett, Valkin, and Alfred came ahead and got a hug from her.
"All of you are lively and beautiful as ever." She laughed lightly. "And that uniform adds more to your beauty." We felt proud of her compliment. "I will go make tea."
"It's okay, Grandma. I will make it." Barnett got up and headed to the kitchen.
The living room and the kitchen were connected. Grandmother's room was in front of the stairs. Up the stairs was the room of Aldrin and me. The house was a small one, but it was enough for us.
Five minutes later, Barnett and Aldrin came with the tea. Each of us took our cups.
"What is your battalion, brother?" Aldrin asked me.
"Our battalion is the 26th Combat Division."
"And what is your squad called?"
"Our squad's name is Emberfall." I took a sip. "Why are you asking?"
"I read some of your military books, so I thought of asking you."
"Oh, you're interested in the military. What do you like about the military?" Ferry asked him.
"I like cannons, big cannons," Aldrin replied with a smile.
"Ooo…That's an amazing choice. What do you like about them?"
"I like the way they go boom, and the sound they make. It's like music." Aldrin was really interested.
We gave a small laugh and complimented his interest.
"Did any word come from Uncle?" I asked Grandma.
"In his last letter, he said that the war is worsening every day. He told me not to worry." She paused for a bit. "Son…When will this war end?" I could feel the sadness, the worry, in her words.
I took a big sigh, looked down. "I…can't say anything. I don't know."
Barnett held her hand, "Don't worry, it will end soon."
"Yes, you don't need to worry. We are fighting for you. And your grandson is leading us. You can put your hopes on us." Alfred added.
"Yes, rest assured, we won't fail you," Ferry replied.
She smiled and felt relaxed. We sat for some time, drank our tea, and talked a bit more. Then I remembered something.
"I am heading out." I stood. Grandmother understood where I was going.
"Where?" Ferry asked.
"It's just a place. I will come in a bit." I said and went outside.
I began to walk. The houses, the fields, the gardens. All of them brought old memories. The places where I played with my friends. But now, it was all destroyed, empty, lifeless. But I remember like yesterday. I wish those days could come again. I walked for a minute and reached a place where the dead dwelled. The place where my parents were now.
The graveyard wasn't dark, spooky like those in novels and movies. It was bright. The winter sun shone on it. And amazingly, it felt livelier than the city.
I went where they were buried and sat there. My father and my dear mother, buried side by side.
In my life, I have seen my father, and I have touched him. I had felt his presence. I have spent time with him, though little. But…my mother. I don't even know how she looked. Her beauty, her touch, her love. I never got that. I never knew how beautiful she was. I had always thought of her. Always thought that up in the sky, she was watching me. She is watching her son.
I never wished for fancy toys, fancy clothes, or a big house. I had only one wish. I knew it was impossible. I knew it wouldn't come true. But I wanted to hold it. The wish?
I wished that I could touch her. I wished that I could feel the love of a mother. The warmth, the beauty. I wish I could feel it. Even for a small time. I wish that she could hold my face and kiss it. I wished that she could see me win. I wished that I could hug her. I…wished.
I knew that I could only wish. But that wish grew into hate, into revenge. I wanted revenge from the Zaphlisians. And I can't leave it. It had become a part of me.
I stood, plucked some flowers from the nearby plant, and placed them on their graves. And then after a final gaze, I turned back. And to my surprise, Ferry and the rest were standing there. Captain Pierson was there as well.
"Just after you left, the Captain came. Your grandmother told us where you went. So we came." Ferry spoke while placing his hand on my shoulder and embracing me. I then realized that I was crying.
"It's okay, you don't need to hide it from us." Captain Pierson stepped forward and patted my head.
All of them stood around the grave, said prayers, and after that, we left for Egnisk.
I again reminded myself that my wish is useless. But I understood that I have to fight till the end. I had to prove that I belonged to the Arkila family. That, I, Martin Arkila, am the son of Marxim Arkila and Lucy Arkila.