Reks looked back one last time upon the city of Rabanastre, trying to hold back the tears that were trying ever so hard to come forth. He was determined to not let his emotions get in the way of him making this world a better place for his little brother Vaan. Vaan and Reks had been orphans for a while now, the only means of survival had been working for Migelo's sundries owned by a bangaa named Migelo. Vaan and Reks had been partnered with a young girl about Vaan's age for the first few errands they ran for Migelo. Vaan and Reks along with Penelo and one other young boy named Kytes all worked for and ran errands for Migelo. Vaan, Kytes, and Reks all lived in a little apartment and Penelo lived across the way from them.
Reks blinked, "Why am I reliving all this all of a sudden," he thought to himself, "maybe it's because I really am going to miss this place."
"Reks," his commander called to him, "lets get going"
"Yes, Sir," Reks replied, "um, Basch, sir, um where are we headed"
"To Mt Bur-Omisace," Basch replied, "we're heading through the Giza plains."
Reks hurried after him stopping in formation next to one of the older men.
"Hi, I'm Reks," Reks said with a small grin on his face.
"Andolin, nice to meet you, the guys behind us are Joel to the left and Ralet to the right, my brothers too. The guys right in front of us are Chase on the left, and Kale on the right, my best friends," Andolin replied.
"Nice to meet you guys, um, any idea why we're headed to Mt. Bur-Omisace?" Reks asked.
Andolin snorted, "Yea, some asshole of an Imperial Judge got it in his head to attack a small village near there. Seems some poor farmer, whatever farming there is there it's so damned cold, got it in his head to ask us for help. The Rozarrian ambassador approved it because Dalmasca isn't seen as a threat and their army is currently sticking their noses in the air preparing to go to war with the Imperials."
Reks fell silent pondering what he had just learned, it seemed as if everything was about war these days. Reks knew that he was going to fight and possibly be killed, but war really made no sense. Why would one person suddenly decide that some other country was a threat to them and then make it seem as if all that was bad that happened was that country's fault. Reks did know the reason Dalmasca was fighting though, it was to stay free of the clutches of the Imperials. The reason Reks was fighting was to keep the Imperials away from Vaan, who just didn't seem to understand that Reks was not abandoning him but helping to make sure Vaan had a future.
"Why?" Vaan asked.
"So you stay free Vaan, as it is do you think the Imperials care who they destroy. If they were to take Rabanastre the people would stand against them, after that everyone would be killed by those bastards for being resurgents," Reks replied hotly.
"You shouldn't be going," Vaan said stubbornly.
"Don't you get it Vaan, I'm doing this for not only your well being, but for the well being of Dalmasca also. The people need me, you've seen how good I am in a fight," Reks replied.
"You could die Reks, really die out there," Vaan said tears streaming freely down his face.
"I know," was all Reks could say.
Reks blinked again, "What the hell is wrong with me, why do I feel so guilty," he thought, "Vaan is not even a man yet he doesn't understand so why am I thinking about this."
"Form a battle line," Basch yelled out all of a sudden tearing Reks from his thoughts completely, "monsters approaching from in front of us, Hyenas and Slavens."
Reks shifted to a warriors stance and drew his sword, hearing the metal hiss as it came out of its sheath. Quickly checking the magic imbued gambits that gave every warrior and soldier skill they would not normally have he made sure they were functioning properly before checking his magic reserves too. Calling upon a fire speel he let it sit there in the palm of one hand waiting for the order to charge.