WELCOME BACK EVERYBODY!

I hope you're all ready for this insane thing to get started! I know it's been a while since HTS ended, so I'll provide you all with a potentially useful, free-of-charge, not-nearly-as-detailed-as-it-could-be refresher course on Part 1. If you want a refresher on characters, it can found on my Tumblr; huntingthestarsandetc

doopy-doo enjoy a recap-a-roo

- Matthias, Feliks, Alfred, Francis, Antonio, Ivan, Gilbert, Louise, Berwald are a tight-knit group of friends and bounty hunters. They work together and live on the planet of Reycass. Matthias is their leader, Feliks is his second in command.

- After realising that they need to pay off a few expenses, they endeavour to hunt down and capture one of the five royals of the 'Free Courts', whose bounties are in the billions.

- Their first stop in their search is Aralos, a desert planet. Also on the planet at the time are the Bondevik siblings, Lukas and Emilia, who are among the sought-after royals.

- On Rela, two of the five royals - brothers Lovino and Feliciano Vargas - live peacefully. Lovino has lied to his brother about their origins in order to keep him safe, and Feliciano is unaware that he is actually Syhvvanian royalty.

- While on Aralos, Feliks meets a scavenger named Tori, and befriends her. She ends up joining their crew.

- Over on the planet of Nyma, members of the resistance mobilise after learning that one of their most valuable fighters, Elizabeta, has been captured by a group of pirates. Among those tasked to bring her back are Matthew, Abel, Carlotta, Kari and Bella. The leader of the resistance is a mysterious but respected man named Yao.

- After breaking down briefly on the planet of Misor due to some fruit-related damages, the bounty hunter crew is forced to land at an Anchorage owned by the planet of Galee. While there, they encounter a group of pirates headed by the infamous Arthur Kirkland. He and Francis have an unpleasant relationship, though the specifics are unknown. It is Arthur's crew who have captured Elizabeta.

- Lovino finally tells Feliciano the truth about his past and identity. He takes the news fairly well, and Lovino starts training him how to fight.

- Lukas and Emilia, after a long journey, disguise themselves as refugees and finally arrive at the resistance.

- After further mechanical troubles plague the bounty hunters, they hitch a ride with the pirates, as one of them, Roderich, is Gilbert's cousin. While travelling together, the rebels attack their ship. In addition to rescuing Elizabeta, they also capture Tori, Gilbert, Feliks and Roderich to hold ransom.

- Yao, the rebels' leader, admits to Tino, a sniper, that there is a spy in the resistance who has been leaking information to the Union, the group of authoritarian-governed planets who they oppose.

- Lovino and Feliciano befriend one of their neighbours, an assassin named Vash Zwingli.

- Injured and in disarray, the bounty hunters and pirates plan to get their friends back by travelling to Nyma - the base of rebel operations - and pay the bounty set by the resistance.

- After running into brief trouble on Galee due to Gilbert having been the result of an incestuous relationship, the rebels arrive back on Nyma. Kari, who formerly worked in the palace on Fynkn, reunites happily with Lukas after almost 11 years.

- The bounty hunters + pirates arrive on Rela seeking a highly talented mercenary - Vash - to help guide them through Nyma's dangerous landscape. They arrive at his house and meet him, and manage to convince him to help them. They briefly meet his neighbour, Lovino, but are unaware of his identity.

- The conspiracy within the resistance about the spy deepens after an innocent girl is accused of espionage. They receive a canister about some of the details of the spy, and this leads some, including Vice-General Octavia Papadopoulos, to suspect Yao of wrongdoing.

- Lovino and Feliciano are frightened and confused after the bounty amounts of all five royals increases.

- The group of bounty hunters and pirates, in addition to Vash, depart for Nyma. Their mission begins badly, as Matthias is injured on the journey into the atmosphere, and Arthur starts to exhibit signs of illness.

- The tension in the resistance reaches a peak as Yao is accused of espionage and treachery by Octavia, and is promptly jailed. After being briefly captured by a hostile mountain tribe, the group of criminals are escorted to the resistance, but are turned on and thrown into prison.

- After hearing about a plan to execute the new prisoners (the criminal group) a group of rebels loyal to Yao pledge to save them. They include Matthew, Lukas, Emilia, Elizabeta, Kari, a legendary Admiral named Ayshe Kartal and several others.

- The group of criminals are successfully saved and hidden away. Matthew is forced to shoot one of his comrades in order to succeed. They are concealed in an old shipping container in the forest. Arthur grows consistently sicker and weaker.

- After attempting to escape despite the rebels' kindness to them, several secrets are discovered; it is found out that Matthew is Alfred's long-lost older brother, that Arthur has a vicious terminal disease called Chalydrantis, and the group also discover the presence of Lukas in the base.

- Yao's trial starts. He is forced to disclose many details about his life, including his relationship with the former leader of the resistance, Arshad Teymouri, details about his family and life on home planet of Yan, and horrific recollections of torture and abuse he suffered on the prisoner ship the SS Arbiter. He is acquitted of his espionage charges, and is apologised to by Octavia.

- Lukas determines that the real spy is a manipulative and highly intelligent Major named Zev Batbayaryn. He is arrested and thrown in prison as the rebels celebrate Yao's exoneration. Yao forgives Octavia for her accusations.

- Matthew and Alfred catch up. Arthur explains the extent of his illness to the others, and they get moved to a much nicer cell block. Lukas' friends at the resistance accept him after discovering his true identity after the trial.

- Matthew is sentenced to 2 months of suspension for killing another rebel. Lovino and Feliciano endeavour to end their criminal activity and get real jobs in order to fall under the radar in light of the bounty change.

- Ivan, who stayed behind with the ship when the others travelled through the mountains, joins them back at the resistance. Arthur is offered a deal by Yao.

- I left you all on a cliffhanger because I love being evil :D

doopy-doo recap over

Note: Chapter 1 took place on the 5th of Janwir (January). Chapter 38 ended on the 1st of Apryl (April, duh). The current year is 4512CC.

Please review! You give me life!

Decambyr, 4497CC

"What are we meant to do about this?"

"I don't know. There's no standard procedure for when something like this happens! The last person was my grandmother…I barely knew her!"

"Aren't you meant to know about these sorts of things?"

"I am, but it became very clear when I was young that I wasn't going to be chosen at all. I don't know what to do. No blood exchange was made…"

"So, what, you propose we ignore this? Oskar, how is that supposed to help anything? I'm no expert on the subject, but even I know that this is unusual. For any of the nine to show an interest, much less for it to be Vidunder…"

"I know, Astrid. I'm not saying that we should do nothing. But what does it prove?"

"It proves that our son is different to us. Different in a way that, for once, they actually respect. That woman predicted this, she said that something along these lines would happen!"

"She also predicted that I would 'see my own heart in someone else's hand'. I'm not sure that I'd put so much faith in her."

"Oskar…"

"Astrid, we need to think long and hard about this. It does no-one any good to make a big fuss out of the whole thing. Our son wasn't harmed, and nor was anyone else."

"I know that…"

"Astrid, I love you to death. You know that. But I feel that we should just let this slide. There is no point scaring him about something which might never come to fruition."

"Alright, we'll let it slide. But I have to insist that he has his aptitude testing early."

"Fair enough."

"Oskar…?"

"Yes, my love?"

"Does it scare you too? The idea of what this means?"

"…It does. I feel like it always will."

Szwicza District,
Bibesti, Rela,
24th Maii, 4512CC

"Just focus on the very end of it. Don't pay attention to me, just keep your eyes on the thread."

A beat of silence passed. Nothing happened, and Feliciano let out a disappointed huff.

"I can't do it!" he exclaimed, disappointment woven throughout his words. "I told you, I'm no good at it."

Lovino frowned a little, lowering the bunch of threads he was holding in his hands. He had pulled them from the fraying ends of a few pieces of his clothing and tied them all together at one end. He had held them in front of his younger brother's face and watched as Feliciano tried and failed to set them on fire. He schooled his expression into calm, trying not to let on how confused and, admittedly, disappointed that he was too. They'd been at it for weeks, yet his brother wasn't improving.

His telekinesis was working fine – he had managed to lift a book with his mind on only their third day trying, but something about the Fuenar – the Syhvvanian gift to create and control fire, was elusive for his brother. Lovino could create flames as easily as he breathed, and make heat shimmer in waves off his body. But Feliciano was, for some reason, having trouble. His natural resistance to heat and fire was working fine (thank goodness), but he had yet to conjure even the smallest and most delicate of flames.

Lovino scooped up the book which he had propped against the door, peering at the page curiously. The book had been endlessly helpful, though Lovino was also drawing on his memories of being taught to try and help his younger brother. He frowned at the title; An Inclusive Summary of the Syhvvanian Rigelo. It was inclusive, all right, sometimes even to the point of annoyance. Sighing, he flipped through the many thick pages, eyes swerving down the text-crammed paragraphs. The tome had the occasional drawing or photo scattered here and there, but other than that, it at most times presented a huge wall of text.

Cursing softly, he let out a small noise of satisfaction as he finally came across the section he sought. Skimming over it, he nodded and peered at his brother over the top of the book. Feliciano had been plagued by anxiety and concern over not being able to summon fire, though Lovino had told him, several times, that it wasn't unusual for a Vargas to have trouble

"Feli, listen to this." He raised his voice slightly as his brother turned to him curiously. "Queen Isidora's difficulty in utilising the Fuenar continued into her later life, even after the great control she was seen to be exerting over the Sopra kwistjoni. Conversely, her twin sister Elidora displayed great prowess in the use of the Fuenar, and limited responsiveness to any attempts to exercise telekinetic power." He lowered the book. "See? It's not unusual to struggle with one or the other. Besides, your control with your telekinesis is still pretty good, so you shouldn't be worrying as much as you are."

Feliciano sighed. "I know, I just…I want to be able to fight like you do." Lovino's expression softened.

"Hey now, you already fight like me. You've been getting better and better with hand-to-hand combat, remember? Just give yourself time. You've never done this before, so it's not surprising that you've hit a few bumps in the road." Feliciano heaved a great sigh but finally nodded.

"Okay, if you say so." Lovino nodded softly, closing the book and shoving it to the side. He cast a look at the clock and cursed softly as he registered the time; 1:13 am. Feliciano followed his gaze, expression immediately crumpling into regret and apology. Lovino held up a hand to silence him.

"Don't even start." He groaned as he dragged himself to his feet. As part of their plan to lessen their criminal activity, Lovino had found two relatively decent jobs and been lucky enough to land both. It wasn't a positive impact on his sleep schedule – one was at a factory, where he worked from 10 am to 7 pm; the second was working the graveyard shift at a small convenience store from 2 am to 7 am. The only time that he got to sleep nowadays was between 7 at night and 2 am, as well as a small catnap during the day if he was lucky. He had spent up three of those valuable sleep hours by trying to help his brother.

Feliciano still had a guilty look on his face. His younger brother had also succeeded in getting a job – he worked as a waiter at a small café a few blocks into the Veroda District. Though it made good money, Feliciano worked far fewer hours than Lovino, and for whatever reason, seemed to feel guilty over it.

Lovino wandered, somewhat dazed, around their apartment, pulling on some warmer clothes. In Bibesti, winter fell in the middle of the year, and the nights had been growing colder and colder for months. He pulled on the gloves and cap which he had been given for his 20th birthday, just a few months ago, as well as a worn-out scarf which let in just as much cold air as it kept out, and also dug out his boots from where he had kicked them off earlier. Almost instinctively, his hand went to his neck to ensure that the rose-gold pendant still hung there. He sighed in relief when he felt its familiar shape in his hand, and finally turned to go.

"I'll be back at 7, okay? Rest up a little, you have to work later, too. If you need anything, just ask Sadik." Feliciano nodded. Lovino gave him the same lecture every day, but he was yet to ignore it.

Sighing, and trying to brace himself for five hours of boredom and likely emptiness, he made his way out.

Resistance Headquarters,
Draak-Zafi Forra, Nyma
25th Maii

It was strange, looking around their small, cramped cell now, that they had once managed to fit seventeen people in here. It was cramped even now, and there was almost nothing even resembling privacy. Remembering that just seven weeks ago there had been several more people in here seemed bizarre. The cell still didn't feel empty, even with so many gone.

Really, in hindsight, it should have been expected that one or more people wouldn't stick around the whole time. But given the physical conditions of some of them, it was more likely that one of them would die or have to be evacuated due to injury or illness. The one thing, really, which Matthias hadn't really anticipated…was that people would leave of their own free will.

Arthur had been the first to go.

He hadn't jumped at the resistance's offer immediately, which had surprised Matthias. He didn't know the pirate immensely well, but he knew him well enough to see that what he desired, more than anything else, was simply to live. But after speaking to the intimidating Yanishman named Yao, the Pyndaphian had spent days in thoughtful silence, his expression often cast with conflict and rigid with indecision.

It had taken three days before he had quietly asked their guard if she would fetch the resistance's callous-seeming leader. Not even a half hour later, the cell door had swung open, and Matthias had watched the Yanishman help Arthur down the corridor. The pirate had cast a single, mournful look back at them, but ultimately, he had made his decision. The blond, whether for better or worse, was now a worker in the resistance's vast army.

The next to leave hadn't been surprising. Matthias had seen how they'd clung to him in moments of fear, confusion and anger. Try as they might to display an image of independence and strength, every time the situation had turned bad, they had turned to him. Mei and Leon had spoken to the man, Yao, for hours, then taken a minute to farewell their crewmates, and had loyally followed their captain into the realm of rebel fighters.

The fourth…that had hurt a little. But Matthias had also, in a way, been anticipating it. Before the decision had been made, he'd looked conflicted and worried every day. Matthias had ignored it the first few times, determined to believe that he would stay with them. As a few days had passed, though, he had started to look more and more unhappy, joy brought only in the hours when a now-familiar face had appeared behind the bars. It wasn't completely unexpected, and of everyone, Matthias understood his reasoning the best…but it had still stung to watch Alfred leave them as well.

They'd gone about a fortnight without anyone else leaving after that. Matthias had let himself believe that that was the end of it – no-one else would be tempted to leave. That was, until, he'd found out about Tori. More specifically, her odd connection to Lukas Bondevik. No-one had had a good explanation for the fact that she seemed to know him, save Feliks, who had murmured his suspicions to Matthias late one night. Their only other option had been to ask the Fynknian, which none of them had been keen on doing.

They hadn't needed to ask, as it turned out, just wait, as he had shown up outside their cell one day, eyes fixed on the rough girl. Matthias remembered how the teen had knelt down, holding eye contact with her, as she had started to ask questions.

"Have we met before?"

"Yes. A long time ago, though. We knew each other when we were kids."

It had continued along that thread for some time, before she came to what Matthias had initially dismissed as the most irrelevant of her questions.

"Is there anything significant about the word 'vika'?"

"It was your nickname." Tori's brow had furrowed at that.

"…Nickname? How? My name is Tori."

"That was another nickname." Had been his short response. At her questioning look, he had elaborated. "Your full name, as I remember it, anyway, is Viktorija. You used both nicknames."

Feliks had closed his eyes and let his head fall back at this point, and even Matthias had felt a small shockwave go through him. Tori, however, had been unaware of the significance of this, and had continued to ask questions.

"My first name was- is, Viktorija?"

"Yes." He had paused then, watched her for a moment, then nodded. "Oh, you have amnesia. That explains it."

"Do…do you know what my full name is?" she had asked, sounding tentative and hopeful. Lukas had nodded, reluctantly. It was clear just looking at Tori that she legitimately had forgotten her own name.

"Viktorija Kamile Laurinaitis. I may have remembered your middle name wrong, though, so don't quote me on that." She had nodded, clearly not realising what bombshell he had just dropped on all of them. Lukas had sighed. "Yes, you definitely have amnesia. I suppose it's only fair to inform you that the Laurinaitis family – your family – are Daernic royalty."

She had frozen then, looking completely bewildered. "What?" she'd asked, sounding shocked. "What did you say?"

In lieu of a response, Lukas had pulled a Cell from his pocket, drawn up her profile on the Index, and shown it to her. Tori had gone silent for a long time after that.

"You're wrong." She had said. "This…this is all wrong…"

"Then how do you explain knowing me?" Lukas had responded coolly. "The only Daernic person I ever knew was Viktorija Laurinaitis. We knew each other because there is a very close relationship between the three Free Courts. Our parents travelled to visit one another all the time, and they brought us with them." Tori had looked to Feliks then as if he would deny everything that the Fynknian had been saying. Feliks had just sighed sadly and nodded.

Lukas had frowned at her. "You really don't believe me." He'd sat back for a moment, before rummaging around in his pockets. "Perhaps this will convince you." With that, he had pulled, of all things, a rock from his coat. Tori's eyes had gone to it immediately, expression transforming into something like…desperation.

"That…what is that?" she had croaked out, staring at it. Lukas had raised an eyebrow at her.

"Each of the royal families of the Free Courts has the power to manipulate an element. Syhvvanians control fire, Fynknians control water and Daernics control the earth." He held up the rock. "You want it, don't you?" she had nodded, still staring with an odd, mixed longing.

"What is it? Why…why do I want it so much?" she had asked. Lukas watched her a moment, then tossed the rock to her.

"It's nothing special. It's just a rock. The only thing which distinguishes it from every other rock on this planet is that that one came from Daerna. Though the gifts of a Free Court royal work wherever you go, they are always strongest when we're on our home planets." He had stood, brushing himself off a little. "You're welcome to continue to deny who you really are, but when you finally get sick of lying to yourself, just ask for Yao or myself." Without another word, he had turned on his heel and left.

Tori had vanished from their cell with Yao not even two days later. Matthias couldn't blame her. To learn something so earth-shattering about yourself…if it was him, he would have gone to the one person who had answers as well. Besides, though she was fun and good in a fight, he hadn't really been that close to her. Feliks had been the most disappointed of them by far, his low mood only buoyed briefly by the fact that Tori had kissed him on the cheek as she'd left.

For the next few weeks after that, they had lingered around their cell, trying to pass the time by playing card-games and sharing old stories. But card-games quickly got boring, and they all only had so many stories to share. They had all started to slowly lapse into depression. Then, about a fortnight after she had vanished, Tori had re-appeared outside their cell. Not to rejoin them inside, but to talk to them. She had told them about what life in the resistance was like. She'd obviously seen that they were all becoming depressed, because she had come back every day since, regaling them with stories of the people she met, and the weird gossip from around the base.

Try as he might to focus on her stories alone and be grateful for her efforts, he hadn't been able to ignore that every day she saw them, she looked happier and happier. The resistance was treating her well, and she was clearly making friends quickly. Though he maintained a happy, pleasant, air, it was also obvious that Feliks grew a little more jealous with every mention of Lukas. Matthias felt for him.

It had been especially obvious after she had shown them the progress she had made. One of the Daernic gifts was earth, and Tori had delightedly shown them how she had learned to move rocks and soil through the air. It was an impressive display, without a doubt, but Feliks had looked downcast afterwards. Upon asking him, his answer had fairly stunned Matthias.

"Lukas can do things for her that I can't. No matter what I do, I'd never be able to teach her how to do something like that. The fact is, I'm ordinary. They aren't."

Though boredom and depression had still reigned king even with Tori's visits, Matthias had at least fallen into a sort of pattern. He had hoped that they would stay the same. He had, as with the others, failed to spot the longing glances cast out the window, the almost day-dreaming expression whenever Tori came around with her stories. He had failed to spot any signs that yet another one of his friends was wanting to leave, not for long-lost family or memories or tough-struck deals, but for the sheer desire to fight the Union.

He had spotted it far too late to change his mind, though. A fight had broken out between Gilbert and Vash which had left the albino with a deep, shiv-caused gash on his cheek and a bruised collarbone. The rebels had sent a medic along. Matthias had watched his friend's face turn white after a tall, grey-skinned Garvich had walked into their cell. She had introduced herself to them as Ailseth, and given them a good lecture about fighting and all getting along, before giving Vash the all-clear and moving on to Gilbert. She had noticed his fear and tutted at him.

"Oh darling, no, I don't care who your parents were. Come on now, let me see that cut." She'd tended to a slowly-relaxing Gilbert, and even patted him gently on the top of the head before again warning them about fighting, and sweeping from the cell. He had seemed oddly still after that, and Matthias had finally risked a look over at his friend only to see a bizarre expression on his face.

Matthias had felt a lurching in his gut, combined with an overwhelming sense of denial. A constant stream of no, no, no, no had echoed around his head, almost mocking him. He hadn't understood why, but a sort of fear, combined with a deep-seated sense of betrayal, had filled him. Gilbert had shifted a little then, and looked into his eyes, and Matthias understood what his intuition had seen before his conscious thought had. He had seen the same look in his eyes which had lingered in Alfred's, and even Tori's gazes.

"You want to leave, too?" he had said, in far angrier a tone than he had wanted. The others had all turned to stare at the two of them as Gilbert flinched and moved away, avoiding Matthias' gaze guiltily.

"It was just a passing thought, okay? Calm down." But Matthias knew that he was lying. He watched him like a hawk over the next few days, and he saw what he had failed to see before. Gilbert was very much so interested in joining the resistance.

It still took a week before he had begun to cautiously ask their occasional guard some questions. But Matthias was under no impression that he wouldn't leave. He saw the longing whenever he heard stories of rebel exploits, and even the faltering and hesitant, but definitively present, admiration whenever the albino laid eyes on Alfred's older brother. Eventually, Gilbert had given in to his own wants and had also slipped out the door, escorted by a rebel fighter who had looked delighted at his decision.

That had been three days ago, and Matthias still felt the sharp sting of betrayal, even now. He tilted his head back, pressing it to the cool stone behind him. Being locked up in here was beginning to drive him mad. The others seemed equally as unhappy as him, though they were admittedly grateful for space which they had gained through their friends leaving. There were eleven of them in the cell now, rather than the original seventeen.

He sighed. Their numbers had dwindled significantly in just the past seven weeks. In all of that time, the rebels had failed to come up with some sort of solution to their problem. It was becoming pretty clear to Matthias that, unless they came up with a plan, he was going to die in here.

"How many times do I have to tell you? It's far too dangerous."

"You said that you might let me go when I was older!"

"I-, Lukas, your birthday was all of a week ago. Nineteen isn't very old at all."

Lukas folded his arms, glaring at Yao. He had an insurmountable amount of respect for the man, it was true, and objectively speaking, he could understand why he was reluctant to let Lukas do what he wanted, but he was frustrated nonetheless. He had been begging Yao to let him do more for the rebel efforts in the past few weeks, and Yao had actually relented. He had amped up Lukas' training with Nelia, and also made him do lessons on shooting with Tino.

He had also been involved in some more different projects around the rebel base. He had been permitted to join a convoy travelling out into the Gafadari Grasslands, though he had been a part of the explosives division, and as such hadn't been permitted to go near the front lines other than laying bombs and building new ones. Lukas was itching to do more, though. He had been pressing and pressing Yao to let him be more involved, but the General was of the opinion that it was simply too risky.

"Think about it this way," Yao said, "I let you go out into an active battle zone. Because of my orders, you are put into a high-danger situation. What could potentially happen if you were put in a high danger situation?" Lukas remained silent, knowing exactly what Yao was alluding to.

"You could die, Lukas, and that would be on me. Your death would be my fault. You need to remember that you can't look out purely for yourself anymore. You're one of the last surviving members of the Bondevik family. What would happen if you died?"

"What, because I'm the heir?" he asked. "Please. Emilia is just as much a Bondevik as I am. So long as one of us stays alive, it doesn't really matter."

Yao's expression was odd, cool but also concerned. "Do you really care so little about your own life?"

"It's not about that. It's a simple fact that Emilia could just as easily do what I do now."

"Lukas, I think you've failed to see how much your sister relies on you. Argue all you want but she is only 15 years old. For most of her life, you have been her primary guardian and carer. Everything that she's learned, she's learned from you. You yourself are independent, but I doubt that Emilia would fare half as well as yourself. You were always raised with the expectation that you would rule. Emilia wasn't. She knows how to lead, but not how to be a leader. It is, quite frankly, cruel and presumptuous of you to try and force a role like that on her, simply because you want to be more involved."

Lukas gritted his teeth, trying to maintain his calm composure. "Yao, do you want to know something about my parents?" he didn't wait for an answer, instead, ploughing onwards. "They were good leaders, yes, and they were respected for their diplomatic skills. But while they were off having meetings with planetary leaders, the people of Fynkn were sharing their concerns about the Union. They knew that there was another plan of attack in the Union's arsenal. But my parents refused to acknowledge what the people thought, and look what happened then."

Yao was silent, watching him carefully. Lukas continued. "Sir, I understand why you don't want me in the field, but you yourself have said that I'm a useful addition to your side. That I'm a weapon which could wreak havoc on the Union. So, let me wreak havoc. I know that I'm hardly going to win this war by myself, but if can't fight at all, what's the purpose of having me here? Honestly, sir, if you had a high-grade rifle sitting around, you wouldn't keep it locked up in a case, would you? You would use it, because it's most helpful for fighting the enemy."

A silence stretched between them for several minutes, before Yao finally spoke.

"…You have a lesson with Ali." He murmured. "You know that he doesn't appreciate tardiness."

Without another word on the matter, Yao turned and marched from the tent. Lukas stared after him, stunned. After all that, and he wasn't even going to speak to him? He forced down his anger and bitterness. Yao was stubborn, but he wasn't invincible. Lukas was determined to convince him. He let out a groan of frustration, running his hands back and forth through his hair as he walked in the direction of the dirt practice grounds.

Lukas would never use his powers on the General, no, he wouldn't ever stoop that low. But Yao couldn't deny him forever; it was only a matter of time.

Elsewhere

The stranger tilted her head up, up, up, gazing at the endless array of stars which blinkered across her vision. The sky still held some evidence of daylight – pale streaks on the horizon, not quite dismissed by time. But for the most part, darkness reigned. The stranger smiled, expression light and lyrical as she watched a ship land in the distance.

She swung her legs back and forth. She sat on a ledge, high above the ground. This part of town was normally quite empty, but even if the streets had been full, and everyone below would have mistaken her reason for being so high for jumping, the stranger knew that no-one would have tried to stop her. This city was uncaring, as were her people.

She turned her head, letting the cool wind caress her finely carved cheekbones as she pushed herself gently off the railing, and let herself fall soundlessly to the street. She landed on her feet, the wind softening her fall. The stranger crouched for a moment, observing the uneven, dirty cobblestone beneath her boot-clad feet. This city was old, but only here in the Altstadt did any sign of the place's vast heritage remain.

She sighed. It was a pity, really. Anlohn had once been one of Incanda's finest cities; a cobbled array of brightly painted buildings cast in stone and brick, and adorned with iron trestles. She had heard stories of what it had been like to walk down a street vibrant with colour and life, to smell the tang of salt on the air, and pluck herbs from the planting boxes which had once hung from every windowsill. The city had been rich and lively. Of course, economic hardship had brought reality to the once-happy civilians here. Practicality and necessity in an equal measure had transformed most of the city into an industrial hub. Only here, in the few, gate-bracketed suburbs which were known to the locals as the Altstadt had survived. The rest of the city was now a thriving centre of trade and commerce and resembled the sort of blocky metropolises seen on Reycass.

The stranger smiled, a little sadly. She had come here seeking something, but she knew now that it lingered in no corner of this planet. The Aldstadt had been her last stop – mostly for its beauty. She twisted her hand; and to an untrained eye, she appeared to pull a piece of paper from the air itself. Turning it over, the stranger sighed at the writing – small and bunched and messy to the point of ridicule. She ignored it, eyeing the small set of notes in one corner of the page. Nodding with satisfaction, she tossed the paper in the air, trusting the wind to send it away from prying eyes.

The stranger straightened up, cracking her fingers as she moved towards the bright blur she saw in the distance. This planet had let her reap no rewards, but perhaps another would. She turned her head upwards again, stars again dancing across her gaze. She closed her eyes, starting to slowly turn in a circle. When she opened them again, mind more restful than before, one star was caught firmly in the centre of her gaze. It burned a low amber colour and made her think of home. She sighed. Her own heart sung its choice, and her own desire to again walk the dirty but familiar streets cried out with a vicious cacophony.

She moved down the street, hoping that there was a berth available on a ship headed that way.

To her home and her sisters, then.

To Rela.