A few years ago…

Kyro spat onto the ground. "So, Signas, buddy, where were you?"

Signas shrugged. "I was at a class. They've switched around my schedule." It wasn't quite a lie. The truth was only known to the teachers, X, Chamberlin, and Chaos. Signas looked pretty cute (^-^) in his uniform now, but the factory was making another for him that would help his CPU work to its potential.

Kyro didn't ask any more, but Signas could tell he wasn't happy. Signas knew Kyro wanted desperately to be the Top General, but he couldn't yet. If he knew Signas was going to be Top General… Signas didn't know what would happen, but he could grantee that Kyro and he wouldn't be friends.

Kyro had taken Signas under his wing, in a way, when Signas had first gotten to the Hunters. Signas had enough common sense to avoid most trouble, but some things he was guilty of. Kyro would have been much too reckless, and arrogant. That would have been his downfall. That would have cost him his life.

Kyro started walking. "I heard you was getting promoted."

Signas said nothing. Kyro laughed. "Well, it must not be too high. Tomorrow's ranking day." Signas knew quite well. His teachers had all stressed him to prepare, all were more intense, as he finished his courses. Chaos had helped him deal through the stress- she showed him a spot in the gardens where it was peaceful and taught him to meditate. But he could never quite meditate; all he could do was quiet his thoughts for a bit.

"Tomorrow our fates are judged," Signas quoted. Kyro picked up a rock. Signas did not do the same, but saw Kyro's target: a bird in the sky.

"Yeah, yeah, but I've been training. I'll be better than everyone." Kyro flung the rock at the bird. It was a direct hit, and the bird fell into the water.

Signas's eyes followed the bird as it fell, and the splash seemed deafening. He could almost hear the bird scream. He watched it, feeling a part of himself die. He watched it struggle in the water, and then give itself up to death. The bird would never fly again. Kyro laughed, but Signas didn't budge.

Signas found something in himself that day.