Barnaby is a soldier, born of the Queen and fighting for the Queen. This is the way it's been since he was a first-termer and it won't change now. There was no reason to change, so long as he kept impressing Commander and Consul alike.

Consul A tells him he expects great things from him, and he's not one to disappoint. Even if it made him seem like an overachiever, even if it put a target on his back, he would continue. Even if other Colonies attacked, made a bee-line for him, he would survive.

If there was one thing Barnaby was, it was a survivor.

There's a reason he was chosen to accompany Mattia - only special operatives, the best of the best, got paired with Offseers. They were to protect them, ensure the dead could return to Queen Melia.

Of course, Mattia had a habit of sending off the souls of Agnus as well. A choice Barnaby still doesn't understand, but he supposes he doesn't have to. He never chose to train to be an Offseer, after all.

He's not the only one, of course. Karina is often paired with them as well, her wings always close to her head when the end of the battle comes, frayed and upset with how things had gone - always upset, even if they won the life of the other side for themselves.

Then there was Nathan, strong, smart, and good at what they do. If it wasn't for the fact Barnaby excelled at the role of Attacker so greatly, they would likely be the one assigned to Mattia. Then again, they were next in line for Commander, so maybe it evened out.

Thomas is a skilled Defender and often sent alongside Karina. He was quiet, focused on the goal at hand. Barnaby appreciated it, appreciated someone focused on what needed to be done. With Karina and Mattia around, they needed someone like that.

In some ways, Antonio was even better as a Defender, but more often than not he ended up paired up with Nathan. Not part of the special ops, but still important. Probably thanks to his habit of taking blows for the sake of the younger soldiers…

Like Lara, with wings so small they almost looked like the ears Agnians sometimes had. Small, quiet, good at healing, but not much else. Still afraid of battle, despite being in her fifth term. Barnaby's almost certain she's only alive because of Nathan and Antonio.

Let them do what they want, he supposes. It doesn't affect him. So long as he continues on his current path, he would surely get Colony 9 to Gold Rank. They would all be able to spend the rest of their terms in peace, once he achieved that.

They all just had to hang on a little longer. Consul A assured him they were moving closer with every win. With every soldier who dies to his Blade. With every bit of life snuffed out and stolen.

He kills, he takes the life of others, he watches Colonies fall. He keeps going, because that is the way of the world.

Fighting in order to live, and living to fight. That was the way of their world, of Aionios. Barnaby had grown used to it.

Mattia sometimes asks him how he can do this - Barnaby tells him the truth. This is just how it's always been, there was no reason to overthink it. Just do your job to the best of your ability, for yourself and your Colony mates.

The look Mattia always gives him is strange. Like he doesn't understand how Barnaby can think like that. If anything, Barnaby thinks his friend is strange, for not understanding this is just how it has to be.

Surely, if there was another way, the Queen would say so. Or even Consul A, in confidence. Surely, they wouldn't allow this war to wage on for no reason. He tells himself that, as he continues fighting.

Continues to watch the motes of his own float up, Agnus motes joining with them. It becomes hard to tell them apart, but that's only because death makes them equals. That's what he tells himself, what he's always been told.

The only time Kevesi and Agnians were equal was when both were dead. There was no reason to think too deeply about it.

No reason to reach out and touch the motes of an Agnian like Karina has. No reason to shake when you realize they're the exact same as Kevesi motes. The same life force, the same kind of people. Fighting and dying for their Queen.

For nothing.

Barnaby swallows it down, swallows the thought down as he caresses a mote of light. Forces himself to remember what he's been told. Remember that he's the pride and joy of Colony 9. He can't falter, not now.

Not after all he's done. Consul A would be disappointed in him. His fellow soldiers would suffer because of him. He can't falter when they're so close to Gold Rank. He needs to be strong - for every soul in Keves.

Consul A wouldn't lead him astray, he had cared for Barnaby since he came here. Since his last Colony burned down to nothing. It has to mean something - no, it means everything. He tells himself that, even as an Agnian mote brushes against him.

His skin is crawling, he wants to crush it in his hand, as if that's even possible. Wants to pretend he never felt how warm it was, how similar it was to the feeling his Colony brings him. Doesn't want to think about the people who may or may not be left behind by this.

Barnaby turns his back on it, on doing anything but what's expected of him. There's too much to worry about, too much to do, to let this eat at his mind. He can leave the wondering to Mattia, to Karina. To the ones he carries through the fire fights.

He doesn't have the pleasure of time, time to think about his place in this never-ending world.

Agnus and Keves - The nations of the world, locked in an eternal war. Keves is notable for soldiers with wings on their head as well as grey-skinned soldiers. Agnus is notable for the blue crystals everyone seems to have, as well as lines of ether, element reflecting hair, scales, cat ears, or blue skin.

Term - Soldiers' word for ages. First term is the equivalent to the age of 10, while tenth term is 19. When you hit 20, the end of your tenth term, you are sent off in a Homecoming.

Offseer - Special units who return light and ether to the Queen, who all soldiers are said to be born of. This function is done using a flute. Kevesi Offseers work alone, while Agnian Offseers tend to work in pairs.

Colony Rank - Ranks that determine the privileges and supplies any given colony has. The lowest is dirt and the highest gold - Gold Rank allows you to live out the rest of your life in peace.

Consul - Mysterious people with direct links to the Queens. Appear to be working with both sides of the conflict.

Attacker, Defender, Healer - The three roles of combat, every soldier has a niche they fit into. Units tend to include at least one of each.

Blade - Weapons that represent the being of a soldier. These are weapons they can naturally summon and use in battle. The source of their combat roles.