(During Issue 11: Next day, after meeting at Golden's)
"Do you really have to go?"
Mrs. Bartholomew, Sapeha, anxiously says behind Ray's small room as she sees her son as he takes on his legionate uniform. As the dawn approaches and the hours draw to a close, the time has finally arrived. The moment the Merdianites have been waiting for, the coronation of Elyon has finally arrived. The prophesied Light and Savior of Meridian will bring back the magic and prosperity after centuries of poverty and darkness. Yet the rebels knew, it might also be their end of Meridian.
"Mom, I told for twenty-seventh time, I'll be fine." Ray smiles for assurance as he wears on his leather armor and tries to strap the back of his armor in the back. "Besides, Eric's been waiting for me for the past five minutes now and I got to hurry!"
"But coronation starts in early in the afternoon, am I right?" she reassures
"The men will be leaving after lunch time so for the meantime, I'll just have to hang out at the barn for some final instructions." He replies.
Sapeha enters the room and helps him belt the leather armor. "I still remember the day when you decided to become a legionate, just as your Uncle Oswyn. I was so reluctant and worried even to the point I enrolled you to the academe, but I see something in your eyes that you truly desire to become one."
"Well you should blame uncle for inspiring me." Ray says as his mind flashes back to his past. "Before we live here on this world, we used to live in the barren wastelands of Arkhanta. I would always remember as a child how he could shoot his arrows in a really really far distance yet in a quick phase. He never missed a mark even if winds fly by because his aims are truly dead-on. The more I watch him train and do those cool archery skills of his, I decided to become just like him so I also take on the bow and arrow."
"You even cry a lot when you couldn't make an aim of your own." Sapeha chuckles. "You would always run off suddenly to find me to comfort you!"
Ray blushes and humiliated from her mother's memory of him. "That I do not remember as a child…" he lies.
"And now my proud son has become what he wanted, a true legionate." Sapeha says as she finally belts on the final strap of his armor. "You really have to do this don't you?"
"Twenty-eighth." Ray replies.
"You know me well son, how every time you go out in this uniform I always got too scared that you might never comeback…" she then finally sobs. "…I was so upset if you go home battered and beaten, and like recently…when you came home and learned your uncle's murderer…" she says and weeps as she leans on his son's back.
Ray then turns around to face her mother, takes her hand and smiles at her. "Mom, I'll be fine. You once accepted my childish demand to become a legionate and in return I will also give what you also want from me. I promise mom, I will return home back to you and our family." He says as he opens his arms up and gives a big and tight hug to the most important caring woman of his life than the anime waifus, his very own mom.
Meanwhile outside Ray's humble home, Eric waits on his motorbike scooter under the dawning blue sky where the stars still light up against the sun's bright light that shines from the horizon. 'Ray sure takes up a lot of his time…' he says as he gazes among the stars.
'Such timing! Nigel in trouble in a time like this! Instead of leading his men, he's stuck in a crime that I believe he didn't do!' Eric says to himself as he remembers the emergency call he got from Nigel about his sudden situation. Eric continues to gaze and wander the vast universe underneath him. 'According to him, everything is under his control, with Grantaire to help him and I hope they do.'
Eric then rubs his head hastily. 'Man! I should've sent Ray instead just in case!'
"Stargazing?" Eric turns around to see Ray who asks and walks to him.
"Or were you thinking about the girl at Futurdome—or maybe Ely—"
"I was thinking about Nigel's plan." Eric stops him as he turns on the engine.
"Well you shouldn't worry about that." Ray replies as he sits on the backseat and holds on to the back of the seat. "Don't they have a plan on their own? And isn't Grantaire with him? I'm sure they'll be fine!"
"You sure?" Eric asks as he starts to drive along the lonely and foggy streets of Open Hills
"Then treat me to pizza if it didn't!" Ray jokingly challenges him.
As they arrived at the 'Heights', they begin to their final training the whole morning to warm-up their bodies to loosen up their nervousness and fright. They also prepare and gear up for the last touches on their weapons and armory. The melee rebels sharpen their blades, while archers create and add their self-made arrows to their arrow arsenal and scutums clean their shields as they desperately wait until their announced hour has come.
(During Issue 11: Nigel, Martin and Uriah exits from principal's office)
"Later on, I'll make an announcement to explain everyone what had happened." Principal Knickerbocker says as she opens the door for Nigel, Martin and Uriah to exit from her office. Earlier, Martin finally has the courage to tell the truth as he opens up to the principal herself the theft incident. Nigel and Uriah were called upon after his testimony and were later interrogated and interviewed by the principal. Soon, Nigel was acquitted from the incident and Uriah was given a five day suspension for what he did.
"One last thing Uriah" She calls to Uriah. "The whole thing ends right here! If anything happens to Martin, you know I will be extremely angry!"
"No problem, ma'am!" Uriah happily replies. "I promise."
As Knickerbocker goes back to her office, and closes the door behind her. Martin bravely approaches Uriah. "I-I'm sorry U-Uriah…" he stutters in fear. "But I can't be guilty for the rest of my life for holding the truth to myself—"
"Oh pish posh!" Uriah stops him as he sarcastically somehow understands his situation. "I understand how you feel!"
"What do you say?" Martin holds up his hand as he invites Uriah to shake his hand. He then too reciprocates in a friendly manner. "We let bygones be bygones, Uriah?" he smiles.
"Sure thing pal…"Uriah replies as he smirks. Yet in an instant, his eyebrows cross and looms his face over his small stature, in an intimidating and petrifying way as Martin leans back. "So get ready to say bye-bye,'cause you are definitely a goner! See you outside after school, you worm!" he grits his teeth. He then turns to Nigel who also sterns back at him.
"Enough is enough, Uriah." Nigel says sternly as they both look at each other in an intense moment.
"Easy for you to say…" Uriah replies as he walks off and leaves.
With the two of them alone, Nigel places his hand on Martin's shoulder. "Everything okay, Martin?"
"Oh s-sure." Martin stutters in fear. "I-I'm sorry by the way…I should've told the truth immediately yesterday…"
"Well you did cause a lot of harm, that you almost ruin our plans…" Nigel disappointingly replies.
"Oh! I d-did?!" Martin gulps with guilt.
"…But I think I should forgive you otherwise as well. It is better late than never you know" Nigel replies with a smile. "But please, don't ever do that again."
"Sure, it won't happen again." Martin replies back as he pats on Nigel's arm. "Besides, you know what to do now right? If I were you I need to go now."
"How about you and Uriah then?" Nigel asks. "Didn't he just threaten you?! If you want I could—"
"I'll be fine, Nigel." Martin replies as he makes a fake and tried and crooked grin on his face. "You said this mission is important to you, so I would suggest that you take your leave and I'll try to handle my situation myself because things couldn't get any better."
"Nigel!" a cheerful voice echoes appears from the hallways as the beautiful girl calls out to him.
"Hey Taranee!" Nigel greets back with a smile. 'Good thing, she knows about this too!'
"I'm so happy the whole thing is over!" she happily says.
"For me, it's all over." Nigel replies and points his thumb behind his back. "But Martin's in a heap of trouble. Uriah must have threatened him."
Meanwhile, the four girls follow behind Taranee and approach to Martin. "Martin, don't worry about that creep!" Will says as he comforts him.
"It doesn't matter guys. I thought about it over again and I'm sure I did the right thing." Martin replies, removes his glasses and squints his eyes. "I'm going to work this one out on my own! And if they break my glasses, no big deal! It wouldn't be the first time that this happened and probably it won't be the last!" he says as he leaves them and goes off his way.
