A few weeks passed before we were called to a major assembly with General Astrial. Aaron seemed a bit shaken up by that unusual and pretty disturbing fact about the Empress' daughter. I was there too, but I really wasn't paying that much attention to their conversation. I only hears the part about those kids seeing the Empress' dead daughter. Aaron later explained what had happened, to Mei and me. I could still recall how sad and desperate Akane looked, and how creepy it was that only Makoto and Tae-Rin could see Cinna. I still tried pushing that memory aside. And I tried to not let it affect my thinking at work. But, I still couldn't stop thinking about that.

Why do people rarely see the Empress? How did her daughter die? What is she hiding? What did Camy see that traumatized him? What were those files of Project D.R.A.G.O.N about?

What exactly is D.R.A.G.O.N?

So many questions but not any answers. I tried asking Astrial one time but all he said was:

'Focus, obey and don't question.'

I didn't dare ask him again, scared if he would fire me or something. The General is pretty strict when there's something serious. Especially nowadays. Astrial has seemed distant, when someone asked him something you were responded with one out of two reactions.

Either an icy cold stare, so dull and unforgiving that made you feel like you were the worst person on earth and didn't deserve to live. And so harsh that made you that like Medusa it could probably turn you to stone.

Or, being yelled at by a living demon in front of everyone. Being exposed to true embarrassment and exposure to something dark or hidden from your past that you wouldn't want anyone to know of.

This was usually the most common one. And probably the scariest one, but that stone cold stare made you feel like scum. A few weeks passed and we were called to a very important assembly. We were called into an extremely large grey dull lifeless room. I believe it was the cafeteria. Although the room seemed dead, lifeless and empty in it. There were thousands of us but it felt so empty anyway.

Astrial announced their speech on the towering pedestal that was so tall that the General needed a ladder to be seen over it. It was a bit of a scene, seeing the General struggle to be seen by his soldiers, over a pedestal. Especially since he was very short. But no one dared to make a sound. It would've been extremely quiet if you couldn't hear Astrial struggling.

After the commotion and time wasting the General started his announcement. It went something like this. He said:

"My soldiers, it has been addressed to me by the Empress that she will start this project and military program called Mind Branding." Everyone had already started slightly fidgeting and whispering at this point. And by slightly I really don't mean slightly, I mean a complete ruckus. Astrial quieted them down though.

"The Mind Brand experiment will start tomorrow and will revolutionize the trainingand thinking for better and stronger soldiers. You'll all take an exam in which we'll seperate all of you into different groups. You'll all be Mind Branded soon. Remember everyone:

'Focus, obey and don't question."

Everyone repeated after him, 'Focus, obey and don't question.'

Those words still shake me to this day. They're pretty scary if you don't know what it really means. It's probably scarier if you know what they actually mean. But I didn't know then.

I also suspect something's up with Astrial, and the government. Mostly the Empress, both of them are hiding something from us. And what's up with this Mind Brand Experiment? It's so sudden and strange. When I told Aaron and Mei about this they said to just take these orders.

'Focus, obey and don't question.'

Everything changed that day. Everyone was so serious like a real army as Astrial would say. But, there was more to that. Everyone had changed.

Pipi, Eris, Bastion and I also think that something's wrong with that project. There's more to this Mind Branding. We're not sure what the Empress' real intentions are but. We don't think they're good. I hope I dont get arrested for this or something.

Weeks after we had been Mind Branded, (We took a test about what we'd do in different situations.) We haven't been able to go home since. We had to stay and analyze as the attacks increased, and started happening more often. I got branded into the H.S.S Group. (Headfirst Surprisingly Survives Group)

Aaron and Mei got sorted into a different category which they couldn't tell me. I admit, I am a bit offended but I understand. They were also assigned to a mission. Protecting the Empress as they're going to transfer her to the other kingdom entirely made of humans who thought that hybrids shouldn't exist.

They're lucky, no wonder I didn't get chosen. I feel a bit left out sometimes because when they address us. Most of the time is Aaron, Mei and Lindsey. It's always, And Lindsey. It's never and Mei or and Aaron. It's always And Lindsey.

Whatever. We've sent letters on what has been going on. Both here and over there in the other kingdom. Han Monsuta. Of course you must know that. Your sister is over there.

Well I hope we'll see each other again. I miss you. Too bad you had to go investigate another fire going on somewhere else. And to that question you asked me that one time. Near the sea shore..

I don't think it would be a bad idea..

From, FireFlare

To:

The bottom part of the letter was scorched off.