After the talk with Jackal, Jakus went straight home to talk to his mother. His home was just like any on the island; a small shack barely standing against the wind. Jakus' shared a room with his mother. When he arrived home he went straight to the kitchen, he knew his mom would be waiting for him so she could make dinner. "Mommy!" he screamed as he embraced her. "Guess what mom!"
His mother was tired; she had been working all day in the fields to put food on the table for her and Jakus. She smiled when Jakus hugged her; she was worried when he didn't come home at the time he usually does. "What's that?" she answered.
"I went to the army base today. These pirates tried to kidnap me and my friends, but we fought them off together. The Officer guy at the base gave us papers and said we should join up. Isn't that so cool!? I really want to join up; Jackal is sooooo cool I want to fight alongside him!" His mother put her hand on his head and brushed his hair as he blathered on about what happened today. She felt pride that her son had been asked by an Officer to join the military, but felt it may be too soon for him. Jakus' father was also in the military, he had received a high ranking position so he wasn't able to come home often; he did send letters though, writing his family as often as possible.
"Joining the military is a big responsibility son, are you sure this is what you want to do?' she asked. She knew not to shut her son's dreams down, so she always lets him make his own decisions once his mind is set. Even if she didn't want her son to join up, she knew that she wouldn't be able to stop him from doing what he wanted. "If this is what you want Bub, then go ahead and do it. I'm sure you'll even get to meet your dad out there and kick some ass for all of us.'
"Thanks mom! I love you soooooo muuuuch!" Jakus hugged his mom tight then ran back to the bedroom to wait for dinner. After eating he went back to the bedroom for the sleep he'd need for the next day. He was so excited he couldn't sleep; all he wanted to do was take the papers back to Jackal and start his new ambition right away. All he dreamed of that night was being with his friends as badass military warriors; fighting the evil forces of Donria and The World Eaters that rule their armies to bring peace to Gritixx.
Unlike Jakus, Canis didn't have a family to ask to join the military because his family had died long ago. He lived alone in a much smaller shack than Jakus; barely able to feed himself with the rations he is given each week. His mother died when he was three years old, and his father went missing long before his birth. For a part of his life he lived in an orphanage on another island, but escaped when he became six. He left the orphanage because of the blatant abuse by the keepers of the home; they would feed the children scraps and beat them every day until night came. When he turned six he had had enough abuse and decided to swim to Shari where he would try and live on his own.
Canis' shack was small with only one room; his only possessions were a small bed, a picture of his mother in a frame, a desk, and a stove. He didn't like his home, but knew that it was all he had in the world and tried to keep it as spick and span as possible. His home was really not all he had, but he felt that even his objective possessions shed light on his life; so keeping clean made him feel as though he were higher class and not a pauper doomed to fail in the harsh world he lived in.
Because of his parent's absence, the papers Jackal had given him had no line for a parental signature; only a line with "Applicant Signature" written on it. Canis was conflicted whether or not to join; did he want to fight for the military because his friends were, or because he had nothing left to live for in the world anyways. He felt as though he needed to join, but he couldn't articulate a reason why he wanted to fight; if he joined he was sure he would be asked and he had no idea why he wanted to join up. He ultimately came to the conclusion that he was doing it for his friends, if not to protect them, but to be there for them when they would need him most. He decided his reason then signed the paper Jackal gave him; he was ready for his new career and went to bed proud of his decision.
Mariah's home was much different form Jakus and Canis; Mariah was a monk in training at the local temple. She trained under her masters to gain control of her magical abilities, of which she was very good at from the start. Her teachers were very impressed with her ability to craft light into weapons and thought to make her the leader in years to come. Her parents were proud of her as well, even if they were from another island; they had sent her there the first time she crafted light and figured that the temple may be the best place for her to learn and train.
When she entered the temple she conducted her usual rituals; bathe, pray, and practice. She stopped her ritual during training to ask for her master's opinion on the matter at hand; should she join the military. "Hmmmm… The light chooses no path, but rather is cast by a source. Does the source cast a light upon such a path?" Her master was a man of philosophy and did not believe in making his students stay at the temple. He believed that all his students were a source of light that chose their own paths in the world.
"The source has chosen such a path master…" she bowed to her master as she handed him the paper that Jackal had given her. "But the force that moves the source must also choose." The words she spoke were in reference to the line for a signature; she did wish to join the military, but still needed permission to do so.
Her master did not hesitate; he signed the paper as fast as he was asked. He knew that her parents would also sign the paper; they all only wished the best for Mariah and her future. "Just remember to come back one day, for the day you comeback we will want to hear all about your adventures. We will also give you gifts that we are saving for the day you become a woman." Mariah bowed to her master and returned to her training; she would turn the paper in tomorrow with her friends so they may all join together in their joined journey into the world.