Author's Note: I'm sorry.

Two Song Suggestion!

CAL

QUEUE:Soldier By Fleurie

This Mersive is larger than the one I was on before. But then again, last time I was kept in a broom closet.

The jumpsuit I was in when I landed in the water was replaced by a dry one.

The mersive along with others have been hiding safely below the surface for a while now. It's quiet, a prebattle gloom. So silent you can hear the distant booms of our air support. The vibration of each impact finds its way into my bones. I'd be a fool to think that there would be no casualties, but with every ripple in the water, I despair for the loss of so many lives. I dread it even more because it reminds me of Mare and Farley and so many others in Archeon. And then my worst thought is my brother possibly dying alone without one person who truly cares for him by his side. Before I had thought maybe I could save him. But after the death I saw a month ago, there was no redeeming him.

I'm on my way to the further end of the mersive where the only entrance or exit lies. But I stop in my tracks when I hear two familiar voices. They are deep and low, but I recognize the tone. Mare's brothers speak similarly to her. Despite the pitch of their voices, they talk with a mix of both strong opinion and decisiveness.

"...impossible. I have no doubt she'll pull through. She's too stubborn for it, Bree. She's smarter than us, Dad taught her just like us."

"Just like Shade."

They fall into silence. The death of their brother, Mare's told me, is always a sobering subject. And just when I think they walked away they speak again.

"Mare's been weird these past few weeks, Tramy. Ever since she got back. It's like I don't even know her. She's not like she was."

"Bree, you haven't known her since she was thirteen. I haven't known since she was fourteen. Weren't we different back then? I know you were. Same stupid brain though...ow."

"Mom is right, she shouldn't be in this life anymore. After today we need to take her away from all this."

"And how do you we do suggest that?"

But before he can answer a sudden wailing siren erupts throughout the halls. Red lights flash but no one panics. We were told before this alert would sound, giving the signal the mersive is beginning to surface and to be ready to exit the mersive. The ground shifts beneath me and I cling to the railing on the wall to keep me steady, but I'm not steady enough because I accidentally pull around the corner and both brothers don't miss the opportunity to glare at me yet again.

Just how out of all the mersives surrounding the Fort did all three of us end up in this one. But I don't have to contemplate my bad fortune. Along with other top generals, I make my way to the front, towards the exit.

I allow a few people to climb the ladder ahead of me. I follow soon after. I remember the last time I emerged from one of these. It didn't end well for me.

The site that greets me outside assures me this time is just as horrifying.

I blink from the sudden burst of light.

It's sunrise.

Six Hours Later

The walls are reduced to rubble and smoke taints the air. Breaking down the walls must have taken a large quantity of ammunition. The majority of the Fort still stands, but as I walk through a path I give pause at every puddle of blood. The fight went on for hours. It wasn't until noon that the last man surrendered. A captain, and supposedly it wasn't until death his first lieutenant that he finally waved a white flag stained with silver.

Now, along with scores of other people I search for survivors and bodies, compiling them into groups. It's morbid, to say the least. These soldiers, sailors, and airmen were unprepared, having most of their defense all the way across the country.

How could Maven make a such an awful tactical decision? He may not have been sharp on the subject as I am, but even he knew it would be a risk. The thought of him makes me wince. There's been no news of the Rift or Archeon. Surely the dust has settled by now. There must be news of who survived and who didn't. Despair sets into my bones, fear of Maven's name coming up on a no doubt long list casualties. People all across Norta and then some will jump and rejoice over his death.

As for me, I'm not so sure. I've known Maven his whole life. I remember all the laughs and fun we had. All the late nights playing chess. How is it that that kid could do such unspeakable things? That's not the brother I know. Mare doesn't think so. She'd never said it out loud but I know she thinks differently. But how couldn't she? Mare's spent more time with him as a prisoner than we've had together. She's seen him as he is now and she paid a hefty price for it.

A soft groan knocks me out of my thoughts. I quickly scan the ground. Ash and dust cover every surface. But a minuscule movement catches my eye.

"We've got another survivor!" I yell. I move down quickly, a hand stained with red blood. The rest of his body is being crushed by boulders and debris. He shouldn't even be alive.

I begin removing some of the pressure from the man's body. Medics and a healer run over with a makeshift gurney. A few others run over and aid in removing the debris. After it's all removed we all carefully take hold of the man. As I do a cold sensation comes over me, but dissipates as quickly as it came. The man is hoisted onto the gurney and carried away.

Then a careful hand touches my arm. I turn and see one of the Monfort generals, staring back with a look of pity on her face.

She removes her hand and runs it through her messy bun of golden hair. She's a few years older than I, but the events of the past few hours wear on her shoulders and under her eyes.

"Hi, I'm General Alvar. Some news came in from the Rift," she says. "You may want to sit down for this."

QUEUE:Breathe By Fleurie

A stalemate. That doesn't make any sense. How is it that we could suffer so many losses? Our Air Force is twice the size of the Lakelands. Nearly an entire silver army brought to the gates of Ridge House when our intelligence said barely a couple thousand. And if that's the case then how is it the Lakelands didn't win? And not only that but suffered the loss of their queen? And how could the Rift suffer their losses, like the death of Volo Samos, when the battle was fought on their home turf. The entire estate made of metal. A weapon of the largest size, ready to be wielded by an entire family.

And then the worst part, they said Nanabel is alive at last for now, but there were no healers on sight. Again making no sense.

What is left of the estate is now being used as an infirmary. But the number of casualties is expected to rise. Silvers rarely go to school for healing. They train, yes, but they don't know how to stitch a wound or stop bleeding from an artery other than ability alone.

I walk all across the Fort trying to organize it all in my mind. Until finally I come back to the hub in the middle. I say hub because it is the place where the most people have gathered to await news from Archeon. Most of the injured have been flown back to Piedmont, all except silvers who occupied the base before we attacked. Those that have been treated for major injury along with others that surrendered lie in "containment" cells of silent stone. It would bother me, after seeing everything in Corros. But I've inspected these particular cells before. They won't make anyone sick, but they will keep them, well… contained.

It burns something in me. It may feel wrong, but my head tells me it's the right decision. Without any confirmation of the status of Archeon, it's too dangerous to let them run free. I find myself into a tent that was erected a few hours ago. There a large radio system sits with paper flowing through. The general who spoke to me earlier stands over a table examining whatever messages are coming through.

"Any news?" I ask.

She doesn't look up. "Nothing significant yet." Her tone isn't dismissive but of deep concentration.

"The treasury was taken in a clean sweep though."

So the economy is under our control.

"You money's fine, prince." I turn see Mare's older brothers sitting in the corner of the tent. We all appear similar, the evidence of battle in our posture as well as on our clothes. None of us bothered to clean up, it seems. If I'm right it was Mare's eldest brother, Bree, that spoke.

But before I can react, the General Alvar speaks up. "You're here out of courtesy, Barrow. But that can change if you decide to behave otherwise."

Her scolding is something that should not be challenged, green eyes piercing into his.

He flushes and stands quickly and storms from the tent. His brother doesn't follow but surprisingly rolls his eyes.

Then in the corner, a girl with similar looks to Alvar stands. She's cleaner, there was no way she was in the fight. Her bright golden hair sits in a tight high tail. Her wide eyes match her green jumpsuit. She's beautiful and probably close to my age, with an angelic face shaped like a heart. She glances towards the still waving tent flap before approaching the general. She puts a light, almost gentle, hand on Alvar's shoulder. "Cam, can I…?"

"Go, but the work will be here when you come back."

The girl nods and leaves without another word.

"My sister," Alvar says. "Not much of a soldier but she's sharp and very organized. But her focus has been wavering," she shifts her gaze to behind me. "No thanks to your brother, Tramy."

I turn my head to see him smiling down at his feet. I don't think I've ever seen him smile when I was in the room.

"She needs to be careful, Bree can be quite the heartbreaker."

"Nothing Mina can't handle."

The two smile at each other, but Alvar soon returns her attention back to the messages.

I detest waiting and I know I'm hovering so I move off into a corner and sit for the first time today.

Another hour goes by before the silence is broken.

"I don't hate you, you know."

I look up to Tramy staring back me.

"What?"

"I don't hate you." He says again. "How could I? You brought my sister back."

"Yeah, well your brother doesn't seem to share your sentiments."

"Bree is stubborn and can be a bit emotional at times."

"Family trait?"

Tramy smiles at this. "Some of us. Gisa, not so much. But yeah, you usually have to back us Barrows in a corner before we can talk about our feelings. But you already know that."

I don't say anything to this, only nod.

"It's just been hard, this year," Tramy continues. "After Shade...and then losing Mare…"

"Did she say what happened at Corvium?"

"Nothing other than that you two broke up. Farley filled us in on the rest."

I open my mouth to say more but the ring of laughter stops me. Bree and Mina walk in, with Mina elbowing Bree in the side. Soon the laughter fades and the retreat back into their corners. Alvar eyes her sister and the tips of Mina's ears turn pink.

More time goes by and it's sunset before Alvar speaks up. "Mina, come here," she all but snaps. The girl is next to the general in an instant. "Tell me I'm reading this right."

Mina takes the strip of paper from her sister's hands and examines it. Bree nudges his brother awake from his brief nap. All three of sit up in wait for news that may change our lives. News that may change so many lives.

Mina looks up at her sister. "This is real," her voice somber.

Alvar nods slowly, "Go to Eret, hurry." This time her voice is rough and commanding. An order.

I don't see the look she shoots Bree but his response is one of confusion. She runs out the tent, clutching the paper in her hand.

I didn't even realize I had stood up until I'm standing across the table from her. "General?"

I want to know and I don't all at the same time. I lose either way.

I feel the brothers come to stand by my side. Tramy at my left, but Bree keeps his distance.

Alvar puts her palms on the table. She stares into each of our eyes in turn. Then, returns her gaze back me. "Archeon is ours," she speaks softly.

I turn my head away from them, needing a moment.

"They found his body in his chambers."

Soon I hear a rupture of cheers and applause and laughter from outside the tent, just as I predicted. I expect to hear it from the brothers instead I feel a hand on my shoulder.

I turn to see it's Tramy, "For what it's worth I'm sorry. I know what it is to lose a brother." I can only nod.

"There's more," Alvar says. We all turn, confused. How could there be more?

The cheers get louder, but we all hear Alvar too clearly.

Now I wish the crowd would drown out her words.

Bree is the first to react. He makes some kind of choking sound. And takes a step back like he's been slapped. And then he turns away completely, bending over like he's going to heave. His hands go to his face, trying to hide tears. Tramy runs a hand through his hair repeating the same word we're all thinking.

But I can't hear him. I feel my knee hit the gravel beneath me, then a ringing in my ears. I feel like that man I found today. A weight on my chest, crushing all life out of me. I wish it would.

It becomes difficult to breathe. I look up to Alvar, hoping that she'll take it back. But sadness and regret is all I see.

"No," Tramy says for the thousandth time. The cheers soon drown him out.

How is it that we won, but I feel like I just lost everything?