Old ways

The new day began with breakfast at A Cafe. Slana thought there couldn't be a more unimaginative name for a cafe. Yugo was on the fence. Vesper thought it was good, since it was a cafe and the name left no confusion. Mia agreed with Vesper. In the end, by majority, it was decidedly a good name.

Wasn't much of a crowd inside, unsurprisingly. It wasn't the holidays, and it wasn't a festive date. Most would be rushing off to offices and schools. Precious few would be like the four of them, heading out for breakfast in the middle of the week in a place like Citi Gardens. Even more so when the menu was a document listing food and drinks that were anything but healthy.

The children were delighted. Slana seemed just as excited. Breakfast was bagels and cheesy rolls, and thick chocolate shakes and coffee with loads of cream and sugar.

"Today's special," Slana said after they ordered. "We're celebrating, and thus the terrible breakfast. It's not going to be an everyday thing. Okay? Get that into your heads. I'll have the kitchen ready by the time you come back from school. We'll have a feast tonight. And starting tomorrow, we'll be having proper meals. I'll be making sure of that."

"Mom makes the best feasts," Yugo declared. "She's nice enough otherwise."

"Wow. High praise for your loving mother," Slana said sarcastically.

Yugo stuck out her tongue. Mia smiled as she gently patted the arm of a confused Vesper.

"It's nothing," Mia told Vesper.

"I'm sure I'll like that," Vesper told Slana. "Home cooked food is always better, right?"

Slana nodded as she beamed at him. Something was off, but she couldn't put a finger on exactly what it was. She couldn't help feeling the same looking at Vesper and Mia, as she did looking at Yugo. Fab and she had always wanted another child. She was happy with the idea that maybe she now did have two more children.

Slana offered to walk them to school, and was silenced by the reactions. Yugo was staring suspiciously. Mia was looking at Vesper, who looked blank.

"Why now?" Yugo asked.

"You don't want me to?" Slana asked back.

"Why're you being so different today?"

"I'm just being a good mother."

"I don't understand," Vesper cut in.

As usual, Mia took his hand and explained. "Yugo did say mom was lazy."

"Isn't it nice then that she's walking us to school?" Vesper asked.

"Exactly," Slana agreed immediately.

"I'm still suspicious," Yugo said. And this time Mia nodded with her.

"It is suspicious," Mia said softly. "There's definitely another motive."

"Oh," Vesper said. Looking at Slana, he asked. "What is it?"

"How could you change so easily?" Slana asked, looking shocked.

"Mia said there was another motive," Vesper replied, like that was answer enough.

Mia beamed. Yugo nodded. Slana looked between Mia and Vesper. She almost asked out, what was it between them.

"I'll walk you to school, and then continue onward to Farth. Get the moving done."

"Oh," the girls said, nodding.

"Don't tire yourself out," Vesper said.

Slana was moved. "You're such a nice boy. Much better than Yugo. You're my kid from now."

"Sure," Vesper agreed easily.

"Me too," Mia said, grabbing Vesper's and Slana's hands.

"Sure," Slana said.

"We're family then," Yugo said excitedly. "That's so cool. We should call dad. Tell him I have a brother and sister. He'll be so happy. I'm sure he'll rush back home. I miss him."

"He'll be home next month," Slana said. "Promise. And he'll be staying a long time. You won't be missing him anymore."

"That's so nice," Yugo screamed. "It'll be so much fun. Tell me the exact date, so I'll mark it in the calendar."

Slana walked up to the gates, seeing the children in, before turning around and leaving.

The rest of the morning was no different. They had physical training in the morning. The others cultivated under the direction of seniors and the teachers, while Vesper advised old man Migu. Then the six had lunch together, at the school canteen. The table they sat at yesterday was empty today as well, starting to seem like it was becoming their table.

Halfway through lunch, Yugo remembered the plan for the weekend.

"You guys will be coming over this weekend. We'll have a party."

"Party?" Cain asked.

"Yeah, party," Yugo answered, grinning excitedly. "We're family now. And we're excited about the new homes. A party to celebrate."

"It's clear that Vesper has a great affect on little Yugo," Abel said, wearing the amusement bare on her face. "Think that's a good thing Cain?"

Cain scowled, but could say nothing. He felt stupid at feeling jealous over Vesper. And then, he hated being laughed at by Dee, Abel and Mia, who had seen through his thoughts, while Vesper and Yugo stared blankly.

Lunch was over. They walked off to their classes. There, a surprise was awaiting Vesper.

Mr Prasad walked in. After the students greeted him, he looked straight at Vesper and spoke in a voice that couldn't hide the excitement.

"Last night, we had a long discussion. Us teachers, along with the principal. It was decided that Vesper would be changing classes. He'll be joining the special class."

"Do we have a special class?" A boy from the front asked.

"We do now," Mr Prasad answered with a smile. "All you competitive boys and girls who want to get into the special class too, know this, Vesper is the standard."

That silenced all questions. The most arrogant had to admit, Vesper was a high standard. No one could say with certainty that they could match up.

"So, Vesper. Follow me out. I'll show you to your new class."

Vesper looked at Mia before leaving. She nodded, telling him it was okay. He nodded back, smiled, and followed Mr Prasad out.

They walked along the empty corridors in silence, leaving the first years' building and heading to a smaller building that was in the centre of the school grounds and yet seemed more remote. They went up to the second story of the building, which was entirely a library.

"This is the teachers' library," Mr Prasad explained. "Students can request permission to access the library. This is smaller than the student library and has lesser books in number, but all the books are of an advanced level. I think you'll have fun. This will be your classroom. The principal will be your teacher. He is a little busy today, so you'll be by yourself. Read some books. Sleep. Or whatever you feel like. I'll be leaving then."

Vesper nodded without looking, but that was enough for Mr Prasad. The physics teacher was well aware of the allure of the place. It wasn't something just everyone understood, but those who did were quite alike.

— Well, I like this place. Has a nice vibe. Especially when we've got it all to ourselves.

"Yeah," Vesper agreed. "A beautiful place. And so welcoming of sleep."

— Of course. Sleep comes all dressed up to all beautiful places. Let's get some of our own then?

"Yeah."

One other thing very good about the library, now the classroom for the special class, was the wide sofas there were a few of. Vesper went to the one in the deepest corner and lay on it comfortably. Closing his eyes was easy. He needed the sleep. The darkness was simpler in the complete silence. And very familiar. He lost track of time as he floated in the darkness. But after a long time, he found no sleep. And then, it hit him. The familiarity, was reminiscent of the old times.

He opened his eyes, and sat up on the sofa. Leaning against the straight back cushion, he pulled up his legs, curling into himself. It was the most protected posture to rest in, something he picked up as Farges on a young battlefield.

— Can't sleep?

"No. Think it's the old ways."

— What brought them about?

"Think that's important?"

— Certainly helps understand better. Let's see. The only thing different is the dimensional rift project. Can't get over it, like everything else. It even triggered the desire to stop the war.

"Yeah. Can't disagree. So, what do we do?"

— You already know.

"We get started."

— For the sake of a beautiful life. We need to hold something real in our hands.

Vesper nodded. Sighed. Began gently shaking awake the muscles of his body, starting with the head and proceeding downward.

— Something you picked up on the battlefield?

"Everything I know, is picked up from the battlefield."

— A true son of war. More accurately, the heir of war.

"That's funny. The heir of war. Really funny."

Laughing, he went up to the nearest access node, on a large table.

— This is interesting. Technology that isn't required in a library. Yummy. Lot's of secrets rest hidden in here. Makes the place even more fitting. Power up the node. We can access it from the sofa. I'm sure you like the sofa quite a bit.

"That I do. Good technology."

He returned to the sofa after powering on the access node. He pulled up a screen, and let Vesper get started with his magic.

He first connected with his virtual system, giving himself backdoor access to the academy's systems, and increasing the processing power available to his virtual system. Then, he created a new blank identity, gave it the name, Heir.

Heir set off on his long adventure, the first target being the dimensional rift project.