Chapter 42: Timeskip, Part Six - Soldier Boy

Back when their Summer Break began, Rayon was miserable at the idea that he would spend his whole vacation without his brother.

Before Ciaran's exile, they had never spent more than a few hours apart, and the little soldier missed his brother dearly. He asked his parents if he was allowed to at least go and see his brother at the Academy, but it seemed even that was off-limits.

The wanted to complain, but seeing his mother so sad, and his father barely around, but when he was home he joked a lot less than before, the boy held it in.

He thought of going to the military base for the summer, but the idea of leaving his mom alone in the house somehow didn't sit right with him.

The days passed peacefully. if not boringly but Rayon still found entertainment in the house staff. Each and every one of them was more than happy to help him train and keep him and his mother company.

The only exception to this was one of the maids. She had been working exclusively with Ciaran before, and now she barely left the basement. Rayon was a curious boy, but his mother had told him not to go down there, and unlike his brother, he tended to follow orders.

By far the most attentive of their servants had been the gardener couple. They showered Rayon with compliments, and praises, thanking him for being their daughter's friend.

More than once he had asked them if they want him to call her over. Every time they refused, puzzling the boy in the process.

In complete peace, his first month went by. Rayon spent most of his time playing around the mansion and keeping his mother company. They even found a group activity they could enjoy, people-watching.

His mother was no stranger to his inability to read people and told him in the army would be a liability, so they decided to go out every day after lunch to walk around the city.

"What about her Ray, what is she doing, where is she going, what do you think is on her mind? " Camille asked, not even looking at their target, just placing her hand on her son's head and pointing at her with her elbow. It was very descript if you didn't account for Rayon, who suddenly turned around and stared.

He was a constant headache for his mother. Unlike his brother, he was raw. Very gifted in combat, average in everything else. Except for maybe stealth and subtleness, where calling his bottom of the barrel would be nothing but an insult to the barrel. And so she decided to work on that with him.

"The bakery, she has a basket with her, and today there is a sale. She doesn't look wealthy enough to disregard that, and their food is really good. She is old enough to have children, so she probably wants to get them a few treats as well. And, um… she has a hat so she doesn't like the sun?" The boy said, in a questioning voice.

Camille was very happy with this. His skills had improved, but unlike his brother, his mind was barely developed yet, so he could still enjoy most of his childish innocence.

"Let's go and see then. Plus, we can get you some sweats as well Ray." She said, and he blushed. He had indeed wanted to go. He was bad at hiding his intentions, and he knew it.

But training him to read people was just a small part of these trips, the main purpose of them was for the duo to spend time together.

Camille had fallen into depression when she learned what Ciaran was subjected to, with her permission no less. Her ignorance had cost one of her boys so much pain. But her sins did not end there, in her self-indulgence she had also neglected her other son, and now was the time to make amends.

She swore she would get closer to her boys, rules be damned. First came Rayon, and then she would get her other boy back. Slowly, not because she cared about the Empire and its damn rules, but because she still remembered her son's eyes. How much pain rested there, how they were the cause of it, and how someone else had to comfort him just so he could speak to her.

That day, she could not even utter a single word to him. But she would see him again, and she would. She would apologize, and beg for forgiveness if she must, but she would get her boy back. But that was for the, hopefully, near future, now her other boy needed her, and she would not disappoint.

Another week passed by, and she saw the irritation that was taking hold of Rayon. She knew her boy, so despite her wishes, she knew what to do.

"Ray, do you want to go to Grandpa's place for the rest of Summer. I know you want to train, and you have been keeping still for me, but don't worry I will come with you. Show me how much you have grown." She said with a gentle smile.

The boy was over the moon with excitement, and they went. Needless to say, the old couple was surprised and even happier to see them.

The Colonel took time off to train Ray himself, every day they would do drills and spar. And the two women watched them close enough so they could intervene if something happened. Naturally they were as safe as can be, but Camille was not taking any chances ever again, not with the old man, and not with her husband.

"Do you hate then Cami?" Edith asked her, worried about her answer.

Camille looked at her with a smile on her face, not betraying for a moment what she was thinking. They were far enough away so Ray could not hear them, but she had thought him to be literate, and so she took precautions.

"I don't. But they sicken me. I can barely hold my nausea around Liam. It's better with your husband. With the years we have been civil to each other, I have grown to love you both, but I did not trust you then. His keeping Ciaran's condition from me cut me more than any dagger ever could, Edith. And Ciaran showing understanding, now that was the final nail in the coffin."

"We haven't been raising a boy until now; we raised a man tolerant to pain, both physical and mental, who just happened to be six years of age. We gave him more of that reached potion, so he could be normal we said, so he could be smart. And here we are, with a son that understands why we had to cut him up and glue him together, piece by piece, leaving a wreck as the finished product. "

The old woman was sad beyond belief at her words, but she had cried in private, and there were still tears left to be shed, but not now, not in front of the boy.

"If it was me I would hate them. You have every right to. As disgusting as it sounds I envy you, Camille because you have the right to hate them. As far gone as they were in their monstrosity, they are still my husband and my son, I simply cannot. But Gods forgive me I want to." She said with a beaming smile on her face, but her hand was grasping Camille's, and she held her tight. This one weakness the old woman would allow herself this once. This one crack in her mask, hoping her grandchild would remain blissfully unaware.

The Colonel had his back to them, and his full attention was to the boy, but he still heard, and he still repented. He could not even apologize to his grandson, he was not permitted anywhere near the Academy, not by the monsters his grandson called siblings, but by Camille.

If he so much as sent one of his people near the boy, there would be war, and he would lose. She had warned him, abstinence or death, and she meant it. Worse still, he would not even blame, her, he could not.

"Come on boy, work harder. You want to help your brother out right? Get stronger and rise up the Ranks. We know Ciaran; this will hardly be the last time he gets himself into trouble. You need to grow up and be his support. The strong protect the weak." His grandfather shouted at him.

There was no better motivation for the little soldier, he fought and pushed through. Day after day he made progress, and finally, he heard the call of the Earth. His family was beaming with joy. And eight days, before the new academic year he underwent the Rank One procedure.

When he came out he looked, virtually the same, but the difference could be felt. He was stronger, and his perception was now one with the Earth. His grandfather was the happiest. The old man had found his perfect little soldier, but his mom was sad.

She wanted to protect the childhood of at least one of her babies, but alas, fate had other plans. If she could not keep him safe, then at least she would teach him how to protect himself, not from physical harm, but from the dirty politics he would be subjected to from now on.