“Akira?” Maka sounded confused, and his eyes clouded over again.
“Maka, it’s been ages since I’ve seen you,” Akira said, looking happy.
“Hello Akira,” Lief greeted from next to Maka, his tone friendly.
“Hi Lief,” Akira replied, turning to the younger boy and smiling at him. She then turned to where Momo, Kiri, and Jane were standing uncomfortably.
“And who are these three?” she asked, smiling kindly.
“This is Jane, Momo, and Kiri. They’re orphans traveling with us to the Peno Cito,” Maka explained. Akira’s eyes swept over the three girls, taking in their appearance.
“They don’t look like orphans,” she commented.
“We know how to take care of ourselves,” Jane said defensively, sounding indigent. Akira gave them an odd look, then looked at Maka and jolted her head to the right, indicating she wished to speak to him alone. The two adults walked into a corner and whispered quietly. Lief, Jane, Momo, and Kiri watched then turned to each other.
“What do you think they’re talking about?” Lief whispered.
“Probably about how we’re not really orphans and how we should be dealt with,” Jane commented pessimistically.
“Right now they’re talking about how much they missed each other,” Momo said, watching the two adults intently.
“Momo, I didn’t know you read lips,” Kiri sounded impressed.
“Neither did I,” Momo replied, looking surprised. Kiri and Jane laughed, and eventually Lief joined in.
“So what’s your story?” Kiri asked Lief curiously.
“What?” Lief inquired confusedly.
“What was your childhood like?” Jane reiterated for Kiri
“I’ve spent as long as I can remember training to be a Ranger. I don’t remember a time before then. Maka says my parents died in a barn fire and that he tried to save them but couldn’t and so felt personally responsible for me,” explained Lief simply.
“So you don’t have parents?” Momo questioned, obviously feeling bad for their new friend.
“Not according to Maka I don’t.” Lief shrugged and smiled. “Personally, though, I think I do have parents but they are either criminals or ditched me or something like that.”
“That’s odd…..” Momo said slowly.
“Well, I was young when I thought it up, and I figured at least that would mean they’re alive somewhere,” explained Lief.
“Lief, you can stay in here with me. You three girls can stay in the midroom, the room between Akira’s room and mine,” Maka informed them, walking over. All four teenagers nodded and soon everyone was sleeping in their respective rooms.

Kiri woke up with the sun again the next morning. She got up and stared out the south facing window. She could see the castle coming to life as the guards changed post and servants went to begin their morning tasks. Out on the training field members of the Royal Guard and of the Rangers were already out sharpening their archery and swordsmanship skills. Kiri watched a group of youngsters, probably around her own age, respond to calls from an older man, probably in his late forties. The group was going through their seventh or eighth repetition when Momo woke up and walked over next to her friend. The two stood silently for a few seconds, until finally Kiri seemed to notice Momo’s presence and turned towards her.
“Good morning,” she said, smiling happily.
“Good morning,” Momo replied groggily.
“How’d you sleep?” Kiri inquired curiously, cocking her head slightly.
“Badly, you?” Momo responded, looking at Kiri.
“Badly. Kept having nightmares of home. But then, most the dreams I remember involve death in some way,” explained Kiri, shrugging indifferently.
“Yeah, same here. With the nightmares of home, not with the second part,” Momo agreed. Both friends laughed slightly. Their quiet conversation was interrupted when they heard Jane breathing heavily behind them. They turned to find her sitting bolt upright, looking around nervously.
“Bad dream?” Kiri guessed. Jane simply nodded, then shook her head violently.
“Good morning,” she greeted after a few seconds.
“Good morning,” Kiri and Momo both said. Jane joined her friends at the window, and the three girls watched as the sun rose higher in the sky, lighting first the tips of the trees then soon the entire landscape. Once the sun fully lit the room, Kiri took in the sights held within its walls.
Other than the one large window covering the entirety of the wall behind her, there were two sconces on the opposite wall and two candles on a small table in the middle of the room. There was a door on both shorter walls, one leading into Maka’s room and the other leading into Akira’s room. There was a wooden couch next to the table, facing the window. Large silk curtains hung on either side of the window, used to block out the light when the need arose. There was a tapestry with the likeness of the full moon hanging on the opposite wall in between the two sconces.
Her examination was cut short by a knock at the door to Maka’s room, and Momo went to open it. Lief was standing in the doorway and he slipped in quietly.
“Hey guys,” he greeted warmly.
“Hey Lief,” all three girls replied just as warmly. Lief joined them at the window, and the four friends watched the training on the archery range.
“Are you that good, Lief?” Jane asked Lief curiously.
“Not as good as the adult Rangers, no. I’m still in training,” Lief answered, humbly ducking his head.
“Are Maka and Akira that good?” Kiri inquired, the same tone of curiosity in her voice.
“Better,” Lief assured them almost before Kiri had finished asking. A look of awe spread across the girls’ faces as they watched the Rangers on the archery range and realized what that must mean. Before they could see too much more, Maka and Akira walked in from their rooms simultaneously.
“Good morning,” Maka greeted the four teenagers politely, nodding his head at them.
“Good morning,” all four teenagers responded politely. Akira merely nodded, her mouth stretched open in a yawn. Everyone else laughed, and Akira joined in once she regained control of her mouth.
After breakfast Maka and the four teenagers continued their journey, and Akira joined them. The road led them through a desert so vast it seemed to never end. The sunset that night was spectacular, painting the sky with pinks and oranges and reds.