The cool wind of fate washed over Evan and Claire as they stepped outside of the Council's hall. All around, the edges of the of the sky radiated violet, sealing the dome of night that encapsulated the isle.

"Fullwing, your things," the guard said.

Claire turned to the guard: "Thank you. I'd nearly forgotten."

The guard handed her a pistol, sword in its scabbard, and the black case she'd stowed on the ship before Evan's test. "Apologies, but they never handed me your pin."

"No matter, I have spares at home."

The guard saluted Claire before retreating back into the chamber. Evan stared at the case with wonder. What was it his sister had purchased before they'd set off for his exam?

Claire fixed her sword to her belt on her left hip. The silver and gold lined hilt shone in the moonlight. She holstered her pistol behind her back and picked the case up from the stone steps.

"Have I waited long enough to know what's in the case, sis?"

"Seems so. It's a gift for you anyways, on the occasion that you passed your test this time." Claire laid the case flat in her palm and unhitched the clasps. Each one popped and rattled as they were set free.

The case cracked and Evan could see red velvet just inside. Claire opened it. Inside was a broadsword sheathed in blackened leather with gold leaf decoration. The hilt was polished steel, shaped like the wings of shrike with a circular pommel and cut amber set in the center. Next to the sword was a standard officer's pistol with five bullets held in a gun belt only issued to Airship pilots.

Evan's eyes grew wide. He picked the sword up and drew it. The double-edged steel blade was polished like a mirror and reflected the moon into Evan's blue eyes. Evan held the sword out, feeling the balance between blade and handle. He swung it around. It slipped through the air as if the sword were nothing but an illusion.

"It's beautiful. This must've cost way too much, Claire..."

"Nonsense, you were fifth in your fencing class at the Academy. That's no small achievement since only the top ten can apply to become a pilot."

Evan sank the sword back into its sheath and picked up the gun belt. It was identical to Claire's. The bullets seated on the right hip with a place to fasten the sword on the left while the pistol rested in its holster behind the wearer.

The pistol was a more recent design. The barrel was rectangular with the corners cut at an angle. It boasted a faster load speed now that the powder used to propel the bullets was housed in brass casings. A chamber in the barrel would pop up and eject a spent casing, allowing the gunman to load the next round with ease.

This chamber was released with a simple button at the top of the handle, and next to it was a trigger safety mechanism that had been installed to prevent accidental misfires. That way, the wielder could load a round to fire when needed instead of keeping the gun empty, shaving valuable seconds in the heat of battle.

Evan took the belt and fastened it around his waist, then affixed the sword. The newly added weight helped the realization of his attained dream set within.

"Come on, Evan, mom's got to be worried to death about us!" Claire called from the street.

Evan hadn't even realized she'd moved; he'd been so enthralled with the sword. He jogged to catch up to her.

The cobbled streets of Estailia were barren save for the oil lanterns that gave glowing spots of light amidst the silver of night. Flowers of red and blue swayed in their window boxes above the two as they climbed up the hill the city was built into.

Evan rested his left hand on his sword hilt and tried to stand taller than he normally was. He pushed his chest out and swung his right arm wider.

Claire caught him in the corner of her eye and chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand. "What in all the isles are you doing?"

"Walking, what's it look like?"

"It looks like I don't know you, that's what. Stop acting ridiculous."

"I'm not acting ridiculous! I'm showing confidence!"

"To who? The flowerbeds?" Claire laughed harder.

Evan's chest deflated and his cheeks burned red. "That's how we were told officers should walk, with confidence in all they do."

Claire stopped as she held her stomach and bent over with more laughter. "Yes, but you don't strut around like a cockatrice who's just fertilized his brood!"

"Well at least I don't look like I'm eternally pissed off when I walk!" Evan furrowed his brow.

"I do that because it makes my soldiers feel uneased, as they should in the presence of their superior." Claire's smile faded and her eyes narrowed on her brother. "If your soldiers see you as their buddy, then they will question your orders, and a-"

"A soldier who questions orders will do so in battle and put the lives of everyone aboard at risk," Evan droned. "I know, Claire. I was top of my class in academics, remember?"

"You can't call me by my name anymore. You'll need to get used to calling me by my rank now that you're officially a part of the Alliance."

"Mother won't like that when we're in her house, Fullwing Montresser." Evan threw his hands behind his head, watching Claire's face contort at his jibe. He smirked. "I'll address you properly when we're in the presence of the Alliance, but you were my sister first. Rank or no rank, we're family, Claire."

Claire let her fist fall to her side as she looked away from Evan. "I still think you should request a transfer to Stratwing. Your talent for strategy would serve the alliance better than your-"

"Just because you and mom don't want me to fly doesn't mean I can't."

"It's not that Evan, it's..."

"It's what? You don't want me to leave like dad?" Evan's face darkened. "Just because I want to fly away from this damned rock doesn't mean I'm anything like him..."

"That's not what I mean, Evan."

"Then what is it, Claire? You and mom have always tried to convince me to be anything but what I've dreamt of being! I get mom's reasons, but you're a Leaf too! Why don't you want me to fly, Claire?"

"Because I don't want you to die!" Claire stopped and grabbed Evan's shoulders. "You heard Grandwing Listair didn't you? We're at war now... People... People are going to die, Evan-lots of people. I just... I don't want to see you be one of them!"

"And what about you, Claire? Do you really think I want to stay here taking care of mother when we get the news that you were killed? No. I want to fight."

"You're only sixteen!"

"And you're only eighteen! What's age got to do with it, Claire?"

"I..." Claire turned her gaze from Evan

"I thought so." Evan pushed her hands off him and continued walking up the street.

"I don't want you to leave me like father did..." Claire whispered to herself.

She wished she could've told her brother that, but she could never push those words out. After she'd gotten the news of their father, she'd envied Evan's resolve to find him. She never admitted it to him, but she looked up to how strong he'd been about it.

When her mother had come home that day, he was the one to tell her. All Claire could do was hide in her room and wish her father would walk in through the door for the following week. It wasn't until Evan dragged her out of her room and told her he was going to become a Leaf and go find dad that she snapped out of her melancholy.

The only reason she'd joined first was so Evan couldn't leave her either, and because she admired his strength and resolve.

Both of the Montresser children had been changed that day. Evan became a man of his word to a fault, and Claire wanted nothing more than to keep what was left of her family close at heart.

As Evan walked away from her, she swore he looked taller and that his shoulders were broader. Perhaps he was right. She should be more supportive in his dream.

"Mom, we're home," Evan called into the house.

Claire shut the door behind her, closing off some of the moonlight that lit the foyer.

"Evan? Is that you?" Their mother came rushing down the stairs. "Oh Evan, Claire! I was worried sick!" She threw her arms around Evan and waived Claire over, finding room to embrace her as well. "They told me you both were arrested for treason? Why would they say that? You were taking your exam..."

"It's a long stor-" Evan began.

"We can't talk about it mother, but we're okay. It was all a misunderstanding." Claire pushed away from her mom. "Evan passed..." She gave a forced smile. "And we have to leave in three days on assignment."

Their mother looked at Claire. Her eyes were red and overflowing with tears. "Already?"

"It's a condition, mom," Evan said.

"But why so soon? You just came back to me after a week."

"And that's how the military works, mom."

"I know, but they never send you away that quickly unless... No." She pulled away from Evan and brought her hands over her mouth. "Did the Empire attack? Are we at war?"

Both Claire and Evan looked at their feet. Neither one wanted to confirm the truth their mother already knew.

"No! You can't leave! I won't allow both my children to fly off and die!"

"We're not being sent to the front lines, mother. That's all I can tell you. We'll be safe. I'll watch over Evan."

"Evan this is exactly why I didn't want you to join!"

"Mom, we already talked about this. This is what I've dreamed of doing my entire life... having to fight is just something that comes with it."

"Don't lie to me! You could easily fly a trade ship or some other non-military related job!"

"Mom, you and I both know the only way to get a license on this island is to join the Alliance. We're not talking about this again. It's already been done..." Evan looked away from his mother. "You let Claire join without a fight anyways," he muttered under his breath.

"Evan Reginal Montresser!"

"Right, so I have to start packing... Have fun dealing with mother now, Evan." Claire pushed passed her mother and ascended the stairs.

"I am your mother and you will not speak to me that way or about your sister in that manner! Your sister was allowed to join because we needed money..."

Claire listened to her mother's yelling trail off into a muffled rumble as she climbed to the third floor where her room was. She pushed the door open and felt the night breeze rush over to her face. The window across from her was open just like how she'd left it the morning of Evan's exam.

The city of Estailia twinkled just beyond its sill and a bed of sleeping flowers being rocked in their slumber. Claire shivered and shut the window. She began to unclip the bindings that held her plate armor together, placing it neatly in one of the corners of her room. She winced at the smell that came from her unwashed body the armor had managed to subdue.

Claire fussed over the desire to bathe or sleep. Her scent putrefied her nose, but her body called to her bed.

"What's done is done, mom!"

Claire heard Evan's voice from the floor below her. By the heavy falls of his feet, he was ascending the stairs to his room as fast as he could.

"Why is it that neither you nor Claire will support my dreams?"

Claire jumped as Evan slammed the door to his room. A second pair of footsteps climbed the staircase to the third floor. The worn boards creaked under their mother's feet. Claire could hear the soft sobs her mom gave the closer to the third floor she came.

"Mother," Claire called from behind her door.

"Bring him back to me, Claire. Both of you had better come back... That's my wish to you as a mother."

Another door scraped against the floor as it shut. Claire sat on her bed, starring out at the sleeping city below her window. She curled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, resting her cheek upon their tired tops.

"Don't worry mother, I swear no harm will come to him... Even if it takes my life instead..."

Three days ticked by like seconds on the clock tower that stood in the height of the city. Claire and their mother sat on their porch enjoying their morning tea while Evan crashed through the house trying to gather all the things he'd need for the journey.

"Claire!" He yelled from his window. "What all will I need to bring? I get clothes, but are we supposed to dress in our parade uniforms or..."

Claire pinched her brows together. Her nose wrinkled as her upper lip lifted from her teeth. "Evan, you idiot! Did the academy teach you nothing? We're in a war and you think walking around in your parade uniform is what you should be wearing? Also, what kind of Leaf waits until the last second to pack! You were given a list from your commanding officer two days ago!"

"I kind of lost it... Besides, I had to say goodbye to my friends! Who knows when we'll be deployed to the front!"

"Bring your cuirass, and let's go! I'm not going to be late because you couldn't get your life together!"

An ensemble of things crashing, and glass shattering exploded from the second floor.

"I swear to the gods. The only thing I'm going to enjoy about my brother being a Leaf is that I get to punish him. Maybe after having his sister order him around, he'll get his ass in to-"

"Language, Claire. Remember who's roof you're still under," her mother interjected. She swirled her tea before downing the last sip. Placing her cup on the table between her and her daughter, she rose to her feet.

"Sorry mother..."

Claire rose to meet her. Her mother stepped forward and pulled Claire in close. Even through her armor, she could feel her mother's warmth reach her chest.

"Be safe, Claire. Take good care of your brother. I'm going to miss you," her mother whimpered.

"I will, mother. We'll return as soon as we can, I promise." Claire pulled her mother closer. Her heart raced. She knew their mission would take them further from the frontline, but still the thought of war had wrapped its terror around her like a vice.

They had been lucky during Evan's test. Had they not been in The Gauntlet, that Empire warship would've torn them out of the sky without mercy. Worse, she couldn't shake the thought that any one of those cannonballs could've hit her or her brother with ease.

"I'm ready," Evan said from behind her.

Claire and their mother broke their embrace, and their mother pushed passed Claire to her son. Evan dropped his duffle on the porch and wrapped his arms around his mom.

"Be safe and listen to your sister! And for gods' sake, you're a Leaf now. Act like one, please baby?"

"I will, mom."

"Come on, pipsqueak, let's go." Claire picked up her own pack and patted Evan on the head before she stepped down into the small garden that lived in front of their house.

Evan grumbled and feigned straightening the disheveled mop atop his head. He followed her. She turned to see her mother's puffy red eyes as she waived and gave one final goodbye before closing the gate behind her.

By some miracle, Evan had managed to put himself together. His breastplate covered his favorite blue hooded shirt and held a decent polish. Evan had never been one to keep with the latest trends like many others his age. Petticoats were cumbersome under armor anyways.

Her eyes were pulled to the collar of his shirt as she continued her secret inspection of him. The emerald alder leaf shaped pin was unobstructed in view, the tip of the leaf pointed toward the centerline of his neck per regulation. It was clear he took care in placing it. Despite his faults, he looked like true Secondwing.

It wasn't long before they reached the docks.

They were busier than ever as Leaves and dock hands rushed about preparing ships for sail. Merchant ships were weighed heavy with military supplies to fortify the front isles, but one ship floated immaculate above the rest-The Valkyrie.

Claire and Evan gasped in its wake. The wood appeared to sparkle before them. Every detail carved into its hull was done so with expert care to appear as the ship was made of wooden wings growing from a woman etched into the bow of the ship.

Her gaze was fierce to strike fear into those who opposed her, and her hand was raised to give the appearance of wielding a sword that stretched out into the sky from the ship. The sword shone as polished as any metal aboard the elegant craft.

"So, this is the Valkyrie..." Claire gasped. "It's smaller than I imagined."

"That's probably to emphasize speed and maneuverability, sis."

"I knew that!"

"Did you? I wasn't sure sound travelled all the way up there." Evan side-eyed her. He ducked below the arm that threatened to cleave his head off next.

"I should put you on the ground for talking to your superior officer that way," Claire snarled.

"That would be against our agreement, remember? Until-"

"Until we board the ship, you and I are still brother and sister, yes, I remember, Evan."

They both turned back to the ship.

"The thing that amazes me is that there's no airsail." Evan placed his hands behind his head. "It's powered by two cores, one that governs directional movement, and the other keeps the ship afloat. The Valkyrie has broken every speed record known to the Alliance."

Claire rolled her eyes: "C'mon know-it-all. Let's go report." She shoved Evan before stepping out onto the dock.

Evan stumbled, gritting his teeth. She'd already walked into view of the other Leaves that would serve on this mission, so he couldn't get back at her. He picked up his duffle and ran to catch up with his sister.

"Fullwing Claire Montresser, and her younger brother, Secondwing Evan Montresser." A giant of a man towered before the two. He was dressed in extravagant full plate armor with a gold trim. A red cape with an eagle feathered collar sailed behind him in the breeze.

In his left hand, he held a huge scabbard lined with red velvet and gold leaf trim. The scabbard curved and flared toward the end. Evan guessed the sword was about his height-a great falchion-designed for cleaving between plate armor and eviscerating the flesh behind it.

Evan and Claire snapped to a salute. "Reporting for duty, Commandwing Vausse," they said in unison.

His eyes narrowed on the two Leaves. Evan felt a sense of fear trickle down his spine as the man's dark eyes, turned to him. He tried to hold eye contact but couldn't. He looked to Claire who seemed to transform from his sister into a disciplined Leaf of the Alliance.

Evan could feel the weight of the Commandwing's gaze leave him. He turned back to study the man who'd be coordinating this mission. He had dark hair slicked back to perfection. A deep sword scar etched across his forehead, and an aged face. He'd been one of the few to survive the Battle of Centralis that brought the war with the Empire to an end sum twenty years ago.

He scratched the makings of a devilish beard with his free hand. "I was given a full report on you two. Both of you are under probationary command and assigned to me. I have one rule: obey my orders, got that?"

"Yes, sir!" Claire barked.

"Y-yes, sir." Evan was a little more cautious in his response.

"Good. None of that joyriding that landed you in my unfortunate care. I will work you to the bone because I expect the best out of you. The Alliance didn't give me command of its finest warship for leniency. If I tell you too, you will give your life. If I order it, you will execute without question. Especially you, Secondwing." His eyes bored into Evan once more.

Evan thought his heart would burst from the pace it jumped to. "Y-y-yes, sir..."

"Good. Get on my ship and make ready. Welcome to The Valkyrie."