Page 138 of Revenge of the Forgotten

I hope you understand why I’ve made this decision without you. Be here, protect our people.

I’ll be back soon.

Dum vita est, spes est—while there is life, there is hope.

All my love & until the very end,

Vega

The sunrise over the water illuminated the sky in pink and purple pastels, birds flying over her with their happy morning tweets. Vega’s eyes never left the horizon, taking in what very well could end up being her last Tolevarre sunrise. Gods, I hope not.

There were so many unknown variables. What if it didn’t work and she did end up back on Earth with no memories? How long would Arlet wait before coming to look for her this time? Would she even come to find her?

It wasn’t a matter of if the war broke out. Now it was a matter of when—when was only a week away. And Arlet was needed here, not out gallivanting to find Vega.

She shook the doubts away, focusing on the coastline ahead. This will work. I will make it out alive, and I’ll show my sister who she’s been messing with.

By the time she’d made it to the secluded docks, Vega’s boots were under at least an inch of water. The tiny boat had somehow made the hour-long journey, keeping Vega afloat and safe from a cold plunge into the Sea of Ros.

It was the morning of Saturnalia, and families were huddled in their homes, opening gifts and enjoying their time together. It was the one day a year most people took off from their daily lives to simply enjoy what peace they could find in the world today.

Vega passed very few people moving through the quiet streets. They waved as she walked by, giving her pleasant smiles and blessings of happiness for the holiday.

She decided against covering her face or hiding behind a cloak. Vega was dressed in her training suit, letting her lightning hum through her body to keep her warm.

By the time word got back to Marlena, Vega would be gone.

After the attack Vega assisted with in Schoenus, the army increased the number of soldiers in and around Solum, but they’d been rather well behaved according to Urban.

They knew it was because they were lying in wait to attack, but their people didn’t. It was important to Urban to let them have one last holiday—they’d agreed to slowly start moving as many people as they could to Castra and deep into the forest of Vates.

Anyone who didn’t want to fight didn’t have to.

Vega knew she was getting close when she passed a few soldiers flirting with young locals, the insignias on their uniforms proudly displayed.

They didn’t pay Vega any mind while the girls twirled their pretty hair and laughed at whatever the boys were saying.

She felt a pang of jealousy for the lightness in their hearts, the free way they laughed with no worries. One day—one day she would be able to feel that way again.

When her sister was dead and they were free from her fatal clutch.

Vega walked for a few more minutes, moving herself to the shadows and alleyways when the groups of soldiers started to thicken. There were a few moving large bins into old cabins, families standing outside with their hands up, their kids crying with fear and confusion.

“Today? But it’s Saturnalia,” a mother holding her wailing baby asked a level eight soldier.

“I don’t make the rules, lady. Boss said get out, so you’ve gotta go,” the soldier told her.

“Where am I supposed to go?” the woman asked, containing her own tears.

“That’s not my problem,” he responded, pushing by to continue moving things into the house.

The local wiped at her face, handing the baby in her arms to the oldest child in the group while she gathered the few things she’d been allowed to grab from her home off the front lawn.

Vega’s heart broke for the misplaced family. “Pssst!” she hissed.

It took a couple tries before the woman found where Vega was hiding, her head finally perking up and catching Vega in the shadows. Carefully she walked forward, cautious like a fawn ready to bolt.

“You and your kids have nowhere to go?” Vega asked, the woman finally laying eyes on her.

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