There was no grand ceremony for their graduation; they just attended their last class, and as they left, they were given their assignment. Sun was glad there was no pomp and ceremony to it; she'd had enough of that lately.
By the end of the week, her arm was able to come out of the cast as well, thanks in large part to the healing efforts of the casters that worked in the infirmary. She was glad to be starting her Revenancy without her broken arm.
When she walked out of class and received her assignment, she noticed she wasn't the only one. Seph and Cullen got theirs as well. Vaan wasn't in this class; did he get one too? She was curious to know where they ended up, if only to make sure they weren't in the same one. While they managed to ignore each other just fine, she didn't want that to have to be a daily occurrence for the rest of her career.
"Illusen", she heard Seph call.
She looked at him curiously as he and Cullen came over to her. He shoved his hands into his pockets, avoiding eye contact with her. Finally he steeled himself with a deep breath and offered his hand out. With a wary eye she watched it a moment, then cast him a questioning look.
"We'll never be friends, but... I'm trying to bury the hatchet."
Oh. So they could go into their Revenancy with a bit of civility. Sun offered a small smile and took his hand, shaking it.
"Best of luck in your new divisions," she told them both.
There was almost a collective breath of relief as they parted ways with a bit of closure. Cullen had saved her life in the Traverse, and she'd saved his. And clearly Cullen was important to Seph, enough to offer something of an olive branch and drop all their enmity and resentment. That was something to be grateful for.
Once she was around the corner, she remembered her letter and tore open her envelope, skimming it for the information she was after and breaking out into a grin when she saw the words Division Eight in bold black ink. She needed to find Nick and show him, then they could go and see Zen. He likely would have been given his already as well. Scurrying down the hallway in search of her best friend, she didn't have to go far. He rounded the corner, a smile splitting his face at the sight of hers.
"The Eighth, then?" He asked.
She nodded, and he pulled her into a quick hug before they went off to see Zen. When they got to his room, he was sitting up with his letter, waving it at them as they entered.
"The Second!"
Sun held up hers. "Eighth!"
Nick raised his arms up and added, "Eleventh!"
Sun chuckled and pulled up her usual seat. "Are you even going to be able to start on time?"
"No, they reckon I'll be in here another week, maybe two," Zen replied with a pout. "I can feel my body getting out of shape. I need to get back out there."
"I think you might be right," Sun said.
"Your muscles do look smaller now that you mention it," Nick agreed.
"I think you're getting a gut; are we bringing you too much food?"
Zen shot them a fierce glare that had the other two devolving into laughter. "That's not funny."
"I'm sure you'll whip yourself back into shape in no time," Sun said, plonking her feet up on the bed and settling in.
They spent the rest of the afternoon chatting, mostly about what they expected from their new positions – what their commanders might be like, their squadmates, and their division buildings. Zen was disappointed he wouldn't be starting immediately like they were, but he just had to suck it up; there was nothing to be done for it. The healers were doing what they could.
Once dinnertime rolled around, she decided to head home. She made it a point to be home for breakfast and dinner most days.
Every morning before breakfast, they spent an hour and a half in the training hall – not nearly as magnificent as the one in Solaryse – but still well equipped and sturdy enough for Kalys to use his abilities and casts without destroying the place. Or perhaps it was just his perfect control over his element. Training had ramped up now that she was out of her cast as well.
And every evening she made sure she was there for dinner, and after dinner they retired to the solar while he read to her from the journal. They spent a lot of time discussing what they read as well as Sun's own experiences compared to those of their ancestors. She had really come to look forward to it, having someone to discuss all this with. While the boys would listen, they didn't understand, and they didn't know. Kalys was still learning himself, but he had a much better basis for it now.
Still, as much as she looked forward to these nights, she didn't hurry home; her steps slower than usual. In her uniform pocket she felt her letter burning a hole. She didn't think Kalys would want her in his division, but she wondered if he might have been a little offended she didn't at least apply or ask.
Commanders had the final say in who they allowed into their divisions, so he would know she hadn't even tried.
The best way to navigate this was probably to just not mention it. If she didn't bring it up, maybe he wouldn't either. She would start with the Revenants, and neither of them would ever say a word of it.
Once at the manor, it was too close to dinnertime to go and change from her uniform, so she headed straight to the dining room rather than make him wait. Kalys was already there, a teapot and two cups set out.
"Are you well, Sun?" He asked, pouring out the tea.
He asked her that a lot, usually on the heels of some terrible incident, but now and again he asked even if nothing had happened. She was starting to wonder if it wasn't just his way of asking how she was doing.
"I am," she replied. "Are you well, Kalys?"
She almost stumbled at the question. It was such a rare occurrence she asked. That fact must have registered with him too; she caught the flash of surprise in his eyes before he smothered it. She should remedy that.
"I am."
She took a seat, watching his graceful hands as they raised his cup to his lips. Biting the inside of her cheek to snap her attention back, she took hold of her own tea. The fruity scent had her relaxing just a tad. The strawberry tea was one of her favourites. Not quite as tasty as the fruit itself, but close.
"Congratulations on being accepted into the Eighth," he said.
Her fingers flexed around her cup as she inwardly flinched, her eyes shooting to his. He was looking her way, but whatever opinion he had on this was not visible in his gaze. It very rarely was.
"You know?"
"Of course."
"Before I did?" She asked after a moment of thought.
"Yes."
She didn't like that. Did he know because they all discussed every recruit or because he'd specifically sought out the information? She doubted he would answer if she asked.
"There is something we must discuss," he told her, setting down his cup.
She listened intently, doubting anything good was going to follow.
"Tomorrow I will be leaving on a mission."
"Up North?"
He nodded. "I do not know how long I'll be gone. My duties will fall to you. Grandfather will be arriving tomorrow to help you and teach you in my stead."
Kalys had always meant to teach her these things, but upon arriving at the manor, she had so much to learn already. He had been waiting for the right time, when she was proficient enough in other areas that he could drop something from her workload and replace it with clan duties. Unfortunately, time had run out. Grandfather was a good and patient teacher; he would probably be a better one than Kalys. This could be a good thing. Kalys wasn't blind to how tense she was around him, especially in their training sessions, and the fear of his disapproval that seemed to burden her.
How strange. He would have loved it if she'd had this fear right from the start; now it only made him feel guilty. He didn't want her fearing him in any way. He had grown fond of the moments her outspokenness reared its head or the rare moments she actually voiced her opinion to him.
He loathed to leave her on her own so soon after what had happened in Solaryse. But Jinn would be here, and Mika, who he also had following her to and from the academy to make sure nothing untoward happened. And Sun was no wilting flower incapable of defending herself. She was a full-fledged Revenant now. And she was improving in leaps and bounds in their training sessions; he knew what she was capable of. Though she still had a ways to go, she was a quick learner and very determined. He admired that about her.
He was curious as to why she applied to the Eighth and pleased she had. Commander Mercer was one of the few he trusted, and he expected she would fit in well there. The Eleventh would have been another good choice, or his own division. And he had already had a word with Mercer; he would keep Sun close to home and never order her away for weeks at a time. And Mercer agreed, despite his reluctance, for which Kalys was glad. Any patrolling she did do would be limited to Kolver and the surrounding area. Kolver was one of the safest places in Nostravan, in large part due to Perdition's mere presence.
"Will you be... in battle?" She asked hesitantly.
He gave a nod. If his division took part in full-scale battles, he led the charge and coordinated from the front. He expected nothing of his people he wouldn't do himself. And it was easier to keep them alive when he fought beside them.
"Have you been in many?"
Her brows were furrowed; he could see the concern in them, and it warmed him to know it existed at all.
"I have."
"Have you ever been injured? Badly?"
"A few times, in my younger years. I'm far more experienced now, and it has been years since I've even been scratched," he assured her.
He had named her his heir in the unlikely event of his death. Did her concern stem from the fear she might be left Clan Head or for him? He knew which he preferred, for more reasons than one.
"Everything will be fine, Sun."