Callie's Heroes

PART IV: DECISIONS TO BE MADE

"Arkan! Would you care to join us?" Xera called from the stands. They were seated next to Legate Galin, but with a bit of a polite buffer around the pair.

"Good afternoon," Pelidri said, taking a seat next to the Commandant. His further comments were interrupted as a groan went up around them, and he turned to see the recruit score had increased by another three points. "This appears to be quite the slaughter, or at least the start of one."

"There's little that can be done to stop a well-motivated Callie," Xera chuckled. "She appears quite motivated, today."

"Yes, apparently Trainer Reynard offended her somehow, so she's made the game a mission of 'petty revenge'."

"The best kind," Legate Galin grunted with a laugh from the other side of Xera.

"That does bring up something that occurred to me," Pelidri continued. "I've been observing your Recruit, Callie, and I've come to conclude there may be far more to her than might be expected in a Gnome so young. I was curious as to your plans for her? I believe she'd be wasted simply on the Ranger lines."

Xera had frozen a moment at the 'more to her' comment, worried that the Arkan had somehow determined Callie's secret, but relaxed as the rest of the statement played out. "After her combat actions both times, and based on training reports from both Reynard and Vonn, and for all the other Callie mischief, we've concluded much the same," Xera replied. "We are still awaiting reports from the front to confirm some suspicions, but if they play out as expected, I believe we have a way for her to use her … unique perspectives."

"Oh? Do tell."

Nodding, Xera began to outline their thoughts, with the Legate chiming in with his own, as well. Pelidri, for his part, largely kept quiet, ponderously rubbing his chin. Eventually, after a few questions and suggestions of his own, the Arkan concluded the plan was an excellent one.

A sudden rise of excitement came from the camp's side of the spectators, which quickly turned into a sad groan as the Major was forced to throw through the uprights for only a single point, just before being outright flattened by both Lena and Moka in tandem, bringing the score to 16-1. The recruits had apparently scored a couple more times while they'd been talking, with the first battle still only two-thirds over. The Major was a little wobbly being helped to her feet, Melga flying down from Healer patrol to give her a light touch.

Now with possession, the recruits fanned out, organizing themselves strangely for the start of their next drive. It was a familiar sight to those that had been here the previous week.

"Watch this play," Galin said, again leaning around Xera. "They started doing this last week, and it's going to be perfect madness."

"Oh?" Pelidri said as he focused intently on the game. On the field, most of the recruit players had started running around. At first glance the play made it seem they were all moving in random directions. But it was quickly obvious, especially from this vantage point, that it was all well choreographed, and Pelidri was immediately able to see how it was assembling itself together.

The ball was finally snapped, caught by Fynisse this time as she ran left across the field, before throwing forward to Lena.

The Major was on her student almost immediately though, intent on getting Lena back for the hit earlier, and Lena barely managed to get the ball tossed off to Xin before she was roughly taken down. The Lizardkin took four long strides, before throwing downfield to Jesca, who leaped high, catching the ball while executing a flip. Landing, the Cheetahkin turned to run towards Xin, lobbing an easy underhand throw back to the Spearmaster. Xin cocked back and let the ball fly, it again whooshing through the air hard enough that the Sentinel wisely ducked out of its path rather than use their face to block it, bringing the score up to 23-1.

"One of Callie's plays?"

"Hers or Pixyl's" Xera said. "Or perhaps the two of them working together. They are quite the pair. They call it Mass Confusion."

"Definitely appropriate," Pelidri laughed while making an appreciative face.

Play continued for a bit longer, the camp team missing a desperate attempt to score even one measly point, while the recruits scored for another three, and then a single point just as the battle came to an end, leaving the score at 27-1. There was little doubt where the momentum was, but the camp's team was strangely mostly smiles, as if taking the absolute pummeling they were receiving in stride, or maybe in awe. As for Callie, and even moreso, Pixyl, they were instead eager and intense, their players following closely as they went over their plans to continue the slaughter.

Down on the ground, Thorn, accompanied by his son, waved up towards Xera, before gesturing generally towards Nevikk. Xera, in turn nodded and motioned for them to approach.

"Do you need me to depart," Pelidri asked.

"Thorn and I arranged this time to discuss with young Nevikk his future. We're not in a position to release Thorn from his duties unfortunately, so there are some decisions to make."

"If you don't mind, then, I believe I'll stay. It turns out that Nevikk and I are actually related, by blood that is. Several generations removed, though. I've taken an interest in the boy's future, as a result."

"Even better," Xera said. "Follow our lead, if you would?"

Thorn walked up the bleacher steps, ushering his son ahead of him. "Go ahead," he said as they got close. "The Commandant asked for you, not for me." Thorn, like he'd done the evening before, was turning this into a lesson, to help his son's interactions with authority.

Visibly swallowing and obviously nervous, especially with his great-great-grandfather here too, Nevikk took a few steps forward. "Commandant, my father said you wished to see me?"

"Yes, young Master Nevikk," Xera said, their voice somewhat formal. "We have something to discuss and you have some very, very important decisions you need to make."

Nevikk swallowed, shot a glance at Pelidri, and then looked back to his father. Finally he squeaked out a slow, worried, "Okay?"

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"As I'm sure you can appreciate, we are in a time of war, and your father's contributions are quite critical to fighting it. Regrettably, even with your mother's … departure … we cannot release him from his duties. In such circumstances, children without another alternative for care are sent to a wartime boarding school."

"What?" Nevikk gasped, his eyes going wide as he shot a panicked look again at Pelidri, and then back to his father. "I … I don't want to go there!" He'd heard less-than-savory stories about what happened at these schools, and the spectre of hazing and the like suddenly loomed large. He would almost certainly be the only Cillisine Elf, and that would make him an easy target. Plus … while he was trying to be strong in the face of his mother leaving them, he honestly needed his dad right now.

"Nevertheless, that is what is to happen to you," Xera said flatly and with no emotion. There was the barest hint of a quivering lip forming on Nevikk's face, but then Xera continued, holding up a finger. "Unless …"

"Un … unless what?" Nevikk whispered.

"I am willing to make you an offer, and I want you to think very, very carefully before you accept it. If you agree, I will hold you completely accountable to it. You need to listen carefully. Do you understand?"

Nevikk nodded hesitantly, again looking up at Pelidri. He straightened and nodded with more conviction, as if trying to be strong for the elder Sylbane. "I understand."

"This is a military facility," Xera began. "We are not a place for children. As such, if you remain, you will be expected to grow up very fast. You will have two tasks while you are here. First, you will be provided with academic lessons and are to spend no less than three hours per day on them. But, you must be self-motivated, as we have no teachers here for someone so young. Your father will work with you during his off-time to check your work, and a few other people are willing to volunteer some of their time to assist as well. But, like your father, they have duties that take precedence. Nod if you fully understand what I just told you."

Swallowing nervously, Nevikk nodded. Part of him was actually trembling, both at trying to digest what Xera was saying, and in relief from the news that he might be able to remain.

"Second, you will work while you are here. At least one-half of every day, save Homeday, will be spent at your duty assignment. Think of this as an informal apprenticeship. To begin, you will be assigned to the Herdmaster, to assist him in the care of our small herd of korrox and curvax. We can rotate you through a few duties for a time, to see which you may enjoy the most, before you are permanently assigned to one." Xera locked their eyes with the young boy. "Nod again if you understand this second requirement."

"I understand," Nevikk said, nodding carefully.

"Working with the Herdmaster is a very good duty, Nevikk" Pelidri interrupted. "If you wish to become a Ranger in time, then knowing how to care for the animals, and perhaps even ride them, is quite the benefit."

"He's right," Legate Galin added encouragingly.

"Finally, and most importantly, I have one more requirement," Xera continued, their face becoming quite stern to reclaim Nevikk's attention, "you are to stay out of trouble. If there is any misbehavior on your part that rises to my attention, then I may not hesitate to send you away. I simply cannot have you interfering with our mission here, and will not tolerate it. As before, nod if you understand what I just told you."

Again, Nevikk hesitantly nodded to show he understood.

"Your father and I have reached an agreement. Barring the end of hostilities, he will remain here throughout the remainder of this term, through the next one, and then one more after that," Xera continued. "That will provide adequate time to see if your mother returns, or for me to find a replacement for him, should it be needed. So, even if you do not agree to these rules to remain, you would be at the boarding school for less than a year. That short time may factor into your decision."

Nevikk looked back to his father. "What should I do?"

"The choice is yours," Thorn replied. "I will respect whichever you make, but, like the Commandant said, if you stay you will need to obey the rules that were outlined."

"But Uncle Reynard and Auntie Natala will still be here, too, right?"

"Yes, they will be here, unless Reynard decides to move on between terms. Your Uncle Jorin will be here, too."

"He will?" Xera asked.

"That's right," Thorn said. "I hadn't had a chance to tell you, but Jorin, Natala and I spoke of it last night. We will need a Warrior trainer for that class starting this next term, and he's quite experienced. Topaz with a Symbiote, with decades of experience as an Adventurer. He does have a job he needs to do that will take up to a month, clearing out a newly-found cave system of monsters, but he'll return before the new term starts. Apparently it's a good source of mana stones to mine out, it's just currently … occupied." Then he added with a chuckle, "Natala wasn't initially thrilled about him being here, actually, although once informed a married couple is entitled to a much larger cottage with a separate bedroom, she changed her mind quickly. He occasionally snores, and I'm sure will be banished to the couch."

"There you go, my young progeny," Pelidri beamed. "You'll have plenty of family support here, if you wish to stay. But, like the Commandant, I expect you to learn, work and be on your best behavior, and you must respect that their duties will come first. This is an opportunity for you, but you must have the maturity to take it."

Pelidri's words seemed to calm him, and Nevikk turned around looking at his father. Then he looked out across the playing field, seeing Natala talking to Reynard, the Foxkin laughing about something. His eyes turned again, quickly spotting Jorin sitting with the two Gnome Bards, and what looked like several others in their musical troupe. He'd have his entire family here, and part of him knew he couldn't be without family right now.

"I'll stay," he said, turning to look back at the Commandant.

"Very well, Nevikk," Xera said, extending a hand to clasp wrists with the young boy and seal the agreement. "Abide by the rules you have agreed to, and all will be well. For now, relax and enjoy the remainder of the holiday, your work begins soon enough. You are dismissed."

"If I should return next Midsummer," Pelidri said as parting words, "I expect to hear nothing but a glowing report regarding your time here. If I were to find otherwise, I would be quite disappointed."

Nervous from the ominous warning, Nevikk quickly rejoined his dad. The two waved, Nevikk a little hesitant, before walking off.

"Thank you for that," Xera said to Pelidri, gesturing with their head towards Thorn and his son, the two now looking as if they were going to join Jorin and his group.

"You're very welcome. I thank you for giving him the opportunity."

"The Sergeant-Major brought me her concerns yesterday regarding what to do with Nevikk," Xera said, "and after speaking with Thorn, we realized he needed to have his family right now. Sending him to one of the holding homes would likely have caused him immeasurable harm at this time. My hope, by ostensibly allowing him to make the choice, that sense of responsibility will be much stronger, and he'll not only be less-likely to get into trouble, but might even learn some good life-lessons from his time here."

"It will help, I'm certain."

"Honestly, I'm quite reluctant to have children here, but equally reluctant to potentially lose Thorn. Despite my mockery last night, this place needs him, probably far more than it actually needs me."

"Well, let's just hope the boy can stay out of mischief," Pelidri said with a smile.

"Oh, I believe we have experience managing mischief these days," Xera said as a grin came to their face. They gestured towards the field where the recruit team was returning, bouncing and whooping. Under the encouragement of Callie, the remaining recruits in the stands were rising, all doing their 'stomp-stomp-clap' cheer in unison with the Field Marshal Gnome, apparently ready to 'rock' the opposing team.

"Perhaps you might want to keep young Nevikk away from Callie? Lest he pick up any ideas?" Pelidri recommended, partially in jest, and probably mostly not.