"Solem, I'll meet Commander Brick." Alexiese informs me. I just nodded. He starts to walk away to go where he's going. I was now alone here, sitting in a tall tree's branch, savored the cool breeze of wind and simmered the sadness I'm currently feel. I remember the times I was with my mom, when were still happy. I entered this Legion for something I want to do for my mother. And seeing one of close friend here in the base cry his heart out because he fell in love and lose that person because of being a part of all this things, I felt somewhat suffocated.

"I wish we could've other ways or choices just to prevent ourselves to fall in love." I whispered out to the air. While my mind floats with the wind, I was startled when an arrow was shot just in front of me. I turn around to see who shot the arrow, but saw nothing. I approach where it hit off the tree's branch, and found out that the it has a letter tied into. I carefully get the arrow off to where it hits, and opened the letter with caution. My lips turned into a curved smile after reading what was inside.

'Solem, please tell Hector I love him. I can't attain to lose this job for now, and losing him is the only choice I have. Tell him that we'll just see each other after 5 years outside the Legion. Thank you.' –Diana

I grasped the paper, but not enough to crumple it. So, Hector is right that Diana feels the same way towards him.

"5 years? Outside the Legion? What does she mean?" My brows furrowed, curiosity and confusion filled me. I started to go down from up the tree and hurriedly run towards the barracks on where Hector was staying.

"Hector?" I knocked on his door. "This is Solem, please open the door I've got something important to tell you." I knocked again, after a minute or two, the door swung open. Revealing a grieving Hector still with tears in his swollen eyes.

"You want to come in?" he palely asked. I just nodded and walked inside.

"What are you here for, Solem?" he asked the moment I sat up on Diana's bed.

"Hector, Diana sent me a message." I revealed, made his eye wide open. "She told me to tell you that she loves you very much. Here's the letter. It was tied up in an arrow that was shot near me." I gave him the small paper. He started to read the contents the moment he held it.

"D-Diana." He stuttered. His face now looked much lively than moments ago. His lips then broke into a wide smile with teary eyes. "5 years then."

"Hector, if you don't mind me asking, why 5 years?" I asked.

"I can leave the Legion after 5 years without embarrassment and with allowance allotted for being a part of it." He simply answered. "Remember that man in this time is mandatory to be part of the Legion, right? If we leave the Legion before we reach 10 years of service, we're discharged dishonorably. If women leave the Legion before the allotted time too, they wouldn't be allotted with Monetary allowance for retirement." He explained.

"Are you 5 years now in service?" I asked again.

"Yes, and another 5 years of waiting is something I can do just to be with Diana outside this Legion. It's nothing compared to the reward I'll have after the 5-year agony without her." The Hector I've met is back now as he talked.

"Good for the two of you then. I'm happy you found a way to be together though it'll take years before you can." I stood up, ready to leave.

"Thank you for telling me her message, Solem. It's a big thing." He said before I stepped out of his barracks.

"You're welcome, Hector. Remember I'm a friend of yours. I am where your happiness will be. And I will always be glad to be the bridge to where your happiness lies. Goodnight Hector." I wave to him goodbye before walking back to my own barracks.

"Where are you from? I've been looking for you!" Alexiese immediately asked the moment I entered our own barracks. "You didn't tell me where you'll be going. I was worried something bad happened to you when I came back to the tree and didn't saw you there." He exclaimed.

"Calm down, hothead." I sighed. "I just came from Hector's barracks to see him." I smiled.

"Why are you smiling? Hector's still crying his self out his barracks, that isn't something to smile about." He asked again.

"Well, Diana found a way in which they can be together. Though it will take years from now, but it's the best for the two of them." I sat on my bed. Legs crossed and facing his direction. "It's after 5 years."

"What the hell, 5 years? It means after his service? That's a very long time!" he exclaimed, fully bewildered.

"Hector said he wouldn't mind waiting." I happily said. "Those two will be living their life together soon. I'm happy for them!" I laid down my own bed, legs still crossed.

"Yeah, I'm happy for them too." He agreed, his face now brightens up as he smiles.

"I guess there are still choices for us then. We just need to find even though it looks like there's no other option offered." I stared at the ceiling, imagining Diana and Hector having a small family 5 years from now.

"There are always two choices in human's life, Solem. And oftentimes we don't see the other one because were blinded by a lot of things." He now laid his back on his own bed, also staring at the ceiling.

"Like what things, Alexiese?" I asked, turning my head to face him.

"Things like pride, fear and others. Those things always blinded people that they still have another choice." He explained. "Because humans normally become naïve and dumb because of their own doing. This is actually what makes it always unique in every story and circumstances."

"Woah. That's a big word coming from you, Lexis. I never knew you have this hidden guru inside you!" I chuckled.

"What did you just call me? Was that 'Lexis'?" His brows meet in center.

"Oh yeah, Lexis. Good nickname right? I just thought of it earlier while walking back here." I smiled widely at him. "You didn't like it?" I asked when his brows still meeting in the center.

"No, actually—it sounds good." He paused. "I was just surprised and shocked with that new nickname coming from you." He looked away.

"You're blushing!" I teased him. "HAHAHAHA! YOU'RE BLUSHING!" I laughed.

"Stop it Solem!" he covered his face using his pillow and turned his back on my direction.

"Hey, Lexis. Do you think we'll still be called for another difficult mission this month? I mean, look. My wounds aren't still fully healed. Why not let's ask Commander Brick for a break? We haven't asked for him a vacation for a long time now." I suggested on Alexiese while were sitting on our usual spot in a high tree branch just near the training grounds of the Delta Base.

"Sol, if we'll ask Commander for some break, where do you want to go outside this base then? I mean—look, your sister's in here in the central dome, you don't have any relatives in dome 12 and I don't have any relatives too. Where will we go?" he asked, brows meeting in center, eyes full of—I can't name emotion.

"Why don't we stay in our house for vacation? Then we'll gather information about that wolves hovering dome 12 then report it to Commander Brick for help." Then I smiled widely. "We get a vacation, and at the same time we can help the Palace!" I clapped my hands. I mean, that's a great idea isn't?

"Yeah, right. I'll ask Commander Brick later. I still want to savor some chilly air here." He said then looked away.

"Lexis..." I whispered his name. I felt something is off with him. "Uhhmm, Uhhh—can I ask you something? We're battle buddies and we should know every detail about our buddies right?" I'm not sure if I should ask him.

"Just ask, Sol. Don't be shy or afraid. We're buddies and I understand." He looked at me with stoic figure.

"Lexis, you don't have any—family?" I slowly asked, careful not to hurt him. "I mean, you told me a while ago that you don't have anywhere to go except for this base."

"Sol..." he sighed, "my mother died when I was young. My dad became a vampire and now I just can't attain to—" he paused. His body then was tensed. "Sorry... I can't—Sol. I can't tell you any more than that." His eyes are full of guilt and sadness. But why guilt?

"I understand, thank you for atleast telling me." I sighed. "I know it's hard. I know the feeling." We then looked eye to eye. There's something, an energy that's molds us into one. And for the first time in 3 years since we've been appointed to each other, we talked about something really deep and personal.

"Thank you, Sol." He heaved a deep sigh again. "I'm going to Commander Brick's office now. I'll be requesting our vacation." Then he smiled and even winked at me before jumping off where we are sitting and quickly run towards Commander Brick's office inside the barracks.

"SO you're really asking me for a vacation?" Commander Brick asked the two of us again, I and Alexiese nodded. "While actually doing some undercover also?" He added. We both nodded again.

"Commander, it's a double purpose vacation. We will still help the Legion even on vacation." Alexiese' continued to convince our commander.

"I am just worried because two of my best warriors will be in leave. Can we have this agreement? I will allow you to have a vacation, but I want you to be an on call fighter when the Delta Force would be given a hard mission." He sighed. "Im losing both hands for fight because of your vacation." He shakes his head while smiling.

"Thank you for your consideration, Sir." Alexiese stands up then salutes which I also did. Commander Brick salutes back at us.

"Have fun on your vacation, its only 31 days warriors. Cherish every second of it." He sits back to his chair. "Go now and pack your things. I'll be printing your vacation papers now so that the gate guards will allow you to pass through." He added before we left his office.

"Is it really okay if I'll stay in your house for our whole 31-day vacation?" Alexiese immediately asked the moment we stepped out of Commander Brick's office.

"Ofcourse, why not?" I ask him back, confused on his question.

"Wouldn't that be—Uhhmm... Awkward or inappropriate?" he asked again while avoiding my gaze.

"Seriously? You're thinking of that now?" I laughed and mock at him. "We've been together in the barracks for almost 4 years!" I exclaimed. We both stopped walking.

"But that's in the barracks, you know! We're now going to be in the outside for 31 days!" he exclaimed back.

"Just don't mind about that, Alexiese. I wouldn't be comfortable anymore sleeping without you near me. I've been adept with you in a same place. Maybe it's one of the enchantments of the oath we promised." I paused. "My nightmares are less frightful when you're near too." I added. He stared for me for a couple of seconds before answering.

"You're still having nightmares?" his brows meet. I just nodded. "My god, Sol! I thought you were done having those. I thought you already let go of it." He shakes his head.

"I told you I just can't, Lexis. For now, I can't." I dragged his wrist and we continued walking back to our barracks to pack our things.

When the bullet-like-train carrying us stopped at the Dome 12 station, I hurriedly jump out and grabbed Lexis arm.

"Hey, come on! Faster Lexis I want to see Kristen before she goes to the academy." I pull him to run faster.

"Wait on, our baggage is heavy you know!" He paused. "Oh well you wouldn't know how heavy this was because I'm the one carrying all!" he exclaimed while arranging how he'll be taking our backpacks and luggage.

"Well it's you who told me that chivalry should exist outside the base because we're back to the normal world!" I laughed on him. "Besides, you don't look like you're having a hard time bringing these luggage's and backpacks with you." I smiled sweetly.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Let's go!" he pulled me and we run as fast as we can pass the Dome 12 arch. Upon entering past, my heart thumped in excitement and at the same time... fear.

After about a couple of minutes running, I pulled back my arm from Alexiese to rest. I've been sweating bullets from running but he doesn't even look like he had just run for a straight couple of minutes from the ark. We're near on the location of my house in alley 27, and by the looks of it, everything was as much as likely as how I left it almost 4 years ago.

"Welcome back, Sol." I whispered to myself.

"Come on! I'm excited to see your house!" Alexiese grabbed my wrist again and we walked fastly pass through the entrance of alley 27.

"I didn't expect your house to be this comfy." Alexiese said upon entering my house. "It's simple yet really relaxing and comfortable." He smiled from ear to ear. I was about to say something to him when someone barged the house door open.

"Oh my god! It's really you!" she immediately came rushing forward to me for a hug. "I miss you!" she sobbed.

"Hey calm down women! Why are you even here? You're supposed to be in the academy!" I snorted, making her frown.

"Hey, who is he?" she asked as she points to Alexiese who just silently stares in the corner. "Oh! I remember you! You're Solem's partner right?" she walked towards Alexiese and laid her hand.

"Alexiese Morgann, and you?" He answered the moment they shake hands.

"Selene Du'Tritz, Solem's younger sister. Nice meeting you Alexiese." She smiled widely.

"You didn't answer me Selene, you're supposed to be in the academy right now. Why are you here?" I asked again, making her twitch by my voice raising.

"Kristen told me you sent her a letter and telling her you're arriving here for vacation. That's why I asked one of my roommates to cover up for me while I sneak to see you here. I'll be going back to the academy after 1 hour—oh! Actually, I only have 30 minutes. He let me borrow his bike so I'll go fast." She hugged me again. "I miss you sister."

"I miss you too. But more than that, you need to get going before Professor Hughes scold you when he finds out you sneak out of the academy." I hugged her back tighter. She releases me from the hug and immediately run to the door while waving goodbye.

"See you soon, Sister! Visit me at the academy sometime! I love you!" she farewells and suddenly disappeared out of my sight.

"She's really your sister. She inherited your stubbornness and naughtiness." He chuckled.

"Do you want to sleep outside?" I smiled, lowkey mad and a bit menacing, which he immediately answered by continuous shaking of his head. "Good." I nodded in satisfaction. He really knew me well.

"You're scary here more than you were in the barracks." He said while carrying our luggage's inside one of the rooms.

"Wait! Not on that room." I stopped him when he was about to enter my mom's room. "There, the other one. That's where we will be sleeping." I pointed the other room beside.

"We? That means us? Together?" he looks bewildered.

"Yeah, why not? You'll be on the floor ofcourse because you're chivalric right?" I smirked at him. His words are now backfiring at him.

"Yeah whatever." He snorted. "Why not use the other room?" he asked before stepping inside my room.

"None of your business." I rolled my eyes and walked to the kitchen to check for food. When I saw fresh ingredients, I immediately started to prepare something to cook for dinner. Alexiese on the other hand didn't immediately step out of my room, maybe he was taking a nap. It has been a tiring journey before we got here because the train we rode take the route from domes one to dome two then so on before here in dome twelve, passing each dome's station in every cycle. After cooking our dinner, I peek through my room's door to check Alexiese. When I saw him peacefully sleeping, I decided to visit Kristen who was just 2 houses away from here.

"Kristen? Are you there inside?" I knocked on the door. Upon two knocks she immediately opened, revealing the still angel-looking face of my bestfriend.

"Sol! Oh my god! I missed you so much! Why didn't you had a vacation for the past 3 years?!" she scolded me.

"I'm sorry. I was working for my promotion." I lied.

"You look pale. Did you just come back from a mission?" She immediately asked while pulling me inside their house.

"Yeah. I was one of those who were deployed for the crisis in dome seven." I sighed. She rushed to come close beside me and examined my body for injuries. Upon seeing my wounds, she gasped in shock.

"These are deep. I can't imagine how hard that mission was for you to get these wounds. Did it hurt so much?" she worriedly asked.

"Nah, I've already been going through this for 3 years and I'm already used to this kind of wounds." I erased her worries with a wide smile. "Besides, what I really came here for is I want to ask you if you want to eat dinner with me at my house together with my partner comrade."

"Oh really? I'd love to! I'll just be changing my clothes and finish my chores. What time should I come?" she excitedly asked.

"Around seven p.m., I'm still getting some sleep before dinner. I can't help it, the journey was long and tiring that made me really, really sleepy right now." I yawned while walking to the door. "I just invited you for dinner before I get some nap."

"Okay then, see you later at seven." She waved goodbye as I walked back to my house.

THE dinner was fun. Kristen and I had really catches up many things that happened in our lives for the past 3 years since we last talked. Alexiese was more of listening to our conversation but he doesn't seem like he felt out of place. We laughed, we talked, and we shared things with each other; with the three of us. I even had learned a lot more things about Alexiese.

"It's getting late, Solem. I should get going. Besides, I'm going back to the academy tomorrow morning. I'm very happy we get along again before I go back. Well, I'll see you soon again okay?" Kristen said upon finishing the food.

"That's bad, I thought we will have more talk. I was catching up with you, you know!" I said mockingly.

"I'm sorry Solem. Maybe some other time?" Kristen smiled sadly. I get up and immediately hugged her.

"Ofcourse. Goodnight, Kristen. I'll see you soon again." I hugged her tightly before withdrawing my arms and smiled at her.

"Nice meeting you, Alexiese. I'll get going. Goodnight everyone. Thank you for the dinner Solem, you're still a great cook after a long time." She finally waved goodbye with teary eyes before walking out of the door.

"I'll be the one cleaning the dishes. Clean yourself up and get some sleep." Alexiese said while cleaning the table.

"Okay. Uhhmm—finish that fast and sleep too, okay? It's already late nights." I reminded him before entering my room.

"Mom...MOM! WAKE UP! NO—PLEASE WAKE UP!" I shrugged her body peacefully lying on the bed with blood soaking her clothes and dripping on the floor.

"C'mon mom! Get up there! Please!" I begged her. Tears' pouring from my eyes and everything becomes blurry. I felt a pang pain in my chest that gets me difficult to breath.

"S-Solem? I-s t-that mom?" Selene said, teary-eyed while peeking up to see if mom was the one lying on the bed with full blood dripping clothes.

"No Selene! Don't look at it. That's not mom! C'mon, let's go outside. I heard your playmates are looking for you." I diverted her attention, I don't want her to see mom like this.

"But you shouted mom, hey! Put me