On the first of Vieren, Helen and Adam really had no idea about the very important bit of news that was running around. They were just staying at home and relaxing for the first half of the day. It was only when Adam walked Helen to Madame's, as she worked that evening, that they started to notice something big was going on. People everywhere had either worried or aggressive looks as they were all talking about a certain topic. It was only then that they finally heard that the war was on with Luxom! Adam was hoping that Luxom was finally going to get some punishment for everything they had done!

After Adam dropped Helen off at Madame's, he headed over to the Silver Saviors to see if they were doing anything about the war. When he arrived, things seemed a bit hectic. Apparently Clayton was in a meeting with a few military representatives and was in the long process of trying to say no to their offers for contracts to join the war. This apparently wasn't the first time Clayton had to go through this and simply couldn't understand why these guys would not take a hint. The Silver Saviors would have nothing to do with any war, period!

Adam quickly found Alfred and the others talking in a group together. As he joined up with them he asked a question that had been prickling him for a while: “We never asked Clayton or the others to explain why the Silver Saviors won't go to war, way back when. Do any of you know why?”

Alfred and the others were also all lost on the matter. When that had been first brought up it was long ago and no one seemed to want to elaborate so they never thought to ask until now. Now that war was truly upon them, why wouldn't the Silver Saviors go on the march to war? Just what is so bad about it that they would not even touch the matter? Kevin was going by and Bruno called out to him in hopes he might shed some light on the topic.

Kevin came over and gave a thoughtful look as they asked their question. “I myself have never been in a war and the veterans who have rarely want to talk about it. I don't have any first hand stories I can tell you but there are a few things I can say. The last great war between Heider and Luxom happened around twenty years ago. The last so called war, where they were fighting over Fort Erich, could only be called a small skirmish in the face of a real great war!”

Adam felt something boiling in him when this was mentioned. Kevin was not trying to say that what happened there was small but that a real war was just that much bigger. But to Adam, how could it get much worse than sicking ghouls on innocent and defenseless civilians?

Kevin continued: “With how chaotic large battlefields get, it is quite easy for anyone to die at any given second. Probably seventy percent of the Silver Saviors would die if we joined in a true great war! These battlefields are just simply mass killing fields where people go to die. All that glory that is talked about in war is just made up crap to keep the civilians of a kingdom supporting the war! On top of that is the raping and pillaging that is known to happen to both sides. Whenever a city or town gets taken over, somebody will always decide to loosen their pants around some pretty girls when they think they can get away with it!”

Franklin was quite shocked by all of this. Everyone else was too, but none more so than him. He detested even the talk of horrific things. He even spoke: “Surely this isn't true!”

“Oh, but it is! And it happens to both sides! I can talk about war all day long and still none of us will truly know what its horrors are like! Only those who have experienced the true battlefield know about it and they don't wish to speak of it because of how bad it is! The doctrine of the Silver Saviors is to help and save the common people who cannot stand up for themselves. Everything about war stands against that! Every soldier that dies has a family that will miss them. Every town that is conquered sees many of its citizens raped, killed, or robbed if they did not flee. No matter how lucrative a war contract is, the Silver Saviors will never march to war!”

Like the others, Adam was surprised about what Kevin had to say. He had not heard of stories about raping and pillaging towns as they conquered them. However, there was a sinister thought deep in his heart: “If everyone in Luxom is as crazy as those bastards who tried to make Buck go crazy or try to awaken a dragon or even to summon ghouls on a near defenseless city... maybe they deserve it!”

A thought suddenly struck Adam. He still has that Medallion of Meritorious Service. Even if the Silver Saviors don't go to war, if he wanted to he could join it on his own! Still, that was a big decision to make and Adam was not yet ready to make it. He curiously looked over at Bruno and Clyde: “Way back then, you two said you wanted to train to become soldiers like your dad. Do you guys have any inclinations to join the war?”

The two looked conflicted with their thoughts but quickly came to their conclusion. Bruno said: “We hate Luxom since it was a unit of their men that ambushed our father's patrolling squad, but we will not go to war! If what Kevin said is true, we will only get enlisted as lowly foot soldiers and put out onto one of those chaotic battlefields to simply die! Is it really worth it to simply kill a few guys only to die ourselves? No way! I haven't even had a girlfriend yet!”

There were a few light chuckles at that last sentence. Thinking about it, Adam also finally thought of Dallen for the first time in years. He was one of his father's buddies and he had gone to war after everyone split up when they had reached Hessler. They had never heard back from him... “Did he die during that war? Or I suppose it would only be called a skirmish...”

Adam and the others continued to talk of topics about war until they noticed Clayton seeing off two military men. He looked mentally exhausted. As every one was staring at him he just waived his hand in a dismissive manner: “Don't worry, you louts, I didn't agree to anything. They are damn persistent but I am more stubborn than them in this!”

They were all happy to hear Clayton was still in good spirits and everyone continued about their tasks, more relaxed than they had been before. Even if Clayton had declared before that the Silver Saviors would not join any war, there was still that chance that the military could somehow corner him into agreeing. It seemed like that was a needless worry, though.

Over the next couple of weeks, news of the war unfolding were spreading everywhere. One could constantly see military messengers running in and out of Hessler as they carried messages and commands everywhere. The entire northern military force of Heider had been fully deployed to the border and the war was already raging! One could hear many stories of victories and losses as both Heider and Luxom desperately fought to push the other back. There were stories of people fleeing their homes, afraid that Luxom would suddenly appear on their doorstep and pillage their way through their town. There were more than a few confirmed reports of this happening which spread fear, anger, and worry among the common people. No matter whether you were close to the border or not, the war was touching the lives of everyone in the kingdom. It appeared that this war was going to become another great war between Heider and Luxom.

Wherever Adam went, he would see the shadow of war. He had even seen more than a few refugees around Hessler. He could overhear them sobbing and crying, and what hurt the most was when he heard the small children ask about their missing family members. The siblings and parents of these children could only sob harder to this question and any passerby could easily guess the answer. With all of this going on Adam's mind fell into turmoil. With the army preoccupied with the war, there was no one to keep bandits in check. Adam had already gone out on a subjugation mission with the Silver Saviors but contracts just kept coming in for it! Adam understood that the military couldn't be everywhere at once and he felt that Luxom truly deserved a pounding, but at what cost? With every heartfelt story of loss Adam heard, his thoughts about Luxom sunk lower and lower. For every story of victory he heard, he felt a burning righteousness burn up and he wanted to help! Right now the best he could do was to help quell bandits but he wanted to do more! He wanted to confront Luxom directly but he did not yet have the resolve to do so. He had Helen here at home and marching to war could lead to his death! Adam rubbed the Medallion of Meritorious Service that he was now keeping in his pocket. With this thing he could be catapulted above the rank of a normal soldier and maybe his life would not be in as much danger. Maybe he could help more than he thought he could... He was just on the cusp of loosing his reason and deciding to join the military! “I know how bad the war is but doesn't Luxom deserve it!?”

One of the things that Hansen had tried to train into Adam was temperance. That it was important to maintain a clear head and thought process or he might find himself facing death! Adam wanted to shake this anger in him but he simply couldn't get rid of it and the more he felt it, the more it felt right!

Adam had been walking to the Silver Saviors with Silber while he had been thinking of all of this. They were in a very busy time and needed all hands on deck. There were too many contracts and too few mercenary companies that did not join the war. As he was walking along, the sky seemed just about as stormy as his thoughts. Even though it looked like it was just about ready to rain, the streets were still quite busy. Off to the side of the road he overheard a boy talking to his mom: “Mom, Where's dad and little Emilia?”

Adam stopped in his tracks. Slowly he peered over to see the crumpled form of a starved woman holding onto her child. “I'm sorry Alan, Luxom took them away from us! How many times have it told you this? I'm afraid you won't ever see them again!”

Fury burned in Adam's eyes as determination formed. Having made a decision, he tried to put a kind expression on to hide his seething hate for Luxom. He walked over to the woman and the boy with Silber, who was looking on curiously as to what Adam was doing. Adam asked: “Do you two have a place to stay?”

This startled the woman as she had become used to people ignoring her plight. Before her stood a young man who was well groomed and wore blue leather armor but oddly wore a blind fold. At his side was a glowing silver and white wolf! When Alan saw Silber he couldn't help exclaiming: “Wow! So pretty!”

Silber looked quite content at this remark. The mother thought for sure Adam was some important young lord and quickly stammered: “N-no, sir. But it is alright, we will make do.”

Adam tried to give her a reassuring smile. “Come to my place. I have lots of space at my house. It is going to rain soon and who will look after your son if you get sick?” He stretched out his hand: “Come on.”

The demeanor Adam gave made the woman think he would not take no as an answer. She could only let him help her up and along the street as she prayed that this wasn't going to be some sick game of a young noble. Silber started nudging Alan along as the boy petted him. Adam could hear him say: “Come along young cub.”

A small smile flew across Adam's face as he thought about Silber referring to a young child as a cub. By the time Adam finally reached his house it had already started to sprinkle and it looked as though it would only continue to rain harder. As Adam brought the woman and the boy in, Adam called out for Helen. She was surprised to hear him back so early and even more surprised about the company he brought! Before she had a chance to ask him anything his demeanor turned a little grim. His thoughts turned back to that decision he made not too long ago. He simply told Helen: “Look after these two. Silber, stay with the boy for now. I will be back in a bit.”

Watching Adam suddenly leave like that, Helen was extremely surprised by all of this. Helen knew a bit of how Adam would normally think of things and fear clutched her heart as she thought she knew what was going through his mind. She quickly went to the door and gave a shout filled with worry: “Don't do anything rash!”

Just after Helen shouted this out, Vivienne came to see what was going on and saw the mother and son pair in the living room. Alan was petting Silber as he suddenly said: “I wish Emilia was here. She would have loved to pet you too.”

With that, Vivienne quickly began to connect the dots. This family was very reminiscent of their own. The boy's own name was Alan and very close to sounding like Adam's. Alan even had a younger sister named Emilia too!

Adam was already on the road and quickly walking to the Silver Saviors as the rain continued to pour down. Adam ignored it all as his hate for Luxom filled his mind again. This time he would go to the Silver Saviors for only one thing. To tell them he was going to war!

Before too long, Adam quickly arrived at the Silver Saviors. He directly went to Clayton to tell him what he was going to do. As Adam walked into the room, Clayton started saying: “Adam, you're final-...”

Adam's appearance shocked Clayton into silence. Adam was dripping wet with an intense look of hatred and anger on his face. “Um, Adam-”

Adam interrupted : “I am going to join the war!”

“Adam don't be hasty about this! I don't know whats going on with you right now but it definitely won't be worth it!” Clayton said.

“I can't just sit around and do nothing about this war anymore!”

“You are! You are helping us stop the bandits when no one else is available!”

“You can all do that perfectly fine without me! If I have the slightest chance of helping finish this war faster... I have to take it! I don't want to see any more refugees that are like how I was when Luxom took over Fort Erich!”

Adam had been able to put his sorrow from the deaths of his father and sister away long ago. He had never realized the anger he held inside, though, and he had never worked on getting rid of it. Seeing Alan who lost a sister and father just like he had... it was the final straw.

“Just wait and think Adam, if you join the military, SILU will revoke your status with them. You won't be able to get lessons from Cathryn anymore! Not only that, you will not have a very high position when you join, what could you possibly do to help finish the war!?”

Adam's heart flopped at the mentions of being revoked from SILU. He had forgotten about that particular detail until now. After thinking about it, he still decided to try and join the military! He would have to figure out his path on his own regardless of whether he had access to SILU or not. It might be a little easier with SILU but he currently did not see much of a difference. With determination filling his eyes again he said: “I have made my decision! With the Medallion of Meritorious Service I will instantly be able to attain a higher rank! It might not get me to a position where I can really make a difference, but I can't know whether I will be of any help if I don't try!”

Just as Adam turned around to walk out, Clayton panicked and finally blurted: “If you leave to join the military you will never be allowed back in the Silver Saviors!”

Adam immediately stopped as he heard this. Clayton's own heart quivered a little after he suddenly shouted this out. There had been times where good friends left the Silver Saviors for various reasons, but this was the first time he ever threatened one! Adam was too young and Clayton didn't want to have him go through the horrors of war. Adam and the other five boys had become like little brothers to the Silver Saviors and Clayton was desperate in trying to stop him.

Once again, Adam's heart flopped when he heard this. The Silver Saviors had been a very important part of his life. It was also the job that insured his livelihood. Could he really just walk out and never return? Was Clayton just bluffing? As his mind roiled in turmoil, he sought for a calm spot to try and find an answer. Suddenly, it felt as though something large and looming was casting it's shadow over Adam. Instead of fear, he felt calmness from this sensation. It was almost warm and welcoming as it pulled him inexorably forward and away... having seen Adam pause for so long Clayton had been hopeful that this final tactic had worked. Then Adam suddenly seemed to regain his composure and immediately walked out with firm steps! Adam had already said everything he needed to, all that was left was to move forward!

After Adam left, Clayton sighed and sunk deep into his chair as mental exhaustion overcame him. “What did I just do?”

As Adam left, a few people peered in on Clayton. The words between Adam and Clayton had been loud and many people had heard them. “Boss, were you serious about kicking Adam out?”

Clayton could only give a regretful look. “I only intended for it to be a threat to make him stay, but... he was still able to choose to go to war over us! I will have to stand by what I said, if Adam really joins the war, he will not be allowed back in our ranks!”

Word of what happened spread like wildfire among the Silver Saviors. Around ten minutes after Adam left, Helen came by holding an umbrella and looking worried. When she asked after Adam, she heard the incredible story of him walking out! She began to worry more as she wondered where he went. She didn't pass by him on her way here so he didn't go home... after a moment of thinking she was sure she knew where he was at.

Adam stood before the battlements at the wall garden, not paying attention to the rain that was beating down on him. He came here to cool his head and collect his thoughts to decide to what to do next. He noticed someone approaching him from behind as he heard Helen gently call out: “Just what have you done, you dummy?”

Adam could see her worry both across her face and in her soul. He felt bad for making her feel this way, but it couldn't be helped! No matter what, he felt this was something he had to do! She gave him a wry smile as she said: “The war has been going on for what, close to four weeks? Such a short time and you already feel this pressed to go out and join the war? You really can't stand it, can you?”

Adam felt rather embarrassed when she put it that way. It seemed that he really was not able to hold out for very long before he could no longer resist the call to war. He stepped close to Helen under the umbrella and said: “I'm sorry for making this sudden decision without talking to you, I-”

Helen suddenly put a finger on Adam's lips to make him stop talking. She gave him an understanding smile as she said: “I always knew you were going to do this, I just didn't know how long you were going to hold out for!”

Adam gave a laugh: “I can't seem to keep anything from you, can I?”

Helen gave Adam another playful smile before she turned serious: “While I am fine with you going to war, you must promise to come back to me in three months!”

Adam was surprised by this statement and was momentarily at a loss for words. “Um, Helen, the military won't really give me choice of time when to head home. They likely won't let me come back until the war is done!”

Helen gave an exasperated sigh: “You were really just going to march up to them and join the military with that medal right? Don't! There is a better way! You can also use that medal as a form of recommendation for them to hire you as a freelance mercenary! You can set your contract time and everything, as long as they also agree to it. That way you can come home in three months!”

Adam just stared at Helen as he fell in love with her all over again. She must have gone out of her way to look into this while he wasn't looking. He firmly decided that if he did not marry her during the time he came back after three months, he would marry her after the end of the war! One way or the other, he was definitely purposing to her! “I promise you I will come home!” Then he thought of something: “Why exactly is it that you want me to come home three months from now, anyway?”

Helen flashed a lovely smile that even shone brightly from her soul. “It's a secret! You'll see when you get back so just wait!”

With Helen's approval and a general plan set, Adam decided to strike while the iron was hot. The very next morning both Adam and Silber headed directly to one of the military hiring offices. He had to go to the center of town and where there were larger offices that would accept the Medallion of Meritorious Service to bargain a contract with them. Adam looked apprehensively at a grand three story building that was before him. There was quite a bustle of personnel going about their work inside. Few people actually came to this office to directly join the military but they handled much of the paper work from lower offices. The only people that came here to get join the military were nobles who would apply directly for a captain-ship or, like in Adam's case, a freelance contract.

Silber glanced at Adam and could easily tell he was a little unsettled. Silber understood some of these emotions as they were similar to his own when he fought that demonic bear back when he had just become a spiritual beast. Adam wanted to go forward and destroy the horrors that surrounded his past and haunted him. Deciding to alleviate the mood a little, Silber said: “Going to war is all fine and good, but when are you and Alpha finally going to have a cub like that Alan?”

The sudden question threw Adam off as he peered at Silber. Adam could easily guess that Silber was secretly laughing at his reaction. But then Adam said: “At the very latest, it will be after this war is done!”

Thinking of what he planned for his life after the war, Adam steeled himself with determination to prevail and walked in, with Silber quickly following after the shock of how firmly Adam responded to his joke faded.

[AN: Once more taking the time to thank everyone for commenting and liking my novel and just reading it in general =D And I have been reading all those new posts you have given on earlier chapters SpartanLoki and AnarchyDev!]