Chapter 10: The Truth

After Jordan had poured his heart out, he cleaned the tears on his face and headed back to Sylvie. He sat by her side and for the first time since they've been together, he started a conversation with her. The rain had stopped falling and the evening breeze carried chills all around. The sun had set not long ago.

"Again, I'm sorry for their deaths. From what I heard, they were good people," Slyvie started, attempting to hold Jordan's hand.

At first, he resisted but after a while, he let her. After all, he needed to establish an emotional connection with her before he could ask the sensitive question what he wanted to.

"Thanks. They really were. All my life, I thought that one day things were going to change for the better. We didn't have much to go around every day, but somehow we managed to get along just fine. You should've seen how happy everyone was when Xavier and I told them that we were chosen for this year's MTP." Jordan's voice was laced with undeniable sadness and grief.

"Sister Lucia did a little dance that made everyone laugh at dinner. They were all so happy for me. It hurts so bad knowing they're gone." He sucked in a sob.

"I know the feeling, but you shouldn't let it keep you down. Jordan, you have to keep moving forward and live the life they would've wanted you to live." Sylvie advised, placing a hand across Jordan and pulling him closer to her. They remained that way for a few minutes, much to Jordan's irritation.

"Please, tell me the truth," Jordan demanded, pulling away from her. "I deserve to know what happened that day. Why was my family taken from me?" Jordan sounded so innocent and emotional that Slyvie couldn't help but feel obliged to give him the confidential information he was asking for.

Following the order from the General at the academy, the rumors about the explosion being caused by an enemy nation were subdued by the news that it had been confirmed to be caused by a gas leak. That was what the public knew of the incident. For some reasons best known to the military, they didn't want the public to concern themselves with matters relating to the war. Only the high and mighty in the ranks knew the truth of it.

A truth that they were bound by an oath to take to their graves. If it was known that Slyvie told Jordan, even though he deserved to know, she would be severely punished for it.

"It was a gas explosion. Don't you remember?" Sylvie asked.

"Enough with the lies. We both know that's not true. How could the explosion that destroyed my house be caused by a gas explosion when the Sisters only use firewood to cook?" Jordan struck back with an arched brow. His words were putting Slyvie between a rock and a hard place.

"It can't be helped then," she sighed. For a few minutes, she stood and looked around to be certain they were alone. Considering the time of day, the cemetery was mostly empty. Those around were far off from them.

"Please," Jordan beckoned.

"I'll tell you what actually happened, but you must promise me that you won't tell anyone else. Alright?"

"I promise," Jordan assured with a convincing smile. If only Slyvie could see the mischief behind that smile.

"You're right. The explosion wasn't caused by a gas leak. It was an attack from Karnis. From what we gathered, the culprit is a highly trained fire-type mage from the Karnisian Continent. He is still on the run, but with the progress we're making with investigations, he'll be caught soon. Hopefully, before he does more damage in Rivia," Slyvie explained.

"Damn this war!" Jordan cursed. "Do you at least know his name? I don't wish to cross paths with him. I just want to know the name of the man responsible for my pain."

Sylvie studied him for a few seconds before speaking, "Lorenzo Martinez."

Jordan didn't bother to ask anything more. Half an hour later, they headed back to Slyvie's house. All the way that name continued to resound in Jordan's head. He etched it into the walls of his mind. That night, Jordan slept peacefully. He wasn't disturbed by nightmares like the other nights.

Jordan woke up the next day feeling refreshed. It was the day he would be taken in by the academy for the Muggle Training Program; the beginning of his brewing plan for revenge. He packed two average-sized duffel bags of clothes and other necessities that Slyvie had gotten him and was set to leave before midday. A large bus with the Academy's insignia pulled up by the house at exactly 12 PM. It didn't take long for Jordan to get his belongings into the bus.

"I guess this is goodbye," Slyvie said, standing at the front porch of the house with Jordan in front of her.

"Miss Slyvie, thank you for everything," Jordan replied with a soft smile.

Sylvie gave him a firm hug and whispered into his ear, "No matter how tough it gets, keep fighting."

She released Jordan and off he went into the bus. He sat on one of the empty front seats and gave Slyvie one last wave before the bus sped out of sight. In a strange but helpful way, she reminded him of his elder sister, Rachael. Sylvie had earned a good spot in his book.

Looking around, Jordan noticed that the bus was full of people, boys and girls, the same age as him. He didn't recognize any of them though. While some appeared to give an aura of affluence by the expensive clothes they had on, others weren't so lucky. The one thing he could tell that they all had in common was the fact that they were all Muggles.

It didn't take long before the kids started chatting and making a hell of noise on the bus. A few more stops were made before the bus began to head for the academy. An undetectable gas was released into the bus. It didn't take long for all the kids to drift into a deep slumber.

Jordan tried to resist the weighing urge, but in the end, he too dozed off. The next moment, he felt a splash of cold water on his face, waking him up. He was lying on his back on a vast green field alongside the other kids.

"Everyone get on your bloody feet!" a loud commanding voice was heard approaching them. It was a voice Jordan knew quite well.

The voice of the man that put him under Slyvie's care. Instantly, he got up from the ground to take a look at him. He was right. Only that this time, the man wasn't wearing a suit but a well-decorated military uniform. By the time he got to the kids, they were all standing, facing him.

The man was tall, imposing, and physically intimidating. He had a powerful presence around him.

"This is where you lot will spend the next 2 years of your life!"