It’d almost been seven whole years since I’d been transported to this world after the abrupt end of my prior life. Judging by the calendar Mother had hanging in our kitchen, the date in this world was currently the 10th of Ather, 1942. If this were Earth, we’d have still been in the midst of World War II. When I first began to learn how to read and write in Maurich, I damn near thought I was transported back into the past. Let’s just pray I don’t encounter any Nazis.

  Jokes aside, when I first looked at this world’s calendar, I was surprised to learn that the way years were counted was different. Now, I know, in hindsight, that’s stupid. Obviously, this world wasn’t Earth, so many things would be different. However, as mentioned before, I’m not a wise person. In many ways, it was all simir to Earth. Twelve months made up the year, each week split into seven days: five workdays and two off days. Each month, though, had six weeks, meaning forty-two, twenty-eight-hour days.

  Yeah, that’s right. Twenty-eight hours. And the hours in this world were about ninety minutes. Days were long, though they certainly didn’t feel like it anymore. I’d grown accustomed to it now, but each hour dragged in the early months. God, I certainly don’t miss those days. Being a baby sucks, I don’t recommend it… I’m getting sidetracked again.

  While the months and days were much longer, the seasons were simir to Earth’s in that this month, Ather, was about the equivalent of December. Next month was Gudor, which was the start of the new year, or “a new birth,” as Soza told me. She said the months were named after the “Old Gods,” which was even more fascinating. This was just another thing I need to write down to ask her about ter.

  But what really had me so focused on these calendars was the fact that I was born towards the end of the year. Which might have been the same day as…

  “What’re you doing on that chair, little one?” My mother’s voice startled me. I let out a yelp and tottered on the chair I was using to boost me up.

  “Luna!” Mother gasped. If I fell, she’d be too far away to catch me. With one swift motion, she dropped the pots in her hands and thrust her right hand upwards. “Gust!” Her voice echoed. A gust of wind struck me in the chest mid-fall. It knocked me backwards just enough for me to catch myself and restore my bance.

  Holy shit, Jedi powers saved me, was all my panicked brain could think. Taking a couple deep breaths to compose myself, I blushed deeply. “Sorry, Mother, I—I was just looking at the calendar.”

  Mother shook her head. “Luna, how many times have I told you to not climb on things?” She sighed as she bent down to pick up the pots and pans.

  Footsteps thundered down the stairs as Varis came in to see the commotion. “What’s wrong? Is everything okay?” He was holding a wooden toy gun Father had gotten him a couple weeks ago for Letzwarmf, a holiday that marked the start of cold weather.

  Mother once again sighed. “Everything is alright, your sister was just being a little gahengi.” That was this world’s monkey—not a cute kind of monkey, either. With its many arms and tails, it was a bit freaky looking.

  As I hopped off the chair and Varis came over, I couldn’t help but notice how much taller he’d gotten over the course of the month. God, I hoped I’d get another growth spurt soon. I hated being tiny.

  Ugh, and I wasn’t even the tallest guy in the old world. Was I cursed to forever be short? At least on Earth, short girls were seen as cute. Hopefully that carried over here.

  “What were you trying to see, Sis?”

  “I was just counting how many days till my birthday,” I huffed.

  “Momma, when was Luna born?” Varis asked.

  I scoffed. “You don’t even know your own sister’s birthday?”

  “Do you know mine?” Varis retorted, and I bit my lip. “Exactly.” He stuck his tongue out.

  Mother, pcing the pots and pans on the range, gnced over her shoulder at us. “My little star was born on the fifteenth. So, in five days,” she said in a singsong tone, “my girl is going to be seven years old!”

  Varis eyes widened. “Ooh, that’s the day of the Frostnd March!”

  Exactly what I’d suspected. I’d seen the name on the calendar, but that was all I knew. “What’s that?” I decided to ask.

  “You don’t remember? You were there!” Varis said.

  “Varis,” Mother said as she closed the cabinet door. “You hardly even remember the parade. You only know because Papa reminded you.” She wagged a finger at him.

  My eyes widened. “Ohhhhh,” I said, recalling it vividly. The army, wearing, white, yellow and gray, marched down the streets of Oren, the massive ground dragons tugging artillery along. And that fat general on the strider alongside the elven wizard with the silver hair. I recalled it all now.

  “See, she remembers!” Varis beamed, and my mother cocked her head at me.

  Crap, I should cover this up. “Uh, it’s hazy, but it sounds familiar.” I giggled and ran a hand through my hair, though my mother kept a close eye on me. Oh god, I think she’s getting suspicious.

  “But to answer your question, love…” Mother straightened up and came over to the calendar. “The Frostnd March is a celebration that passes through here every five years.”

  “What’re they… or we celebrating?” I asked.

  “Our victory against the Dark Lord,” Mother said as she stepped back and pced her hands on our shoulders. “Not just Heinmarr, but the entire world. In Iona, they call the fifteenth VE-Day, for Victory for Enora, and on that day, they have parades, fireworks, and big shows like we do. Every nation celebrates it, but the Frostnd March specifically is special.”

  Curious now, I asked, “Why?”

  “Well, during the invasion of Gary, the southern continent, the Dark Lord was backed into his mighty fortress. To hold off the Global Allied Nations, he used his divine powers to call upon a great blizzard, one so thick that it blotted out the sun for forty days and forty nights. The blizzard unfortunately killed off thousands of brave men and women who weren’t prepared. Yet the ones who were prepared…”

  “Oh, oh, I know this one! The White Army!” Varis bounced up and down. “Father told me this story one night!”

  Mother nodded and knelt down beside us. “Yes, Sir Heinrich Fellner, general of the Kaiser’s Legion. He gathered five thousand soldiers and marched through the Frostnds of Gary. They were not to be stopped by mere snow. He and his army acted as the spear that thrust into the gap in the Dark Lord’s armor. The Alliance would’ve been stalled by that snowstorm if Sir Heinrich’s White Army hadn’t managed to dispel it… though his troops paid a heavy price. It is said that out of the five thousand, only a few hundred returned; even Heinrich himself lost his life during the battle of Nigashiizu.” Mother gave our shoulders a squeeze and stood up. “At least, I think that’s how the story goes. Soza can probably tell it better than me.”

  I nodded slowly as I digested this story. “Momma…” I said, holding my chin in thought. “Gary, is that the nd with the big wall around it? The one that Soza’s been teaching us about?”

  “Oh yeah, how did they build a wall around a whole pce like that?” Varis stretched his arms out. “The pce is huge on the map!”

  Mother nodded. “Yes, it is, dearie, and the wall was built with magic…” She trailed off briefly. “And before you ask, no. Neither of you are ever going to go there.”

  “Dangit!” Varis huffed like that was literally going to be his next question.

  I snorted. “Nope, I never pnned on it. I just wanted to confirm. But thank you for the story, Mother; it was really interesting!”

  She beamed. “I’m gd you liked it. Was there anything you wanted to do on your birthday?”

  I frowned. Was there? Aside from maybe reading a book or hanging out with Varis, I didn’t have a pn.

  My options were limited. Some of the few downsides of this world: no video games, no internet. I had to keep myself entertained the old-fashioned way. Touching grass… ew.

  It wasn’t that bad, though. I was honestly surprised by how easily I had grown past those luxuries. It was hard back when I was a baby, sure. Stuck in the crib all the time, I was begging to have my old cell phone or PC back. But ever since I began to walk and talk, I’d had new things to enjoy, especially chatting and hanging out with Varis. Some I never expected, like dressing up in all the outfits Mother bought me. My inner femininity must have finally been overtaking me.

  I shook my head. “Nope, no pns. Maybe just read and rex here at home.”

  My mother frowned. Uh-oh.

  “Are you sure?” She raised an eyebrow as if she knew something I didn’t.

  Oh damn. Did I forget something?

  “Don’t you think we might have a surprise for you?” Mother smirked. “Madam Soza’s been pnning something.”

  “Oh, what is it?” Varis asked as she turned around to prepare breakfast.

  I followed her to the range, grabbing my little step stool so that I could help her wash some dishes for everyone. “Well,” she said, “it wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you. When Madam Soza wakes up, she’ll let you all know.”

  Great, I thought as I pumped water into the sink. More surprises.

  Father came home early from work, around noon. Exhausted, he proudly procimed that he asked the chief to let him have a day off this year to see the Frostnd March. That surprised me. With a big parade coming into town, I’d have expected all w enforcement to be on duty, especially my father, who’d made it clear countless times that he was well-respected amongst the other constables. Maybe he got to flex his seniority? Either way, I was excited to have him present on my birthday. Not that he never was; he just came home te and tired in the prior years.

  After he finished eating the meal Mother and I prepared—some coocha omelettes and bck bread toast—Father pced a box of ammunition on the table asked Varis and me if we wanted to practice shooting again today. Shooting had become pretty common around here. Every other day or so, whenever he was home, he’d take us out back for practice.

  Even Soza had joined in, and boy oh boy… she was good. Something about seeing Madam Soza with Father’s rifle cracking cans hundreds of yards out with only the iron sights to guide her, it made me feel things. Oh god, I was crushing on my teacher!

  Shaking those thoughts off, though, Varis had also proven really good with our father’s weapons. With a couple more years of practice, he’d probably surpass Madam Soza. On the other hand, I was an amateur. Varis could hold the rifle now, but I was too small for it, and firing the cycler still startled me sometimes. I’d rank myself a C.

  Shortly after Father came home, Madam Soza followed, finally leaving the cabin out back. Her eyes had heavy, dark bags beneath them, her red fuzzy ears were ft, and her hair was disheveled. She looked like either she was hung over or she’d wrestled something in her sleep st night.

  “Oh, you’re alive?” Mother said. “Luna, can you take over washing these dishes?” I nodded and scooted my stool over to the sink.

  She and Soza exchanged a few quiet words. Then she added, “I’ll get you some coffee; take a seat while I reheat some food for you.”

  Father, who had been eating his lunch and talking to Varis, gnced up. “Spent all night pnning?”

  My teacher nodded groggily. “There is much to prepare and acquire.” She yawned. “I was up all night double-checking the maps to make sure I was correct.” My ears twitched as I side-eyed my teacher, wondering what they were talking about.

  Varis looked to Soza and said, “Father asked if Luna and I wanted to shoot some more; do you want to join?”

  Soza smiled, and her tail flicked pleasantly. “I would love to, but unfortunately, this Rest Day I am preparing an event for us all.”

  Here it was. “What would that be?” I asked from over my shoulder as I set a pte out to dry.

  Soza yawned once more, her fuzzy ears flopping back and forth, before she scratched her chin with her cwed fingers. “It is a surprise, little one. Give me some time to wake up, and I shall share.”

  Father chuckled as both Varis and I groaned. “Don’t worry, you two are going to love it.” He hummed as he spooned the st of his meal into his mouth. Then he got up, came over to me, and squeezed my shoulder. “Step aside, Luna; I’ll take over. How about you and Varis go get changed into something comfortable and py outside for a bit so we adults can talk?”

  Seeing my chance to avoid chores, I took it instantly. “Okay!” I hopped off my stool. “C’mon, Varis.”

  “But I want to hear the surprise.” Varis huffed as he got up.

  “You’ll hear it in a bit,” I told him. “Madam Soza needs her caffeine.”

  “Her what?”

  “The stuff that comes from the coffee beans!” I said as I rushed upstairs to change.

  You know, despite me despising the winter months, if there was one thing I could appreciate about this country of Heinmarr, it was that winter wasn’t long. Rather, it didn’t feel long; the cold weather tapered off quickly. The initial months were frigid and horrid. Yet as we went into Gudor, the start of the new year, things gradually warmed up. It was still cold now, but not so bad.

  I hadn’t seen any thermometers here, at least not any I recognized and could read. Even now I was learning this world’s measurements. But if I had to gauge the weather using old-fashioned U.S. Freedom Units, the days had a solid low of 40 degrees. It was neither too cold nor warm—sweater weather. The melting snow was nice and packable.

  Because of this, my dress today was rexed, not as tight-fitting. My colors were the usual navy and bck: I went with a dark-blue dress, bck stockings, and my calf-high boots, with a matching dark vest overtop. My trusty old cloak came with me. So did these adorable muffs my mother knitted for me st week. I could now make snowballs and pelt my brother without the fear of getting my hands cold.

  And I’d be doing just that.

  Varis, who was surprisingly not trying to tackle me into the snow, was making what looked to be a little snow fort. In the perfect moment when his back was turned, I scooped up a copious amount of snow, packed it as best I could, and reared back and threw.

  Only to see the snowball nd like two feet in front of me.

  God, I miss my old throwing arm.

  Varis didn’t even notice my attack and was focused on building his… Oh, he’s making an igloo. Don’t get distracted, me. I need to make another snowball as revenge for all those times he got me. I turned away and began to pack more snow.

  This time, however, I decided to inch up some more. Once again, I reared back, assumed my power stance, and threw. With a little grunt, the snowball catapulted from my hand and nded a few feet to his left.

  This got his attention, and he turned. His blue and green eyes gave me a perplexed look, gazing from head to toe. “Did you…” He pointed to the little hole in the snow where my ball nded. “Throw a snowball at me?”

  Dammit, I lost the element of surprise. The one time I finally decide to make the first assault, I fail. We’ll get him next time.

  If there ever was a next time. As Varis turned away from his igloo, he assumed his power stance: his chest puffed out and his arms stretched out to his sides as he parted his legs and began to belly ugh.

  “Ho, ho, dear Sister, you wish to challenge me?!”

  Shit. I quickly scooped up more snow, packing it. If I can’t throw a ball, I can at least hit him with it point-bnk. I began to approach him.

  “Oh, you’re coming closer, Sister?” Varis smirked.

  “Well, I can’t hit you from over there, can I?”

  “Well then.” Varis leaned forwards as I got within arm’s reach, his nky form looming over me, and said, “Come at me—yaaah!” He let out a shrill scream as I pulled the front of his overalls and dropped the snow down his torso and trousers.

  “Cold! Cold!” he yelled as he fell over, clutching his chest and crotch. “Why! Why did you?!”

  “Revenge for all those years of pushing me in the snow,” I said coldly.

  The back door of the house opened, and Mother stuck her head outside. “What is going on out here? Why is Varis screaming?”

  “Luna dropped snow into my pants!” Varis squirmed on the ground. Okay, I was starting to feel bad now. Every man knows that getting snow on the boys isn’t pleasant. I must’ve just forgot about that…

  I rubbed the back of my head as my mother shot me a stern look, smiling sheepishly. “I—I think I took it too far.”

  Mother sighed. “Come here, Varis. I can clean you up. And Luna, no dropping snow in people’s trousers! You know better than to do something like that.”

  I sighed and nodded. The one time I try to have some fun in this pce…

  Shortly after the snow incident, I went back inside. Madam Soza had eaten her lunch and drank some coffee. She was still a bit disheveled, but much more awake. Varis changed into some loose pants and a simple polo as I swapped out for a simple blue sundress. Maybe for my birthday, I should ask my mother for some boy clothes; I figured she wouldn’t mind if I had pants and shirts around the house. Wearing them out in public, though, was another bridge I’d need to cross.

  Father was in the bathroom while Mother was tidying up the kitchen. I sat at the dining room table beside Varis, shifting nervously, and leaned over to say, “Sorry for dropping snow on your crotch.”

  Varis blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s okay; it was kind of funny.” He chuckled and smirked. Good sport. A sharp pain exploded, and I yelled when he punched me in the shoulder. “Do that again, though, and I’m dropping snow down your dress.”

  “Varis, don’t hit your sister,” Soza quipped across from us, and Varis jolted.

  “Sorry.”

  I rubbed my shoulder and said, “It’s okay; I kind of deserved that.”

  After a few moments, Father returned to the dining room from the restroom, still drying his hands on a cloth before tossing it into a undry basket. He had changed from his constable uniform into an abaster polo and bck cotton pants. He’d brushed his brownish hair, along with his thick mustache, though he did have a bit of scruffiness growing across the rest of his face.

  “It seems the family is all here. And I see Little Miss Troublemaker is here too.” He winked at me before leaning in to whisper, “Pretty funny what you did, but don’t do it again.” He chuckled. “Cailynn, come on over. You can finish dusting after we’re done with the meeting.”

  Mother nodded and set her rag down. Then everyone was at the table, and Father positioned himself at the head. “Now, I don’t recall the st time we had a family meeting like this.”

  “I think it’s our first, dear,” Mother said, and Father nodded and stroked his chin.

  “Yes, it is. Well!” He cpped his hands together, startling me and Varis. “As you all know, soon it’ll be someone’s special day.” He wagged a finger at me. “And, well, our special guest and friend of the family wanted to share something with her and everyone here.” He gestured to Soza.

  She smiled. “Thank you for the introduction, Slyran; I wasn’t expecting something so formal.” Father pyfully bowed and sat down, which brought a giggle from Varis. I smirked.

  Soza turned to me. “Lady Luna, in a handful of days you will begin your seventh cycle. This is going to be our fourth year together.” Oh god, I feel center stage now. “When we first met, I thought you were nothing more than another toddler. What I did not expect, nor did anyone here, was how vastly intelligent you are. You are six years old now and soon to be seven, and you are already performing arithmetic and reading at a schorly level. You speak fluent Maurich and Common like your mother, and act at times as if you are an adult like us.”

  What was she getting at? I almost wanted to tell her to spit it out. It felt like this was leading to a goodbye.

  “Your mother and father and I have spoken at length about this, and we believe that once your studies are finished here, it would be best if you came with me to Rennford Academy in Iona.”

  “Wait, what?!” Varis shot up from his seat, and I jolted. “What about me? Am I going?”

  Soza bit her lip as Mother and Father frowned at Varis. Father pced both elbows on the table and ced his fingers together, his face taking on a hardened expression I rarely saw. He shook his head. “No, Varis. You are to stay here with your mother and me. Your mother will continue your studies, and I’ll continue to train you.”

  “But it’s not fair! You can’t just send Luna away!” He balled his fists, yet I was too stunned to speak.

  Send me away… Why? I don’t want to leave. Am I going to get a say?

  “Varis, please. Sit down; there’s more to the story,” Father said, his voice getting stern.

  “No! I don’t want Luna to leave; she’s my sister and my friend!”

  Mother spoke up. “Varis, your sister isn’t going away forever. She’ll be back. It’s just that I and Soza can only teach her so much. She has great potential, and she needs…” Her voice wavered.

  I could sense something wasn’t right. She trailed off and didn’t finish.

  Father started once more. “As I said, Varis, your mother and I will be taking care of you. As a matter of fact, I recently commissioned Mr. Henderson, the carpenter, to construct a wagon. It won’t be finished for a few months because we’re on his waiting list, but once it’s finished in the coming year, and once Mr. Harold at the stable receives a suitable strider for us to buy, we’ll be moving to a new home.”

  “Moving?” I finally spoke. “Why? Why so suddenly? You’re sending me away, and you’re moving?”

  Father and Mother remained quiet. Yet I could see his expression faltering ever so slightly, and Mother side-eyed him, her brow slightly knitting.

  “What are you hiding?” I asked bluntly, and for the first time, Father scowled at me.

  “Luna,” he said in a low, frightening voice. “Please just listen to us. Do not ask questions.”

  Soza leaned over and pced her hand on my shoulder. “It is for the best, dear. Think about it: Rennford Academy is one of the best schools in all of Enora, and it’s in Iona, of all countries. A beautiful nd. There you could learn magic, the secrets of the world and its history. Anything you could ever want.”

  I pulled my shoulder away. “I don’t want that! Not if that means I get taken away from you all!”

  This hit my mother hard, and she choked up. “Luna, please,” was all she said before turning to my father with a pleading look.

  “And how do you know I can do it? I’m not even seven years old! I’m not a schor! I’m not an old wizard!” I was starting to fume.

  No! Just when I was finally getting used to this world and this family. I was beginning to love this pce, and now I’d be forced to go somewhere else. I didn’t want to go to some faraway country; I didn’t want to start over again!

  “Luna, you’re a prodigy,” Soza said. “The second the magisters y eyes on you, they’ll be fighting like dogs to take you in as a student apprentice. Even more so if you pass the spiritest.”

  “I don’t give a damn!” I blurted out.

  “Luna!” Father stood up. “Do not speak like that to Soza. I know you’re confused and upset, but please trust us.”

  “Why don’t I get a say in this?” I said back. “What if I don’t want to go? What if I want to be here with you?” I began to tremble, my emotions unraveling. “I—I love you all… I—I don’t want to go away. I don’t want to leave my family aga…”

  My father’s expression softened, and I thought I saw tears welling in his eyes too. Varis bolted out of the room and ran upstairs. Mother stood up to go after him, but Father stopped her.

  “Let him be…” he said softly.

  I dropped down and covered my face. Madam Soza reached over and pced a hand on my back as I quivered.

  “Luna,” Father murmured, “I’m sorry for raising my voice… You’re a smart girl, and I’m aware that you’re probably already connecting the dots. I can assure you, everything we’re doing is pnned.” Mother shot him a gre.

  “D-Does this have to do with M-Mr. Bxen?” I stuttered out, my emotions running rampant. I sputtered and coughed, wiping my eyes continuously.

  Despite the blur of my tears, I could see my parents’ expressions. They said it all. Ever since that day a little over a month ago, Mother and Father had been more proactive and loving. As if trying to make up for lost time. What did Bxen say to them?

  Father opened his mouth. “Please trust us—”

  “Just tell me!” I cried. “Stop hiding secrets from me.” I saw on their faces that they wanted to say something, but were conflicted. The way Father grimaced and avoided eye contact, and how Mother, like me, was crying and gring at him.

  Madam Soza looked at me, her eyes filled with sadness, but she lowered her head and said nothing. I gritted my teeth, wanting to scream and cry more. The emotions running through me were so powerful, yet I did my best to keep myself in check. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths.

  “Fine… whatever…” I mumbled, and hiccupped.

  “Thank you,” Father said. “I’m sorry that this is not what you wanted to hear… In the coming year, once you finish Madam Soza’s studies, you will be getting ready.”

  “And it will not be forever, little one,” Soza whispered to me. “You will learn from the best for only four years.”

  Four years sounds like an eternity, though.

  Father smiled at me, though his eyes were a little red as he fought back tears. “And besides, we’ll still keep in touch with you. There are image casters there, and where we’re going, we can easily reach out.”

  As I regained what little composure I could, I asked, “Wh-Where are you going?”

  He briefly hesitated. “We’re going west to Felkier. Your mother and I have been looking for plots of nd out there for a couple of years, and we found a realtor looking to sell a quaint farm. A home much rger than this one. It’s also a little closer to Iona, as it’ll be on the west coast.”

  “Iona is a whole other continent, Father,” I said bluntly before a sniffle, though I could tell he was just trying to make me feel better.

  He defted. “I know. We just wanted to let you know ahead of time so that this wouldn’t be sprung on you, Luna. Please think about this, and don’t think that we’re trying to throw you away, because we aren’t. We love you deeply.”

  Suddenly, Mother came over and wrapped her arms around me. “Please don’t hate me!” She sniffled and clung tightly.

  I gasped softly and blushed before returning the hug. “I could never hate you, Mother.”

  So, this was it… I had one year left with these loving people. Of course it wasn’t forever, but… I’d be coming back after four years of change, to a different home, in a different country.

  What did Mr. Bxen say to get them to send me away and move themselves?

  Soza spoke up. “To end things on a happier note, though… I am also pnning on taking us all out on a field trip for your birthday. To the Heinnd Mountains.” She smiled.

  What? A field trip?

  This was too much.

  The audacity of them to say, “Hey, you’re going to be shipped off to this world’s equivalent of Harvard for four years with no expnation or say in the matter. Also, wanna go camping?” I was already emotionally devastated. Now, on top of that, I was pissed.

  I broke away from Mother and headed for the stairs. I needed to get away from all of them.

  The snow hasn’t stopped, Sollenia. I never knew it could get this cold so far south. Even as I write, I feel the temperature slipping. Have I made a mistake gathering up these men and women? Have I foolishly condemned them all to a slow and freezing death? I fear that I have, but I also know that we shouldn’t stand idly by. Not now while we and the Seven are so close.

  —Records of the Twilight War, chapter 9: March of the White Army.