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The Ministry of Defense, Tawarn

24th day, Voltaire's month, 109th year of Epigal

This is a public pronouncement to notify every citizen of Tawarn to expect and acknowledge that a war shall come about between Tawarn and the kingdom of Jordi. It is with great sorrow to proclaim this notice to all the brave men and women of Tawarn. But as the great Protector Valeus had said, When enemies overshadow Tawarn, the greater force of strength, power and integrity shall eliminate the darkness and bring the foe at pitiable wretched circumstances. We believe in our President, Greatman Raqlock Qorder, in dusting away the pall that shall ever fall on the grounds of Tawarn. Do not be trapped under the gloom of despair, we have supporters ; New Tawarn has officially announced themselves as our ally to join us in brushing away the debris. Be brave, men and women. We will stand shoulder-to-shoulder in this. A war is nothing new to Tawarn, and never will be. The deserving shall be bestowed. 

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As Ermand's eyes finally made through each and every words on the notice, a voice spoke inside him, his own voice. 

This is not right. And is this how a government should react towards a war? 

The whole Tawarnian politics was corrupted since the time democracy had made way, and it was no better back when the kings ruled. All they did was to bring the high clans at its height while destabilising the rights of the common people.

"Well, why did ya come?" A surly sound echoed behind him in an irritable tone.

Goffinald.

Ermand turned his attention to the huge man behind him. 

"To lend you my service."

The man gave him a contemptuous laugh through his fuzzy ginger moustache. 

"Ya won't be needing to look out for employment, Chisel. The gov'oment has got a mission for ya to accomplish," Goffinald burst into laughter again, more contemptuous than before.

"What mission?"

"Whoa- the Chisel's gettin' serious!" 

Ermand sighed. It appears Goffinald hasn't gotten over his habit of ridiculing people, especially the inferiors.

"Are you giving me the job or not?"

"Told ya, Chisel. You're up for the war," Goffinald said, finding his way back to the counter, ignoring Ermand who opened his mouth to shoot another question at him.

Ermand turned his eyes at Chucker, still busy with his draining work. 

Maybe I should not interrupt him. 

Ermand left the café with a heavy heart. The government will take him into the war. That was it, to escape the war, either he should run away from the country along with his family or they should go into hiding until the war gets over. As depression ruled over his mind, Ermand had a single thought in his mind before putting the best of his plans into application. Open the Marene's ball.

When he finally got home, huffing and puffing, he was stupefied to find his family packing up their stuff. Their faces were anxious while they were rushing off their feet.

"Wh-what is happening?"

Mr. Chisel was the first to notice him. He slipped the tiny box he carried and rushed toward Ermand, held his wrist as if guiding a baby, pulled Ermand into the house and shut the door discreetly. Lines of worry crossed over his face.

"Ermand, we're moving," Mr. Chisel said, exhaling through his mouth, his eyes were apprehensive. 

The words that rolled out of his father's mouth had slapped Ermand's wits. Ofcourse, he thought of relocating but he was covertly agreeing to the idea of going under hiding. He loved Tawarn, it was where all of his sweetest childhood memories were built. Leaving the place had always left him sorrowful.

"Wh-where?" 

"To the northern periphery of New Tawarn."

"But…"

"Ermand, get your things packed, we're moving tonight," Jack interrupted.

"Tonight? Why-"

"It is essential, Ermand. The senate hasn't provided any official date of when exactly the war could be expected. However, rumours have already erupted about the soldier recruitment to be starting in about a week. They will never tell, because once they proclaim it in public, people will start migrating, especially people like us."

Ermand nodded. He was at a loss for words. Mr. Chisel was right, the faster the better it would be. Goffinald must've thought Ermand to be a fool to have walked into the café looking for the job. 

"Is anybody joining us?" Ermand asked Jack when he started decluttering his ramshackle cupboard.

"What do you mean?" 

"Any other families?"

"Oh. Yes."

Ermand waited, waited and waited. But Jack was busy with his own. 

"Who?"

"Mum said there's a Chisel two houses from here, they're coming along."

"Where are they planning to head on to-"

"Will you stop questioning and start packing your things? Mum has packed your books and stuff."

Oh. 

The plan that bulged out of nowhere had befuddled Ermand, his mind was clouded with uncertainties. 

"Ermand. Pack your things," Jack said, his tone unusually stern. If Jack could go this serious, it should be serious. 

And when Ermand sealed the final box, he realized it was dusk already. The twilight sky was brilliant, as it always was, but it held some additional beauty that day. It was tranquil everywhere, and he heard Jason grumbling downstairs, that his family was waiting for him. He stood there, preoccupied, blinking at the only window in his room, for a while. Later, he arranged each box on top of the other and gently carried them down the stairs.

"I'm ready."

"Oh, guess Greatman Ermand is ready, dad," Jason scoffed.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have bothered-"

"What bother? You know Jason. Look, it's only dusk now, we still have time," Mrs. Chisel interrupted him, winning a chance at providing him succour.

"Annie's right, Ermand. You need not hurry. You haven't opened your Marene's ball, did you?"

Mr. Chisel's question awoke Ermand, it was then he was hit with the thought of the Marene's ball. He mentally scolded himself for not even thinking about what would happen to their education. Agledon… what would they do? The university is situated in the middle of the country. 

"Oh, I really forgot about it. Where is it?"

"In the living room," Mrs. Chisel answered.

He had deliberately delayed opening the Marene's ball, but it was high time he should learn the truth. No matter how bitter it could get. The ball started glowing at his presence. Blue-green mists were slowly released from the inside of the ball when Ermand's fingers were only inches away from it. And then, once his fingers had made contact with the cold bronze, dense mist rose.

A shadow approached him. Ermand reckons the figure should belong to the man who had invited him to join the college, but, to his surprise, it was the High Professor of Agledon who had emerged from the mists.

"Professor Lewcent…" Ermand's voice was barely audible, his mouth dropped at the sight. 

"Ermand Chisel, a war is pronounced to happen between Tawarn and Jordi. Agledon, as you might know, is situated at the heart of the country. It is with great regret that I have to inform you of this. Agledon will be officially closed until the war is over."

Ermand gasped. He prayed it wasn't true.

"Education is the most important factor, and you don't need anybody to tell you that. Agledon, in its history, had never cancelled classes in the name of war."

Ermand noticed a slight disgust at his voice when he spoke of the war.

"And it won't happen this year too. Classes will begin on time in Agledon, no matter what. On the 3rd day of Loe's month, 109th year of Epigal, classes will begin at Dazeal's drey. Please be prepared. Stand for what's right, your mind won't betray you, it will give you a hint of it, stick to it."

He had disappeared into the shadows again, the haze was cleared, the Marene's ball no longer remains where it lay. Only Ermand, the empty walls and the air, in the utter silence, remains. 

He walked out of the room, expecting his parents to enquire him about it, but they nodded at him and deposited his boxes into a small gunny sack that swallowed their luggage. they had. It was called the Gaping Gunny sack. Mr. Chisel had bought it for a decent price two years back. It had helped them when they moved from Fingercut street.

"First, we're going to Marven Chisel's, and while we walk there, I want you boys to be as silent as possible. And, Annie, are you feeling well, dear?"

"I'm fine, Helmuth, let's get on with it."

Mr. Chisel smiled, and the fright was evident in his features. He kissed his wife on the cheeks and gazed at her eyes with his teary ones before opening the door. The boys pretended they did not see them.

"Do not worry, everything will get better. Don't lose your hope, you will lose everything," he said, taking his first step out of the house. He left a letter enclosed in a neat envelope addressed to Greatman Chestnut, the owner of their house.

Ermand stared at the letter.

Timothy wouldn't know...

He followed his brothers, making sure no one suspected their escape. Escape from the treacherous war.

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It was not that I realized I had done a lot of info-dump on the previous chapter and had you guys bored. But do not refrain for I will be editing them soon!

Also, sorry for the delayed update! (But I kept my promise!)