The Unseen Road

Chapter Thirty-One

At the break of dawn, Kylie, Celeste, and Mina made their way to the Solaire's Central Base to change into their armor as directed, alongside the other soldiers of both kingdoms for the day's "special occasion."

None of the three had been informed as to what that occasion was; however, all they knew was that Kylie and Celeste in particular had been told to stay behind until someone would come and get them, for one reason or another. When Kylie had voiced the question to Nicolas when he had come to wake her up before the sun had risen, he had simply replied that they would find out soon enough and that it was "nothing to fret about." So, when they had finished changing and the last wave of soldiers filed out of the ladies' changing room with their gear, leaving the changing room otherwise empty, they were left just as bemused as before.

Celeste let out a loud moan as she slammed her cabinet door shut- it was a primitive locker of sorts. "Why do we have to hang back when everyone else gets to enjoy the event?" she grumbled.

"I don't know," Kylie replied, leaning against her own wooden locker which she shared with two other soldiers, one Agrelindian, one Solairian. "I guess we just have to trust that it's no cause to worry. But I do wonder what it's all about."

Celeste crossed her arms. "It obviously has something to do with us. Why else would we have to stay behind like this?" She glanced pointedly at Mina. "And you don't even know, huh?"

Mina shook her head and looked at the sisters apologetically. "...I wasn't told anything, but I could have missed it."

"So you didn't get the memo, either." Celeste sighed. "That's no coincidence. I just hope we aren't in trouble."

Kylie thought back on what Nicolas had told her. It had been too dark to see his face during the few moments he was before her, but there hadn't seemed to be anything disconcerting in his voice; in fact, he had kept his composure uncannily well.

"It's not. I trust Nicolas," she said; then she turned towards Mina. "Don't you have to go too?"

The younger girl nodded. "I do, but do you want me to stay here, with you?"

Kylie smiled. "You go on ahead, we'll be okay."

Mina glanced uneasily from one sister to the other. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Upon receiving closure, Mina began making her way towards the door; but she paused once and looked back over her shoulder, spending a few moments just before the threshold. "...Good luck," she said at last.

"Thank you, Mina," Kylie replied amiably.

Celeste made a peace sign with her fingers and waved. "Don't have too much fun without us. Tell us what we miss."

Mina shuffled her feet. "... If it means anything, I think it's something exciting." Then, she pushed the door open and left.

When it clicked shut again, Celeste puffed her cheeks and drummed her fingertips against her thigh. "Why won't it just start already? This feels like a game of hide-and-seek, except the game's already over. So how much longer do we have to wait here again?"

"Not much longer—" Kylie started in reply, but was cut off by a brief rap on the door.

The sisters, alert to the sound, looked at one another. "Mina?" Celeste asked. "Just go on ahead. Don't feel bad about it." Then, as soon as she thought Mina had left, she exhaled and lowered her voice, exclusively for her sister. "That girl really is too sweet," she said. "I mean, she's even like that to Charles, who in my opinion doesn't deserve shi—"

"Kylie and Celeste Jacobs," a masculine voice came from behind the door. "Everything is ready for you. Will you please come with me?"

"Oh. Not Mina," Celeste said. "But excellent timing."