The next couple months flew by quickly. The students went through the crash course of advanced magic class. Avryn poured through almost the entire Academy library plus Yeizura’s personal study to learn about magic. His efforts were fruitful as he almost aced the written exam, which Yeizura commended on.

  Avryn went to his dorm room and slumped right onto his bed. All the preparations took a toll on his energy. A quick rest helped solved it. His mental energy recovered, his physical ones lagged just behind. Vibrations from his Scribe jolted him awake. He turned it on and checked. It was a message from Harver asking his whereabouts. The two squads were at their usual spot by the courtyard.

  Avryn joined them moments later. He sat down as they discussed the day’s topics. Rinna congratulated them all for their progress. Seemed like a little bit of Avryn’s attitude had rubbed off on her. Many of them attributed their hard work to Avryn’s work ethic. It surprised him to the point he audibly said huh.

  Rinna knew about his secret trainings thanks to Tvira even before the Battle Festival. Not even her own leader is safe from her observant eyes. The rest also remarked seeing him always going back and forth from the dorm and training room days on end.

  “So, what’s your progress?” Tvira continued the focus.

  “Well, I got some lucky shots in, Sir Iver’s still stronger,” he recalled.

  Harver chimed in,

  “This guy was in the library studying about magic for at least three hours leading up to the written exam, now that’s commitment.”

  Avryn felt out of place from so much praise, even by his own friends. He switched the topic. It had been some time since the two squads hung out together, so he suggested that they spent some time now. Who knows what could happen tomorrow.

  Leifren had just the idea. He heard of a cinema was opening in Storia and suggested they go there.

  “What’s a cinema?” Avryn asked.

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  Leifren explained the concept of the moving picture to the uninitiated. It was basically a medium for entertainment. Moments captured with advanced technology. They should see it for the marvel it is themselves. Harver was secretly excited for it.

  The cinema was a marvelous site. One hundred people were there at least, lining up to see the movie. Avryn took it all in. The sign had been illuminated.

  “Warrior of the Expeditions,” it read.

  Leifren explained it was a movie about the soldier from The Expeditions fifty years ago. His tale was recently shared and it was turned into a play, then made into a movie. Avryn, Tvira and Valoche nodded along as being the only ones who’ve never seen one.

  “So it’s like the songs of our people. Tales of bravery,” Tvira deduced.

  Leifren nodded and noted there was one difference. The movie would have “actors” portraying as the people of that story. It was burrowed from the concept of theatre now with the added technology of recording and editing.

  Avryn looked to the entrance. It would be a long wait, but he hoped it would be worth it. Harver was seen with a woman. They were close it seemed by their body language. The rest of the squad stood and smiled at this. He deserved at the very least this.

  Thirty minutes had gone by and the teams were finally let in to the theater. They sat together, snacks in tow, and watched the movie. The projector powered up, its crystal hummed with power.

  The movie began to play. Its setting was fifty years ago. The character of this tale grew up as a farmhand, living a normal life. He came home one day to find his home burned down and his parents perished in the flames. He knew the culprits were a local gang of thugs. He trained hard in secrecy.

  The next month, his plan went to fruition. Personal revenge was a good motivator, after all. He and a few friends took down the thugs and became heroes in their town. The man, now with no home, decided to enlist after hearing about The Expeditions. He had heard they needed able bodied men, so he went. To him, he had no future, so he went to create a better one for others.

  “I can go make a new home and rebuild, yes. But you can’t ever replace family,” he said.

  The next segment of the movie details of the training the character underwent. It was the first time they saw the differences compared to theirs. The character’s training was more hands-on. The vets’ present helped kept a safe training environment. The character exceeded expectations and was immediately made into a soldier just two years in.

  The next segment told of the many accolades he gained during service. He slew at least a thousand monsters, as the tales said. He was pivotal during a rescue mission when a platoon of soldiers got lost in the greater north of the Lost Lands. Another contribution was his squad spearheading the construction of the fourth outpost. It was clear that he helped so many lives during his service.

  Another aspect of him was his change in attitude when he served. He forged strong bonds with his comrades. He wanted to live, in turn, to enjoy the fruits of their collective labor after giving the next generation their blessings.

  Everyone was gripped by the story as it ended. Applause was given during the credits scene. Another surprise was the actors of that movie were present and they all took a bow.

  Avryn and his friends went home to their dorms as they reflected on the movie’s message. The fight to reclaim the Lost Lands was a necessary burden to bring forth a new generation that will never experience that hardship again.

  As the squads slept in their dorms, Avryn stayed awake. He was given hope after watching the movie. Rinna joined in the silent contemplation. He asked if he could ask her something personal. He observed she was absolutely focused watching the movie. Was there something that resonated in her, he wondered. Rinna supposed she could let him in a little.

  “My father. He saved my mom and his comrades,” she recounted. “It was against a pride of Corpse Lions.”

  Avryn was taken aback and then understood.