TO START OFF THE WAR AND BOOST THE MORALE OF THE SOLDIERS, AVERY DECIDED TO GO WITH RALLIAN’S SUGGESTION AND DRESS IN THE COS- TUME AND ARMOR HE PROVIDED FOR HER TO WEAR AND DRESS AS ‘ADRIAN’. Not that Avery really wanted to do it. But she wanted to at least make a lasting impression for this war, and the only way to do that was to dress up as ‘Adrian’, the Sky-Walker who would aid them in the war. “You look good,” Rallian commented, stepping inside of the tent. Avery’s back was to him as she fixed her mask. “You think?” Avery questioned, turning to face Rallian. “I’m not looking forward to this, Rallian. You know I’m not.” “Well, at least you look the part, even if you don’t want the part,” Rallian retorted. Avery sighed. “You’re not the one doing this. I am. And you’re not like me. Rallian, you don’t understand it.” “I may not understand, but I know that this will help.” Rallian held up a flag that bore both the standards of Coraz and Azzen. “What do you think? Will it work for you?” “What am I, your standard-bearer?” Avery sardonically replied, snatching it out of his hand. “It works.” “You know, if anyone else knew who you were and what we had planned, then they’d think that as an insult. I, on the other hand, realize who you are, so I won’t ever take you out for that.” Rallian smirked at Avery, who tugged on the mask, trying to adjust it so it would sit better. “Need help?” “I’ve got it, Rallian,” Avery snapped, finally getting the mask in the right position. “I’ll see you later, okay.” She flipped the hood on her cloak up over her head. “I’ve got to get to a strategic place, so I need to scout out where to hide and then fly out from when you give me the signal. The Alutians are ready to start the war, right?” “Right. They haven’t sent out the signal for war, yet, but we’re ready on the off chance.” Rallian picked up a dagger that Avery had set aside. “Are you sure you don’t need this?” Avery plucked it out of Rallian’s hand and tucked the dagger into her boot. “I’ll take that. Now, I’m leaving.” She stalked out of the tent and dashed off to the back of the army. Making sure that there was no one to watch her fly off from the camp, Avery leapt into the air and flew off. Since it had been a while since she’d last flown, she was a little wobbly as she flew, and had to take a moment to practice a hover, then her various maneuvers: barrel rolls, dives, and others. Most of them were defensive, but there were a few that she could use as both an attacking and defensive maneuver. For the next few minutes, Avery stayed up within cloud cover, watching for the signal that Rallian would send at the moment she were to come and use War Magic. Avery’s mind was whirling, and she took a few deep breaths to steady her nerves. This was going to be the hardest thing she’d ever done yet. Bringing up the War Magic was going to be something she hated for the rest of her life, even though she needed to do it. War Magic was so destructive and dangerous that she wouldn’t dare try using it unless she were on the ground and not facing allies who could be killed in the blast.
