Audentis Fortuna Iuvat

Reyna was wise not to mention my hair. She instead scrutinized the bags beneath my eyes and my cheeks still flushed from the liquor the night before.

"You missed the debriefing last night, where were you?" She demanded in a tone that was a little too loud and made my head pound out an extra hard throb.

"Being an idiot." I winced, braving the liklihood that I'd be banished from the legion and meeting her gaze. But I didn't find anger there, only sympathy.

"Oh Kerri," within seconds my little sister was hugging me. "I'm so sorry for everything that happened. I miss them too. So much."

It took me a moment to register that she was crying and I returned the hug. I'd never seen Reyna completely break down like this before and I never would again. She stepped back from me, sniffing and wiping her dampened cheeks. "Do you want to know how he died?" She asked, inviting me to sit on the other chair - Jason's chair. I took the seat, not even needing to ask who we were talking about.

Mark.

I was still trying to process it. This sudden disappearance of all these people I loved. This sudden void that I knew would never be filled. But there was this burning curiosity within me that demanded I discover the reason for this sudden abscence. "Yes, please." I croaked.

After a moment of silence a bitter laugh left Reyna's lips. "He went out like a hero, I think he would want you to know that. There was this- this... ogre. I've studied mythology for years but I've never come across such a thing. It carried a spear and I was with Mark when we heard it boast of killing our Praetor. I couldn't get him to stay with me after that. I'm so sorry.

"He ran off to face the beast and he did defeat it, it was near impossible for it to stop him. The monster was defeated but Mark found himself surrounded by enemies who had all seen him kill one of their own. They leaped on him and he took at least a dozen with him to his grave.

"He died avenging the death of a girl that he loved and he died a hero." Reyna took a deep, shaky breath. "I'd like to think that he made it to Elysium."

Elysium... maybe I could see him again afterall.

"I want to die a hero." I told Reyna. "I want to die and find all the people I love waiting for me in Elysium. Then I won't ever have to say goodbye."

"But sometimes you have to." She said and my conscience was saying the same thing. Some of my friends weren't destined to be heroes. With my background, I would be unlikely that I could join the friends who were. And that thought scared me.

"I should banish you." Reyna said. "I should spare you from the pain of seeing more friends die."

Fear widened my eyes. "Please, Reyna. I have to stay. I- I can do better."

She sighed. "I said that I should, not that I'm going to. Instead you're going to have to complete 100 hours of community service as a combat instructor and cover the post of Becca as well until we can find a suitable replacement."

The relief I was breathing out was sucked back in. "What?"

Reyna frowned. "You didn't know? Becca is gone, she left late last night after we returned to camp."

Notes