Cosimo had spent the past two years. Signor Silvestri had been right on so many levels. It was one where it was hard, too. 

His sisters were paying a visit. He was never more excited. He had gotten sometime to be on his own. And they were here. 

He looked at a close friend, a boy by the name of Gabriele, with his curly black hair and eager smile. He had a rather long face. And he was the same age. One of the few friends that he had, mostly solidifying their relationship. 

“Aren’t you going home?” Gabriele asked. 

He went home every break he had, missing it drastically.. And then come back as late as possible in the first year. But in his second, he only had some happiness about what was happening. 

“I wish to, but they’re coming here instead.” He looked at them. “Someone offered, as my father was visiting Lonoa to see some family.” 

He wished to go home too, but since they were coming, he liked to wait. He liked to, preferring to stop at a few cities along the way.

“Aren’t you going home?” Gabriele asked. “It’s been a week. I thought they punished you for something. You often left first.” 

“No, still the same again?” Cosimo asked, knowing his friend’s family. 

“My father would visit me now and then whenever he isn’t held up at the ports in Lonoa. It’s quite far from here, and he usually has to go to the port in Ganeo.” 

Gabriele’s family—the Barengo family—had been a family of sailors. Cosimo didn’t. Most of his family had rather varied choices in professions. Cosimo had been a nobleman, whose father had been a general and left his son a substantial fortune. 

“Perhaps I can introduce you to him when he comes.” Gabriele offered. 

“He’s coming here today,” Cosimo said, surprised. 

There was a carriage, and Cosimo watched with interest. 

“Do you mind if I ask him what it’s like to be a sailor?” He asked, leaning over. 

Gabriele gave a shrug, suggesting that it was fine. “I’ve gotten sick of listening to him say his honours. I guess it’s great to have someone else.”

Cosimo watched as the snow was falling. 

At this moment, a man with most of his forehead clean, balding, with hair at the back, on his face was a thick beard.

“Papa,” he said. “This is a friend of mine. He’s here with me.” 

“It’s an honor to meet you, Signor Barengo.”

“Do you intend to become a sailor?” He asked. 

“I would want to go.” He mentioned. It was a dreary place, though he never complained much. 

“I see,” he said. “What made you interested in the sea?” 

“I’m not sure,” he said. “But I thought the idea of sailing out on my own to explore, or perhaps to be on a ship, sounded like a good idea.” 

And he had to make that choice soon, next year, they were going to go towards their choice. And dependent on the evaluation and the exams, but he wanted to meet them first. 

“It’s a different kind, as we mostly serve only one location. But with years, that may change.” Signor Barengo told him. “It’s often far away, and we often garrison the island.”

Cosimo looked forward to his words. He did think that perhaps it was a good idea. A way out, away from his father. 

Cosimo knew the Ranciens controlled parts of Possemare, but there was also the island of Gaccia. 

“It’s rare to have a navy now, since we’re small. But we’re surrounded by seas on both sides, but I think Itoro needs a navy. If we were to unite as one again, a navy would be essential.” 

It was geography, as they were surrounded on both sides by seas. And only in the north did they have a natural land border. 

“So, if Itoro reunites?” He asked. 

“Then it would be necessary. But I mostly think that it’s not my place. I’m a simple man, and a soldier. And to speak of unification is often hard when there are as many as a dozen countries.” 

Then, Signor Barengo left with his son, perhaps to talk more. 

He spotted the familiar carriage, his spirits lifting almost immediately. He wanted to see them now. 

He looked forward to showing them Lonoa, which was a different city. They had been under the Ranciens for a few years, with the language being necessary in the academy. As most of them were perhaps expected to serve the consulate. 

The consul of Rancie had changed the entire academy for generals, both Itorian and Rancien. Cosimo knew now his father tried his best. 

All the teachers who taught him were former veterans. He went down to greet down, eager to see them. 

His governess Ana had come with them, to accompany his sisters, older than she looked. She had dirty blonde hair, with brown eyes, her hair under a cap. 

Renata was older now, grabbing him by the shirt at his waist to give him a hug. “I missed you so much.”

He had gotten used to it. She was always the first to greet him. Before she left, and he could embrace his sister. “How has Paserta been?” 

“I’m eager to see Lonoa.” 

“Same,” Renata interrupted, her joy never more. 

“Come on, I can leave anytime.” He had packed, getting himself ready for them. “Let me get my stuff.” 

They smiled and followed him.