After eating his mom's hand-made breakfast for him, a small stack of pancakes drizzled in honey and an assortment of fruits, it was finally time for Ryn's departure, his time to head to the Centre. He could feel the anxiety within his mother, the fear and doubt she had. Of course she'd feel that way, she was his mother, even if Ryn had been the strongest Steeled in all existence she still would have worried, and Ryn was most definitely not the strongest. Whilst Ryn's mother washed the dishes, Ryn tenderly approached her, not wanting to startle her. Instead of standing right besides her, Ryn opted to stand a few steps back, so he couldn't see her face and she couldn't see his. He feared that if his mother were to look at him, due to a mother's protective instincts, she'd lose the resolve to send him off to the Centre and keep him here.

"Mom… Dad's going to drop me off soon. In around 5 minutes... The pancakes were really, really good. The berries were perfectly ripe and the honey was spot on... Err…"

Ryn was unsure what to say, his mother silently continued to scrub the dishes for a few more moments before turning around to face him. Instead of a tear stained face, Ryn was greeted with a warm and strong smile. The edges of her eyes were slightly red, she must have cried privately, but right now… His mother was strong, stronger than he thought he could ever be. She looked straight into his eyes and took a step towards him, a proud motherly smile engraved on her face.

"Ryn… You are my pride, my joy. I trust you. I believe in you. Now you, must believe in yourself. You must hold your head high around all those noble clan children. You must show the valor of a Sylzar and our spirit."

Alice tenderly touched Ryn's cheek. The tremble in her voice evident; she was doing everything in her capability to not cry. Ryn felt himself slightly losing ahold of himself, it was meant to be the other way around. Him consoling his mother, not her consoling him. His eyes gleamed over, threatening to shed tears at a moment's notice, but just like his mother, he remained firm and resolute.

"I will, I'll show them all. I'll show them just what we're capable of."

Ryn's mother nodded, in response to him, pulling him into a gentle embrace for a few moment. After letting go she looked at him once more.

"When you're at the Centre Ryn, don't skip any meals. Make sure you sleep on time and wake up on time. Don't get into unnecessary fights. And don't break too many girls' hearts okay?"

She said that last part with a slightly cheeky grin, expecting Ryn to get flustered and embarrassed. Though Ryn was close to, he decided to play along with his mother's games.

"Not much I can do if it happens, just make sure you don't get overwhelmed by all the marriage proposals you'll find in the post."

"Silly boy."

Ryn patted his mother gently on the head before picking up his backpack and heading outside. Escorted to the door by Alice, Ryn left her at the door and headed to the car. Before entering however he turned around once more.

"Oh yeah, Mom! Look at this!"

Ryn willed Lunar Whisper into existence holding it's black blade high into the sky, the sun's light giving it its beautiful glow, wisps of blue flowing off of it. His mother stared in awe… and then hope. A beautiful smile formed on her face, shouting out.

"Show them all Ryn! Show them! Show them that Anvil cannot overwhelm my son!"

Ryn nodded and slowly entered his father's car in the passenger's seat. Of course his dad had seen the sword too, his eyes staring in marvel.

Just like that, Lunar Whisper had already saved two souls.

Throughout the journey, Ryn and his father mainly remained silent. It was only up until the last third of the journey where his father decided to start a conversation.

"Ryn, your mother gave me two things to give you. One sec' let me grab them."

Reaching into his pocket, one hand still on the steering wheel, he pulled out two envelopes and handed them to Ryn. One was of a red colour and the other blue.

"She said to open the red one once you've made friends you truly, truly trust. Friends you can call family. As for the blue one.."

Ryn already had an idea, he'd seen this trope countless times, but he let his father continue with his explanation.

"The blue one is for when you feel like life is too much. When you feel overwhelmed by everything and can't take it anymore. Only then… Only then are you allowed to open it, those are your mother's requests."

Ryn gently eyed them both before unzipping his backpack and putting both envelopes inside.

"She didn't have to you know, she could just call." Ryn light chuckled as he spoke.

"There's nothing like a heartfelt letter son, maybe one day you'll come to understand that. Also, stupid kid, how would she call you when you're in Anvil."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that part." Ryn gently closed his eyes and smiled, his mother really was eccentric but, he loved her like no other.

"Ryn… When you go there. To the Centre. It's going to be different, completely unlike anything you're used to. You're going to be alone at first, you might feel out of place or like an impostor, in a place you don't belong. Remember there are people out there, people who will love you…"

Ryn could hear his father's voice slightly trembling as he choked out the last part of his sentence.

"And people who already do love you."

Ryn always looked up to his father, a man who woke up earlier than all of them, who went to bed last. A man who would be out working all day, just so that he and his mother could have smiles on their faces. His father was steadfast in his efforts, never once slipping, always, always, working. When he came home he'd be jovial, cheery, taking an interest in what Ryn enjoyed. Taking out time to spend with Ryn's mother. To Ryn, his father was a true man. A man who was strong, stronger than anyone he knew.

"Dad… I'll be fine, I love you and mom, I won't forget everything you two have done for me, you'll always be in my thoughts. I'm sure there are people I'll meet who I'll perhaps get along with. Whether I find them here or not, does not matter. I still have a home to come to, two parents ready to accept me home at any time. I will not die, I tell you that. You know me Dad. I will survive."

His father slightly chuckled as he continued staring at the road ahead of him.

"That's my son I tell you."

A content warmth lingered in his voice, trusting his son completely. A father who'd watched his boy grow into a man, now letting him out into the world, albeit into a world which called him against his will, eventually he'd have to let Ryn out.

"Remember who you are Ryn, never change for anybody, unless they genuinely care for you, and you're changing for the best. People fear change, don't fear it. Understand what needs to change and then embrace the change. It's hard, but I believe in you, I know you'll overcome Anvil."

The two remained silent for the final few minutes of the journey before the view of the Centre slowly began looming over them. A fortress of steel, squarish in nature, yet covering acres upon acres of land.

'Impenetrable'

The first thing Ryn thought of was how secure the place looked, walls of steel which towered over everything you could think of, gates with consoles controlling them behind several other gates, all of the same steel. Equally symmetrical on both sides, rows of gates leading into it. Behind the Steel wall, blocky metal buildings stood, like a fortress created in the wake of an apocalypse. Ryn was approaching the main entrance, a gate much grander than the rest, white accents highlighting it. Above it, was the image of a sword piercing the sign for infinity.

'The Eternal Sword…'

The Centre was an institute founded by the Eternal Sword Clan, specifically Vira of the Eternal Sword, in an attempt to keep track of all those called by Anvil and prepare them, all those who'd awoken their Sword Heart in some form. Ryn thought of his own sword, Lunar Whisper, and wondered how it'd compare to those of the noble families, how many other swords like his were waiting for him.

Once they reached the point where Steeled were to be dropped off, Ryn looked over at his father, still in the car, and gently embraced him, his father lightly ruffling his hair and giving him a light kiss on the top of his head.

"My boy, what a fine man you've become. Return to us, standing proud."

"I will Dad, I will."

Ryn exited the car, and gestured to his Dad that he was fine to leave. Ray Sylzar drove off, giving him one last smile. Ryn stood, basking in the sunlight, bombarded by a chilly wind.

'Well… Let's get this started.'