Maia's
"Is it done?"
Maki asked for the nth time as he paced back in front of me. I had the urge to roll my eyes when the door swung open and Percy came and his first question was.
"Is Maia done?"
I glared at the two of them before I buried my attention in my sketches once more. My session with Dione had ended and like always as soon as I woke up, I asked for my sketchbook and pen.
It became our routine since they said I have a natural talent when it came to drawing. And it was arguably the easiest way to convey to them what and who I saw in my memories. I'd rather show them than ramble what I know.
Since most of my memories were muted in my mind, this was the best way. Dione had explained that such a thing is possible since I had already undergone more than three times of memory removal.
It is especially hard for me to tap into the memories of my childhood because of the experiment that the Zareal project had done to my constitution.
"Don't rush her, why are the two of you so eager?"
I can't help but smile when Damian sat beside me scolding both Percy and Maki.
"Because we're curious and why are you sitting next to Maia again"
Damian only shrugged and grinned at Percy, ticking off the older male. I let out a sigh as I finished my sketches. It wasn't even a minute after I was done when the door flew open and Dad, grandma and uncle Helios walked inside the room.
"Dad, Grandma, Uncle"
Maki called but Dad's whole attention was on me.
"Any new memories Maia"
I nodded before placing all of my sketches on the table one by one. I started with the room, the hallway, the exit before placing the sketches of the people I saw. The twins, the baby, the other two children, and the older blonde male who seemingly protected us until the end of my memory.
I had a feeling that these people were our siblings but an assurance is still better than a speculation.
"This is the man who introduced himself as Magnus back at Lido Town"
Damian leaned toward the sketches and pointed at the older blonde male. My attention quickly shifted to him when I caught a glimpse of Maki's nod.
"Dad?"
Dad didn't answer me, instead he rearranged the sketches of the person that I drew and starting from Magnus, to the twins to the two children and the baby, he introduced them.
"Magnus, Maddox, Maddin, Marvyll, Makoto and Maki"
"Wait, this is Maki?"
Percy unbelievably pointed at the sketch of Maki, I was equally shocked. So mom really did take all of us including Maki who was still a baby. Dad nodded before Grandma took the sketches of Marvyll and Makoto.
She stared at them before a soft caress drew her to the sketches. And there I saw how guilt flashed through her eyes.
"You were all so young, I am ashamed that we had forgotten everyone. If only we didn't then we would have searched for them early on"
"So he really was our brother. Do you think he didn't know too?"
I glanced at Maki whose gaze was transfixed on the younger picture of Magnus. I can't say I don't know how he feels because I can imagine it. He had already met our older brother but he didn't know who he was. There's bound to be some regret in there.
"Only one way to find out Maki. We need to find him"
Percy said as he took the twin's sketches and clapped one hand on Maki's shoulders. I know for a fact that Percy hadn't met any of them either. He was only two years older than me which makes him exactly four years old when we were all taken and a normal child's earliest memory typically starts at five years old. And yet, he was just as eager as us to find everybody else.
"It's a lead then, let's go to the meeting room. The three of you should be there too."
Maki and Damian's attention also shifted to Grandma who now has a different expression on her face.
"The elders and commanders had laid out a plan"
Grandma's eyes were now seething with regret and pain. It was the same for Dad and Uncle Helios. Whatever happened before pinned them down and it was eating them up until now. It wasn't just some stranger who we had lost but family.
We all followed the three elders out of the room and into the meeting room where several people had already gathered.
The pentagon redesigned and reformed the SDC's factions and plans with careful considerations. This had led to a more organized hierarchy of commanders and leaders.
At the top were The Elder's Covenant.
Consist of the seven elders who came from different cities but have enough experience and knowledge in warfare. Arthur and Palamedes from H City, Lamorak from Lido Town, Kay from the ruins of Cujo Village, Bedivere and Bors from Lithuinia, the province where the arena for the Herculean Tournament was previously held and Sol who came from the Seven City and lived in H City.
"I see you brought the children Sol"
Palamedes smiled at us as soon as we stepped foot in the meeting room. We knew him and Arthur as we grew up around them too, they were the Grandpas of almost every child in H City.
"We had identified the children, we can now proceed with the plan"
I roamed my eyes and immediately noticed Lynette, Aunt Eos' first born, waving at us. It was Percy who took the first step and walked towards her so we followed him. Lyn smiled at me bumping her shoulder to mine when I got near her.
"So cousin, do you remember me now?"
I grimaced which immediately made her laugh. I wasn't particularly close with Lyn because we had always been the opposite sides of the coin. She was closer to Lancelot and Nimue who were Percy's siblings.
Lynette had a twin sister, Lyonesse who had died because of heart failure when they were ten. From then on, she had been closer to Lance and Nimue. They hung out together all the time making it natural for Percy to hang out with me and Maki. Which leads us to not being close as we grow older.
"Lyn you really should stop teasing Maia, she can directly punch you in the face you know"
Lynette only laughed at Percy before she directed her attention back to me.
"It's a greeting Maia, you do know that I missed you cousin"
"mmm"
Percival laughed silently at my answer. I'm still awkward with Lyn especially since I didn't recognize her when I first saw her again which birthed the occasional "do you remember me" greeting.
Percy and Lyn are both appointed as the commanders of the Polaris and Procyon factions respectively.
The pentagon systematized the former four factions of the SDC and made them into five.
The Polaris Faction which is the military and warfare faction headed by Percy and Uncle Helios.
The Pleiades Faction which is the most important and largest faction. The ones who handle the inventory of weapons, foods and necessities. This faction is headed by Sei, Miisa's dad and his cousin Gawain who was also a former commander of the SDC.
The Pollux Faction is the security and technical faction of the pentagon. It is headed by Arthur's first born, Tristan and Dad. They are responsible for the security of the pentagon as well as the technology that runs it.
The Procyon Faction is the faction responsible for the medical facilities as well as research. It is headed by Lynette, Galahad, a former commander from the SDC and Ren, Iavan's father. Dione is also in this faction but he is still under strict observation.
And the last faction is the Pearson Faction, responsible for the intel reports and recons. It is headed by Gareth, another former commander of SDC and Aunt Eos.
Everyone did a voting system for the commander's positions with the Elder's guidance to ensure that we were being led by the right people.
"Before we begin, there's something I'd like everyone to watch."
All of our attention shifted towards Aunt Eos who was staring blankly at everybody. A shift that sent shivers down my spine. Because for a moment Aunt looked like mom.
Aunt Eos was someone who was warm and was always full of positivity but the one standing in front of us now was a different person. A cold and calculating look as she played a video.
Watching it now, I understood why Aunt Eos' expression looked like she'll kill because I would have even if I don't want to.
Because amidst the internal imbalance that the revolution had gone through, it seemed like our enemies were just starting.