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But one thing, at least, was clear. Sair was directly involved in this war.

His homeland had been invaded.

Why, though? Because the country had been weakened by the Vanguard's attack on his kin?

That had to be it. This timing couldn't be a coincidence.

For a long time, he just sat there on edge of his bed. Thinking. Barely even listening to the television as the anchors and reporters began to repeat their vague explanations.

His parents were right.

He'd always been an obedient son. For the most part, at least. He never openly questioned their teachings. Even from a very young age, he'd understood the value of what they were trying to instill in him. Discipline. Vigilance. Preparedness.

If anything, it was his little brother Marcos who never quite seemed to understand. So Cisco had tried his best to help him. Not to coddle him. To show him how to be stronger. Even if it meant that the little brat thought he was a jerk.

But now, hearing about all this, Cisco realized that somewhere in the back of his mind, he had doubted his parents. Silently. He'd wanted to complain. To act like Marcos did. To be childish. Because he was a child, wasn't he? That was only fair, wasn't it?

Man.

He felt like he'd had some kind of grand epiphany, all of a sudden. Like he was waking up after having been asleep his whole life.

This was what it meant to be a Rainlord. This understanding.

It was in everything that he'd been taught. The history of his kin. Besieged. How many times had that land been invaded? How many tales had he heard of one war or another?

He could feel it in his bones. The pull of his ancestors.

It was his turn. As it had been theirs so many times before.

Cisco didn't have to wonder. That was what his father would tell him if he were here, right now. He knew it was.