The light of the Central Sun bathes the town of Ciúin on the Isle of Women is warm energy as Lito trains with Iníon in combat. Since becoming a Knight under the banner of Clan Estua, Lito now lives in the town barracks. Endless day after endless day Lito fights other Knights for training.

Lito's record in his fights against even the best warriors on the Isle of Women is respectable given every time he is defeated he works until he can meet the victor again in a rematch and win. His work ethic has already earned Lito a place as a servitor on the next mission to Earth.

The date for departure for Earth fast approaches, and Lito now works to get Iníon up to speed. Iníon is less prodigious than Lito; it took Iníon a good number of days to be able to lift a sword properly, but the strong connection all share with the Central Sun allowed even Iníon to quickly develop.

The biggest issue for Iníon, as it is for any soul under the Central Sun, isn't capacity to learn, it is developing the necessary mental and emotional fortitude to withstand the stress of combat. Even today Lito disarms Iníon for the dozenth time, and now Iníon retreats from the small combat arena.

Lito lets Iníon run away unconcerned, Iníon always runs to the same place, the least used stairwell in one of the corners of the barracks complex. Lito mulls over the situation, this is hardly like combat or military training back on Earth.

But then when on Earth have swords been a main weapon of choice save for the most dedicated sports players? Another strange feature of combat training under the Central Sun is the personal relationship fostered between Knights and their Pages.

Of all the parts of training, Iníon took the best to this personal relationship, and is almost never found more than an arm's length from Lito at any given moment in time. Other Knights prod Lito for "his second shield," and he wonders if he should speak to Iníon about becoming more independent.

That conversation can wait, Lito thinks, and after giving Iníon a few minutes to hide, slowly moves to follow her to her usual hiding spot. Lito walks through the halls of the barracks, taking a different staircase up, and stops at the top of the landing a few steps above where Iníon now sits.

"I don't want to fight. I don't want to go back to Earth." Iníon says, sensing Lito's presence.

"A part of living here is service to the Central Sun, and that service involves the possibility of combat," Lito says, "You need to be able to defend yourself."

Iníon spins around with tears in her eyes, "Defend myself from what?"

Lito thinks back to Dorothea's . . . melding and knows she waits for the day she can have Iníon. Lito says, "Do it for me, please."

Iníon turns back to face down the stairwell away from Lito, "Don't tell me I need to fight."

"If you remain attached to my hip, you will end up with a sword in your hand every time."

"Why can't we do something else, like cooking or pottery or art," Iníon says, "Other people don't fight."

"Go and talk to those who do something else, they've all been on at least one campaign, many of them far more than just one." Lito responds.

Before Iníon can continue talking, a regal presence makes itself known in the atmosphere. Both Lito and Iníon turn to look down the hall from where Lito stands, and a few feet away both see Dorothea. Lito greets the Queen with a bow while Iníon remains despondent on the stairs.

Lito casts an eye towards Iníon and grimaces while addressing the Queen, "How may I serve you?"

"I need the two of you to come with me." Dorothea commands, ignoring the sulking on the stairs.

Lito stands up straight and fully looks to Iníon, who motionless for a second decides to get up and join Lito at the top of the stairs. Iníon asks Dorothea, "What's going on?"

Lito winces while Dorothea speaks past the slight, "I supplied the two of you to a combat team," Dorothea turns to Lito, "I think you will be pleasantly surprised at who you'll be serving alongside."

Lito bows again, and Dorothea turns to leave, with Lito following in short order. Iníon pauses, huffs, and catches up to Lito, saying, "Who does she mean you'll be pleasantly surprised to see?"

Lito responds, "I honestly haven't the slightest idea."

Through the streets of Ciúin Dorothea leads Lito and Iníon, and soon all three exit the town, walking along an old path through the grassy plains that surround the town of Ciúin. A short distance from the town, an old, seemingly derelict tower stands in isolation, and the three travelers approach.

Inside the tower, the ancient sun burnt stone is matched with advanced technology, most notably an elevator with the only available direction being down into the flat Earth. Lito's eyes go wide, this is the first sign of technology he's seen since arrival.

Dorothea motions to the elevator, saying, "Please, after you."

Lito and Iníon enter the lift with Dorothea behind, and all three descend into the mechanical inner workings of the Central Sun's sphere.