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[h1][b][color=f72f39]Alexander Kherol[/color][/b][/h1]
[h1][b][color=f72f39]The Last Ascendancy Commander[/color][/b][/h1]
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[center][h2]Distant Years[/h2]
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[b][color=92278f]"See, it ain't too bad, is it?"[/color][/b]

Trotting down the lines of maple leaves were two men, both members of the Ascendancy military, but no one would really know, because one was an old man embroidered with wrinkles, but nevertheless showed the athletics that rivalled the next man, or rather next boy according to some alien culture, one of the age to bend a rhino's horn. They were off-duty, wearing their own off-duty exercise clothes, the boy having thick opaque glasses on him. 

[b][color=f72f39]"I guess not. But I don't know Faro, it doesn't feel...you know, the way you described."[/color][/b] Alexander shrugged his shoulders as he jogged along with his instructor. Officially, the man occupied his leadership training, but some recommendation (plus some inner arrangements) led to the elderly instructor basically being his tutor and companion for probably the rest of his academic training.

[b][color=92278f]"Christ, at this pace you're already gonna graduate with lofty positions lining up for you. Your tuition is well-secured. What else? A medal? I don't see how you can feel insecure about it."[/color][/b]

[b][color=f72f39]"I know, I know."[/color][/b] He nodded his head, having heard this multiple times. [b][color=f72f39]"I shouldn't feel that way. But then again, there's just something that tells me otherwise."[/color][/b]

[b][color=92278f]"Look, maybe you need a girlfriend or something."[/color][/b] Alexander gave Faro one of the most 'are you serious look' he had ever given him, despite his eyes never been seen. [b][color=92278f]"I'm serious! Look, why don't we catch our breathe a little?"[/color][/b] Faro nudged the young Alexander as they stopped by a park. A park with a pretty garden, tables scattering the lawn and a porch containing a piano for public use. They took a seat at an empty table right in front of the porch. 

[b][color=92278f]"Don't get me wrong. It's not the goofing, hugging, kissing and buttering biscuits type that you teenagers like to do, though admittedly they are parts of it, but..."[/color][/b] Faro's lips perched, to an increasingly intensifying furrowed eyebrows of the young mentee. [b][color=92278f]"Being a husband, a parent, a grandparent and soon to be great-grandparent, it teaches you something."[/color][/b]

[b][color=f72f39]"Like what?"[/color][/b]

Faro shrugged, [b][color=92278f]"That the world doesn't love you? I hate to sound like a doomer to a young talent like you, but for all the love people like governor Saxon, that kid Kotaro, or any of those starry-eyed over your genius mind, you don't need anymore of that."[/color][/b]

Alexander stopped, laid back on his chair and sighed. For all its worth, Faro was right. With all the achievements weighing on his shoulders at the mere age of 18, he knew this well. He never really was in short of 'love', but he was in the absence of it. 

[b][color=f72f39]"No I get it. Thanks. Shall we head back or something?"[/color][/b] 

Faro tapped on the table strongly. [b][color=92278f]"Come on, sit down, relax and enjoy the music."[/color][/b] He said as Alexander flopped back down onto his chair, his eyes glancing over the piano placed under a porch. Someone was getting ready to play. Something about her in particular caught Alexander's attention immediately as she sat down on her stool. [hr]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLkouR1Njgg[/youtube]
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She could have easily been mistaken for any other woman, but [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/036aa865-6e85-4260-99db-0bcd3417f064.jpg]her sky-blue eyes and long orange-brown hair[/url] were so distinct that Alexander couldn't help but notice. Despite the impression and the seemingly melancholic song she played beautifully on that piano, he much had a feeling that he had met this girl before. He had a person in mind as he quietly slipped his way around the porch, as she finished the song, was given a round of applause from the crowd of park-goers. 

[b][color=f72f39]"Hey there, great performance."[/color][/b] He quickly gave a thumbs-up, one which she graciously thanked him, before continuing. [b][color=f72f39]"Just a tiny thing I wanna ask. Do you happen to know a person called Anna Agonskaya?"[/color][/b]

The girl remembered thoughtfully, [b][color=f7941d]"Yeah, I was friends with her, but it was a long time ago. Haven't met her for a while."[/color][/b]

[b][color=f72f39]"10 years?"[/color][/b] His follow-up was instantaneous. 

[b][color=f7941d]"Yeah, how did you know?"[/color][/b]

A big smile formed on his face, Alexander pinched the side of his glasses and lifted it from his eyes. Now, she too would be able to recognize him, with those colorful eyes that pierced through the layers and appreciated the person behind them. Her first real friend. 

[b][color=f7941d]"Alex?"[/color][/b] Her eyes widened by the seconds. Her joy overwhelmed all composures, [b][color=f7941d]"Alex!"[/color][/b] And she threw herself at her old friend, whom, at this point, was already prepared to be smothered.

[b][color=f72f39]"I miss you, Sarie."[/color][/b] Alexander said, as he pulled her even closer than she already is. 

[b][color=f7941d]"I should be the one telling ya that..."[/color][/b] She grumbled. [b][color=f7941d]"Ya went away so suddenly."[/color][/b]

[b][color=f72f39]"Sorry."[/color][/b] He said. [b][color=f72f39]"I should have gotten your contact. It was lonely for quite some time for me too."[/color][/b]

[b][color=f7941d]"It's fine. Ya probably couldn't anyway. We couldn't afford personal cells back then."[/color][/b] At this point Sarie finally let go. [b][color=f7941d]"We were on cheap home lines, so we'd just say hello and goodbye at best. What have you been up to these years?"[/color][/b]

[b][color=f72f39]"Oh, it's wild. Long story short, I'm now preparing to be a military officer."[/color][/b] 

[b][color=f7941d]"Officer?"[/color][/b] Sarie laughed as she gazed him up and down. It's also surprising that she was, if not a little bit taller, as tall as he was. It's kinda crazy because younger, he was visibly the taller friend. [b][color=f7941d]"Whoa, look at ya! I never would have thought ya'd be mingling around with the tough guys and gals."[/color][/b]

[b][color=f72f39]"Uh huh..."[/color][/b] He plainly raised his right hand and showed his palms clearly. The scar from that incident ran straight through just above his thumbs. [b][color=f72f39]"I'm not that physically deficient."[/color][/b]

[b][color=f7941d]"But you don't look that kind of guy to begin with. You're smart, compassionate, kind,..."[/color][/b] Sarie said and Alexander shyly glanced away at the comment. [b][color=f7941d]"For me, I'm just a craftswoman, doing wood stuffs. Nothing fancy."[/color][/b] 

[b][color=f72f39]"Where do you live?"[/color][/b]

[b][color=f7941d]"Just a few bus ride down the street. I'm here today with a couple of friends I met at a political convention."[/color][/b] She waved them over, two guys apparently. Political conventions, though? Damn. That's not something Alexander thought would come out of her mouth. They shared brief introductions with each other, and newly they didn't know who he was. Looked like the whole genius of Alexandria thing did fade away for good once he left. Overall they seemed like the average joe, perhaps a bit awkward socially, but Alexander couldn't help but feel like there was this mocking tone the moment he mentioned he was in the military. Welp, they probably thought he was one of those edgy teens seduced by the cringy ads. Alexander also introduced Faro to Sarie too, which went better. The old man was classy. The two friends excused themselves from their group for a few minutes. 

[b][color=f72f39]"Well, now that I found you again, let's not lose contact again. You have a phone now?"[/color][/b] Alexander asked, to which Sarie nodded excitedly. They briefly exchanged numbers. [b][color=f72f39]"You wanna hang out sometime as well? You know...just the two of us, catching up on life."[/color][/b] 

[b][color=f7941d]"Sure! There's Ascendancy Day coming up in 2 weeks."[/color][/b] Sarie said. [b][color=f7941d]"If everything goes right to schedule, I should be free on the last two days. We can hang out then!"[/color][/b]

[b][color=f72f39]"Perfect. I'll send you the details later."[/color][/b] Alexander gestured at the phone. Sarie returned him a nod and a warm smile. It was good to have him back. [b][color=f72f39]"I have to go now. The old man's waiting."[/color][/b]

[b][color=f7941d]"See you, Alex."[/color][/b] Both waved goodbyes to each other before returning to their respective groups. On the returning trip to the academy, Alexander felt [i]pretty[/i] close to being interrogated by Faro for that hug earlier. But the day was definitely better for him. He already made plans to have those two days off, and overall was pretty happy. Finally something he could actually look forward to.