"Not that I'd recommend picking anyone still attending this academy, and of course several people are off limits for the task force..."
Leander continued to ramble on as they walked side by side toward one of the many branches of the academy building.
It was strange, somber almost, but nothing really had changed.
Chase still had a very far length to climb, as did his friends, but he certainly wasn't taking a break or anything.
It had been about a week since the championship game, the school had a parade, memorial toward Reinhart, even though he wasn't dead which Chase found quite amusing.
And at the end of it all, Chase got to be the one to hold up the aetherball trophy in front of the entire school.
Then he packed all of his stuff out of his dorm room, nearly shed a tear, knowing that he might never be able to see some of his new friends again.
But just before he was about to set off toward The Rider Kingdom, Leander showed up at his door and told him that he wanted to show him something.
"Many students like Equan of House Lightning, Jack of House Ember, and Poppy of House Aries have specifically been declined the right of choice by their families, be it because of age or whatever."
"Would my father had declined my right of choice?"
Chase didn't mean to ask the question, it was more so a silent thought that leaked out into his words.
Suddenly Leander burst out in uncontrollable laughter, halting his movement.
"Boy! Your father would have killed both me and you had you even been asked to join such a war."
Leander continued on laughing as he walked, but his eyes had a strange somber look hidden within them.
As they walked, they passed several large cases on the wall full of trophies, and plaques for all kinds of different things.
Chase gazed around the empty hall as he walked, but Leander had already stopped behind him and was looking at a very specific spot on the casing.
"We are here."
Moving over next to Leander, Chase couldn't help but smile at the sight of the new aetherball trophy, with a team picture resting next to it.
With a closer look, he spotted the familiar engraving of his name on the trophy, but hesitated once he realized it...
The engraving on the trophy, had once read out 'Championship MVP: Chase, The Nameless.'
But it wasn't hard to spot what had changed, and once he did he couldn't believe it.
"Leander..."
"Yes boy, he raised an eyebrow."
"This says, Chase of The House of Phoenix..."
Leander smirked, and took a simple breath.
"That isn't what I wanted to show you, take a look toward its left..."
And so he did...
Resting on the same shelf, was a much more rusted, yet similar trophy, with a picture resting next to it...
"Blaze Alexander, of The House of Phoenix..."
Chase held back an instant sob, after everything finally clicked.
"His mother's house was that of the House of Alexander, and it took him years to realize that he was the heir of a clan thought to have been wiped out... But once he found out, he became the first ever paladin to wear both his father's and mother's lineages with his name..."
Chase put a hand on the glass, and took a closer look at the picture.
The jersey that Blaze had worn, was the same on that Chase had destroyed in the championship game...
And next to his father, stood a beautiful girl with long onyx hair, and emerald eyes that were nearly as bright as his.
She had a vibrant smile, and wore a ripped up pair of goalkeeper gloves, with a dented helmet in her hands.
"Mom..."
...
Days later, Chase was on a carriage riding into Rider's Kingdom, which just so happened to be one of the kingdoms within the major alliance that The City of The Sun also resided with.
In his hand rested a crumpled up piece of paper, with the list of names that he had chosen for his special task force, that had been given the job of infiltrating Frostfang from the west.
They were set to cross the river north of The Rider Kingdom, and track west where they would set up a base of operations, and about three or four days before the main forces arrived in Frostfang, Task Force Unity would move forward and execute Sazir of House Frostfang.
He read out his list of veteran soldiers and recruits once more, trying to get a gauge on the team that he had assembled.
First, there was Michael of House Everfrost, who had already been informed of Chase's plans to infiltrate Frostfang kingdom, and had already been dead set on joining him.
Second, There was Gabriel of House Envixity, who even with his energy disorder, wanted to join the war at Chase's side even after his pleas to get him not to sign himself up.
But after his retaliation, Chase had no choice but to let his friend join the team.
Third, was Gemini of House Ironclad, who had been forced to join the war by his father, and so because of the boy's social skills, he figured it was best to have a good blacksmith on his team, rather than not.
Fourth, was named Onyx of The House of Dragon, who Leander had chosen on the list for himself, Chase knew very little about him, but apparently Onyx had once been a powerful student at Phoenix Academy, and owed Leander a favor.
Fifth, was a healer named Summer of House Lavender, who had also been Leander's choice, he also said that the two of them would get along well which would build good chemistry between the team.
The sixth was named Danny of House Hammer, who was an adventurer, and also a pretty good builder of things, whatever that meant.
Seventh, was named Ricky of House Shield, Chase knew even less about him then Leander's choices but his paper said that he was a very powerful frontline soldier, and renowned noble, with good people skills.
Chase figured that someone like that would come in quite the handy.
The eighth was quite the surprise for Chase, when he found out that she had written herself down to join the war.
He figured that it was some retaliation against her dad, or something petty like that.
Vivian was no doubt a strategical genius, and would help out a ton with the whole leadership part.
The ninth though, was an interesting pick on Chase's part.
Talon of House Terror, was a formidable soldier who had only recently climbed through the rankings and was about to reach nine star potential.
Chase didn't want to be the weakest link of his team, but he also wanted strong soldiers who could bring down entire groups of soldiers with one blow if the need ever arised.
And that was all ten of Task Force Unity, not including himself.
Hero's Fang rested on his lap, as he had been polishing the blade before he read over the list for the sixth time, just to make sure he hadn't made any errors.
But he jumped out of his seat, once he heard shuffling in one of the crates stacked up behind him.
Standing inside of the moving carriage, he gripped his sword, and slowly stepped toward the top crate.
Then to his surprise, he heard a loud curse of a familiar voice within the crate.
Using the tip of his sword, he lifted the crate.
And within in it, he found Equan of House lighting clutching his aetheric bow close to his chest.