Smile

With the threat of the Fell Dragon eliminated, and Ylisse's best tactician finally located, peace finally graced the continent.

Battles were few and far between, soon only petty bands of thieves were the only problem.

As the troubles died down, so did the need for a standing army.

The Shepherds began to break off, some returning to their home countries, others finding new adventures in the company of loved ones.

One morning saw a Plegian mage shifting through the empty barracks. As more members of the Shepherds had left, more of their possessions went with them. The once lively room was but a shell of its former self, slowly losing the character that once filled it.

And as early as it was, another person crept timidly into the room.

Without a pause, Henry cheerfully called out to the newcomer.

"You better reveal yourself, or I might have to kill you! Nyahaha!"

Startled at being addressed, Olivia moved into Henry's line of sight, glancing at the traveling bag that the mage was throwing together.

"A-are you going somewhere?"

Beaming, he continued to sort through tinctures and tomes. "Boy, is it that obvious? I'm just getting ready to fly this nest for good!"

"You're leaving?" Over the past months Olivia had gotten used to seeing her friends go, but always with promises to return, always with a heads up, always on good terms.

The shock in her voice caught Henry's attention, and he briefly glanced at the dancer.

"Whoopsie, did I forget to tell anyone? I guess I'm a lost CAWse when it comes to these kinds of things." Giggling, he went back to work, fiddling with one of the leather straps on the bag.

Panicking slightly, Olivia tried to keep a level voice. "It's so sudden. I don't think anyone was expecting you to vanish."

Tilting his head slightly, Henry shrugged. "Can't say anyone would miss me! And it's getting boring here. No blood to shed, where's the fun in that?"

Olivia recounted the time the two had spent together over the course of the past years. Of the countless times that they'd supported each other both on the battle field and off. Losing her friends was hard enough, but the prospect of losing someone that she had been developing feelings for was terrifying.

The conversations they had shared darted through her mind, fragments of genuine emotion and feelings that were conveyed. Had all of that been meaningless? All of it solely on her side?

"I. I would miss you. I thought that you might stay." Gradually losing confidence, her voice slid down to a whisper. "I thought that you might stay for me.."

"Oh you're worth someone much better than I could ever be."

With her head bowed, Olivia barely head the other's reply. "I, what?"

"Hm? Nyahaha, nothing! I'm just not someone you should wait for."

Blushing furiously, she struggle to voice her feelings. "So this is it? You were just going to leave? If I hadn't found you then you would have just left?"

"Now you got it! That's exactly what I was going to do. But looks like you caught me." Unphased by Olivia's rising distress, Henry gave his traveling bag a once over before nodding at his handiwork.

Unable to get any real reaction from him, Olivia realized that trying to stop the mage was pointless. Curling back into her insecurities, she stopped herself from spilling out the feelings she harbored for him. Perhaps her feelings really were one sided.

"Then please. Just, let me see a real smile."

Holding his default mask, unable to convey any true emotions, Henry shouldered his bag and left the barracks for the last time.

"I can't."

AN: well that was sudden.