Chapter 43 : Harsh realities.
Weiswolf, 9:00 pm
The canteen, as usual, was full of people who ate and between one bite and another spoke to each other.
"How do you feel?" CC asked, turning to Lelouch.
"I should ask you, those psychopaths had crushed you." He replied.
"I have suffered torture over the centuries ... I have now made the callus."
"But I didn't ... I felt like that time on the Ikaruga. Helpless, attacked by people who should have been my friends. "
"Do you still think about it? Yet 12 years have passed. "
"Even if 120 had passed for me it would make no difference. Some wounds never heal, they stay there to remind you of the painful events of your past."
"Look at the bright side ... They've been dead for a while, executed on your behalf."
"True ... And soon our common friends will go and keep them company." The boy stated, not hiding his satisfaction.
Where is Leila?
Tony wondered, looking around.
She was usually among the first to show up at the table, but now he couldn't see.
He turned to Evergreen, who sat at the table next to his in the company of Shiho and Yaeko.
"Sorry, did you see Leila?"
"They imprisoned her." She replied.
"What? Why?"
"She took part, along with other people, in the kidnapping of Lelouch and CC with torture. Didn't you know? "Shiho asked.
"No ... I was in my room (which would also be Leila's) and I only came out a little while ago."
"They tortured them in 6: in addition to Leila, Edward, Ashley, Harley, Cecile and Sayoko." Yaeko intervened.
"And now they arrested them?"
"Yes, they are in the fortress prison sector."
Oh, my God…
"After dinner I'll go talk to her!"
"I'll take you."
"Thank you, Yaeko."
"Imagine ..."
Katyusha sneezed.
"Cheers!" Miho told her.
"Thank you."
Chertov Prostuda ... One of the most troublesome ailments!
She thought, annoyed.
"Of course you too ... How did it occur to you to go out for a walk?" Erika asked her.
"There was good weather ... And then I had it even before."
"I guess it's irritating." Commented Maho.
"A curse ... Stuffed nose, sore throat ... A torture!"
Meanwhile Anchovy was reading a comic book. Suddenly someone took it from him. Looking up, she saw Lelouch leafing through the magazine.
"Do you read these in your spare time?"
"Yes," she replied, irritated.
The boy carefully observed: it was an old European comic book, dedicated to Zero. It certainly dates back to 2017-18, when the masked hero and his Black Knights fought against the British Empire. Definitely a propaganda comic, a bit like those of Captain Britain.
"Look, CC ... We have a fan of Zero, the hero of the people."
He smiled mockingly.
"You know they're all lies, right Anchovy? A quarter of this stuff will have happened, and not like that. And in the real world people die, no arrogant masked can avoid it! They're all idiocies for the cowards! "
"Give it back to me!"
"As you wish." He answered impassively, giving it back to her.
"You know I was behind the mask, right?"
Anchovy nodded.
"Ironic, right? The hero who spoke of freedom and justice is the same one who reduced everyone to slavery with the geass ... "
"Come on, Lelouch ... Come eat." CC invited him.
"Agreed ..." The boy returned to his seat.
Moron!
Anchovy thought.
In the real world, people die, no arrogant masked can avoid it ... You mean yourself, don't you? To your failure to save Shirley ...
She thought CC.