December 3, S.1204 - Remains of Garrelia Fortress
The past few days had been hectic, but it finally felt like Rean was getting somewhere. Reuniting with some of his friends was better than nothing and the absolute elation he felt the moment he saw just one of them was unparalleled to anything he's felt before.
He still felt lost, but he was moving closer and closer to his intended path. That was enough for now.
After their brief meeting with Lt. General Craig (and thanking him for escorting Juna), he quickly excused himself. Captain Claire announced that she would have to make some preparations before they headed back to Ymir, so they had some time to themselves. Valimar needed some rest too if they wanted to use the Spirit Path anyway, so it wasn't like they were in much of a rush.
The proving grounds weren't that far off from the fortress, but he probably should've thought this through before making the journey. Still, he found it difficult to worry about time when he was too busy worrying about, well, that.
He didn't have much of a chance to give it a good look the last time they were here. Not too long after stepping into the fortress, they were ambushed by Zephyr and by the provincial army's Soldats soon after. Now, he had a good couple of hours before they headed back out.
He sat over the rubble, making sure he was a good distance away from the crater. If he fell in, he'd probably have to call Valimar to get him out. That would be rather embarrassing for someone who's striving to become a better pilot.
Across the distance held a haunting sight. A pale blue barrier enveloped the city of Crossbell and everything in it.
He couldn't firmly explain how he felt. It angered him. It saddened him. It made him… feel things that he shouldn't be feeling.
Crossbell was a second home to him. But even so, he shouldn't feel that way.
He wanted to reach out his hand and take it for himself. To convince himself that it'll all be okay.
But he couldn't.
Not when he had a duty over here. He'd be a hypocrite if he left now to help Crossbell.
"We had a feeling you'd be here."
He turned around. It was his friends minus Toval. The silence between them was palpable until he decided to respond to their greeting.
"I told you that I'd be right back, didn't I?"
"Toval said he'd grab a quick bite before we head back to Ymir," Machias explained. "Told us we should get you before it gets too cold."
"Really? That's nice of him."
"So you coming or what?" Fie asked.
Rean shook his head. "Nah. Not that hungry."
Elliot sighed. "We thought you'd say that."
The three followed his example and sat by his side, Elliot and Machias to his right and Fie to his left. A cool, yet arid breeze blew through the fortress, letting the four of them get more than comfortable in such an empty and barren environment. It felt a little like they were out on a camping trip and stargazing, except it was the middle of the day and they were staring down a big round bowl on the ground rather than the gaseous orbs in the sky.
"You guys didn't have to join me."
"Why not? It's breezy, it's quiet. Good place for a nap." Fie stretched her arms before laying her head on Rean's lap. "Ahh, my seventh favorite spot."
"Fie." Machias glared at the young girl.
"Haha, glad I managed to make the top ten." Rean broke out in a smile, petting Fie as if she was Celine back when she was only known as the local neighborhood cat.
After a bit of shared laughter, Elliot spoke up. "You shouldn't worry about it, Rean. If I'm being honest, I think I'd rather just wait a little longer to get a chance at your mom's cooking again. I'd reckon it'd be a lot tastier than the military slop they serve here."
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't compare the two." Rean shivered at the thought of eating the same gunk they all ate during their first visit to Garrelia Fortress a few months ago. If there was anything to turn someone off from being a soldier, it was that crap.
They all chuckled at the memory.
"We all came here because we were worried about you," Machias stated. "You were pretty distracted earlier, though," he turned towards Crossbell. "Though it's not hard to imagine why."
"Yeah. If you were anymore distracted, you'd be the one who almost stepped on that landmine Xeno set instead of Machias."
"Will you please let that go?" Machias glared at Fie again.
"Too hard. Sorry."
Elliot cleared his throat. "Anyway," He turned towards the distant city. "Are you worried about her?"
"Guess I was never that good at hiding it, huh?"
"Rean, if you hid everything you thought about the girl and locked it into a vault, you'd still accidentally tell us the passcode. You're pretty transparent."
Rean winced. Yeah, he was awful at hiding it.
"So, what do you think is going on over there?" Elliot put a hand above his eyes and squinted to get a better look. "I know Toval already told us that Crossbell got some new power, but keeping it all vague is making me even more curious.
"Who knows?" Machias readjusted his glasses. "With even the Bracer Guild not being able to gather much information, we're all gonna be in the dark until whatever's going on is over and done with."
Rean nodded. "Yeah, it sucks, but the best I can do is pray to the goddess that it'll all be okay."
The silence between them returned, this time more comforting. He was elated. Rean appreciated having friends who could listen to his troubles and tolerated his ramblings. Even with just four out of their ten- no… eleven, he felt right at home. The third home for him.
"Hey Rean?" Fie finally spoke up.
"Mhm?"
"Could you… tell us more about Crossbell?"
He gave her a quizzical look. "Are you sure you aren't already tired of me talking about it all the time?"
"Yeah, but you usually talked about your friend more than anything. I'm… curious about what the city is like."
"If you don't mind, I'd like to know more too," Machias added. "I only really know about their political climate. I haven't had the time to study what their culture is like outside of their economical attractions and exports."
Fie clicked her tongue. "Always gotta make everything into a lecture, don't you Machias?"
"Hey! I don't always do that!"
"Ooh, if you don't mind, I got some questions too!" Elliot beamed, raising his hand. "I've heard that Eastern instruments are really big there. I've heard pieces, but I don't know what they're like. Do you have any experience with one, Rean?"
"Uhhh, well, my master did teach me a little of the shamisen."
"Ooh! Was it some sort of Eight Leaves training? Like to understand an eastern sword, you need to learn eastern culture?" When asking his question Elliot shifted his voice to speak like a sage as if he was spouting philosophy. Fie had to hold in her laughter.
"Nope," Rean crossed his arms. "He just wanted a second player for his recital and forced me to do it. He grumbled something about how his granddaughter didn't want to play with him anymore. With how he begged me to do it made me understand why she didn't."
"O-Oh…"
"That aside, I haven't practiced in a while. I wouldn't mind giving it another whirl."
Elliot silently cheered, growing impatient to return to Ymir.
Rean looked around them at their eager eyes. He didn't mind indulging them, but he needed to warn them that he might go off the rails.
"So are you guys really that hellbent on making me talk about Crossbell? I won't be as good of a tour guide as a certain someone I know, but I know my fair share around the city. Just a word of warning that I'll talk your ears off."
Fie shook her head, still on Rean's lap. "Be our guest. We like hearing you talk about what you like."
"If you insist…" Rean's grin grew wide.
He described the beautiful landscapes of the state from the picturesque fields of Amorica and the war torn lands of the Ancient Battlefield. The total contrasts between East and West Streets and the rambunctious and eye-catching Entertainment District. He spoke of the food, the music, the people. He even mentioned the one time he visited the Mishelam Resort thanks to Uncle Matthew. There wasn't much for a kid his age to do (Since MWL hadn't been built yet), but he at least had a relaxing time there.
They sat there and chatted for a long while. His friends were enamored with his recountings of the city. Before they knew it, it had gotten late and Toval and Claire had gone to look for them. With embarrassed chuckles, the four friends stood up and headed back to the proving grounds.
They'll have all the time in the world soon enough.
December 12, S.1204 - Merkabah No. 9 Lounge
"Juna, I think you want to see this."
The pink-haired girl looked up from her novel to find an excited Fran fidgeting in place. In her hands, she held a small rectangular device. A memory quartz it looked like.
"What's up, Fran? Something happened?"
"Well…" She pointed with the memory quartz at the nearby terminal. "You should see for yourself."
Juna arched her eyebrow at the younger Seeker sibling but shrugged in resignation and followed her.
"So what's this about?" Juna asked, her eyes gazing across the screen of the terminal. The furious clacking of Fran's typing rang out through the empty lounge, the only occupants being them and the man behind the counter.
The rest of the SSS were currently investigating some goings-on around the state, gathering as much information they could get before they could infiltrate the city in the coming weeks, as well as filling out some monster extermination requests. She was sticking behind on standby due to a recent combat injury that should heal by tomorrow. Thankfully, it wasn't anything too bad and she should be able to rejoin the team before long.
"Well, we knew how you worried you were soooo…" With a click of a button, several windows opened up on the screen with pictures of newspaper articles and photographs displaying on each of them. "Tada! Tio and I dug up as much as we could from the Bracer Guild's database with Michel's help! It's not much, but it's better than nothing!"
"Fran…" She took over the terminal, scrolling through the articles and pictures. They were clearly biased, but she was able to catch glimpses of the situation. The battles taking place, the occupied areas, and any sightings of figureheads all over the country. "You didn't have to…"
She couldn't find anything on Rean or Elise, but this was more than she could have hoped for.
"'Course we did!" Fran replied with her usual cheerful disposition. "You do so much for us that it was only fair."
"Thank you," Juna whimpered, on the verge of tears. She never stopped feeling grateful for having friends as amazing as the people of Crossbell.
"From what we gathered, it seems like the Schwarzer Barony is staunchly holding onto a neutral position in the conflict. I just feel bad because I couldn't find anything about a 'Rean Schwarzer' no matter how much I looked."
"Rean's not really that famous. I'm not surprised that he hasn't been falling under the Noble Faction's radar."
"...I can't tell whether or not that's some lowkey shade."
"Take that as you will." Juna giggled.
Still, the information Fran and Tio managed to gather was nothing short of - well, informative. As far as she could tell, the Noble Alliance had the upper hand, basically having full control on the western front and slowly but surely taking over the east. But what caught her attention was the new weaponry the provincial armies were touting.
Machines constructed with the human form. Some carried large firearms while others were armed with large blades and shields to match. Dubbed the Panzer Soldat.
Articles upon articles spoke of their innovation, sacrificing the pure strength of a tank for better mobility and versatility. Due to their speed, the Noble Alliance was able to swiftly occupy the capital and kickstart the war.
Two things stood out to her, though. One, the Imperial Liberation Front was led by Crow Armbrust, one of Rean and Towa's friends. They called him the "Azure Chevalier" and was the "hero" who assassinated Chancellor Osborne.
It angered her.
Rean trusted Crow. He admired him! And yet… Crow betrayed Rean's loyalty and went on to start a civil war, only to leave Rean in the dust. He was the one who deployed the railway cannons too! Even with the pleasantries she exchanged with him during the festival, she couldn't bring herself to forgive him.
The next time she saw him, Rean would have to hold her back from strangling him right to Gehenna.
The second thing that caught her eye was the reports of a new combatant. One that has not allied themselves with either the Imperial Army or the Noble Faction. The pictures were blurry, but she could make out a similar machine to the Panzer Soldats, described as the "ash-colored knight" according to the eyewitnesses. The shape was similar, but its appearance looked sharper and more elegant.
But what drew her in was the stance. She recognized that anywhere.
"He's okay…"
"Did you say something, Juna?"
"He's okay!"
Juna wrapped her arm around Fran's neck and pulled her closer, ignored the jerky resistance the girl was displaying, and pointed to the screen. "Look at that knight!"
"...I don't understand."
"The way it's holding its sword!"
"You really need to elaborate here."
Juna pinched the bridge of her nose. Of course this is something only she would know.
"'The way a swordsman holds his blade is indicative of how he intends to fight'. That's what he always told me. They're kinda like…" She scratched her head, struggling to find a comparison. "Fingerprints! They're unique like fingerprints. Well, fingerprints that are unique to the sword-style rather than the swordsman, but you get the idea."
"So what you're saying is…?"
"The way the knight holds his sword! It's a form of the Eight Leaves! Just like how Rean does!"
"That's great, Juna!" Fran finally broke free of the chokehold and turned it into a congratulatory hug instead. "I don't really get it, but I'm so happy for you!"
Juna's grin grew wider. "And I wouldn't have figured it out without your help! Thank you, Fran. So much."
"Don't mention it." Fran released the embrace, but not without a slight tinge of concern colored over her features. "Though this does raise some issues. If you're right and your friend is the one operating the ash-colored knight, then he's actively participating in the war."
She hadn't thought about that. Rean was reckless a lot of the time. Far too much for her liking. But she knew he wouldn't do something this drastic without a good reason.
She shook her head.
"Rean knows what he's doing. I trust him."
The corners of Fran's lips arched upward as she gave Juna one more hug. "Alright, if you're so sure, I'll trust him too. But I'll keep an eye out on any ashen knight escapades, all right? You just keep your head in the game when the others get back. I'll tell you anything I find right away."
"Deal!" Juna beamed, feeling even more elated than when she first joined the SSS on the Merkabah. Things were starting to look up.
…
A head slowly crept into the room.
"You know, 'Ashen Knight Escapades' sounds like a great club name. Mind if I take it?"
"Not now, Wazy!" Fran hissed.
December 13, S.1204 - Aboard the Pantagruel
The next few days felt like a blur. One by one, Rean managed to reunite with his classmates from various regions of eastern Erebonia. Starting from Celdic, to Nord, to Legram, Class VII grew more and more complete.
Once they were all gathered, they came to discuss what came next. A group meeting about their role in this war. What were they - the young horned lions - meant to do to put an end to this war?
The conversation kept going in circles. What were they supposed to do? They were just students! Students with a giant robot on their side, but students nonetheless. There was only so much they could do on their own.
Cue a second invasion of Ymir a la the Noble Alliance and another defeat from Crow and his own Divine Knight later, Rean found himself on board their main flagship - the Pantagruel - with a side of Duke Cayenne and Lord Rufus persuading him to join their side. It disgusted him, but he wasn't dumb enough to ignore the merits of accepting their offer.
And despite everything, Crow still had the nerve to show up to his room and offer lunch as if nothing ever happened between the two of them. No assassination. No takeover of Thors. No kicking his giant robot's ass five ways to Sunday with his own giant robot.
Just the two of them with fries, onion rings, and fish burgers.
Really, really, good fish burgers.
Rean had to admit, Crow did know how to break the ice. Still, he was able to use the meeting to his advantage. With a little egging on, Rean convinced him to tell him everything. Everything from who he was to why he decided to kill the chancellor.
He listened to everything he had to say.
Everything from his life in Jurai with his grandfather, to Osborne's offer to annex it into Erebonia to improve flow of mira, to the bombing of the railway that led to the citizens' betrayal of his grandfather, and finally to all those events led to his grandfather's death in retirement.
It devastated him, but Rean was glad Crow trusted him enough to tell him everything.
"...I'd say I've got a duty to clear up the mess left behind by my game, too. Which means ending this war and restoring peace." Crow turned his attention from the window to Rean with a playful wink. "So it's only when that's done that my game is truly over."
"..."
"I don't want whatever your decision is to be influenced by my past, okay? Like Rufus said, you need to think long and hard about what it is you're fighting for. For you, more than anyone else."
"Yeah, but, Crow…"
"Besides, you got a girl waiting for you, don't you? Pink hair with an adorable little pin and necklace?"
"...You know her?"
"Met her at the festival. She's a real looker. Though, I pinned you to be more into the older type."
"Crow…" Rean growled.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Man, you can be so touchy sometimes." With a path on the shoulder, Crow picked up the picnic basket he left on the table. "Anyway, I think I've stuck here for long enough. You're going to be treated as a visitor… Well, sort of." He let out an empty chuckle. "It's about time for the higher ups to head back to Heimdallr, so go ahead and pass the time however you want."
"However I want? What else can I even do here?"
Rean could hear the whirring of an engine outside the window. Flying through the skies was a much smaller airship, most likely Duke Cayenne's personal airship. On board, he saw that the duke, Rufus, and Vita all standing right outside looking onward into the distance. However the latter two noticed Rean's gaze and acknowledged him with a bow and wink respectively.
…
Why did bad guys always feel the need to stand in dangerous positions to look menacing? It was one cliché he'll never understand.
"There'll be no guards outside your room," Crow continued. "So if you want to try and escape, be my guest. Just keep in mind that some members of Ouroboros and Zephyr are on board too. Not to mention me, Scarlet, and Vulcan." He smirked. "So if you're up for a gamble of your own, get ready to take all of us on."
"Sounds fun."
Crow nodded and walked back to the entrance of the room. His hand grabbed the knob and turned it so that the door would creep open only for it to stop halfway. He turned back to Rean.
"Oh, yeah. One more thing: there's this real cute visitor in the guest of honor's room on the second floor. I think she'd perk right up if she saw you, so why not go pay her a visit?" He winked. "Just don't go making your girl jealous, 'kay?"
And with that, he was off.
Who does he mean? Rean wondered. Guest of honor's room? He supposed it wouldn't hurt to check it out.
That's what he would've liked to say if it weren't for the fact that there seemed to be a commotion inside said room.
The sounds of maids and butlers scurrying to and fro the room echoed on the second floor. It sounded like whoever the guest was needed to be critically attended to. Without much choice, Rean decided to come back later when things settled down.
With all the free time he just accrued, Rean took advantage of it at his leisure. However, being on his own made some of his old bad habits flood back into his memory. Whenever he was bored, he'd have an assortment of ideas that would normally get him scolded by Elise or his mother.
Over time, as he came to be with his friends and took on responsibilities, they vanished. It was only when he was alone when it came back to him. And it certainly didn't help that Juna would indulge him in those bad habits from time to time.
Should he just sleep? He wasn't particularly tired, but the moment his head hit a pillow, he was down for the count. Didn't matter how he felt before lying down so long as the bedding was comfortable. Tempting, but it wouldn't be productive in the slightest.
What about grabbing a snack to eat from the kitchen? He literally just ate, but at times, he'd crave something to just consume it. Though in hindsight, probably not a good idea. Seeing as how this was the flagship of the Noble Alliance, their definition of a snack was probably either some foie gras or a fillet mignon. Besides, his mom would kill him if he spoiled his next meal just because he was bored.
He could go and do some training drills. Even with the guards gone, he could probably ask one of the other passengers for a sparring match.
"C'mon, Schwarzer! Is that really all you got?" Xeno taunted.
"I said I wanted a sparring match! Not a *cough* team deathmatch!"
"Well, what were you expecting?" Leonidas nodded sagely. "You asked us for training and you're giving it to you."
"So you thought an eight on one was a good idea?!"
They shrugged. "Jaegers' way."
"Ooh, ooh! Let me get the next hit in! I have to get my revenge after what happened in Bareahard!"
"Go for it, Swiftie! He's all yours."
"Oh for the love of Aidios-"
...Or maybe not.
Rean shivered.
He should probably just talk to them instead…
And spoke he did.
Scarlet was rather tight-lipped on her background, only telling him about coming from a wealthy farming family. Though he was surprised to learn that the Septian Church employed sisters with crazy whip-like swords. If he hadn't been so ingrained into his Eight Leaves training, he would've enjoyed taking a templar sword for a spin.
Talking with Vulcan felt oddly calming. Despite being a jaeger, it felt like most of his killing intent just disappeared. Had they met under different circumstances, Rean would've pinned him as the gentle giant type. Though he could sense through his wistful expressions and longing tone that some part of him was missing. It was like his spark for life left with the ILF members that quit after the assassination of Chancellor Osborne.
Bleublanc continued being quite the character to interact with. His exposition of the Orbal Shutdown Phenomenon in Liberl felt so fascinating that Rean was constantly at the edge of his seat with every word. The tale was so enthralling that it almost felt like he weaved it solely to make it into the next big novel. The Liber Ark must have been something to behold.
Speaking with Xeno and Leonidas wasn't nearly as productive though. No information about Zephyr's intentions or why they involved themselves in the war. In the end, they just spent the entire time talking about Fie. He'd find the two men's adoration of his younger classmate endearing… had they not insinuated that he would be making moves on her. His two choices were to say no to ease their minds about her chastity or say yes to affirm that he did believe she had the makings of an attractive woman. Truly damned if you do, damned if you don't…
McBurn was something to behold up close. He was an outright monster when they fought outside Bareahard, but even in his normal state he felt like a force to be reckoned with. Still, he was surprisingly easy going despite being the strongest Enforcer in Ouroboros. He answered his questions without much complaint and helped Rean understand himself and his mysterious power a little better.
The young girl who kidnapped Elise and Alfin - Altina Orion. Initially, he felt apprehensive to speak to her. First for the aforementioned kidnapping of his sister and the princess, but also because he was greeted with a large mechanical smack to his gut upon accidentally waking the girl up. Yeah, he was gonna feel that for a while…
At least he did learn about the Black Workshop, whatever that was. Like a spoiler to a book, it may seem meaningless without any context, but he could go around digging for some clues with that much information at least.
As for the last guest on board…
Duvalie the Swift was… well, she was kinda weird. He understood what it was like to admire someone and look up to them as a role model, but she took such a concept to its logical extreme with her worship of Ouroboros' Steel Maiden. Thanks to Laura's previous comments connecting the Eisenritter and Stahlritter, he saw the connecting thread between this Maiden and Saint Lianne Sandlot from the stories.
Still, Rean still found Duvalie refreshing and sincere. Despite her connections to a secret society that may or may not be trying to plot world domination, she felt nothing similar to her colleagues. Even her elucidating on how Enforcers are chosen by the "darkness" in their heart was a fascinating tidbit to learn. But he remembered something she said earlier when he first walked into her room.
"Hang on, I heard you mention that you were in Crossbell earlier?"
"Don't 'hang on' me! I'm trying to kick you out!"
"I-I just need to ask you one last thing!"
"Ugh, fine!" Duvalie snarled. "What is it?"
"What's the situation down there? And… did you happen to see a girl? Pink hair and uses tonfas with gun attachments?"
"That's more than 'one last thing'," she deadpanned, "but if it'll get you out quicker, I'll humor your request." She put her hands on her hips. "Crossbell is in a state of turmoil right now. I cannot give you the exact details, but everything you've heard on the news is all you're going to need to hear."
Rean's heart sank. He had already expected those results, but the confirmation didn't make it any easier.
"As for the girl… Yeah, I know who you're talking about." Her voice growled. "She and I fought in Stargazer's Tower."
*ACHOO*
"Whoa, you okay Juna?"
She sniffed. "Yeah, I'm good."
"You think the cold is getting to you?"
"Nah, I'm used to the weather in Ymir in winter. The cold never bothered me."
"Allergies, maybe?"
"Maybe?" She sniffed again. "Probably."
"Oooh, just thinking about her drives me up the damn wall! How the hell did some rugrat with some overdesigned and gaudy whacking sticks get the jump on me?! I've trained in swordsmanship under the supervision of my illustrious lord and she's just some newbie tomboy who hasn't even made it past as a recruit yet!"
"...Huh, I have a sudden urge to punch someone… RANDY!"
"J-Juna?!"
"And if you're asking about her, then you must know her!" Duvalie's face was seething, her hands straining themselves to keep her from strangling him. She somehow looked angrier than when she thought he was breaking into her room. "Now that I know that, then I couldn't care less if you joined us or not!"
"O-Okay! You made your point clear, you don't like her!"
"Oh, that's the understatement of the century!"
"But can I at least ask you about the barri-"
"How about you GET THE HELL OUT OF MY ROOM!"
She forewent her hands all together and just kicked Rean in the stomach to get her out the door. He was reeling on the floor for a good while, groaning in pain as the attendants around him offered some aid.
First Altina's black doll and now this...
When he finally stood up, he sighed.
"I feel like I should've gotten mad, but… now I just feel bad."
After finishing his meetings with each of the guests on board the luxurious airship, Rean checked the second floor once more. The sounds of the attendants were far removed from the guest of honor's room. It now fell to an uncomfortable silence, both upstairs and down. Were they all back in their rooms? It felt way too off, but he wouldn't be able to get another opportunity like this for a good while.
He knocked on the door and waited with bated breath. He could hear the faint sound of a young girl breathing tensely.
"...Yes? Who is it? Please, come in."
That voice… it sounded familiar!
"Excuse me."
He gently opened the door, avoiding making any sudden sounds. The room was spacious. Far more spacious than what he and the other guests were given. But none of those mattered to him. The only thing in his sight was the young blonde girl standing a ways away from the entrance.
She gaped at him with a mix of emotions. Shock, astonishment, confusion. But most of all…
"I had a feeling it was you… but I didn't dare to hope."
"...It's you. It's really, really you!"
Relief.
She ran over to embrace him.
"It's good to see you again, Your Highness."
The next few minutes between the two of them felt like an eternity as they caught each other up on the events so far. Rean told Alfin about him reuniting with his friends throughout eastern Erebonia and how Duke Cayenne ended up "inviting" him onto the Pantagruel. In turn, Alfin told him about how she speculated that Elise was with the rest of the imperial family and how the duke was using her to suppress resistance and rebellion in areas occupied by the alliance.
Hearing that angered him. The duke had the gall to use the imperial princess like that? Especially at the expense of her own feelings. It enraged every fiber of his being. It was messed up.
"Anyway, putting my feelings aside… what do you plan to do now? I presume you don't intend to actually do whatever Duke Cayenne demands."
"Well, I'm… really not sure what to do. The longer this war goes on, the more people will suffer because of it. But even so, I don't feel as though siding with the Noble Alliance is the right course of action. And the same goes for the Imperial Army. I can't, in good conscience, side with them either."
"I see…"
"There's so much to think about. You're being used as a puppet against your will and then Elise is imprisoned, too, being forced to do who knows what. I have to act somehow to change things."
"I know you still feel guilty, but you know that wasn't your fault, Rean."
He turned away, afraid of making eye contact with the princess.
"It's just… so much has happened. My parents gave me so much when I had nothing and Elise treated me like a real older brother. But I brought them so much misfortune. My mere existence brought shame to the Schwarzer name."
"Rean…"
"You saw that power of mine, didn't you? And what I look like when I use it."
Alfin hesitated. His voice felt so downtrodden. So defeated. "...Yes, I did."
"Back when I was a kid, it happened to me twice. The first time, I ended up using it right there in front of Elise. Then it happened again in Crossbell just a few years later."
Alfin fell silent. Without even needing to suspect her thoughts, he confirmed them.
"The power manifested in front of her and Juna to protect them from monsters we encountered during our trip. We had only met her the day before, but there I was already messing everything up." Rean tightened his fist, lamenting the distant yet clear memory. "They both should've been terrified of me, but if they were, they never once let it show. Elise kept treating me like her dependable older brother and Juna even tried comforting me. Thinking back on it, it felt so pathetic that she felt the need to do that."
Rean released his hand, only now realizing that he was digging his nails into his palm. The night under the fireworks was a day he'd never forget. It was one he felt the most safe and secure. It might've been the happiest day of his life. But it also dwelled within his memory for other reasons. When he recalled her beautiful singing voice, it never failed to remind him of his oath to himself.
"So that was when I swore, deep within my heart: No matter what happened, no matter what I had to do, I would always protect them."
Images flashed through his mind. The day he woke up in the Schwarzer mansion with Elise by his bedside. The time he protected Elise and awoke to his power. The night with Juna under the fireworks. Her bright smile during their excursion at Heimdallr's summer festival. The dance at the bonfire after their concert. They were all precious memories of his.
"And that's why I can't help but wonder… I can't help but wonder if now's the time to live up to that promise. If I should put them before everything else. Even if… Even if I have to ignore or outright betray my own personal beliefs in the process. I'd do whatever it took to make sure they're both safe. I owe them that much."
"Rean…" Alfin gave him a concerned gaze. She may have enjoyed teasing him and Elise, but at this moment, she realized that she didn't really understand Rean at all. Most of what she knew, she learned secondhand from Elise's own feelings. And then there was her brief time with Juna during the summer festival. From their chats throughout the day, she knew how much the girl cared for and admired Rean.
She held her hand over her heart and steeled herself. She may not have understood him. But she understood Elise, Juna, and their feelings. Rean may have been only thinking in their best interest, but he never stopped to think about what they want.
"As your honorary little sister, I order you to get a hold of yourself!"
…
"Wha-?"
Alfin ran up and wrapped her arms behind his body. Even though she knew he wouldn't even dream of pushing her away, she held on tightly like her life depended on it.
"Y-Your Highness?"
"Rean, you're far too harsh on yourself, you know that? Elise… She's already told me so much about what happened eight years ago. About how much of that burden you carry to this day. About how the events that transpired still traumatize you even now. But not once did she expect you to drop everything for her! That's why she decided to pick up the sword as well. So you wouldn't have to protect her all the time!"
Rean looked back at the princess, staying silent.
"And while I can't claim to know her as well as you and Elise do… I believe Juna feels the same way, if not more so! When I heard the way she talked about you during our time at the festival, she looked so cheerful. It was clear to me that you mean a lot to her too. They both told me that… that one of the reasons why Elise chose to go to St. Astraia and Juna enrolled in the Police Academy was so you didn't have to feel guilty about always being for them!"
"D-Did they really…?"
Rean felt his vision blurring. Streams of wet fell from his cheeks upon the revelation.
"They want the best for you, just as you want the best for them. When they saw you having fun with your friends at school and finally seemed to be moving forward, they were so happy for you. That's all they ever wanted for you. So please, Rean…"
Alfin released her hold on Rean and let him turn around to face her. Admittedly, she was starting to feel as emotional as he was, but she needed to stay strong. Rean needed to hear this.
"Please don't use Elise and Juna to justify not choosing your place in this war. It's not fair to them, and especially not to yourself. They'd never want you to stray from your path or ideals for their sakes. If you were to betray yourself, you'd no longer be you and you'd be betraying their trust in you."
Rean couldn't help but smile. It was a weak smile, and even a tinge sad, but a smile nonetheless. This conversation felt incredibly similar to the one he experienced over five years ago. If he ever told her about it, Juna would give him an earful the next time she saw him.
How could he be so blind? He thought… He thought he was only trying to protect them. But… that's what they've been doing from the start. Not just them but also… Mom, Dad, Master Ka-fai, all his friends at Thors. They've been supporting him this whole time.
He was so focused on trying to protect others - protecting them - he never stopped to think about how relationships go both ways. Others try to support him just like he tries to support them, and he has as much of an effect on them as they do on him. People are incapable of living without each other. Why did he ever think he could ever do so?
Rean chuckled. "How did I not realize that before? I guess my master gave me my intermediate scroll too soon." For the first time since entering the room, he finally made honest eye contact with the princess. "Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you for helping me realize something so obvious. Forget honorary—you sounded just like my real sister for a minute."
Alfin looked away—slightly frustrated—but quickly rebounded, hoping that Rean wouldn't have caught on. She returned his smile. "Of course, Rean." She clasped both of her hands onto one of his. "And remember, you don't always need to stay strong. Sometimes it'll come to the point where everything is too much to handle. If that time ever comes, I'm sure that your friends would be more than willing to lend an ear."
"Thank you. Speaking of which, we should probably get going. I wouldn't want to keep my classmates waiting any longer than I already have."
"A pity, but you're right. I hoped that I could've been the one to lend a shoulder whenever you faced trouble, but I suppose that's a duty I must allocate to your classmates. Alas, all good things must come to an end. Please take care of yourself, Rean. I'll leave Elise's rescue to you. And do say hi to Juna for me next time you're in Crossbell."
Rean shook his head. "I think you're mistaken, Princess. I said it's time 'we' get going, didn't I? There's no way I'm leaving you imprisoned in a place like this. Plus Juna told me she really wanted to spend more time with you the next time you meet. With less kidnappings involved."
Alfin let out a surprised gasp as her eyes widened.
"I will get the two of us off this ship. So, stay close to me."
She hesitated for a second, but folded to his offer. She nodded. "Right! So, do you have an escape plan?"
Rean scratched the back of his head. "I have something resembling an escape plan, but I think I can use Valimar to get us out of here."
"Oooh, I see. Using the Ashen Knight to quite literally sweep us off my feet? I didn't take you for such a romantic, Rean~"
"Haha, well, it's probably not gonna be as smooth as the ones you see in the fairy tales, but it's our best bet out of here." He offered his hand. "So, shall we, Princess?"
Alfin gently placed her hand in his. "We shall!"
The world around her was enveloped in a dark mist. Her hampered vision made it difficult to make out anything of significance. No shapes or objects. Just the purple mist and the black background behind it.
Juna didn't feel scared though. This world, whatever it was, felt warm and oddly familiar. She had been here before.
She could hear the ocean waves, reminiscent of the ones that graced her ears whenever she visited the harbor back home. That put a smile on her face. It was always a pleasure to stroll around, greet her favorite noodle stand, and walk down East Street to peruse the local market. It was a shame she couldn't see it, but at least the sound still felt comforting.
But what was she doing here? Not that she was complaining. Anything would beat having to be stabbed by Rean in a dream again. But it still felt off. You know that feeling when you knew you were having a dream, but you couldn't really do anything about it? You just followed the whims of your imagination until it told you to wake up. That was how she felt at this moment.
She usually wasn't one to believe in the importance of dreams—the sleep kind, not the aspirations kind—but it felt like she was brought here for a certain purpose. Since leaving Bellguard, she had kept having this same dream over and over. Just give it a second…
A bright light shined before her.
Just on time.
The light manifested itself into the shape of a person. A woman with long and beautifully braided hair, maybe in her 30s? It was difficult to tell when her other physical traits were so obscured by the light.
She hadn't been able to speak before, but it wouldn't hurt to give it a try this time.
"It's you again." Juna greeted. Look at that, it worked. "What brings you back this time?"
The waves rushed agained, pushing onto what sounded like the breakers underneath the harbor.
"It's beautiful, no?" The woman asked with a hint of glee her voice. "It's a shame I never got to see it myself."
"I'd like to say yes, but I can't see anything." Juna replied, attempting her best to not sound annoyed. "But from the sounds of things, we're in my hometown. Then yeah, I'm glad you see how great Crossbell truly is."
The woman giggled. "You hold it in high regard. I used to live quite far out. I rarely found the time to travel domestically, let alone internationally."
Juna gave the woman a questioning look. While she appreciated the kind words, she didn't quite know what to do with the information. She didn't know this woman, after all.
"If you don't mind me asking, who are you? You've been doing this for a while now, so I feel like I'm obligated to know at least that much."
The woman paused, her smile never wavering, but her cunning began to work its magic. "Oh, I suppose you can consider me a wandering soul, drifting from place to place. One who's lost her way to the arms of Aidios."
Juna's eyes widened. "O-Oh, I'm so sorry…"
She laughed again. "Not to worry, sweetie. It was just my time."
"S-Still, you being here and not passed on means…"
"That I still have lingering regrets? That's how the stories usually go, right?"
"Uh… yeah." Juna scratched her cheek, mildly blushing. "Something like that."
The woman tittered, leaving Juna even more confused. Who knew that the souls of the recently departed could be so jolly?
"I suppose…" She put a finger onto her chin as if she was humoring Juna's claim. "If I had any regrets, it's that I didn't spend as much time with my family as I wanted. I haven't had my child for long before being forced to leave."
"You say it so nonchalantly…"
She shifted back to a gentle smile, though this time with a tinge of sadness. "It is regrettable, but I made my decision. If I could, I would make the very same choice if it meant the life of my child."
Juna sat down with her arms and legs crossed. Might as well sit down and be confused than being confused while standing up. "So why me? Why choose me to haunt?"
"'Haunt'? A rather interesting choice of words, but I suppose it isn't inaccurate." She giggled again. "I'm afraid I am forbidden to tell you. Let's just say there is something I must do and you were the best choice overall. Keeping my objectives a secret is the condition I must abide by. I apologize, but I can say no more."
"Weird, but if it's something you can't say, then I won't force it out of you." Juna sighed. "Well, if you're gonna be here for the long haul, I might as well introduce myself. I'm guessing you already know since you specifically chose me, but I'm Juna Crawford. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise, dear. I'm afraid I must also keep my name under wraps until the time is right. Precautions and all that."
"Okay… but what should I call you? It feels rude not addressing you by a name."
"My, a polite one aren't you? In that case, call me… Yuri. No need for formalities considering how much I'll be inconveniencing you in the meantime."
"Then welcome aboard, Yuri! I hope you find my inner mind comfortable! A friend of mine sometimes says it can get pretty empty here, but I'll make sure that'll you enjoy your stay!"
Yuri feigned offense for her. "How rude! It sounds like someone needs lessons on how to treat a lady."
Juna puffed up her chest. "I agree! Next time I see him, I'll be sure to give him some pointers!"
The two continued to laugh and chat. With them being in a void and all, time almost felt like an illusion. But before long, Juna had to eventually wake up.
December 26, S.1204 - Geofront Sector D
"Everything's set to go?"
"Sir. Thanks to Chief Roberts and his assistants, all the equipment is in top condition. We're ready to go at the scheduled time."
"Good." Dudley nodded, finishing up maintenance on his orbal pistol. "We just need to wait for Bannings and the others to come back from their recon. Steel yourselves, men!" The operation was set to commence in a few hours as preparations were finishing up. Their goal? Infiltrate Orchis Tower and liberate Crossbell from the reign of President Crois.
Juna had just finished up on her end as well, polishing up her gunbreakers and fixing a few parts that had malfunctioned in the field. Luckily, nothing too bad happened but better safe than sorry. It was an important mission, after all.
Right now, she tried getting a little bit of rest before all hell broke loose. Thanks to her nightly encounters with Yuri (Note to self: do not call them that), she's been having trouble sleeping. Combine that with the fact that their mission was beginning soon, the nerves seriously started to build up.
The dreams became rather pleasant after a time. At first she was just in a black void, but over time, her vision cleared. Sometimes she and Yuri would hang around Crossbell, checking out the sights and enjoying the activities. Other times, Yuri would bring her to her hometown. Juna couldn't quite recall the name, but it was a peaceful town, where most of the roads were paved in cobblestone and their most famous product were the wines made from their vineyards.
However, the more dreams she had, the more it ate into her actual rest time. Her fidgeting must have been bad because even Fran took notice and approached her.
"You look tired, Juna. Still having trouble sleeping?"
"Something like that… I mean, I think I'm able to participate in the operation at least! Whatever's been going on, they haven't hampered me that much."
She was glad that she never told anyone about her dream with Rean. That would've raised even more alarms than this one right now.
Fran sat down next to her. "Have you been able to make sense of them? The dreams you mentioned before?"
She shook her head. "Can't say that I have. I can hardly even call them just dreams anymore since I'm having proper conversations and all. There's a woman I talked to, but I couldn't tell you who she was."
"Strange…" Fran pondered. "I've heard that dreams are normally filled with people you know since the brain is incapable of creating faces you've never seen before. If it's someone you're completely unfamiliar with, then that's pretty unusual. But you did say it didn't exactly feel like a dream either, so that makes it even less sensical."
Juna thought back to her meeting with Yuri. Her expression was gentle, one she'd attribute to a mother. However… "Something did seem familiar about her. It's on the tip of my tongue, but I can't say for sure."
"You said you and she talked? What was that about?"
"Just some small talk, really. Nothing she said bothered me, so it's not like I'm having a bad time." Juna yawned. "Can't say I appreciate losing sleep though."
"Well, don't try to think too hard about it. We're about to depart on an important mission after all!" Fran cheered, easing Juna's frustrations.
"You're right. I'll try making sense of it when this is all over and done with." Juna stood up and did a few stretches, readying herself for the day to come. "I'm pretty sure Rean and Elise would think it was some sick joke if I ended up getting killed over something as trivial as a weird dream."
"That's the spirit! ...I think."
December 26, S.1204 - Bareahard, the Verdant City
Walking through the noble capital always felt uncomfortable to Rean. Even during his field study back in May, he never felt like he belonged. Of course there were the matters of him being adopted into nobility (the meetings the Schwarzers had with other noble families made sure to remind him of that fact), but it felt more pronounced here where practically everyone was either a blue blood or a servant or merchant.
It was like on the Pantagruel. The night of his "abduction", he had a lavious meal that was probably worth the entirety of the Schwarzer estate, yet the best food he had during that entire time were the fish burgers Crow had whipped up for them. Greasy as it was, at least the burger didn't make him terrified that he might spend his entire tuition just for his first bite.
But ever since Duke Albarea's arrest, the air felt even more tense than it usually did. Before, it felt like the atmosphere was just rejecting him or his body didn't agree with the city. Now, with the Imperial Army's occupation, the citizens felt uneasy. The civil war was finally no longer in their favor now that Duke Albarea's provincial army fell in Kreuzen and Marquis Rogner surrendered in Nortia.
Even so, he tried his best to ignore it. As a member of the Crimson Wings, he wasn't meant to be actively participating in these battles. His job was just to make sure to keep people safe and reclaim Thors from the Noble Alliance. Once that's done, he'll do everything in his power to find Elise and the imperial family.
So for his rest day, he elected to spend time with his friends throughout the city. Listening to Elliot's piano playing and praying with Gaius at the church. Helping Fie get her shoes fixed and making sweets with Millium. Witnessing Laura dive into the river off the bridge was certainly a surprise and so was waking up in Emma's lap after a short nap. He even picked out a bouquet with Machias to give a proper send off to Otto, the market manager in Celdic. He was rather surprised he managed to do so much within their time there, but he made it work. Doing so many tasks for the student council unknowingly made him a master of time management.
But once the air of the city became too much for him, he decided to give the Albarea estate a visit.
The manor was huge and classy. No better way to describe it. The elegant chandelier reflected onto the glossy and spotless flooring to create a soft and beautiful glow. The walls carried intricate designs and reached as high as he could see, briefly making him wonder how the staff could even clean that high up. The velvet carpets and drapes throughout the entire interior completed the fancy look with the crest of Albarea emblazoned on each of them.
It wasn't as grand as Valflame Palace, but Rean doubted that you'd ever find a mansion as fancy as this one. The perks of being part of the Four Great Houses, if the sheer size didn't give him a slight bit of anxiety.
"You came after all, Rean?"
Rean pulled his attention away from the ceiling (in his defense, it was a really nice looking ceiling) and to the voice. Jusis had been standing right in front of him talking to a man from the Railway Military Police. First Lieutenant Engels, if he remembered correctly.
"Yeah… I was kinda hesitant to come and visit in case I got in your way, though. But I thought I might as well drop by and see how things are going."
"No, it's fine." Jusis waved off. "Everything is largely settled here now." He turned back to Engels. "I will leave the rest to you, then."
"As you wish. Leave everything to us. And we will strive to make things as comfortable for your father as possible."
"You have my thanks."
The man saluted and left, giving Rean a quick nod of acknowledgement to which he returned.
"He's Captain Claire's adjutant, isn't he?"
"Indeed, and quite a skilled one at that. He and his men will be managing the mansion together while keeping my father in custody. At least until the war comes to an end."
"Oh, right…" Duke Albarea, arrested for razing Celdic, a city in his own territory, to the ground. He remembered the anguish and guilt Jusis felt when he saw the damage done. Several people were still in comas while the market manager… Well, you already know.
"Heh. There's no need to look so glum. He deserves to answer for his crimes much like others. He should be grateful he hasn't been handcuffed and thrown in a cell."
Jusis says that, but Rean could tell the events of the past few days hurt him too. He'll carry this burden of the Albarea family that his father stained the name with for as long as he lived. It hurt him more than he'd care to admit.
"Haha… I guess that's one way of looking at it." A lightbulb lit in Rean's head. "Oh, yeah. Scarlet's here too, right?"
Jusis nodded. "She's currently receiving treatment in the annex. She remains bedridden, but her life is in no real danger, or so I hear."
"That's good."
Vulcan's death in Nortia had been looming over his head. Normally, taking a life shouldn't have bothered him as much. He was going to a military academy for Aidios' sake! He hadn't killed anyone before, so… it affected him badly. The fact that Vulcan used him as a form of suicide shook him to the core. He'd be damned if someone else were to go out like that, so he took it into his own hands to make sure Scarlet didn't follow through either. Crow probably had the same idea since he was watching the whole thing go down.
"If you'd like to speak to her, you should go and pay her a visit. Meanwhile, I'll be going to my room to get ready for departure." He paused. "Actually, if you don't mind, could you come by and visit once you're done with Scarlet? There's something I wanted to talk to you about."
"O-Okay? Sure, I'll do that."
Jusis gave him one last nod before walking off.
…
Another realization came to him.
"Wait a sec.. Where is his room, anyway?" He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I need to ask directions for Scarlet's room too."
He sighed.
"I can almost hear her cackling."
Many, many, many doors later, Rean finally made his way to Jusis's room. It was strangely… smaller than he was expecting. Like, it was much larger than his room—that's for sure—but perhaps he just expected the son of one of the Four Great Houses to have a luxurious abode. Maybe that honor was reserved for Rufus or maybe he just had unrealistic expectations. Still, he was glad that Jusis was far from the snooty type of noble because no one would want to hear snarky remarks on the even smaller dorm rooms back in Trista.
"Ah, Rean. Glad you could make it." Jusis greeted him.
"Yeah. Seems like Scarlet's still doing fine too. A few more days of rest and she should be back on her feet. Dunno what she plans to do after all this, but I can only hope for the best."
"As do I." Jusis's face scrunched. "Though I'm surprised I could ever feel that way about a terrorist. I swear, you and our classmates had an embarrassing effect on my way of thinking."
Rean laughed. "Trust me, I get where you're coming from. It's complicated, but…"
"Yes, I understand what you mean. What happened with V… It was rather harrowing to say the least." Jusis's eyes widened in realization. "I apologize, Rean. I'm sure his death had a more substantial effect on you than it did for any of us. I should not speak of it so lightly."
He shook his head. "No, it's okay. We're in a precarious position in this war, but it's our job to see it through no matter what." His thoughts wandered to a girl who didn't even bother learning the meaning of "give up". "We need to be able to clear ourselves of our doubts and walk this path we all chose." Rean chuckled at the cheesy impromptu speech. "But enough about that. You needed me for something?"
"Yes, that." Jusis lifted a long case from his dresser and held it by his side. "I was thinking that this would be my final chance to take one of the horses out for a ride before I leave. I wanted to know if you'd be willing to join me."
"That sounds kind of fun, actually… I haven't seen any of your family's horses since that race we had a while ago. I don't mind a short joyride."
"Excellent." Jusis smiled. "Follow me."
Then went to the Albarea mansion's stable and set off on horseback towards Aurochs Canyon, with Jusis taking the lead. They were heading rather far out, a little farther than Rean had expected. Not that he minded. The air outside was much better for his health than the stuffy atmosphere inside Bareahard. They kept riding down the highway until Jusis took a turn off the road. A little ways from the canyon, they stopped at a small hill overlooking the highway they were just on.
"Huh… This is where we had our duel before, isn't it?" Rean asked, getting off his horse. "Why'd we come out here?"
Jusis, also off his horse, drew his sword. "I'd like to request a rematch for our previous bout, Rean."
"Jusis?"
"I apologize for the suddenness, but I need to clear something up. Do you remember what you told me during our field study here? You claimed that there was something 'honest' about the way I fought and that it was because I learned my swordsmanship from someone I trusted."
"...I did, didn't I?"
"My trust in my brother has not faltered. However, because of that trust, I fear that when the time comes to fight him, my sword will be hindered by hesitation. I dread the day that I will have to turn my blade upon my own brother." The blond sighed. "I'm not proud of it, but that's how it is."
"I can hardly blame you, Jusis. Anyone in your position would feel that way."
"Perhaps, but that's why I'd like to face off with you, Rean. Whether I win or lose, I believe our duel will allow me to cast away my doubts, just as you mentioned earlier. Through that, I should be able to better trust in my own convictions, regardless of whom I may face. I realize that this is a somewhat selfish request, but please. This is important to me. I want to be able to walk this path with you and our classmates together."
Rean paused, but couldn't help but chuckle. "Am I even allowed to say no after that speech? I get that I'm the resident motivation speaker, but you got a future in oratory skills, Jusis."
"Don't mock me, Rean." Jusis deadpanned. "I don't think I could ever utter the embarrassing drivel that comes out of your mouth."
Rean laughed even harder. "Okay, okay. That's fair. But that aside, it's not often you ask for favors like this, either. So sure. Let's go." Rean drew his tachi from its sheath. "Just know that I won't be holding back. Hit me with all you got!"
"With pleasure."
The clash of steel rang throughout the canyon. The two swordsmen cleared their heads of all distractions. Nothing else mattered. The fact that they were both teenagers participating in a war. The fact that their horses got antsy at watching their riders face off. The fact that they had to be back on the Courageous in a few hours to take off to their next destination. Nothing.
Their focus was purely on trying to be the victor.
While the art of court fencing didn't have formal levels of mastery as the Eight Leaves did, Jusis proved himself to be a formidable force. It wasn't like the Vander or Arseid styles popular among Erebonian martial artists nor the Hundred-Form Military style they both birthed. It was elegant and swift, focusing more on proper movement and form with a blade befitting of a knight.
The style originated as a form of self-defense made for nobles with too much time on their hands to properly practice a school of swordsmanship. Pure fundamentals and footwork. That's what mattered for court fencing. And yet, Jusis was able to turn a mere pastime activity for nobles into a true work of art.
His careful forms and positioning; it felt like the style had more in common with Rean's Eight Leaves style than it did with Erebonia's more notorious forms of swordsmanship. Balance and form over pure combat efficacy. Sure, the distinctions were far more complicated than that, but it was enough to draw the comparisons.
And yet, Rean managed to meet Jusis head on, matching each blow and thrust with a well-timed parry or dodge. From his experience, sparring with Jusis was a whole different affair from his duels with Laura. With her, Rean would have to anticipate her strikes and use her overwhelming strength to his advantage, though that was easier said than done. In practice, Laura often caught on to his strategies and played a more defensive role to prevent him from abusing her openings.
Jusis, however, made sure no such openings exist in the first place. His movements were smooth and elegant, all made with meaning. The moment he swung, Jusis would transition back to his original starting position in a single motion. Nothing was wasted in any attack. Rean, in return, would attack in wider arcs to continue pressuring Jusis into staying on the defensive. In contrast to Laura, Jusis couldn't continue in a defensive position for long without retaliating. The strength of his sword arm wasn't enough to perform multiple guards and he could only dodge Rean's onslaught for so long. This was his ticket to victory!
The fight continued on, with neither side backing down. Jusis caught on to Rean's tactics and changed up his approach as well, drawing the duel for even longer. It had even caused Rean to resort to utilizing his weaponless form in combination with his tachi like he did in the Heimdallr's underground when he and his group fought against Crow as C the terrorist. Before long, the two collapsed onto the ground in physical and mental exhaustion.
They laid down, arms limp and yet still gripping their blades with what little strength they had left. The two panted heavily, trying to catch their breath.
"I… I don't think I can move another muscle…" Rean said lamely.
"Neither can I…" Jusis replied through his rhythmic bouts of breathing. "Even in real battles, it's not often that I fight to the point of exhaustion…"
"Maybe since we could read each other so well that we could make it this far? I'd imagine my master and Viscount Arseid could probably duke it out for an entire day without even breaking a sweat." Rean chuckled. "But, I'd say we did pretty well for a couple of teenagers."
"Heh. Agreed. It was fun in our own strange way."
"So… did you get what you were looking for, Jusis?"
"Yes, and I must thank you, Rean. I feel as though I can now go forth and fight with that same honesty yet again. I may have been taught by Rufus, but it was Class VII who helped me to further develop my skills."
"No need to thank me. I'm just glad you were 'honest' with me and asked."
Jusis snickered. "That was beyond awful."
"Haha, well you got me."
The two's laughter grew increasingly joyous, evolving from quiet snickers to raucous guffaws. It wasn't often that Jusis laughed this much. His cool and icy facade was breaking down and Rean couldn't be happier that he was finally seeing how much Class VII meant to him.
"So what about you, Rean? Have you found your answer?"
"What do you mean?"
"The hesitation in your blade. From what I can tell, nothing of the sort remains. Your resolve seems to be as stalwart as ever."
"...You think so?" Rean frowned. It had been over two months since Juna departed back to Crossbell. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't still worried, but since reuniting with his classmates, he's been too preoccupied to continue thinking about that situation. There was too little information to pull from and even if he did have an idea of what was going down, what could he do? It's not like he could just go over there without encountering trouble of his own.
"They say that 'no news is good news', so perhaps it's for the best that we don't know the situation in Crossbell." Jusis reassured. "Of course, I don't want to downplay your worries, but for all intents and purposes, there's nothing we can do about it."
"...Yeah. I guess I was just worrying over nothing." Rean sighed. "I trust her and she has friends over there. Ones she can count on. I'll just have to put my trust in them too."
Without another word, the two somehow managed to summon up the energy to get on their horses and return to Bareahard.
"There you are!" Towa waved her arms as Rean and Jusis approached the eastern entrance.
"Sorry, Towa. Were you looking for us?"
Towa nodded. "We got a message from the crew members currently on board the Courageous. Angie and I are gathering everyone together to see what it is. Apparently something happened in Crossbell."
"I-In Crossbell…?" Rean froze. He was afraid of making any assumptions, especially after making it this far. But still, he hesitated to ask for clarification. Thankfully, Jusis was willing to step up.
"Last time we checked, the city was covered by a blue barrier from where Garrelia Fortress was. Based on your flustered tone, that isn't the case this time. Am I correct in this assumption?"
Towa's eyes shifted, to and away from Rean's line of sight. She didn't want to raise any alarms, especially from Rean, but she saw it best to come as clean as possible.
"You're right, but we don't know the full situation. It seems to be even stranger than the barrier, so we're planning to go and get a closer look at it."
Noticing how increasingly rattled Rean had become, Jusis put his hand on his shoulder reassuringly. The blond noble gave the student president and acting captain a firm look, to which she nodded in understanding.
"Angie should be back soon with everyone else. Jusis, Rean, you two board the ship with me and get ready for liftoff."
"Understood." Jusis responded. "I'll make sure to call everyone to hasten the process." He turned to Rean. "Will you be okay on your own for a while?"
"H-Huh?" Rean blathered, finally breaking from his trance. "Wait! I.. I should help out! It's not fair for you two to do all the hard work."
Jusis shook his head. "You've done more than enough during our operations, Rean. Please, just get some rest. You might need your mental energy for what's to come."
"I-" Rean quivered under Jusis's and Towa's intense glares. "Okay, fine. I'll take a break with Valimar. Maybe he can give us some answers." The other two nodded and they all parted ways until it was time for departure.
His trip to the hangar was an uneventful one, but the time inside the elevator felt like it took years instead of the few minutes it should've taken. Every step felt heavy as he couldn't bring himself to stand straight.
Before long, he found himself beneath Valimar, the Ashen Knight that kicked off this entire journey of his. His overwhelming visage towered over Rean, measuring at about seven arge tall. His sharp, ash-colored armor glistened, possibly due to George or Mint's handiwork. At first glance, he just looked like another Panzer Soldat, albeit a more advanced looking model. But his time together with him proved fruitful as he grew as his Awakener.
Valimar's eyes glowed, signaling that he had become active. His head peered down to greet Rean.
"Hello, Awakener." He'd rather he called him by his name, but he couldn't exactly fault Valimar due to him redeveloping his speech functions. "Hmm? You seem… distraught." And yet, even with his robotic voice, his gentle nature shined through. "Is something the matter?"
"I… I don't know. It's complicated, I guess." Rean sat down on the metallic flooring, crossing his legs. He met Valimar's gaze with a distant expression.
"'Complicated', you say?"
"I guess I never really told you, huh?" He scratched the back of his head. "Well, long story short, I frequently used to visit Crossbell when I was younger. It's basically a second home to me. There's a girl over there I'm friends with and… something's been going on. There's so little information on what's happening that I've been beside myself with worry, but I've told myself to push those thoughts away. No point in worrying about something I can't do anything about."
"Hmm… I seem to have picked up a phenomenon transpiring in the east. Is this what you are referring to?"
Rean restrained himself from asking any questions in a desperate frenzy. He nodded. "Most likely. Do… Do you know anything about it?"
"It is difficult to tell. While my origins are still unknown to me, I cannot say I have any knowledge of areas outside Erebonia. Crossbell is beyond my jurisdiction in that regard."
Rean deflated.
"The most I can sense is an outburst of mana. I apologize. It is more difficult to pinpoint the phenomenon's location unlike locating the secondary contractors."
Rean shook his head. "You did all you could, Valimar. We'll just have to see what it is with our own eyes."
"Very well. In the meantime, while we are still on the subject, may I inquire about your previous statement?"
"It's rare of you to ask something of your own volition." Rean raised an eyebrow. His previous statement? Guess it wouldn't hurt. "Sure, why not? Ask me anything."
"You mentioned 'complicated' feelings concerning the situation in Crossbell. It has come to my attention that humans typically worry about other countries due to their prerequisite knowledge of foreign affairs and relations. However, you had also said that it is like a second home to you. Is this why your feelings are so 'complicated'?"
Rean let his head slack down, slightly in disbelief. It was surprising how much more perceptive Valimar had become this past month. Before, he was completely robotic, only choosing to respond when spoken to and not much more than that, as if his only purpose was to obey Rean's command. But now, he was becoming more human by the day.
"That's right. It was because of my friend I mentioned before. I met her when we were kids, during a family trip with my parents and sister. After that, we've gone several times over the years. Crossbell means a lot to me because… it felt like I could be myself."
His memories flashed in his mind. Beyond their first meeting, he remembered the barbeques Uncle Matthew threw every time the Schwarzers came to visit. Aunt Lina's honey cookies. Keeping Ken and Nana entertained. Sometimes Rean and Juna would sneak off to watch the shows at the theater and get scolded afterward. Other times, Juna would drag him and Elise to the market and just browse for snacks and souvenirs to bring home to Ymir.
"It's rather childish to talk about it like that… but I cherish the memories I've made over there. Both of the city and of my friend. So the thought of something destroying them from the inside tears me apart." Rean's voice petered out. The room filled with a silence that made him grateful that no one was there to listen to their conversation.
"It does not seem childish from my perspective." Valimar's voice rang with a soothing and calm tone. "You merely wish to protect what is important to you. I cannot envision what can be considered a nobler act."
Rean's eyes widened at the compliment and straightened back up. He looked back at Valimar, whose unreadable expression seemed to depict pride and joy. "Y-You think so?"
"Of course."
Rean chuckled. "It's funny. Ever since enrolling in Thors, I thought to myself that I'd never find a place as warm as being by her side. But Class VII has shown me that I can cherish those memories and still make new ones without her. At first I was afraid that I had to choose one over the other. Being with my new friends made me feel guilty because it felt like I was abandoning her." He dug his nails into his skin. "But thinking about it now, it all seems ridiculous. I want… I want to be able to protect them both. Thors and Crossbell. They're both my homes now."
"Your feelings, they harken back to someone I once knew."
That caught Rean's attention. "Do you remember something, Valimar? From before you were sealed in the old schoolhouse?"
"I am afraid that my memory banks are still corrupted. However, your hesitancy paving the way to your resolve gave me a sense of nostalgia. I believe you humans refer to this feeling as 'déjà vu'?"
"Haha, something like that."
It was strange, having such a normal conversation with Valimar. Well, as normal as one can get with a 7-arge-tall mech. But it gave him solace and succor. He had become a trusted friend before they even knew it.
Rean stood up and made his way towards the elevator. "Thanks for the talk, Valimar. I… I think my nerves are calming down."
"Of course, Rean. You may rely on me anytime. Please, be careful."
The fact that he called him by his name was not lost on him.
"Course to the east-northeast is clear! All hands, remain vigilant!"
"The ship's approaching maximum cruising speed!"
"We should be getting close to the fortress soon."
"Please get in touch with the 4th Armored Division and the Railway Military Police!"
"A-Aye, aye, Captain!"
The Courageous flew ever closer to the misty phenomenon. Despite that, the skies were clear with the only companion Class VII had outside on the deck was the strong breeze that blew through the clouds.
What have I done?
"Ooh! I can see Crossbell now!" Millium pointed to an area farther in the distance. Unlike earlier, the azure barrier that covered the city had completely disappeared. Whatever took its place emitted a strong blue light capable of being made out even when surrounded by the blue skies.
Why was I so stupid?
The closer they got though, the brighter the light from the phenomenon became. Before long, all of Class VII perceived the strange object.
"What is that?!" Machias cried in disbelief.
An absolutely massive tree enveloped all of Crossbell. The phantasmal azure branches stretched out, nearly scratching the surface of the atmosphere to touch the heavens. Nowhere on its body was any foliage or flora.
A tree? An azure tree?
"I don't think trees so vast even exist in legend, never mind in reality!" Jusis muttered.
Over Crossbell? What is going on?
Gaius nodded, noticing the change in the wind's behavior as they approached the tree. "Yeah… There's something completely otherworldly about it."
"Do you know what it is, Celine?" Emma asked.
I don't care what it is! Is she safe?!
If cats could shrug, Celine definitely would have. "I wish I did. There's nothing like that in any of the clan's legends."
His headache intensified.
Sara crossed her arms as her face scrunched up. She walked over to the railing to get a better look at the tree. "Just what is happening over in Crossbell?"
Rean looked on in horror.
Juna.
Where was Juna?
Did something happen to her?!
Was she okay?!
"Rean?!"
What the hell was happening?!
Juna!
He was a fool.
He should've let her stay!
"REAN!"
Crossbell wasn't too far, was it?
He could easily get on Valimar and go over there himself.
He could stay by her side and protect her!
It's not too far, right?!
"REAN!"
Something held him back. A force he could easily overcome had he been in his right mind. But he didn't. He wasn't angry. He wasn't enraged. Due to that, he couldn't even go berserk in his ogre form. No, he was emotionally drained. He couldn't muster any strength anymore.
Rean snapped out of his trance, his mind no longer clouded with his intrusive thoughts. Two arms blocked him from his path, both belonging to a different person. On one side of him was Gaius and the other was Jusis. He could even feel arms pulling him back into a full nelson hold to further thwart him, sensing Laura being the one behind him.
Why did they stop him?
He hesitated to look forward and the shaking made it more difficult, but he did. Barely, just barely, were his friends there at the nick of time.
His hand was firmly grasping the railing while his right foot was hanging over it.
His friends had just stopped him from jumping overboard.
"Rean, you idiot!" Alisa cried. "What the hell were you thinking!"
He couldn't respond. He only breathed heavily in abject shock.
"Any further and you would've fallen more than a 100 selge!" Elliot added. "What happened, Rean?"
"I…" The raucous beating of Rean's chest grew louder and louder. The glowers he received from his classmates were both full of anger and worry; deservedly so. Instructor Sara didn't meet his gaze, presumably because she had already figured out his intentions.
Laura released her hold on him after he secured his footing back on the deck. He now laid on the cold metal flooring of the ship, his back slightly off the ground. "Rean, what's going on? Please… just talk to us."
"I-!" He still couldn't get a word out.
Jusis knelt down to meet his eye level. His blue eyes stared him down in concern and he spoke in a soft voice. "Rean, it's okay. You can take it slow."
Whatever resolve Rean was able to muster during their earlier duel vanished. He felt even more lost than ever.
"I-I'm sorry!"
Rean jumped back onto his feet and dashed back into the ship. He ignored everyone's calls for him to wait. He ignored the pity they offered him. He ran back into his room and screamed as silently as he could.
We're almost out of Cold Steel 2's wild ride! Hoo boy, that last scene was one I really wanted to write for a long time. An important touchpoint for things to come.
Rean's a character that I find rather intriguing to write once you get into his inner psyche. He doesn't see how his tendency to self-sacrifice actively harms the people around him and how his self-loathing makes him incredibly dependent on those people. Those contradictions make it a little challenging to make his conflict convincing. If he ever had to make a choice, would he be able to do that? I'd say more but I'd risk spoiling what else I have planned in the future.
Other than that, I like how a lot of these scenes ended up being. The meeting with Yuri and the duel between Rean and Jusis especially. I feel kinda bad to rely on dream sequences so often, but these ones actually matter, trust me.
But other than that, thanks for waiting! I imagine I'll only need one more chapter to finish up the CS2 and Azure storylines before I get into the Divertissement and finally get to the CS3 content. It's been a long time coming. I can't believe I thought I'd be able to fit in all this in a single chapter in my original plan.