Okay, so I know I said I'd disable anonymous reviews in the update, but turns out you can't do that! Wowee! Anyway, since some people have reviewed on the now deleted update, it's fine if you put in a new guest review. But if you want me to explain something, then be sure to leave your username so we can take it to DMs.
It was March 1205 of the Septian Calendar.
Over two months have passed since the Infernal Castle vanished.
So much happened during those months.
Chancellor Osborne revealed himself to have survived the assassination attempt, declared that Crossbell's bid for independence to be invalid… and before anyone could process what was going on, made his next move to take over the state.
The war in Erebonia came to an end sooner than anyone had anticipated, but it was quickly followed by the invasion of Crossbell.
Garrelia Fortress, which once served as the only physical link between the two nations, was no more. But that proved to be little more than a temporary setback for the Imperial Army, who acted by flying hundreds of tanks over the state from a vast airship. In no time at all, Crossbell was occupied.
The Calvard Republic, which had been wrapped up in its share of chaotic, internal disputes, finally reacted to Erebonia's bold invasion in turn. They began with sending its cutting-edge armored airborne division into Crossbell, hoping to force the Empire out of the region completely.
But every attempt they made resulted in failure, as they were repelled effortlessly by one Soldat after another.
And today, nearing the two-month mensiversary of the state of Crossbell becoming the Crossbell province, Rean found himself in a difficult situation once again.
It all began just one month ago.
February 14, S.1205 - Eastern Outskirts of Crossbell
Gunfire rained down from the mighty Calvardian gunships infesting Crossbell airspace. Volley after volley enveloped the land, making an impact with armored Imperial tanks and the kite shields belonging to the accompanying Soldats.
The mechanical giants armed with firearms fired their own barrage of gunfire, but their limited range left much to be desired. The bullets made impact, but no significant damage occurred, leaving the airships firmly in the sky.
But none of those squabbles mattered to her at the moment. All she could think about was making sure Ken and Nana made it safely to Armorica Village. Their parents stayed behind in the city, attempting to flee to Mainz, so it was up to her to make sure her siblings survived.
She didn't understand.
Erebonia had just been in the middle of its civil war a month and a half ago, and its first order of business was to occupy Crossbell. Were reparations and relief for their citizens not even in the cards after such a campaign? She heard that the damages had been immense. She didn't understand.
And then there were those rumors…
Juna furiously shook her head.
No! She shouldn't think about that! He would never…
Rean knew how much she loved her hometown. He loved it too! There was no way!
One thing she did understand though was that there was no way Calvard would let Crossbell fall into imperial hands. Their overinflated pride would never allow it. Once the annexation was finalized, the Republic launched their own counterattack.
Being in the center between two superpowers, Juna and the rest of Crossbell had a unique perspective on their political rivalry. The two were always at each other's necks and Crossbell was always caught in the middle. With their military strengths about even with the other, they came into Crossbell in an attempt to drive out the Imperial Army.
Calvard's Armored Aviation Divisions, consisting of highly mobile tanks and gunships fought against Erebonia's Imperial Army with its armored tanks and newly developed Panzer Soldats.
Witnessing the carnage firsthand was hell on Zemuria.
To their benefit, most of the fighting was happening just outside Tangram Gate, near the city of Altair. But even then it was too close for comfort.
Suspecting that if Calvard did break the front lines, their first priority would be going straight to Crossbell City. So her first priority was to get her siblings to Armorica as soon as possible. With no buses available, she contacted Kate to drive them there. They should have been able to get there without many issues.
She couldn't have been more wrong.
In the air above them loomed a Calvardian gunship. Based on the smoking engine, there was a high probability that it had been hit by Imperial fire. The flight pattern was noticeably unstable and the barrel of the minigun attached to the ship shifted its position wildly.
Before long, their vehicle had been under fire.
"Shit!" Kate exclaimed, furiously turning the wheel on her orbal car to steer away from the line of fire. "This isn't good!"
"J-Juna! I'm scared!" Nana choked through her sobs.
"What's going to happen to us?" Ken asked in a panic.
Juna could do little except hold them tighter for comfort.
The gunfire continued. The shots were likely meant for the surrounding Soldats focusing on keeping any more gunships from breaking the front lines, but they kept coming towards them, even though they were clearly not a military transport.
The car veered back and forth to avoid any incoming damage. If they could make it to the fork in the road, then they should be able to lose the ship and escape unharmed.
It wasn't too long before the car was hit; right before they could probably turn to the road towards Armorica.
The vehicle swerved violently onto a tree that sat between the crossroads. With a sudden jolt, the four of them fell out of the car. Ken and Nana laid unconscious on the dirt ground with Juna not too far behind them. Once checking that her siblings were okay, she let out a sigh of relief.
She turned her head around vigorously, attempting to assess the situation as best she could. "Kate! Are you okay?!"
She could hear the pained moans of the woman from the other side of the car. It wasn't much to go on, but at least she knew she was alive.
"We can't just sit here! We're almost there! Just a little-"
The sounds of a rotor and the smell of burning machinery drew closer.
Every second that passed by felt like a century.
She had…
She had to do something.
Without hesitation, Juna threw herself on top of Ken and Nana's bodies. She stared up at the gunship in horror, awaiting for what appeared to be her final moments. No matter what, she had to make sure they stayed alive.
As the gun was trained onto her and her family, everything slowed down even further. The world was drained of its color, leaving only her and the ship in a dark void. It was nothing like the world she and Yuri once inhabited. She felt no warmth; no connection.
Just the frustrating powerlessness of being the only thing between her siblings and a weapon meant for war.
Nothing in the Police Academy could have prepared her for this. Everything she had learned for the past year had been completely and utterly useless.
With the imperial occupation, she had lost so much. She lost respect for a neighboring country she once called home. She lost the spirit and pride of her hometown only to be used as a political plaything. And now, she was about to lose her life.
After everything she's been through in the Police Academy and with the SSS, her final moments were to be a human shield in a skirmish for a sin she and her people did not commit.
…
…
She suddenly heard whirring that did not possess the same qualities as of the gunship's. A gray shadow swooped down on them. Upon its landing, she could make out the figure: a gigantic knight not unlike the Soldats that littered Crossbell, albeit with a more majestic design. It was as if a statue of a gallant knight from the Middle Ages had come to life.
With a single swing of its sword, the knight cut the rotor of the gunship and removed the gun before it could fire a single round. With nothing keeping it airborne any longer, the ship fell a ways away.
Two Soldats approached the knight from behind.
"So that's the power and skill of the Ashen Chevalier! What speed!"
"We apologize for allowing the enemy to breach our front lines, sir!"
"...No need to worry about that now. Contact any men on the ground to carry the injured back to Tangram Gate. Once you're done with that, return to fending the Calvardians off. Make sure none of them break our ranks again."
She… recognized that voice. In fact, she remembered seeing this knight before.
"Yes, Officer Schwarzer!"
No… It couldn't be...
The knight turned around, knelt down, and offered out a hand.
"Are you all right? Is anyone in… jured?"
And it seemed like it recognized her too. A shining light manifested from the knight's chest and released its energy to reveal someone she longed to see again, but dreaded in this particular moment. She didn't want to see him like this.
Her frustration made way to confusion and soon into rage.
"Juna, are you okay?!" Rean ran up to her in a panic. His brows creased upwards and his eyes were filled with worry. He held onto both her shoulders as he sent her his concerned gaze.
"And Ken and Nana too! Thank the Goddess I was able to make it time!"
"...-ow dare…?"
"Huh? Did you say something?"
With the absence of the gunship, the silence felt palpable. But that all broke with a resounding smack.
"HOW DARE YOU?"
Rean slowly ran his hand over the red spot that now resided on his cheek.
"I didn't want to believe the rumors. I didn't want them to be true. But with you being here…! That all but confirms them, doesn't it?!"
Juna's eyes were red and puffy. She tried to hold back tears, but they streamed down her face regardless.
"Rean, I thought you loved Crossbell! That you cared about us! And yet, the first time I see you in almost four months, I see you fighting Calvard in the name of your precious Empire. In the name of the people who occupied us!"
"Juna, I-"
"Do you have any idea how much we've done to protect our country?! The SSS and I fought threat after threat so that Crossbell could stand tall and proud on its own alongside the rest of Zemuria. The D∴G Cult, the Red Constellation, Crois, and even Ouroboros! And then you Erebonians come in and take that all away from us! What do you have to say for yourself?!"
"..."
"Well?!"
Rean avoided her glare. "It's… just as you say. Under the imperial government's orders, I partook in annexing Crossbell into the Empire. I… I did it as the hero of the civil war. As the Ashen Chevalier."
"So you're not even going to step around it, huh? Is this what it really comes down to? Was everything you said back at the festival a lie? Did everything we had these past six years mean nothing to you?!"
Juna grabbed onto his jacket and pulled him closer in proximity to her enraged eyes.
Rean didn't react.
The agitation within Juna's voice hurt her to her very core. The last thing she ever wanted to do was be angry at her best friend, but his nonchalance gave her little choice. Channeling all of her frustration into her voice felt like the only thing she could do.
No matter how she viewed it, she couldn't interpret this act as anything but a betrayal.
A betrayal of her country.
A betrayal of her trust.
A betrayal of their friendship.
Crossbell was their home. One that they shared. But he decided to completely ignore that and dragged it under the Empire's thumb. Utterly despicable.
"Do you know how it feels? To be completely powerless as you're crushed beneath the heels of those around you? I may not agree with how he went about it, but Crois was right about one thing: Crossbell deserves its independence."
Rean couldn't find it in himself to interrupt, so Juna continued.
"Over the years, I've found more and more reasons to distrust Erebonians. Their politicians are power-hungry, their citizens are disrespectful to our Eastern influences, and none of them care for how diverse our culture is. You were one of the few who made me believe that that wasn't always the case… So why? Why did you become just like them? Why did you take away our freedom?!"
"...I merely did as I was told. Anything more would only come off as an excuse."
Juna loosened her grip on his jacket and pushed him onto the ground. Rean did not bother resisting.
"...You're the worst." She knelt down to pick up Ken and Nana, both of whom were still unconscious, and started heading towards the car.
"...Juna, wait. I can… I can explain-"
"Explain what?" Juna didn't even bother looking back at him. "You said it yourself, didn't you? That anything you said would just be an excuse? What else can you say?"
"..."
"Just go. I… I never want to see you again."
It pained her to say such things, but the Rean she knew was gone. It was best to cut her losses now and make sure her family made it out alive.
She went over to wake up Kate.
Rean silently walked away and left on his knight.
March 8, S.1205 - Hotel Millenium
Rean paced back and forth in his room.
It had been almost two months since the occupation of Crossbell and when the world was forced to witness Mayor MacDowell signing away the state's autonomy to their foreign invaders in choked back tears.
Within that month, he had been stationed in Crossbell as an provisional military officer with the Imperial Army. Luckily, his main task was to only act as backup for whenever Calvard attempted a counter invasion to drive Erebonia out of Crossbell, but that didn't make him feel any more comfortable with his situation.
It had been far too long since his last visit to Crossbell. Not since before he got enrolled in Thors. A year, perhaps? Maybe even longer? He couldn't remember.
And yet, he had been avoiding any and all places he would've loved to visit on any other given occasion. They (being him, Lechter, and Altina) were originally intending to stay at the Long Lao Inn on East Street as a form of camouflage since they were technically supposed to be undercover, but since it was one of his favorite taverns, the owner was sure to notice him. He couldn't bring himself to stop by his favorite ramen cart or visit Wendy or Oscar at their respective workplaces either.
And the one place he tried to avoid at all costs was West Street. He wanted to be nowhere near Bellheim Apartments. Nowhere near the Crawfords. Why would he? Why would he want to be anywhere close to them only knowing that they'd be looking at him in anger or, even worse, disappointment. He couldn't bear the thought of seeing how they'd look at him with contempt. It already hurt having to hear how much she hated him now.
With nowhere left to go, he trapped himself inside his ritzy hotel room.
In a place he once called a second home, Rean felt like a foreigner who didn't belong.
The door creaked open.
"Home at last. That's the last time I let a street performer play a harmonica in the back alley with a guy in a mascot suit for a dance number. Oh? You're still here, Schwarzer?" Lechter asked as he closed the door. Despite being on official business, the lackadaisical man decided to wear a casual outfit consisting of a simple, short-sleeved button-up shirt and shorts with sunglasses hanging off his head. Rean had heard that that was what he wore during his visits to Crossbell since before the Western Trade Conference last year.
And frankly, he'd rather focus on his clothes than try deciphering whatever the hell got him complaining.
"Not like there's anywhere for me to go." Rean deflated onto the couch, finally tiring from walking back and forth.
"Aw, geez," Lechter put one hand on his hip and let his head fall, sighing at Rean's logic. "It really ain't that bad, you know? So long as you keep low, no one's gonna bother you."
"Easy for you to say. Kinda hard for me when I'm the one on the front of every newspaper and magazine."
And when your best friend hates your guts.
"Man, you'd think that having to deal with Millium all the time would give me more of a handle on kids…"
Rean ignored the comparison. "So did you need something?" He looked behind the intelligence officer. "And where's Altina?"
"Black Rabbit is doing some light recon. Nothing she can't handle on her own. As for what I need, well, it's you."
Rean gave him a skeptical look. "You need me?"
Lechter settled into the swivel chair near the couch, playfully swinging around before laying both of his feet on the coffee table. "Got a tip that something's going down in Mishelam. If that ends up being a cold lead, then we're transferring to Tangram Gate. The Republic's not looking too friendly lately."
And whose fault is that, Rean wanted to say, but he held his tongue. "So why do you need me in Mishelam? I could just go to Tangram now and save you the trouble."
"Yeeeeah, see, about that? Claire made me promise that I should keep you in a good mood in case you had to fight on the front lines. I was already gonna agree, but she quite literally twisted my arm until I said it out loud." Lechter rubbed a spot on his forearm. "Man, she can be really scary sometimes…"
…
Claire wanted him to be taken care of? He couldn't imagine why.
Ever since the revelation that Osborne was his biological father, Rean hadn't been treating the Ironbloods with the amount of respect that one of their status would demand. Well, with the exception of Millium, of course, on account of her being a fellow Class VII member.
Giving the cold shoulder to the Icy Maiden seemed rather ironic in a way, especially since she had been so helpful to him during his time as a student and during the civil war when he was separated from his friends. But for her to keep such a big secret from him, well, it hurt.
And yet, she was still looking after him. Even after all the things he said to her since that day.
No matter his opinion of her, it would be an affront to her kindness if he were to refuse.
"Okay, fine. I'll go with you to Mishelam." Rean relented. "I just hope you don't think I'm gonna go around an amusement park by myself."
"Oh, nah, that would be embarrassing. Can you even imagine? That's the sorta thing you either do with a date or right after a bad breakup."
Rean was nonplussed.
"Just take a swimsuit with you! Or rent one! I dunno. I'll give you some cash and you can relax by the beach! Sure there'll be plenty of eye candy to perk you right up!"
Lechter shot him with finger guns, to which Rean somehow looked even less amused.
"You know, maybe this wasn't the best idea."
Rean sat in a beach chair, lying down only in swimming trunks and a summer sleeveless hoodie. His attire left much to be desired when he felt the cold chill crawl throughout his body.
He could hear the sound of the waves washing against the white sand, but not much else. The coast wasn't as populated as Lechter was making it seem. The volleyball net was still set up, but with no one to play the game. If he squinted a little, he could make out the lifeguard taking a nap on the job.
Above him was a parasol planted firmly into the ground. It was unnecessary, of course, even though the sun was shining. But due to the colder weather, its rays weren't sweltering. How did Lechter manage to get him to come to a beach in the middle of winter? He couldn't even go swimming if he wanted to.
Not that he was particularly against it. He didn't hate beaches, even though he seldom made the time to go to one. It was just that he missed being in Ymir during this time of year. Winter vacation wasn't really a thing with Thors, but he would've loved to be embraced by the snow like he had every year. Just surrounded by his family and…
…
Best not to think about it.
Still, it wasn't like he disliked the breeze in the air and winter was nearing its end. It sure beat walking around in an empty hotel room after all. Plus, the sound of the waves made it easier to clear his mind and not focus on… well, everything going on with Crossbell's annexation.
The more he thought about it, the more it disgusted him. Crossbell was meant to be a city of trade and commerce, and with that, a city of blended culture. A land where true evil can fester, and yet a place where anyone can dream. A place where diversity was its most prized commodity.
A place like that was never meant to be swallowed up by the powers who only sought to use it for their personal gain.
And he was the poster child of it all.
"The Hero of the Erebonian Civil War! Rean Schwarzer, the Ashen Chevalier!
Thanks to his valiant efforts to reclaim the capital from the Noble Alliance's hands, the young hero now seeks to expand our great nation even further! By order of Emperor Eugent III and the Imperial Government, Crossbell will be joining the Empire as its newest province!"
All lies and exaggerations, of course. What else would you expect from the media and tabloids controlled by the government?
And "Ashen Chevalier"? All they did was take Crow's title and slapped it onto him. It was in poor taste and uncreative, but what else would he expect from daddy dearest?
…
Blegh. The very thought made him gag every time.
Rean sighed and heard his stomach growling.
"Maybe I should get something to eat from that restaurant. Fortune- Fortuna? That's what it was called, right? A little too fancy for my liking, but what else should I expect from a swanky resort?" He chuckled to himself. "Maybe I can get it on Lechter's tab instead."
He got off the beach chair and began to depart before hearing a voice.
"...Rean?"
The young man stood to attention, turning to the direction of the voice. It belonged to a rather rotund man dressed rather plainly, only sporting a white polo and brown trousers with a leather belt. His short brown hair was slicked back, his surprised expression visible to him.
"Rean, is that you?"
Rean recognized him immediately but wished he hadn't.
"...Uncle Matthew."
The two stood there in silence. Rean avoided eye contact, wanting to just up and die right then and there. He couldn't bear to witness the look in his eyes. The look of utter disappointment and scorn for someone he once saw as family.
He balled his hands into fists.
Rean was responsible for taking away their freedom. He followed the government's orders so that Crossbell could become part of the Empire. How can he even consider himself to be part of their family anymore?
And yet, no matter how much he kept his distance, the man continued to close the gap between them. Rean felt a soft and warm cloth fall onto his shoulders and over his head.
"The beach is in its off-season right now. I know you can handle the cold better than most people but that doesn't mean you should neglect your health."
"...Huh?" Rean looked at him dumbfounded.
"You heard me, young man," Matthew said while properly tying the scarf around Rean's neck. "You shouldn't be dressed like that in February. This ought to keep you warm for a while."
…
"What…"
…
"What are you doing?"
"Hmm?" The man surveyed him quizzically. "What do you mean, 'what am I doing'? I'm making sure you don't get sick! I would've assumed that taking care of yourself would be one of the first things they'd teach you in a military academy."
"That's… That's not what I meant."
The older man gave him a gentle smile.
"Why don't you get changed first and then we'll talk? You could probably use some food in you too. It'll be my treat."
The young Schwarzer couldn't get another word in edgewise as he was pushed back inside into the changing room.
He couldn't wrap his mind around what just happened.
Uncle Matthew just took one look at him and just… invited him for a meal? Rean knew what kind of man Matthew was and not once was he ever cruel or judgmental towards him. Maybe he should've expected that to happen, but… there had to be limits, right?
As he opened his locker, those thoughts kept swimming through his mind.
Bloodless as the invasion may have been, that didn't change the fact that Erebonia sought to instill fear into the heart of Crossbellans everywhere to claim the land as their own. He remembered what Rufus told him about the secondary purpose of the Panzer Soldats: to threaten others psychologically by utilizing the human form. No matter where you looked, there was a Soldat on surveillance in every corner of the city.
And they were able to leverage that power because of him.
Becoming the Ashen Awakener, defeating the Noble Alliance, taking back the capital… It was almost like all of it was planned far in advance. Rean became the perfect scapegoat as the hero who ended the civil war and saved the crown prince from the clutches of Duke Cayenne. The pieces fell into place far too well for his liking.
And thanks to his "hero" status, the government used that to pave the way to Crossbell's annexation. He wasn't forced to lead the army into Crossbell territory, but he became the face of it all. He imagined not a single soul in Crossbell would ever forget his face or name so long as they remained an imperial province.
As such, he wasn't too keen on interacting with any of his old friends and acquaintances. His reunion with Juna was a testament to that. He didn't want to see the gazes of disgust in their eyes or hear the words of scorn from their lips for the sins he had committed. Every possible scenario that played in his mind further twisted the knife in his heart. But now, he had no other choice.
He walked outside the locker room, now fully dressed but with the addition of the scarf Matthew gave him around his neck. It would've been rude to merely toss it aside right after he just gave it to him, but it felt like a stranglehold despite its loose grip.
"Sorry for the wait…"
"Ah, there you are, Rean! Oh, I see you're wearing that jacket Juna got you for your birthday!"
"Ah, yeah." Ever since the civil war began, he had grown more and more attached to the article of clothing. It was perfect for travel and kept him warm throughout the winter. It was almost a shame that spring was right around the corner or else he'd probably wear it all year long.
That is, if the guilt didn't get any heavier.
"Just thought I'd get use out of it now before it gets warmer. I couldn't really wear it when she first got it for me."
"That's right. Pretty unfortunate about the timing of your birthday, but what can you do?" Matthew gestured towards the arcade, leading the way to the restaurant. "Speaking of which, it's coming up in a few months, right? Got any plans?"
Rean shook his head. "Once I get back, I'm going to start my second year at Thors. Maybe I'll celebrate with some friends, but I don't know the next time I'll be… away due to circumstances."
"Ah, I getcha."
Rean didn't get to soak in much of the resort on his run through due to Lechter basically forcing him to relax on the beach. While the main room seemed fancy enough for a resort, the dancing lights forming the Mishelam logo on the ground felt a bit too showy for his liking. The boutique that he passed by had some nice clothes, but all of it was way beyond his price range. Even as a provisional officer, he didn't make enough to afford that many ornate clothes. And he could forget about the jewelry store down the hall. He probably wouldn't have had the fashion sense to get anything nice at either store anyway.
The stairs near the three-way intersection led to the hotel, if he recalled. It was also home to the salon and massage parlor his parents came to visit during their first time in Crossbell almost six years ago. The two sang its praises well into the night, forcing Rean and Elise to hear about their back pain in excruciating detail. He chuckled at the memory.
Taking the middle path on the intersection led to the restaurant Fortuna on the side and, further down the path, was the famed Mishelam Wonderland.
He recalled how Juna described it in her letters. A fun-filled place full of dreams of wonder. Various rides and facilities were littered throughout the park for people to enjoy and the mascot Mishy would often host shows to entertain the younger audience. Had it been under other circumstances, he would've loved to check it out himself.
The two of them headed into the restaurant and approached the man behind the front counter.
"Welcome to Fortuna! Where every meal is of the Goddess' good fortunes!" The man greeted with a friendly smile and what sounded like a rehearsed slogan.
The two stood in silence, their eyes wide.
"So, what do you think, Mr. Crawford? ...Was it too much?"
Matthew's expression morphed into several different faces before settling on a rather sympathetic one. "A tad… boastful, if I had to be honest. You have something there, but let's try not to be too out there with the sales pitch."
"Oh, I understand. What about 'Where every meal is a roll of fortune'?"
"Kinda sounds like we'd be playing roulette with our food."
The man slumped over. "We'll… We'll look it over."
Matthew chuckled and placed a comforting hand over his shoulder. "No worries. We still have plenty of time before we need something to finalize on."
"Well, thank you, sir." The man's face lit right back up. "So what can I do to help you today? Are you here for an inspection?"
"Ah, no." Matthew gestured to Rean, who was still trying to come up with a decent slogan of his own. "This is my nephew, if you recall." Rean stood to attention when he was being referred to and attempted to cover his face using the scarf he was given. "He's in town for a while, so I thought I'd treat him to a meal while he was here. He never got the chance to visit Mishelam, so now would be a great chance."
The man eyed Rean, who looked away to remove himself from his gaze and said nothing.
"Of course, you're more than welcome to, Mr. Crawford."
"If possible, could we get a table in the back? I'd like a little privacy."
"It will be done, sir."
The man gathered two menus from under the counter and led them to a table in the back corner, nearing the open balcony. Due to the emptiness of the restaurant, Rean thought it rather unnecessary to sit so far away, but he appreciated the thought.
The two sat down on a round table meant for four across from each other as the man placed the two menus in front of them. When offered beverages, Rean decided to go for tea to warm himself up while Matthew opted for coffee. Knowing him, he would add copious amounts of sugar to it.
"Take your time," the man bowed.
"Anything catch your eye?" Matthew asked. "Not to be biased or anything, but the food here is great."
"Everything looks so…" Rean squinted at the menu to make sure he was reading it correctly, "expensive."
Looking at the prices was probably the only way Rean could hold himself back from drooling at the prospect of what the restaurant offered. Steaks, gourmet sandwiches, and a cornucopia of seafood dishes thanks to Mishelam being right at the edge of Lake Elm. That wasn't even including the variety of soups and salads they offered. The only way it could've been better was if they also offered anything with pheasant.
"Haha! That was Juna's first thought when I first brought her here too! You two are far more alike than you give yourselves credit for."
"It's certainly a far cry from the cafeteria food I'm used to at school." And the slop they serve us at the gates, Rean wanted to add, but held his tongue.
"Well, don't worry about it. It's on me." Matthew placed his elbows onto the table, entwined his fingers together, and rested his chin on top of them. "You must be working hard, after all, if you're here in Crossbell by yourself."
Rean's eyes shot up from the menu. "Oh! Uh, well, I'm actually not here by myself. A, uhhh, a few acquaintances of mine brought me along for work. You know how it is."
"I suppose so."
The man from earlier came back with their drinks, and as Rean expected, Matthew added a few too many spoonfuls of sugar than he would personally enjoy. He could enjoy a few soft drinks here and there, but Rean was never too fond of sugary drinks. Even the hot chocolate he'd often had at home was made using dark chocolate rather than the traditional milk.
"So are you two ready to order or do you need a bit more time?" The waiter asked.
"I'll have my usual," Matthew started. "Ribeye, medium, with a side of croquettes. And don't forget the steak sauce."
"Of course, sir!" The waiter wrote down the order quickly on his notepad before turning to him. "And you?"
"Uhhh, I think I'll have the teriyaki salmon sandwich. Fries on the side with… is that a watermelon soda?" ...Maybe he could forget his earlier comment about soft drinks for a second. "I'll take one of those too."
"Got it. So a ribeye steak, medium, minced meat croquettes, a teriyaki salmon sandwich with fries, and a watermelon soda. Is that everything?"
The two nodded and the waiter left them to their devices.
"A bit light, don't you think?" Matthew asked with an arched brow. "Will you be fine with just a sandwich?"
"Well, I have some plans after this. Didn't want anything too heavy before then." Rean half-heartedly chuckled. "In fact, I could ask you the opposite. Isn't that a bit much for lunch? You know how mad Aunt Lina gets when you spoil your appetite before dinner."
"So long as I can eat everything at the table, what she doesn't know on that front won't kill her."
"It's your funeral, Uncle Matthew."
The older man shrugged. "I've made it this far."
The two shared a laugh.
"So speaking of work, how have you been, Rean? I'd imagine most things have been hectic on your end."
That was an understatement. "That doesn't even begin to cover it. It's been one thing after another. At this rate, I might repeat a year due to extended absences."
"That sounds troubling. But the schoolwork you've been given hasn't been terribly tough, has it?"
"Well…" It was difficult to bring up the fact that his classmates have been doing accelerated courses to graduate early. "They haven't been exactly a walk in the park, but I'm managing. I made it to the top ten on my midterms, after all."
"Top ten, huh? That's wonderful!" Matthew took a swig of his coffee. "I'm sure you'll be fine."
"I hope so." Rean sighed. "What about you? Not that I'm ungrateful about you taking time out of your schedule for me, but are you not busy right now?"
Matthew paused, a sad smile manifesting on his lips. "As you can see, we're not exactly bustling right now." He made a small gesture around the restaurant, motioning on the fact that it was practically empty. And when Rean recalled from earlier, he didn't remember seeing anyone roaming the arcade or shops. "Not since the occupation happened."
Then it hit Rean like an orbal truck. "Oh… right…" Rean mumbled under his lips. "I'm sorry…"
The older man shook his head. "No, it's not your fault, Rean."
Rean avoided his gaze. "You have read the newspapers, haven't you? I'm the reason they were able to annex Crossbell in the first place. It is my fault."
"Rean, how long have I known you now?"
"I don't see how that changes any-"
"Almost six years. I still remember the look of my daughter's face when she told me she made two new friends on the day of the anniversary festival. And in that time, I got to know you; learned what makes you tick. And not once did I ever think you would become some expansionist conqueror. For one thing, you were thirteen when I first met you. But the Rean I know is a smart and caring young man who's confused in which direction he wants to go, but takes a path anyway."
"..."
"I won't claim to understand your situation nor will I force you to talk about it either. But what I do know is that you're still young. You're not even an adult yet, so I can't even begin placing the blame on you. If anything, I believe you're the one suffering the most."
Rean froze.
"Wh-why would you say that?"
Matthew shrugged. "Call it a hunch. Despite your doubts and insecurities, you're a really caring person, Rean. I'm sure I'm not the only person to tell you that."
"...No, I guess you aren't. But… no matter how many people tell me-"
"It's hard to believe them?"
Rean slowly nodded.
"It's extremely easy to see it that way. To perceive your selflessness as selfishness. Maybe as a form of self-satisfaction because some people would feel better knowing they did something rather than stopping to think whether or not those actions will actually benefit someone else."
"..."
"And contrary to what I just said, I also believe you possess some of those qualities. You're self-sacrificial to a fault. You care, but sometimes you care to the point of never thinking how the consequences affect you and those around you."
Rean had never seen Matthew with such a serious expression before.
"You must have said something to Juna in hopes that she would hate you, isn't that right? So that you can justify to yourself that what you've done is unforgivable. That you deserve to be judged for those crimes."
Forget being hit by a truck. Rean felt like he was just hit by an oncoming train.
"...Do I not? I got played to become the government's lapdog. Now I've got no choice but to do as they wish."
"As I said: I won't pretend to understand your predicament. But shouldn't you try relying on people who are willing to listen? I'm sure that Juna would be willing to-"
"It's not that simple!" Rean slammed his hands onto the table, the impact shaking the metallic utensils considerably. Fortunately, none of their drinks spilled out of their cups, but that stroke of luck was the last thing on Rean's mind at the moment. "It doesn't matter which way I spin it! It doesn't matter that I didn't directly take any lives in the front lines! I'm still complicit! Anything else I do is to just gratify my own self-consciousness!"
"Rean-"
"It's just been one thing after another since the civil war! One of my friends died, I'm touted as some national hero, and now I'm being used as some poster boy for something I wanted no part of!"
"Rean!"
"What?!"
"You might want to keep it down." Matthew pointed in the direction outside their table. Rean followed his finger, only to see the employees and other patrons giving him strange looks.
Rean quickly sat down and mumbled. "...Sorry."
The waiter from earlier came back to deliver their orders. If he was upset or had any form of resentment towards Rean's outburst, he showed no signs of doing so. Perhaps it was thanks to Matthew's presence that saved him from that judgment.
"I think I somewhat understand now," Matthew said, cutting off a piece of his steak and dipping it into the sauce. "These past few months must have been overwhelming for you, haven't they?"
"...Yes." Rean nibbled into his sandwich, having lost his appetite.
"So you feel the need to withhold this from Juna? Do you not trust her?"
"Of course not!" Rean almost raised his voice at the accusation but held back to avoid causing another scene. "I-It's not like I don't trust her… I just… fear that the truth might be too much for her to handle like it was for me."
Matthew scanned the young man as he took another bite.
"I see, so that's how it is. Rean, while this may not be a matter of trust, I feel that you aren't giving Juna enough credit where it's due."
"...Huh?"
Matthew looked out the window with a rather wistful yet nostalgic expression, spinning his fork atop his steak and croquettes like he was a child playing with his food.
"Ever since she was a little girl, my daughter has been one of the most sympathetic souls out there. Brash as she may be, she always took the time to understand people and their troubles so that she could work out a solution. That's why when she told me she wanted to join the CPD, I wanted to support her every step of the way." Matthew chuckled. "So what I'm basically trying to say is that you should make up and explain it to her. I'm sure she will understand what's going on if you do that."
"...Is it really that simple?"
"With someone like Juna? It might just be. Though, that doesn't mean it'll be that easy." Matthew cut off a piece of his croquette and bit into it with a satisfying crunch. "Think back to all the times you've been with her. She's always been excitable, but that never stopped her from being a great listener. Give it time and you'll break through to her."
It felt like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. Matthew was right. Rean just needed to believe in Juna that she would understand his position in all of this. It wouldn't be easy for her to hear but, to her credit, it wasn't easy for him either. If he couldn't trust his best friend, who could he trust?
Rean chuckled to himself. Matthew was always an amazing father figure to him. He and Teo both. It felt fantastic to know that they were always behind him for support, even if it felt like he had to keep them at arm's length now.
"...Thanks, Uncle Matthew. I'll do that if I can."
"I know you can," he beamed. "That aside, how's the food? It might sound silly coming from someone who doesn't even cook, but Mishelam prides itself on its cuisine!"
Rean took a larger bite of his sandwich and smiled after swallowing. "It tastes great. It helps that I'm suddenly much hungrier now than before." He had almost forgotten that he ordered the watermelon soda too. He took a quick sip but quickly became enamored. The fizzy watermelon flavor danced in his mouth, bringing forth a satisfying burp. "Wow, this is fantastic!"
"You like it? Made in-house. A popular choice with both kids and adults."
"I can see why!"
With his sudden upswing in mood, Rean found his meal all the more enjoyable. Due to his hobby, fish was regularly on the menu whenever he needed a quick fix of food, but the way the salmon was generously slathered with the teriyaki sauce without it being too thick was nothing short of exquisite. The fries weren't bad either with only a slight pinch of salt to bring out the natural flavors of the potato and a crunchy texture for a satisfying bite. If there was one thing he never felt disappointed about in Crossbell, it was the food.
Before long, he had finished his sandwich and licked his fingers clean. He had thought about ordering dessert too but decided against it. Best not to upset his stomach before heading to Tangram.
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, Rean," Matthew said with a smile, his own meal devoured as well. "And it seems like your head has been cleared too."
"Yeah, somewhat. I'll… take your advice to heart, Uncle."
"Glad to hear it."
They heard the doors burst open.
"There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
The two of them turned toward a newcomer in the conversation. A certain red-headed captain in the Intelligence Division.
"Oh hey, Lechter. You got what you came for?"
"Oh yeah, just greet me casually. Nothing wrong with that." Lechter quipped. "Do you have any idea how long I've spent trying to find you? I almost had to set up a search party!"
"You… could've just called me."
"Check your ARCUS."
"I don't see what's the prob- Oh, it's dead."
"Yeah, it's dead."
The redhead sighed and scratched the back of his head.
"Well, anyway, the tip turned out to be pretty legit. After cross-referencing everything, I think we found a good lead on their next move." Lechter turned to Matthew and his eyes widened. "Oh, you're… Mr. Crawford, right? I believe we met several months back."
"Oh yes, the tourist from Erebonia." Matthew sent Lechter a welcoming smile. "I believe it was during the party hosted by Chairman- er, Former Chairman Hartmann. You sure had your way around the facilities."
"Haha, yeah, sorry about that."
Suddenly the older man's face turned serious. "But I wasn't aware you and Rean knew each other."
"Ah, yeah! We haven't known each other for that long but, you know, I'd say we're pretty close!" The captain pulled the young man by wrapping his shoulders with his entire arm. "It's almost like we're brothers at this point."
Rean glared at him.
"I… see…"
"Well, enough sittin' around. We gotta skedaddle! Places to be, things to do. You know how it is! Busy, busy, busy!" Lechter whispered the next part into Rean's ears. "Charge up that ARCUS of yours and get some rest. The operation starts tomorrow. You and Black Rabbit."
"...Understood."
With a wave, Lechter left the two alone and exited the restaurant.
"Sorry, Uncle Matthew. Duty calls." Rean stood up from the table. "Thanks for the meal."
"Anytime."
"I'll think about what you said. I'd rather not let this drag on for too long either. But in the case that it… can't happen, can you do me a favor?"
"...Of course, Rean. What is it?"
"In the event that I can't make up with Juna, and tell this to Aunt Lina too… please let her vent her frustration. I'd… I'd rather she hear my apology from me. No one else."
He saw Matthew hesitate for a second. It sounded like an almost unreasonable request, allowing Juna to take her anger out on him when he can't do a thing to defend himself. It felt like he just ignored everything Matthew had told him just earlier. But what he felt was true: he didn't want Juna to be satisfied with some half-hearted apology and explanation. Especially if it came from someone else. He'd be sure she heard everything from him; hopefully sooner rather than later.
"...That look in your eyes isn't giving me much of a choice, Rean." Matthew paused, before letting his gentle smile shine through again. "Okay, I'll do as you ask."
"Thank you. I'll see you later."
"I look forward to it."
March 9, S.1205 - Geofront Sector E
"So this is the place?"
"The Geofront. An underground infrastructure beneath the city of Crossbell." Altina spoke in her usual analytical tone. "It was originally designed to facilitate systems for water supply, sewerage, and waste disposal. Over the years, however, multiple sectors were expanded upon for ventilation and heat treating."
Lechter nodded. "That's about the gist of it. And ever since the orbal network came into play, it only got bigger. You've been here before, Schwarzer?"
"Not to this particular sector, but I have entered in where the monsters tend to be weaker. It made for good training under pressure."
"You'd think for an important city structure, they'd try to keep the place a teeny bit safer. One wrong move and the entire place can shut down." Lechter shrugged. "Then again, you could probably say the same about Heimdallr's underground."
"I believe that it also doubles as a training ground for trainees from the Crossbell Police Academy and bracers are often called upon to deal with larger threats." Altina stated.
"Aight, guess it's not so bad then." Lechter's eyes sharpened. "Okay, mission briefing. A brief one, if you will." From a large manilla envelope, he pulled out an elaborate sheet of stationery with the seal of the Imperial Government. Signed by Giliath Osborne.
"Ashen Chevalier, Rean Schwarzer. Your orders are to find the two targets: Detective Lloyd Bannings and Rixia Mao of Arc en Ciel, also known as the assassin Yin, and prevent them from initializing the terminal found within the sector's central unit. In the event that cannot happen, destroy the central unit by any means necessary. As there haven't been arrest warrants issued, you may allow the targets to escape."
Rean took the sheet of stationery into his hands.
"...I accept these orders."
"All right, best of luck then. I'll give you a call once everything is said and done."
With a wave, Lechter was off.
"How would he…? Ugh, nevermind." Rean scratched the back of his head. "I'll never understand that guy."
"Shall we proceed with the mission, then?" Altina asked.
"Yeah, let's go." Rean sighed. "As if I needed another reason for her to hate me."
The Geofront was as he remembered. A sprawling metallic labyrinth made from gray and brown beams and columns and silver platforms in between each junction. Unopened crates and oil drums were littered throughout the area, and what else could the place be infested with other than monsters?
Not that they were a particular problem. During the past few months, he and Altina were sent on various joint operations and missions together throughout Crossbell. While most of them were merely covert information gathering and preventing Calvard's advancements, the time they spent fighting monsters had enhanced their teamwork considerably.
He had been apprehensive at first. He wasn't very fond of working with the girl who had kidnapped his sister and the princess and even less so because she was under the command of Rufus Albarea and the chancellor.
Millium had made attempt after attempt to befriend the girl. And while Altina herself did not acknowledge their status as sisters, that didn't stop the hyperactive girl. She didn't mind at all.
But over time, it became more and more difficult to separate the fact that Altina didn't have much of a will of her own. She only did as she was ordered. Not too different from him now. As a result, he felt some sort of kinship with the girl. In fact, in some ways, she somewhat reminded him of how Elise had treated him when they first met.
"Monsters eliminated. It would seem that we are performing at the appropriate levels."
"Yeah. Everything's been going smoothly so far. But if that's the case, then it might be going well for them too."
Altina nodded. "Then we should hurry."
The rest of the way flew by as quickly as the monsters they slew. After running through a few more corridors and activating some platforms to continue the way, Rean and Altina found their way to the central terminal of the sector.
The scenery was a nice change of pace from the incessant dull colors of the Geofront. Thin, translucent pipes hung on the walls, coursing with blue orbal energy to power the system. Heavy metal boxes were spread throughout the area. Servers, if he remembered correctly, for the orbal terminal system. Thick black wires encompassed the floor, all gathering to a single point: the central terminal.
The central terminal was a hulking beast compared to the orbal computers he was used to back in school. Ten monitors, all varying in size, localized at a console containing three different keyboards. To a basic orbal computer user, it all seemed overkill, but that much processing power was most likely needed to maintain Crossbell's orbal network.
But as much as he'd rather focus on his surroundings, something - or rather, someone - else caught his eye. Two someones, in fact.
"Stop where you are." Rean commanded.
The two figures turned around, in shock at the sudden demand. Rean recognized both.
While the picture he saw in Vice Principal Heinrich's journal was dressed differently from the person in front of him, this girl was in no doubt Rixia Mao of Arc en Ciel. Instead of her Moon Princess outfit, she was wearing a purple garb reminiscent of an eastern qipao that opened at the sides where it was tied together with lace strings. The outfit left most of her upper legs exposed, leading Rean to wonder how practical it was for actual assassins.
The other one with her was someone he had never seen, but could tell who he was at a glance. A young man not much older than he was with short brown hair and eyes. He donned a white jacket colored with blue sleeves and brown khakis. He dressed rather plainly, but the determination in his expression - something absent from his own - made his identity clear. Lloyd Bannings of the Special Support Section, the hero of Crossbell and Juna's personal role model.
By their feet was a small cylindrical device, most likely the unit meant to run the initialization process.
"I didn't even sense anyone…" Rixia muttered.
Rean slowly approached the two with his tachi's sheath at the ready. In response, Lloyd and Rixia drew their own weapons: a pair of tonfas and a large broadsword about the size of a person respectively.
"Targets confirmed." Altina stated. "I presume these must be Lloyd Bannings and Rixia Mao respectively."
"How do they know our names?" Lloyd scanned the two before noticing Rean's weapon. "Hold on. Isn't that a tachi? Like the one Arios uses."
Rean scoffed. "I'm nowhere near as proficient with one as he is, though. But we should be able to handle the two of you, at least."
Rean drew his blade as Altina summoned Claiomh Solais to her side.
"A " ⨅ э Ꞁ ᴋ"
"The hell…?!"
"A black… puppet?"
Rean readied his tachi, pointing its sharp edge at his two targets. "Sorry, but we've got our orders. We can't let you finish what you came here for."
Lloyd growled. "I'm afraid we can't let you stop us, either."
"We won't let you past."
A glowing light manifested beneath Lloyd and Rixia's feet, catching Rean and Altina slightly off guard.
"Confirming activation of combat link." Altina observed.
"It looks like more ARCUS units ended up leaking out than I thought… We should form one too, then."
"Understood. Activating ARCUS."
A similar glowing light manifested beneath their feet as well.
Lloyd exhaled to mentally prepare himself. "There shouldn't be any need to neutralize them. Our goal is to buy enough time for the initialization process to finish running. Let's do this, Rixia!"
"Right!"
"And we can't afford to give them that time, Altina."
"Understood. Commencing assault."
Rean and Lloyd charged at each other, their weapons drawn forth. A steel blade clashed with metal tonfas and a clang reverberated throughout the room. Behind them, Rixia came in to cut between the two before colliding her sword onto Claiomh Solais' bladed arm. The two black shadows disappeared from the young men's peripheral vision, causing them to focus only on each other.
Since he had more control of his arm strength due to his weapon of choice, Lloyd channeled his power into his arms to push the advantage. Rean could feel the weight behind the detective's resolve as his tachi began to falter, but used that break in formation to his advantage.
The Eight Leaves practitioner slipped to the side and let his sword slide across the tonfas to use Lloyd's newly allocated weight against him. The young detective lost his balance and fell forward onto the ground.
"Got you!" Rean ran at him, blade at the ready. He came in like a wolf baring its fangs and unleashed a mighty slash of his sword.
However, Lloyd regained his footing far sooner than Rean had anticipated. With his feet firmly on the ground, he prepared his tonfas into a defensive position to block the incoming strike.
CLANG
Rean's sword made contact but not with his intended target. Rixia's large blade almost put Laura's to shame, but she managed to swing it with ease and elegance. Out of the four of them, her speed and agility far outmatched theirs.
"A young man with black hair and a practitioner of the Eight Leaves? Where did I hear someone with that description before?"
"I'd imagine you must've heard about me from someone else, but that's neither here nor there. But I know who you are, legendary assassin Yin."
Rixia's expression tightened, but didn't compromise her position.
"Claiomh Solais."
The black combat shell flew into the fray and pulled back its arm to ready another strike.
"Urk!" Rixia instinctively jumped away and grabbed Lloyd so that they could land perfectly on their feet a few arge away.
"Brionac."
Instead of swinging its arm to attack, the combat shell straightened itself out so that it could fire a crimson laser beam that traveled across the floor as it approached the two targets.
"A feint?!"
Without much time to give the action any thought, Lloyd and Rixia escaped by rolling to opposite sides.
With the two separated, Rean and Altina split up as well to focus on a singular target each. With nothing in his path now, Rean ran towards Lloyd to unleash a flurry of slashes. With him pushing his advantage, the SSS leader was now back on the defensive.
Lloyd kept turning his attention to the device set next to the central terminal, making sure not to take the battle close to it. It wouldn't be imperative to have it damaged while they're buying time for it, after all.
"You might want to keep your attention forward, Bannings!"
Rean reached into his pocket and pulled out a peculiar weapon; one he's not very used to using. He launched a throwing knife forward to create an opening for himself and continue his onslaught.
But with his quick thinking, Lloyd dodged the oncoming projectile and transitioned back into the defensive, blocking every strike Rean had ready with a well-timed block.
"I'm not used to seeing that sort of move with the Eight Leaves." Lloyd said in between blocks. "Not too strict with how you do things with your discipline, I take it?"
"As flexible as my school is, it never hurts to learn a few new tricks." Rean admitted. "Got an ex-jaeger friend to teach me that."
"Ha! Funny you should say that… Because I'm in the same boat!"
Lloyd ducked beneath Rean's next attack and used his momentum to strengthen his next attack: a sideways slam onto the lateral side of Rean's body. The attack knocked him a few rege away and the wind out of him.
Rean cursed under his breath. He knew Rixia Mao to be a threat for sure. One did not gain the title of Calvard's legendary assassin without properly earning it. But he didn't expect a simple detective to give him this much trouble as well. He made the right call in engaging Lloyd instead.
Biting his lip, Rean resumed his assault. The faint glow of his tachi shimmered with each strike, as if there were afterimages of his blade as he swung. And despite that, Lloyd still managed to keep up with his speed.
"I'm impressed how proficient you are with that blade, given your age. You're not much younger than I am."
"I've still got a long way to go, honestly." Rean brought his sword downward, only to be caught between Lloyd's tonfas in a cross-shaped pattern. "I won't be worthy of being called a Divine Blade any time soon."
"Then I guess this means I still have a fighting chance!"
Lloyd pushed forward, swinging his arms downward to propel the tachi back and bringing Rean back with it. As a result, Rean stumbled backwards as he lost his footing.
"What the-?!"
"Take this!"
Lloyd activated a hidden function in his tonfas, triggering a high-power current at one of the ends. He dashed forward and immediately rammed both electrically-charged ends into Rean's abdomen.
"AHHHHHH!"
The electricity ran through his body, forcing out screams of pain from the young man. While the attack was only brief, the shocks lingered inside Rean's body, almost forcing him to collapse.
Lloyd's figure loomed over him, largely out of breath. He looked on at Rean with pity.
"I think I've figured out who you are. The black hair, the ornate tachi, and the Eight Leaves fighting style. Everything about you seems to match her descriptions."
Rean inhaled and exhaled heavily, barely able to maintain eye contact with his opponent.
"I'm surprised how much you could tell from the short time we've been fighting. Guess they don't call you the best up-and-coming detective for nothing…"
"If I'm right, then why? Why are you siding with the Imperial Army to take over Crossbell?"
With the pain finally subsiding, Rean managed to get back on his feet. His breaths became steady as time went on and his form stabilized.
"...Let's just say I have my reasons." Inhale and exhale. "On another note, even though you already figured out who I am, let me properly introduce myself. I'm from Thors Military Academy Class… No." Rean looked away. "I'm a provisional military officer with the Crossbell government. Rean Schwarzer."
"Tsk… So I was right." Lloyd lowered his weapons. "You know she's been worried sick about you as the civil war was going on. Now she can't even stand the mention of you. We can stop this, Rean. We don't have to do this."
Rean held out his tachi with the tip pointed at the detective.
"...Yeah, well, we don't always get what we want, do we?"
Altina hopped back by Rean's side, exiting her battle with Rixia and returning to their earlier stalemate. Realizing that his opponents were not willing to cooperate, Lloyd readied his stance once more.
"Rean, time is running short. I think it's time you stopped holding back."
He sighed. "I suppose you're right. Let's just hope it doesn't go as badly as the Infernal Castle."
"Wait, there's more?!" Lloyd asked in disbelief, his grip tightening on his tonfas.
Dark energy began to swirl around Rean's body. He hadn't used this power since then, but he felt more control over it now compared to back then.
"Be careful, Lloyd! I sense terrible negative energy coming from him!"
"Wait, is this…?"
His hair began to flash white as the energy grew more tangible in reality.
"Raaaah-"
BEEP BEEP BEEP
A soft beeping noise could be heard, forcing Rean out of his state of concentration.
"Initialization process completed. Rebooting all systems in an initialized state."
The four turned to the central terminal. The screens all changed - no longer processing data - to signal the failure of their mission and the success of their opposing party.
"We did it!" Lloyd exclaimed.
"Whew… What a relief." Rixia relaxed and lowered her sword.
Without so much as a word, Rean exhaled through his nose and let the dark energy dissipate.
Altina tilted her head. "What should we do?"
"Captain Lechter gave us two orders. One was to prevent the initialization; the other was only to be completed in the event we couldn't. We'll just do that one."
Lloyd and Rixia's eyes widened.
"Captain Lechter?!"
"It couldn't be the same Lechter from the Imperial Army's Intelligence Division, right?"
Rean focused again, but in a different manner. It wasn't like when he was summoning his ogre power, but more warm and nurturing. Secure and safe.
"Heed my call… Valimar, the Ashen Knight!"
In a flash of light, the large mechanical knight manifested in the small room and caught the two Crossbellans by surprise. Before they could properly react, however, Rean was already entering Valimar's cockpit.
"Holy…"
"Is that an Aion? ...No, it's different!"
Valimar's eyes glowed, indicating proper activation. He unsheathed the Zemurian tachi and destroyed the central terminal in a single swing. The destruction caused the system to explode and the other three to cover themselves from the debris.
"Wait, no! Ugh, if we can at least get the data out of here…!"
Lloyd ran over, grabbing the initialization unit and holding it under his arm.
Valimar turned towards them and pointed its sword in their direction.
"We'll split our losses this time." Rean's voice came from the echo-y speakers. "Arrest warrants haven't been issued for either of you yet… so go."
"Dammit…" Lloyd cursed, but found it difficult to look a gift horse in the mouth. They may be on opposing sides, but he felt he could at least trust Rean on this point.
He and Rixia started for the exit.
"...Wait."
Lloyd turned back to face the Divine Knight.
"Yes?"
"...I know I have no right to ask this of you, but… Please take care of her. Make sure she doesn't do anything stupid." Rean paused, making sure to choose his next words wisely. "She's old enough to take care of herself now, but it would put my mind at ease if someone as reliable as you was at least watching over her."
"I see…" Lloyd tapped his chest with the side of his fist in confidence. "You didn't even need to ask. Of course I will. On my honor as a detective of the Crossbell State Police Department. No, rather, as a member of the Special Support Section."
"...Thank you."
And with that, the two were off.
After exiting Valimar, Rean received a call on his ARCUS.
"Yes, this is Schwarzer speaking."
"Hey. Good job on the mission."
Rean and Altina, who had dismissed her combat shell, exchanged a look. At this point, neither of them could tell how Lechter managed to know these things right when they happened and they just gave up trying to understand.
"Nothing 'good' about it, I'm afraid. I couldn't prevent them from erasing all the data."
"Eh, it's not the end of the world. We've still got plenty of other options. They're not the type to give up easily, but it'll set 'em back in the meantime."
"Is that so, Captain? You must know them fairly well."
"I guess you could say that. They're no pushovers. They've had the odds stacked against them in more ways than I can count, but they've come out the other side every time. But enough about them. You heading back, then?"
"That's the plan. I'll return with Valimar on the train as soon as I can. Though, if possible, I'd like to make a stop."
"Yeeeeeah, about that? You might want to call off those plans. The old man wants you on the train by this afternoon and he's not making it a request. He also offered to take you back on the Eisengraf together instead. You two haven't spoken to each other since, right?"
Rean clicked his tongue. He should've known he wouldn't be so lucky. "Excuse me," and he ended the call.
Looks like Juna will have to wait a little longer for that explanation.
Altina placed both her hands behind her back and spoke politely. "This is where we part ways, then. I look forward to any collaborative efforts we may have in the future."
"Yeah." Rean nodded. "Oh, right. Do you have anything you want me to pass on to Millium?"
She shook her head. "Not especially. We may technically be sisters, but I am simply a tool. I feel no particular familial bond with her. I imagine that deep down, she feels the same way."
"Yeah, but… No, forget it."
Rean rubbed the young girl's head, stroking her hair and straightening out the loose ends that formed during the battle.
"Take care, okay? I don't doubt you're going to be sent on plenty of dangerous missions in the days to come."
"...? Understood?"
"..."
"Is something wrong?"
"Not really…" Rean turned to face the exit, still left open from when Lloyd and Rixia ran out. "I'm just… kind of jealous of them, I guess."
Because even when faced against all the odds, they could spread their wings and soar while he was caged to the ground.
I'm honestly quite surprised how fast I pumped this one out. Turns out, break time at work is the perfect time to write and makes me so much more productive than how I've been at home. It helps that most of the chapter is either original or different interpretations of canonical material.
I really like how I handled this chapter. Part of me feels like I could've built Juna's anger towards Rean a little better, but we've come this far so it's too late to go back and correct it. A consequence of making these past few chapters too Rean-centric. Oh well. Gotta work with what I got.
Otherwise, the scene between Rean and Matthew was something I really enjoyed writing because it got me to delve into Rean's psyche a little more. He finds it difficult to talk about things that matter unless it's with someone he truly trusts and that hits home for me. It also makes the fact that he can't apologize all the more frustrating to me. Also, fun fact, this scene was heavily inspired by my friend AkaneMinori and her Persona 5 fic: Life Will Change. I highly recommend you checking that out if you're a fan of the game.
The fight against Lloyd was also something I had fun with. Personally speaking, I think I could've executed the actual fight better, maybe using the terrain (though the setting here is pretty boring as an arena) or showcasing more of the characters. But I felt like focusing on Rean, Lloyd, and their differences was more appropriate with how I wanted this chapter to be framed. It was never about who can best who, but rather whose resolve was stronger.
Oh, this is probably going on for too long. Again, thanks for reading everyone! I truly appreciate it. Your comments always inspire me to keep on going.