HE LAW OF THE PRIDE

"I KNOW EVERYTHING"...

These words were enough to capture the attention of all those present and to turn it to Balthier. Al-Cid did not show his disappointment but had a very bad feeling.

- (Look, what an idiot!) - I think the Rozaran prince making a face with his lips. Inside, Al-Cid was very annoyed by the alleged confession of the Archadian.

"Balthier!" Basch and Princess Ashe exclaimed in unison. Their expressions became even darker.

Al-Cid didn't move, if he wanted to argue against what Bathier had said, the guy had never gone down, he had that sure-fire way of doing, but Al-Cid didn't want him in any way whatsoever. people found out he knew something.

-Do you use healthier? ... judging by your expressions, well ... I would say it came just in time.

- It is not a good time to make sarcastic ... and your "announcement" could not have happened at a worse time. - Said the princess with a harsh and authoritative tone of voice.

-Instead I think ... Majesty who would have liked to know what I know, about your sister Ondine.

Judging by your expressions, it means that I have come at the right time ... have you just read the Marquis's message? - asked the young airborne ironically with all the tranquility of the world.

But his irony only further irritated all those present, especially Basch, who found himself raising his voice, which was loud and vigorous, so it was enough to get the young airborne back in line.

- PLAN YOUR BALTHIER AND SPEAK! - The captain screamed, almost growling.

Balthier had never seen the captain lose his temper like that, not even when he met him and learned what had happened to him. This time it was different ... it was a situation that touched him personally and was very different from the story of his brother Noah.

-Bathier ... do I want to remind you of Ondine's story ... or should I refresh your memory? - Presented the princess with a cold tone.

Lady Ashe was almost on the verge of a nervous breakdown with all the stress and pressure she had to endure during those days and now she never felt the limit after receiving that news from her uncle.

Now she was even more stressed and furious, she wanted answers and explanations and would not tolerate anything more.

-Balthier if you understand the gravity of the situation ... you will understand that if you know something it is better that you speak ... because I don't know how much I can bear your sarcasm.-

The princess was visibly tired and stressed, Balthier realized that his sarcasm and his usual ways of doing that time would not help him, considering the people he faced and their role.

-Well ... what I know and that a few days ago your beloved princess has visited ... expressing all her disappointment. We had a little quarrel, I asked her where she hid ... and she brazenly answered me to mind my own business. I also asked her why she had made contact with me ... but she answered me vaguely.

Of course it is from her being so ... as far as I know, she was also well informed about the restoration ceremony, she was sure right away that I would tell you everything. Guys has changed ... it has become even more bitchy and sour than when I remembered.

Now he is traveling to the west, I know he would have visited Archades to greet the general and other people, I don't know how long he's going to stay there ... but I don't think so.

The ariopirate told what little she knew, but she knew all too well what Amaya was capable of, after which, given the situation, she decided it was better to remain silent.

With the latest news at the palace, the mood was not the best and you could see a strong emotion, poorly concealed by both parties involved. Al-Cid hardly seemed to remain neutral and aloof, but for that he knew and hid well he had to resort to all his diplomacy to remain calm.

Lady Ashe was on the verge of exploding ... with the preparations for the ceremony and many other things to fix, she was under too much stress and to know about this latest news, which didn't make the situation any better.

Ashe felt that he wanted to be alone, he wanted to be a little quiet and be left in peace, not only did he want to catch his breath and decide well on the stages.

"Leave me alone ... I need a rest." The young princess spoke in a cold voice that echoed like an echo in the absolute silence of her room.

All the people present took leave, Basch was visibly tempted to ask his sovereign for something, but the young ruler anticipated it.

-Basch you too ... I want to be alone and for no reason want to be disturbed, until further notice ... and then you too like me ... you need rest.

Unhappily his discontent Basch could only object, at that moment he was not in himself. Even the young Rozarian prince tried to talk to the princess to calm her but she did not want to know, she sent him away like everyone else.

Left alone the young Ashe could give vent to all her discomfort and the anger she felt towards her sister, she saw the thing as a betrayal, she wondered why someone so dear to her, the last one left of her family could have done her a similar affront.

Her head was invaded by so many thoughts and for a single moment she felt truly alone, in the building that had seen her grow up, he had seen her born, smile and cry. In every corner of that ancient palace one could see so many nostalgic memories, of a past reality of which now it never belonged anymore.

She had remained the last of her family and although she had no blood connection with her sister, she always remained her beloved sister, despite the immense gap that separated them.

If only his sister had not acted like this, together they could give Dalmasca back to that serenity that now for some years had never failed.

In another wing of the palace the little emperor of Archades was walking along the immense corridors of the royal palace, he heard the murmur of some Dalmatian guards who spoke of the young sovereign.

Larsa didn't miss the chance to ask the guards, the topic they were talking about. Both guards felt taken aback, embarrassed and as they were in front of such an authority told of what was rumored about the princess.

The exchange of words with the guards was very quick and simple, having learned of the situation of the princess, Larsa decided to investigate the situation to know what was going on, turning so directly to Basch.

Meanwhile Basch was in his rooms, stripped only of his heavy plowing, he decided to take a hot bath and relax a little. But her head didn't want to know to stop, so her thoughts too, the thoughts turned to her, her "Nereid", resurfaced in her mind. So Basch called Ondine, calling her by his second name.

His smile, his voice. his expressions, the warmth of his skin ... that skin so white he wanted to touch her again, touch her, bite her ... in comparison his skin looked so rough and ruined. Darkened and tanned by the scorching desert sun, all this was due to the many years spent in Dalmasca.

She missed it. Everything he lacked, his old life, his name, his identity, his fellow soldiers and his beloved. He had seen it grow, he had seen it bloom and when it had been his he had seen it tear away.

Remember ... they were blades, as he saw the ghosts of a life ahead of him. And his disappearance, sudden and painful, was an open wound that never stopped bleeding. But meanwhile a mysterious but at the same time familiar voice came forward, telling him:

"EVERYTHING RETURNS. And YOU?"

With this thought fixed inside his heart and fixed deep in his head, he never stopped tormenting him. "At least once will you have fallen in love with someone?" he asked for an ancient and mysterious voice in his head, tied to an old memory of her, of many years before.

At that question, Basch did not answer at first, he did not know what to answer then ... suddenly he found the answer he had not been able to give at that moment.

"ONCE ... WE HAVE LEFT, THROUGH THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US ... I KNOWED FOR YEARS ...

His voice became harsher and more bitter than usual, a long-hidden anger was taking over, never could he be aware of his tired blue eyes.

The voice kept asking him about her ...

"Are you still in love with it?"

But Basch was unable to answer that question ... he answered only with a "MAYBE NOT MORE.

But the voice continued to investigate and insist, Basch felt trapped, facing something that maybe he didn't want to watch either.

"Did this story make you suffer so much?"

It was like lifting the crust of a wound and putting your finger inside it and turning it over very slowly, so as to cause even more suffering.

"

SO MUCH, BUT IT WAS NOT PLEASANT ... AFTER EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD BUILT ... "

Basch's voice was broken only by the roaring of the water, when he bowed his head with difficulty, pronouncing these words, his hands rested on the shower wall, while the water that fell on his head carried some strands of blond hair on his forehead .

While he was suffocating a silent growl, he let himself cry slowly. the cry of a man now never destroyed so long was now reduced to being only the shadow of himself.

It was difficult for him to react, not to give up and fight as he had always done before, his will to live, his enthusiasm suddenly turned off.

The others, you have his eyes seemed so vital and joyful ... he wanted, at least once, to get attention to feel that someone was there for him.

The warm water relaxed the heavy and corpulent body of Captain Basch, every muscle was perfectly developed, despite the stocky and massive body that was found. Overall, Basch showed a statuesque and harmonious physique, he didn't look like a kid ... but a complete man in every respect especially psychic.

Only the sound of water could be heard, while the judge's armor was carefully placed on a table and a chair, while the remainder was lying on the bed, singing more comfortable clothes.

Basch stayed in the shower for more than an hour ... trying to find a way to cope with what was happening. He had just finished washing and wrapping a towel, finely decorated with dalmaschi embroidery, around his waist while he was wiping his hair with another towel, he heard a knock at the door of his room.

A dull and dry sound he heard, while with a tired voice he asked who he was and Larsa answered him.

-I'm Larsa, I'd like to talk to you Basch! the boy exclaimed in a rather worried tone.

- Your majesty ... it would not be the case! - He pointed out the captain, but Larsa didn't want to hear reason and forced the judge to receive him.

-I would like to understand what is happening here at the Palace ... I know that you received the message from the Marquis and that you gave it to Lady Ashe ... I would like to talk to you.

Hearing that sentence he could only open, the young Emperor found himself before the judge still half naked. Basch had worn light fabric trousers while the rest of his bust remained uncovered.

"Your Majesty, this is the least suitable time to talk to you about the message and about Lady Ashe." "The judge said, but Larsa was insistent, he wanted to know what had happened.

"I'd like to understand what's going on and if I can help you in any way," the boy replied, but Basch replied that what was happening was about the Dalmatian royal family and that he therefore had to stay out of it.

-Lord Larsa, the question is not about you, but Lady Ashe, the Marquis and Princess Ondine. I still don't know what centers Ondine ... or why his name appears so suddenly ...- The captain added.

- You are wrong Basch ... I got to know Princess Ondine, you know it too, and I also know about the relationship she had with your brother. As for the rest, you are right ...-

Larsa looked with displeasure at the captain, retracing all his history and what bound her to Princess Ondine.

Ondine ... Larsa had known her by another name, and well understood why both Basch and Princess Ashe didn't want to see anyone.

-Lord Larsa ... as you well know, I ask you to be able to remain alone, at least for today I would like to rest ... and digest this situation to the unpleasant.- He closed the captain and the young Larsa who agreed that permission.