The general’s eyes widened for a moment. His expression froze as if he’d been hit on the back of the {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} head.
He remained motionless for a few seconds, seemingly processing the meaning of those words. To the general, who appeared momentarily dazed, Leonardo added, the corner of his mouth lifted:
“So, I shouldn’t leave here. There’s still a lot I need to do.”
Leonardo used the expression that he shouldn’t leave, rather than saying he couldn’t leave, lest it seem as if he were being held against his will. Even that sounded ambiguous to the general’s ears, but the other’s resolve came through clearly.
The general stared at Leonardo with a complex gaze. Soon, he painfully worked his stiffened jaw.
“I... see.”
Leonardo deliberately kept his expression even more composed. Then, to make sure his friend—who had mustered up the courage—wouldn’t be hurt, he put his uninjured right arm around the general’s shoulder and patted his back.
“Still, thank you.”
Leonardo whispered in his ear and stayed by his side for a few seconds, as if returning his kindness. If it weren’t for someone watching coldly from afar, he might have stayed longer.
Soon, Leonardo lowered his arm from the general’s shoulder and took a few steps back to create a proper distance. He then slowly moved behind the general. The general also gradually turned his body to follow him.
The scene that unfolded before their eyes was that of a hero of a country, carrying on his back the reason he had to stay, shining brilliantly across the vast land.
The general let out a small sigh. He could see the large army standing like wings behind the hero. He felt something stir at the edge of his swelling chest. Though their countries were different, he understood the heart that wanted to protect one’s own homeland.
The general looked around the wide, empty space for a while before turning back to Leonardo. Soon, he covered his bitterness with that familiar gentle smile. Gently releasing the hands they’d been holding, he gave Leonardo a light bow.
“Whatever the situation, I fully understand your intention to stay for your country.”
The general humbly accepted his friend’s resolute will while hiding his regret.
“It seems... I’ve been rude. Forgive me, my friend.”
“...No, it’s not rude—”
Leonardo hurriedly waved his hands. The general let out a small laugh at the sight, but also sighed with an indecipherable meaning. Even so, he soon offered his utmost respect to the hero’s will—noble to the point of foolishness.
“Despite not being in the military, you still say you love your countrymen and will devote yourself to protecting your homeland. I don’t know what happened to such a noble person... but I hope you can regain the glory you rightfully deserve as soon as possible.”
The general took a step back. He stood with his waist and shoulders straight.
“You are the most honorable soldier I’ve ever seen, and your mindset and spirit are nobler than any saint. ...Aren’t you the true soldier and real hero of this era? I, too, will learn from your will and strive harder for my country.”
The general blinked slowly. Then he raised his right hand and reverently placed it over his left chest. With a gentle smile, he saluted in a solemn voice.
“Glory to Raina Logia.”
Leonardo, who had been staring blankly at the other, snapped back to his senses at that voice. Then, following the general, he put his fist to his left chest and sincerely replied:
“God’s protection to Parren.”
A pleasant breeze passed between the two as they exchanged their countries’ greetings. A faint smile appeared on their lips, tickled by the gentle wind.
Shortly after, the general—who lowered his hand first—approached Leonardo and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. Then he glanced briefly in the Commander’s direction. Bowing his head slightly, he whispered to his friend:
“But if you change your mind, come find me anytime. If a golden flame is lit in the beacon between Parren and Fidele, I’ll take it as your signal and move immediately.”
His crinkled eyes seemed to be joking, but the details were so specific it sounded half-serious. Leonardo stared at him, trying to gauge his intent, but the general didn’t add anything more. He only winked, giving him a meaningful look.
“Well, I should go now. I feel like my back’s been pierced by stares for a while.”
The general gently caressed Leonardo’s back while naturally pushing him forward. Thanks to that, Leonardo—who’d taken a step or two—met Hugo’s eyes, standing in the direction the general had indicated.
“...”
After exchanging glances for a moment, Leonardo turned back again. Then, hesitating before the general—now standing with the aides who had just approached—he casually asked:
“We’ll be able to meet again, right?”
The general, who was greeting his subordinates, answered with a gentle smile:
“Of course. We’ll surely meet again.”
Nodding at the firm answer, Leonardo finally turned without hesitation. He lengthened his stride and walked almost at a run, heading straight for the one waiting for him.
Hugo, who had been standing still, stretched out his hand toward the returning golden figure as if to welcome him back.
Leonardo, who had been hurrying, gradually slowed as he got closer, and finally stopped. Instead of taking Hugo’s hand, Leonardo looked up at him blankly. As Hugo raised his eyebrows, the golden eyes narrowed sulkily.
“When we get back, buy me something delicious. You know—the place where you bought me a meal before.”
Hugo’s gaze turned puzzled at the sudden request. Then he recalled the moment when he’d sat across from Leonardo in the restaurant inside the Council.
The fellow who had stuffed his cheeks and devoured the food was one of the few genuinely happy faces Hugo remembered of him. Hugo relaxed his stiffened expression and nodded.
“Alright. We’ll go there again, and I’ll take you to even better places.”
As Hugo answered and held out his hand again, Leonardo—finally smiling brightly—touched the collar behind his neck. At that moment, Hugo’s mana, which was about to return to its formless state, was instantly caught and nearly torn away, trailing into Leonardo’s grasp.
The fluctuating blue mana, enveloped by golden flames, vanished right before their eyes.
It was something Hugo had attached in advance while tidying Leonardo’s clothes, to find out later what conversation they’d had. But at Leonardo’s action—as if he’d known—Hugo was at a loss for words and fell silent.
Seeing his uncharacteristically flustered expression, Leonardo only chuckled, making no gesture to ask for an explanation. In the end, he shrugged as if to say he’d let it pass, and gently placed his hand on top of Hugo’s.
The two turned and walked side by side on the path back to their homeland. Cordelia and the Council’s commanders flocked around them.
Hugo, looking directly at Leonardo amid the crowd, suddenly turned to look at the Parren general. The general was simply gazing at their retreating figures with a gentle smile.
*****
“Blaine, get proper treatment when you go back. And if you have time later, I really hope you’ll visit Fidele again.”
Cordelia, seeming very reluctant to part with Leonardo, kept holding his hand and making plans for the future. Her eyes were already rimmed red. Watching her, Leonardo felt more and more uneasy.
Around them, people busily ran about, finishing checks on wheels and fuel, and loading urgent injury cases into escort vehicles. Leonardo, too—standing in front of an escort vehicle waiting at the midpoint of the convoy—was exchanging final greetings with those he was about to part from.
“By then, the peninsula issue should be mostly resolved, so I’d like to invite you to my castle and entertain you wholeheartedly. I want to have longer conversations about things we couldn’t finish talking about, and properly show you how beautiful our territory is.”
Cordelia, temporarily setting aside her usual tough demeanor, caressed Leonardo’s face with an affectionate gaze. Because of that, Leonardo—despite not being certain about his own future—had no choice but to make a firm promise.
“Yes, I’ll definitely visit. So please don’t feel so regretful.”
After answering, he hesitated for a moment, then opened his arms and carefully hugged his former superior. At his gentle touch as he patted her back, Cordelia embraced Leonardo as well and buried her face. The tears she had been holding back finally burst forth. She bowed her head and shook her shoulders for a while.
Soon, remembering the knights were watching, she quietly wiped her eyes and stepped back, but her tear ducts—already out of her control—couldn’t maintain her dignity. One of the knights handed her a handkerchief as she looked embarrassed. Cordelia quickly tidied her face with it, then forced a smile at Leonardo.
After her, the next to approach were the now somewhat familiar commanders of the Southern Branch.
Isabella Roslin, the 12th Battalion Commander, and Gray Scott, the deputy commander of the 12th Battalion. And there was Liner Molten, the 9th Battalion Commander of the Southern Branch, walking slowly with their support.
Leonardo suddenly realized this was the first time he’d faced Liner since the battle on the peninsula ended. Since he hadn’t shown up even at the last general meeting, Leonardo had honestly worried he might be on the casualty list.
As if to prove those worries unfounded, Liner deliberately smiled at him with mischief. Still, his complexion wasn’t good. His face was ashen, and his lips were pale.
Above all, the missing part of his body was jarring. As if all the necrotic areas had been amputated, only Liner’s left shoulder remained.
