The sun was high in the sky as Leona stepped outside of the inn where they were celebrating their hard won victory, laughs and cheers of joy could be heard even from outside.
“Sure is noisy inside huh?”
A familiar female voice came from her side and upon looking alongside the inn’s wall she noticed the assassin smoking a rolled up cigarette by the large window.
“I see you’re not one for parties either, Lady Elizabeth.”
“Oh I'd rather keep it for myself, if you get my meaning.” She flicked the half smoked butt into the snow which made a sizzling noise before going out. “What about you? By the look in your face you don’t seem to be out here just to get some fresh air and talk to an old woman.”
Seeing how she was direct to the point made it easier for the tactician.
“With your daughter safe and your son avenged. I’d like to know what you’ll do from now on.”
“I'll most likely spend time with my daughter.” She chuckled. “These old bones are way past their prime you see.”
Leona glanced down with a bit of sadness in her voice.
“I see.”
“But even so.” Before she could get all mellow, Elizabeth voiced her opinion. “I am one that hates to leave my debt unpaid. If you so desire, my blade is still yours for another day.”
The tactician smiled faintly, she could feel the kindness the old woman harbored for her.
“Thank you, Lady Elizabeth.”
“I should be the one thanking you, young lady.”
“I only did what I thought was right.”
The assassin smiled.
“You truly are a ruler worth following.” She adjusted her overcoat and began to head towards the center of the city but before she left, she glanced over the shoulder and gave Leona a warm smile. “Keep to your principles and you’ll emerge victorious in this arduous battle.”
“Thank you Lady Elizabeth for your kind words.”
The old woman waved as she went around the corner and disappeared into the other street. Meanwhile Leona glanced towards the sky that, once for the longest time she spent her days there, was clear of any clouds.
“The storm has finally passed, and we have been graced by another beautiful morning.” She smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. “But none of you are here to see it…”
Upon closing her eyes she remembered the faces of everyone who had given their lives in the name of that bloody campaign. In the name of her family, she had taken up arms just to fall to the depths of despair once the only family she had left was cut down right before her eyes. In a quest of vengeance, many others lost their lives.
The strength she had was built on the bones of those who fell in her name, a disgusting realization, but one she had to live with.
‘My hands are no less bloody.’ She thought for herself. But with a determined expression she clenched her soft hands into tight fists. ‘I’ll carve this path not through the bodies of my allies, but with them by my side.’
“You have grown splendidly.” A male voice echoed in her mind and as she turned around towards the wall, there, the swordmaster was leaning against it with a faint smile on his face. “Leona Crossford, my faith has not been misplaced in you. Not only you saved your comrade from certain death but also brought the blade of justice to a sinner’s head.”
“Miyamoto…”
She was thankful for his help, however there was still a hint of bitterness in her heart. If she had blade energy, how different things would have been?
“I judged you ill suited to learn before. But now I can’t think of a better person to carry on with my legacy.”
“So? What changed?”
He closed his right hand and tapped twice lightly against his own chest.
“The passion to aid others that is burning inside your heart, that is what you needed in order to handle it. With the determination to face impossible odds for the sake of another I shall from now on bestow unto you my knowledge of blade energy.”
She felt a strange surge of power from within, a warm feeling spread from the center of her chest throughout her entire body. Upon closing and opening her hands she felt a strange tingling sensation in her fingertips like electricity running through them. She unsheathed her silver longsword and focused said sensation as if it passed to the blade itself which in turn began to shine with a pale blue glow.
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“Is this…?”
As she inspected the blade she could feel mana constantly pouring through her fingers into the handle as if the sword itself became part of her body. The shimmering metal accompanied by the stream of mana made the already elegant silver weapon into a piece of art. She had never seen something so mesmerizing up close but as she was about to raise the blade she suddenly felt faint and stumbled backwards, letting the sword fall off her hands and get stuck into the snow.
“You should be careful.” The swordmaster warned. “Blade energy requires a lot of the user in terms of mana, that is why the warriors of my homeland use it for a singular, deadly precise strike.”
“I see…” She took a deep breath and recomposed herself before picking up the sword. “Then I can expect to meet more people that know how to use this technique if I go to Nara?”
“Yes, doubtless you’d be able to know more about them through the Londrian captain than myself.”
“Olivia?”
He nodded.
“She hails from Nara and she would be better suited to tell you about my homeland.”
“Huh? Weren’t you the last ruler over that kingdom?”
“Many things changed after I passed on. No doubt the kingdom I once ruled is not the same anymore.”
“I see…” She sheathed the sword and once she looked to the wall again, he was no longer there. Instead, she looked to the bright sky. “I really didn’t play all my cards that time.”
A few minutes later the chime of the inn’s door runged as it opened. Athena stepped outside seemingly looking for something or someone, until she noticed Leona standing on the side of the inn staring into the blue sky.
“Hey Leo.” She called her which prompted the tactician to look at her. “Come on inside, Jano said he’d open the bottle of wine he was saving for a special occasion.”
“Wine?”
“Have you never tasted it before? It’s quite good with pastry.” She cheerfully approached and grabbed Leona by the wrist. “Come on, let's go.”
“Ah wait-”
Inside, all incandescent light bulbs were turned on which made the place look more cozy, as she entered, she noticed the majority of the people that helped her were present, Henry, Jill, Hank, Lawrence, Olivia and Minerva were all sitting around a big rectangular table that was basically four other tables bundled together to accommodate everyone around the fresh food that was coming out of the kitchen.
“There she is!” Hank raised his mug of ale, for once he wasn’t wearing his face mask and hat which showed off his almost shiny bald head, thick black eyebrows and brown right eye as his left was gray. “For the hero of the hour, Leona! Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
Henry raised his mug, his was yet another face Leona didn’t see up until now. His blonde hair and light blue eyes were a different sight from what she imagined to be Neiliel’s brother, but then she remembered Neil was adopted by his family.
“Hey pipe it down you two.” Jill shook her head. She was wearing her uniform but without the hat or mask, which showed her waist long brown hair which was usually kept inside her clothing and her hazel eyes, she looked much more ladylike than Leona thought initially. “I’m sure she wouldn’t want two drunkards yelling her name every time you drink.”
“It’s okay.”
The tactician chuckled.
“See! She said it’s fine!” Hank was hiccuping as he laughed at Jill. “You’re too stingy.”
An exasperated sigh coming from beside her caught Leona’s attention. Whilst shaking her head and with a disappointed expression, the captain Olivia was also holding a mug filled to the brim with ale.
“They don’t know how to hold their liquor.” She glanced at the tactician by the corner of her eyes. “I’m thankful for what you’ve done Leona. Truly.”
“No thanks needed captain, I only did what I thought was right. And besides, it wasn’t just Londria that won from this, if not for Athena’s brother, Lady Elizabeth and your soldier’s efforts, Phoebe wouldn’t be alive today and for that I am eternally at your debt.”
“Oh, save the fancy words for later Princess.” She took a sip of her mug before setting it down on the table. “I received word from general Vaan to aid you in any way I’m able. After hearing what you did for our kingdom I’m sure anyone here would be grateful but he seemed beyond obliged to help you in your endeavors.”
“That’s good to hear. Thank you captain.”
“As I said, it was all thanks to you.”
She waved her hand left and right with a smirk on her face before leaving to the kitchen. Just as she left, Leona looked towards the other end of the table where Krieg was standing with a mug in his hands, he seemed way too out of place and with a troubled expression on his face.
“Krieg.” The tactician called him as she approached. “Are you alright?”
“Ah, Leona…” He avoided looking at her whilst scratching the back of his head. “I’m not too comfortable with parties you see, last time I was at one was while accompanying your mother.”
“She really did like going into those.” She chuckled playfully seeing how the usually serious knight was now a bit troubled. “Come on, let’s just take a seat and enjoy. I heard Jano was bringing a new drink and I’m somewhat eager to try it.”
He smiled warmly before following her. They sat beside Minerva who was enjoying a piece of bread coated in a fine white powdery substance.
“Hm?” The blind young woman felt their presence and slightly angled her face towards Leona. “Princess, is that you?”
“Oh?” Her eyes widened in surprise. “Can you tell me apart from everyone else?”
The tactician chuckled.
“Not really, it was just a guess. Sir Krieg’s footsteps are on the heavier side so I thought…”
“Forgive me, I didn’t mean to laugh at you. It’s just really impressive how accurately you can tell people apart from the sounds of their footsteps alone.”
“No offense taken, to be frank, ever since I lost my vision I feel like I can almost ‘feel’ the texture of things through sound.”
It puzzled Krieg how Leona was able to talk so easily with someone she had just met, but it made him feel at peace all the same. Back in Arcadia, she would often spend most of her time alone in her father’s study and unlike the kids of her age, she had no one to talk to, often relying on the company of the servants in the mansion to keep loneliness at bay.
He had his doubts about himself but seeing her smile and laugh dissipated any second thoughts about his choice.
‘I will protect that smile, no matter the cost.’