Intense pain flows through my body, in contrast to the numbing cold. There was this weird howling noise coming out of the mountain range. The storm that was promised before going to the Eisenbar Ward changed into a weird floating white substance. I never saw snow before, but I didn’t know it could be so cold. At least that's what I’d say if I wasn’t feeling so embarrassed right now. Currently I’m hiding my face with my shawl as my shirt is raised so Wing could bandage up my wounds. It’d be better if the glowing ring around my arm wasn’t so bright.

Also his words were very mean. He told me, “Oh right, I forgot you were a girl. I mean, not a girl per-say, but that you had any remote thought of your femininity. If that's the case you can just raise your shirt a little.” He was using some plant he was finding around called a dreigsen, but the plant can’t restore my pride.

“Alright Eclaire you’re all done. Oh your face is red, you still not feeling well?”

“Ngh.”

“Okay?”

Once the first-aid was finished, I was unable to control myself from the mixture of embarrassment, pain, and many other feelings. I jump to hug Wing tightly.

“Eclaire?!”

“It hurts! My ribs hurt! I’m happy though!”

“Uh… I don’t know how to respond to that.”

I was happy, extremely happy. The wounds hurt like hell, but I think I was happier than I felt the pain. I started to nestle my face against Wing as he ruffled my hair.

“I missed you so– so much!”

“I missed you too Eclaire.”

After he peeled me off, he sat down looking out the cave’s entrance. I sort of just started to mimic him and looked out the cave he found. I had no idea what to say, what to ask.

“Uh… It’s not as cold as I thought it would be.”

“It’s the Aura Shield, it’s not going to last forever, but at least it’ll tide us over for a little.”

“Aura Shield? You can use magic now can’t you?”

“Haha… Yeah thanks to this.”

Wing showed me the glove on his left hand. It was different in shape and size, but it had a large orb in the center and was surrounded by gems. Undoubtedly, it was an Edonai. Unlike mines which had only three red gems left, he had one red gem, one green gem, and three blue gems. The larger orb on his was also blue compared to my red one.

“Didn’t they say they didn’t want to give you a chance in Fals?”

“Ironic isn’t it? The moment I was taken in by the old man– err– Galios Argevald, I was given one right away to not be suspicious.”

“So you always could do it if you had the chance?”

“Nope. Not quite… Despite everything, my ability to use magic is quite weak.”

“Weak?! When I was being electrocuted It felt strong!”

“Err… Sorry Eclaire, I really couldn’t see who you were with that visor on…”

Ouch–!

My stomach hurt from raising my voice. He's able to fly through the air, shoot lightning out of his hands and blow up the roof of a building! How is that weak?!

Detecting my distress, Wing continued to explain himself.

“Don’t look at me like that Eclaire! I had to find a way to build up power.”

“Build up power?”

“Yeah… Let me just show you.”

[Galvanic Drive] After a bit of focus and some silence, the surrounding mana gathered around Wing.

A small spark appears in his hands, then it flows to the end of his blade and back.

Eventually, his blade is wreathed in electricity like the many times I’ve seen it.

There was a soft hum emitting from his sword as he moved it around, but there was a constant motion of sparks flowing between his hand and the edge of the sword. He then continued his explanation.

“This actually doesn’t do that much, if I were to use a blade with a different material, it would just… Do nothing.”

“So it’s a special sword?”

“In a way, yeah. It’s basically made from material that can gather magic easily– A magic sword.”

“Ooh That’s cool! What about those sharp pointy things you kept throwing at me?”

“These? These are iron spikes, made to attract the electricity that comes off of me when using the spell. I just generate electricity until it becomes too much for the sword to handle, so I have to dispel it somehow.”

Along with giving me explanations of complicated things, he explained that an Edonai works by putting a clear orb in a special frame. Then that frame takes in the magical energy from that orb and gives us strength. After that, it takes the characteristics of its user, I guess.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“What about the tiny gems that keep breaking?”

“What do you mean they keep breaking? They’re not supposed to.”

“I keep well… busting them.”

“I don’t know what to say, really… Just as expected from you Eclaire.”

He sighed and told me the tiny gems are called Lucrum, he refers to the gems bursting into pieces as a ‘Lucrum Break’ and didn’t want to explain why he calls them that, at least he didn’t want to explain it yet. He looked at me and continued to speak.

“All that aside, is there anything you want to say?”

“Huh?”

“Eclaire. Why in the world are you fighting in this stupid war?”

“I… I don’t really know… I don’t really remember why I’m doing anything right now…”

“Sigh… Well I’m just glad you’re safe, I can dig deeper any time, but for the time being let's get some housekeeping out of the way.”

“Housekeeping? Wing, this isn’t a house?”

“That’s not the point! Well actually, you brought it up!”

“Hmm?”

Wing began to face me again. I feel like he's going to tell me something I’m not going to like.

“I realize that I told you to not use my name, but did not give you a name to call me in the first place.”

“Wing is Wing, though?”

“Yes. That was my name, but Wing Agelheed was executed, legally, in Fals four years ago. There was a newsletter about it and all. Didn't you see anything about that?”

“But, you’re alive.”

I don’t know what Wing is saying, since it looks like everything sucks regardless of what happened. At least he could have been by my side instead of going with that man.

“Yes, and it all proved pointless anyways, but that’s not the point Eclaire! Me being ‘executed’ was the reason why the war didn’t escalate for three years, it only really got this bad recently.”

“Why did that matter anyways?”

“Eclaire. Whether we like it or not… People died in Fals that day. Mysmegalian soldiers. There had to be someone paying the consequences.”

Yes… But why did it have to be you? Why did it have to be me?

“After we find a way out of here, we’ll find a way to get you back to Elkysti and return home.”

“Wait! What about you?”

“I have to stay on this side. So I’ll find my way back to Mysmegal.”

“No!”

“Eclaire!”

I can’t accept that! Not again! No!

I refused to accept it.

Not after all this.

I have to stay with him no matter what.

I can't let the world separate us again.

I broke into a shout as Wing was still explaining how he shouldn’t go with me home. They were sound arguments, but not sound enough for my aching heart.

“Why can’t I just stay with you?!”

“I don’t have a place anymore. Nowhere. If I were to get taken by Elkysti, I'd just be a prisoner. After this war is over then–”

“Then I’ll go with you in Mysmegal! Your place is by my side! Always! You even promised you’d return!”

I've only ever believed that.

No matter what I became, I truly believed he would return to me, like he promised.

Wing looks at my sullied face expression and sighs again. He flips over my clenched hands and massages them so they would loosen up. His clear amber eyes make me want to look away a little from embarrassment.

“Okay Eclaire… I’ll indulge you, but you have to do me a favor, okay?”

“Ngh…”

“I’m not Wing anymore, alright?”

“B-but you’re always going to be Wing!”

“I know… I know… I won’t change, but that’s not my name anymore. Alright?”

“I… Okay… What is it then?”

With clear intent and a sharp voice.

The many aspects of Wing I cared about were there.

No matter what he’ll always be the same person at heart.

“Gilbert. Gilbert Argevald.”