"You would have killed me already if you wanted to," Alan's voice was calm yet stern, devoid of emotion. In that moment, he decided to embrace the Alan he had long suppressed. Fearlessly, he pushed back against Longiseus's verbal assault.
"I know you don't intend to end me, because I know—"
"Nonsense!" Longiseus's frustration boiled over, his voice filled with suppressed feelings that were resonating with Alan's words.
He charged forward, pushing his sword against Alan, almost piercing his skin as he retorted vehemently against those feelings, "The only reason I haven't killed you yet is because I owe you my life! If it weren't for that, I would have ended you the moment my doubts were confirmed."
"Then kill me!" Alan's voice rang out with determination as he swiftly turned, pressing his chest against the tip of Longiseus's sword. Longiseus's shock was evident, but Alan's seriousness cut through the tension, his eyes filled with vigor and sincerity. For a moment, he forgot his attachments, embracing his old sternness.
"If I told you the truth, I would have to kill you," Alan's sincerity was veiled over with a grim and deadly glare. "Everyone of you. And before I raise a hand on my friends, on my own wife, I'd rather die by the hand of a friend."
Alan's words struck a chord with Longiseus, pulling at the feelings he had suppressed. Feelings that defended Alan's sincerity, hoping to prove Longiseus's accusations wrong and preserve their newfound friendship. Lowering his sword slowly, Longiseus squinted his eyes with a wrinkled nose, a sense of helplessness evident in his voice.
"What… what has you so resolved? What is it? Is it your fondness for what you are trying to hide? Or is it fear?"
"My tongue is tied, commander. But all I can tell you to soothe your troubles is that everything you said until now is true. Please don't ask me anything further, and I beg you to believe me," Alan's eyes wrinkled as he struggled to hold back his emotions.
With sincerity in his voice, he pleaded, "Please trust me. Have I done anything wrong? Or harmed anyone without reason? Please, Commander, believe me. I have no intentions to harm you or anyone here. I... I can't say anything else but these words, and I hope that you could believe me once more. Please, we can't afford to move on like this. We are in a place full of dangers, and anyone of us can die at any moment. And we can't prevent that, we can't escape this hell if we begin to turn on each other right now! Please, Commander!"
Longiseus absorbed Alan's pleas, gritting his teeth with closed eyes. Disintegrating his sword back to his mark, Longiseus opened his eyes, holding Alan in a tight glare. "Fine. I'll give you this chance. But on one condition," Longiseus spoke with authority. "Once we get out of this wretched place, I want you to tell me everything. And I mean everything. And then, if you retort in any way…" Longiseus's eyes held their usual grimness as he locked gazes with Alan, his stare piercing into Alan's soul, instilling fear within him. "I will kill you and your friends with my own sword."
Alan swallowed nervously under Longiseus's intense gaze. Blinking, he replied, "Okay, I promise. But only on one condition. Help me hide all of this from others for as long as we can. I'm not sure about the others, and I'll handle them when the time comes. But right now, I want you to forget every word of this conversation. Agreed?"
Longiseus took a long sigh, regaining his composure. His eyes, now holding only his usual sternness, opened as he retrieved a murky green ring from his pocket on his belt. Without a gem or any shine, it appeared plain and unremarkable. Presenting it to Alan, Longiseus spoke in a soft yet tight voice, "Fine. As much as it hurts my pride to admit it, I knew this confrontation would end like this. I had hoped for this outcome because I have this to give you."
Passing the ring to Alan, Longiseus watched as Alan took it. Alan felt the weight and aura of the ring, though it was imperceptible. Holding it in his palm, he looked at Longiseus with confusion and asked, "What is this?"
"This is what spawned with the Lord Orb after the monster perished. My guess is because of this new uncharted territory we have stepped into, pushing through its struggles, making sacrifices… I had never dreamed of," Longiseus's sternness hinted slightly at the immeasurable pain he had been suppressing—the pain of losing two of his confidants, his close friends. But Longiseus, as always, repressed his pain and continued, "Arian brought it to me. Try wearing it."
On Longiseus's urging, Alan hesitantly put the ring on his finger and clenched his fist instinctively.
Instantly, a crimson and black smoke erupted from the hand adorned with the ring. As it dissipated in the air, Alan stood astonished, holding a long blade with a threaded handle.
The blade, draped in crimson hue, gleamed with sharpness under the firelight. Alan could feel the strength and aura of the blade infusing into his own. Passing a smile at Alan's astounded expression, Longiseus remarked, "Focus and try extending the blade."
Even more surprised, excitement filled Alan's eyes as a faint smirk appeared on his face. Grasping the handle tightly, he swiftly swung his hand, extending the weapon by his side. In a phenomenon of its own nature, the blade divided into pieces connected by small hinges on each piece, transforming into a sharp iron whip. Alan watched in disbelief as the scene unfolded before him, slowly exclaiming, "Fascinating…"
"Interesting weapon, isn't it?" Longiseus followed Alan's exclamation, crossing his arms as he began to explain further. "I tested it discreetly. It's a very sharp and durable blade, perfect for someone as agile as you. I wasn't sure I would be able to wield it, though. Man-made weapons are rare in Pompeii and are usually used as decorations because they can come off as fragile for those accustomed to marked weapons. But maybe the mystical nature of this one allowed me to wield it. And its summoning mechanism bears resemblance to mark weapons. Used cautiously and wisely, it can create an illusion…"
"For my deceit?" Alan's tone turned sarcastic, his eyes mockingly drooping as he looked at Longiseus. Longiseus averted his gaze and began to walk ahead. "You know, I envy your resolve," he said, his voice tinged with admiration. "Keeping together such deception and still maintaining your sanity, it takes a born liar to achieve that."
"And I envy your pride," Alan retorted, following behind Longiseus after disintegrating his new weapon back into the ring with smoke. "Even after admitting our bond, you still choose to banter upon it just because of your pride."
"I have no idea what you are talking about," Longiseus remarked as he opened the gate for him and Alan to exit.
Aurelia, still reeling from whatever had caused her sudden discomfort and churning of stomach, stepped out of the room to be met by Leotrus. He stood tall before her, his eyes no longer concealed by a blindfold. The sight of his crystal white pupil within his grey eyes astounded Aurelia. Though non-functional, they remained a beautiful feature on his pale face. With a warm smile, Leotrus offered her a mug filled with hot soup.
"Here, you should have this. It will help you with... you know," Leotrus spoke humbly, his arms crossed as he gestured subtly, indicating what he meant. Aurelia's surprise was evident as she asked, taking the cup, "You know? How do you know about that?"
"I suppose not having sight for your whole life gives you some other senses," Leotrus replied with a smile, his eyes unwavering.
"Oh, but they are so beautiful! I envy them; I wish I had such eyes," Aurelia exclaimed, almost reaching out to touch Leotrus's eyes.
"Believe me, you don't want them. They can be a bit of a hassle. Now, you should drink the soup, so you will feel better," Leotrus replied with a smile as he began to turn. Suddenly, Aurelia's strange yet longing words, tinged with sorrow, halted his movement.
"You know, I envy your resolve. How calmly you are dealing with the loss of your friends. I mean, I didn't know them for long, but even I was broken when they were..." Aurelia's words trailed off as she recalled the horrifying moments of Artereia and Bretren's deaths. But then she felt a warm sensation over her head as Leotrus extended his smile and patted Aurelia's head, giving her solace.
"I understand what you feel, and believe me, it pains me to death to have lost them. But though they were the closest, they are not the first comrades I have lost in battle. Before them, I had lost many of my disciples on raids, so it has just become easier for me to repress feelings of such kind. But I am more worried about him,"
Leotrus turned without blinking and gestured, bringing Aurelia's attention toward Armis, Arian, Orioros, and Lyco, who were bantering together, wrestling like children. Lady Roartad and Poduria tried to pull them away.
Turning back his blind gaze on Aurelia, Leotrus continued, "He can be a bit too repressive about these things. I can't help but sense the immense sadness in his heart. Being his partner and all, I still am not sure what I should do to make him release all his pent-up feelings."
As Leotrus's tone began to exude disappointment, Aurelia, rather than focusing on that, caught on to different words of Leotrus. She exclaimed in shock, "Partners?!!! Does that mean you and Sir Orioros???"
"Ah...sorry, but would you mind being a little quieter?" Leotrus gently placed his hand on Aurelia's mouth, gently suppressing her exclamation. He explained while Aurelia's eyes filled with excitement, "Only the commander knows about us. So if you can be a little secretive about it, Orioros doesn't like unnecessary attention in this regard, and I don't want him to be upset right now. So if you would, I would feel really grateful."
Leotrus gently retrieved his hand as Aurelia nodded with a full smile, which quickly transformed into a frown of tinged disappointment as she spoke after glancing at Armis's nonchalant and lack of care for her. "You know, you're a very good partner... I wish Armis could be more like you. Don't get me wrong, he's very good at almost everything, but when it comes to communication and care, he's... a bit dense in that area. I envy Sir Orioros that he has such a caring partner looking after him. I wish I could have had someone like you."
As Aurelia smiled at the end of her words, Leotrus felt some strange feelings exuding from her. Not feeling comfortable anymore, he conjured up an excuse to escape Aurelia's increasingly expectant gaze.
"I'm not sure we should be having this conversation, and excuse me as I have to use..." Leotrus said, moving ahead from Aurelia and opening the door behind her. Aurelia, tantalized by Leotrus's caring charm, turned and began following him as Leotrus opened the door, and both of them entered inside after Aurelia exclaimed, "Wait, I want to ask you something s———"