Amidst the heavy silence permeating the grounds, Len lifted his eyelids. His golden eyes briefly scanned Eric's tense face before slowly settling on the massive silhouette of Grand Duke Ethos. The tension in the air was so thick it could almost be felt, but a sudden, innocent crease appeared on Len's face.
"My leg... it's hurt a little, Uncle," Len said in a very soft and gentle voice.
At the mention of 'Uncle,' a faint streak of surprise etched across Ethos's stern face. He knitted his thick brows and directed his sharp gaze toward Len's legs, which were half-buried in the dust. Ethos's steely discipline, which had been barking commands until now, faltered slightly at this sudden form of address and the peculiar tone in Len's voice.
"Where are you hurt?" Ethos asked. His voice remained heavy, but it now carried a trace of unintended concern. "Is it so deep that it forced you to abandon your practice and seek refuge in the dirt?"
Len lowered his voice further, infusing it with a very subtle wave of pain. "I... I feel a bit of a hurt in my leg," he said, wincing slightly as if truly grappling with discomfort. He moved his leg slowly, causing a thin layer of sand to scatter and fall.
Eric, who had been sitting as still as a stone until now, glanced at Len sideways. He couldn't discern whether Len was telling the truth or if this was a calculated move to evade Ethos's wrath and cover for Eric's own 'strange' behavior. In that corner of the grounds, where the echoes of battle had just resided, a new play had begun between a child's innocence and a commander's dilemma.
Eric remained rooted to his spot, the pupils of his crimson eyes not moving an inch. He silently watched Len's shifting expressions and the performance of his trembling voice. No stir occurred within Eric, nor did he attempt to interrupt this 'drama.' He merely watched like a spectator as Len skillfully blunted the edge of the Grand Duke's sternness.
Grand Duke Ethos kept his eyes fixed on Len's face. He rested his massive palm on his waist and took a deep breath. Although the stony hardness of his expression had not entirely melted, the roar in his voice had now shifted into a quiet instruction.
"Very well," Ethos finally said, his voice as dry as the sand of the grounds. "If you truly are hurt, there is no need for you to sit here eating dust. You may rest for a while."
Ethos straightened his neck slightly and summoned a nearby soldier with a gesture. "I will arrange for a maid to be sent immediately to assist and care for you," he said in measured words. Discipline still lingered in his voice, but the impact of the word 'Uncle' had placed him in the role of a guardian.
Eric noticed how Ethos's attention was now entirely centered on Len's 'discomfort.' The stern mask still remained on Ethos's face, but the glint of suspicion and scrutiny that had been prodding Eric moments ago had now dimmed. Amidst the burning wind of the grounds, Len's small lie had acted as a shield, calming Ethos's potential wrath.
Grand Duke Ethos shifted his stern gaze from Len toward Eric. His lips had just parted to speak, and the depth of his eyes made it clear that it was now Eric's 'laziness' that would be addressed. But before a single word could echo through the air, Len cut in.
"Eric... could you help me stand up for a moment?" Len said, making his voice sound even weaker.
He pointed toward a massive tree at the edge of the grounds, its thick canopy spreading a cold sheet of shade across the sand. "I just want to go and sit under the shade of that tree."
Eric tilted his neck slightly and looked at Ethos's face, which had frozen for a second due to the interruption. Then, he fixed his gaze back on Len. There was no particular enthusiasm on Eric's face, but his eyes held a clear understanding of how Len was shifting the direction of the game.
Eric let out a faint sound—"Hmm..." It wasn't a distinct word, but a tonal vibration from his throat that signaled agreement. He nodded his head with a subtle, sharp motion.
Without any further formal dialogue, Eric braced his hands against the ground and stood up in one swift motion.
He brushed the dust off his palms and then leaned down, extending his hand toward Len. Ethos stood there, watching the entire scene with his silent gaze. Eric's brief grunt and Len's pained plea—together, they had completely sidelined the discipline the Grand Duke was about to impose upon Eric moments ago.
Len intertwined his fingers within Eric's palm. With the support of Eric's strong hand, Len slowly rose from the dusty ground. The sun had now reached the center of the sky, its piercing rays raining down on the grounds like molten copper. The scorching waves of heat could be clearly felt in the air.
The two boys began to move slowly toward the massive tree. Len placed his right foot very lightly on the ground, leaning his weight onto Eric's shoulder with every step.
His manner of walking was so natural that anyone watching would be convinced a deep ache was throbbing within his bones. His footprints, emerging shaky upon the dust, bore mute witness to his 'pain.'
Eric held onto Len without saying a word. His gait was steady, and his eyes were fixed straight ahead on that cold shade. As they drew closer to the tree, the scorching heat was replaced by a cool breeze filtering through the leaves. That deep line of shade lay spread upon the ground like a soothing balm.
Reaching the thick trunk of the tree, Eric gently placed his hand behind Len and lowered him down with support. Len felt the rough texture of the bark against his back and sat down with a long, relieved sigh.
Amidst the rustling of the dense leaves above, Eric remained standing, a strange silence in his crimson eyes. He turned back to look at Grand Duke Ethos standing in the distance, who was still keeping an eye on them.
The silhouettes of Len and Eric, sitting in the distant shade, appeared faint before Grand Duke Ethos's steady gaze. Ethos stood in the middle of the grounds like a massive boulder, his mere presence maintaining a pressure of discipline in the air.
Suddenly, the sound of swift, measured boots pierced the silence and came to a halt near him.
A soldier approached, clicked his heels, and bowed with full respect. "Grand Duke, you summoned me?" There was unwavering loyalty in the soldier's voice.
Ethos did not avert his gaze from the boys, nor did he offer a lengthy reply. He merely turned his neck slightly and let out a brief, heavy sound that asserted his authority.
"Go," he commanded, his words echoing like a cold strike in the air. "Bring a skilled maid immediately, one who is proficient in treating wounds and injuries. An inspection of that boy's condition is necessary."
"As you command, Grand Duke," the soldier replied, giving a sharp salute before turning his steps quickly toward the exit of the grounds.
As the soldier vanished from sight, Ethos shifted the direction of his heavy boots. There was a new purpose in his stride. He began walking back toward that mysterious man, who still stood in the scorching sun, keeping a hawk-like watch over the other soldiers' practice.
The swirling dust of the grounds formed a hazy layer behind Ethos's long shadow, while his eyes now probed the invisible connection hidden between that man and those two boys.