Flashback 5 years ago
Ludwig Town
Eleanor marched behind the cart where their weapons are stored. "Why are we here? For stop over?", Eleanor asked her superior. The soldier just kept his mouth shut as ordered by Keanne. "Maybe some kind of surprise", Eleanor shrugged. "Then, why are you here?", Eleanor felt irritated seeing Frion at her side. "I was a replacement of the supposed squad leader of squad 7, he caught a fever last night", Frion stuck his tongue out. "We're not in a stupid field trip", their superior shouted with anger. "You brats haven't seen the horror of wars so you have no slightest idea of what can happen when we're already there", he bit his lip. Eleanor and Frion bowed their head.
They stopped by the gate and the knights distributed their weapons. Eleanor started putting on her breastplate. "Nervous?", Frion went in front of her. The girl started to feel a little dizzy. Yesterday, she felt excited since she will be a part of something that her father would be proud of but before leaving the palace, she heard her mother crying and pleading for the King to spare her from joining. She knew she was ignorant of battles. She covered her mouth hoping she will not throw up. Frion knelt in front of her. "If anything happens, anything at all. You can run to my side. Strategies and techniques will fall but if we can stick together, we can survive this night", Frion offered. Eleanor punched the lad's head. "I will survive. If you're the one who's scared, you can just scream my name and I will be there", Eleanor winked.
" I've been here thrice. The people here are very welcoming", Eleanor reminisced good memories. Frion hid his frustrated face. He overheard the conversation between their superiors. The other Kingdom will be having mock war in the town to settle the enraged parties. They will have to sacrifice the peaceful town.
The night came and they lighted their torches. "You are giving honor to the king and our beloved land. Blessings be upon you", the superiors raised their swords as a sign that the attack will now commence. Eleanor held tightly to her gun. She stared at the sharp tip of it. Finally, she realized that one way or another, she will have to pull the trigger. She blames herself for not being able to think of it ahead of time.
She started hearing explosions created by the cannons. Her feet turned weak. Frion grabbed on her arm. "Let's go", he bit his lips as he looks at Eleanor's scared expression. He slapped the girl. "Let's go back home, Elly", Frion smiled. Eleanor finally came back to her senses and started running towards the town. She is being pushed by hundred of soldiers. She's confused to why the magnificent buildings of Ludwig town is being crushed into pieces. Soldiers are being buried under the debris. The soldiers aren't giving enough thoughts for the civilian.
Aren't we supposed to protect and save the weak?
Eleanor saw a soldier wearing another uniform.
Because they wear differently, you have to shoot them in the head before they pull the trigger.
Eleanor was about to pull the trigger but saw that she is also against a young soldier whose eyes are filled with horror. Someone from behind shot him. "You have to shoot or they will shoot you", one of the squad leaders pushed Eleanor for her to run faster. Whenever someone is in front of her, she couldn't bring herself to pull the trigger. She finally realized something, everyone in the battlefield, aside from the superiors, are youngsters. It was as if moving pawns in a chess board. He looked back and saw that the higher-ups stopped behind them.
Eleanor stop running and looked around her. Everything is on fire. The blood is flooding the ground. They were just like sacrificial lambs to be offered for the peace of two kingdoms. Her whole being screamed in anger. She heard a familiar scream. Looking at her right side, she saw Frion holding on his arm. His opponent is using sword, he probably is out of bullets. Before even stabbing Frion on his chest, Eleanor shot his head. Frion searched for the source of the bullet and saw Eleanor's hand shaking. "You said I should scream, seems that you were the first person to do so", the girl said with tears falling from her eyes. The lad walked close to Eleanor and hugged her. "Remember your first kill, Elly. You did it to save a friend", Frion patted her head then fell on the ground. Eleanor's eyes widened to see bullet shots on his back. She lift her head and saw group of enemies. Her blood boiled and started shooting them as well. Her agility allowed her to run closer to them and she accurately used her bullets, not wasting even one. Few more hours and the mock war ended. Though it was supposed to be a mock war, it wouldn't look realistic if no one died. They decided that it will end in a draw. There are more soldiers on the other side so a lot has been drawn.
A number of soldiers were lined up in the field begging for their lives. Eleanor's supervisor pushed her along with the remaining squad leader. "Shoot them", the ordered. The squad leaders looked at each other with confusion in their eyes. "Shoot them or we'll shoot you!", one of the superiors shouted. Eleanor was the first to pull the trigger. The squad leaders all stared at the begging soldiers. One by one, body fell on the ground.
One of the superiors went near Eleanor and praised her. "You are really just like your father. When you're on the battlefield, all you see are trophies", he whispered.
End of the flashback
Hotel
Daisya talked nonstop about soccer. Eleanor just nodded while listening. A girl bumped on Eleanor and had her ice cream spill on the floor. "You have to look at where you're going", Daisya sighed. "You can get another one", Eleanor gave her a silver coin. "Yeay! Thank you. You're so nice. Dad, she gave me a coin", the young girl went to his father and showed the coin.
The man was startled and held tightly on her daughter's hand. "Let's go", he said with a shaky voice and left. "He could have thank you as well", Daisya pouted. Kanda noticed how Eleanor was also baffled with the man's presence.
Lounge
"Marie, its been a long time", Eleanor threw herself and hugged the big guy. Kanda is still curious why she is extra comfortable with Marie. "You've grown a little taller", Marie noticed. "Really? You can tell that?", Eleanor was amazed.
"We're still lacking information about Marshal Tiedol. We'll be splitting to get information", Daisya suggested. "I'd rather work alone", Kanda sat on the couch. "Even if you say that, you're not really good talking with other people", Eleanor commented making Daisya and Marie laugh.
Kanda clicked his tongue. "There are some news that says Marshal is in Barcelona", Marie informed. "We'll be reaching that place after a week. For now, let's just gather more information", Daisya just said it because he also wanted to look around. He loves going around places. It made him feel less restricted.
Shopping District
Eleanor turned and looked at Kanda who averted his stares. "Are you that embarassed that you saw-", she was cut off when Kanda cleared his throat. "You can be adorable at times, Kanda", Eleanor chuckled. Kanda also thought otherwise. Though she acts graceful and delicate, there is roughness in her atmosphere.
Eleanor's shoelace came loose so she decided to go the alley to tie it. A hand grabbed on her and threw her on the ground. A dagger was pointed on her neck. "Were you following me?", Eleanor stared at the man's teary eyes. It was the father of the child back in the hotel. "If not because of you, my comrades will still be alive", his tears fell on Eleanor's cheek.
"And I will not apologize for that. If I didn't do it, my comrades will be the one lying on the street", Eleanor said with a straight face. "You're a monster. You killed so many of us", his hand was trembling nearly dropping the dagger. "Your daughter is waiting for you. If you kill me here, you will be caught and will be sentenced to imprisonment", Eleanor stared at the sky. "Did you think of that when you ruthlessly pull the trigger of thrust your sword to my friends?", the man gritted his teeth.
"I will go back home. I will see my mother and father. I will live. Those were the things that were in my mind. I didn't have the luxury of time to think what you're friends were thinking during those times", Eleanor grabbed on the dagger and swept the man's feet making her stay on the top. She pinned tha man on the ground and held the dagger on his neck. "Please let me live", he closed his eyes. He recalled the blood stained face of the lady in the middle of the battlefield. "You and I were soldiers during that time. You did well on surviving. Thank you for going back to your family", Eleanor stood and dropped the dagger on the garbage bin. "You're wearing a uniform. Are you some kind of priestess now? Whatever you do, you will never atone for the lives you have taken", the man slowly stood. "And you will always be a monster in the sight of those who survive your wrath, you bas-", he was cut off when Kanda showed pulling Eleanor from the alley. "You don't have to listen to some useless chattering", Kanda held unto her collar and started dragging her away.
Eleanor smiled as she watches Kanda's calm expression. Even with him probably hearing part of her past, it didn't seem to affect him. She also recalled Gouz.
May you also be freed from your anguish.
Chapter end.
