4 years ago
Wales- Capital
Lavi and Bookman just arrived from another expedition. For some reason, they have always retracted from the same place. It was peaceful and there are lesser attacks from demons. There's almost no disturbance from outside forces. The King knows how to make good relations to neighboring villages, towns, and kingdoms. He wasn't just given enough time to reconsider his decision last year. Until now, the town of Ludwig remains a tomb where secrets were buried. "Make way!", the soldier shouted.
The soldiers from an expedition returned. They are to exterminate a bandit tribe on the east of the Capital. The dark expression from their eyes showed how much blood was shed. There are thirty coffins behind them. Women and children started kneeling down and wailing. Lavi watches as Eleanor marches in front of those coffins. She raised her head and saw the red-head. Her face wrinkled and looked away. Her uniform is filled with enemy's blood. In order to live, she needed to take someone else's life before they take hers. Is that how she would be living her entire life?
As soon as she passed by, bookman welcomed her back. Her eyes went teary and wiped it. She wanted it to stop but her tears kept falling from her eyes. Lavi wanted to comfort her but Bookman's word stuck on his mind. Don't involve yourself. He clenched his fist and walked away. He had his part of turning the lady to become the soldier that the kingdom is proud of. Her name starting to be a talk of the capital. Soon, she even became a model for youngsters.
Palace-Fountain
Eleanor sat with her knees folded. She burrowed her face on her lap and just listened to the silence. She can feel the breeze on her face. After sometime, she heard screaming. She closed her ears and felt scared that she would get mad. "We might not be seeing each other for a while. Bookman and I came back to give our farewell", Lavi patted her head. The lady didn't flinch but just savor the warmth of Lavi's hand.
"I am not a hero after all", Eleanor mumbled. "I started counting how many lives I've taken already. It started with one then my fingers started to count. Just after some months, my fingers aren't enough for counting", the lady's faint voice made Lavi feel bad for her. She's just twelve. If only she wasn't in a situation such as this, she could just be taking a stroll on the street and laughing with her friends. "Thank you. Every time you come back, the way you look at me never changed", Eleanor raised her tear-stained face. Lavi's heart broke into pieces. "I will be looking forward to the next time again", Eleanor forced a smile. Lavi pulled her for a hug. He knew that he shouldn't be involved.
"You will be chopped into pieces if my father sees you", Eleanor poked his cheek. they broke the hug. Lavi just sighed and started talking about the new place he visited with Bookman. "The sea! Have you tasted which sea is the saltiest?", Eleanor asked with an excited expression. "Is that a thing? Will someone really try to taste the seawater to figure that out?", Lavi felt disgusted with the thought. Who knows what kind of things are in the ocean water.
Wales- Capital Gate
Eleanor escorted Bookman and Lavi. "It will be a long travel. Take care, Lady Eleanor", Bookman bowed. Eleanor returned it. Lavi cannot look at her eyes. "Red-head. I haven't yet asked for your name. I just liked calling you red-head. We won't be seeing each other for quite sometime", Eleanor reached out her hand. "Deke", Lavi said with a soft voice. "You just made that name on the spot, didn't you?", Eleanor chuckled. The lad furrowed his brow and bit his lip. "Can I tag along?", Eleanor's mouth trembled. Bookman saw some soldier behind. "This is not a field trip, Lady Eleanor. The world might be vast but as long as we're under the same sky, we will still see each other", Bookman grabbed on her hand and shook it.
End of the Flashback
Seashore
"Edo?", Tiedol talked to the modified demon that Cross designed. They met him along the way. Kanda was about to cut him into two but Eleanor noticed something different with its soul. It doesn't have chains around.
Eleanor haven't stepped on the sand for quite sometime. She removed her shoes and allowed the water to reach her feet. She felt the grainy texture of the sand. She smiled and had a short laugh. "Creepy", Kanda commented. She felt a little embarrassed but ignored him. Eleanor saw a white shell and pick it up. It looked so clean and pure.
Kanda looked at her innocent face and smirked. He was listening the whole night as she spoke about her past with Marshal Tiedol. "What was that for?", Eleanor felt a little ticked off. Who knew that someone with her stature and vulnerable body be someone in the special force of their military system. Eleanor crossed her arm and pouted a little. "Then, why did you smirk?", Eleanor felt suspicious. "Why do you have to know? I have the right to smile whenever I want to", Kanda shrugged. Eleanor pushed Kanda making him fall on his butt. He got wet from the incoming wave. Marie have an idea of what is happening. Tiedol just watched in amusement.
Kanda wouldn't let that slip so he pulled the lady down as well seeing that there is a bigger wave. The lady got wet as well as she fell on top of Kanda. Fortunately, they both have spare clothes. Eleanor stared at Kanda's deep blue eyes and felt extreme pain in her eyes. She ignored it and kept staring at the pair of orbs. "How sweet", Tiedol clapped. Eleanor got off the lad then walked away. "Areh? Are you crying, Elly dear?", Tiedol tilted his head. She flinched and started running away.
She ran aimlessly not having any idea where to go. Her feet felt like escaping but there's no other place that she could hide. Her guilt and shame haunts her no matter where she goes. Her heartbeat started racing as she also increased her pace. She tripped on a rock and fell flat on her face.
Street
She raised her head and saw that she's in the middle of nowhere. Looking behind, she saw an endless nothingness. Did she ran that far or did they just decided to leave her alone? She gathered her strength to get up on her knees. She slapped herself hard that it created a sound. Her tears fell once more so she decided to do it again. A hand grabbed it. "Did you hit your head and went insane?", she heard a familiar voice. She looked up and saw Squalo. "Marshal", she stood up and gave a salute.
"I connected with Tiedol since he's the closest I can contact", Squalo pointed at his golem. Eleanor gulped and mentally scolded herself for running away. She will inevitably meet with them again. "Why were you slapping yourself?", Squalo looked at the mark on her face. The lady looked at the ground pressing her lips. She won't allow herself to cry. She don't deserve to wallow on her own sadness.
The three caught up. Tiedol peeked and saw Eleanor's swollen face. "Dear, did Kanda bully you that much? What happened to your face", Tiedol asked. Squalo watches as Eleanor's mouth twitches. "I disciplined my subordinate for not being able to escort me well. Then, where are you headed?', Squalo asked. "Edo", the old man answered making Squalo laugh. "If only the High Marshals would also allow me to. I will be heading to the European branch to witness one of their crazy experiments again", Squalo stretched his limbs. "Are you going to take Eleanor with you?", Tiedol asked. "Its her choice", the man started to walk away. "Thank you, Marshal. This time, I will be protecting Marshal Squalo even if it costs my life", the lady bowed. Tiedol patted her head.
"Dying is easier but you won't allow yourself to have an easy way out, right?", Tiedol seemed to felt a suicidal atmosphere from Eleanor. The lady stood properly with determined eyes. "I will atone for everything that I have done", she gave a wonderful salute then followed Squalo.
"Atone for what?", Kanda commented as they go separate ways.
Chapter end.
