The Silver Seer

Chapter 20: Lion's Pride

Reko stands motionless in Liam's room, staring up at his body. After Felix told the mechanical being of his death, he had to travel to Basel-Landschaft to see it for himself. It wasn't that he didn't believe his captain, but it didn't seem like something Liam would ever do, which only brought up countless questions.

Why did he die? What led him to do such a thing? How would it affect Felix? Leon? The other officers, soldiers, and civilians? Reko has no answers. He doesn't know if he wants any.

Footsteps against the hardwood floor from behind the boy spur him to turn around, and he meets eyes with Hesekiel. The older officer looks over the boy's shoulder at Liam's corpse for only a moment before clearing his throat and focusing his eyes on Reko. "I never imagined Liam would go this far over being reprimanded." His voice is soft, but Reko narrows his eyes at his choice of words.

"Do you think he hung himself because Komentaja gave him that letter? Do you think he would leave Leon behind? Are you blaming this on Komentaja?" Reko takes a step toward Hesekiel with every question he asks, yet he stands still and looks Reko in the eyes.

"Have you considered the letter may have been the push to his decision? He was, no doubt, suffering mentally. Being told that he would be severely punished for what he allowed to happen would in no way help him recover and push him over the edge. At that point, I don't think Leon would matter, especially with the state he's been in for the past few days." Hesekiel continues, and Reko pushes past him after spitting out a reply.

"If you have time to speculate, don't spend it blaming Komentaja. He's suffering enough as it is." The mechanical being emerges out of Liam's room, sees Lumi looking up at the star-studded sky, and walks straight over to her.

The female officer does not turn to look at Reko, yet she speaks to him in a gentle voice. "I do not believe General Adelric had anything to do with Liam's suicide. But I do think someone is behind the event."

Reko blinks after her statements. Someone is responsible for Liam's death, and it is not the young man himself? What leads her to suspect that fact? Does she, perhaps, know something Reko, Hesekiel, and Felix don't? If she does, and reveals it to Reko, he'll tell his captain right away.

He does not want Felix to repeat what occurred after Forchheim. That is the last thing Reko- and the entirety of Switzerland- needs at the moment. Though the boy knows Liam's suicide is a shock to everyone with no real reason or motive behind it (at least not yet), his captain must be in a position to lead the nation or at least appoint someone who may be less affected by Liam's death to give orders while Felix recovers (which could be anyone but Leon).

"Do you have any idea who?" Reko glances around the base from where he stands, finding no other officers he knows, and no one who looks suspicious. But, Lumi is known to be extremely observant, so if anyone can pick a suspect concerning Liam's death, it is her.

She turns her head to face Reko, her green eyes locking with the soldier's red. "No. But I want to tell you something else that concerns the helicopter crash."

The boy perks up at the mention of the incident. Does she know something else that he, Thilo, Reyes, or even Felix missed? What could she possibly know- she was not in Communications with Dimitry, nor outside when Reko began running towards the helicopter as it was spiraling downward.

"I heard Kal speaking with another female officer a few hours before the crash occurred. I do not know if he has anything to do with it, but I do think some people at the base knew of the occurrence in advance and may have chosen not to act because of the grudges some still carry for General Adelric." Lumi explains, and Reko curls his hands into tight fists.