The Silver Seer

Chapter 36: Neutrality

Lars watches as Thilo leaves Germany, taking one of Berlin's vehicles back to Vaud in order to "attend to important business"- at least that's what he told the teenager, Reko, and Leon before promptly departing.

"So, I suppose we're to face whatever is happening here alone." Leon sighs and turns in a circle, eventually looking up at the star-speckled sky.

"Alone? We're here with you." Reko retorts back, and Lars just rolls his eyes, unsheathing his rapier. "Are you going to threaten me with your weapon every time I say something?"

Lars just looks the boy in his eyes and turns his rapier around in his left hand. "Måske." He looks off in the direction of a grand white building, and takes a few steps towards it. "Is that where the Army General would be?"

He sees Leon come up to his right and nod. "Yeah. Last I heard, it was General Everich, but if what I fear has happened with this 'change in the chain of command' thing, then it could be. . .." The knight's voice trails off, and Lars turns his head to look at him.

"What are you so nervous about? It's essentially three against one. A knight, a soldier, and a prince up against a general- they stand no chance." Reko bounds up to Leon's right while Lars sheaths his rapier with a sigh.

"The correct question is 'who do you suspect is in charge of operations now?'" Lars keeps his eyes trained on Leon, hoping for an answer.

He takes a moment to look in the direction of the structure before replying. "General Heilewis. Well, she was the former General before Everich took her place after she retired. Though she did so quite young, so I think it may have been due to Forchheim and the following events. But I have no idea why she would come back and take up the position, especially in a time of war." Leon suggests, leaving Lars to think about his points.

"We should wait until Komentaja wakes up before confronting her." Reko looks towards the dorm Thilo came from before facing the pair. "Are we sure all the soldiers who ambushed him are dead?"

Lars can't help but roll his eyes once again at Reko's ridiculous question. "Jeg ved ikke. Are you dead yet?"

The mechanical soldier whips to face him, teeth bared and hand on the handle of his chef's knife. "Hey, after the other night, I'd expect you to be a bit nicer to me!"

Slowly turning his head so he can look at Leon, Lars watches as his eyes switch between the teenager and Reko. He opens his mouth several times, but doesn't say anything, and Lars can feel his face grow extremely warm- almost uncomfortably hot.

"H-hold kæft!" Lars can do nothing but cover his face after his exclamation, before quickly turning around and walking off, praying Leon (and definitely Reko) will not follow him.

He steps over motionless bodies and looks down as his boots disturb puddles of blood. The smell of gunpowder and smoke is strong, yet all it does is bring back memories of the day his parents died. Outside of the palace were a series of small fires and riots, but the boy could not make sense of any of the colors and activities as he was escorted to safety, then left on his own to travel Europe and begin his quest for revenge.

It was during those days and nights when he saw colorful wildflowers, a glowing moon, blue skies, white clouds, sparkling stars, and felt cool or warm breezes brush against his face. He would pause every now and then to draw his rapier and practice methods for injuring and killing mechanical soldiers, which he figured he could apply to anyone. Mechanical soldiers were the most efficient and therefore most difficult soldiers to kill. Other soldiers and officers- even Army Generals- are a piece of cake in comparison.

Yet, because of his focus on vengeance, he never took a single moment to stop and appreciate the beauty in the world. Just because he was consumed by a strong desire for death didn't mean the rest of the world was. And now, as he stands still, he is surrounded by death. Blood. Smoke. Flames. Ash. Empty eyes. Open mouths. Still hearts. Destroyed hopes. Lost dreams.