The Silver Seer

Chapter 41: Remnants of the Past

The drive to Russia is anything but pleasant for both me and Dimitry. While he drives, I look out of the passenger-side window and witness the destruction that the eastern cantons have had to endure against Russia's aggressive and relentless attacks. I have not yet heard news from Mikhail or Katerina about their cantons falling to the attacks, but I can't say for sure if they can last much longer.

Yet I have faith that they can, through some miracle, hold steady until I return to my father. My first request to him, before even a formal reunification, will be the demand of pulling all his troops from Switzerland. Once he agrees to that, I have no trouble doing whatever he wishes of me. I was but a tool he could use, and if that is my fate again, so be it. As long as he stays away from Switzerland, I will be more than content with returning to my past in full.

Soon, snow begins to fall from the sky as we enter Moscow. I failed to see any of my officers or those of Russia while driving through St. Gallen, so I can only hope the former are faring well. I lay back in the seat and force myself to slow my breathing so my heart's continuous thump in my chest can stop sending a resonant pound to my ears.

Turning my head so I look at the approaching buildings on the horizon that must mark the base in Moscow, I hear Dimitry talk for the first time since we began driving. "Are you scared to return, considering what you've endured in the past, sir?"

I keep my gaze trained on the snow falling outside. "It's been eight years since I've served under my father. He said himself, during the peace conference, that he'd treat me differently if I were to return. I suppose I'm more nervous than scared. But this will bring an end to the war I never wanted in the first place, so I won't turn my back now."

He would give me a position in which it will be possible for me to serve alongside the Russian military directly. I don't want to go back to the life I had, but if I somehow do end up there again...

Shaking my head, I just sigh and listen to Dimitry's reply. "I admire your courage, sir. Thank you for everything you've done for both myself and Switzerland."

There is no malice in Dimitry's tone. There wasn't any in Sigfried's, Thilo's, or even Reko's after Rodion attempted to manipulate him into killing me. What if hiding my past from the start was only harming me and not my officers? If I told them the truth the day I received the letter, would I have still ended up where I am now, going back to my father? Was this pointless? Did Liam, Kal, Rainier, Friederike, and possibly even Thilo lose their lives because of my cowardice? Were their deaths meaningless?

I remain silent for the rest of the ride. Instead of ending up in the garage of Moscow's base, Dimitry ends up parking the car several years away from a patrol stationed at what I can assume to be the base's border.

He glances at me and smiles, and I try my best to mirror his expression, though it quickly disappears when I turn away from him and exit the vehicle. I look down at my outfit- the black uniform I wore when I was thirteen- dusting it off before joining Dimitry as he walks towards the patrol of four soldiers.

Nearing them, they adjust their rifles to be closer to their bodies and focus their eyes on us. All I see Dimitry do is smile and wave. "Доброе утро, приятно познакомиться."

Yet the soldiers do not change their hostile expressions or postures in the slightest. But Dimitry stays undeterred. "Я и мой. . .." He quickly looks my way before continuing. "Cпутник здесь, чтобы увидеть грандмаршала Константина, если вы будете так любезны, пропустите нас."

One of the four soldiers takes a step forward, and gestures with their rifle towards me. "Кто твой спутник?"

The officer looks between me and the soldier. Eventually, he shrugs, and I clear my throat. "Меня зовут Родион Константин. Я пришел, чтобы ответить на просьбу отца о моем возвращении."