Ashes and Kingdoms

The deep green forest seems to mark a relaxing time, regardless of the season.

"Outside, I think it's time to get ready for the Winter Solstice Festival.... how is she doing?"

Cestas walked about in the woods, poking and solitary. Nella and Taz are being chased for Cestas to make their temporary home cozy, with sleeping beds ready and food procured.

In these loose woods, only those two seem to be busy nesting birds.

Thinking of it, Cestas shook his head with a face to his association.

"I can't believe it suits you."

I grudgingly deny that's true. Taz isn't a bad guy either, but Nella deserves a better man. At least there's a serious, courteous man who doesn't mess with people's heads all the time.

Finally, I said, wealthy, Nella gave me plenty of clean clothes and good food, but I stopped playing fancy, and then, then...

"Chi."

Cestas swelled and kicked the roots of the trees at his feet. If I was a 'senato', I could give Nella all the big dwellings, the beautiful clothes, the jewels, the delicious meals. That is unchanged, whether it be the emperor's adopted son or Lord Nakte's grandson.

(... isn't it? As long as your grandfather is around, you can't move something on my own)

Heh, and I can sigh. Either way, for Nella, she's either her older, separated brother, or she's more like a dog or cat. It is decided not to be dealt with.

Even though I still thought Taz had a lower heart for Nella than if she came close with the intention of selling herself, it wasn't funny when it came to the fact that it might be true.

Cestas continued to walk alone, grumbling, sighing, and when he noticed he was completely out of the settlement.

Shit, I wonder if I can figure out my way home, and Sestas looked around in a hurry. If I get lost here, I'm pretty sure his ratings will go down in Nella. I can't stand it when it comes to Taz being more dependable, etc.

In a hurry, he went that way for a small run and returned here before relieving himself by capturing a shadow at the edge of his sight. But I head over there, and I notice something strange. I don't care how you look at it. It's after a young girl, but she sits on a mossy rock and doesn't move a thing, and there's no way someone's with her around it. There was no sign that we could go back to the settlement.

(Am I lost?

Am I resting tired of walking? Cestas forgot that he was lost, and he had to help, and went toward the girl.

- and accidentally jumped up as a girl was struck by lightning, turning Sestas in a way of fear.

"Ah!?

Something unexpected popped into his eyes, and Sestas screamed a little. Beyond him, standing on a bar, a girl with an ugly, tight right half of her face, turns semi-frequent and searches for a way out.

"Ahhh, ahhh...!

He looks around left and right as he leaks his speechless voice, tries to run, falls on all fours and escapes into the bush. Instead of calling it off, Cestas didn't even come up with the idea of doing so, just staring.

To much shock, I didn't understand what I saw for a while.

I stood at ease, and how long has it been? When I noticed, there was Utier on the side.

When and where he emerged from, Cestas asked, without questioning, what was more of a concern than that.

"Now, what was the child...? I had dark hair, but not Fidae..."

Seeing Utier shake her head, Cestas exhaled slowly.

"... there isn't, is there? I knew it. Did she run away from the outside, too?"

"That's right. Recently, I've been badly hurt, and I don't lean on people. Food and water are now in my hands if I leave them, but that's all I've got yet. Take your time and you'll heal."

"What happened..."

"I don't know. Not much has changed in this world or in the immediate aftermath of the war."

…………

Cestas stared silently at the leaves of the bush that were still shaking.

(The outside world is changing more and more while I run away and hide here. I'm sure that's for the worse)

Kiku, and unconsciously hold his hand in his fist.

(I... but what can I do?

I just complained that you don't have to leave and be emperor, so don't fight, and my grandfather won't have the ears to listen.

(Because it's your grandfather who wants to be emperor)

I regret, bite my lips, and nag. No one was thinking of me, and the unfaithful thought came through his brain, and he shook his head in a panic.

(If you're my mother and father, you might listen to me. For a long time......)

You took my side, and I remembered, and I fell into the grave. Wasn't it? My mother and grandfather have always had a conflict over Senato's education. And winning was always my grandfather. So is the adoption with Emperor Fedoras.

I have had hard feelings about the storm of discord that blows in my home since I was mindful. Think of it, the shortest period of my life, when I left Nakte and lived under Emperor Fedoras, was probably the happiest one in my life.

Oh, and at the same time I sighed loudly,

"Oh, there he is! I've been looking for you, boy."

A bright voice that seemed trouble-free flew in and made me squeak my head faster than I could get in a bad position.

"You're so tiny, you go too far, you hide in the bush and you can't see. Don't be impotent, I'm worried about Nella."

…………

Cestas did not reply softly, but turned to Taz and walked away. Utier had disappeared at some point, just as he had when he appeared, but it was no surprise that such a thing was happening in this forest.

"Oh, what are you stubborn about? If you wanted to be alone, I'm sorry to interrupt, but just a little more around the corner."

Say something inconsistent, and Taz lines up beside you. Cestas was silent, but after walking for a while, he suddenly stopped remembering.

What's the matter, looking up at Taz with a strange face, Cestas asked in suspicion.

"Taz was from the north, wasn't he? Plus, I'm a sailor, so I go to all kinds of towns. Before you came with us, what was it like in other towns in Siros and... places?

"What, what?

Although Taz inquired, he clearly found himself frightened. Sestas looks back in the woods and says with a sinister look.

"... there was a girl. Eight or nine, he was younger than me. They've been running in lately, but my face... it's terrible. As soon as he saw me, he fled so scared. He looked like he couldn't speak properly."

Say that much and look up Taz again. And there it was, not the face of a cheerful young man. Tough, grown man face.

As Cestas was out of time, Taz scratched his head like he was in trouble and then invited Cestas to sit back at the roots of a nearby tree.

"That's not a very fun story. I may never be able to get out of here again. Still want to hear it?

Cestas lowered his back across from him and nodded deeply.

Then what Taz told me was unbelievable if I hadn't seen that girl first.

Sestas has lived so far in a world that is generally peaceful everywhere - apart from the commotion in the Imperial Capital - only exists in the Aga, such as the beast of darkness. There was no need to light the lights all night, and even with the poor, it wasn't enough to be a snatching brawl over a grain of beans.

Sestas herself has never seen a child or a young man sold as a comfort, or as a workforce either. I know there is a slave trade, and there were slaves in the Hall of Nakte and in the Imperial Capital, but they were never treated badly. Not to mention I can't imagine a bag of wheat being exchanged for a child, etc.

It was also a shock that the legion soldiers were being burglarized. All the legion soldiers he knew were such men who stretched out their spines and wore shining breasts and paid a proper tribute to Senato's family and emperors. I even longed that I might be able to march with them when I grew up.

Even after Taz shut his mouth, Cestas couldn't say anything for a while.

"That's... that's true, right?

When he finally asked in a blurred voice, Taz sighed and nodded.

"Unfortunately, it's true. While your grandfather and emperor are soaking up the border... especially in the north, it's hard. You talked about my ducks, didn't you? Even though he was in Nanais, he fled to Komlis. It's like a miracle my family was safe."

"It's that bad..."

Seeing what was contained in a squeezing voice, Taz rushed himself out. Place your hands on the boy's little head and gently stroke them.

"You don't feel responsible. With or without you, Grandpa and the Emperor have decided to do whatever they want."

I tell him to encourage it, and then I wonder if that was counterproductive, and he looks confused. In a rush to fix it, he stood up early, not thinking about it.

"No, there's something you can do, isn't there? But, you're a child, so I can't... No, no, no, no, no, I mean, you know... whatever, you don't care!

I forcefully draw conclusions and end up sneezing Sestas' head again.

"Stop that."

Cestas protests fed up, but still seems less unpleasant than usual, paying his hand. Taz grinned bitterly as he glanced at the swelling surface. With that grin, something that was black and heavily solidified within the cestas melts away.

Cestas sighed like he'd given up on him, getting up and paying off the leaves and scraps of a tree on his ass. And look behind the woods and nod.

"Right. Maybe I don't care. [M] Now... I want to do what I can."

Other than the Fidae, I guess I'm the one closest to that girl. Then maybe you'll get used to it a little bit. I might be able to stop being frightened, slow down, just say one word, and talk.

"I'll ask her who's taking her food."

"Ha ha, I see. It might be too soon for kids to stop being scared."

Taz raised his impressed voice when he was convinced. Then inadvertently, he spreads his grin.

"Yeah, good idea, come on, kid. I'll back you up behind me."

The tone suddenly changed, so Cestas looked up at Taz with a waxy odor. He's totally back to his usual, energetic weather face already. No, go through it and do something... just a little bit, nasty.

Taz answered Sestas with a gaze.

"I'd like to help you, but it's the first thing adults do to get close. I watch from afar with Nella...... Aah!!

Thoughtfully stepped on the back of his leg, Taz screamed.

What the fuck, this fucking kid, and faster than he yells at me, Sestas is just getting away. Taz waves his fist up and chases him as he jumps with one leg on his big one. I was surprised what the fuss was, Nella picked me up, so they argued ahead and complained to her.

"Nera, you have to run! Taz is gonna keep me and Nella apart!

"Stop, what...! Listen to me, Nella, you're gonna have to step on this guy's foot."

"You've got a bad taz!

"I went looking for him worried, and I threw him in the back of the woods, you son of a bitch!

"Wow, I heard that, Nella!? I knew it was a taz..."

"That's it!!

Nella blocks her tight, and each of them mouths dissatisfied. When they realized it, the three of them had completely gathered the gaze of the villagers who were surprised by the rare sight.

"Both of you, please act calmly for a moment to avoid any inconvenience to the Fidae tribe. Master Senato, please don't play with me until you do, Mr. Taz."

"... excuse me"

Next to the nagging Taz, Sestas is treated “anyway”.

"Sorry, I had to stop Taz better."

"Wait, why does that happen"

So at last someone shrugged and laughed, skinning it, and the laughter spread among the villagers. No one ever laughed so hard, but apparently laughing so rarely.

After the laughter subsided, it was fun for a long time, and the three of them thanked each other for what a complicated look they had.