Ashes and Kingdoms

By the time General Glaus left Quanos in a hurry, Nellis was helping Fauna at the temple to fix the troops' faces. I just finished one of my jackets and my shoulders get stiff and stretched out.

"You did your best," laughed Fauna. "I'm breathing, and you're delivering it. Then you can take a little walk, but don't get into too many weird places."

"Huh."

I just said it was helpful, and Nellis answered with a smile and stood up. Fold your jacket and put it on your arm, then leave the room for a short run.

It was also a familiar sight at some point for Nellis to enter the barracks for a moment on business of his companions or those of the Temple. The different soldiers also stopped looking as strange as they did at first. Occasionally, one or two people call out a familiar tease with "Hey, kid".

Nellis was also accustomed to the barracks, not lost in the troop room, but on the contrary, several ways to get there, so that he could reach them.

"... don't you think?

A voice came from across the hallway and Nellis glanced softly. Looks like the owner of this jacket, if not misheard. I turn the corner, wondering if I'm even standing there talking. The voice was leaking from the room a little further away.

(Is that it? There, it shouldn't be everyone's room.)

I wonder if he's different, but I'm headed over there to make sure. If you give me your jacket here, I'll save you the trouble - that's what I thought.

"Right. Mr. Valt, you don't seem like such a person... but somehow, you're tough on Finn"

(Oh, I knew it)

I'm here about Plast, a former Winnean legion soldier. He's a twin young man with a similar appearance and voice, and he still can't tell which one, Nellis.

"If you want to be born, you can let me. See?"

"In fact, thanks to him, we've been saved many times."

Nellis was unknowingly sneaky by rumors of his brother being exchanged where no one was inside him. Kill your breath gently and approach the Wall Herald.

(I wonder if you're being praised. How popular is your brother?

Sometimes I listen. The twin conversations were still going on.

"Well, he does have sword arms that scare him a little bit."

"Oh, that's the time, right? In the mountains... there's no way to say that."

(That's right, say more!

Glad to have been on my brother's side, Nellis secretly held his fist all the time by himself.

and so accidentally one crack in the twins told me that there was another indoors.

"Mr. Plast has known Mr. Valt a long time, hasn't he? Oh, is that who you are?

"Oh, what?

A quiet voice responded. At once there are signs that the air on the field has cooled down, until Nellis, who is sticking out on the outside of the wall, gets nervous all the time.

"Uh... I mean, if the youngsters I don't like very much are getting better and better, they're like stinging nectars."

"No, you know, I don't think so," he lays at the end of the story, and the other hurries to make an excuse. "But look, when we've been together this long, I really care"

I don't think it's fair.

"If Mr. Valt keeps sticking too hard on Finn, we have to do something about it."

The two of them talk early on. That, Plast silenced with one sigh.

An awkward silence descends. Nellis, who was outside, was starting to regret coming to a worse place. But I can't walk away worried about Plast's answer.

Somewhat Plast told me to crush it.

"It's none of your business. It's just Valt's problem. But it's not where I want you to misunderstand Valt and scorn him for being a little man of vessels. If you can swear you'll never regret hearing it, that you won't tell anyone, I'll tell you why. If you can't, don't ask me anything. Just say Valt's attitude is for personal reasons."

And also silence. I would be consulting with my eyes, I could hear the twins moving. Then there's a voice for two that overlaps perfectly.

"I swear."

The words fell heavily on Nellis' chest, even though he was barely able to hear it.

(Swear... I have to swear, me too. If you can't do that, don't ask)

But can you swear? While she was lost, Plast sighed again. Nellis meditated her eyes all the time, trying to block her ears, but when she raised her hand, her jacket was about to fall off her arm, and she couldn't.

- And.

"Because his father killed Valt's wife."

A short word slipped into my ear that wasn't blocked. Nellis froze on the spot, couldn't move a finger, and even stopped breathing.

(Lies. Dad shouldn't have done that)

After I think about it, I notice it all the time and breathe. No, not Oandus. It's about Finn's real father.

(Actual father - oh well, I know. Everybody knew that)

I understood unexpectedly.

A long time ago, Oandus, who went to several interviews with the director of the orphanage, came home with a terribly scary face. Oandus defends Finn so strongly.

(all, that's what happened)

Not much of a shock, I didn't even notice tears spilling.

In the meantime, Plast's voice continued to speak.

"Valt was killed his wife by bandits who used to rough up Tetna and near Nanais. I was a little late to go home. So he ran into a bandit just before he pulled it up and saw the face decently.... Phineas says he looks just like him."

"How could a bandit's son be in a powderhouse?

"Do I even need to know that?... Oh man. One of the women said it was the birth month when a flavor was caught in Nanais. The mayor at the time teased and the woman was executed after having a baby. So, the child was immediately taken to the orphanage and eventually taken away by the miller."

"But... but that's not Finn's fault! He doesn't know anything, does he? Because my parents are murderers."

The youth builds up and says, swallowing up ahead. Nellis brought her head to the wall and inhaled a trembling breath.

(Because parents are murderers, it has nothing to do with children. But)

There's no way I can say that, seeing a young man who looks just like his former vendetta and defeats his enemies in cold blood. Because even those who know nothing will have cold spines in his battle.

Not to mention that such a young man could acquire the power of a dragon and be a presence shouldering with emperors and generals, if...

The inside of the room became quiet. Nellis desperately couldn't get his feet to stumble, step by step, away from it.

(It has nothing to do with your brother. 'Cause as much as I say Lena's clean. Your brother isn't, he's not a murderer.)

He split my own honey cake. When I called him on the stairs, he pulled my hand. Whether he was malicious, hit or kicked, he never fought back. If I was scolded and crying, he would shut up and stroke my head.

One memory after another, Nellis crouched uncomfortably. Bury your face in the jacket you hold and push the whimper to death.

After doing so for a while, Nellis looked up unexpectedly.

(You shouldn't, if someone sees you here)

It wouldn't be a deceptive face to say it's nothing. Finn's ear must also have news that his sister was crying in the hallway, etc.

(Plus, when I get back to the temple like this, I can beat my mother. My mother... I know you know about your brother, but)

He bites his lips softly and stares at the tears on his jacket.

My parents probably want Nellis to be without knowing anything. Obsessed, without doubt, so that my sister could accept my brother wholeheartedly.

(Then... Then why don't we pretend we don't know? I'll show you, I didn't know you knew, and I'm not gonna change anything.)

Wipe the tears and stand up completely. Then she slowly inhaled her breath to the limit and sputtered with momentum. I wanted to get all the black beans born in the back of my chest out with me.

Apparently, he succeeded. In a slightly refreshing mood, Nellis nodded, alone, to get in the mood.

"About."

Try to blur it small. My voice didn't tremble. All right, that's good, and now I'm only smiling bitterly in the face.

"Why do I have to think about it because of my tombstone brother? I don't care. Yeah, what's your brother doing?"

After complaining for a moment, Nellis looked to the side, keeping an eye on the steps of the doorway out into the courtyard. Often he stares at it with a frigid odor and sighs.

"... you know what, brother?"

After roaring ominously, she stepped out of her mind.

A while later, Nellis, returning to the temple, was flashly sanded. To Fauna, who was surprised, she lifted her jacket and showed it to her.

"I fixed it because of it, but I fell and tore it. You won't regret it."

No way, to the impossible strength, Fauna looked suspiciously, but in the end accepted her daughter's statement as it was.

"I don't think you're my daughter who'll be sixteen in six months. I just need you to calm down a little bit. Look, I'll wash your jacket and fix it, so you need to get dressed and apply medicine to your knees."

Yes, and Nellis leaves the room. Then he dropped him off and Fauna snuck a sigh.