Ashes and Kingdoms

"That's really narrow."

The more Mac shook up, the more decent the private room for the squire was. Nevertheless, the built bed is stored underneath, so all the clothes and things around you just a few will be delivered there, and there's just one small writing desk left, so the space - if you don't even scatter it - is plentiful.

The three of them sat appropriately on their beds and hips, and, well, faced each other.

"Shall I listen to you first, Finn? What can't we talk about in front of Senato?

"Oh. Not yet, at least. Master Senato's return brings an end to the“ cooperation ”we promised the Emperor and General. Once you're equipped to procure food, take the boat to Comrith, from where... we're planning to head back north."

"North, are you going to Nanais!?

"First stop by Winnea to see how it goes, then a little bit, but... Even if we suddenly reach Nanais, we can't sustain it. Commander Ancius now brings together the Eighth Corps and the citizens of Winnea, but outside Winnea it would be a lawless zone. So... with us, Councillor Islev says he's coming."

"As the new governor, you mean. Has Congress or the Emperor approved it?

"No, not yet. That's why I didn't want Master Senato to hear it. If he told the Emperor, he'd jump over the council and ask the Emperor for the position of Governor General, wouldn't he? No matter how desolate and tasteless it is. First, the senators of the Imperial Capital don't know the truth about the North."

When Finn said with a harsh look, Taz scratched his head with an ambiguous face.

"... I see. So, I mean... what do you want me to do?

"No, I'm not asking for anything," Finn smiled. "I just wanted to let you know. If you're willing to come with me, but if you've earned Senato's trust, it's important to support him."

"I think it's cheaper than being trusted. Hmmm...... well, I'll think about it. But before the Dark Beast, the North seems pretty insecure."

"That's why I have to go back"

To Finn, who said with strong will, Taz turned his eyes like he had caught a step by step in feeling. It's as if you're on a tour of whether you should stop or go together, when childhood training is pushing you on a completely different path than you are.

"You must be."

After somehow saying that, he coughed unconsciously small to deceive the atmosphere of the place.

"But before you do, ask me a few questions about what's going on over here. It's not as stable as I thought it would be on the domestic side. There's a weird old man at Senato's. This is the magician. Oh, don't look like that. I'm not a magician, this is it."

"Is there any certainty that it's real?

"I haven't seen a scene using magic. But here's the thing... there's a weird sign. Obviously frigid. When I went to the Nakte Hall, the air was very painful. Dark and starving, I don't know... there was definitely something there. It was like the whole hall was in the shadows."

Finn frowns at Taz for a rare and shady look. Mac also became the face of vigilance, lowering his voice and saying.

"We met Lord Senato's grandfather in Quanos, but he was definitely weird. Besides, the sword I tried to give to my brother... that was made of witchcraft, wasn't it?

"Oh. It was probably a long time ago. However, it is possible that the magic moves are still being conveyed. I saw a dark shadow in Lord Senato and Lord Rufus, and maybe it has something to do with it."

"Shadow? Did you see something, too?

Taz questioned suspiciously, so Finn briefly explained the dragon's vision,

"It's inconvenient not to know who you are because you can see it."

Said. But Taz lightened his expression as soon as he could, and breathed relief.

"Really, good! No, actually, I'm bringing that suspicious sorcerer's grandfather to the Imperial Capital. I left it in the hall. It's decided it's not good for Senato's aunt. So, if he was really dangerous, the rumored Dragon Marquis would do something about it, and I decided on my own... if I let him see me at all, you'd know."

"Well, maybe."

"Yo! Now I've cleared up one of my concerns!

Finn smiled unexpectedly at Taz, who squealed his hand. Not to say this about the incredible power of Dragon Hou, but to be well received, and to see it better. The lack of focus on trivial things has been the same for a long time.

"If there's anything I can do, let's work together. Do you have any other concerns?

"Ah...... yeah, oh"

And suddenly Taz dropped his gaze and clouded his words. I scratched my head so hard to say, hesitated for a while, and then opened my mouth to caress.

"The... We were in the Great Forest of Organia for a little while. In the village of the Fidae, I was taken care of."

"Of that legend?

"Exactly, I met that legendary king, too. The woods, they welcome people who want to run away from everything and hide themselves. So..."

I say that much and clasp my mouth vaguely again. Then he went on deliberately changing his tone.

"Before that, I ask you, are all your people over here when you were at Comrith? Mr. Oandus, the old men who said he was an army soldier in Tetna."

"Huh? Oh, well... pretty much everyone, I guess. No one is dead or injured. I lost one at the commune squirrel."

"Alone?

"Someone I knew in the city said he was moving south, so I went with him with that escort. I brought the kid from Tetna with me."

"... Farnayne, you were"

Oh, and when Finn answered, Taz took a deep sigh. To that dark look, Finn takes a breath, guessing why. Mac snapped "No way".

"To Farnayne... have you met her?

Taz nods silently at the blurred voice inquiry. Mac blued slightly and stuck to Taz.

"No, how could you! Farnayne, with Nix and Mr. Oria, should have gone to a safe village!

"I don't know the circumstances either. I couldn't tell. I wasn't in a good position to talk to you."

"-!?

Finn flinches and stifles himself. To the two people who lost their words, Taz turned a painful eye and explained that they were pounding.

"Half my face was terrible. The answer Nella managed to pull out was that your brother and sister were gone at some point... so I was worried something might have happened to you."

…………

Finn was biting his back teeth all the time, clenching his fists and staring at the floor. I will do everything I can to contain the urge to yell, call, and scream.

(I'm fine, I'm here with no injuries! Abandon the child I swore to protect - what a dragon marquis!!

I wanted to beat myself up if I could. I tried to reassure myself with a convenient imagination, the same as when I decided on my own to leave my family behind in Nanais, my past self. I relieved Nellis of his word that he could not be held responsible until the end, and let go of the helpless toddler's hand who could not protect himself.

"It's not your fault."

A strong voice pulled Finn's thoughts back into the mud. Mac grabs his arm and peeks straight into his eyes.

"At that time, who said it was safer to go with Mr. Oria? In fact, if Farnein had come to the village of the Sarda, he might have been killed when there was a raid by legion soldiers. Brother, you said it before you went into Winnea. When the little ones were taken away. 'I did everything I could, and that's not why I'm not responsible'. Sure, if you say that was your limit then, you're not allowed to do anything. But, brother, look at the reality. There's no one who can carry everything! Even if that's Dragon Marquis, he said he had more power than people!

Finn was surprised and glanced at the shouting appeal. Mac's honest thoughts swirl and flow into his mind.

Don't carry me in so much alone, I'll fall down one day, I wish I could at least let myself help a little...

What leads to a mixed bottom of compassion and remorse is deep trust and favor. As Finn was out of time, Lena held Mac softly instead.

"Mac loves Finn."

"... Lena can do something about it too. I can't believe that I would have managed to do anything about it, even if I was going to be a god, idiot, or something."

Are you ashamed, Mac blurts and stares at Finn. Taz raised his voice in a loud voice.

"Oh, I was going to tell you, but they told me everything. I can't help it, do you want to ride your ass horse? Yay, baka, baka."

"You..."

Finn shuddered and then laughed bitterly that he had come. Boy, shake your head and pound Mac's arm.

"Thank you. Right, maybe I was just thinking about it"

"Beh, nothing. I'm not trying to tell you my brother's arrogant."

"Oh, I know"

Finn, as a dust, nodded. Mac pulled out his shoulder strength in a relieved manner, and Taz snuck up and exhaled. After making sure the tension between the two was resolved, Finn said back to his true face.

"But you can't leave me alone. At least we have to do what we can now."

"What!? Are you going to pick me up in the Great Forest?

"Hey, stop, it's lame of you to take that kid out, no matter how much!

Immediately the two vehemently disagree. Finn gently lifted his hand and scorned it, turning back to Taz.

"I wanted to ask you about that. Taz, was Farnayne safe in the Great Forest? Someone was taking care of me."

"Safety is safe, Empire Now, no matter where you look, there won't be a safer place there. The Fidae people took good care of him, and his injuries were already healing. However, the scars were terrible and I was so frightened of others that I didn't even try to get close to the Fidae tribe... but I think that would get better over time"

"Right. Then you should leave it at ease for the moment. I don't think there's another place where you can take your time with things. It's just... when that happens, it's Olya and Nix who are worried."

"Brother..."

Give me a break, Mac groans all the time. Finn shrugged his forehead and nodded small to apologize.

"Fortunately, if it's just me, I can fly straight west with Lena. I don't eat time much, even if I come and go all over asking for news. If you clean up your errands in the Imperial City, we'll leave first. You will join Valt and everyone else on the boat to Comlis as originally planned."

"Have you decided yet? Are you willing to take me with you?

"I'm sorry. I want to move as lightly as I can. Besides," Finn added, with an accomplice grinning. "Valt and Nellis will need someone who can help them properly."

"... sort of"

Taz pinched his mouth as Mac reluctantly agreed.

"I guess it's not today or tomorrow. Don't forget my errands. And Senato's opponent won't do it, because I'm the one who's gonna complain about that kid's chatter. Please."

"I know. You should say hello to the emperor, too, and we'll leave after cleaning up and getting ready. I'd like to talk to you once and for all."

"Oh, I'm glad you didn't abandon your old buddies."

When Taz did, Finn also had a rare and ironic grin.

"You can always drag me in, like you abandoned me. I'm telling you, I've never been a mastermind."

"Yes!? Really? It's all my fault, isn't it?

"Oh, yeah."

Finn responds all the time, and Taz eats down. Mac looked at it with a little envy, but when the two of them stopped paying, he opened his mouth roughly.

"This time too, I wonder if Taz will mean mastermind"

"Hmm?"

They all look surprised. Mac went on to be very serious.

"My brother decided to act alone, so I was wondering how to explain it to Nellis."

…………

Finn and Taz groan like they swallowed a woo stone at the same time, silently looking at each other at twilight. Mac, of course, did not try to get a help boat out to the two people in need.