Ashes and Kingdoms

5-1. Of fists swung up

Chapter Five

Return a little bit of time. About six days before Glaus fell into Elecia's hands, Finn was heading under the summer sky towards the mountains, without knowing anything about Nornicom's situation.

It was a rare, less humid teasing and sunny day in the north. The sunshine is strong, but I don't care because it's protected by the power of the Tenryu. Finn was in the wind with Lena's back, but far from refreshing. He looks restless and weird, worried about his mouth and jaw all the time. Nellis, who I saw, sounded frigid.

"What's the matter, brother Finn? He looks like he's got something pinched in his teeth."

"No, it's nothing"

Until I knew something was wrong beside me, I wasn't aware. Finn hastily disguised herself as calm and turned forward, pretending not to know.

There is no pain. But the meshing is a little bit, and I feel like it stays off.

(Are these 'injuries' slowly healing?)

He was just a little depressed.

You fucking idiot! - The yelling voice sticks to you in the back of your brain. The jaw abnormality was caused by Valt's beating.

By the time he left, Finn had no doubt that he had something to check on about transporting support supplies. It wasn't a lie, either. Asked about the strength of the axle and the state of the street at the warehouse of the luggage, Finn answered it.

But what Valt wanted to talk about was after that.

"Phineas, we won't have to look at you again for a while, but according to the situation in the east, that“ while "might get a little longer. So there's one thing I want to say."

…… It's unusual for you to speak of such anxiety. Is something wrong? "

"Nothing. Right now."

Valt rattled his nose, then also hit the luggage car and measured his fins with eyes like others. Finn had a bad feeling about the chill.

"Nanais has become quite splendid."

Without going through Finn's vigilance or anything, Valt said something abrupt in some throwing tone, like a solitaire. It was as if we had returned when we had just met in Winnea.

"You've become the Dragon Horse, and you can even support me approximately. And now there are more people who thank you for lying flat."

"Valt, I don't have that purpose..."

"I told you before."

Blocking Finn's objections, Valt glanced at him. As Finn swallowed the words, Valt whispered with a swordswallowing look.

"My wife and kids were murdered by assholes," he said.

……

Oh, and I can't answer, and Finn just nods silently. Valt breathed much smaller.

"If my kid lives, he's two or three years older than you. If I had lived, I might have stood where you are right now."

…………

What do you want me to say? Finn was bewildered and stood silently.

The world is unfair. The same day of the same year, even being born in the same place, such as one survives and one dies unemployed. Counting the age of a dead child doesn't make it anything. Except what's in the parents' minds.

As Finn shut up, Valt gave me a glimpse into his eyes. And what convinced you, "Okay," he snapped, stiffened his fist and said something.

"Eat your teeth."

"!? Wait, what's with the lack of context! Why do I have to be beaten up by you!

"Ugh! Shut up and get hit!! I've always wanted to feed you one shot. Don't miss any more opportunities!

The defensive fin grabs the Valt. Finn managed to get away with it and took the time. And.

"I'm not the one who killed your wife. Even my parents, it's none of my business."

In a harsh voice, I said so.

Valt twitches and lowers his shaken fist loosely.

"... since... I knew"

When he snapped with a powerless voice, Finn clasped his shoulders back to his usual serene expression.

"I knew it."

"Holy crap......!! You sickled me!

How dare you, Valt summons. Finn hand-wrestled it and shook his head.

"There was just no certainty, I had predictions. When I got back to Nanais, I had more chances to remember what I used to be... and I thought about it myself. And I've known for a long time that I was a sinner or a slave child."

…………

Now it was Valt's turn to end the sentence. Finn raised her eyebrows just a little bit and gave her the look that it was nothing.

"A couple who came looking for foster children and seemed to like me looked at me with completely different eyes on their way home. I don't have this kid, or something, and some of you managed to crush that. Even children can guess."

"You..."

"So I really appreciated Mr. Oandus..."

And he lay down his eyes in a tone of nostalgia. The next time I raised my face, there were no signs of sentiment left even fine dust.

"You made me feel bad too."

"- Oh, this,"

Fucking idiot!!

I didn't hear a lot of cursing. Because at that moment, he was punched in the jaw and his consciousness was flying. By the time he returned it to me, he had fallen to the ground. I try to protest by getting up and at least heralding. But by the time I was able to speak, I began to be showered with the curse of the arrowhead.

"Tang Changki the Great Dumb, Dumb!! Don't fall asleep, why are you apologizing? I don't know if I can get through this! Be angry!! You will be angry, but I and your parents will have the right to be angry and cursed and beaten!!

Finn held down his teasing head, and when he managed to rise,

"Right."

I roared ominously and consolidated my fist. As soon as he was on his way, Valt clutched his mouth perfectly and stood half a step back. Look, you're not going to get beaten up very hard, and Finn sighed in disgust. Put your stood fist down and put your hand on your aching jaw. I could see the healing was starting early, but I can't wipe the discomfort off anything.

"I'm not apologizing to you. I just checked the facts. It's not on me to make you uncomfortable, and it's not on me to apologize."

"You're not cute..."

"Now what?"

Finn said without hesitation, taking a breath.

"What I know is, shut up. I don't want to waste it because everyone's trying to keep me informed."

"Let's beat him up."

"Don't. My uncle or Nellis would have beaten you any more."

"... I don't know..."

Valt was tired of saying something, but in the end he took a deeper sigh.

(Sooner or later we'll be talking)

I already know, so I'm not trapped in it. I have to tell you something. Finn was thinking of his parents and the dean as he looked at the Xia Mountains in the way he went.

Even now that the speculation had turned to certainty, Finn's heart was still quiet.

The voice of Oandus, who preached with all his strength that you were special. The side of Valt, who said your father would be Oandus, even though he was unnecessarily hostile. The profound kindness of Fauna, who remained unchanged in many ways throughout the various events.

Those memories protected Finn. And that's not all, no, he has Lena. The anxiety I once had, is something wrong with me, no longer held any power whatsoever.

(I'm blessed)

I feel stingy from time to time. What if the director of the orphanage had hit Finn hard just to say he was the son of a sinner? If the pickup doesn't show up forever. If Valt had been driven by hatred to expose everything and also planted malice on those around him.

- If I hadn't met Lena.

Of all the possibilities that may be considered, the current situation may be said to be the best. That's why he felt he needed to do everything he could right now. Whatever's going on in the country, whatever that dark, hungry Nara is.

With that in mind, Nellis accidentally called out, "Hey." To Finn, who turned only his face, Nellis tilted his neck and said.

"Whatever's going on, we need to let the Imperial Capital know, right?

"Oh, yeah"

"Does that mean I'll see His Majesty the Emperor again?

He seems to be patient, but his eyes are honest, shining in anticipation. Finn has lost his laugh.

"You'll have a chance. Don't be too shy, Mac's gonna crack."

"It doesn't hurt," Mac responded in a giving up tone. "No matter how hard I try, you can't fathom the Emperor. Besides, I don't want to be replaced by His Majesty the Emperor because Nellis will fool me."

"I don't want Mac to look like that, either."

It was said by Nellis without hesitation, and the two men unwittingly round their eyes.

"Such a face."

Finn is appalled at how much he likes it. Then Nellis pointed his mouth.

"It's good to see from afar. If you can stay next to me, you don't have my place."

"... you're being doubly rude to Mac."

Finn sounded a little harsh on the boulder. I know Mac cares about his height, and it would hurt his self-esteem if he was treated like a puller there.

But Mac just laughed, okay. Finn noticed that there was a silent interaction between the two, and with a little confusion, he clasped his shoulders and turned forward.

I didn't know the day would come to draw a line of reluctance that never existed before against both my sister and my disciple.

All in all, he felt complicated, and Finn shut up and slapped Lena gently on the back.