Chapter 21 - Looking at the Abyss

Brawler and Leader clash with Edward in the twisting halls of the Labyrinth. Shlings and slashes of energy, each movement is pumped with unrelenting determination. Their weapons are an extension of their bodies, synchronized and honed by countless grueling hours of training.

On the caravan above, the Silas Family watches in captivation. Each strike, each dodge, and every perfectly timed combination bellows of progress. Leader and Brawler aren’t merely tapping the limits of sparring with Edward anymore.

Edward deflects a storm of strikes with masterful ease, pivoting sideways to launch a fierce counter. Brawler catches the blow with his parrying dagger, grinning wide as sparks of confidence practically shoot from his eyes.

“You think that’s enough to stop me? Dream on!”

They’re warriors in the making.

Leader, behind Brawler, swiftly exploits the opening. His wooden blade aims true, arcing toward Edward’s exposed arm. “We’ve got him now!”

The brothers work in seamless unison, synergy superior by the second. But as their attacks are about to land, Edward’s stances shift. With inhuman strength, he wrenches his blade free from Brawler’s parry and redirects it, throwing their rhythm into a chaos of his own making. “Wha--?!”

Edward doesn’t dither, his counters are brutal. Brawler and Leader don’t let up. Edward strikes Leader square in the hip with a resounding thud and jabs Brawler hard in the ribs. The brothers retreat back, gasping for air and refusing to fall.

Brawler winces but hasn’t lost his trademark grin. “Hah… Damn, that’s on me. I let my guard down!”

Leader rubs his side, still catching his breath, but his eyes glimmer with quiet moxie. “No, it was close… We almost had him.”

From atop the caravan, Silas’s booming laughter shakes the Labyrinth. “Haahaha~! ‘Almost’ is a hell of a long way from where you two started! You’re giving Edward a run for his money!”

Bela beams, cupping her hands around her mouth to cheer. “You’re amazing, you guys! Seriously, you’re so much better now!”

“Better?” Brawler slams a foot forward and straightens up. “We’re not stopping here! Master Edward, listen up! You might be our master swordsman, but one day, we’re gonna knock you down! I swear it!”

Edward, ever composed, raises his wooden sword with a wry smile. “You talk big, but words don’t land blows. Show me.”

“We will.” Leader’s grip tightens on his weapons. He may be quieter than his Bro, but his resolve is no less fierce. “Maybe not today… but soon. We’ll catch up to you, Master Edward.”

“Let’s show him what we’re made of!”

“Right!”

The brothers charge in unison, faster and fiercer than before. Edward meets them with a smirk, his sword moving like lightning. Each clash of blades is a testament to their growth, their sheer willpower refusing to falter even when they hit the ground again and again.

No matter how often they fall, they rise with burning eyes and fiery hearts. For Brawler and Leader, there is no such thing as defeat -- only the road to victory.

…

“Finley… Figura has…” Leviathan trails off, faltering. There’s a tremble in her tone that I pick up on that’s unlike her usual self.

I move closer on the share bench. “What is it? Talk to me.”

She pouts, forcing on a playfulness. “It’s nothing! I was going to talk about the newspapers! You know, about the festival…”

“The festival? Really, Levee? Don’t think I didn’t notice you were about to say something else. What’s bothering you?”

"Ugh, you’re so persistent! I said it’s nothing!"

"Right. And I’m a noble prince. So naturally you opened with ‘Finley…’ and that tragic look.”

“It’s not about me, okay? It’s about Figura… They’re not supposed to be like this. He’s… diverging. From what we intended. I don’t like the direction.”

“Did they do something? Hurt someone?”

“They’re not like that!” her defense trips, her hands clenching her sleeves. “They’re not supposed to be,” she murmurs. “I don’t know what to do anymore.”

What the hell am I supposed to say? I’m good at a lot of things. Fighting. Inspiring. Breaking things that need to be broken. But watching her unravel right in front of me? Watching the sharpest, most untouchable noble I know fold in on herself? That’s a different kind of fight altogether.

“Hey,” I murmur, lowering my head, voice pitched low. “I don’t know Finley like you do, but I know this much -- people who care about you should listen.”

Her breath catches. “He listens… but it’s like he doesn’t hear me. Because we’re not in immediate danger. Because we’re doing what he believes needs to be done.”

“Not in danger yet,” I mutter. “But you could be. Do you feel like others already are?”

Her silence is answer enough.

“Levee,” I say carefully, “is it Conqueror infighting? I told you about Silas, about what we’ve figured out. If there’s a chance to stop this…” My voice softens against my will. “I don’t want to see you as my enemy.”

Her face crumples and she clutches at her chest like she’s holding herself together. “I don’t want that either! But it’s not that. If you steer clear of Rosebell, then maybe--”

“You know I can’t leave the capital yet.”

“Do you want to stay?” Her volume drops, laden with emotion. “Have you ever really wanted to stay here?”

“…Where’s this coming from?”

“I’m from Burrya,” she says tenderly. “I don’t know what it’s like to live somewhere so stubbornly shut off from the world. Maltrex… It’s tough against its enemies and it’s tough on its citizens too. Look around you, Brawler.”

I open my mouth -- but she leans in, tone sharp, cutting me off.

“If this were your kingdom,” she demands, “would you run it like this? Would you rule like this?”

I breathe in, but for once, I have no easy answer.

She sees it -- because her expression shifts, something softer creeping in, something fragile.

“That day… At the Children’s Village. That’s what you really want, isn’t it? For everyone.”

I force out a shaky exhale.

“Levee…”

Her eyes glisten. She shakes her head, hands balling into fists. “It’s frustrating. I know so much, but I can’t tell you. I feel… useless.”

“You’re not useless,” I state firmly, grounding. “Don’t blame yourself. If anyone’s been blind, it’s me."

She sniffles. “You are stupid,” she mutters, teasing, not really angry. “I wouldn’t ask if it didn’t matter.”

I grin. “Yeah, yeah,” giving her a reassuring squeeze. “So I’ll become learned. So don’t cry anymore. Seeing you like this doesn’t suit you.”

She sniffles again, her tears finally wiped away. “O-Okay… But if you screw this up, Brawler, I’ll never forgive you!”

I flash her my best grin. “Then I guess behaving time is over.”

…

Dear Diary,

Once again, my honorable Father called me to his chamber today.

As Father lay, I sat by his bedside and he told me of the dangers of the Nation Elite.

The Nation Elite are supposed to be the warriors who protect the meaning of justice the world over. But the stories Father tells me bring me great worry, especially those involving Captain Brutus.

Beyond the Auralis Gate, past the Labyrinth, the Armaments wait. I know the stories. I’ve read the histories. These weapons with power beyond reckoning are not meant for the hands of degenerates and mongrels. Yet the Nation Elite have already begun to collect them, hoarding them like misers clutching gold. It is a crime. A disgrace. If we do not act now, we may never have the chance again. With the possibility of a huge war upon us, we are in need of such weapons.

Father urges me forward, telling me that I must be the one to raise my sword and strike first.

For Father dearest, for Mother dearest, and for the posterity of Maltrex, I am willing to do anything.

…

Leviathan and I meet again.

“You’re asking me to question everything,” I say. “And I’m the one selling the lies.”

She nears. I smell honeywine and ink. “You believed in something once. Your grandpa. You told me.”

“Believing doesn’t matter when you’re questioning the cause. When you’re paid in propaganda and think it’s gospel. They handed me lies in bundles and I pushed them like candy. Called it truth. Swore by it.”

“The Auralis Gate is sealed because the royalty fear judgment. From the Conquerors. The Nation Elite. They close the path, Brawler. Because they know the moment it opens, everything falls.”

“And you? Who do you fight for? You can tell me anything. I’m not gonna flinch.”

“I’m here to help the Figura Family eliminate the Maltrex royal line.”

“Eliminate?”

“Yes.” One word. Ironclad. “Assassinate.”

I should’ve laughed. Should’ve cursed or pulled away. But I didn’t. I just stare at her and realize she’s handed me a blade that could gut a nation.

“You trust me that much?”

She nods. “I told you what could kill me.”

“Not a word of this gets out.”

“That’s what I was trying to say!” she squeaks, stamping her foot. “Even telling you was one too many. Why the hell did I do that?! Uuuhhh…” She whimpers, hiding her face in both hands, crying puddles.

I laugh at misery, full, rich, almost cruel. “Damn, Levee. That’s kind of hot.”

She looks up, cheeks burning. “It is not!”

“You’re an assassin goddess in a scandalous dress with the mission to kill a monarchy. You think I’m not into that?”

“You’re such a bastard.”

“You’re one of the Conquerors. That’s an all-out assault.”

“The royals earned it. Do you know how many children died in the last quarter, just from ration thefts? They were executed.”

“Yeah. I’ve seen them. Thin kids. Paper bones. Eyes like graves.”

“The statues. The palaces. The sky gardens they keep building while the gutters drown.”

“You hinted that this place was rotten. I didn’t fully believe it. I was selling their filth like it was scripture. But it is a slaughterhouse. Control. Lies. Totalitarian regime all dressed up in gold. I trust you. But this is a hard pill to swallow. If you can’t tell me more -- actually, I don’t want you to. Not if it means putting you in danger. I need time.”

“What are you going to do? Talk to travelers?”

I nod, my jaw set. “I’ll figure it out. You’ve got your role, and I’ve got mine.”

“I know, but… please, be careful.”

“Have I ever not been? You too, dangerous lady.”

I take a hearty look at her. Not a propaganda doll. Just Levee.

“What? You look like you’ve got something else to say.”

“Are you really listening to me more than Figura? You took everything surprisingly well.”

“How was I supposed to take it? You thought I’d get mad? Turn you in? If that’s what you thought, why’d you tell me at all?”

“Because I wanted to know what you’d say. Because I…”

“You trust me. You wouldn’t have told me if you didn’t.”

“And you won’t stop me?”

“I won’t let you fight alone.”

“This is going to get messy, Brawler.”

“Yeah? And when has that ever stopped me?”

She studies me, long and slow, like a woman reading the last page of a book she’s already memorized. “Your arrogance is insufferable. That cocky streak -- it isn’t enough to change a kingdom. It’s only enough to play at it.”

“I’ll win. That’s all there is to it.”

“You’d better. Promise?”

And she stands, smooth as silk, straightening her skirt.

“A noblelady goddess befriended an enemy Conqueror. Fell for the hoodlum, even.”

“You assume too much.”

“Of course, I promise.”

Then, heels clicking against the stone, she leaves. The empty spot on the bench stays warm, long after her scent has vanished.

The advice Leviathan gave me reminds me of what the Nation Elite Captain Brutus said some time ago. It also reminds me of what the Silas Family once said, and even Sensei, about the possibility of this kingdom falling.

The day I met Captain Brutus, I told him that ‘Maltrex is one of the better countries in the world.’ But is this really true?

Maltrex is my home, but in actuality, the Children’s Village is my home. A utopia built from the ground up in a place that is not so heavenly. A utopia that wouldn’t exist without a huge disparity in poverty.

Maybe if this country was run better, the Omine Family wouldn’t suffer from getting medical treatment. The same goes for my grandpa’s passing.

Maybe instead of having the whole capital secluded with the Auralis Gate sealed off, we would talk with our neighboring countries. Rosebell would be more open to Conquerors and Nation Elite, rather than making them demand their way through or bribe.

Maybe there would be a better sense of criminal justice.

Maybe everyone would know about the existence of the Deities rather than the colossal paintings and sculptures solely depicting the royal family.

Maybe, just maybe, if it wasn’t for these faults, I’d long since have the Fang of Eborus at my side and be going on adventures with everyone.

All of this brings back feelings of why I ran into the Labyrinth in the first place when my grandpa passed away.

These nuisances… are all things I’d change about Maltrex to make it better. The past and current state of affairs tells me as clear as day that what’s printed in the daily papers -- Maltrex is the most ideal, untouchable, legendary place in the world -- is a complete over-exaggeration.

I simply haven’t been paying attention, not staring at the abyss known as ‘Rosebell’ because we’ve fought for a utopia of our own.

Yes. My world -- the one we’ve fought for -- is definitely not rotten or oppressive. It’s wonderful, beautiful, everything I would want my lands to be. But the world of Maltrex, no, the cage of Maltrex is putrid. Even so, there are amazing people here. Amazing people have hailed from the outside and into this cage too.

I can see much more clearly now. However, whatever methods the Figura Family is conducting… I don’t believe it warrants leaving Rosebell when we have much of our lives here.

I also find it hard to believe that someone as precious as Levee and her friend Figura would want to assassinate the royal family without a terrible reason, or terrible reasons that I have yet to uncover, regarding the way this country operates as a whole.

Is that why Levee has been fearful recently? Is she worried that Figura and Luka are taking things too far? Does she not want to risk becoming enemies with the Silas Family? How far does this rabbit hole go? Just how terrible does this abyss spiral?