Reunion

Hanna leapt into Jason's arms as he entered the castle, their armor clattering against one another as girl squeezed her brother. She ignored it.

"Jason!" The usually stoic girl began to weep as the two siblings held onto each other. "You're safe. I thought you died!"

"I'm...I'm glad to see you too, Hanna." Jason said, awkwardly as he tried his best not to cry. "I'm glad you're back. It's so nice to see you." He looked right into the ground, as if he wasn't quite sure how to process everything.

"Iwen?" Eliza also approached Asta as she noticed her own brother, but she was more stilted than Hanna. "Iwen, I..."

"I'm here." Asta said, maintaining his distance from her. "Well, it takes a little more than that to kill me." Eliza smiled.

"Yeah, it's really nice seeing you..." Eliza paused, unsure of what to say next as she looked onto the ground, unsure.

"Come here." Asta went up and gave her a giant hug, like Hanna was doing with Jason, who she was practically squeezing the life out of him at this point. "I think you deserve that, after all you've been through."

"You're the one that been through everything, you jerk..." Eliza returned the hug as Jason tried to peel Hanna off of him.

"Good to see you three are safe." Aeneas smiled, but it quickly turned to a frown as he looked at the small convoy. "A lot less people than what you started out with, huh?"

"Yeah, it wasn't really an easy trip." Asta turned to Jason. "How'd you end up running into the strike team anyways?"

"Let's just say it's a long story. It was really cool though, so do listen carefully when I tell you later on, okay?" Jason crossed his arms proudly. "So, are we heading to Eldingenau, or not? I was under the impression that this would be a strike force headed to relieve the bastion city." Aeneas shook his head, approaching the four.

"No, no, no." Aeneas looked over at them. "We're not going to attack an entire Empyrean legion group with only one single regiment." He looked over at the soldiers, who were resting inside of the castle. Several had been wounded or hurt from the previous battle. "We'll get slaughtered."

"Wait, is this not an advance team?" Jason turned to Aeneas. "I thought this was just the spearhead for the rest of the army. I've been traveling with you guys for hours, how did I not know this? You should have told me!"

"Why didn't you bring more men?" Hanna asked.

"Well, a certain regent, was too lazy to gather the capitol forces." Aeneas sighed. "Look, I'm well aware of the restrictions we have right now. The enemy, from what Jason has informed us, has combat mages, artillery, cavalry, and a robust supply line that is somehow capable of penetrating the Colakian woods. Against all that..."

"Then what the hell is even the point of bringing all this?" Asta asked. "Why bother coming at all if you're not willing to fight? I want to thank you for saving Jason. I really do. But that can't possibly have been the plan."

"I agree with Iwen." Jason said. "Thank you for saving me, but if this was all just for me, I'm a tad bit insulted."

"We have far too many wounded. And your team is filled with civilians as well." Aeneas bit his lip. "I get how you all feel. We're all angry, and we all want to go and fight. But face the reality - we simply aren't equipped to fight. We've already lost too many men. I can assure you Jason," Aeneas turned to the boy, "that your captors were not the first Empyrean scouts we faced along the way."

"Valengrau is just a little over a day's travel from here, isn't it? If we head northwest, we might be able to rest and recuperate." Hanna timidly suggested.

"You can't possibly be saying we should go home now. The next Empyrean target will be Valengrau. I have no interest in being killed like a rat in a barrel." Jason dismissively shook his head at Hanna, who sighed.

"Jason, you of all people should know how powerful the Empyrean army is. You can't possibly be suggesting we charge in and fight them." Hanna argued back. 

"Read the room, will you Hanna? We can't just go home." Eliza said. "We've come all this way, for what? There has to at least be something." Eliza put her hands on her chin.

"Hmm..." Asta thought for a moment. "Jason, do you remember the precise location where everything was?"

"Where everything was? Hell no."

"Well, do you at least remember the general composition of their army? I managed to get a glimpse of the Empyrean Army with Hanna back when we were going around them." Asta looked down at a map Aeneas had pulled up. "It's only a day's travel, right? We can send the civilians and the wounded back to Valengrau, and ask for reinforcements to back us up." He looked over at Aeneas.

"With that lesser weight, we can be lighter on our feet, and far more stealthy. I like your thinking." Aeneas snapped his fingers at Asta. "You've got a good head Iwen." Turning to the others, he continued. "Well, before I go ask my soldiers, I may as well get confirmation from all of you to make sure that you all are in agreement."

"Yeah, I guess I'm fine with it." Jason nodded as he grabbed his helmet.

"I have no problems either." Eliza smirked. "I suppose I wouldn't be opposed to letting loose and having some fun, given that Jason hogged all the excitement last skirmish."

"Given both of you like it, I suppose I can't back out either." Hanna said, unenergetically. "Well, I'm not against it either." Aeneas smiled, and turned to his officers. No one there had any objections either.

"I suppose all we have left to do is to ask your soldiers. Though I have a feeling they'd all want to come along." Jason chuckled.

"Then it's settled. The pilgrims, the wounded, and a detachment of our volunteers return to Valengrau, the nearest city, and request assistance from the local levy. As soon as I get a confirmation from the other soldiers, we'll strike forth at the Empyrean army and sabotage them before withdrawing." Aeneas slammed the table. "Everyone, we set forth for Eldingenau. But I strictly must emphasize - no attacking the enemy force unless given strict permission."

~~*~~

Claudia walked amidst the Shrine of Saints Elyon and Aerlotte, flanked by the guards of Valor Company.

"My lady." The officer lowered his head.

"Officer Braun." Claudia looked down towards the soldier. "How goes the situation?"

"His majesty is stable and in pristine condition. I don't think we'll have anything to worry about." The officer smiled and nodded.

"Good." Claudia closed her eyes and sighed. "Braun, do you think that I am a tyrant?" She looked back up.

"My lady? Why I...of course not, I..." Braun looked up at where Claudia was looking. It was the statue of the two Saints, Prince Elyon, and the Sigilite Celestial Aerlotte.

"I used to admire Aerlotte as a child, you know?" She looked over at the great statue. "Everyone always talks about how much Elysius admired Elyon, but no one ever asked me if I wanted to be a hero." She paused. "Maybe Aeneas is right. I am corrupt. I am excessive. And I..." She closed her eyes and bit her lip. "He's right. About all of it."

"My lady, do not heed the words of that insolent general. He knows nothing of your wisdom." The man nodded.

"Ah, now there is my own hubris talking." Claudia laughed. "What do you think Elysius would want me to do, Officer Braun?" She looked down at the soldier, and knelt down in front of him. She looked back up at the statues of the two heroes. "What do you think Elyon would want me to do, officer?" She walked up to the statue of Aerlotte, and gently ran her fingers across the fake marble sword. "What do you think Aerlotte would ask me to do?"