Leo

Amid the desperation and anxiety that came with the beginning of a war, a second impact struck the fortifications before the first group of soldiers could even leave the mining grounds.

The explosion appeared in the distance as a flash among the walls that were still being rebuilt, followed seconds later by a roar that swept across the valley. Men still working on the rescue effort raised their heads at the same time, while messengers continued arriving along the road at increasingly shorter intervals. Some carried orders; others, reports that were already outdated before they could even be delivered.

The Hero of Solvar took one of them from a soldier’s hands, quickly read it, and handed it back.

“How many made it across?”

“Dozens of infantry units confirmed. Cavalry coming right behind them. We still don’t know if the Shadows are with them.”

“If we haven’t seen them, that means they’re already here,” the Hero added.

“The first line is retreating toward the fortifications.”

The Hero nodded and pointed toward two nearby officers.

“Take every available man to reinforce the pass. I want the special archer unit in the upper positions and Pulse units protecting the gates. Don’t pursue anyone who retreats. They want us to leave the fortifications.”

The officers responded immediately and began relaying the orders. Nino watched the movement in silence. He was still holding the message announcing his death, now crumpled in his hand, while around him Solvar transformed itself to face a war that had begun before anyone even knew it was coming.

“How many men do you have?” he asked.

The Hero glanced at him.

“Fewer than I’d like.”

“How many?”

“Not enough to face everything Mezi has placed along that border.”

Nino watched another group of soldiers depart. Some had just finished helping pull survivors from the mine and still carried dust on their armor.

“Then I’m going with you.”

The Hero didn’t answer immediately.

“No.”

Nino turned toward him.

“No?”

“You heard me.”

“Your army will be slaughtered by the Shadows.”

“Possibly.”

“And you just said you don’t have enough men.”

“I know.”

Nino took a step toward him.

“Then stop acting like an idiot.”

The Hero finally turned to face him fully.

“You can barely stand.”

“I’ve fought in worse condition.”

“I imagine that’s one of the reasons you’re poisoned, covered in blood, and officially dead.”

Nino opened his mouth, but the Hero raised a hand before he could answer.

“Even if you were in perfect condition, my answer would still be no.”

Nino narrowed his eyes.

“Why?”

The Hero pointed toward the crumpled paper in his hand.

“Because that is the reason for this war.”

Nino looked at the message.

“Solvar killed the Hero of Mezi. That’s the story your King is spreading. It’s the justification he needed to cross our border without looking like the aggressor.”

“I know. If they see me fighting, the narrative falls apart.”

“Then think. If you stay here and die fighting Mezi, what happens?”

Nino remained silent.

“Nothing changes,” the Hero continued. “You stay dead. Solvar remains responsible. Mezi keeps the story it prepared, and any other Nation that hears about this will have nothing but their word against ours. The other Nations have probably already received a letter as well.”

Another roar rolled through the mountains. This time, no one around them stopped what they were doing.

The Hero stepped closer.

“But if the man Solvar supposedly murdered appears alive before them, the situation changes.”

Nino looked at him again.

“You want me to go to the other Nations.”

He nodded.

“And say what? That my King is a son of a bitch?”

“You can start with that.”

Despite everything, Nino almost smiled.

The Hero continued:

“Tell them about the mine. Mezi’s explosives were already inside the walls before you entered. Tell them about the troops that were already positioned at the border before your supposed death. Tell them about the Colossus, the Shadows, and anything else you know about what your King is doing.”

Nino watched him for several seconds.

“You believe me now?”

The question left the Hero silent.

Around them, soldiers continued preparing. A healer ran past with blood covering his hands, followed by two men carrying one of the wounded pulled from the mine. Farther away, some of the former prisoners watched everything without knowing whether they should run or remain where they were.

“I saw Arvendel,” the Hero said.

Nino didn’t respond.

“I saw what was left of the defenses after that thing fell. I saw where the Colossus should have struck the village and where it actually landed after you moved it.”

The Hero paused briefly before continuing.

“And I just walked into a mine that should have completely collapsed and found dozens of people alive because you chose to stay underneath it.”

Nino looked away for a moment.

“That doesn’t answer the question.”

“Yes, it does.”

“You spent the last few days keeping me in chains.”

“That’s true. And it was wonderful.” He smiled.

“You tried to put me on trial.”

“Politics.”

“Your ministers wanted my head.”

“That part wasn’t politics. They really don’t like you.”

Nino exhaled through his nose. The Hero watched the soldiers gathering in the distance before turning his attention back to him.

“I’m tired of this ridiculous title the kingdoms give men like us.”

Nino raised his eyebrows slightly.

“Interesting coming from someone who still introduces himself as the Hero of Solvar.”

“I never said I didn’t enjoy the benefits.”

Nino almost responded, but the man continued before he could.

“When I say I believe you, I’m not talking about the Hero of Mezi. And I’m definitely not talking about Zero.”

This time, Nino went completely still.

“I’m talking about the man I saw save Arvendel and the man I just found holding up a mountain over people he didn’t even know.”

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Nino thought about the question that had haunted him since his conversation with the King. If his memories could have been placed inside him, if his fears and beliefs could have been shaped until a choice felt like his own, how could he know what truly belonged to him?

But the Hero had known none of that when he entered that mine. He didn’t know which memories Nino had lost or which ones had been implanted. He didn’t know why Nino had chosen to stay.

He had only seen what Nino had done.

A soldier appeared on the road before Nino could respond.

“Sir! We need you.”

The Hero nodded.

“Tell them I’m coming.”

The soldier left immediately.

“So that’s it?” Nino asked. “You’re going to send everyone away and stay here?”

“I’m not sending everyone away. I’m sending you. And have a little more faith in us. We have the mountain fortifications to our advantage, and we’re not that weak.”

“You know what happens if they break through the fortifications.”

“I do.”

“You could die.”

“I know that too.”

Nino stared at him for several seconds. It took the Hero a moment to realize what he was doing. Then he laughed.

“What about you? Are you just going to stand there and watch?”

Nino remained silent. Then a faint smile appeared on his face.

“Really?”

“You’re not the only one with a sense of humor.”

The Hero started to walk away but stopped after only a few steps.

“There’s one more thing.”

He gestured toward one of the nearby soldiers. The man hesitated before obeying, disappearing toward one of the buildings used by the officers. When he returned, he was carrying something long wrapped in dark cloth.

Nino recognized the shape before the cloth was even removed: his sword.

The black Noctrium blade rested horizontally in the soldier’s hands, the deep veins running along the metal almost invisible while no Pulse flowed through them. The Hero took the weapon and held it out to Nino.

Nino stared at the weapon.

“...”

“Come on. Take your weapon and get out of here. I hope you survive. It’d be nice to celebrate at a tavern when all this is over. By the way, my name is Leo.”

Nino gripped the hilt.

The effect was immediate. Violet light ran through the veins of the blade and disappeared almost as quickly, as though the weapon had recognized the energy flowing through it again. For several seconds, he simply felt the familiar weight in his hand.

“I don’t drink alcohol.”

“Couldn’t you at least say you hope I survive too? Or, ‘Nice to meet you, Leo’?”

Nino placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded. For someone like him, that gesture meant even more than simple words.

“Where are you going?” the Hero asked.

Nino looked toward Tenshi, who was waiting near the survivors from the mine.

“Veyra.”

“Never heard of it.”

“Better that way.”

Nino thought about the three marks left in Solvar, the old man who had told him about the cure, and the only person who could have known Five’s poison well enough to lead him to it. He thought about Alicia too.

Leo let out a brief laugh and began walking toward the men waiting for him. Nino watched as he accepted another report without slowing his pace and immediately began issuing new orders. There was no hesitation in his movements. Mezi had prepared that war, chosen the moment, and placed Solvar exactly where it wanted, but that man was still walking toward the battlefield.

Tenshi approached.

“Shall we?”

Nino turned his eyes toward the road running along the mountainside.

“Let’s go.”

The two left the mining grounds while the last groups of soldiers headed in the opposite direction. Nino could still feel the poison burning inside his body with every step, and the effort of holding up the mine had worsened his condition far more than he wanted to admit. Even so, he kept going.

After some time, they reached a higher section of the road, from where they could still see part of Solvar’s walls between the mountains. Another flash appeared near the southern fortifications, followed by a wave of golden light rising to meet the impact.

Nino recognized that Pulse. The Hero of Solvar had reached the battle. He watched for only a few seconds before turning back toward the road.

Tenshi walked several paces ahead. Nino touched the red ribbon wrapped around the hilt one last time and adjusted the sword on his back.

I’m coming, Alicia.

Behind them, the war advanced upon Solvar. Somewhere beyond those mountains was Veyra. And if Three really had left those marks for him, Alicia was there too.