Twenty and four days had gone by since Olivia’s training began. The lakefront, aglow in the light of the sunrise, was full not with the fierce clangor that had become practically routine, but rather the gentle chirping of little birds. For the first time in a long while, the lake welcomed a peaceful morning...
This marks the completion of your training. You have done well. Z addressed the ground where Olivia knelt on hand and knee, her shoulders heaving as she dripped sweat. Though it was no easy feat for her, brow furrowed with the effort it took to breathe, she managed a smile at this—the first words of praise Z had ever given her.
As I warned you when we began, the sword technique you have learned is magical in nature and will consume even the wielder. The magic ruby may only be used once, and no more. Do not forget it.
“Yeah...” Olivia replied between breaths. “I know.” She braced her hands on her knees to get to her feet, then drew out the scarlet gem from her shirt. Squeezing it tight, she nodded determinedly. Z clicked its fingers.
“Wha—?!” Before she knew what was happening, Olivia found herself wrapped in Z’s arms, just like the parents with their children she had sometimes seen in towns. She felt her cheeks rapidly grow hot. Z was staring away to the north. “Z, you’re embarrassing me...” Olivia mumbled, squirming slightly.
Xenia’s puppet has not been subtle with his first move, it seems. People are waiting for you to return home. I will now take you to them.
Before Olivia could get another word out, her vision undulated, again and again, until she found herself looking at the orange spires of the Emaleid Citadel.
Z must have teleported us... Based on the position of the sun, they were on the hill that lay to the southwest of Emaleid—but before she took her leave to head back to the citadel, there was something Olivia absolutely had to know.
Afraid of what she might hear, she asked, “Z, are you going to go away again?”
Z lowered her carefully onto the ground, then stroked her head. You need not worry about that, it said. Then, it melted away into the scenery.
Z never, ever lies, Olivia thought, filled with a deep sense of relief. Thank goodness... She interlinked her fingers over her head and stretched. Then she looked back at the spires of the Emaleid Citadel. But why the Emaleid Citadel and not the royal capital? Did something happen before they got back?
She made her way down a gently sloping path until it deposited her on the main road to the citadel. Not long after, she arrived at the familiar main gate. A guard she knew named Malkin called out to her with relief all over his face.
“General Olivia, I’m overjoyed to see you safe.”
“Yep, I’m safe and sound as can be, but...” Olivia hesitated. “Is everyone from the Eighth Legion here, then?”
“Yes ser. The Second Legion has returned too.”
“The Second Legion? What are they doing here?” Olivia asked at once. Consternation flashed across Malkin’s face.
“I am only a gate guard, my lady. I’m afraid I don’t have the answer to that...”
“Oh, right. Well, seeing as they’re here, I’ll just ask them myself.”
“I’m very sorry, my lady.” Malkin bowed deeply. Olivia waved, then set off for the military district. To get to the military district, however, one had to pass through the residential district. Sure enough, no sooner had she set foot into its streets than a delicious smell wafted over to her, prompting a riot of merriment from the orchestra in her stomach. But we can’t right now... she told them. Mostly for the reason that Ashton and the coin purse he carried weren’t there, she shook off all the smells, then picked up her pace. Then, out of nowhere, she heard a familiar voice.
“Here, over here!”
Olivia turned and, through a gap in the crowd, she caught a glimpse of a face she recognized. A smile broke across her face, and she waved enthusiastically.
“Mrs. Stallkeeper!”
“Budge up, I’m coming through.” The stallkeeper made her way over to Olivia, using her large behind to bounce people out of her way in an impressive performance that Olivia couldn’t have reproduced to save her life. Judging by the large paper bags in her arms, she was on her way home from shopping.
“I knew it was you the moment I saw that silver hair, Major General.”
“It’s ‘Lieutenant General’ now.”
“Eh...?” For a moment, the woman froze like a statue. Then she inspected Olivia closely.
“Is it, now? Ah well, nothing’s impossible where you’re concerned, eh? Anyway, the important thing is you’re safe.” She said all this with a strained smile, her eyes flicking back and forth to either side of Olivia.
“What’s wrong?” Olivia asked.
“That lad’s not with you today?”
“What lad? You mean Ashton? We split up during the battle, so no, he’s not with me. I only just made it back now.”
“That right? I don’t know, after only ever seeing the two of you together, it feels off seeing you alone...” The woman leaned in to put her mouth to Olivia’s ear. “On that note, was there some trouble in the army? Thing is, every soldier I see looks so grim, I wondered if the war had taken another turn for the worse. Oh, but I’m being silly. It’s not as though you can answer me anyway, Lieutenant General.”
Olivia, unable to get a word in edgewise, felt a little overwhelmed. “Um, well, yes. I am a soldier and all...” she mumbled. Because Twin Lions at Dawn had been kept secret from the general populace, all she could do was try to laugh it off.
“Ah well. Never mind that. Now, take these with you.” The stallkeeper’s hand thrust into the paper bag, then came back out with two cloudy peaches. She placed one in each of Olivia’s hands.
“For me? You know I don’t have any money, right?”
“Don’t be silly. I bet you’re hungry.”
“You can tell, huh? I actually didn’t even get to have breakfast before I left, so I’m starving.” As she took the cloudy peaches, the orchestra in her stomach crescendoed to a frenzy.
“When you get to my age, you pick up on these things straightaway,” the woman said, her belly bouncing as she laughed heartily. Olivia stared at her, wondering if her belly would bounce like that when she got to the same age. She thought that might be fun in its own way.
“Anyhow, I’d best be off,” the woman said. “I’m sorry to have waylaid you when you’re in a hurry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Olivia replied. “Thanks for these.”
“You needn’t thank me. Just mind you don’t take too many risks.” With that, the stallkeeper set off once more, nudging passersby out of her way with her bottom until she disappeared into the crowd.
Olivia tucked into one of the cloudy peaches as she continued on her way to the military district. Its aroma and refreshing sweetness filled her mouth.
Mmmm! In the blink of an eye, she’d polished off one peach. Just as she was about to pop the second into her mouth, she pulled up short. Come to think of it, Ashton said he likes cloudy peaches too... She remembered him munching on a peach with relish. The orchestra in her stomach was clamoring for her to hurry up with the second peach. Olivia gave it a long look, then tucked it away in her bag. Ashton will be so pleased. As she pictured the happy look he would give her, Olivia couldn’t help but smile.
She arrived at the military district with a spring in her step. In sharp contrast to the hustle and bustle of the residential district, the gloom that hung in the air was palpable. Given the despondent looks on the soldiers’ faces, it was not simply her imagination.
I wonder what happened. Is it because Twin Lions at Dawn failed? Darmés’s interference had dashed any hope of success for the operation, but Olivia thought they ought to have more than enough opportunities to recover the situation. As such, the atmosphere puzzled her.
She started up the long stone staircase to the commander’s station, when, partway up, she spotted Evanson engaged in conversation with a few other soldiers, his expression grim. The moment their eyes met, Evanson practically fell over himself rushing down to reach her.