Set into the wall surrounding Vulcan of the Eleven Cities were several gates. One of them was the Gate of Achaea, which faced eastward, and a large section of it was collapsed. The gate was said to have been caved in by the hero Falaina during the war of the Silver Age.
Looking up now at the eastern sky from outside the gate, the sun could be seen just making its way over the edge of the crater around Vulcan. Averting his eyes from the sun’s brilliance and looking back, Dill realized that there had been a lull in the children’s conversation, and he met the young boy’s blue-eyed gaze.
“We’ll be off, then,” Dill called to the young boy. “I’m counting on you to mind the house, Sid.”
“Yes, Master. Please leave it to Orestes.”
Two months had passed since the battle of the Tower Capital. The once-shy boy now wore a completely confident expression on his face. For Dill’s part, he couldn’t say that he didn’t feel even a shred of regret over this development.
“I’m sorry, Sid. I really should stay here, at least...” Next to Dill, Cirulia turned back to look at Sid, squinting in the light of dawn as well. Unusually, she was dressed for travel. On her feet were not her well-worn sandals or the high heels she had worn on the day of the festival, but a pair of flat-soled, practical shoes. Slung across her back was the sort of pack worn by soldiers in the regular army of Terea.
On this journey, Cirulia would also be accompanying Dill. She had given up on waiting. “If you find your allowance isn’t enough, just speak to Adjutant Hathaway. I’ve entrusted that man with more than enough. If you ever feel like using the house, do so freely. You won’t have any privacy in the barracks. Besides that...”
Sid stopped her with a smile. “I’ll be fine. Please, Cirulia, you be careful. The people of the south aren’t too fond of my master, are they?”
“...That’s true. He’s as selfish as ever, going to such a dangerous place. This good-for-nothing...” Contrary to her words, Cirulia took Dill’s hand and pressed her shoulder against him. “But I’ve made up my mind. If I can’t change him, then I will change. If he’s going to die, then I’ll go and die with him.” Cirulia prodded Dill with a finger. “If you don’t like the sound of that, then make sure to protect me and yourself, all right?”
“Right, of course. I promise.” The two adults briefly kissed each other on their cheeks. This was a familiar, natural gesture for them.
“Sid, are you sure you won’t come with us? Even though everyone managed to return home from the Tower Capital...” For a while now, Nue had been in a state of restlessness. She had tried many times to convince Sid to come along, but couldn’t finish her sentences and ended up falling silent. Sid’s decision to stay in Vulcan remained firm.
“Not everyone, you know. The lieutenant, Rick, Rei, and many others didn’t come home.”
“That wasn’t your fault, Sid.”
“Even if it wasn’t my fault, I might have been able to protect them if I’d just been stronger. So...that’s what I want to do. I want to truly become Orestes, so I can fight even without Rei’s power.” Sid’s expression was labored. Although he spoke bravely, he clearly still carried doubts in his heart.
Dill decided to throw him a lifeline. “While Aegisthus vacates Vulcan, we’ll need someone to remain here and become a source of hope for Redguard. For now, no one besides Orestes can perform this noble task.”
Nue did not seem very convinced by this. Blinking frequently, her red eyes looked like they might shed tears at any moment. “...Still...still I...hate this. It’s really great that Sid has become so noble, but...but...” She sniffled. “Still, my mom, the other Titans, and even Dill...you always say the same thing, and I hate it...”
Cirulia, unable to simply watch Nue cry, prompted Dill by shoving his shoulder. After glancing at Cirulia with a wry smile, Dill crouched down and put his arms around Nue’s shoulders. Lowering his voice, he spoke to her quietly, even though there was no one around besides the four of them.
“Would you like to take a trip together, all four of us? We can give up on going south and go somewhere without any people, without any Reincarnators, without war—a new land. Just our family, together.”
Nue looked up at Dill. He wore a trustworthy smile. Cirulia smiled too. Sid’s face was troubled, though, and Nue clearly felt conflicted. Nue proceeded to look out over the streets of Vulcan, then outside the fortress walls, at the camps pitched by the soldiers who had come in aid from the north.
“...You know we can’t do that, you meanie!”
“I’m not being mean. I’m not joking either. I’m dead serious, Nue—if that’s what you really want, that’s what we’ll do.”
Nue’s face cycled through a panoply of expressions. “...Aaahh! I can’t decide! I’ll say something funny instead!” She threw one hand up in a fist and held it there. “...Sid, I pass it off to you.”
“Eh, me?! Er, um...raw eggs?” A few seconds elapsed. The adults burst into laughter.
“Hey, now. What’s so funny about raw eggs?” said Dill, while doubled over, shaking with laughter.
Cirulia did the same. “You kids really are funny.”
“I-I’m not funny at all! Only Nue is.”
Nue looked at Sid, whose ears had turned bright red, and gave him a thumbs up. Her eyebrows were raised sharply to form a “V” shape. “Sid, good job! Nice try!”
This laughter seemed like a moment that might have gone on forever, but alas, it eventually settled down, then died entirely.
“Nue. You’re all right now, aren’t you?”
“...Yep. Shall we go?” Nue nodded grudgingly.
“Excuse me, everyone! Have...a safe trip!” Summoning up his courage, Sid waved faintly to them. His ears were still red.