A Brief Respite

By the time Lancell returned, It was already nearing dawn. The world was beginning to bright up, yet most of the people still had yet to wake up. And it couldn't be helped. After all, the tension from yesterday had thoroughly worn their bodies out, and same goes with their minds.

Lancell walked the empty streets of the Slum District, which still carried the evening chills as his every breath created smoke as the mist evaporated. His greenish blue-eyes scanned corners to corners, which he was completely doing out of habit. His body felt a bit heavy, and his feet trudged the dirty unpaved roads.

Out from afar, Lancell could hear some sounds resembling the air being sliced as it repeated in a paced manner. The silence in the entire place had sharpened his senses, so he could hear it on several places simultaneously.

'Practicing sword swings, huh?'

It was just a conjecture, but it couldn't be anything else. However, for someone to be practicing the sword this early, and just when the war had just took its early respite, it was desire. The same one as Lancell desired, and continued to as of now. It seems they were finally enlightened on the unchanging rule of the world.

'Power...'

Lancell could remember it like yesterday. His early days as a hero, and how reckless he fought just because he wanted it. Back then, he also swung his sword, Arkenvalle, everyday. Each swing meant gaining power. No matter how miniscule, it was still power. So he did it everyday.

Lancell adjusted the black coat he wore as to cover the parts that was exposed to the winds. For some reason, he didn't like the cold winds today. It felt more piercing than usual, even though his Levels ensured that he was impervious to common ailments. He just felt like doing so.

However, as he proceeded, he came across a familiar person. It was a person he'd never met in this timeline, but he knew who she was.

"...Aerym?" her name escaped Lancell's lips, as he stopped the moment she passed through him.

The woman, Aerym, stopped when she heard Lancell mention her name. "Ah, yes?" she inadvertently asked. "How may I help you?"

Lancell shook his head. "It's nothing." He then continued to moving his feet, but he was stopped.

"You don't call out to someone for nothing." She said. A bit of annoyance in her tone. "Also, I don't know you. How'd you learn my name?"

Lancell clicked his tongue inwardly. She was the kind of person who remembered all the people she met, and even knew the names of all the people in her battalion. It seems like his subconscious reactions had gotten the better of him again.

He ignored her as he continued moving. However, Aerym suddenly drew her sword, which she was carrying on her waist, as Lancell felt a bit of killing intent from her.

"I'm warning you. If you don't identify yourself, I'll cut you down." Her tone had already shifted to an aggressive one.

'I see. As cautious as ever, huh?'

Lancell turned around as he looked at her. She was drenched in sweat as she seemed to have just finished training. Lancell wondered. Just how strong was the current her? He suddenly found himself eager to find out.

Lancell crossed his arm as he raised his chin, looking down on her. He then gave an arrogant grin. "Oh? Cut me down? Can you do it?"

Aerym's brows suddenly twitched as she frowned, but didn't answer. Instead, she rushed forward as her sword traced the winds, leaving a green flash while it headed towards Lancell.

'Impressive' Lancell thought. Her strike was precise, and devoid of useless movements. However, it lacked decisiveness, and killing intent. It was only targeting his cheek.

Lancell avoided the slash by twisting his head by the last moment, and countered with a flick on her forehead. His finger moved past the sound barrier as it went directly to Aerym's forehead, landing a solid blow as it made a satisfying *Thwick!* sound.

"Ah!" Aerym yelped in pain as she held her forehead, crouching on the ground.

"A word of warning: Don't casually swing your sword at strangers. Especially if you don't know the gap between your strength, got it?" Lancell then turned to the direction of the Outer District gates, and started moving on.

But before he went out of sight, he suddenly heard a shout, "I'm remembering this, asshole!!"

Lancell shrugged with a sigh as a smile unknowingly formed on his face. It seems like things will be interesting from here.

◇◇◇

After a few hours of walking, Lancell finally reached the castle grounds. The sun was already high up in the sky, and the entire city was already bustling with activity. Although most of it were just sword swinging and sparring and foraging for food. Nonetheless it was still far livelier than the time Lancell passed through the Slum District.

Lancell passed through the gate as the castle guards gave a him a salute. Perhaps they really recognized him, however, he ignored them and continued forward.

'Hm?'

Was he imagining it? For a second there, Lancell sensed miniscule hostility from one of them. However, it was gone before he could feel it clearly with his instincts.

Lancell sighed. 'Probably some remnant killing intent from yesterday.'

Thinking that way, Lancell entered the castle ground and went inside the palace.

It was busy inside. The maids were busy cleaning, many of them seemed sluggish as they would occasionally trip, while they moved in a peculiar manner. 'I see' Lancell thought. It looks like they were quite busy 'comforting' soldiers last night. And perhaps some of them even entered the king's chambers. Another daily routine once a country experiences war.

Lancell just shrugged in his mind. It wasn't something that really concerned him, and wasn't really something he needed to think about.

Lancell move on as he was beginning to grow tired. His mind needed rest as the sudden murder-rush of yesterday had taken its toll on his mind. He walked, disregarding the people around, until someone's voice called out.

"Lancell!"

"Hm?" Lancell turned to its source. Aria. She seemed to be in a hurry while she had her rapier in her waist, and looked quite...distressed? How rare.

Lancell raised a brow, as a bad feeling welled up in him. "What wrong?"

Aria looked at Lancell, and Lancell saw bags under her eyes. It looks like she didn't sleep well last night, and her bloodshot eyes gave away that she was probably crying.

"Lancell, have you seen my brother?" she asked in a shaky voice.

"Your brother? Which one?"

"The most annoying one."

Lancell shook his head. "I don't know. I've never seen him."

After the incident at the duel grounds, Lancell didn't remember meeting him, or anything resembling sorts. At the very least, he hadn't heard of him.

Aria examined his face as he answered, and went silent. She then lowered her head, "I see" and muttered in a low voice.

"Did anything happen?" Lancell asked. Something was probably going on. She was, after all, not in her usual carefree behaviour.

However, contrary to Lancell's expectations, she shook her head at his question. "No," she said, "it's fine but..."

She than stared at Lancell straight in the eye, "Did you really not see him?" she asked again in an indescribable manner.

"No."

Aria bit her lips, and then gave her farewell, as she then left. What was that all about?