[Raul PoV]
Is it snowing...?
It has been five years since Liana and I began our romantic relationship.
Lately, things haven't been going well between us. On my end, I have to stay focused and give everything I have, now that the dream I've pursued for so long is finally within reach.
But Liana gave me a difficult choice...
Right now, I am sitting on a park bench waiting for her arrival. She said she wanted to talk about something important. Gradually, the winter chill begins to pierce my body despite the thick jacket I'm wearing today. For some reason, the weather today perfectly matches my current mood.
"Hey, Evans."
Turning to the side, I suddenly see her—the black-haired woman I have always loved until this very moment.
"I'm sorry for making you come out in this freezing weather," she says to me.
"It's fine." I give a small smile. "I needed some fresh air anyway. I've spent the whole week cooped up in my room working on our project."
"I see," she murmurs.
The last few months seem to have been very difficult for Liana as well. Her family's company is facing bankruptcy due to something unfortunate happening to the business her father leads. To prevent their downfall, Liana's family wants to marry her off to the heir of a prominent company in this country.
The future of her family is at stake, the future of her younger siblings is at stake, and Liana's own future is at stake.
If only I had accepted her offer to get married immediately back then, perhaps our relationship wouldn't have ended up like this. Even if Liana and her family's life remained difficult, at least we would still have each other.
"Do you... still love me, Evans?" Liana asks me.
"Of course," I answer without a second thought.
I love her... I really do...
Why did things turn out this way? We truly cannot predict the future. I thought we would always be together regardless of the trials or obstacles; that we could always face them and overcome them.
But reality is more bitter than hope. There are times when we can navigate through it all, and times when all we can do is surrender and stoically accept the consequences of making the wrong decision.
"Hey, Evans..."
Hearing Liana call my name again, I turn my head. Her soft hand touches my cheek; her smile makes my heart feel warm, and the look in her eyes says that she feels exactly the same way I do.
"I want you to be happy and live a better life than this," Liana says. "Even though I know it hurts both me and you to say this... don't stay tied to me. Move forward and don't get trapped in the past."
How can I live this life without her? After losing all of my family, Liana was the only one who managed to fill that empty hole. What am I supposed to do without her?
"You still have your dream, don't you? Pursue it and achieve it, just like your sister's last words," Liana says, her face turning more cheerful now. "Show me that you can reach it, Evans."
My dream, huh?
After my relationship with Liana ended, pursuing this dream was what kept me from falling into the abyss of despair. There was a goal to achieve.
However, when the game I created was finished—when I thought I had finally achieved my dream—suddenly, for some unknown reason, I was pulled into the world of the game I built.
After living in this world of my own creation, I realized that we had made a terrible world full of suffering. A world without hope and full of destruction.
Liana was right. I cannot stay trapped in the past. I must keep moving forward because there is still a task I must complete to atone for my mistakes.
My vision clears. The winter scenery from before has now transformed into a dark, hot room. My entire body is in immense pain. My left eye is blind, and my left wrist seems to be broken. All of this is thanks to that psychopathic brat. However, he did give me something useful.
It's time to get out of this place.
***
[Siena PoV]
The next day, the entire army was lined up in the city square, ready to move and execute the strategy I proposed yesterday. After listening to the encouraging speeches from each general, the troops finally set out toward their respective routes.
I and the battalion I lead will be part of the force heading toward the Tuscan Forest.
However, I am slightly worried about leaving that man alone here. Previously, Prince Vlad tortured Raul without my permission. Because of that, I failed to ask him again about the function of the artifact I just unified.
I don't know what their past relationship was like, but I have guaranteed the man's safety as long as he is my prisoner.
"Ezio."
"Yes, Captain Siena?" the young man beside me asks.
"You will not be joining the battlefield," I command him.
"Huh? Why, Captain? I haven't sustained any serious injuries and I'm much stronger than before!" the youth complains.
"I want you to guard the prisoner from Prince Vlad," I answer. "Do not let him enter the holding cell."
Ezio is about to complain again, but I stare at him coldly, signaling that my decision is final. The boy lowers his head and leaves the city square.
To be honest, Ezio is a talented kid. This war has tempered him, making him more mature and stronger, further enhancing his combat abilities. However, war is extremely cruel to young potential. They could easily die before reaching the peak of their potential in the future.
That is why I chose him to guard Raul here—to keep him away from a meaningless death. He has shown enough courage in this war already.
"Time to return to the battlefield."
If we win this battle, we can begin launching counter-attacks into Imperial territory.
***
[Ezio PoV]
This is so annoying!
Why did Captain Siena tell me to stay behind here? I want to participate on the battlefield just like everyone else. Sigh... But what can I do besides follow her orders?
Currently, I am in the city's basement, heading toward the place where the man is held. Earlier, I heard that the Captain had a confrontation with her fiancé—Prince Vlad. I heard this from Marcela, who was on guard duty yesterday.
That was the first time I saw Captain Siena truly angry. She is usually quiet and calm, but since yesterday, the Captain has looked like she's in a bad mood all day.
After descending the stairs, I open the door to the holding cell. The black-haired man is sitting there, leaning against the wall. This time, I can see that his expression isn't hollow like it was the past few days.
"You're awake, you bastard?" I call out to him.
He raises his head and looks into my eyes with his one good eye—the other being injured.
"You look very young," the man says. "Until now, the person guarding me was always the same age as me."
For some reason, seeing his face and hearing him say that makes me irritated.
"What's this? Did I kill all of your Senior members back then?" the man asks mockingly.
His words make my temper flare. I try my best to stay calm and ignore his rambling.
"I thought the Cavalier Squad was filled with great soldiers capable of matching a Knight," the man speaks again. "But as it turns out, you're no different from ordinary, weak soldiers."
Stay calm... stay calm... I have to restrain myself.
"However, I suppose I was wrong for setting my expectations too high for Non-Sorcerers like you."
Again, he hurls sharp words as if intentionally provoking me.
"Without Siena, who is a Sorcerer, your squad is nothing special. It was proven by facing me alone—they were slaughtered easily. You want to rival knights in combat? Don't make me laugh. Your destiny is to be beneath us, the magic users!"
Enough! I stand up, walk over to him, and kick his head hard.
— Bamm!
The man's body rolls and ends up sprawling on the floor.
"I won't let you insult the Seniors who died with honor!" I shout at him.
But instead of feeling pain after being kicked so hard, the man starts laughing like a madman.
"Hahaha! 'Died with honor,' you say?" the man says. "Want to know how the Seniors you admire died at my hands? Do you know who was the biggest coward among them when facing death?"
I won't forgive him. This has gone way too far.
— Sringgg!
I draw my sword this time.
"Let's see how much of a coward you are when you face death, you piece of trash!"
I swing a slash intended to decapitate the bastard. However, something impossible happens.
Suddenly, the man stands up and catches my wrist with his hand. The handcuffs that were supposed to restrain him suddenly fall to the floor.
"Oh, how about we test how much of a coward you are when facing death."
— Bammm!
After saying those words, he headbutts my nose hard, making me stumble backward. Ughhh... It feels like he broke my nose. But as my vision recovers, a foot is suddenly in front of me, about to strike my nose again.
— Bammm!
My body is thrown against the wall, and my sword slips from my grasp. I try to crawl and reach for my sword again, but suddenly the man stomps on my hand with immense force.
"Arrrgghhh! Let go! Let go!"
He then picks up my sword with his right hand.
"How did you get those handcuffs off!?" I ask, bewildered.
The man smiles upon hearing this. He drops something onto the floor in front of my face. It's a sharp wire...
Where did he find that? And how did he know how our handcuffs worked!?
"You know, Prince Vlad visited me earlier," he says to me. "A long time ago, he owed me a favor. I suppose our debt is settled now."
I don't know what this man is talking about. However, I did hear that Prince Vlad once studied at the Grunbelt Academy in the Empire.
"Give him my regard."
— Baamm!!!
After saying that, the man kicks my head hard again, knocking me unconscious.