Moreau walked through the corridors of the barracks.
The hall was quieter than usual, with most officers already deep in their duties.
He first went to the desk officer for a eting with Perrin who then replied to him.
"Capitaine, Colonel has told if you need to et him, you can directly knock".
Confused by this sudden change of attitude.
Moreau still continued towards the door.
As he reached the heavy wooden door, he took a deep breath before knocking twice.
"Enter," ca Perrin's voice, firm yet tired.
Moreau stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
Perrin was hunched over his desk, flipping through a seemingly endless pile of reports.
His brows lifted when he saw Moreau.
"Capitaine Moreau, to what do I owe the pleasure?" he said, setting his pen down and gesturing for him to speak.
Moreau stood at attention. "Sir, I'd like to request leave. I need to visit my family in Lyon."
Perrin's expression didn't change imdiately.
Instead, he leaned back in his chair, studying Moreau like one might study a chess piece before making a move.
"Family?" he mused, as if testing the word.
Moreau nodded. "Yes, sir. I received a letter from my mother today. I haven't seen them in over a year."
Perrin exhaled through his nose and gestured to his adjutant, standing quietly near the bookshelves.
"Fetch Capitaine Moreau's personnel file."
The adjutant gave a sharp nod and left the room.
anwhile, Perrin clasped his hands together and regarded Moreau with a look that was sowhere between curiosity and understanding.
"A year, Moreau? Not a single leave?" he asked.
"No, sir."
Perrin shook his head slightly, muttering under his breath. "You're either incredibly dedicated or incredibly stupid. Maybe both."
Moreau didn't respond, though he smirked slightly at Perrin's tone.
The adjutant returned monts later, placing a thick folder on Perrin's desk.
The Colonel flipped it open, his eyes moving down the pages.
"Excellent service record. No leave. Countless deploynts. A few political troubles." Perrin sighed, shaking his head. "You've been carrying a lot on your shoulders, Capitaine."
Moreau remained silent.
Perrin closed the file with a decisive snap, grabbed a blank leave form, and dipped his pen into the inkwell.
"Two weeks." He scribbled down the approval, stamped the docunt, and slid it across the desk.
Moreau reached for it, but Perrin's voice stopped him.
"One last thing, Moreau."
Moreau paused, eting his superior's gaze.
Perrin leaned forward slightly.
"When you're ho, leave all of this behind. The politics, the battles, the betrayals. There are n far more powerful than you and who will handle this ss. Let them."
Moreau hesitated, then nodded. "Understood, sir."
Perrin sighed, leaning back. "Good. And Capitaine… family is sothing war cannot replace. Don't take it for granted."
Moreau saluted. "I won't, sir."
Perrin gave him a final nod of dismissal. "Get out of here before I change my mind."
As Moreau stepped out into the hallway, he took a deep breath.
It felt strange.
He had spent so much ti in military life ever since he ca here that the concept of going ho felt foreign.
Not to ntion a ho that he still has yet to fully accept as his.
Before he could dwell on it further, the door creaked open again.
"Well?" ca Renaud's voice.
Moreau glanced at him, smirking as he held up his stamped leave form.
"Two weeks. We're going ho."
Renaud let out a low whistle, grinning as he adjusted his coat.
"Finally. It's about damn ti you took a break."
Moreau shook his head, crossing his arms. "You realize you still have to go in there, right?"
Renaud groaned, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah, yeah, let's get this over with."
With that, Renaud pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Perrin barely looked up.
"Ah, the famous Renaud. Here to follow your Capitaine, I assu?"
Renaud grinned. "What can I say, sir? He's helpless without ."
Perrin exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "I doubt that. Have a seat, Renaud."
Renaud plopped into the chair across from Perrin, stretching his legs out slightly.
"So. Leave?" Perrin asked, grabbing another blank form.
"Yes, sir. Two weeks, just like Moreau."
Perrin's lips curled into sothing between a smirk and a frown. "You two are like fleas. Where one goes, the other follows."
Renaud shrugged. "I like to think of it as loyalty."
Perrin chuckled dryly. "Loyalty is good. Stupidity, less so."
He stamped the paper but didn't hand it over imdiately.
Instead, he tapped his pen against the desk and looked at Renaud seriously.
"When a tree grows, all those living beneath it benefit from its shade."
Renaud blinked. "…Sir?"
Perrin sighed. "You may not understand now, but you will. Just don't forget that there is more to war than just fighting it."
Renaud frowned slightly, clearly confused.
Perrin slid the stamped leave form across the desk.
"Go. Enjoy your ti off. But rember what I said."
Renaud picked up the paper, still processing the words.
"Uh… yes, sir."
Perrin smirked. "Dismissed."
Renaud stood quickly, saluted, and turned on his heel.
As he walked out, he muttered under his breath.
"What the fuck does that even an?"
Outside the office Moreau stood exactly where he left him, arms crossed, waiting.
"Well?" Moreau asked, raising an eyebrow.
Renaud huffed, shaking his head.
"I got the leave, but Perrin decided to go full philosopher on . Said so cryptic shit about trees and shade."
Moreau frowned. "Trees?"
"Yeah. Sothing about people benefiting from the growth of a tree. I have no idea what the old bastard ant, but I nodded and left before he could make write a report on it."
Moreau smirked. "You think he's trying to ss with you?"
"Wouldn't surprise ." Renaud exhaled, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "But forget about that. We actually have ti off, and I intend to enjoy every second of it."
Moreau grinned, adjusting his belt. "You looking forward to eting my family?"
Renaud pretended to think.
"Your mother? Definitely. Your father? Eh, I'll behave. Your brother? I feel like he's either going to admire or want to shoot ."
Moreau snorted. "Most likely both."
Renaud laughed, slinging an arm over Moreau's shoulder.
"Co on, Capitaine. We've got a train to catch."
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