As Maxwell left the gates of the Giralian Estate with Frilo standing on his shoulder, he let out a soft sigh, pausing to gaze skyward at the warmth of the sun. Evening was fast approaching, and the heat of the sunlight had grown remarkably llow.
Maxwell stood under the warmth, one hand on his waist, the other hand raised like a visor to shield his eyes as he squinted, staring at the sun.
Frilo, standing on his shoulder, let out a low squeaking sound.
Max imdiately frowned, moving his sight and attention away from the sun as he gazed at the spirit standing on his shoulder.
’Where did you scurry off earlier?’
Frilo grinned mischievously as it sat on Max’s shoulder.
Then a flute-like sound bellowed.
Maxwell’s brows relaxed, and he even raised a brow.
"I’ll find out tomorrow?" As he asked this, Maxwell chuckled. "Now you’ve got curious what you’re up to."
Detecting its master’s growing curiosity, Frilo imdiately changed the topic, shifting the flow of the conversation as its wings flapped, and it rose slowly in the air.
’Hm? Where are we going now?’
Frilo made its way to Maxwell’s blue hair, and it ruffled it, scattering his hair until it finally sat comfortably.
Maxwell ignored this action of his spirit, and he placed a hand on his jaw.
"The day is still young," he uttered. "And seeing the fact that we’re leaving tomorrow, I figured we’ll use what’s left of the day to..."
Maxwell’s gaze turned somber, and a warm smile widened his lips as he, once again, gazed up at the sky.
"...Say our goodbyes."
Frilo, sitting on Maxwell’s hair, remained quiet. Wide blue eyes widening and wetting.
After a mont of silence, Maxwell observed his mood and felt the pricking sadness that Frilo felt through his soul-link.
And so, he cleared his throat, flashing a bright smile as he clapped his hands.
Frilo flinched, shaken from the sudden action.
"Now!" Maxwell declared. "Let’s go et Eithan, who’s probably at the shared rcenary accommodation by now, and we’ll say our goodbyes earlier than we’d expected. And then, after that, we’ll go et Vin at his ho."
Frilo’s expression noticeably brightened up as Maxwell said this. It began to smile, however faintly. The prospect of seeing Eithan and Vin one last ti ward up its tiny heart. Although the spirit was unsure if the warmth in its heart was happiness or sadness. However, it was a bittersweet feeling. And Maxwell felt it.
Maxwell began walking, heading toward Eithan’s house.
"Ah," the blue haired mage exclaid. "I don’t suppose you’ve seen Vin’s kids before, have you? Very adorable children they are. I think you were still in cyclical slumber when he introduced to them."
Frilo gasped, a shocked expression on its face as its lips widened to utter sothing.
Then, as if forcing itself to speak properly, it uttered:
"Pi~!"
Maxwell, understanding it, only giggled, teasing his spirit.
"Even if you see them tonight, they won’t be able to see you~"
The vein on Frilo’s forehead bulged.
"Pi!!"
Maxwell laughed endlessly as he made his way to Eithan.
***
As they arrived at the shared rcenary accommodation, Maxwell paused.
The place wasn’t too far away from the guild. And, as Maxwell gazed at the wooden building, he couldn’t help but smile.
Only a few weeks ago, this had been his living space. And it would have remained so if he hadn’t regressed.
Thinking about it, this was the place that housed most of the warm early mories that Maxwell had. He rembered himself being cold and aloof back in his past life, but, as he grew as a rcenary, taking more tasks and even growing as a mage, the people in this accommodation beca friendly to him.
They were like family at so point. And Eithan had been the closest to Maxwell.
’I sll sothing nice,’ Maxwell mused. And Frilo, on his head, nodded in agreent.
Maxwell chuckled.
’Seems like Malik is at it again.’
He’d have to thank that young chef soday. Maxwell wondered if he’d have pieced together his dream and the map for his new life if he hadn’t watched Malik’s cooking.
He probably would’ve, but that was besides the point.
There were no rcenaries on the lawn. And those wooden chairs placed on top of the slightly overgrown grass were empty. Only the rope lines were clothes hung on the lawn.
Maxwell tilted his head.
’How odd. Eithan’s always here, sun gazing and feeling the evening breeze at this ti. Sa with the other guys.’
Without making any more observations, Maxwell shrugged and walked into the compound, heading toward the entrance of the door.
As he stepped onto the lawn, a shirtless rcenary holding a bucket filled with clothes stepped out.
Maxwell paused.
The young rcenary paused too, eyes on Maxwell.
The rcenary blinked, seemingly surprised. He dropped his bucket.
’Uh...’
"Hello?" Max uttered.
"No way..." The rcenary gasped and imdiately moved his neck toward the door, facing the house as he spoke:
"Guys! S-rank rcenary Maxwell is here!"
Just then, realization hit Maxwell. And his blue eyes widened.
’Damnit.’
His hood wasn’t on!
Frilo, on Maxwell’s head, began laughing wildly and rrily, holding its tiny belly.
’Stop laughing!’
Voices began cascading from within the building:
"What? Maxwell? The one who cleared Red Valley?"
"That Maxwell? The blue-haired one?"
"He’s here? He did live here up until a while ago?"
"Really?"
"I never noticed. But... if the new legend in Ludia is here, then, I wonder just how strong he..."
The rcenary standing in front of Maxwell smiled, as the rcenaries in the building began pouring out through the entrance, so squeezing and pushing back the others. They all yelled the sa thing:
"Can you guide us with a spar, Sir Maxwell?!"
Maxwell breathed out, troubled.
All the rcenaries had gathered round Maxwell now, all wide-eyed and sparkling with excitent.
’Oh, dear.’
Just then, a young man walked out of the building’s entrance.
The rcenary’s presence caught Maxwell’s attention as he looked up at the incoming man.
Seeing the sight of the young man, Max’s gaze softened, and he smiled, breathing out in relief.
But the person he gazed at was...
Laughing his ass off, clearly having the ti of his life.
Maxwell shook his head, struggling to squirm free in the middle of the crowd of rcenaries that kept yelling:
" first! first! You’ll spar with first!"
"I’ll give you 10 bronze coins if you spar with !"
"Fuck the sparring, I’ll give 100 bronze coins just to see you fight soone else!"
anwhile, the young man who kept laughing at Maxwell leaned on the doorfra, watching the event unfold with amusent layered in his auburn eyes. And from the angle he stood, the sun reflected on his blond hair.
Maxwell, still in an uncomfortable position, stared at the young man with a pleading gaze.
"Help ... Eithan..."
As Maxwell mouthed this, Eithan laughed even more before stopping to wipe a tear off the corner of his eye.
Eithan began walking toward the crowd, clearing his throat.
"Okay, guys!" He yelled, one hand on his waist as he halted right next to them. "That’s enough, y’all are making my friend uncomfortable here!"
Hearing his yell, most of the rcenaries turned toward Eithan.
"Oh, it’s Eithan."
"Maxwell is your friend?"
"You never told us."
"Have you ever sparred with him? How strong is he?"
"Wait."
All the rcenaries turned to Eithan now, whose stern expression lted into an anxious one as they all crowded him.
Maxwell, now free, giggled, crossing his arms.
’How the tables have turned.’
Frilo mimicked Maxwell’s hand crossing, smirking at Eithan.
***
After calming the wild rcenaries, Eithan and Maxwell moved to a much quieter place. Eithan’s room.
The wooden room was surprisingly neat and well-kept, with a wide bed in the middle of the room, opposite the only window where the golden rays of the setting sun fluttered through.
Maxwell and Eithan sat on the bed.
Frilo, visible to Eithan, was flying around the young man’s head and shoulders, leaving faint trails of azure energy.
Eithan, in turn, outstretched his hands as Frilo flew, aiming to catch the adorable spirit and lock it with a wide hug.
Frilo was too fast, still he didn’t give up. But he spoke:
"Never expected to see the infamous 7th-circle S-rank get all flustered like that."
Maxwell sighed.
"Fa is... uncomfortable, Eithan."
Eithan shrugged, still waving his hands in the air as if he was trying to catch a fly.
"I wouldn’t know that."
Max raised a brow. He turned to gaze directly at the smiling Eithan, who sat beside him on the bed.
The young blond man was dressed in a light singlet and brown shorts. A complete Eithan-esque outfit. Maxwell was surprised he was wearing a singlet at all.
"You will soon, though. When you beco a great lance."
Hearing that title, Eithan’s smile faltered for a second, and he stopped waving his hands trying to catch Frilo. Instead, he turned to Maxwell, a small frown on his face.
"Yeah, I guess so."
Maxwell noticed the look on Eithan’s face, and he spoke:
"You know, I’ve never really asked this before. But why exactly do you want to beco a great lance? It’s an amazing dream, and I admire it, but it feels unlike you. You don’t want glory or fa. I know you. So why?"
Eithan had a faint smile on his lips. And for a while, his expression appeared as if he was contemplating sothing. Maybe choosing whether to actually tell Maxwell the truth or not.
Maxwell calmly waited. Even Frilo had paused its flying now that Eithan stopped chasing, and it found its way to Eithan’s head.
"I... my mother," Eithan spoke, but he soon stopped. A nasty frown that Maxwell had never witnessed from Eithan before spread on his face as he bit his lips. "My mother was killed by the Second Great Lance."
Reviews
All reviews (0)