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Etsu's POV
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To Akari,
                It's me again, Ryu. How are you? Sorry I haven't sent any letters for a while, some... things have been happening.

If you're anything like how you were back then, I'm sure you'd be worrying, so don't, I'm fine. I've joined a Reichtum Squad. I'll bet that you're happy about that, since you've liked them since we've been with the No-Names.

But I have to tell you something. Please, please, please be careful about what you do. I accidentally let someone know about you. Please, if knights or anyone else starts to look in Greif for someone your age, show Old Man Frien this letter. He'll do something.

I'm sorry for hiding you, I really am, but it's for your sake, so please listen to me.

I love you,

Ryu

I re-read the letter a few times to make sure I understood everything from it.

Akari's in Greif, under the care of someone called Frien.

It had nothing to do with the assassination plot that is currently happening. It was simply bad timing.

But, this, of course, solves one of the mysteries that we were thinking about.

It also starts a new one. Why does Ryu want to hide Akari so badly? Who is he hiding her from?

It could be the No-Names. But why would he hide her from them? Surely she'd be safer with them since their parents are the leader? But then why would Ryu leave?

Was he forced out? Then what did his parents do about it?

It doesn't really make much sense. The only way we'd get answers is from Ryu.

Though, I'd bet he won't be happy if I show him that I have this letter. But I don't think I can help it, I need answers.

Thinking this, I head out of my room and towards Ryu's.

I knock once in the door lightly, before realising that it was the middle of the night and start walking away.

"What is it?" (Ryu)

I hear a small voice from inside.

"I need to talk to you, but you should rest." (Etsu)

"Then I'll rest after you talk." (Ryu)

Through the door, his stubbornness is just as effective, so I open the door and enter.

The room was surprisingly cold and dark, with no candles lit or windows open.

There was a single candle on the cabinet that was beside the bed, so I grab a stool and sit on it, lighting the candle with a simple [Burn].

The room lights up slightly, though only the area around the bed is bright enough to see properly.

With the new-found light, I take a look at Ryu.

His eyes were dark, with bags under them, and his entire face seemed to be tired.

"You... Did you rest at all?" (Etsu)

"... What did you want to say?" (Ryu)

"Don't change the subject. You've been stabbed. Even with healing magic, you still need proper rest. Have you even slept?" (Etsu)

"... I have..." (Ryu)

"How much?" (Etsu)

"..." (Ryu)

"Haah... I'm going to say what I want, then I'll leave. After I leave, you better rest." (Etsu)

"..." (Ryu)

"... Well, I'll get right into it. Why are you hiding Akari?" (Etsu)

As soon as I speak, his face morphs into a slight look of horror as he realises what I said.

"How do you... " (Ryu)

"Greif, Frien. You recognise those names?" (Etsu)

His face morphs more and more.

I place down the letter on the cabinet beside the bed, just under the candle.

His face seems to lose all hope as he sees the letter he wrote.

"I'll ask again. Why are you hiding Akari?" (Etsu)

"Why do you-- What are you--" (Ryu)

"Answer me, Ryu." (Etsu)

"... No... Please, don't look for her... Please..." (Ryu)

Under the candle light, it was hard to fully see the face Ryu was making as he turned away from me, but the small taps against the bed sheets gave it away.

Ryu was crying.

"Ryu, tell me. Why are you hiding Akari?" (Etsu)

"No... No... Don't... Please, don't look for her... Don't go to her... Please..." (Ryu)

"Ryu, calm down and answer me." (Etsu)

Ryu's small tears soon started turning into stifled sobs.

I was never good with people who started crying, even less when they were children.

I also didn't have any hope in getting answers from Ryu when he is like this, so he needs to calm down.

Astrid and Airi are usually good with kids. I'll have to find them.

I pick up the letter that I set down and leave the room, looking for either Airi or Astrid.

After several minutes of searching, I don't see a trace of neither Captain nor Astrid, so I assume that they're still out at some aristocrat's estate and change my search to Airi.

Before long, I find her in her room, cleaning and sharpening her sword.

"Airi. I'm going to need you to come with me." (Etsu)

"Hm? Why?" (Airi)

I don't say anything and instead hand her the letter.

She takes a few minutes to read and re-read, before handing it me back and placing her sword in its sheath.

"So, where are we going?" (Airi)

"To Ryu. He's having a bit of... Trouble." (Etsu)

"Trouble?" (Airi)

"Well, I can't seem to understand him, he can't seem to speak correctly, it doesn't seem like he listens to me..." (Etsu)

I list off all the issues I had with Ryu in the room.

"... So he's crying." (Airi)

"To say it bluntly, yes." (Etsu)

"I'll see what I can do." (Airi)

The last of our conversation was outside of Ryu's room, where slight sobs could still be heard from inside.

Airi knocks slightly, doesn't get a reply, but enters anyway, taking the letter with her.

I also step inside, though hang back against the door.

"Ryu? Ryu? Are you listening?" (Airi)

He nods his head slightly.

"Are you going to stop crying?" (Airi)

No response.

"Are you worried about Akari?" (Airi)

"... Of course I am." (Ryu)

A small stubborn voice could be heard from him in response.

"Why don't you let the knights take care of her?" (Airi)

"... She's not safe. She's only safe in a place only I know. If anyone else knows, they'll know." (Ryu)

"'They'?" (Airi)

"..." (Ryu)

"Ryu, who are 'they'?" (Airi)

"... Please, don't look for her..." (Ryu)

"Ryu, listen to me. Surely she'd be safer with the knights?" (Airi)

"No... No, the knights can't... They'll lose..." (Ryu)

"Lose to who, Ryu?" (Airi)

"If you go to her, she'll not be safe... Don't go to her... She won't be..." (Ryu)

Ryu's breathing starts to quicken.

"Ryu, who will beat the knights?" (Airi)

"He will... They won't win... She'll die... She won't be safe... He'll... Kag..." (Ryu)

Ryu's breathing becomes erratic, he starts taking in breaths faster and faster as he starts hyperventilating.

"Ryu, calm down. Breathe, Ryu, breathe." (Airi)

Airi's words at Ryu's side don't seem to help as his breaths become more and more frequent.

"Ryu, listen to me. Calm down, slow your breathing." (Airi)

Ryu clutches at his chest, before slumping down in the bed having fainted.

"..." (Airi)

"... What to do now?" (Etsu)

"... What... What even happened for him to get like this?" (Airi)

"Who knows? The only way we will is through him... Or Akari, I suppose." (Etsu)

"You want to go to Greif?" (Airi)

"I won't say that I'm not curious. But I wonder how he'll react if he knows." (Etsu)

"... We'll have to discuss it with Captain." (Airi)

"As always." (Etsu)

I start to turn and leave, looking back once more to see Airi placing her hand over Ryu's, delicately, as if touching an expensive vase.

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Author Notes
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Wow, 3 chapters in a single night. That's impressive for me. Though, it is 1:40 in the morning right now, so I wonder if these chapters will actually make sense.

But hey! New Ryu backstory, kinda. This made the chapter a whole lot of fun to write. Even the letter was an absolute blast to write. But I do wonder if the hyperventilation part was done a bit too fast.

But who knows? I'll likely add something here if I've added some few bits to it to make it more realistic or something.

I did add a sentence or two, but I'm still not sure if it's enough to seem believable, but we'll see when I have a properly functioning mind that isn't drowned in tiredness.

But anyways, thank you for reading! Please continue doing so and please follow!