—————–———————————————
Ryu's POV
—————–———————————————

Walking down the streets of Greif, I could almost see visages of me and Akari racing down them, laughing all the way.

I hope she can still smile like she used to. Everyone in the village complimented her smile whenever they could.

Though we didn't stay in Greif for long, Akari certainly made her mark on the people while she was here.

That was one of the reasons why I told her to go to Old Man Frien when everything happened with the No-Names.

Maybe I hurt her more by sending her here. I knew Old Man Frien was ill, but I didn't expect him to die so soon.

I wonder why I'm even sitting in front of his grave right now.

Do I feel grief? Do I feel gratitude? Should I say thank you? Should I start crying from loss?

I don't know. I really don't know.

My emotions seemed to be fighting in a whirlwind in my head right now, fighting for supremacy.

But I didn't seem to feel anything. Maybe everything I'm currently feeling all amounts to nothing. Maybe I'm not even human, not feeling anything after the loss of someone close.

I don't know. I probably don't want to know.

Though the things I said to Captain were out of spite, only hoping to appease him, maybe they had some truth.

"Ryu?" (???)

From behind me, a voice called me, deep yet somewhat calming.

"... Zion." (Ryu)

"Come on. Don't call me that. Don't be so distant." (Zion Frien)

"... What do you want?" (Ryu)

"Haah, well, I've not told Akari you're here. She'll find out though, don't underestimate her." (Zion Frien)

"Right..." (Ryu)

"... She's doing fine. Even after Dad's death, she picked herself up quickly. Do y'know why?" (Zion Frien)

"... I... I don't..." (Ryu)

"She didn't want you to see her in such a sorry state. She didn't know when you were gonna come back, so she made sure you'd be proud of her when you did." (Zion Frien)

His words seemed to dismantle something in my chest, as if he was opening a path somewhere inside me.

"You did well, Ryu. I don't know what happened 3 years ago. She never told me. But she never let it hold her back. She's still living everyday as best she can. And y'know what? Those letters you sent? They're the only times I see her cry. Whether that be from joy or otherwise." (Zion Frien)

The more he speaks, the less control I feel I have over my emotions. As I listened, I didn't even realise that tears were pooling in my eyes.

"I--I don't know... What am I supposed to feel? I'm so confused... I don't feel anything... Even as I sit by the grave, I feel nothing... What should I feel?" (Ryu)

"I don't know, Ryu. That's something for you to figure out. You're you, and I'm me. I can't tell you how to feel. I can't tell you how to act. I can only help." (Zion Frien)

"I'm-- I'm so scared... I don't know if I can protect her... I don't... I don't want to lose her too..." (Ryu)

"... Well, sitting here isn't gonna help you, is it?" (Zion Frien)

He steps closer towards me as he speaks, stretching out his hand.

"Let's go, yeah? Maybe you can call me how you used to?" (Zion Frien)

"Z-- Zi..." (Ryu)

"There you go." (Zion Frien)

He pulls me up off the ground when I respond to him, and he half-walks, half-drags me out of the cemetery.

"I'm not going to force you to meet with Akari, but you will at some point. She'll know you're here." (Zion Frien)

"I know... I just... I don't know what I'll say to her..." (Ryu)

"You say that like you know what she'll say." (Zion Frien)

"I do... And it's haunting me." (Ryu)

"..." (Zion Frien)

We continue walking for a few minutes, but at points I could feel Zi's gaze on me.

"Listen, Ryu. I don't know what happened 3 years ago. Whether you want to tell me or not, it doesn't change the fact that you're still stuck during that time. It may not be easy to free yourself from it, but don't isolate yourself. Believe it or not, you have people around you that might be willing to listen." (Zion Frien)

As he talks, he places his hand on top of my head and ruffles my hair.

"Well, let's put that behind us. Y'know what's coming up in a few days?" (Zion Frien)

"No...?" (Ryu)

"It's the festival. Y'know the one." (Zion Frien)

"The Founding Festival?" (Ryu)

"That's the one! Everyone across the town is prepping for it. I mean, we even got one of your knight friends to help us." (Zion Frien)

"Who?" (Ryu)

"I think his name was Etsu? You should see him cutting wood, nobody can beat his speed!" (Zion Frien)

"I'm sure Captain would..." (Ryu)

"Ah, now that you mention it, he was a behemoth, wasn't he? With that body, I'd be surprised if anyone could beat him." (Zion Frien)

"Do you... Know who he is?" (Ryu)

"Your Captain? No, not at all." (Zion Frien)

"Well, apparently he's the Hero." (Ryu)

"The one from the war? That doesn't surprise me. He looks like he could take 3 demons on in a fist fight." (Zion Frien)

The idle chatter between us continues as we walk through town, passing by people who all carried all sorts of supplies and boxes for the festival.

At certain parts of the roads, wooden poles were being set up at either side so they could be used to hang decorations.

Many of the shops that were about town had signs up stating their discounts for the week of the festival, and many of them were almost out of stock from what we could see from the outside.

Every now and again, we would see other children run past holding shabby wooden swords, as well as others making little decorations.

"Hey, Zi?" (Ryu)

"Hm, what's up?" (Zion Frien)

"Where're Archi and Freja?" (Ryu)

"Ah... We... Aren't too sure." (Zion Frien)

"What does that mean?" (Ryu)

"They've been gone since Akari got here, so about 3 years. They just... Disappeared? Everyone in town knew they'd been planning to leave, so we just kinda accepted it." (Zion Frien)

"That's a shame..." (Ryu)

"... Shall we go help with some of the decorations?" (Zion Frien)

"... Sure!" (Ryu)

—————–———————————————
Author Notes
—————–———————————————

I hate that these past few chapters I've had to edit and release in the same night, but oh well.

These past few chapters have been a little emotionally heavy, maybe a bit too much, but that should hopefully wear off in the coming chapters.

But that's all I have to say, so please continue reading!