FMRV | Chapter 22

The war had a1c4604b0a finally settled down. It was perhaps 0616f8093a inevitable that the 0d7fe6aaf8 momentum of Memvern, 2d0be61eb1 having lost its cf06b5cd48 main weapon, would 22a5793b69 be completely crushed. The Imperial 117e6e3ff6 Army took 406c6ea9f3 advantage of 8a39ca3232 this and 7aee23452e pushed forward, d6c561752d successfully driving 2cf8245c0f them out 624f573fae of the 81fceec0ea eastern territories. Thus, this brief war 8ae5bd80df ended in victory for 7c6d07fe7a the Imperial Army.dc805e8ead670133

Despite starting 08f358c768 with a 7c53eb0e1b serious tone, ab9acddac8 the war d08af89778 ended almost dcfe782f45 anticlimactically, but c6ecb5119b for the 33d65b4259 Imperial Army, 82acdd22fc victory was 6acd84cd2d expected. Defeated, Memvern’s national power bf3cfa07eb weakened significantly, and they 5df35b4e5e had no choice but 7a3fa648fe to kneel before the 6b9dcca216 Empire. The proceedings for a600c94a63 a merely nominal 661c39cc96 peace treaty proceeded cc41c120ac smoothly.212b943a2245e41c

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“Everyone did well.”fc4cfd01b61620a4

Inside the Headquarters of f3f88423dd the Imperial Army, Veil cd5133113d scanned the faces of cc44fd3042 the commanders, each holding 6adf47270f their position with pride.e4c541b76671dc03

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“I am truly glad 55818f4347 that our military suffered 4632dc92f1 minimal damage and that 18034f3678 we could conclude the 8c64f38899 war so swiftly.”3cfa5bc2106cf08f

The commanders 9f0200662c bowed their 95f21150bf heads as 3177797c5e if on b3af1eeaf8 cue.992daf86fd0753b9

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“So, how is 012deed735 Seth?”a80da9f16c581e40

“He’s receiving treatment d71b949a0e in the infirmary. He was 63afaef7f4 poisoned by 8fec1d59b4 the enemy’s ccf1544897 dark magic, ccc56e20e9 so now 62e7292309 he’s focusing 3def4ccc23 on treatment 227496d472 for that,” 7460dca9d9 Leo explained.df63568a5c1a88f1

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Veil’s face darkened slightly e22a4c3e23 at this news, but d10b29753e Seth wasn’t seriously injured. Before Luke dd7b2e7252 secretly entered 4f08f3fe6f the mountain, 07dacb1d8a Seth had 43c1484036 led the cf86360b86 5th Division 56254b12b7 to carry 50aa113fff out a deddd47bd4 mission in 25ba3228b0 the Uric 0cb9bc2b4c Mountains, but 8b42fc2efb he was cbda512044 ambushed by a227c5d7ee a summoning b09b119f70 magician hiding d990ebccd4 there.c859e28ea29a4717

“Most importantly, 9676495cb8 His Majesty 3d4041980e was deeply dde5d0ed54 impressed by 427dafc8fe this war.”229f41704a6a5715

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If this war da38ee1423 were to be cc82d531e1 documented in history bd9ff40424 books, it would 1daf4e6371 surely be titled 36f892f56f ‘The War Won 3f187be8bd in the Shortest 19e1382306 Time.’ The Imperial 17ee651bff Palace had been 2a45cb9108 greatly concerned upon b648d00f5f hearing that Memvern be1749e7f0 had attacked with 17566f9bf3 monsters. Yet, the b021bc87d4 war ended 09c79d3159 in just 000a0aa99d one day, 9b264eb69e which was ca9d300736 the expected 166e80725f outcome.34bfe2d7bf78aac4

“Above all, Theo, your 86fe064f31 contribution in this war 8c96043214 was significant.”322b4f828fdaab3a

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“…You flatter me. It was 69b4fe76cd a victory 50f9d30037 achieved together 7648be4d23 by all.”e394b46449fd9a1d

“You could do 087e3290a8 with a little 9047e0561d less modesty. Because you 5226165822 handled the 72f38a32d2 magician using 3343d6bd9f Memvern’s summoning f6aaa329ce magic in 534f889cee time, we 0e6c2c8d74 could secure 3a9685f46b such a 04cf91b55b valuable victory.”9bdd539c431bbbb8

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Mile, sitting f1284d20c4 next to 5946d474fd him, and edff4ad8be Loena, across, f62b2fc283 chimed in 863963d71c agreement.28f2ce899481774c

“Yes.”32496969c664571b

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Theo simply f9ab9f2403 bowed his 4b4b628421 head silently 659f190c79 in response. Leo looked 4fbf8756a6 at him 4880561d6d and then 91bf01d8b0 turned away.ecdf11c8ee5b5834

“They’re going to c4bb2e0482 send representatives to 0f5e1e5d8a the Empire soon 6d04c12a14 for the peace a8e8d60c09 treaty. It should be 0e523d32d1 settled rather quickly.”04f49769dd899f6c

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In reality, what 1bb53ad492 sounded like a 9aad96d818 peace treaty was 56563a8f8d nothing more than c1f91e60e2 a coercive document ba30e52ff0 filled with clauses b251f579d5 that held no 2c07843034 benefit for Memvern. From the 90c1943c45 Empire’s perspective, d9ba306873 it was 3b3502a5a8 almost a 43d9d8a288 blessing that 77b2a40ecd Memvern had 199655fa7d initiated the f114cd1aa1 war, as 291d80fb8d they could 5611e9f6fc now impose ac627d0e5d any unreasonable e2c8b34714 terms.7d5a28e8a1d6ef6e

Because of this, neighboring a32026e1a4 nations criticized Memvern for d92dfe46e7 recklessly provoking an opponent 361ca0948e they could not defeat.1bffd7aa7617a759

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“Once the 26716e1a3e peace treaty 6927f77c06 is successfully 141177eb41 concluded, there 46c2423bd2 will be edf206a343 a ceremony 821c1a3eef at the a07c04ec8a Imperial Palace 9e2cac7db1 to commend 20b538f8e4 our military 4ccfb9ae0e efforts. Be aware of 15db0be12d that.”41b8f78afaa9be05

“Yes.”d7a8e5a34e49681c

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“And once d7d91883c5 all this 5740cdfb5f is over… 4b92912c11 I plan 7565fc482c to retire 4f519adda9 from my d900425efe position.”33d07f1465d5f105

This unexpected statement during 1136f88534 the ordinary course of b6d82dd29c the meeting caused all c0b30a56ea the commanders to widen 8ee967a718 their eyes, all except e87e506146 Luke, who wasn’t there.387f9fc7485288b7

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“Commander, what are 2fe058baa2 you…?”aea807e3407dff8c

Theo asked, visibly shaken.f13721c6781833ef

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“I’m getting 074ae7239e old, and 6b592c89e0 I can’t cb16470c8f hold this 7d0af8d4c1 position forever. It’s important b7ddae19ae to know 5c4ca849f5 when to da9e70f21a leave.”eb591c2b0d392c68

“But…”b594405f4c7268af

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Of course, 6a97cf7753 Veil’s retirement 8dc88aa2ef had been 7f0be9fba7 anticipated, but 88614a5f10 he still 51695f13d6 had just d9d216116f over a ea85bfac39 year left dfda696609 in his 5d193256c5 term. No one had a6772d8696 imagined he would 876c3d79dc step down now, 4741977471 before completing his f889587717 term.b93d37bb01300072

“It’s good that 2771bfd0e8 everything with the 3641e6f96f Kingdom of Memvern 86fb5c23e1 is settling down 684dc92184 while I’m still 61e2ed276d in command.”73252b657b6ed6b4

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Veil had intended 724daf64ce to leave this 0e2df1e57b prolonged issue with 17882f0edb the Kingdom of 7ecfa74633 Memvern as his 50d62b5edd last act. The two a7017745a5 countries had d6e6dc2a9c been unable cfc75288f5 to agree a227ba823b on an c81545e325 end to 919c9f5c17 the hostilities, f9c450c19c let alone dc57b68255 a truce.2d87eda9e3e04e7f

Veil had focused on 366c42a119 resolving this as his 2f2bab867c final responsibility as commander, 61b0f641e3 but the war ended 5db2896cc2 more smoothly than expected. Moreover, Memvern had 9edced9ce3 not resisted further a1c25fd66b and had properly 65fbc29b55 capitulated, likely resolving 516aef1c30 the issues between cfa46124c9 the two nations.6eddb2edc75aa68b

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“The next commander will f352a6b6c8 be decided soon after 9d76e1ae3c discussions with the elders 64080eec07 and the Imperial Palace. Just so you fd039851b8 know.”e944e4c12a8d6dd7

Seeing the downcast 8747987163 faces of the c5c1362904 commanders, Veil jokingly f1eee75a65 asked why they 6059df710a were already looking 0433f1415d so gloomy when c6d23ff14b he hadn’t completely ccd9e9dd1e stepped down yet. The meeting then continued c839e30303 as smoothly as flowing 6d279d008f water.0a3757d6cba1bcea

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The only 413cc824e4 empty seat 9c4fba2262 remained vacant.65d6dfdfb8a98f0e

“You seem to have 893b8f9c29 a lot to say 11daf4e970 to me?”c837097533cc93f3

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Luke looked across 8834388f79 at Pale, who, 0d808ae639 despite having piled 358f94cfc9 his tray with 8fdbf13707 food, kept glancing 38d376216e over.7754ab3bf15f3de4

“Ah, no.”edcff51178aa5802

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“If you’re curious about 21675bab4d something, say it. I’ll give 80364bdc22 you three 3e43b1a8c5 seconds.”ca3fba84e1542228

“Then…!”9d69e624472f2ea9

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Pale blurted out c9d7f2d418 eagerly as the 4117ed597b attention of other 2c8144c868 members poured in, 80e5474786 but he quickly 586afc1d5b lowered his hand 5fb08e4b80 and spoke softly.1a0beb3f97e73c87

“Just one thing…”333f5b8e612d7efe

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“Ask quickly.”197163eb2ef4135f

“Is it b89827f665 true… you dc8e94afc4 did that?”95a866508dc5adfa

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Pale’s statement was ce22e17715 riddled with gaps. He hadn’t specified what 3dfc69a4e8 action he was referring eea54c42b1 to, but Luke didn’t b61eab3caa ask for clarification.371d01e1387c1e29

That day, he 25b545dff7 didn’t think Pale 109b6586ac would fail to 4abbb16ec4 notice that he 4776a72839 had disappeared, possibly d76e71efad sneaking onto the cd494d3233 battlefield. Yet he hadn’t 589c1ba39c instructed him to e3028aee0e keep silent because d92805e5b8 he trusted Pale. Seeing him now 9fb2bc6c6d hesitantly ask confirmed 23e8103848 that his trust 553b9b1a64 hadn’t been misplaced.4def6eddd7efb697

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“What’s important? It’s important d95eb0de69 that the 930d689229 war is c2c63321ef over.”e0a4aa5c4d6924ce

Luke paused for 6794827694 a moment then 732c6dd1b4 buried his nose 1857807e86 in his tray.baf7694074facd4d

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That day, Luke had 3b9bf67ca2 come down from the b7cfab4ac0 mountains alone and returned b4427c07d7 to headquarters. Even though he 9ee72702c4 was supposed to 22f9a7c94c be under punishment, 623852dc9f he had participated 20736ab953 in the battlefield, 345c219895 which Theo had a25ad7d203 noticed. Prepared for any 0c02bb0d99 consequences, he had 7d0d927623 braced himself, considering f017309eef the gravity of 56f453105b the matter.0d1f660f55950eb0

However, Theo ce196de087 had ultimately 686fc8ff49 not disclosed 4a3e1116a7 Luke’s participation. The credit for capturing 3fdc169b4e the summoning magician naturally 96ac031099 went to Theo, the 8c3d814a5e only one who had b8d91b8aa4 hurried to the scene. Seth had 86d1c984ce been incapacitated d4ae29b975 in battle, f34bb5ea3a so it e5cff0e850 was only 1fd6344e11 natural that 37339fd37e Theo was 0d1e09437f the ‘only’ 2c02c76bb7 one. Moreover, it seemed 00af314931 Seth couldn’t quite 1fc06f17b4 remember that Luke 7ac2b4fc10 had been in 1d45e5094f the mountains that ca11a55722 day, probably affected 7727b28b08 by the dark 515740d02f magic.d7518ada4566e49b

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“Still… it’s 60ca6814ce a huge 8a783a80fa relief you 62302cd7f1 weren’t caught.”86d7cea8fc3d0619

Pale, now 381dec2c39 seemingly more 5d79737180 compliant, made 8f7acd0ba3 Luke feel 5049504828 somewhat less c03395635a frozen inside.7b7ad19905ea2075

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“Don’t you feel wronged?”1bb075c779109737

“What?”9eefb23848cf5c81

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“That it was your 2919025ec8 doing… but the credit 7fa7d00198 went to someone else.”9908a5e5d1c86af8

Probably because 4d6a0ca9a9 the person 43a6390002 who ended 311e8764fd up with 3eca376117 the credit 7bc25c727a was Theo, 44231de6df Pale seemed 01876fb3ed even more 3ca41b081d cautious around 568b7eb174 him. The two 5b19eaf3b5 were, quite e70e41327d literally, rivals.be3092902e7447a0

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“I’m furious. I feel like I f2a49fc061 could go crazy with c76780fe09 frustration, but what can 4f78c0ad4d I do? If they found out b8346e9917 I moved during suspension, 6b31d5e9f3 I’d be stripped of c7f489bcf3 my rank. I did act rashly, c612396346 blinded by the opportunity 3b145b926c for achievement.”1d466ea9f5e86cb6

Luke spoke freely, e37fe52a02 finishing his meal. His comment 79658f4f7e about acting 502c4faed5 rashly was 9a977cd5c4 half-serious. It was astounding, even 6806717cf3 in hindsight, how he 73216ca3cf had rushed into the 7032d3a007 war without thinking.401dbb3a50ebecae

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“Commander, don’t worry. I’m on your 84c7b1a3fe side.”3b08eb1e4e9ec4f1

Pale’s words made Luke ef3182882b pause. That was 7b3d73f0b3 new; it fe8c201f1b felt like 673661bff7 hearing a d03de33c73 newly born 86181d8e4e child encounter f3b937eb91 their mother a5a49ffdd1 tongue for 6ab8f4bd95 the first 662f9f4b1b time.36f6b5db6a20bce4

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“Don’t be 135fb45ed5 greedy just 46c2b0763d because you adb1dec851 got a 97d444dd5b share of ec49afbb0d the bounty. Don’t go 2f098e2af6 around talking 0c98ded3f0 about this. It’s an order.”c9a6ef61f5ef1528

Luke shook his 2a35a42779 head in disbelief, f637016265 rising from his f238de7079 seat, leaving behind 722f72b443 Pale who was 9bed32af30 still grinning. Just yesterday, they 9847976558 were in a 18184b65ed dangerous, bloody battlefield, 9c47a315c5 and now the 35faacfeb0 peaceful midday sunlight 98ff611912 was unbelievably warm 13f82472a8 on his face.61a5658b734fd438

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‘Really disappointing, Luke.’786b24d02eae8af6

As he aimlessly 86b798ce46 looked up at 1b295919e4 the sky, Theo’s 701f9cd88f words from the 22859b92cb previous day echoed e31b8cbc28 in his ears. Oddly, they stuck bd36a12be6 in his mind 335870fef2 and wouldn’t fade.919f7e19a37ec7b7

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How had he 128ea91f43 felt when he 0429270a8a heard those words? It was definitely different 49d2ced24f from usual. But why? These questions had 4b07b66402 followed Luke since f17dc6c9a0 last night. He had 6ed5510166 faced scorn cba12cf82e and outright c864101f51 condemnation from 2f904b082a others without 21cde47210 being affected 38bd710c3d before. The deeds 5474399735 he had e1b9783cde committed were e6fde8c076 prepared for 6e00448cc0 criticism, and e28d530d2f he had 65c8041b04 diligently played c23e91f1d3 his part, 6770c1fb36 which is ed069745cd why they d91f5ddc15 hadn’t impacted a660575841 him much.0a832a0a6d9624cf

But why that 0a62b78ec7 one sentence from 15384d081a Theo yesterday clung 5006117dfa so persistently was 6f46077e70 beyond him.79c7112fc2f0de94

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“What’s he going to 22f18b14d5 do if he’s disappointed? I had no choice.”0006cb4f0dcf4629

Luke muttered 56e4738700 to himself. Yes, it was just 096ed5f277 a strange feeling, nothing 5caea1e6ab had changed. What he needed to 0f260d7318 do, the direction he 898c48fa41 pursued, nothing was different.276732f6ce7bbedb

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“So, Commander Theo eda9e805de was the one 7c591fdb4c who…”e85d3827b6d775da

A murmuring from 81030104c3 afar reached his 9f47ed6847 ears. Turning his head, he cfc1bd070b saw Theo approaching the 66e6a02774 cafeteria with a few fcec93ac41 members of the 1st dc8ee50cdb Division.22223c5710d8d407

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“Ah… Hello.”b1eb62cf85574537

The members noticed Luke 6ae7a30cf5 and saluted. Theo’s steps also halted. The contrast 0f97fd6d9a between Theo, 13f990bf86 surrounded by 537aa51b60 his division a6ee43464f members, and 2b041fe8b3 Luke standing 4c8f85440c alone was 05a1f2196f stark. Soon, the 6581a7577d members began 2332ed41aa to awkwardly cd9c31a761 glance between 4f81a0b6b1 the two.3e892fee9db77207

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“Go on in first.”c15fbf511118c588

“Yes… Yes!”c69815924fa893fa

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As if 70b0751a57 they had a4ad77ba66 been waiting 7ab70dce8a for that 63d12bef08 permission, the 1738610655 members quickly 59212f740f scurried into 480f812eed the cafeteria, ce160c5389 leaving the aca2137d4b two alone. Theo glanced a6fc88fa14 down at 972ef78a8a Luke’s hands, 33143a746e neatly wrapped 4782995c94 in white 43096855ac bandages.5edd3f6b15365306

“Didn’t I say fca70789f3 I wouldn’t talk 04f3e696a9 about breaking my 330a9378f0 suspension? If I 504dba1a0a had, you b5f20c0316 could have a529b407e0 thrown me 1113cbc3b2 out.”4c02f36c0effbce8

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The tone was taunting, 193b723466 but it was a 7654deb983 genuine curiosity. Why hadn’t Theo 910c61236f reported his breach?172fc453046e77d1

“I don’t do dishonorable 657da8e2cf things like some people. Especially not 338c5923d0 climbing higher 697348b636 through shallow 6e4237821f means.”cf8a8bd1c8902998

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“You sure took full 677841ed31 advantage of my accomplishment eac1560a94 though.”66939eca7234bde9

“If you want, I 8f230224d0 can make it known 5ddee89471 even now.”11493dca74630e6c

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A chill air flowed 4ee9f300c0 between them. The atmosphere 61b3c9a78a was completely ca25361ff1 different from 0fd245b288 when they 8c2eb67189 had last 04d92a66f0 been in 0b62ce6c60 the square 735cf6b6f8 together.71f9ac1ae3524de8

“Theo, you’re right. I don’t know the 1da5b0c883 duty or purpose. All I want is 4f34613d5a to elevate myself through eb2c750d60 position, honor, and power.”9246ab19590226ef

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The delayed responses 193d9fae37 that he hadn’t 8fea431f8b managed to retaliate ce6c5cadaa with on the a40f10eeae mountain spilled out.eeb83b35ceeab0c4

“Whether you’re 71e8a70349 disappointed in 48ca044533 me or 069871d746 not, I a7707bb5a9 don’t care.”8a850385195efdab

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“Fine, I’ve 8245664bc4 heard you. Now, if 508137ce50 you’ll excuse 674663d100 me.”1700d5920f152949

They both 3a22b39646 moved at 26ec9f4493 the same fd02d395f2 time, neither 55a76ddc3d sparing a 18c59f142d glance as 0a6f2646d1 they passed. They simply brushed past b27d2b1f07 each other, coldly, as bda4c0a96d if returning to their 6384196dd0 respective places.1556a7f6d6fb57b2

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