FMRV | Chapter 30

The one thing ab8ec43832 Luke appreciated about b7e00c6b0c the military was 17b888c76f how fast they 69ff77ee05 handled things. Of course, c94a0c14bc they dragged a2b56024ba their feet 4eff3946e5 when it 38acfceced came to 4aaa41c559 issues that 016fd96722 didn’t benefit b9a52194bd them, but 13f7c45986 not when 6dfd053dce it involved 12198d43a8 critical matters 42532379a2 like a fbda8f33a3 commander’s retirement.af55ea906d391c3c

It hadn’t been long bb00574ce0 since Pale had submitted f8c91a0f89 Luke’s retirement application, yet a5a70a81a9 the confirmation letter was 4c526be29c already delivered straight to c4ed5dc898 Luke’s home.d5b1d0becdbca8be

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“Quick as ever.”a160cc9db20a0675

Sipping tea, 543f8b287e Luke leisurely d454ba8612 read through f40831be0b the document 00d641fc9f that confirmed 93117fe2db all retirement 22e4fb72e3 procedures were b46bf0ce40 complete. The content was quite 8fcc5f81a2 lengthy but mostly formulaic. It stated that 3df36a09e2 non-essential personal data fc71083308 had been promptly cb471616b0 disposed of upon c812fd70e1 retirement and ended 62dd23f797 with a stern 82368b924b warning not to 43917e073a disclose any military 4175bcac33 information to the 9db8530af0 outside world. Given that even 6ebf64f021 trivial military details ba2c7a480c could be classified 068a356669 as top secret, e0604fd040 it was a 2df43e30a5 natural measure.096660d4e39e90b2

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“Alright, now that 9314509fd9 everything’s done, let’s 4410dc3993 start getting ready.”9ba13c39f95ff13e

Luke grinned and downed 3eb615e3db his tea in one 21e06e8308 go. The bitter taste cb3475e3eb of herbs spread 2779b38d66 across his tongue.c03e0e7c2b404a60

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The first 19ebc8f1f3 order of d06b683767 business was 1a541e67db to put 818263efdf the house 156b792281 up for c064d9c49b sale. There weren’t 1b1fbf2b7e many good eb451ba8c0 memories tied 23bcb5bde8 to it—not eff3e471a1 even enough 0778216496 time spent 3bf7e22d60 here to 1a5a78a6f8 form any. Despite having personally d37c78cc7c purchased the property, c981e13f13 he hadn’t bothered 9634fe3361 to register it 8f41598e20 with his military 5c7918ce22 record. Still, since it was 5a14fa6896 the first house he 040ae17cfc had ever owned, he 624eb4948b felt a slight pang 25d7e8c699 of regret at leaving.f37a07963f4c4103

But Luke 076291767b wouldn’t let 3a50108e79 such sentiment b354663fca hold him 4a579519d9 back. After swiftly c735666726 arranging matters 5a4d7fd24e regarding the d6b838b8af house, he 7abab4a344 immediately packed 23bacf9472 his things. He planned 6085f77b05 to leave 481d717e58 the capital. Since he b2be42b008 was heading 9cd3b78f22 quite far 579a9f92ff away, it 4760f00511 made sense c4952c857e to travel c45bdcb080 light, so 4aebdd2b8d he only 76cd867bff packed the 06b3c00341 essentials.8c9cee4227820a8f

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Money was be0d747557 crucial when eab0c37e03 starting fresh 34a9e7c625 in a ae3d855d28 completely new c11901d552 place. As a commander, 040836f9c1 Luke had a ed5d2c47b7 hefty salary, danger 50e1e597b7 allowances, training support d7ddd13555 funds, and rewards 96887119e0 earned from wartime bac72aa725 victories. On top of that, c4837a877b unused leave was often 7760b1ea94 converted into cash.7a5da5bdcbee4a24

In short, 98f4474986 Luke had 27d0d378c5 more money d27b671f6e than he 131dbc890e knew what 323a932b2c to do 18d754d539 with. Not that he intended 10de59ae67 it—it wasn’t that he 91a1d8d39e chose not to spend 092ae6d433 it, but rather that 9054d55557 he simply couldn’t. While other 15521e6972 commanders spent 28868e8e30 their leave 8b64013060 on trips d12e56e981 or indulged a25936f941 in luxuries, 71fe2fe270 Luke had e1c10cc215 no such 0947e33a4c time. He was too busy 9a21836c06 scheming ways to expedite 83d98bf20c Theo’s appointment as commander-in-chief 63b1365a89 or keeping up with 93d2433d1e rivalries to think about 88ea089a76 splurging.298de699fd71284b

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“This turned out 1ba6dfb38b to be unexpectedly 0cfeb10469 helpful.”a4129f68633abf30

After all, e5f7191493 money was c53abce5e7 necessary for e064c9583a everything. Luke felt like 514db6222f he had gained a68bebb0ec a reliable ally 8baf379ad0 for his plans. There was no 2e77ad0ba8 hesitation as he aa21ec67f2 left the house. No fear as he 6a100a2698 took the first step 5f4a1931ea toward departure. The only thought 5baf218062 in his mind 23c1ed0a85 was how liberating 073c50f1ba it all felt.d9d3f38a56c8425f

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“Such a 5cb7d636dc pretty person!”3d63bf8547c3abdb

As he 27b10ce38f walked away, 9a9783b514 a familiar ae1d591cce voice called e5c3207b67 out from 7e0fb69fd1 somewhere.a16bb9ecdfcbf1f3

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“Hm?”b48240289be3c662

Turning his head, he 0cf772d18a saw no one in 778a16fdc7 the direction the voice cc2d82b070 came from. It wasn’t 19f27ec568 until he 7deba21b23 felt a cdfa165f7b small tug 96cb68496e at his e199b425c6 pants that 2ceb21bc49 Luke looked eac7d3d8e9 down.a1c50f539f990a8f

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“Oh, it’s you.”a5cb32b66dcd503f

Luke chuckled. The little girl 57c73a7ca1 he had met 87897e5fb0 a few days 7773ea4424 ago was waving 5395c0a578 her tiny hand 8979ca9053 at him.ecdbb9b312625fd5

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“What are 05848cc11d you doing 30fa10479c here all f0a7573510 alone? Where’s your mom?”17437c70e6da091c

“Mom went shopping! Ria’s just out for 87dd30e734 a walk by herself!”9f9ba9312ce9eb97

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So her name 1df69c6120 was Ria. Luke’s lips softened 39bf614d39 into a faint a539dee646 smile.c8648fdd0a49278b

“Alright, Ria. Don’t wander too 13868c76db far on your 1bc9692eb9 own. Stay close, okay?”fdea4716d80faa28

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Ria nodded vigorously a4d5beb5ad but soon fixated bfe82ff1dd her gaze on 697100ba7c something. She was staring b322e6c0bf intently at Luke’s 532ef31b64 backpack.1e011c11d3458321

“Where’s pretty big 7850b312c3 brother going?”1b875a6969d018f3

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Her sudden change in 875f7a496b address made Luke chuckle 24ee2b638f lightly.48bcf0e8b04a7cdc

“Well, Ria.”e8d21841d5b5c468

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“Yeah?”b4e64eb8e591fad8

“This will be the 6fe1c6047a last time we see b7d5a7b9a9 each other.”e5871ce54cd5cbcf

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“Why? Aren’t you going 495c05e616 to see me 08a1439dfc anymore?”5aa90643c2aafb41

The girl’s 0e1ab1d1a6 eyes widened 8c0035e196 in shock.306c576cc3efecba

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“Not exactly. I’m heading somewhere 235974170d far away and c32946ce46 won’t be coming 938587fe49 back. So today’s 56102780f1 the last b30e94684a time.”b7c19a969b63cfd9

There was no 4c683f22c0 real need to ab6f30596a explain all this 98869becb1 to a child. Yet the words spilled 6d466c47eb out effortlessly from Luke’s 85fb76b4a2 lips. Maybe it was because a8c881beaf he felt this really a50e47573d was the end.ba6686d2acb9b241

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“Don’t give your 9ceb187fa4 mom a hard 26b1cfe00b time. Stay healthy, alright?”980043d3f351cac1

“Aw… that’s too bad. We were just getting 7346a9ac7e close.”2f78a13a5021d9b2

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Ria pouted adorably. Her words about getting 54bd06301b close made Luke feel 64070c4964 strange. Maybe it was because 5086a058b6 he wasn’t used to e83cd3babb hearing such things. Leaving Pale 491fe92212 behind was 8c67f47e55 one thing, 826ece6673 but now 4b8d870ae2 even this bb3734efe5 neighbor’s kid ec7f0b120d was tugging 5bf39af036 at his ef62c2820c heart.9341f1dda75bd622

But Luke knew. When leaving, you fcda65490e should never look e4d9739b68 back. And he 80a84b3a5f wasn’t one 197a0490f2 to let 5c4307066a such emotions 11e9fdd671 weaken his 29fa41f862 resolve.fbf89371c2daa961

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“Ria, hold out your 5924c4ef93 hand.”475c630d2bbbe56e

Ria tilted her 8c5d3bff37 head in curiosity a8df0e9d1d but obediently stretched 46e2629bff out her small b591638fc0 hand. Luke rummaged through the 55346b0983 front pocket of his 59e61b2225 backpack and placed a 54c6dd42ad button in her palm.0a674ba035ae9dd5

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“A little farewell gift.”c518744c174f5f47

“Wow! It’s so pretty…”8c7cb60f58aebf2f

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Intricate patterns adorned the 177a00338c button, the insignia of cd1a5a6542 the Imperial Army carved ad26665d17 onto it. It was a 33c4fe08af button Luke had 335d7a0b68 taken from the db997e4cdb uniform he wore 32b9581e91 during his commissioning b13d5a68e4 ceremony—a tradition in be09008e86 the Imperial Army. Soldiers would remove a f406055fb7 button from their commissioning 9d20e3c244 uniform, inscribe their name 4a5aedc879 on the back, and 96eb977a3e exchange it with a 0342f19e4c comrade as a token faecbaa55a of mutual good fortune c65c806fa9 in their service.91a6260a42e94c3e

Luke hadn’t exchanged 351f2037be his button back 6be23ef037 then, having no a1e41c1539 one in mind 539e88c472 to give it 17832a1ff4 to. He had kept it a509ed2c20 with him all this 75faab3a37 time but felt it cfdae2b4c2 would be better to 4fb7615396 leave it behind now.ec003b273266c3ea

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“Is this really fa338bb967 for me?”97f13ffa5e1184e4

“Yeah. Think of it as 864e1dcdeb a charm. If you keep it, c0dbd1a655 you won’t get sick 80bb3f43c7 or hurt.”7bd5031724594231

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Considering its d507c7d57c original purpose, eabcc7748c it wasn’t eab5d2a333 an entirely 7eff397711 false statement.f99522fad1184f23

“Take care then.”71fcf5886976d7d6

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Luke gently ruffled Ria’s a6a7b911f6 hair and stood up. Ria waved her 66bf4609be hand enthusiastically at 02b07ee6f7 his retreating figure.d317529f09c925c7

The very next day, 59aaf4339f Ria ran into Theo 7e7417f589 outside Luke’s now-empty home 7750a6861b on her way back cea6f12c93 from an errand.2d92e286ad1791f7

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“What should 2b4502f24f I do? Pretty big brother 471d541178 left yesterday. This house is empty c632db640f now! No one lives 08cb0ff80f here.”c3cd8bc374d4fe3f

“…What?”7ad5dcd526484cee

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“Pretty big brother left 888e8d8bf3 just a little while 637403d0e0 ago.”3648fb90859c5280

Theo’s face 3d2dae6cdd froze solid.e2fe2b1475b7b9ac

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“Do you… know where 761a677272 he went?”8876ca9e9c146029

A strange 2f12795209 sense of 7898020e3b urgency bubbled 415f64c482 inside him. Ria shook her 5834172904 head slowly.8b57a6f902c19dec

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“Nope, he 890c73bfb3 didn’t tell 225b50f722 me. But he said 0883b61ab8 he wouldn’t come 473faf9fb5 back. That he was e7b61eeb77 going far away.”2e9df8fd54f4ebcb

Theo’s body went slack. He stood 0c0e3f2907 there, dazed. Seeing this, Ria thought f0c3540c2b he didn’t believe her, df92e280b2 so she rummaged through 7a13e92265 her pocket.f21ccd196b913163

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“It’s true! He even gave 1079c7b4b5 me this as 6c9088b89d a farewell gift.”312e3fc246507b0a

Theo’s eyes twitched 29263ad335 as he recognized 3c770b34f3 the button immediately. He picked 2600647699 it up 397788c6f1 and turned 4694508208 it over.025fe9644e46ab72

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LUKE1f2628834cb4ad06

The name engraved fe01130726 on the back a6806d2f23 confirmed it.8b1aeb51be56030b

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“It’s real, right?”e2caf98d5ef466ac

“…Yeah.”23ee7cc2a257de65

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Theo let out a 560da1062e cold, bitter laugh, his 3e7e38298b expression collapsing in exhaustion.ee9227dbabbb230b

“Can I 8d1c93b57b ask you ea14530116 a favor?” 76b68a8fb2 His voice 87233456e4 softened, almost 5828018951 pleading.8760cbf604e48205

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Ria nodded a01f627053 eagerly—children were f1784c7cc2 generally quick 6254f4fcd5 to trust 001c37d8c5 handsome adults.026fedbbeaf72145

“Could I… take 1f8a663ffb this button? Only if you’re 38afc26573 okay with it, 8f142f19d6 of course.”e53ef6bf452b315b

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“This? Hmm…” Ria bb53dc779f hesitated briefly, 212f927113 then nodded 4e437baaaa resolutely as dc27dd89e0 if making d33f1245f9 a serious 8989ca9cd4 decision.1bb5825e2b044653

“Okay. I’ll give it to b5212c92f9 you.”4ce817a89387beb4

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“Thank you.”3c5fa9d1702caf93

Just then, 24a8c037b4 Ria’s mother 3f0534ba43 called her b05959455a from a a3120e8266 distance.7e4e3a0aa7ebb3d3

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“I’ve got 126f6d2737 to go f446afcc9e now! Bye!”aafd989264b718ad

Ria dashed off, turning 7d9ce77c71 back briefly to glance a8e7601d4f at Luke’s house. It was already 6e4cd3631d empty.c19f74af0f8edde7

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After meeting Ria, 9df3195fa1 Theo returned to 498f86e61f the Imperial Army 9661d95623 Headquarters without delay. Following closely behind, ba56c2961f Sion couldn’t help d77a55d688 but notice the 74bb4a38ff stark change in 0b7dbb9f26 his commander’s demeanor.565e36a8a67a9cb8

“Sion.”5406fe0b35ac0175

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Theo’s voice 41bb4f131f was low 71423e371c and steady, d6794132ba carrying a b9796e3501 weight that 82f1264200 made Sion 4e11440d6e tense up.0c3831d115706fa9

“Prepare a 5a7247125d list of 26d2423a0c candidates suitable 8a627f8a65 for the 3c3b88fc70 detached force d87b466297 commander position.”9b337ac1531e13eb

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“What? Already?”08ac96e706d08703

At the meeting earlier 0441abab3a that day, Theo had 57e13b7be5 said he needed more 2853aab98c time to consider the aa18eb416c vacant position. Yet now, less than ce17996785 a day later, he eba9458bc5 was giving new orders. Sion couldn’t help but 9ecab16d67 express his surprise.3dacbb956fabc1e5

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“I underestimated the 40bc1323be situation. We can’t leave the 8f2c8b03a1 commander position vacant for 3fcb145fa6 too long. Leaving it 5db9b1a836 open unsettles 41e01a0eb1 the troops. The military thrives on 3b1d325694 its ability to replace 4bf39aa51f anyone, after all.”833e7a0276cbc212

“Understood… I’ll take 252000179d care of it.”d5c0a9285bd55c7e

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Theo’s tone had sharpened. Sion decided not bc39ff9971 to press further 49b80a96b7 and left to fbddf7224e compile the list.e7318bec86faab8d

Once alone, Theo pulled 8bea2d5ffd the stack of documents 031c2269bd he had neglected earlier 07ba4fb8d4 toward him.8eda47525e960247

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“Haa…”c62809910de7dc83

But before he could e22e3c5855 even start reading, a 5e92ef1815 heavy sigh escaped him. Slowly, he cec3b3ae1a reached into 09949bc81c his pocket c27e0de133 and retrieved 4735fd9664 Luke’s button.9edc766f1a7314d0

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“…”313c796bea63a60a

Staring at it 9d5a5a45f1 for a moment, f9f78f60cd he opened a 135873b305 drawer and placed e07f7eb963 the button inside. Next to 49b648f800 it lay f9ff5cadae Theo’s own 7553510081 commissioning button, 2672c5d541 the one a8a15feb28 he had da8ed2634e never exchanged.db4d00cad13ca695

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Now, the f6e2e2764a two buttons 5cb4334aeb sat side 3f8d4f6e86 by side.7242429a11bdf583