Chapter 303 - You're not alone

Such an earnest and intense look in his eyes. It's the first time she has met a person like this. There is something, she hasn't told Arthur yet. Something she has wanted to say. But, Lyn refrained from doing so. Now that she knows the truth, she won't say it for now.

She will keep it buried away.

….

Year 4014 Mist Kingdom (Present)

When Lyn opened her eyes, she hears the sound of yelping. "Ouch, ouch. Rhys, why are you always so aggressive?"

"Then, do you want me to apply ointment on you gently? Forget it; you're not a beautiful girl."

"Tsk, what did you do to Lyn?"

"Nothing, if I did. Believe me, it will be my arms; she comes running too."

That shameless man! Lyn sighed. Forget it; she shouldn't get so worked up whenever he does anything. Her body felt slightly better, but she knew better than to push it. She ought to get changed... Lyn looked around and saw a pair of female clothing on the edge of her bed and paused. Did Rhys go out and get clothes for her?

Shaking that thought aside, Lyn reached out for the fabric. After a few minutes, she finished getting dressed and stood up. The second she opened the door, though, Kazuya greeted her.

"My cute Lyn!" he exclaimed and hugged her tightly.

"M—Moron," Lyn mumbled. During such times, why is he such an idiot? Still, she felt slightly happy. He's warm… it's uncomfortable; Lyn wrapped her arms around him. But suddenly, Kazuya yelped in pain.

Rhys sighed, "Idiot. Lyn let go of him, he's hurt again."

Wait what?! Lyn looked at him, horrified and turned to Kazuya, who was wincing in pain. "Why did you get hurt? I told you to…"

Kazuya laughed, "It seems like I'm a popular target these days. Don't worry about it too much."

Don't worry about it? He's going to get himself killed if he keeps doing this. 'All things alive die one day,' the words from her dream of the past echoed. Lyn shook her head; no, this case is different. This is a human life. Come to think of it, Kazuya's carelessness reminds her of that person. That guy was always like that.

Lyn held him tighter in her arms. Kazuya smiled. "I like it when you hug ms Lyn, but I think my wounds will reopen if you continue doing this.."

"Oh, uh, I'm sorry," Lyn moved away from him.

Kazuya, however, reached over and pulled her into his arms. "I don't mind staying like this, though."

Kazuya...

Lyn felt a dark aura and noticed the look Rhys was giving them. Her sweat fell uh...

..

A few hours later

Aah, that formal meeting wore her out. Lyn stretched her arms as she walked down the hallway.

Though it's to be expected that there are a lot who wish to see her, this sort of timing is quite bothersome if you ask her. She came to this place to rest. But it's not as though there's anything else she can do. Upon spotting brown colored hair by the window ledge, she calls out to him, "What are you doing, Kazuya?"

"Ah Lyn," Kazuya greeted her with his usual bright smile. When she made her way over, she saw that he had several items out on the ground.

"I'm just checking the tools for casting magic. Items that will not be used during battle need to be kept in a safe place," Kazuya pointed to a grey pouch. Ah...maybe she can make him a new one.

"Old hair, old blood from different people, discarded clothes. Animal skin.." By this point, she had already made her way over and was beside him, examining the items, " But it would be bad if the enemy stole them, so the pouch has to have your magical properties."

"And the other items?" Lyn looked at them curiously. While she did learn a lot about magic in Junlan church, there is still a lot she needs to learn.

"Let me see, over there is a piece of old hair; this cant be used though since the color has changed too much. I will just keep them in places people can't see."

Lyn nodded and turned to the other items. "This is a single tooth, what is this black object?"

"That is an umbilical cord. " Her face color drains. Kazuya laughed, "Relax, Lyn.."

"But, you use this stuff for magic too?"

"Yeah"

"I'm surprised. I didn't think you carried this much stuff around with you, though."

"Were practically still in the middle of a war. So it doesn't hurt to be prepared. Besides relying on the Queen all the time isn't good," Kazuya explained. Whether he aimed it at her, it seemed to strike at her heart.

War… That's right, right now.

"That's true..." her sentence fell short seeing him stagger, she catches him immediately, "Kazuya, what's wrong?"

"Seems like I'm a bit worn out."

It's then Lyn saw the glimpse of a red stain on his jacket, she removes it indeed to confirm his suspicions. A red color that filled his arms. What an idiot! He reopened his wounds?"

"Idiot."

Lyn carried him to his room and was relieved that nobody else was in the area. She doesn't want them to make a fuss about this,  after all. If the others found out, they'd probably try to treat him themselves and tell her to stand by. That's something she cannot do even if it's something like this if she's able to contribute. Then this is enough.

Upon finishing treating his wounds, Lyn ensured he was in bed and lit a candle, as she placed the first aid box away. He's far too reckless. But he didn't use to be this way, even though she remembers that much. The reason for such a drastic change, the reason for such a cold look appearing in your eyes. Is it because of her? If so, then she has to put an end to it quickly.

Lyn bent down and reached over to stroke his cheek, where she placed a bandage over it, "...Does it hurt still?"

"It does. But you're beside me now."

"...what were you thinking? Did you think I'd be happy if you came to see me like this?"

"Haha, that's true. I knew you'd get mad, that's why I told Rhys I didn't want to see you."

Is that why… Lyn bites her lip.

The tone of his voice and his gestures - contradict those cold words he just said to her. Lyn felt the tears spilling down from her eyes, and she feels the warmth of his hand pat her hair, "I didn't want to see you. I wondered to myself how long I could convince myself that. Before I realized it, endless amounts of days went by, and even though I could have gotten treated first. I came here because I wanted to hurry up and see you. And then you showed up out of nowhere like that and told me you missed me. For a second, I thought I was dreaming."

"...that would be an unpleasant dream."

"It wouldn't be, though the scenario would have been perfect if you were wearing glasses. Those red-trimmed ones, for example."

"Geez...what are you saying now..."

Really, why is it...that even now this person is like this, "The battlefield... You've gone on more than one occasion now, correct? What is it like?"

Kazuya shuts his eyes briefly before speaking up, "When I was lying on top of the snow. Blood.. The warmth kept coming out of my left arm. My body, and everything...was being swallowed up by the snow. And it gradually got colder. My head got hazier and hazier. I couldn't think straight. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't speak since it was so painful. When I was lying down like that, so many things I normally kept away would appear. All the pain and anguish."

Ah...it's the same. He has the same feelings as her. Lyn placed his hand on her cheek, "You're not alone."

"Lyn..."

"Kazuya, you aren't alone. I'm right here beside you."

Kazuya smiled, "Whenever you're like this, I don't know what to do with you."

"You don't know?"

He gently caressed her hair. "I do have some ideas. But will you like it?"

Lyn turned red at his words, "Don't be ridiculous."

"Right, my Lyn is so cute. If I touch you all the time, we would have a problem. I already don't want to let you go." Half serious, half smiling. Whenever she sees him like this, Lyn doesn't know what to think.