Sean stood on the highest platform of the volcano castle. The spring breeze, which was slightly cool and seemed to contain the fragrance of flowers, blew through the hills, which exactly reflected his mood at this time-expectation and uneasiness coexisted.
After the peace treaty was signed, most of the 'resurrected' Black Crow members followed Isaac and Pierce to join their companions in the Theocracy; others temporarily asked him for a period of leave and planned to go home for a visit.
His own relatives or children. Considering that it would be difficult to have another war in the near future, and the reconstruction of the Knights was also quite far away, Sean readily agreed to their request.
He did not return to the Theocracy immediately, but accepted Yuffie's invitation and temporarily came to this dwarf fortress to relax. Also coming with him were Alaya, Cathy and some of their subordinates—
—Including a member named Harlan, Cathy’s long-time lover. Just yesterday, the lively female regiment leader told him that they were planning to get married.
This was undoubtedly an encouragement to him. Therefore, the afternoon before yesterday, he asked Alaya to make an appointment here today. However, what made him slightly disappointed was that the Elna woman did not immediately agree to his invitation and only said that she would consider it.
have a look.
This was actually very inconsistent with her calm and straightforward character. Sean didn't know what the problem was, and it was inconvenient to ask directly. He had no choice but to promise that he would definitely go to the appointment, and then wait here on time.
There were soft footsteps behind him, and he turned around with expectation, only to see the face of another woman. Even though she had an extra pair of ears that seemed to belong to a dog, he could still easily identify the other woman - at the Battle of Holly Castle
The female mercenary who called herself Lily Nono was the one he had a solo 'duell' with.
"Hey." The female mercenary waved to him and walked straight over, "I didn't expect that you still have such leisure and elegance?"
Sean didn't know how to answer, so he just shook his head with a wry smile, "I just came out to relax."
The female mercenary narrowed her eyes and stared at him. Those two sharp gazes made Sean feel a little like a wolf for no reason.
"To this day, you still regard the incident at Holly Castle as your fault?"
Sean was silent for a moment and nodded slightly bitterly. Although it had nothing to do with what he was currently worried about, it was indeed a knot in his heart that he had not been able to untie so far.
"I know this idea is ridiculous. If...if I could have made a decision earlier, or been braver, and exchanged a small amount of sacrifice for results, maybe Holly Castle wouldn't--"
"Then it's not you." Lily interrupted him mercilessly, "Tell us, what would you do if you went back to that moment again?"
"Of course -" Sean suddenly paused. He thought seriously, but found that no matter which option, there are unpredictable development possibilities. There is no single path that can lead to a perfect ending.
"You don't know, right?" The female mercenary grinned, showing a wolf-like smile, "In this case, how can you dare to say that the current situation is definitely not the best outcome? Some stories are inherently
It can’t be a happy reunion.”
Sean nodded with understanding. Of course, he understood that Lily was just comforting him. The current situation was obviously not the best outcome - but it was not the worst either.
"There is also the matter between you and that little girl named Alaya." The female mercenary said in an old-fashioned tone, but somehow she did not feel that it was against her. "Don't always feel that you owe her, you know,
She also feels that she owes you. By hiding from each other like this, you will only let the prey slip from your hands in vain?"
Sean blinked, feeling that he understood Lily's words, but he was not sure for a moment.
"Okay, let me show you this." The female mercenary took out a round mirror from her arms and tapped the back of it twice. Soon, ripples appeared on the front of it, showing that it came from another place.
The sight, and the sound of two people talking.
Sean heard clearly that the two people talking were Alea and Yuffie. He hurriedly came closer and watched the scene in the mirror carefully.
"So, what do you think of Mr. Sean?"
"He is very strong. This time, he did much better than I imagined." Alaya answered Yuffie's question softly. Sean couldn't see her expression clearly, but he could feel a trace of sadness in her voice.
, "Originally I thought he just had some talent. After what happened now, he is enough to be called a leader in his own right."
"I wonder if Mr. Sean will be happy to hear this." The girl smiled, "In that case, why are you still hesitating? A sensitive person like you should have already noticed Sean's feelings for you, right?
"
"I thought he was not mature enough before." The Erna woman sighed softly, "But now... I am no longer a human being. In Mar's teachings, I am a life that should not exist. It's just that...
The current situation in Black Crow makes it impossible for me to choose to return to sleep."
The pink girl smiled and shook her head, her tone soft but firm.
"Ms. Alea, what do you think is a human being? Or rather, what is a human being?"
Alea bit her lip and did not answer immediately.
"The Kamal people, the Elna people, the Belon people, the Sachi people, and the Fritz people all have different characteristics, but they are all members of the human race." Yuffie continued to speak softly, "Lily
He is a living god, Alphonse is a creature created by secret magic, and I have many differences from normal people - but we both have human hearts. And you, what is the difference?"
"We cannot choose the race we are born into, and we may not be able to change the fate that has already happened. However, I believe that every intelligent creature has the right to decide how to live and pursue its own happiness."
"Because only in this way, after living a fulfilling and beautiful life, can we go to sleep with satisfaction." Yuffie lowered his head slightly, "This is what Ada told me - perhaps, this is also Mal's wish.
Your mother wouldn’t want to see you come back with regrets, would she?”
"I understand." Alea responded softly, "Let me... think about it for a while."
"Then I'll take my leave first." The pink girl stood up and walked towards the exit of the room. Sean clearly heard the words she left when she walked out of the door -
"I wish you a happy life with him, Ms. Alea."
"How is it?" Lily raised a smile and stared at him contentedly, "Did we say it right?"
Sean nodded, feeling suddenly relieved, "I understand. But this time, I still leave the choice to her. This is our agreement."
"Then it's up to you." Lily waved her hand nonchalantly, "I won't disturb you anymore."
So he was the only one left on the rooftop again. After all, it was the daytime in early spring, and this place only became lively at night in summer and autumn.
After an unknown amount of time, the sound of footsteps came from behind Sean again, light and clean. He didn't even need to look back to confirm the identity of the person coming.
"Alea." He said softly, turning around at the same time, "You're here."
"Yes." The Elna woman replied softly, "Can you tell me the purpose of why you asked me to come here?"
"Of course." Sean bowed slightly and greeted the other party with Mal's etiquette, "I swore an oath in the witness of Mal's mother that I would like to stay with Alea Sirena for the rest of my life until the end of one of them.
"
He stretched out his left hand to the Elna woman, with the palm facing upward. Alea approached with a smile, and also placed her left hand on top of the open palm.
This is the agreement.
The lingering anxiety finally dissipated, and a relaxed smile appeared on Sean Tambor's face again, "Thank you, Alea."
"The people you should thank are Yuffie and Lily." The Elna woman shook her head, "Without their constant help, we wouldn't be here."
"Of course. They are the benefactors of both of us and the entire Black Crow Knights." Sean agreed softly, "But before that, I still have one important thing to do."
The Elna woman raised her eyebrows.
"It's a ritual of the Kamal people." Sean smiled. Then he came closer, lowered his head slightly, and pressed his dry lips gently against the other person's lips.