Chapter 87: In or Out?
Chapter 87: In or Out?
Connor had a serious expression. These previous weeks of fight were especially harsh to him due to his level. Level One magus with a Level One Familiar. Above all, he was a Rank F Student. Such students were put at the very forefront as cannon fodder, and there was nothing they could do about it. Someone had to do this job, and the weakest would always be the first in that regard.
There were already a few scars on his body, and some parts hadn't even healed well yet. As someone who participated in the first confronts, the situation was quite bloody. However, Connor still tried to keep his bright behavior to try to fend away his fear... until six days ago.
During a battle that happened in the Ofrical Region, his regiment suffered heavy casualties, including some friends he made in this place. But, above all, he got very close to dying. The only reason he didn't was because his Familiar, Tratil, sacrificed himself to save his life.
His regiment managed to retreat in the end, but Connor changed completely after that. This is also the reason why Connor was brought to the same regiment as Natalie and the others. His own regiment had been almost completely destroyed, so it couldn't be maintained anymore. Its survivors were distributed between other regiments, and Alvin was sent to this one.
Natalie found him the next day, although she didn't know much about him. Nonetheless, she knew Alvin came to the war to look for Alvin and to fight together with him. Without Connor's presence, Alvin wouldn't have come with Linfel. On top of that, her group wouldn't have received Linfel's message about future events Linfel believes will happen.
In a certain way, Connor's presence might have just saved their lives.
"I don't know," Natalie spoke. "When I told him Alvin also came to look for him, he didn't seem to care that much. It was as if his soul wasn't even there anymore."
William got up and walked in Connor's direction. "Forget it. I will consider this as paying Linfel's favor for helping me reach Level Three and finding out about my meridians' hidden capability. Let me grab him. I'll force him to come even if I have to knock him out."
---
Time passed, and five days went by...
Clondure South Border, Regardia City.
At the moment, Linfel, Alvin, Milia, and Nori had already met with Lucau and had been waiting here since them. So far, no new piece of news appeared on the TVs. According to Linfel's prediction, the other six countries would join Volztain, Xanzion, and Porfate in at most a week, but there had been no signs until now.
They would be considered deserters at the moment, so if Linfel's scenario didn't play, going back would incur some heavy punishment. Besides, Alvin and Linfel left the Magus Academy against Xalafel's orders so the old man would make things even worse once they returned.
Alvin, Lucau, and Milia were eating at a restaurant while Linfel and the two Familiars were talking outside.
"Nori, there is one thing I didn't account for," Linfel spoke.
Nori still didn't like Linfel and the others since he didn't like how Milia and Alvin were getting close. Nonetheless, he still talked to them. "What? Just speak already. If it is about Master and that idiot, don't even bother."
Linfel looked at Milia in the restaurant and shook his head. "That's not it. When I made my plans to have Alvin leave Heffal, I did not include Milia in those plans, only his father. After all, he would never agree to stay outside if Lucau was in danger. I now know that the civilians probably would be spared if Heffal loses, but Alvin would still return to Heffal regardless."
Linfel continued. "But Milia was different. I didn't plan anything for her family. I was expecting her to eventually go back to Heffal since her parents are there, but she doesn't seem to want to do it at all. Is she okay?"
Nori looked at Milia and then back at Linfel. "There is no need to worry. For the Frondor Family, it is impossible that they didn't plan a way to escape in case things went south. Besides, even if they hadn't, Milia wouldn't go back. You heard about William's relationship with his family, right?"
Linfel nodded. "Something about they not caring about whether he was alive or not, right?"
"Exactly," Nori nodded. "Milia is the opposite. Her Family, especially her father, does consider her to be important. However, not because she is family, but because she is an asset. With her talent, the family considers my master to be of great use in a political marriage."
Nori looked in the skies' direction. "You might consider me a terrible Familiar, but I'm happy that Heffal will fall. I hope it falls. If it happens, the Frondor Family would be too busy to care about my master anymore. A daughter from a family that escaped a ruined country wouldn't be very enticing either. She would be free to do as she wishes."
Felia was hearing on the side. "You mean she can now make her own choices, right?"
"Exactly," Nori nodded.
Felia smiled in response. "Great! Once she chooses Alvin, you will have nothing to complain about. After all, it is her choice."
"OVER MY DEAD CORE!" Nori instantly exploded. Felia obviously used his words against him.
"What are you talking about?" Suddenly, Milia appeared on their side with Alvin and Lucau. They had just finished lunch.
"Ah!" Nori quickly calmed down. "Ahem... nothing, nothing at all... They were just making some jokes that I didn't like."
Milia and Alvin looked at Linfel. "What did you do now?"
Linfel felt like crying. For the first time, it wasn't his fault, and yet... "I, your grandfather, am innocent!"
It was at that moment that the mood in the restaurant changed. Linfel's group looked inside, and noticed everyone was looking at the TV in there. Since the war in Heffal was happening quite close to Clondure, the news kept sharing constant information with its country's population. Now, a new piece of news just emerged.
Linfel quickly entered the restaurant again with everyone and watched it.
-A sudden turn of events just took place in the war of Heffal. Lergen, Serzes, Flangion, Teruna, Lindblom, and Azunia joined Volztain, Xanzion, and Porfate in a coalition of nine countries to take down Heffal. They also dispatched all their troops to join in the fight at lightning speed.
By the time we received this news, those countries had already sent their troops into Heffal to support Volztain and the others. The future of Heffal and its three other allied countries seems bleak. Our expert in military affairs, Dablin, will now give his opinion on the topic.-
Alvin and the others looked straight at Linfel, who waved back at them in response. "It has started."