42 Let's Talk (1)

A/N: Alright everyone! Someone has any Happy Birthday wishes for the author?

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Leon tried not to turn around but the two men went silent waiting for him to respond. He felt like shit being pursued like that now that Vadim seemed to be showing more interest than needed into him.

He may have taken his goodwill after the bet they had but it is not natural for such a high-status officer of the Hall to show interest in a nobody like him.

He swallowed the bitter pill and turned around to face Vadim and Edrick.

"Chief Vadim, nice to see you again." Leon said with a formal monotone.

"Ah! You too, lad." Vadim also replied with a heavy tone as if he is walking on eggshells.

Since this morning, Vadim looked for Leon in the Hall but he couldn't find him thus he hurried to the Camp in order to either find Leon there or wait for him. He didn't want to do like Eleanor and Erielle who mostly creeped out Leon by their behavior.

The boy is jumpy, suspecting everyone and everything, acting low-key, and keeps his head down well. Still, when Vadim saw Leon come into the camp, he was conflicted from inside about this whole confrontation thing in his head. He had run almost a hundred different scenarios in his head but looking at Leon in front of him, he realized it is no use having a plan. It is not like him anyway to have one.

"So…" Vadim spoke and searched for the words to put after, "I've seen ya play with Earth."

"Yeah, boy's pretty good. I'll try guiding him." Edrick said.

"Nah! Ye're just a human, ya won't do him good." Vadim cussed at Edrick instantly.

"Wha? He's bloody much a human too." Edrick felt insulted by Vadim's racism.

"Off with ya!" Vadim defended Leon by a concept only he could think of.

He then turned to Leon.

"I won't beat around the push, lad, that's unmanly." Vadim said, "Care to show me your Magic one more time?"

Leon felt a little bit uncomfortable not knowing what Vadim is up to so he looked at Edrick who kept guiding him with his eyes to listen to Vadim. Leon eventually rolled his eyes and nodded.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Nothing much." Vadim smiled in satisfaction and simply tapped the ground with his foot.

As if all the work Leon and Edrick went to waste, and it did go to waste, all the plants and stones they moved from their camping plot found their way back on the surface once again.

"I'll give ya half of a barrel of ma Vodka if ya do it." Vadim said while playing with his mighty beard.

Leon looked at the shorter man and wanted to bite him so badly but Edrick started jumping like a monkey on steroids.

"Vodka? Vodka! Hey, kid. Do it, he'll give us Vodka."

Leon didn't want to do it but it seemed Vadim was using a subtle mind tactic on him. To that, he didn't want to offend the master of mercenaries in the middle of all his people.

"Alright."

And so he worked on the spell. He didn't hide his ability and just used the spell he copied right away.

Earth Mold. It felt like a comb waving on the ground so smooth and so easy. As the Mana moved through the Earth, it became clear that he could feel this wonderful sensation that every grain of sand and every pile of mud was under his command. Speak of brute spells all you want but this new technique was just artistic. If Leon gave it his all and truly put his heart into it, he can do some work that would impress even the Dwarfs.

And it did.

Vadim looked at the spell being woven under his feet and he realized what Leon was doing.

Masterful Control, Absolute Ability, Boundless Potential. If this was his talent in the rough then he will make the new generation of dwarfs crap themselves from jealousy and dwarves are jealous folk.

"Holy Mother!"

And if that's how a dwarf would feel, then a human will be dumbstruck out of their mind.

"Edrick!" Vadim called.

"… Yes?"

"No one really noticed us but ya keep what ya saw to yerself." Vadim said and moved his eyes from Leon to Edrick, "Got it?"

Edrick silently and gradually started to nod before looking at Leon with anticipation.

On the other hand, Vadim and Leon kept staring at each other. Leon knew that he had no hope of going against this man but no hint of hostility was shown so far but rather trust and goodwill. He kinda liked Vadim but he can't compromise himself in such a situation. An agent must always stay alert and be one step ahead of his opponent.

The problem is that Leon managed to stay one step ahead of those who wanted to harm him but he never got any lead on those who claim that they seek him no harm. In his line of work, the advantage is better than trust. Trust is extremely difficult. After all, his life ended because a man he considered a friend turned against him.

Still, Vadim felt more trustworthy and ordered Edrick to keep what he saw a secret. It may be the first time but Leon felt like he would listen to this man.

"Leo… let's talk somewhere else." Vadim said.

"I would love to but…" Leon narrowed his eyes looking around, "I prefer to stay in public."

"So be it." Vadim nodded, "Come at least with me to the shadow over there."

Vadim didn't wait for Leon to issue his objection and walked ahead. Leon started feeling the small scabbard fixed to his belt behind him and switched the dagger in it with the Mithril Dagger, he then followed Vadim with careful and very quiet steps watching out for every action and reaction around him.

"Ye're very tense." Vadim said, "Don't ya worry. People here listen to me."

"Why would I be worried?" Leon asked.

Vadim stopped his steps and looked back with an expressionless gaze yet carried some remorse before turning around and just carrying on between the men, animals, and supplies being moved and loaded around.

Once Vadim arrived at the shadow of the central Mercenary Hall building in the camp, he headed to one of the open shops under it which seemed to be a brewery for alchemical solutions and strange oils. There, a Dwarf was standing between the well-organized mess and as he saw Vadim coming, he immediately left what he had in hand.

"Sunkissed!" The Dwarf called.

"Ugh! Can ya leave the shop for me, cousin? Got a man to man talk with this lad that needs to be done." Vadim said as he chased the dwarf of his shop.

The Dwarf didn't seem to mind it and all he did was to grab his cloak before covering his head and face then putting a pair of goggles on his eyes and walking out.

"Come in, Leon." Vadim called.

A strange sensation followed this one as Leon was addressed by the true name which he took this life. Even though it was not the first time he called by that name, he always denied it. This time he just didn't.

As he walked in, he felt a little bit uncomfortable seeing all those solutions surrounding him making him feel that if he just touched one vial, the whole shelf would come down. Still, Vadim carelessly kicked a stool chair towards him which he stopped with his left foot and pushed it a little bit to the side near the entrance behind the counter to leave himself a room to escape. Vadim noticed that and sighed as he put another chair opposite to Leon and sat on it.

"Sit, lad. It is time we speak 'em damn words." Vadim said.

Leon took a while as he kept his eyes fixed on Vadim and just sat at the dwarf-sized stool. Dwarves are not that awfully short but to a short guy like Leon, they may reach his shoulder or go above by a couple of fingers' width.

"Fine." Leon replied, "Let's talk the talk."

"Hm." Vadim nodded as he looked at Leon from head to toe now that he felt like it possible to say what he had in mind, "Ya've grown up."

"And you are judging that because?"

Leon's uninterested tone put some weight on Vadim's chest but he shook it off with bitterness.

"We had a bit of history you and I." Vadim replied.

"Interesting!" Leon replied and fixed his posture, "Who are you? A Dwarf is a rare sight in this damn city and your kin from now called you Sunkissed."

"It's true I don't belong to the surface but it's where I was born." Vadim laughed softly, "Sunkissed are Dwarves who're born up out of the mountain. Those Dwarves become a bit taller and good with the sun. Other dwarves can't handle the sun very well but the downside of being Sunkissed is to not see as well as one of our brethren who were born down the belly of the mountain."

"Nice story." Leon commented.

"Heh! Ye used to like it more when ye were this tall." Vadim said as he pointed out the height of a child.

"Alright. Enough with the pleasantries. Which side this time?" Leon asked.

"What?"

"Which side are you on?" Leon clarified, "So far, I met those who wanted to kill me without a word and those who were sent by the Archduchess. Which side? This, that, or something new?"

As if the world didn't sound funny, Vadim glared.

"I'm on yer side, lad. Always have been."

"I don't have any side in particular." Leon stated.

"How can ya say that?" Vadim kept the firm face but he was saddened to hear this still.

"Old man, I have no idea what you want from me. All the people I met so far are sneaky rats who tried to hunt me, put spells on me, spread around drawings of me, and just think that I will be a meek little bitch and do what they expect." Leon spoke out as he didn't feel right.

"I know. They just acted as they'd always do… Lad, we had no idea what ya've been through so don't… don't blame them. Eleanor and Erielle ain't yer enemies." Vadim said as he dragged his seat a step ahead towards Leon who wanted to back away but Vadim just put his hand on Leon's knee to connect to him with no visible intent to harm, "I am sorry for what happened so please let us do this meeting properly. I don't know what happened to ya so I am not sure how to speak to ya. Just answer this one question… please."

Leon started at Vadim and then pushed his hand away.

"Go ahead." He said.

"Ya forgot stuff, right? A whole lot of 'em, right?" Vadim asked.

Leon didn't want to answer this one as it would give him the disadvantage. If he said yes, Vadim may fabricate some truth to suit him, and if he said no, this conversation won't advance further. Leon now needs to know what is happening behind the scenes so he can adjust and plan well.

"Yes." Leon replied.

"Tsk! Those fucking bastards… what did they do to ya?"

"Which bastards?" Leon asked.

"Duke Dark, the Royals, their people." Vadim replied as if it should be something natural but he turned to Leon with narrowed eyes once again to assure something, "Ya don't remember that too?"

"No." Leon shook his head, "I am aware of it but I have no recollection of such…"

"Wait wait wait!" Vadim needed to take a break here, "So ye're tellin' me that… yer amnesia is more recent?"

Leon shrugged his shoulders not willing to give Vadim more insight than this. Still, the Dwarf made dangerous eyes as he stroked his beard a little bit frantically. Something didn't sit right in his account.

"What we thought… what I thought is that they did something to ya! They made ya forget us… that's why ya weren't willing to come to us… but ya don't know anything at all?" Vadim made a series of realizations.

The side which was trying to protect Leon had the impression that Leon who was imprisoned for years in the Dark Mansion in the Capital must have been brainwashed to forget he had a family but it was a different story altogether.

"What is yer earliest memory?" Vadim asked.

Leon didn't feel it would be advantageous to answer that yet but he still took the gamble.

"Half a month ago in my own vomit and filth with two idiots keeping me in." He said.

"That day?"

Vadim jumped off his seat and nervously stared at Leon before looking the other way.

"That doesn't make any sense. How can a kid waking up with no memories start a killing spree and…" He walked in the shot left and right waving his arms before turning to Leon, "So yer first instinct was to kill?"

"Hah!" Leon laughed shortly, "With what I was vomiting being poison, what else did you expect me to do?"

"So you knew it was poison?" Vadim narrowed his eyes, "Only the gal Alice found out by appraising the stain of blood on that floor. How did you know?"

Leon didn't like how the conversation went so he deflected the question.

"I don't have to answer any of your questions, you know that?" Leon said.

"But…"

"You're the one who invited me to talk, so you're the one who has things to answer, not the other way around." Leon stated.

Vadim couldn't refute Leon's logic.

"Alright. I was just asking to make sure we don't miss anything important." He said as he calmly returned to the seat.

"Good." Leon nodded, "You brought me here to talk so please, start talking about the situation I am involved in, what're the sides taking part in it, what their reasons are, and why I do have to bother."

"Alright… want some vodka first?"

And a long story was told.

"… The Eastern Lords and the Royal Family were the ones that established this Kingdom after invading the land of the Orcs 600 years ago. For their heroism, the four champions of the Campaign were awarded the largest land and so 4 counties were to be established here under the rule of the Amarose Empire as an extension beyond the Holy City…"

"A history lesson now?" Leon asked.

"I'll get to the point fast. The power of those Four Families; Amber, Godfrey, Merlin, and Dark; grew strong enough by that time to drive the influence of the far-reaching Empire and declare independence after conquering a big chunk of western lands to the borders of the Kalydross Union on the mountain range and the Valley of Lanus which leads to the Holy City of Light."

"Hm! The Empire still exists today as well as the Union, the Holy City, and all of that." Leon played along, "I guess the Empire didn't like it?"

"Oh, they never. This cut their only route to invade Kalydross and made it difficult for the Holy City missionaries to convert the population of Kalydross and Udyrheim since Kalydross made a treaty with Amber to never allow the missionaries to cross its borders in return, they would help to keep the Empire at bay. This worked for years till now." Vadim explained it.

"I still don't understand where I fit into all of this." Leon said.

"Hmmm… you know those four families of the Amber Kingdom? One of them became the ruling body which the whole land became named after them while one-third of the country was divided between the three families. Not just a third you may think of it as a third but it is one of the richest, most inhabitable, and fertile lands. Moreover, it sits above many Dwarven Kingdoms and has many access points to the Three Seas, the Deep Delve, and Thousands of miles of forests."

Vadim drank some from his vodka and watched Leon who didn't seem to be drinking before sighing.

"So… after all this, the Amber Family regretted giving the other three these lands and as ya can guess it, inner struggle and discord."

"So?"

"So? Ya don't get it yet?" Vadim laughed, "Ya do realize who ya are, ain't ya? Let me tell ya where ya fit in the middle of all this crap… Ye're a member of the Dark Family, yer mother is a member of the Merlin Family, yer betrothed is a member of the Godfrey family. The Amber Royal Family sees you as the unification of the Lords of the East, the Amerose Empire and the Royal Family sees you as a potential seed of a new dynasty that may overthrow Amber."

"Hold on just a second…" Leon took a minute to organize himself and reassess his thoughts before saying, "And I am supposed to believe this load of crap?"

"Wha…" Vadim, who was feeling proud for finally explaining things to Leon just now, became dumbfounded as he saw Leon's expressions change.

"You're wondering where it went wrong, right? Let's start." Leon held his hand up, "First, according to my knowledge, I was held here in the city for six years which left a very unpleasant impression on me which I don't need amnesia to make me forget it. Second, you said that my family and the other two are conspiring to form their own state yet here I am being a hostage for those people. Third, you didn't even bother to explain where you fit in this story. Fourth, let's assume that those Dark Family people are more than one faction, I am willing to spare them the benefit of the doubt; so let's say that there is a side of the family that was trying to stand by my side, why did they leave me to rot between their enemies for six whole years? Fifth and the most annoying of them all, what makes you think I care?"

With each finger on Leon's hand pointing to a question, Vadim's expressions crumbled into sadness.

"Aye! Ya bugger were always this smart." He said.

"Stop it." Leon refuted, "Maybe you knew me once but that guy is long since dead and you better accept that sooner than later."

"Alright." Vadim nodded, "You were in here for six years as a hostage. There is indeed a faction of the Dark Family which the Duke belongs to and they wish to keep the rest of the Lords and your mother… especially your mother, under restraint."

"My mother?" Leon laughed.

Saying that this is his family is kinda preposterous. One thing he learned about being Shady and Leon at the same time is that Leon holds no attachment to anyone in particular. The reason is that Shady still holds grudges of his past life, still feels like shit for causing Nadia's death, still feels responsible for sending his own mother to jail where she died for a crime he committed and she took the fall for him. Unlike that, this Leon which is dormant within doesn't awaken any emotions such as these… everything that comes from that side of his psyche is dark emotions. The current psyche is the new Leon, neither he is Shady nor the previous Leon, maybe a bit more of Shady but still, he can't say he is the same man as before.

This makes him someone without parents, a byproduct of two broken souls. Some may think that a broken and a broken equals fixed but let's face it, broken and broken is even more broken. The idea amused him and on an impulse, he thought of something.

"This mother of mine… how is she like?" He asked.