Chapter 23: Flames and Frost 1

A few days have passed since we left Fontaine. There's nothing to do here but look outside and entertain ourselves with what we bought in Fontaine. Fortunately, Papa let us bring some in the carriage, it made the journey less boring.

Soon though Leon started to grumble and lose interest in the toys he bought. I don't find playing with toys entertaining, but there's nothing else to do and I have already read all the books I purchased, even the ones that I bought from Snezhnaya that were interesting started to get boring as I read through them. 

We found ourselves staring in the distance, not knowing what to do and restless from the long travels.

Papa doesn't show it, but I have a feeling he's as bored as we are. After all, I assume he's a workaholic, and people like that become restless when there's nothing to do.

The only time we stop is when it's nighttime. Unlike before, we don't travel 24/7, I think it's because there's no rush to come home, I'm thankful though, since we could have a good night's rest without all the bumps and noise.

"Leo, look at that! That star is so bright!"

"It is,"

"Come on, don't you have anything more to say? You're really boring to talk to you know."

"..."

"Whatever," Leon turned back, approaching the carriage where our luggage was stored, he climbed up and rummaged inside the bag with a ribbon and colorful designs.

"Look at this! What does this remind you of?" He asked showing me a a glass marble with a ballerina in the middle and some water inside. It's a Snowglobe and from the looks of it, it's an expensive one.

"I don't know, Snezhnaya?" I answered halfheartedly. 

"No! Doesn't this remind you of Lady Furina?"

"How is that Lady Furina? That's a ballerina no matter how you look at it."

"That's not the point! You're looking at it the wrong way! Look, the girl inside doesn't stop dancing no matter what you do, doesn't this remind you of Lady Furina?"

I stopped for a second not knowing how to process what he said. How did he know about that? Is he really like me? I looked at him in the eyes intently, my eyes never left his as I tried to uncover any hint of him being a reincarnated person.

"Uh, Is something wrong? Why are you staring at me like that?"

Giving up on finding hints, I asked him.

"Why did you say Lady Furina is like the girl inside? What do you know, Leon?"

My sudden question shocked him, confusion evident on his face. I could see the questioning look on his face, not towards me, but towards himself.

"That's... I don't know, I just thought that Lady Furina is like this girl, trapped and is dancing forever, I don't know why I felt that way, but I feel like it represents her very well."

"Leon, do you perhaps have memories of living a different life?"

"Huh? I don't understand."

"Do you see like, vivid dreams of living as someone else ?"

"No, I don't have dreams like that. Leo, you're being weird."

"Leon, don't lie."

"I'm not lying! I promise!"

So then why does he know that? This is very suspicious. I had my doubts but I never thought it had some truth. 

"Then, why did you feel that way when you don't have... memories? It doesn't make sense."

"Leo, I really don't know, I just felt this way. Is something wrong with me?"

I don't know what to do, why am I even mad? Shouldn't I be happy that someone is like me... or close to something like me is here? It's not every day you find someone reincarnated.

"Leon, you're telling the truth, right?"

"Yes! I am! I really don't know why."

"Alright, I'll believe you brother."

I don't know how to explain my emotions. Conflicted, mixed, happy, mad? It's quite convoluted, all I knew was that Leon wouldn't do anything that would harm me. Wait, why did I think like that? 

"Young masters, It's time for dinner."

A guard interrupted my thoughts as he called us for dinner. We followed him a few meters away from the carriages where tents and a makeshift camp were set. There are a few pots hung on top of the fire and inside is some soup for dinner.

We ate as the stars above were slowly covered in thick clouds. The atmosphere in the forest became much colder and finally, the clouds burst and a huge rain came.

We abandoned the camp and set back to the carriages and spent the night inside. One of the carriages was swept away from the harsh gusts of wind along with the horse pulling it causing all the things inside to be thrown away.

Papa took immediate action and ordered everyone to evacuate to a higher place while leaving a few competent guards to retrieve the horse along with the remaining usable things.

The night was cold. Leon and I cuddled together after changing clothes. The storm outside was rough, paired with loud thunders and gusts of wind. Papa slept in another carriage at that time. The carriage that we used to ride has a damaged roof causing us to settle on a smaller one meant for the guards.

"It's cold." Leon and I were hugging each other. Despite the change of clothes the harsh winds still carried bitter cold.

Now that I think of it, we're close to Snezhnaya now.

The cold night continued, and we couldn't get enough sleep as the noise outside was too loud, paired with the cold winds it was impossible for fledglings like us to get a comfortable night's rest.

"Leo, let's talk."

"What do you wanna talk about?"

"Anything, I just don't want to feel this cold."

"Alright, then... is it because of what you felt that you like Lady Furina?"

"Yes. Actually, when I first saw her inside the theater I felt sad. I don't know why but I feel like she's suffering. Like she's inside an unending nightmare and she can't wake up."

"..."

"It's also the same back at the orphanage. I just... for some reason, I know they're not really happy, When I saw them get so happy when I gave them the toy, it just felt so good. It's the same thing for Lady Furina. I want to make her happy, I want to tell her everything is fine and she's not alone."

"Leon..."

"I want to do everything I can to help them. I want to be their hero."

Leon stretches his arm toward the ceiling.

I forgot the cold and the loud noise ever existed. My eyes were locked to his hopeful ones. I felt the strings of my heart touched. His voice carried the weight that I never once felt. Unlike the commanding voice of people in power like Papa, or the eccentric yet heavy tone of Furina, Leon carried one with so much emotion that could move people. His voice, his will, struck my soul, like a long-lost part of myself, returning back from where it came.

"Then, I'll help you with that," I said as I sat up.

"You want to reach a better future, I'll be more than happy to assist you, brother."

"You promise that?"

Chuckling, I replied. "I promise, after all, I am your shadow aren't I?"

With a huge smile, he raised his pinky finger. I did the same and together we made our vows.

***

Hours passed. The storm didn't stop.

Leon fell asleep, how did he even fall asleep in this situation? Seriously.

Our talk earlier made me think. His and my reasons are entirely the same. He might not have the memories but I'm sure he is a reincarnated person like me, there's no doubt about that. The question is, how did we get here and why? There should be a reason for that.

As my mind was occupied with such thoughts the lightnings and thunder outside got stronger.

It looks like it won't stop anytime soon.

I grabbed a piece of cloth from the front of the carriage and covered us with it. 

I could hear small rocks start to fall from up the hill and I started to feel dread. We set up camp beside a cliff for some covering from the storm. Though water pours in the carriages were tightly tied to trees.

It's fine, nothing's gonna happen. We're safe here.

I tried to comfort myself as rocks continued to fall. Soon I heard a lightning strike near us. A loud banging noise started to get closer from above and I could hear people panicking outside. I didn't waste any time and grabbed Leon out but it was too late. 

A huge boulder slammed the carriage that we were sleeping causing it to roll down the mountain. Fortunately, a guard managed to deflect it before it hit, causing it to indirectly hit the carriage and causing no harm to us inside.

We rolled down the mountain and I grabbed Leon and hugged him. 

We stopped rolling and found ourselves in an unfamiliar land with only a few bruises and cuts. The god of luck must have blessed us.

"Leon, are you fine?!" I instantly inspected Leon, fortunately he didn't get any serious injury.

'I'm fine. Where are we?"

****************

In the farthest night where dreams and reality intertwined. A woman laid on the stars, watching each of their movement as some were born while others have dimmed.

Her slender hands caressed a group of intertwined stars. Each rotating in a massive mess, affecting all that was shining. 

The once dimmed was shortly lit, the once so bright shone ever brighter, and those who had lost their light flickered once more.

"The time of yore is soon to end." She spoke.

"The prince is soon to awake and broken souls will soon mend." Her eyes gazed at the light beyond the stars

"Days forward shall be bright yet at the corners of the dreamless world shone the darkest night."

"You who once lived a life of customs and you who once died from God's might."

"What shall you bring with your tainted light."

"What shall you take from the darkest night."

Finally, the stars calmed, and the intertwined stars lays still.

The witch spoke.

"I wish you the best of luck, Leonheart, Leonid."