HOME: PART I

In a matter of days, the seedling soon grew instantly which surprised everyone. It brought a smile on everyone's faces to see the fruit of their own labor. They have lost all hope, yet it seems the heaven has not given up on them.

"What's wrong?" Lirius asked, seeing how melancholy she looked whilst gazing at everyone.

"I'm wondering if everyone is doing well back home?" She asked with such a pensive look on her face

Lirius grabs the girl and embraces her, to hide away the tear she was about to shed. "We can always go home whenever you want."

Athena was locked in the man's embrace and she could hear his steady heart beating, she smiled how honest and supportive Lirius has been towards her from the start, "Let's go home."

When Athena and Lirius return to the camp, apart from them everyone seems lifeless as they watch the both of them preparing to leave.

All the alchemists left their work when they heard Lirius was leaving when he bid them farewell and left them with instructions on how to prepare advanced potions.

"Master, must you go?"

"My Lady?"

The girl turned towards them and despite how sincere they all are towards her and how closely they have become, she said to them. "This isn't our home, we must go back since there are people waiting for us."

As Athena said her farewell and Lirius lifted her onto her horse, tears rolled down some of the soldier's face. They felt so sad about their departure and how they wish they could stay forever. But, they already knew from the beginning that they weren't meant to stay, for once they completed their task they were bound to leave, and only have stayed to help them.

"Little Lady, you truly are a Saint."

Hearing the word saint ached Athena's heart, nevertheless, she stayed calm and continued to smile.

"Farewell!"

Athena and Lirius rode their horses as they ride through the camp and village following the way home.

"Fuji, are you excited to go home?" She asked as she noticed the pup running freely and excitedly as they headed home. "It seems he's not the only one." She added as she noticed how pleased Lirius was with the idea they were heading home and soon be away from everyone's sight.

'Lirius must really loathe the idea of us staying there.'

"Stop overthinking." He suddenly spoke knowing the girl must have thought ill of him again.

"I didn't." She answered back with a shocked look on her face that Lirius has caught on to her.

"Still dare lie, I know you thought ill of me. Must I say it aloud?"

"I say I haven't."

"Ha-ha, I may not have the ability to read minds, but I can see clearly on your face that you have thought how I hated the idea of us staying there."

"I never thought of that."

"If you say so." Lirius laughed and didn't provoke the girl further. What she said was not a lie either so he declared, " I say I detested every minute we stayed there."

"See, I knew you'll admit it."

"I can even say it right at their faces if I must."

"Did you really hated it that much?"

Lirius took a deep breath before answering the girl's question, it was obvious from the start that he didn't want to get involved with the Empire, but only did stay and helped them due to the girl's request. "It was you who said we shall not get involved, yet…"

"Yes, I know. But still, they were…"

"I know, what happened back then shall be left in the past."

"Hmm." She agrees despite knowing Lirius will forever hold a grudge on her family for almost putting her life at risk after Lirius countlessly tried to save it.

"Do you think Serfred will be pleased to see you?"

"As if." Lirius realizes that once he returns home he soon will be faced with another challenge. However, this challenge was something he could easily dealt with unlike the people back them. Especially the young man you always by the Rosenberg brothers.

"Lirius is something wrong?" Athena asked, noticing how deep in thought he was.

"Nothing." He replied, hiding the truth from her.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," He answered as he then looked straight ahead and noticed Fuji was quite a distance away from them already. "We better hurry."

"My word, Fuji must be so excited." She giggled seeing how far he was already.

…..

Meanwhile, back in the Empire's Camp.

"The Little Lady has left us."

"I feel so depressed without her smile."

"Master, why did you leave us."

Soldier and alchemist shared the same sentiments as they tried to comfort each other with the two sudden departures.

"It seems their departure has broken everyone's morals," Ignis said as he too felt upset that they left all of the sudden without any prior notice.

"They did see her as a saint," Roderic replied. "Whilst someone seems to see her differently."

"What do you mean?" Ignis asked, wondering what his brother meant, and noticed the man beside them who hadn't spoken a word since he found out about the two sudden departures. "Noct is everything alright."

"Excuse me," Noctis replied as he left the two brothers on their own as he headed back to his private tent.

"Seems like I was right," Roderic answered with a smile on her face, surprised to see how the man reacted.

"Brother, is something wrong with Noct?" He inquired of his brother.

"Nothing, he just left like something was missing in his life."

"Ah, do you mean he also misses the Little Lady?" He playfully replied and added, "Wait, shouldn't he be pleased that they left since Little Lady's wolf hated him."

"Who knows?"

"Well, no matter what, I just hope we get to see her soon. I mean, I gave them our family token and hope they do visit one of our territories."

"I hope so too."