Chapter Five: Ice & Flowers (Leon)

Who are you?

"Damn. Did Reko run off again? I shouldn't blame him, though. He does have a lot of energy, energy I wish I could have as well," Felix sighs and quickly surveys the area around himself.

Engelard looks up at the buildings by the nearest alleyway and smiles to himself. There, Reko's figure can be seen for just a moment before disappearing over the other edge of the building.

Leon looks up in his direction as well, then turns to look at the pillar of smoke in the sky. Was all of Basel destroyed? If so, Leon had no house to go home to, nor did Engelard.

Would Grayson be kind enough to understand and let him off the hook for his assignment in the coming morning? But Leon knew Grayson would want him to infiltrate enemy lines and try his luck at getting as close to killing the commander of the opposing army as he could if he wasn't able to kill them in the first place.

"Felix, could I ask you a question unrelated to the war?" Leon found himself speaking, seeing Engelard glance at him out of the corner of his eye with an expression suggesting he was surprised.

"I don't see why not."

"Why did you decide to come to Schweiz?"

Felix, though he was staring at Leon, wasn't focusing on him. Leon could tell by the way Felix did not respond immediately; he didn't have a definite answer. Why would he be the General of the Army in this nation, though? Didn't he want to remain loyal to his birth country?

Finally, after what seemed like an age, Felix speaks, his eyes focusing back on Leon.

"As I mentioned, I was born in Deutschland. I was abducted one night when I was just a child from my biological parents and found myself here. Because I have lived here for the majority of my life, I find myself more loyal to Schweiz than I do to Deutschland," Felix admits, and both Leon and Engelard were silent, staring at him.

"How were you abducted?" Leon blurts out his question, then covers his mouth with a hand.

He should be taking the phrase 'think before you speak' seriously. This was not it.

But Felix smiles and answers.

"Kidnapped while wandering among the war-torn streets. I was born in the middle of the years of the German Civil War, so almost everything was destroyed except for a few locations like hospitals and buildings that served as bases for the two sides. You can safely say I'm no stranger to wars. I can't dream of becoming anything other than a protector of this nation."

Leon finds himself slowly nodding, agreeing with Felix.

He couldn't think of any other profession he would feel as comfortable in than being an assassin. Though he was a knight as a younger boy, he didn't like rigorous training with heavy swords wearing clanky, heavy metal armor.

He also couldn't picture Engelard as anything other than an archer, or a scharfschütze, as Grayson called him. Why Grayson called him by such a name was unknown to Leon, but if he had to guess, it would be trying to make him an assassin.

There had to be another reason as to why Grayson was so determined to make Engelard an assassin other than believing he was perfect for the position. But Leon had no idea what went on in his superior's mind.

"It seems as though every nation is, or was, going through some type of civil war. Don't you think it's a bit...unusual?" Engelard speaks, looking up at where he saw Reko, but the boy is not there.

Felix just shrugs and sighs.

The three freeze as a gleeful shout rings from outside Zurich. Engelard readies his bow, Leon his sword, and Felix his pistol. A girl slides into the center plaza, jumping and spinning. Ice spreads throughout the area, soon reaching beneath the feet of the three young men.

Leon tries to chase after her but slips on the ice, sending him sliding forward. Engelard breaks out in hysterical laughter, drawing the girl's attention. She smiles, waves, and bows once she comes to a stop before the trio. The ice recedes, disappearing underneath the girl's feet, and with a hand from Engelard, Leon stands up, brushing off his cloak before staring at the girl.

Her outfit was rather decorative, featuring a thin, long sleeve blue shirt that went down to just above her knees. Red swirls doused in glitter and little white flowers made up the rest of the eye-catching outfit, and Leon met the girl's eyes, astounded at her beauty.

"Hello! I'm Kasumi, the star figure skater from Japan! Thank you for all your praise and admiration," the girl bows once again, still smiling brightly.

Leon, Engelard, and Felix put their weapons away. Leon casts a sideways glance at Engelard, who appears just as confused as he does. Felix, on the other hand, keeps looking around the plaza as if searching for something.

"You're from Japan? What are you doing in Schweiz, during a civil war?" Engelard breaks the awkward silence, and the girl's head turns to look at the smoke rising from Basel.

"I'm growing my international audience! I can't stay a nobody from the rest of the world for all of my life! Who are you? You look like you excel at the individuelles Bogenschießen für Männer! Have you ever considered participating in the Sommerolympiade?"

Engelard reaches back and lets his left hand wrap around his bow, then lets it go after several seconds, his eyes still trained on Kasumi.

"Um... No?"

"Really? You're missing out! You could win a gold medal and have your name known for generations to come across the globe! Doesn't that sound like a dream come true?" Kasumi spins around, and Engelard inches ever so closer to Leon, who puts a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"I guess so?" Engelard, unsure of what to say, can only offer uncertain questions as replies to the girl.

Kasumi stops spinning and looks at Leon. She walks towards him until their faces are only inches apart, and Leon's eyes grow wide while he lets his hand grab the hilt of his sheathed sword.

"And you look like you could be excellent in Dressur! You would appear so majestic atop a horse, wowing the crowd with your control and grace over your horse! You'd be in line for a gold medal as well!" Kasumi continues her judgment and glances once at Felix before giving him a shining smile.

"What's Dressur?" Leon whispers to Engelard, who shrugs.

"I don't know. Something to do with horses."

"Finally... You would astonish the audience in the 25-Meter-Schnellpistole! Just look at your pistol! It's perfect, a gold medal winner! You'll all need to come with me in two years when the next Winterolympiade is held!" Kasumi jumps up and down, filled with a joy the three young men cannot understand.

"Though that sounds quite exciting to you, miss, we are in the midst of a civil war, and- Oh, is that Reko?" Felix's eyes travel from the girl to the figure of a boy that walks toward the group.

Sure enough, it is Reko, holding a small container in his hands. He shoots a hostile glance at Kasumi, then holds the container out to Leon.

Leon notices the container is filled with a dark red liquid. Could it be..? But how would he..? And where..?

"Well?" Reko stares straight at Leon, and the latter is slightly shocked to hear the former speak, though it comes across as threatening and impatient.

"Um... Is this what I think it is?" Leon takes the container from Reko, who walks over to be by Felix's side.

Engelard takes the container from Leon, inspects it, and even takes off the lid. He nods and hands it back to the assassin.

"Yeah, it's blood. Thanks, Reko," Engelard shoots a smile over at the kid, who crosses his arms over his chest and stares back at the archer with a threatening glare.

Leon, without a second thought, downs the contents of the container in mere seconds.

The scene before him fades to black. A young boy stands in front of him, holding the hands of who Leon assumes to be his parents. The two adults fade, and the boy becomes a bruised and bloodied mess. Another figure appears, and Leon can just barely recognize it as Felix. They now hold the boy's right hand, and the latter's left hand now grips a knife.

But before the scene can progress any further, Leon can feel himself falling through the darkness, and the city comes back to his eyes as he crashes to the ground, head throbbing.

"Argh! R-Reko, whose blood did you- Ah!" Leon clutches his head as a sharp pain courses through it.

Engelard is by his side in a moment. Leon can feel him moving his hands over his body, feeling for any sudden wounds or other signs of damage to the knight's body. Identifying nothing, Engelard puts his hands under Leon's arms and hoists him into a standing position, acting as a pillar of support for Leon as he regains his strength.

Reko just looks around at Zürich, avoiding any type of contact with everyone but Felix, who whispers something into his ear.

The boy walks back over to Leon, and stands several feet away from him, the expression on his face and his crossed arms over his chest revealing he was not at all happy to be where he was.

Leon stands up as best he can without Engelard's support, but he can still feel the latter tightly grip his left hand that connects to the arm around the back of Engelard's neck.

Reko quickly glances at Felix, who encourages the boy with a small smile, to which Reko rolls his eyes in reply. He then stares at Leon right in the eyes and speaks for the second time.

"Sorry."

Leon manages a smile and a short laugh, trying to lighten the boy's mood. All Reko does is raise his right hand, point to a small cut on his palm, then walk to stand beside Felix, who seizes his hand and inspects the injury.

"So it was his blood. There was so much of it though for being such a tiny cut," Leon whispers to Engelard, who shrugs.

"He must've combined his blood with that of something or someone else," Engelard answers, and looks over a Kasumi, who is busying herself with polishing her shoes.

"Kasumi, if I may continue with what I was saying before Reko returned, this country is currently in the middle of what I believe to be a civil war. Though I am not quite sure why you wanted to come here specifically to grow your audience, I would advise you to come back another time once this war is over and done with," Felix picks up right where he left off, letting Reko's hand, which is now lightly bandaged, fall to the owner's side.

The girl smiles and lets out a giggle.

"Can I help you win the war? It will earn me oodles of exposure! I'll become world-famous in no time!"

All that greets her proposal is silence. Felix opens his mouth to reply, but closes it, unable to think of anything to say. Engelard slowly lowers Leon's left arm from around his neck before looking at Kasumi with a shocked expression, and Leon moves his arms and legs around, feeling for any further soreness while not preferring to look in the girl's direction.

A voice from afar greets the four instead and breaks the silence.

"Why, a beautiful young woman like you deserves to be showered in roses, not gunpowder! You are an ice skater from Japan, yes? It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, miss," a young man stops in front of Kasumi and bows.

His outfit suggests he is of nobility, but of a different country than Schweiz. Felix studies his outfit with narrowed eyes, while Leon and Engelard are far more interested in who the man is and why he greets Kasumi in such an odd way.

"You know where I'm from? Do I already have fans? And, your words are too kind, sir. I am prepared to be covered in gunpowder if it means I get a gold medal around my neck in the presence of a million fans in two years," Kasumi twirls after her statement, unable to stop another giggle from escaping her mouth.

Leon clears his throat and is able to get both people's attention. Felix steals a glance in his direction, then turns his attention to Reko when the boy points at the man in the noble clothes and says something.

"I'm glad to hear you wish to help us Kasumi, but I do think it is too dangerous for you to be out on a battlefield when all you have is skating experience. And for you sir, I would hate for you to get your outfit torn and muddy when we choose to fight whoever our enemy is."

The man looks from Kasumi to Leon, then laughs and smiles.

"Do not worry yourself with my clothes. I am no longer of the statue these clothes suggest as of a few days ago. But I hope to return to my country and restore it to its former glory."

Country? Former glory? Was this young man some sort of king or ruler of another country? Did it, too, fall to attacks from Russland?

"This is confusing. Who's going to help us with this war, and who is here for idle chatter?" Engelard mutters under his breath, and Leon shrugs in reply.

"I don't know."

Leon catches the young man staring at him, before smiling while walking towards him. He brings his left hand up to the fur cloak he wears, and it disappears inside.

The assassin brings his right hand up to rest on the hilt of his sword and can see Engelard's hand at an angle where he can easily snatch an arrow, notch, and shoot if Leon's life is in any danger.

But, what emerges from the man's cloak is nothing close to a weapon. It is a purple flower, a species Leon doesn't recognize as being native to Schweiz.

"A violet for you, young man. And for you, who is so keen to protect his life at a moment's notice, a white lily," the man hands Engelard a white flower with long petals, to which the archer just stares between the man and the item.

"You, my darling, get a red rose. For you, whom I recognize in the slightest, please take this pink carnation," Felix takes the flower from the man, still appearing dazed and concerned at what this man, like Kasumi, has to bring to the table to be useful in his country's civil war.

Kasumi, meanwhile, turns the rose around in her hands, clearly honored to have received a gift.

Leon then watches as the man kneels in front of Reko, who doesn't lessen his hostile stare and uninviting posture.

"For you, I have an orange chrysanthemum."

Reko looks down at the flower, takes it, puts his left hand around the base of the petals of the flower, and pulls it from the stem. He lets both the stem and petals fall to the ground, where the petals scatter around his feet.

The man dejectedly looks down at the ruined flower, pushes himself back into a standing position, and clears his throat, gaining the attention of everyone but Reko, whose back is now turned.

"I am Nicholas Melchior of Polen. I was originally going to travel here and speak with General Adelric for his assistance with fighting Russland in order to begin building my country back to its former glory, but it appears Schweiz already has a war of their own to deal with," Nicholas' eyes scan each person who holds a flower, lingering on Reko, whose back is still turned.

Leon glances over at Felix the moment the man mentions his last name, and sees the general slowly nod his head. His eyes widen for a moment before he speaks.

"King Melchior of Polen? Were you and your military's troops not standing your ground against Russland a few days ago?"

Nicholas meets Felix's eyes, and his expression changes into one of surprise and relief.

"Ah, General Adelric! I knew you looked too familiar when I gave you that flower. As of a few days ago, yes. But as of now, unfortunately not. Russland is quite strong, and it proved far too much for my people and myself. Did you happen to send the troops over anyway?"

Felix's face turns sour and his eyes close as he shakes his head. Reko's hand moves to the handle of his weapon. Leon, Engelard, Kasumi, and even Nicholas gives the general a concerned stare at his sudden change of expression.

"No...I-I'm too far..." Felix whispers, opening his eyes.

Reko takes off, and Felix's head whips around to face the direction the boy is going.

"Reko, g-get back here! You're going to get y-yourself killed!" Felix takes a few steps to follow after the boy but gives out a weak cry, falls to the ground, and squeezes his eyes shut again.

Leon gestures for Engelard to stay where he is and takes off after the boy. Right off the bat, Leon realizes Reko is too fast, and will most likely reach wherever he's going far faster than Leon will if the assassin doesn't pick up his pace and leap forward to try and catch Reko.

But there is no need to leap, or even run anymore. Reko comes to a sudden stop at the gates to Zürich and looks out at the landscape before him. Leon slows to a walk and comes up beside the boy.

A faint boom meets the pair's ears, and smoke rises from another area of Schweiz, while a rumble in the ground follows. But that does little to draw Leon's attention away from the already darkened sky, the blotched-out fading stars, and the fires that dot where Basel was in the distance.

And, though small, Leon can distinguish two flags in the distance. He recognizes one as belonging to Russland. And the second, he fails to recall. He has never seen such a flag before.

Reko's faint whisper is the only thing that gives the flag a country's owner.

"Finnland..?"

Words and phrases used in this chapter:

Schweiz- Switzerland

Deutschland- Germany

Scharfschütze- Sniper

Dressur- Dressage

Winterolympiade- Winter Olympics

Individuelles Bogenschießen für Männer- Individual archery for men

25-Meter-Schnellpistole- 25-meter rapid pistol

Russland- Russia

Polen- Poland

Finnland- Finland