Chapter 490 Flights of Hearts (2/2)

”Always.” she poured him one, taking a sip herself.

”It's not sour. It's bitter.”

”Doesn't change my comparison,” he chuckled, causing her to shake her head. ”But, I was prepared. Warned since I was a wee-young boy. Listen lad, bearded gruffs used to say, women, they are opposite of wine; the older they are, the more bitter and undrinkable they get!”

”I see you've hung out with the good crowd before I fixed your ways.” she added.

”Aye, I always had keen eyes for fine fellas,” he said, glancing out, over the balcony's wall, onto the open plain. ”You look a whole lot like that idiot in a mirror of mine whenever I come back from a battle.” he added in a somber tone. ”Only, you know, about infinity times more beautiful.”

”... we lost a lot of people today,” she said, sighing. ”Because I can't lead.”

”We would have lost far more if you hadn't, Hannah,” Lino said. ”Don't be a downer.”

”Are you really in a position to tell me that?” she cracked a faint smile, looking back at him.

”Ah, but of course!” he exclaimed, taking a sip of ale. ”You see, the brooding look goes well with us lads. On you, ladies, it just makes you look like you hadn't taken a proper shit in months.”

”... ah, woeful me. How dare I feel the same things you feel?”

”Oh, fell them alright. Just feel them inside. That's the key aspect of brooding,” Lino said in a serious tone, causing Hannah to barely stifle her laughter. ”You can't show too much of it, makes you look like you're begging people to ask you questions. No, no, m' lady. Can't have that.”

”Silly me,” Hannah said. ”How could I have forgotten there's a proper way to brood? Ah, I should be exiled.”

”... hey,” he said, reaching out over the table, caressing her cheek gently, his lips curled up into a gentle, encouraging smile. ”You're doing more than any that might blame you for today.”

”... when was it that we switched the roles?”

”Oh, we hardly had, woman,” Lino chuckled. ”Just wait till you hear of my angsty tale. You'll be back on your moral high in no time.”

”... I miss it, Lino.” she said, pulling back, surprising him. ”The fighting. Traveling. The uncertainty of tomorrow.”

”...”

”I'm tired of lounging around in thick, complicated dresses, talking all day long, surrounded by glow and shine of worthless possessions. I bitterly recall telling you specifically I was not that sort of a woman. Yet, here I am.” she didn't look at him for a moment, worried what expression she might find.

”... I know,” he said lowly. ”Every night, I could see a part of you grow limper. Like someone's been stealing parts of your soul slowly. I guess... I just didn't want to admit it to myself. I'd much rather have you brooding and angst-ridden but safe, than jovial and inspired but surrounded in infernal fires. Aah, that little lass and you are remarkably alike.” he chuckled at the end, shaking his head as Hannah turned hers to face him. The way light folded over his scarred left eye stunned her for a moment, his expression seemingly perfectly encased in light. ”I only ever felt confident leaving the throne because I knew you had it covered. And, each time I'd come back, I'd be plunged into shame. How could I possibly reign when I'd just fuck up and have you fix it? You cast a remarkable shadow, Hannah,” he added, glancing at her, his eye a storm of emotion. ”Sometimes, I feel, that even without me, without Ataxia, without the Empyrean... you would have changed the world all by yourself.”

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”...” she remained silent for a moment, getting up and walking over, pulling her head over his, her crimson hair draping on her sides, shading him from the sun. Their eyes met in the tranquility of the dark, in the solace of the silence, the grip of the warmth. ”Sometimes,” she mumbled, lowering her head, closing her eyes. She could feel his lips on her forehead. ”It gets scary. How many tremors you cause in my heart. I'm not a young girl anymore, Lino. My old, fragile heart can't take much of it.”

”... we're close, butterfly,” he mumbled, running his lips against her forehead gently. ”So close. And I know, in my heart, it would hardly feel a victory if, in the end, I stood there alone. You've wings,” he added. ”And it breaks my heart not to see you fly.”

They remained draped in shadows for some time, time which ceased to matter. In silence and solace, there was nothing and no one else. Just the two of them, like statues in the snow, ineffable.