Chapter 507 Symphonies (1/2)

CHAPTER 507

SYMPHONIES

Lino and Hannah belted across the high-skies, now dulled in ashen-gray clouds and pelting, cold rain, stamping behind them two trails of fluttering light, etching out their trajectory. They moved as quickly as they could, dry anxiousness swelling in both their hearts, eyes perennially-glued to the distant ground down below.

They could visibly trace the movement of a massive army as it constructed a massive footpath across the plains, racing toward the City of Sun. Neither dared do a rough headcount, as they feared what they might find.

The rain's chilliness managed to calm Lino somewhat, causing his swell of emotions to soothe. It has been a long time since he felt the eroding trembles burn through him, though it was hardly the first. He never worried about losing the war itself -- be it when he was thrust into the battle with Primes, or when he finally left the realm and found the initial battlefront desecrated -- but causing irreparable damages to the spirit of the Empire.

Glancing to the side, he saw Hannah's worried expression, mirroring his. For her, perhaps, it might be even worse as, unlike him, she wholly thrust herself into the matters of the Empire, meeting and knowing thousands of souls personally, drawing lines of connection between all of them.

He tightened his grip on her hand, jolting her out of her deep thoughts and causing her to look to the side, at him. Amidst the stormy clouds and the dry, soot-doused rain, the green of her irises appeared to be shining, like two brilliant gems cast into the pool of dull liquid. Not even the flashes of lightning could overcast the shine of her eyes; if anything, it was made duller by comparison.

She smiled at him, the sort of a smile that, in his eyes, only she could pull off so effortlessly; the slight dimples tucked at the wide-ends of her lips, cheeks blooming slightly, eyes curling in crescent, brows arching up imperceptibly. Though the age may have added a few lines to her face, it only served to enunciate her beauty.

”--after all of this is over,” he said, smiling back. ”We really need to take a vacation.”

”Haven't you been on a vacation for the past decade?” she flashed him a dubious look for a moment.

”No, no, I mean, both of us,” he said. ”And Aaria. We'll go someplace. Somewhere in the trees or the hills or the mountains, somewhere by the river. Every mornin', we'll make a grandiose tradition of fishin', and every night of drinkin'.”

”You are awfully quick to abandon the post of your duties,” she chuckled. ”Though, I suppose, it doesn't sound half-bad. I do think Aaria, however, will take some issue with being taken away from all her friends.”

”Bah, the years we have her for ourselves are short,” Lino snorted. ”By gods, I'll make use of every second, lest I regret it later.”

”Aah, I always knew you were going to be a possessive one,” Hannah sighed, shaking her head lightly. ”I'm afraid I'll have to stand on the girl's side for this one.”

”For this one?” it was Lino's turn to look at her dubiously. ”I haven't seen you on my side since the birth of that little devil, Hannah.”

”Because you were never right.”

”I'm always right!”

”Ah, but of course. My apologies, Mr. Right.”

”Scoff all you want,” Lino cracked a smile. ”But name a Mr. Righter for you than me.”

”I could name a good dozen if you wouldn't run off to kill them.” she fired back.

”Dozen? My, it sounds like I'm quite replaceable in the end. Oh, woe is me!”

”Ah, I wouldn't mourn if I were you; nary a single has an Empire to his name. A woman of my stature, naturally, has to have a high post to reflect her inner greatness!”

”Oh, I didn't know your love was tied to my crown more so than my heart,” Lino plastered a hurt expression on his face. ”How rueful.”

”In equal realm,” Hannah said, smiling. ”Your love is tied to my holes and lumps; I'm the rueful one here, clearly.”

”No, no, you're more than your mounds and crevices! There's also your curves, your flaps, your feet--”