âHave you forgotten? The Black Fang are finished.â It doesnât pain him to admit as much, for it is merely the truth. âBounty hunters came after anyone lucky enough to survive, looking to finish the job you started.â âLloyd, you have to get out of here.â âFlynn? What-â âI donât have time to explain! Silvaâs outside readying a horse and supplies for you to take. You need to go, before they make it past the front gate!â
âFlynn, wait. Whoâs going to make it past the front gate?â ââŚBounty hunters. They know youâre aliveâAlbert and Hershel are distracting them now to buy you time to escape. I hate to do this when youâve finally returned, but⌠I wonât let you rush to join your family on the other side. Got it?â ââŚAye.â âJust come back when this is all over, okay? Weâll be here, waiting.â âI will. I owe you that much.â In the end, heâd fled Elibe entirely to shake them off, constantly moving from place to place until he had grown weary of even that. âThis place is safe. I lend my sword to the knights, and they give me a place to stay in return. Theyâve given Nino a chance to make up for everything she wasnât taught.â A pause, followed by a rueful smile. âIf Iâm still a threat to you, why not put that sword of yours to use? I donât have any way of fighting back. Itâd be an easy shot.â Not that Lloyd has any intention of actually dying here, of course, but he wonât be satisfied until he has the answer to a question long since rendered pointless.
Eliwood raised a brow at Lloydâs words. Did he hear him right? Because it sounded as if he were blaming him. It was true that he had a hand on Black Fangâs collapse. But to be framed as an oppressor, when it was the Fang who started all the trouble? It was almost funny. âBlaming everything on me, huh. Thatâs an interesting perspective you have there.â His voice dripped with sarcasm as he uttered those words. He didnât sound like himself and he hated it. He took a deep breath to try to compose himself. Getting angry wonât do him any favors. However, he canât just stand there and take all the blame. Â
âLook. I spared many of your lot and even welcomed those who had the mind to think for themselves as my friends. Beyond that, thereâs very little I can do. I did what I had to do to protect the realm and I will never apologize for that.â His tone was poised, civil, but his eyes were intense, burning with conviction.
But when Ninoâs name had come up, the fire in his chest had been extinguished. His precious friend was alive and well! The relief that he felt was immense. He had been especially worried for the young mage who suddenly vanished, and had feared for the worst when his knights could not find her. Now that he was fully calm, he was able to truly hear Lloydâs words.
Eliwood drew his sword, the light of the moon glinted menacingly on the blade. Letting the White Wolf live was a risk. Especially in this place that had been built for nobility, the nobility that the wolf so despised. The choice was as clear as day. He would end it all in a single strike. He took three quick steps forward for momentum and swung the blade with all his might to send it crashing down on the floor. The force of his strike was enough to shatter the blade, just as he hoped.Â
âI did not come here to play the role of an executioner.â He said firmly and threw the hilt of his rapier on top of the shattered pile. âSo donât give me a reason to become one.â If blood were to spilled that night, it will not come from his hand. However, a tiny piece of the blade had recoiled and nicked him on the cheek. It was a shallow cut but blood had began to trickle.
He may have just put the academy (himself included) at risk with his decision. However, he had a strong feeling that Lloyd had meant every word that he said. And who was he to deny someone a second chance at life? I just hope my trust was not ill-placed.



















