* – BURN ME DOWN

She almost didn’t hear her younger brother for a moment, eyes focused on some vacant area behind him. Eventually the words registered, and were processed, and their eyes finally met. “Don’t.” Camilla’s tone wasn’t harsh, simply terse from exhaustion. “You don’t need to baby me, Leon.” How often had she been accused of doing the same to their adoptive sibling? The irony was not entirely lost on her.

“I…” Camilla hadn’t planned on bothering Leon. Was it dinner time? The malig knight had spent so long in her room that she had completely lost track of the passing hours. Her legs had simply guided her to the king, and she barely even noticed until he spoke. Did she appear out of sorts? Perhaps that was why he seemed so concerned. It was supposed to be her job to care for her siblings, and yet she and Leon had swapped roles, when he already had enough on his plate.

“I’m not hungry.” She had some vague recollection of an uneaten cake left in her chambers by Beruka. “I mean, won’t you eat with me?”

         the king could only grimace when his sister had said that he needn't baby her. he was not trying to do so but rather make sure that she was okay  --  leon knows too well how the effects of the war impacted on her, and it hurts him too to witness her like this. a hesitant hand lifted before retreating back to his side, a small bow of his head to show that he respects her words.

✦✧   Almost immediately after Leon gave his response, Kliff’s hand flew to his face and he shook his head. He looked at the other in slight annoyance, “Actually, what I meant is that I wanted to learn more about the tome. I have no desire to use it.” If he was in fact honest, he was just curious about how it’s magic worked. “That is why I requested if we could talk after the battle.”   An axe wielder rushed at the two, roaring. Kliff frowned, turning and casting the tome in his hand, “Do not be rude and interrupt our conversation.” Soon, a number of arrows flew down and struck down the axe wielder, causing for him to fall to the ground in death. Kliff huffed, closing his tome before looking at the other, “I do believe he was the last guy.”

            leon had merely blinked in the village boy's response. he was genuinely surprised that the boy did not wish to wield brynhildr, but rather learn about it. most of the time when others wish to use brynhildr, they would try to steal the tome his possession, but end up being caught in the act. so, don't blame him when he would speak honest of kliff's intentions of the prince's royal tome. 

“Of course, Milord.” Even if he was more used to being forced into the cold than Leon, the archer was glad he’d spent some of his leftover pay on a new coat. It had seemed frivolous at the time, yet he found himself occasionally pulling the fabric tighter, any air sneaking through biting. “From what I can tell, we are still a long way off… If the scouts agree, should they spread the message to keep marching, or do we risk setting up camp?”

It was freezing, and the weather would only get worse as the hours deepened. Still, Zero would trust his liege’s judgement on the matter. He always did. “What’s the plan?” His eye was focused elsewhere, searching for a nearby scout until he found one, and focused on him.

           still a long ways off, huh ?? it would be too risky to keep everyone in the biting cold, but it would, too, be the way if they stopped and made camp. if his siblings were here together with him, leon would have no trouble with this decision, however  ---  he is but a few handfuls of soldiers, his retainer as well as himself. whatever looms in the darkness, he is unsure if just this many can fend throughout the night.

but still, he must make a decision and one he shall make. ❝ if the scouts agree to move onward until we make it the bottomless canyon, then i will agree with them. however, if they wish to set up camp to protect themselves from the nighttime cold, then i, too, wish for that. more or less an unanimous decision... ❞

Usually, she couldn’t even notice when she was making an ugly expression. Even Kamui, who technically wasn’t Anyan, would earn a look of ire without any intent behind it. A prince of the very people who ripped her parents away from her, however? Allegiance or not, Oboro could not sit tight and be comfortable around this man.

Whilst her liege would understand where she was coming from, and likely agree, she did not wish to cause unnecessary problems for him. Her usual glare vanished, though her features remained cold. “My apologies, Prince Leon. It was a matter of habit.” The retainer made no promises to avoid any future stares. “If it isn’t any trouble, might I ask what you’re doing in here alone?” It surprised Oboro that royalty of their former enemy were permitted to roam without a Byakuyan escort, though Leon did not look as if he were trying to be stealthy.

“You haven’t even got your retainers with you… I for one wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving Lord Takumi in one of your libraries instead.”

           ahh, so that was her reason why she was glaring at him. a matter of habit ?? he could understand that. there was a slight nod before the prince blinked at her question. she thinks that he came here alone ?? well, clearly, she does not know anything about his retainers. shaking his head, leon looked around the surrounding area before letting out a sigh. ❝ oh i assure you, oboro. i am definitely not alone  ---  my retainers usually stay a distance away whilst i am here for business matters. thought you cannot see them, zero and odin are definitely around; watching over me. ❞

Oh no…

Not another smashed pottery that used to be plates and mugs. 

Felicia grumbled to herself under her breath; clearly upset at herself for dropping it in the first place… And to only make matter worse she dropped it right behind someone or to be more specific; Leon.

At least he was nice enough to help her pick up the broken shards that were scattered across the floor.

“Ah… Don’t worry, Lord Leon… I mean I already done worse than breaking dinnerware and potteries.” She sheepishly smiled at him as she spoke in a rather casual tone of voice.

            the lord could only sigh at her response. was that really something that she should be proud of ?? because if it was, there was a big problem here. ❝ i have the right to worry, felicia. this is becoming a almost daily occurrence and having to replace our dinnerware isn't cheap on the funds. ❞ though he didn't speak of this out loud, but he's worried that felicia's clumsy nature could put kamui's reputation down  ---  as the maid was one of his sibling's retainers.

once the broken piece had been cleaned off of the floor, leon had grabbed his handkerchief from his pocket and used that to sweep up any remaining smaller pieces from off the ground, he definitely does not want a certain bare-footed sibling of his to walk through these halls and get these shards into their soles.

          ❝ ohh?                      will i? ❞

there lies  something humorous twisting at the corner of his lips. is he teasing leon? perhaps; robin will not reveal the truth─but that telltale grin of his surely speaks for him.

            the prince's brow furrowed as the tactician spoke those words. ❝ yes you will. i spent at least five hours on making sure the beef stew turned out perfectly and you're telling me that you will not even give it a taste ?? ❞ considering that leon even given it effort to even make it, it hurts to heard that the one you made it for won't have a taste.

✦✧

  Kliff had been a rather newer edition to the army, shooting spells to take down weaker enemies that seemed ready to kill his teammates. However, he did admit that he seemed to enjoy watching some of the other mages using their magic.   Honestly, the most impressive of them had to be Prince Leon of Anya. He could watch him use magic all day. While Kliff had been raised in the country until he was sent off to a different school, he could tell the other had a much easier time using magic.   He walked over to approach the other, taking a deep breath, “I wish to learn how your tome works if you will have me after the battle.” Most of the enemies looked almost dead, Chrom slashing one deeply in the chest. ✧✦

             was this child serious ?? he want to learn how to use brynhildr ?? preposterous. just letting someone attempt to use his tome was impossible by many ways. this legendary tome was bestowed upon him by the gods of his world   ---   if it be possible to let commoners use the magicks within its pages, the world would simply be worse off than how it is now.

This was the fare that came alongside war. Late nights, stretching into the ungodly hours of dusk ‘til dawn, anxiously awaiting for the reports necessary to formulating new plans. Marx was never fond of wartime, but being the crown prince necessitated his tolerance of it. He had to sacrifice so many hours of sleep for it, just like tonight. Despite his eyes heaving, he warded off his grogginess with impunity. He stayed awake from sheer force of habit, for war had become his routine. 

“Yes, Leon, you heard correctly. It seems an unknown faction has taken one of our strongholds.”

“I doubt we’ve the manpower to retake it. Thus, I’ve commanded the soldiers to retreat and allow its takeover. If we’re to win the war, we must wisely pick our battles. Or do you wish to disagree?”

             though the prince had not heard the reports himself, all he can assume this unknown force was from... there or just a strong group of brigands and bandits. arms crossed over his chest as the younger prince approached his brother's desk   ---  ---   eyes quickly scanning over the papers and notes that sit upon the wooden desk.

there was a slight furrow with the prince's brow as he read in the reports which of the strongholds had been taken. not only that but an important fort as well. with a soft sigh, leon looked his brother straight in the eyes and said with the utmost confidence in his tone.

❝ if you will have me, i will take my retainers to fort dragonfall to reclaim it. and if needed, i can take your retainers to my side as well. ❞ it may not seem worth it to go with so few units to the battlefield, but considering the extensive training that kamui had the whole army go through before the final battle those years ago  ---  the dragonborn is to blame as to why prince leon has the skills lethality and astra.

          ❝ ──hmm. ❞

          ❝ don’t like it. ❞

          ❝ don’t like it. ❞

           ❝  i’ll grab my things and be right over, then.  ❞

          ❝ ─I’M  quitting the shepherds. ❞

            the prince was used to staring, but not to the point where he's being glared down like he was prey to a predator. leon had been casually reading through books in the byakuyan library, gathering more information to further his research upon the ways of magic. but to have someone stare you down like that, it wouldn't be a surprise if he wasn't on edge.

leon let out a stiff sigh before closing the tome in his hands shut; returning it to its spot on the shelve before turning towards the entrance of the library. he cleared his throat before calling out to the woman.

There is a soft smile on the elder’s face as returns the bow with a small curtsy of her own ( out of habit ), and, gently, takes the tome. For a moment, she catches herself looking over it. It’s still strange to be in such a position, even a few months. The book finds a resting place against her chest, cradled by her arms.

“Certainly! I will do my best to catch him. As far as I know, he has become a bit more invested in novels. Perhaps thanks to a certain someone~.” She chuckles at her own tease. Even now, it looks as if Leon will still be have to endure them. Ah, at the same time, it’s not like she hears Takumi ask a similar thing whenever she visits Byakuka, and he knows she’s going to Anya shortly after. “I will try. I believe they are preparing for something shortly, so it might be a little difficult than last time. 

“Is there a specific tome you wish to exchange in return? In case he asks.”

             the prince only shrugged at her little playful jab of him investing the byakuyan prince in books of grandiose story-telling. it was not his fault that the authors of anya were highly skills with their ways of creating fantasizing worlds and amazing plots. if anything, he's glad that he had gotten takumi into the novels here and wish that he could get more people to read their stories. but for now, one shall be enough and in the future, he could probably get a trade going with anyan novels as well as byakuyan. ( sadly he'd have to get marx to pass it on as official trade, perhaps one day. )

leon gave his sister a blank expression before furrowing his brow as he pondered on what tome he could request. that's when he remembered there was a peculiar book in takumi's collection that he was... somewhat interested in. it was definitely something that's not expected of the other prince.

            there was a rather happy smile on the prince's face, one that hummed a tune as he strolled through askr castle. of course of all times, he should be preparing himself in case the summoner needed him for battle; but couldn't he have time for himself ?? after all he is a human being of emotion and feelings. he should be allowed to do something of what he's about to do, yes ??