His hair was also remarkably soft, as well...

And as for what he had done, exactly... Daring to prop himself with one arm, the hermit reached behind to the newly done up hair with faint confusion crossing over his face with the growing realisation that, for one reason or another, he had done him a favour. Perhaps it was tied tighter than he would have liked, the leather not worn quite enough to be a comfortable fit yet, but he knew that it would wear with time. It was confusing. Why? ...But by the time his shaking arms had lifted himself back up and the hermit turned to utter something in response, whether it was to ask his reasons (however terrible he knew such an idea would be) or even to thank him for his kindness, Caim was already gone.

But... This was only the first seal  — The desert seal would be soon to follow if they didn’t hurry back at that instant. “... We must not give up.”  Though the words we faint, and held not even the slightest hint of confidence to them, Leonard had spoken as only the faintest reassurance that this wasn’t the end. Maybe then, with the desert seal... No, surely then. It would not be lost as this one had been. The children... They were nothing more than a play on his own weakness, Leonard knew in that moment.  And as much as he hated to admit it, part of the hermit felt that Caim had known it even before him; the moment those young screams met their ears. ...Swallowing back the heavy weight of the guilt which had been only further saddled with questions of lost causes and concepts of irredeemability, he mustered what resolve he could and forced his mind along to the most pressing issue at their hands: “Let us hurry to the desert seal. If we stay behind any longer then it shall be lost as well...” And yet, even as they began their trek back, loss turning into newfound rage, Leonard’s mind couldn’t help but linger on the truth behind those words. 

"Agh-!?" A cry of both shock and pain as the blade of the man he thought he had killed ran straight through his stomach. Leonard said nothing as he collapsed to the ground, only letting a final, faint dying groan pass through his lips before the last of the life slipped from his body. ... There was no need to speak any words then, and Leonard knew that. Why, one might ask? Well, he had plenty he could say say now. Now that they were both going to hell, Caim and Leonard were each other's problem from the present lasting until eternity. You brought this on yourself, Caim. And a simple sword won’t be able to fix it.

>send “impalement reverse”  for your muse to get impaled protecting mine. It was the guards who had been struck down by the arrows first, and those who had chose to set up camp towards the outside had already been nearly halved in numbers before they had begun to realise it: They were being ambushed.  Leonard was quick to the scene, mainly in his own restlessness between his pact-partners nagging and thoughts that continued to haunt him no matter how he had tried to push them off. He had almost drifted to a state of half sleep when the sound of shouts, footsteps, and the clanging of metal snapped him up at once. He should have known; an area like this was ideal for an ambush. The forest was far too convenient for the soldiers to hide themselves till the right time. Leonard rushed for his weapon and rushed to the commotion with no second thought. ...It was growing more and more clear the risky situations he had been throwing himself into, his own wish for death seeming to take up any and all openings for rational thoughts; and this was no different... No different, save for one thing. The faerie’s voice spoke to him as he felt the weight of a soldier go flying back from the swing of his spear, voicing his concerns exactly. “You fight blind in a camp as crowded as this? That’s typical, stupid Leonard for you~ How will you keep yourself from injuring your own allies in a place like this, hm? Don’t know? Oho! You really are blind!”    Putting aside the faerie’s insults, he took well into consideration how careful he had to be not to hit his allies in an area as cramped as this. Surely the challenge was difficult... Leonard doubted he’d be able to pull it off perfectly, but what other alternative was there? He had gotten much, much better at using his other senses since he had first lost his sight, and even with his fears that it was still not enough, he knew there was no other choice than to simply try his hardest to figure out a pattern in the midst of all this chaos. Quickly, he spun to block an incoming strike from an Empire soldier, and paid close attention to how the footsteps sounded approaching him. Rushed, yet not frantic like the Union soldiers... Right. Now to know where they were coming from... The spear pulled back from the other’s weapon and flew right through the soldier with ease, the blood still dripped fresh as he swept it across to trip the surrounding solders in front of him.  ... Though momentarily, he went unknowing of the soldier that had taken advantage of his back being turned too late.  Leonard had turned aware of the soldier that had attempted to attack him last second too late, his spear swinging forward... Into the soldier’s stomach? The realization finally struck him after a moment that it was not the stomach of a foe he had pierced, but the side of his ally. “Caim, you fool!!” He had went and intervened last minute, but for what...? To save him? He couldn’t possibly. Caim would have killed that soldier anyways...  Was he simply getting ahead of himself in his own twisted thrill of the sudden bloodshed? But... It didn’t fit. Caim may have been brutal, but he was careful; that much was for certain.  Leonard shoved those speculations aside, why he did it was the least of his worries. Where was the wound placed? And how deep was it? But now especially, Caim couldn’t be here. The empire soldiers were still around, and with that wound.... He could deal with the ones in the area, and then perhaps...? Maybe, with some luck, his blow was less than fatal. In any other situation Leonard would have begged for whatever forgiveness could be granted, though this was definitely the worst occasion for it. He had no time for guilt when he could still save a life, that he knew; no matter his own resentment for the prince he had saved his life... Even if it was to satiate his own bloodlust. What monster would he be if he didn’t at least try to save him after that? For honour’s sake, at least... Beyond that, Caim was the spearhead of the Union army. If he were to die, the Union would undoubtedly be good as dead... And for who’s foolishness? He was as much to blame as Caim was, in this matter... No, even more so. Caim must have known what he was doing. His own foolishness... Leonard knocked back yet another red-eyed soldier. They were going to start coming for Caim in his injured state, he was certain of it... But no, no more deaths.  “... Caim. Stay strong for a while longer,” Leonard spoke to him in his thoughts, using his usual steady tone, “I will clear the area of the remaining soldiers. Should they manage to attack the apothecary, I will find a cure in the forest. I know it well.” Leonard’s grip tightened on his spear. He wasn’t going to have anymore blood on his hands.

The question had immediately thrown Leonard off-guard and piqued his curiosity - No man was without secrets, he was certain Caim was no different. But... The way these secrets were dealt with varied from one person to another, and while the thought of how Caim chose to deal with his secrets, or the secrets themselves for that matter were none of his business, he certainly hadn’t expected him to be keeping up an act, out of all the ways to hide them. At least, that was how he registered it.... He certainly wasn’t too fond of Caim for several reasons, admittedly, though he felt would be foolish to deny him any help. It was he himself who had cited that “No man is beyond forgiveness”, after all, who was he to turn back on that now? Leonard had turned and chose his next words carefully. He didn’t want to make him defensive, but he certainly didn’t want to come off as if he was patronizing him either. “Caim, you know we all have a number of burdens and pains we carry with us at this time of war, especially now. You know that no matter where our opinions may stand that you are always welcome to speak to me about what is on your mind. It is the least I can do for someone who carries the hopes of thousands in support of the Union’s cause as well.”