Pallides knew this was the behavior of a throwing child, but unfortunately, she knew no other way.
"…."
Aneli's expression was subtle as she quietly looked up at the sobbing Pallides. What she was thinking was impossible to tell.
Aneli, who had been silently hugging the helmet to her chest, spoke in a calm tone.
"You won't last long."
Pallides flinched.
Because Aneli was right. It had only been moments ago that she regained her head, and with it, all the memories and power she had completely forgotten.
Having regained her complete soul, Pallides felt herself rapidly falling apart.
This was why Dasha and Ganick too had no choice but to find immediate rest.
If she lingered even a little longer, it seemed she would lose her sanity without even benefiting from recovering her head, becoming a true monster.
But Pallides did not readily acknowledge her condition.
"I can endure. I can stay by your side for as long as it takes until you finish everything you wish to do, Commander!"
"I can see your soul is already completely ruined from waiting too long."
At Aneli's composed words, Pallides fell silent without realizing it. Aneli gave her a faint smile.
As if to soothe Pallides, Aneli hugged the helmet with one hand and gently swept aside Pallides's wet bangs with the other.
"The rest you desire will be granted. Pallides."
"…Really?"
"Yes."
Warmth transmitted from Aneli's fingers touching Pallides's forehead. To Pallides, who was soaked to the bone from head to toe, it was felt particularly strongly.
Pallides, focusing her senses on that warmth, asked with a voice thick with emotion.
"Will I be able to not lose you this time, Commander?"
Aneli smiled awkwardly with a troubled expression.
Even Pallides knew her question was something she could not answer.
After hesitating briefly, Aneli gently stroked Pallides's cheek instead of answering her question.
Aneli's hand was soon wet from the moisture on her cheek.
"I always wondered how to soothe a crying Dullahan. I'm glad I can at least wipe away tears."
Pallides hesitated. Come to think of it, she had cried her heart out from her very first meeting with Aneli.
There had been occasions to cry since then too, and whenever that happened, Aneli had teased her with a troubled voice.
Even though she didn't seem particularly accustomed to soothing or comforting anyone.
"…."
The anger that had been boiling due to Samuel gradually settled. Pallides pressed her lips together firmly.
There was no way she could defy the Commander. If Aneli intended to grant her rest, she would eventually accept it.
Not for her own sake, but for Aneli's sake.
"You remember we promised to go on a boat ride, right?"
"Yes."
"It will be really fun. I'm very good at rowing. I'll definitely show you. So you have to come with me, okay?"
Knowing there was no promise to keep, Pallides pressed for the agreement. After hesitating for a moment, Aneli nodded slowly.
"Yes, let's go after everything ends."
It was a somewhat uncertain, but clear answer. Pallides smiled brightly.
"I am the knight who protects your tears and everything you wish to protect."
Then she let go of the sword she had been clutching without any regret.
Pallides, who gave not even a glance to the sword rolling onto the soggy mud, raised both arms and suddenly embraced Aneli.
Aneli, held by Pallides with a surprised expression, eventually raised her arm cautiously.
Pallides felt Aneli's hand gently patting her back. Thick armor was no hindrance at all to feeling that touch.
"I will gladly follow whatever judgment you render."
She felt a warm energy seeping into her body.
The raging anger had completely disappeared. Instead, what occupied that place was vitality coursing through her entire body.
It was so comfortable that the tension filling her entire body naturally relaxed.
Pallides surrendered herself to it without resistance.
It was a peace she could not possibly refuse.
* * *
The body that had been embracing me scattered like a handful of dust.
The tears remaining in my hand were the last trace Pallides had left. The helmet I had been holding, and Pallides who had looked at me with pity, were no more.
'Younger than I thought….'
Her face was younger than I expected. She looked younger than me. With that face, she had been pouring out terrifying energy, raging in anger.
For my part… I couldn't just leave Pallides, who seemed like she would be consumed by the black energy at any moment.
So I used my power, and she obediently accepted her rest.
'Pallides's rest.'
I looked down at my hand that had just used authority. It was the hand with Pallides's tears on it.
I had told her she would obtain the rest she desired, but I wasn't actually certain. I only said that because Dearis had told me so.
Did Pallides obtain the rest she desired?
…If I had known she wanted to go boat riding that badly, I should have found a way sooner. Perhaps I've only given her futile false hope.
"Lady Aneli."
I barely came to my senses at Zenon's voice coming from behind.
Clenching my fist, I felt my reason returning somewhat. Late, the thick smell of water and faint smell of blood stung my nose.
When I turned my gaze, my eyes met Samuel's. He was standing quietly with his hand on his shoulder.
Though he was trying to suppress any sound, his roughly gasping breath reached my ears clearly.
"Is it a severe injury?"
"I'm fine."
Samuel answered calmly. For something not severe, blood seemed to keep flowing….
I didn't bother pointing that out. Instead, I glanced around the area.
[I'm back.]
[Finally.]
[It's our home.]
A flock of crows flapped across the sky.
Stray dogs were also seen prowling among the ruined buildings.
It had been ruins where no life could be found, but now creatures with eyes gleaming in the darkness had appeared.
Pallides's rest must have summoned them.
"Perhaps because it's a mountain range, there are many wild animals. We should return to the building for now."
Zenon cautiously suggested. To Zenon, who couldn't understand the whispers of beasts, those wild cries must have seemed threatening.
When I nodded, Zenon, who had been watching for a moment, approached Samuel.
They had fought like enemies the entire journey, but perhaps some affection had developed. Seeing him try to take care of Samuel because he was injured.
'Well, Zenon is kind.'
In Zenon's eyes, even someone like Samuel must have looked pitiful.
"…."
The Dullahans in animal form said nothing.
They only gazed intently at the spot where Pallides had been standing, now empty, before turning away.
"Don't be stubborn and grab on when I offer to support you. Paladin."
"I didn't hurt my legs. Mage."
"It's because of your temperament that you got stabbed by a sword."
"This was solely my will."
Leaving Samuel and Zenon to their low bickering, I walked ahead.
The sky I glanced up at had already stopped raining.
* * *
"Are you awake?"
Frisian could not immediately answer the urgent question directed at her.
Blinking her eyes with difficulty, she looked at the person looking down at her for a while before barely parting her lips.
"…Mother."
"Oh, heavens. God, thank you."
The Roam Duchess, who had been holding Frisian's hand desperately with both hands, let out words like a groan.
The Roam Duchess's rough skin and bloodless lips showed the emotional suffering she had endured.
Frisian, looking at the Roam Duchess with a face devoid of energy, slowly rolled her eyes.
It was an unfamiliar space. Neither the Roam mansion she remembered, nor the Kendall Baron estate she had just begun to familiarize herself with, but somewhere else.
Only a few essential pieces of furniture were in place, and not a single proper painting hung on the walls. It was a shabby room with nothing serving any aesthetic purpose.
"I was worried you might never wake up."
Frisian's gaze returned to the Roam Duchess. Her mother was looking at her with eyes full of affection.
Strangely enough.
"Frisian, go on, tell me. What on earth happened?"
The Roam Duchess asked in a gentle voice.
"You met Aneli, right? What conversation did you have with Aneli?"
"…Mother."
"Yes, Frisian."
The anxiety hidden beneath the Roam Duchess's gaunt complexion was all too easy for Frisian to recognize.
The Roam Duchess was now unable to hide her complexion, so easily recognizable to Frisian, who had just awakened from wandering the border between life and death.
When Frisian just quietly looked at the Roam Duchess, she barely managed to raise her trembling lips.
"Frisian?"
"…What do you… want to hear?"
"Of course, I want to hear about what happened to you. There must be circumstances for you to have suffered such a terrible thing."
The Roam Duchess continued in an artificially gentle tone.
"Unless someone plotted against you, there's no way someone as clever as you would end up like this."
"Plotted…."
"Yes. Or perhaps something irrational occurred."
Frisian's lips twisted strangely. It was like a sneer directed at who knows whom.
"…Is Roam… in danger?"
In that instant, the Roam Duchess's smile froze stiff. She answered without hiding her displeasure at Frisian's question.
"Roam does not waver. It's just that there are many who envy us without knowing their place, so we must always remain vigilant."
Frisian's lips became even more crooked. The voice she barely managed to let out was also utterly cold.
"Mother, Roam is…."
Her throat felt parched and cracking. Frisian swallowed dry saliva and barely finished speaking.
"It's over."
Probably forever, it won't rise again.
At Frisian's words, cynical yet resigned, the Roam Duchess now completely erased her smile. A gaze furious to the point of terror fixed on Frisian.
But Frisian wasn't afraid at all. It was just ridiculous.
"Now you must admit it."
That Roam's choice was wrong. That everything went in the wrong direction.
She had to admit that they had failed.
"Perhaps you've become weak from going through such a dangerous ordeal."
The Roam Duchess, who muttered coldly, suddenly stood up.
"Since you just woke up and your mind isn't clear, tend to your body first."
Frisian watched the Roam Duchess turn away, then closed her eyes. Heavy fatigue pressed down on her entire body.
Perhaps because she hadn't recovered, sleep descended upon her. Frisian willingly accepted the rushing sleep.
It was an escape bordering on resignation.