The Martial Unity

The blood and carnage was nauseating.

The bodies of brave knights were minced into pieces beneath rains of arrows and the ballistic balls of destructive cannons. Their mad roars filled the skies as they charged toward their deaths. They seemed to be filled with courage and a sacrificial will, it was the kind of thing that brought a man and his family honor in any era. But Leonel… Just found the scene to be sad to look upon.

What were they fighting for? Their country, of course. Maybe on a deeper layer, it was for their God. But was it worth it?

Leonel wasn't the kind of person who looked down on others for their faith. He was questioning more so if their God even wanted this.

Leonel shook his head. 'It isn't that they believe their God wants this… It's that they're being manipulated into believing so by those they trust the most…'

Before this, Leonel still had a hard time blaming Joan. Even though her actions almost led to his death, he had always been a forgiving person. Since he was still standing here, there was no harm, right? In that case, there was still a chance at mending their friendship.

Many would call this sort of mentality foolish. And if they did, Leonel wouldn't argue with them. He too found it to be foolish. But, this was just his nature.

However, after seeing this scene, the last wisp of understanding he had for Joan vanished. Whatever reasons she had no longer mattered to him. She knew how devastating her actions would be, yet she carried them out anyway.

How many innocent people would die today? A few thousand? More than that?

Leonel had always heard that the wars of the past were child's play compared to wars during and following World War I. But, even if these death counts couldn't compare to the millions who lost their lives during those pyrrhic monstrosities, reading numbers from a textbook and witnessing it for yourself were two completely different experiences.

It was… unforgivable.

'I can't keep letting them die like this while I do nothing but stand here and watch.'

"Aina…" Leoenel looked over with an apologetic smile at the dainty fairy that stood by his side.

wasn't wearing her usual long flowing dress, the kind that clung to her curves with the slightest gust of wind. Instead, she wore a black military uniform

groomed, gently waving like the descent of a calm waterfall. Instead, it was quite tangled. Some of it

was nowhere to be seen. The massive, murderous ax on her back

had in the past. Maybe it couldn't even be simply explained as 'like' anymore even if he wasn't

said calmly without looking in his direction. "Don't

with the situation. Even Leonel

of realization and he looked away from Aina's side profile and looked back toward the violent

"Aina."

She knew well that Leonel had an exceptionally kind side to him, but there was another side that was full of resolve. It

and your family. But, I do know that you've been avoiding me

me not to change. So you tell me, do you think I would let the woman I like face such a thing on her own? Or is it that my Aina wants to take back

had confessed to her 521 times. She didn't need anyone to keep count for her, she knew the number herself. She should have gotten used to it by now. However, it had been over a year

moment later, her face flushed a blazing shade of red. It seemed like she would leak a fountain of blood

but where would she run now? She couldn't leave Leonel behind in

she stomped her foot against

almost forgotten that this petite fairy before him was such

his heart faded. He knew how foolish his next actions would be. Originally, he should have waited for maybe even a few days of battle to pass by, only then would both

just puppets on the strings of another. If he really did allow them to suffer for his own designs… How would he

"Let's go."

regained her composure following

and were immediately noticed by Joan and the two men on the castle walls, causing all three of

flash, Leonel and Aina crossed the defensive line of

"For France!"