Chapter Text
The first time Strohl sees the elda, out of all the spots that one could have chosen, is at the Recruitment Center in Grand Trad.
I should congratulate you. You must have the dignity to face that arrogant of a Sargent if you got accepted. Strohl feels bad for how terribly the elda is treated, supposing that he is literally one of his kind. It's even more obvious that the elda isn't trained for combat; his smaller frame and stark appearance emphasizes his weaker points. Add this along with the news about the humans that have been rampaging through the lands, Strohl has no doubt that the elda will serve as the metaphorical punching bag for the more populous, if not fuming, tribes.
At least there's no bias when it comes to the fights or any training we'll receive. Strohl wants to say, but he doesn't get the chance to. His 'roommates' were less than welcoming at the news of being shipped off to the nearest station in the morning, but Strohl suspects it's the way of the army in these times.
He glances towards the wall, silently wondering if the elda makes it out fine with the gloom and dread that surrounds the new armymates before he goes to sleep. And-
I wonder if I can at least.... Seeing the elda being at his lonesome reminds Strohl of other things. It's for Halia, for his people that he still has no idea where they are, for his now dead parents that he can't find the human that rampaged them, but Strohl would rather not like to revisit the memories of due to...
Seven years. It's seven years.
Breathe, Leon. Breathe.
Hopefully we can talk once more before we land in the fray. Strohl silently wonders at least if he can get the elda's name and hopefully makes a difference in someone else's life.
He sees the elda again in the bumpy road to the station. Only he sees a book in the elda's hands...
How odd. I've never seen that book before. Strohl wonders where the elda managed to hide that novel from. Mostly everyone's belongings were confiscated or left in the camp. There is an option to bring it (Strohl brought his- his intuition that tells hihm that he should for some reason) and it looks like the elda brought his things with him too.
What an odd novel you have... Strohl's curiosity itches to read it. What engrosses the elda to not pay attention to his silent surroundings, but to the book he's reading? His heterochromic eyes flitter every line of the book, carefully and intense. Strohl wants to know what else is running through the elda's mind.
But alas, they're approaching the camp and once again, they're staying in another remote area for the night.
Strohl swears he hears the sound of distant thunder and hopes their shelter for the night holds.
He finally makes small talk against the boring drivel Klinger drones on about. And starts by asking about the elda's strange, unique book.
A fantasy novel about an utopia? Strohl's interest is piqued again; even more so since he's heard things about the late king. But then that idiot roussainte had to interrupt them-
Though the elda managed to save him from being in more trouble. And he defended Strohl despite his terrible habit making its course- why? For all his curiosity and interest piqued, Strohl smiles back. He isn't going to make an immediate fool of himself by telling Will his eyes look pretty- ack.
Right when they had just finally made through the talking, Strohl just had to think on the last thing he should say to the elda.
Don't run your mouth, Strohl . If you want to be a fool of yourself, do it with more dignity and out of sight. And Strohl also realizes one other thing he didn't do from the start: "I'm Strohl. Leon Strohl, son of the Count of Halia. And you are?"
"My name's Will." The elda Will introduces himself with a kind smile on his face, his heterochromic eyes twinkling with delight.
"Will..." Strohl murmurs, realizing that the name suits him. Oddly. Why? He shakes that thought away and instead admits, "My title- to be fair, it doesn't mean much. From here on, we're peers and equals."
And it will stay that way, tribes and titles be damned.
...despite looks and all.
Damn it, focus Strohl. He tells himself as they return to hear Klinger's... whatever he was going on about. Don't tell Will how pretty he- right, I'm shutting up now.
Rightfully so when they saw the fallen, bloodied soldier limp towards them all with news.
(In hindsight, this day also changed Strohl's life for the interesting path.)
It's when Strohl doesn't hear the light running behind him that he swiftly turns back to see- A fairy!?
He can't believe his eyes. It's a literal fairy floating alongside Will's shoulder, saying something to him as if it's a secondary nature. "Did you catch it yourself?" Strohl asks, making sure this is real. Did- since when did- How did he not see a fairy with them the entire time?
"She's with me." Will explains, smiling lightly as if this is something simple for him to accept. Strohl isn't sure about that and-
"Yes, I am with him and I have a name, by the way." The fairy speaks, sounding exasperated. It's as if this has happened before. "It's Gallica."
Huh. Strohl's eyes narrow in slight suspicion. Fairies... don't attach to people unless they want something. He learns that Will and Gallica been travelling together, but the fact that Gallica senses something is very wrong about the fray they're about to dive into is something Strohl takes into account. Then he's reminded that Will has no idea how to use an igniter thanks to Gallica...
So be it. I'm not about to follow the others like I'm about to risk my life or die for the sake of an idiot captain. Strohl silently wonders how Will got recruited in, but decides against asking him that.
"Just stay behind me and you'll be all right. I swear I won't let you die." Strohl states like a vow. it's one he'll keep for his newfound friend.
Just one nod and then Will suddenly sprints off, already feets ahead of him as if something else is guiding him here, Gallica flying close to him.
What the-! Strohl balks before he runs up, trying to catch up to them. What's making you both panic all of the sudden?
And he swears he heard Gallica mention about an ally...
"I'll distract it!" Strohl clutches his sword. The very sword he took with him from the burnt walls of his home and swore to protect everyone with. "You two run!"
A bloody, disgusting human.
It had to be a human that rampaged through the fort.
"What!?" Will shouts, Gallica about to add in something else to it.
"I'm a noble. And a noble defends his people, no matter the cost!" Strohl decrees, his mantra that he says himself finally known. He takes another breath, hoping that his life can be used well here. If he has to at least protect one person, so be it.
If I have to die to save you, Will...
"If you would repay me, then live." Strohl says before he runs over to slash the human.
Its steel like flesh doesn't penetrate, not even when it knocks him out and Strohl collapses, barely able to kneel up. He hears Will call his name, but Strohl grits his teeth. "Don't be a fool- run away!"
He barely hears Will say something, Gallica's panicking voice saying something before the human hits-
-then nothing.
Except...
...something warm.
Something soothing.
Something... akin to a wind that he's barely felt.
It's... defending him.
Will...?
It's all Strohl feels before he closes his eyes.
Then the ill, dreading feeling disappears, slamming down with a thundering slam. Strohl barely looks up, some parts of his strength returning as he looks to see a metallic being slowly dissipate, back to...Will's form.
Will...? He wants to ask. Did you... defeat the human? How?
He wants to ask, but all he can do is to grunt before he collapses. He closes his eyes, wanting to use this time to get up and ask what happened.
But he hears a third voice- one that's weathered and alive-
"Grius!" Strohl hears Gallica exclaim with relief. "Will, he's our man on the inside- the one I'm delivering the message to!"
A message? Man on the inside? So he's the ally you were too frantic to look for. Strohl understands it now: why Will and Gallica try so hard to look in the fort, every room and every corpse. But for what?
"You, boy. Lend me your shoulder." The older voice commands. "We'll need to carry him."
Ah. Right, perhaps he should... no, wait. This might play in Strohl's favor if he stays unconscious. A part of him wants to know more about the three of them: why they are really here in the Fort. Why WIll was so frantic with Gallica... who are they all to be so secretive like this?
Strohl keeps feigning being out from the human's attack. Cool air greets his skin as he feels being carried before a long while later. Then his back meets the back of a tree and he's propped up. Two fingers meet his neck before he hears a low grunt, akin to something about Strohl being out cold.
They talk about Will's newfound power- something Strohl wants to know himself. But then the words mission come up and Strohl itches not to wake up all of the sudden.
"Gruis, you have a new mission: Avenge the king, and kill Louis Guiabern!"
It's... all of that? What? Strohl is shocked. A part of him wants to know why- no, who they all are. But patience will earn him the answers he needs... and he gets them through a slightly lost Will.
Then he hears it all: the condition of the prince who is actually... alive. The royalty still lives. And that Louis Guiabern is the one who casted the curse on the prince.
Thorns? Lifting the curse so they need to kill Louis for it? Strohl has so many questions. But Will asks if someone can catch him up on the finer details, so Grius fills him in. And Strohl does listen as well as he wonders Will is.
The child prodigy. The ruthless soldier. The one who casted a horrible curse on the prince on a fateful night. And now the one who has the late king's blood on his hands, who will potentially be the next ruler to the throne. The one who has already earned the interests of lots of people who, in Strohl's opinion, does not honestly deserve it.
And it sounds like Gruis, Gallica, and Will are not looking forward to the mission, yet are going to shoulder it themselves.
Then in this case- Strohl has heard of Louis for another reason. If this is the same Louis they are talking about-
"That's a hell of a mission." Strohl grits his teeth as he stands up, his injuries barely healing. Will and Gallica look alarmed to see him awake and Grius is already in alert, but Strohl is already in. Too late for me to turn back now- I'd rather like this mission better. "And I want in."
He doesn't care if it costs his life in the end- screw it. He has an idea because of what Louis did to his village. And Strohl wants to be involved in something that sounds like it's for the better for them all.
And yes, he's aware he's earned Grius' suspicions, despite Gallica's protests and admittance that they're going to really use the help. Oh well. Strohl can deal with being on the older rhoag's bad side.
"Then answer me this: the boy's all but a stranger to you. Yet you risked your life to save him. Why?" Grius asks.
Because of who I am as a person. Strohl answers truthfully, as if blade striking onto another. He states his morals: to live, fight, and die a noble. He makes it clear as he can say that he's not going to run away from a very noble and better cause.
And I care for Will. I promised that I'd protect him. That he doesn't say to stir any more of Grius' suspicions, hoping Will understands.
Thankfully, Grius lets him off. Though he grumbles about not letting him regret it; Gallica is delighted. Will, though, looks happy to hear about Strohl's newer intentions.
"My life and sword are yours, Will." Strohl says, meaning every word of it.
Will nods and it feels like a relief to Strohl's mind and heart.
Thank you. He holds onto it; akin to the tiny hope that Will actually understands how deeply Strohl holds his vows. He's a noble: he always keeps his word.
Yet the power Will has... can he wield one just like it?