LENIN

I smiled softly, "Like I said, it's time to let that ego be used."

She returned my soft smile, "Don't go too overboard on me, will you?" Despite her joking manner, I knew what she meant.

Kassie wanted me back in one piece.

I would give her exactly that.

"Of course," I kissed her hand, "Now go." I gestured as she slowly backed away, taking Maro and everything she needed as I opened the hatch for her. 

All I needed to do now was buy time for them until she met up with them. I readied myself to drink some Purpura Solum just in case it would be necessary.

Like that, I stepped outside the cottage to see them all standing there.

The soldiers surrounded the cottage, and one of them, who appeared to be the general of this little battalion, stood proud and strong, sitting on top of his horse.

"We wish you no harm, Lenin." He declared, booming his voice as he ensured he was brimming with grand authority, "The King of Juvo has no intentions to harm you in any way. He only wishes for you to listen to his simple request."

I stood there in silence, analysing every one of his men, including him, and what they would do.

He began to open his scroll, clearing his throat, "You are either to return to the Juvo Kingdom or return the women of Fatum."

Yet again, I stood there in silence, not moving a single inch.

The General eyed me, taking a deep breath, clenching his fist, and raising his hand. "The King is giving you mercy, and you dare reject him?"

"I do." I declared, "You will never get those two options. . . Tell the King of Juvo that I despise him, and if he dares to come near my wife..." I paused for a moment, looking at all of them surrounding me.

"Then he will meet the same fate as all of you... Nothing but death." I answered.

"Attack!" The General struck his hand down as the soldiers roared, their blades in their hands, charging right at me like wild animals without a second thought about who they were messing with. 

BOOM!

In an instant, half of the soldiers who came charging carelessly towards them had been sent flying back, hitting the trees in the process; they were sure to be dead now.

I formed a Purpura sword, gripping it firmly as I steadied myself for the others to come. 

Their armour rattled with every step, and they came to me like an annoying swarm of bees, relentless and unforgiving in their attacks. Each face was a mask of their fleeting determination.

My sword slashed through the air with utter determination. The clash of metal rang out as I met the enemy head-on, my movements swift and calculated as they dropped to the ground.

The only sounds were the shrieks and cries of all of them. 

The more soldiers came tumbling down, wanting their end to be my sword. 

"Tenebris crepitus!"

BOOM! 

That was the last explosion that needed to be served amongst these soldiers who were crippled by this battle. 

Most of them I pitied. 

They had fought in a battle they could not win because they wanted me to return to the Kingdom of Juvo. 

Funnily enough, the only one conscientious enough to realise everything that had happened was none other than the general himself. 

He coughed up blood viciously as it dripped onto his broken courtship that had been torn in half as a result of the explosion. 

Half of his ear was gone because of it. 

I felt terrible for his sorry state as I began to kneel beside him. "You fought well... But like I said, I would keep my promise that you would see nothing but death."

I slowly nodded. There was no other man whom I believed could be assigned to this. 

The General didn't have the strength to say another word. That was how much pain he was suffering. 

I raised my hand as I began emitting Purpura; slowly but surely, the wounds that I had inflicted on The General were reverting. 

I couldn't heal all of his wounds, but I tried my best. 

"W-Why did you heal me?"

"I want to send a message to your King." I declared, "Tell him to back off if he knows what's best for him." I answered as I walked away, heading to the cottage for the underground escape. 

I looked over my shoulder and saw The General struggling to get up his horse, but I knew he was grateful that I had spared him and would tell the message to the King of Juvo.

KASSIE

How was Lenin doing?

I did not doubt that Lenin would return in one piece, but I wondered how long it would take him to do so. 

It took me a couple of days to reach where Lenin had requested I go with Maro. Who would have thought he would make us go here out of all places? 

A small village far north of Juvo, where no soldier would ever go, because this was where the most dangerous Plantea Beast would be.

The Kingdom of Juvo believed it would be too hassle to deal with villages they considered already a lost cause. After all, plenty of Plantea Beasts would constantly attack the town due to a lack of technology provided to this village called Facio. 

It was an independent village that wouldn't even be considered part of the Juvo Kingdom, and that was how worthless they viewed the Village of Facio. 

Most who lived here sought a peaceful life or were fleeing from something.

We were both of that. 

"Kassie, how are you settling in?" Rachael asked, disrupting the thoughts that were clouding my mind.

I nodded gently, "I'm doing fine. I'm just thinking about things."

Rachael took a seat beside me, "We knew that this would come after all Lenin told me and Felix that you guys would come here one day. . . But we didn't expect it to be so soon." She looked over at Maro, who was sleeping peacefully and soundly.

That was all I could ask for.

"But now your family is more at risk than ever."

Rachel's words were nothing but true. "Are you sure that you're fine with us staying here?" I asked.

Rachel nodded, reaching out to my hand and squeezing it, "We owe our lives to you, and it is thanks to you and Lenin that Felix and I were able to have Naomi." 

I couldn't help but smile gently as Naomi was around the same age as Maro. It was a small world in which we lived, after all. 

Rachel said, "I should check on Felix now to see what he's up to." She parted ways with me, leaving me with just my simple thoughts. 

Despite everything, I was grateful we could find a place to stay. But I needed to take a quick stroll around the village to see what I was truly getting into. 

The village was relatively quiet, but that didn't stop the kids from having a great time running around. It was challenging to see people have fun and enjoy themselves. 

You could call that the innocence of a child, and how they can be carefree without a care in the world. That was something that everyone needed to experience.

On the other hand, I never got to experience kids' pure innocence in their lives; it wasn't meant for me. However, that doesn't matter now; seeing Maro again, experiencing childhood innocence, is more rewarding than that. 

It was all that I could ask for in this life. 

I sat patiently on a bench, taking everything around me as I watched in contentment and peace. It was most certainly a nice feeling to be experiencing now.

"What are we looking at?" A voice chuckled.

In an instant, my ears rang as I looked to hear that familiar voice. 

I knew that voice from anywhere.

Lenin.

I had to restrain myself from jumping out of the seat and rushing into his arms to feel his long-awaited embrace, but I just sat on the bench with a warm smile, and that was all that he needed to know how I was feeling about him at this very moment.

He sat down, and I placed my hands on his shoulder and inspected him. "An easy fight?" I couldn't help but smile.

Lenin sheepishly smiled as I wiped the sweat off his temple, "They were normal soldiers, Kassie. Nothing special, really. . . I was hoping that they would give me a tougher challenge." He muttered with a disappointed look on his face. 

"I expected you to be here sooner." I nudged him on the rib, "If I were fighting the soldiers, I would've been here in two days." I chuckled, joking around with him. 

He let out a slight snicker, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me closer to him. 

I rested my head against his shoulder. 

"Way to rub in my face; I was taking my time to keep one of them alive." 

I raised my eyebrow in amusement, "The General?" 

He smiled and nodded, "I wanted to send a message to the King of Juvo."

I didn't need to ask him anything else about the message. 

It wasn't any message. It was a threat. 

Knowing Lenin, this meant that he wanted the King of Juvo to back off. From what I heard he did to that battalion, the King would be more cautious about what he would do next to them. 

"Can I ask you something?" Lenin asked. 

"Of course you can. Anything." 

Lenin paused for a slight moment, "What did your prophecy say. . ."

My Prophecy. . . 

I hadn't heard about that in a while, as we had never discussed this topic before. 

Those born with Solum were given a prophecy naturally within them. 

My prophecy was vague. 

"I will lead him to the path of Gloris." I looked at Lenin.

He blinked for a slight moment. "You think that's me? I'm the one who leads them to the path of Gloris?" I could see that Lenin was deep in thought. "It can't be me..." he muttered. 

I squeezed his hand, "It never said when you'd lead; it's just said that you would." 

"So we can still live our lives normally for now?" 

I smiled.

That was all Lenin needed to hear to feel a bit calmer. 

"Rachel and Felix want to see, you know?" 

"Gotcha." He stood from the bench, "See you and Maro in a bit?" 

"See you in a bit."