Julian has not been a member of the Scarlet Elite for a long time.

Moreover, throughout his military history, he spent most of his time either training alone or performing missions alone.

So even though he was a little sad about the departure of those Iron Sword people who had talked to him enthusiastically a few days ago, he didn't quite understand the impact the death of his comrades had on Riven.

Such a blow even caused her to lose her former perseverance and confidence.

Julian's murmur reached Riven's ears, making Riven slightly stunned. Then she looked at Julian and smiled softly: "No, there is no immortality in war..."

Before Riven could finish her words, she fell silent under Julian's direct gaze.

The scene suddenly became cold, and the warm sunshine shone on his back, but instead of feeling any warmth, Julian felt that even the bright sunshine had turned gray.

"Wait for me." After a long silence, Julian suddenly interrupted the silence,

Then, with Riven's blank eyes, she gritted her teeth and turned around and ran out of the courtyard, leaving only Riven's raised hand that wanted to do something but finally slowly dropped it.

Rubbing the missing piece of the sword blade, Riven's eyes lost focus again.

...

Night, late at night.

Winter has not left yet, and the cool sea breeze makes people in every household get into the warm bed early and fall asleep.

War is a matter for soldiers. For the ordinary people of Besilico, eating, drinking, and defecation are what they care about most.

However, in the small rationed courtyard, the lights in one room were still not extinguished.

The candlelight flickered, the window of the room was slightly opened, and a streak of white hair swayed with the candlelight in the night wind, tugging at someone's heartstrings.

The winter night was quiet except for the occasional barking of dogs and patrolling soldiers walking in deserted streets.

At this moment, a figure quietly appeared in the courtyard, and the dim light shone lightly on his face, revealing his slightly tired face————

Julian.

Through the gap in the window, Julian saw Riven sitting alone in front of the window with her arms propped up, not knowing what to think. He tightened the "thing" in his hand and stepped forward to open the door to the room.

"squeak--"

Although Manschmeier never visited Riven and Julian who were temporarily staying in Besilico to recuperate from their injuries, there was still a dedicated person in charge of both the living environment and food and clothing.

At least this quiet little courtyard made Julian feel much better about the general.

The sound of the wooden door being pushed woke up Riven who was sitting in the back room. When she looked back, Julian's figure appeared at the door of the room.

"Where have you been?" Riven frowned slightly and put her worries aside for the time being. She took Julian's arm with a slight reproach and sat down at the square table in the center of the room. She looked at him by the candlelight and gently

complained:

"You haven't even eaten dinner. Your body hasn't recovered yet."

Riven's concern made Yurian's heart warm slightly, and Riven's voice lost the heroic spirit of the past, and gained an indescribable softness.

This made Julian feel a little excited, and he smiled unconsciously on his face.

"What are you laughing at?" Riven tilted her head, frowned slightly and patted Julian angrily, but after the pat, she couldn't help but smile.

This smile was like flowers blooming, like the return of spring, which made Julian's heart beat faster unconsciously.

"Look." Julian put his palm on the table in front of Riven and slowly spread his palm.

"What are you looking at..." Before Riwen could finish her words, she saw a black "thing" in Julian's hand.

She was very familiar with this thing.

Fragment of the Runeblade blade.

"Where did you find it?" Riven was silent for a moment, then looked at Julian, her eyes full of surprise: "Hasn't the military confirmed that it was completely lost?"

"Here." Facing Riven's shining eyes, Julian smiled and did not answer. Instead, he took Riven's hand, placed the fragment in her hand, and then pressed Riven's hand carefully.

He held his hand until five fingers locked the fragments firmly in his palm. Julian then smiled and said with a hint of ridicule: "Those are just ordinary soldiers who can find and bring back Zelos' body."

It’s no longer considered passive and sagging.”

"Hey!" Faced with Julian's slightly teasing words, Riven raised her hand and tapped Julian's forehead angrily, then lowered her head and looked at the blade fragments in her palm.

Julian just looked at Riven with her head lowered, her beautiful eyes shining brightly, her fingers stroking and playing with, seemingly unable to stop. He stood up gently, turned to the cabinet on the side, and held the Rune Blade.

Back to the table,

"Check and see if it's intact."

Under Julian's urging, Riven felt a little uneasy. She raised her head and glanced at the smiling Julian, then she calmed down and moved the fragment to the gap of the sword blade with encouragement from his eyes.

"Ding——" The sound of gold and iron colliding softly sounded. The fragments and the sword body were pieced together perfectly. The smooth sword surface reflected Riwen's heroic face.

"That's great..." After a long silence, Riwen sighed softly.

"Thank you, Julian." Riven loosened her fingers slightly, and the originally smooth sword surface split into two pieces again: "Thank you for what you did for me."

"Thank you for nothing, as long as you can get better, I'm willing to do anything." Julian looked at Riven and said seriously.

Riven's fine eyelashes trembled slightly and she lowered her eyes. Riven avoided Julian's eyes and kept playing with the fragment.

The cracks also disappeared, appeared, and disappeared again in Riven's hands.

After playing with it for a while, Riven sighed softly: "But just like this rune blade, if a missing piece is missing, it can never be replaced, just like..."

Riven pursed her lips and fell silent again.

Her palms clenched unconsciously, and Riwen's voice was filled with disappointment.

"It's not your fault." Julian looked at Riven's shining eyes and said with a slight pain in his heart.

"No, I am the captain. As the captain, I failed to die in front of my subordinates, but watched them leave one by one. This is my fault."

"if..."

"If I could be stronger, if I could work harder, maybe... maybe the ending would be different...!"

"But you saved me, Riven, it's not like you didn't work hard!" Julian defended Riven.

"No, this is different," Riven glanced at Julian, shook her head slightly and said, "You are the person closest to me, my brother, and it is my duty to protect you."

"..." Julian's heart trembled slightly. Riwen's words were like a flash of lightning falling on his heart, making his heartbeat seem to pause for a moment.

Suddenly, he raised his hand and took it from Riven's hand. Facing Riven's slightly widened eyes, Julian held the fragment in front of him, looked into Riven's eyes, and said loudly:

"Then, to me, you are a person who is closer than my relatives. For you..."

"I would give my life."

Riven looked at Julian. For some reason, she suddenly didn't dare to look into those bright eyes at this moment, but Julian's words flowed into her heart like a trickle.

Under her gaze, Julian's palm lit up with gray light, wrapping the fragments of the rune blade.
Chapter completed!