Hannoic War
Warm Diamonds (Part 12)

"The clean and beautiful heart dreams of going up above the sky above thousands of clouds, while the Heart that understands the world knows that the Truth is hundreds of thousands of layers of land far below"

- Mushakashi Sikibu diLegenda Genji

The Warm Diamond

Walking Szeth in the hallway of Balradius Palace.Dark night has covered the palace and the eyes of everything in it..

Several guards kept the sleepless night in place and the numbers multiplied since the Black Feast due to Perrin's orders, but not enough to fill some of the hallways of this vast palace.

Most of the palace's all sleeping including almost all the heroes...

"Oi Szeth" said Dryer who instantly emerged from the darkness.

Szeth was quite surprised by the appearance of Dryer from the darkness.

"You really look like Assassin now, you really surprised me" Szeth said.

"Hm" , Smiling Dryer heard him, "you really look like the current Chairman of OSIS"

"I've always been Chairman of OSIS" Szeth said.

"So how? Cleorah" ,Cap Dryer.

"The development grew just as Perrin said, if Cyrus.." Szeth said, wrinkling his eyebrows.

"He's out of direction and Perrin's prediction right?" Dryer said.

"Yes, he's getting more serious" Szeth said, "many of his soft sides are gone after Perrin's lecture in his room with other heroes"

"Yes, you've changed a lot" Dryer said.

"Everyone changes one side and all sides, you don't have to say that" Szeth said.

"Yes, I'm just watching over you like Perrin told me" Dryer said as she picked up an apple from her clothes.

"Yes-yes, I also ordered it. Don't say useless things, there's information you can give me anyway?" Szeth said.

Dryer only paused for a moment chewing his apple, the atmosphere of this hallway then became silent for a while.

"Hm, Miss Harlaw slept with Mr. Selass of the Veel Family" Dryer said as she swallowed her apple.

"Hahh...." , breathed Szeth heard him, "wait a minute Mr Selass?"

"Yes, Mr. Selass of the Veel Family" Dryer said.

"How did the rich om-om get her heart from Miss Harlaw?" said Szeth.

"I don't know, he sleeps that's all I know" Dryer casually said as she raised both shoulders.

"No, you should know. You and Casca are 2 big spies for Perrin. And you're the only one who can be guaranteed to be loyal to Casca" Szeth said.

"I don't know Szeth" Dryer said in a sharper voice this time, "I saw what happened and confirmed the man but I couldn't see and confirm his heart"

"....alright" Szeth said, "what happened to you?"

"Huh? What happened to me?" Dryer said in confusion with Szeth's words.

"You changed a lot, changed a lot more than any other hero even more than Cleorah and Cyrus" Szeth said as he furrowed his brows.

The hallway became silent while Szeth stared intently at Dryer. Dryer himself...

Dryer shifted her face.The darkness of this room covered her face...Szeth doesn't know that Dryer is smiling or whatever her facial reaction is..

"I'm changing fast huh.." said Dryer, "I didn't even realize it. I guess that's it Szeth"

"....yeah already" said Szeth without smiling, "there is other information?"

"There was, but Perrin ordered him not to share it" Dryer said.

"Even to his own friends?" said Szeth.

"He is Perrin" Dryer said casually.

"Hm" , Smiling Szeth, "yes he's Perrin"

"Do you know of his plans?" said Dryer.

"Hahh, once again he is Perrin, I have no information even about his plans for this war" Szeth said.

"So he's really keeping this a secret" Dryer said.

The night became increasingly dark and mysterious like the future of both of them at this time.and only now was Perrin's powerful hand supporting their future..

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Walking Vella in the soldier camp with 2 bodyguards beside him.

Ground grass can be felt in Vella's legs even though Vella wears high heels typical of Geralda.

2 The bodyguard was very taller than Vella, making Vella like a small doll walking with them both.

All the soldiers, servants, nobles and knights watched him as he passed by. Some immediately lowered their heads in courtesy to Vella.

Especially the fancy dark blue dress with the Hasral family crest on it makes many people pay more attention to it.

*My brother and I may be Vehan.but our hearts and our late father are still Hasral.* , thought Vella.

The smell of soldier sweat and the smoke of burning food can be felt in Vella's nose as long as he walks in this army camp.

It was seen that some nobles and lords of the castle owners were chatting in front of a camp that was more luxurious than other camps.

Hundreds of them together with several knights.

The crown flag of Geralda fluttered in the luxurious camp.

*What happened in front of the sister camp?* ,thought Vella.

Hundreds of nobles with their large bodies, like their towers for the small Vella.

Seen a fight between 2 people in front of him in the middle of the camp.

And those 2 people could be seen surrounded by other curious nobles.

"Your bones must be too full of fat snobbery, that you dare to insult my father in front of the noble king" said a man.not just a man.but the son of Mr. Bybur named Jymar.

While the one who fought with him.sons lord Handam..Jaguars.

"Heh, talk a lot, why don't we just fight huh? Let's duel" said Jaguar with a happy smile.

Smile releases boredom, Jaguar seems to want a fight.

The Jaguar bequeathed the temperament and nature of the brave fighter Mr. Handam…

While Jymar.bequeath courtesy and sense of honor belongs to Mr. Bybur seems.

"Is that so bloodthirsty your family? Want to fight, fight, and keep fighting?" Jymar said, raising his right eyebrow.

He also bequeathed a bit of Mr Bybur's sharp tongue, though his youthful aura made it slightly disappear.

"Heh, of course, a man should know to fight rather than just know to talk" said Jaguar with a smile as he spread out his hands.

But Vella then approached them.

Some nobles noticed it some did not.

Jaguar and Jymar are not.

*I have to stop them. Otherwise Geralda will slaughter each other.before there is a battle* , thought Vella.

"What is this!?" said Vella's Bodyguard in a loud tone.

Some people immediately set their sights on him.

Some look silent.

But I could hear someone talking about him...

"Hm, look the princess has come"

"What do women do in a soldier's camp?"

"Why would your majesty endanger the life of this little woman here?"

*No this is not my fault.it is my fault..not my sister's fault.*, wanted to scream Vella but she couldn't.

Vella has turned down numerous offers from her brother and the nobility to transport her to a castle and town to be safe.

But Vella decides to be next to her brother as the war goes on..

Although in the camp he could not feel really beside his brother..

"I'm sorry, your highness princess, but I want to immediately ask this rude person to apologize for his irreverence of being fined by his majesty" said Mr. Jymar, bowing politely.

*Yes.I've heard about it.About the fight your father fined brother.*, thought Vella.

"Heh, is that so chatty about your family? Until insulted a little immediately angry?" said Jaguar.

"You." said Jymar, tightening his mouth in anger.

*They should stop.* , thought Vella.

Vella wants to scream…

Wanted to command just like his brother..

But a heart that beats fast…

Feet that seem to want to fall and vibrate...

*Fast Wind,For Lightning, and Sharp as a Sword…*

Vella remembers her mother's words.

As powerful as lightning..

As powerful as lightning….

As powerful as lightning……

"Bright.."

Sighs Vella...

"Gentlemen" said Vella in a small tone.

"Oh! You want to duel huh!? Mari! Come!" said Jaguar.

"Based on a rude man!" said Jymar in anger.

"Gentlemen!" said Vella in a stronger tone.

Jymar and Jaguar looked at him.

It makes Vella a little nervous.

"The Victa is laughing at their table right now, with you Geraldas fighting each other" Vella continued in a strong tone.

"Heh, the name of the Geralda people will be broken with a hick who only knows to speak this" said Jaguar with a smug smile while pointing lightly at Jymar.

"I can take you with myself to the priestess of the Wind God and kneel on the same ground, so that you may remember that you are still of the same land and nation" ,vella said with a stronger tone.

This made Jaguar speechless.

Vella's gaze turned dry..

*I have to be strong.I am Hasral and Vehan.*, thought Vella.

"Remember if you fight under my brother's flag for our land, for the sake of Geralda's unity" Vella said in a stronger tone.

"There is no union of noble princesses, if there is still someone who damages one's honor and there is still let him run away" Jymar said in a more polite tone than Jaguar.

Even so the contents of the word are poison, if he is not asked to be silent like Jaguar then Geralda will not be more united.

"Who are you saying 'there's still' sir? Your highness my brother? The king that your family swore to serve?" said Vella strongly.

That speech made Jymar speech speech unconscious.

"No duel for this matter gentlemen, sorry Mr. Jymar. Your sword should be sharpened to be swung towards our enemy The Victa man is not a fellow Geralda" Vella said in a powerful tone.

But looks Jaguar just clicked his tongue heard, annoyed.

While Jymar just faced down and was silent, unable to say anything.

It seems that negotiations and speeches about unity are not as effective as Vella thought.

*Fear.yes fear...the fear that sister used when hitting Mr. Handam.*, thought Vella.

"Still disagree? I can ask your Majesty my brother to take care of this to you. I'm sure he doesn't like this as much as I do, I know him. If he does not like.hahh, we will see what happens" Vella said in a tone as cold as the wind and as sharp as the Sword was also as sacred as a sword sinking in the river.

The speech about Vella's sister made all the nobles speechless, no one dared to talk.

No one is too stupid to look as upset as before.

Jaguars also fell silent, more silent hundreds of times quieter than before.

He seemed to recall how his powerful and unstoppable father, could be silenced only with Hasteinn sitting speechless.

*My sister is stronger than me and offending her can be stronger than hundreds of times my strength*, thought Vella aware of that.

"Dissolve and go to your tents, gentlemen, there will be no mention of this" Vella said coldly.

One by one the nobles then went all silent.

Vella's eyes were just dry and flat staring ahead without staring at all the nobles who left.

Jymar then left.

Jaguar is leaving soon.

Everything then dispersed and the soldier who watched curiously also dispersed.

Vella and her 2 bodyguards…

Vella then looked at her brother's flag..

Will finishing a fight with 2 families win this war? No. gabe..

Vella once again slapped reality...This war is far from over..

The collision of the sword, the paper, and the blood is not over...

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The sound of seabirds can be heard, while the sound of sea waves is more noisy. Thousands of people could be heard hauling goods, weapons, bags, food, and arrows.

Back and forth, up the ship, down the ship, the sound of their footsteps on the board could be heard.

"The king is ready to be raided, I don't think you're going to say goodbye to him" Khajir said as he walked beside Qharlan, in the harbor.

"I was 2 days ago" said Qharlan, looking at his brother's ring, "the king doesn't need my goodbye to win this war, all he needs is my service"

"You're afraid of losing?" said Khajir, advancing his lower black lips.

"I am a fool if not" said Qharlan as he took his gray robes from the hands of his Akkadian slaves.

"Yes.you're right, it's all gone. We'll all probably die, Trivistane won't give up even after he loses. We know that the king we chose Qharlan, Trivistane will not surrender in this war as long as he stands" Khajir said, giving Qharlan a leather pouch containing something.

".....what is this?" said Qharlan while taking the skin bag.

" 'Belejum' ", Khajir said.

When opened look soft flesh golden brown in the dark skin pouch.

The smell of the spices could be felt in Qharlan's nose when he brought the bag closer to his face.

"There is no need to speak much Akkadian here Khajir, if foreigners call him 'Cute Fish'......By the way how long have we not eaten this?" ,qharlan said while taking a piece of meat from the skin.

"Either since we sailed to this foreign land, we haven't eaten this again in about 5-8 months maybe? I miss this, I found in the loot of my mercenaries" said Khajir while taking another piece of Sweet Fish meat from a bag of his own.

Qharlan then ate it, the first sweet taste that came to his tongue, then a little spicy taste, after that the chewy taste of the Sweet Fish meat when chewing it.

"This food is indeed incomparable to the bread, wine, and fruits here. I'm tired of eating bread and beef all the time. I wonder why chilli and cinnamon are not in the land of strangers. Food does not smell good" Khajir said while chewing Sweet Fish.

"...iya" , said Qharlan while chewing Sweet Fish.

Standing up they both saw the sun sink into the sea with the birds flying in front of him.

The sound of sea waves hitting the sand of the beach could be heard in their ears.

"If one of us dies, what will one of us who is still alive Qharlan do?" Khajir said.

"Fight to the end beside King Trivistane until King Trivistane himself dies, if Trivistane has children then fight beside his son" said Qharlan by looking at Khajir while furrowing his eyebrows.

"Of course" Khajir said with a smile while showing his yellowish teeth full of Sweet Fish meat, "I will do that, for your sweet sister's sake"

*Even when he's dead...Khajir still can't get rid of his shadow it seems.*, thought Qharlan.

"I will leave tonight, at most 6 days if I guess I will reach my destination" said Qharlan as he turned his head towards the flag of his ship that was heading east.

"I myself will go the day after tomorrow, to not not this country of white prostitutes" Khajir said with a smile with his black lips, "hehehehah"

Qharlan just smiled.

He taught Khajir.Then Qharlan looked back at the sea.

Although foreign, when Qharlan looked towards the sea alone gave him many reminders of the time he lived with his brother and Khajir.

The three of them often play together, Qharlan misses those simple times.Where they only know to play, swim, collect seashells, fish, and listen to legends about a foreign country in the north called Strantos.

He said the Strantos ate a lot of bread instead of rice, and said they had a white woman who was prettier than his hometown.

Qharlan remembered that, listening to the legend of Oma's grandmother who lived at the end of the beach.

Qharlan remembers racing to find shells with Khajir to make his brother a necklace of the best shells

Her brother is the judge, but her brother does not want a fight so her brother chooses that Khajir and Qharlan are both winners.

Qharlan remembered Khajir was very hard working so disappointed, even sulked and went home.

But the next day Khajir made up with his brother quickly and easily. Her brother just stroked Khajir's hair.

Even though they were old they both still remembered many things..

*If only brother were here.what would he say seeing me and Khajir would fight in a foreign country to crown his son*, thought Qharlan.

"Let's not*n'tot this foreign country" Qharlan said.

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Charla opened her eyes...

In front of him lay a small wooden-walled room with a candle lantern illuminating it.

The night breeze can feel on Charla's skin, tickling her skin at night.

But he felt something touch something...

Charla then shifted her head and could feel Hanno's body sitting next to her.

You can see Hanno's face, which is almost like a corpse and pale, but not so pale as to be really like a corpse.

His light breath could be heard.

"Hm" , smiles Charla.

Charla recalls last night, Hanno wanted to sleep on the floor. But Charla doesn't want it, Charla doesn't want Hanno to act like her pet dog.

Charla was used to this, especially during the Tyronian War. Lying in the camp wounded troops along with hundreds of wounded men who lost other body parts.

Lying down one man to Charla was not a problem for her.

Charla's hand then shifted the blanket to get up from her bed.

The soft feel of the blanket cloth can be felt in her hands and body, although Charla wears clothes with some chain armour in her pants.

Charla then got off her bed.

Hardness of the wooden floor can be felt in his legs, footsteps can be heard pressing on the wooden floor below.

Charla walked towards the door and out of this room.

*tuk*

The hallway of the room became colder than usual, especially this night, the night wind could feel tickling Charla through the sidelines of her clothes.

The stairs to the lower floor can be seen with Charla's eyes, especially a little night like this, sometimes night can make Charla see better.

Charla's eyes sometimes hurt when she sees the light suddenly, it hurts sometimes it makes Charla unable to see for a while.

Her family physician told her that Charla did have this condition because of her eyes.

"N-miss.why do I need to help?" , said one of the maids with a broom in his hand that seemed to be watching in the middle of the night.

The bar became quieter in the middle of the night and the inn lost all its sound.

"Can I buy a map?" said Charla with a smile to make the waiter a little comfortable.

*He was terrified by my eyes and my hair*, thought Charla aware of something.

"Well ladies, wait a minute" said the waiter, putting the broom on the wall.

The waiter walked towards the back of the bar.

The bar became quiet and Charla then stood contemplating what was to come.

The road will be dangerous enough for the future, Charla alone was attacked by 4 bandits a few days ago.

How did the same thing happen to her and Hanno again? Although the two of them could fight, it did not mean that they could fight dozens of bandits at once.

...Hanno's? How's Hanno? Hanno has control but not with strength, Hanno has strength but not as strong as most experienced people fight.

But is that true? Did Hanno have the power that Charla guessed.

"Miss" said the waiter nervously approaching Charla, "this is her map"

The waiter then gave Charla, a paper with a picture of the Strantos Continent of hers.

The map looks orange, and when Charla touches it can feel the texture of the paper is hard.

Charla could smell this map had a distinctive book smell.

*The paper island of the Holy Island of Cyronia*, thought Charla while looking at the map.

"Map from Kelenn's 'The Reader' image" ' Charla said she noticed something when she looked at the map.

Kelenn's 'The Reader' did not come from Victa but from Dalmatia and only drew Victa based on drawings from her predecessors, so Victa is arguably not quite accurate with this map.

The most accurate is just his description of Dalmatia.

"Is there a map of the image of Gelenn 'The Painter'?" said Charla, handing back the map.

Gelenn 'The Painter' was one of the most accurate map-drawers, his image coming from the image of his friend who had traveled throughout Strantos and the world.

Not only that Gelenn came from Victa and drew maps and the region of Victa from a collection of administrative map drawings throughout Strantos.

"There's a lady.but.fear long.." said the waiter nervously.

"What's wrong, you can give me that map in the morning" Charla said with a smile.

*Toh, it's okay, I still have a lot of time.* , thought Charla.

"Well miss, it will be morning.later in the morning there will be my friend who will bring you the map" said the waiter.

"Yes, good bye, I want to go back to my room first huh?" said Charla kindly.

*I want to see Hanno back.*, thought Charla as she turned and walked back to her room.

Charla can't stop thinking about who Hanno really is, like there's an instinct telling her that all Charla's guesses about Hanno are wrong.

Strength, speed, agility, control, cleverness, postures, knowledge, and the past.everything changes every time.Nobody Charla can guess from Hanno..

*Trek*

The wooden door opened and Hanno lay on the bed….

The candlelight that could be seen was only the only one that illuminated this room...

Hanno's face looked quite dark and could not be seen.

*tuk*

Charla closed the door again and walked towards Hanno…

The floorboards could be felt back at Charla's feet as long as she stepped towards Hanno..

Charla stands in front of Hanno who is sleeping...

Charla then looked at Hanno for quite a while..

Charla then opened her gloves and touched Hanno's cheek..

*Hard..smooth..as well as soft as well.*, thought Charla.

Hanno's thick hair then came into contact with Charla's finger…

Hanno sleeps.it really doesn't look like Vespasian…..

Vespasian had not been asleep for a long time, but Charla remembered how Vespasian had fallen asleep.

But what's the difference? I don't know.but Charla can feel the difference....

*Did I wrongly suspect that you're the bastard son of Vespasian?* ,thought Charla while feeling Hanno's hair.

Hanno's hair is also different.in black and not as rough as Vespasian…

*Who is he?..* , thought Charla with a full statement…

Charla's hand then shifted towards Hanno's nose which could be felt by her strong bones..

Hanno's breath could be heard by Charla..

Hanno's soft lips were next touched by Charla….

Hanno's lips are pink with a mixture of red and brown…

"Hehehe" ,laughs Charla for a second..

But then Charla couldn't help it…

"Hehhehehe" ,laughs Charla on.

Charla could not hold her lungs to continue laughing…

"Hehehahahaha" , keep laughing at him…

*What am I thinking in the middle of the night?* ,thought Charla with a giggling laugh.

"Hahahahahahhahehahahahhaha!" , laugh Charla louder.

*God is stupid of me? Touching a young man's face in the middle of the night this*, thought Charla.

"HAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHA!" said Charla giggled so loudly that the room was filled with laughter.

Charla laughed so hard she started to hold her stomach in pain.

"Gosh, you're so mysterious you make me do something weird in the middle of the night" said Charla, laughing.

*You are Hanno..remain Hanno.we do the sacred vows in the forest.only family, gods, and death can decide us Hanno.*, thought Charla with a smile looking at Hanno.

Charla felt something, a feeling of care and a desire to protect her…

Butwhy?

*This child I will change.he is still white with a black spot in the middle.but the rest I just change it to be more beautiful.* , thought Charla with a smile.

Wh why?

I don't know....

*Is it possible that gods, families, and death will decide us? I don't know..or maybe there's something that's gonna decide us?* ,thought Charla while touching Hanno's soft, pale cheeks.

Charla's eyes glistened dimly in the dark, with purple and red mixed like diamonds..