The Great Rebellion : Transformation And Swordsmanship

When Galen vanished from sight, Leo collected the wooden swords and walked along the castle road. 

In the very spot where he'd once been arrested, now an ordinary path.. he heard noise near the castle walls. 

He saw horsemen gathered at the square; guards huddled in deep conversation. 

Once Leo reached the castle doors, guards swung them open.

As the doors parted

"Did you benefit from the training?" 

Arthur stood before a cluster of horsemen; , cloak stirring in the breeze.

"Yes, it was very exciting .. I enjoyed it a lot," Leo said, scratching his head. 

Arthur closed his eyes. "I see." 

"Come along, Leo." 

Arthur walked silently, 

"What's going on?" Leo murmured, tracking Arthur's every step. 

His footsteps... they don't sound like before. They're... heavy. 

...Did something happen?

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" 

That noise again... Leo pressed a hand to his temple with a sigh. 

"LEAVE ME ALONE, YOU STUPID GUARDS!"

When Leo approached the dining room, metal clanged and feet thudded against stone. 

As the door opened, Alice came into view.. 

.. shackled at the wrists, Lin hovering protectively beside her.

"What happened?" Leo breathed in disbelief. 

"I hope you explain what happened, Leo," Arthur said, his stare icy.

"I... have no idea," Leo said, his voice trembling. 

He stared at Alice and Lin. 

_Where's Emma?_ 

A sigh came from Arthur. 

"My apologies, Leo. I shackled these two..." 

"... not to arrest them, but to prevent unexpected moves." 

Arthur met Leo's eyes with unwavering honesty. his knuckles whitened on the chairback.

"I trust you, Leo."

A tired sigh escaped him as he gazed at the dining chairs. 

"If you don't mind... could you sit and explain?" 

Leo paused, frowning. 

"I will." 

"Great." Arthur clapped for the servants. 

"Clean these tables immediately."

Leo sat down beside Arthur. 

Lin stared, torn between relief at her brother's return and dread over the interrogation. 

when a soft snore sounded beside her. 

Alice slept curled against Lin's lap. cheek pressed to Lin's knees.

Leo sat beside Arthur, offering silent comfort. 

Arthur clenched his hands, dispensing with formalities. 

"Where's Fotia?" 

He's asking about Emma...

"Is she your friend?" 

Leo's fist clenched under the table

I never thought of her as a friend...

"When I was searching for Lin... I met her. She told me Lin was here." 

"That's why I entered the castle." 

"Then she seized the opportunity..." Arthur whispered. 

Kitchen sounds echoed.. pots clanging, lunch nearing. 

Leo stared at the table, then at Arthur. 

"What happened to her?"

Arthur sighed. 

"Release their shackles!" He clapped sharply. 

"My apologies again, for alarming you, Leo." Arthur rubbed his temples, weariness etching his face

The guards removed the shackles Metal clattered to the floor as shackles fell away.

Lin cradled Alice closer , refusing to disturb her sleep

"I presume it happened last night, maybe..." Arthur thought 

"Yes... It happened late at night" Arthur added. 

"An intruder broke into the library and stole something vital." 

"What stunned me is they left everything pristine ... even the guards vanished that night." Arthur's hands vibrated like plucked strings, the table quaked beneath them. 

In the kitchen, sounds echoed 

"Hey, watch out—the hearth's too hot!" 

"You'll ruin the king's feast!" 

"AAAAAH!" one cook screamed. 

"I forgot!" he added. 

"IDIOT! DON'T FORGET IMPORTANT THINGS! WANT TO BE EXECUTED?!"

After a pause, Arthur resumed 

"If I hadn't heard the doorknob crack and hit the ground... and seen the opened window" 

"...I'd never have known."

Arthur beckoned to a guard with his finger. 

"Yes, Sir!" 

"Tell the Exploration Corps to withdraw" Arthur whispered into the guard's ear.

Leo stood up from the table. 

"Oh, I forgot! Can you tell me what was stolen from the library? What did she take?" 

"She stole a book..." 

Arthur's tone shifted to serious. 

"The Founder's Book." 

...."The one and only Founder's Book."

"SO THE FOUNDER'S BOOK IS 'NOT FOUND' ANYMORE! HAHA!" 

"Oh my!" Lin gasped and flinched

then covered her mouth with a faint laugh. "Alice, you scared me!" 

... 

"Alice?" 

She thrashed like a caught fish; then burrowed into Lin's lap, knees becoming her pillow. 

Leo turned to Arthur. 

"My apologies... she does that often." 

 Arthur's smile softened the lines of worry around his eyes. "I see."

Before Leo turned, Arthur continued the words slipping out like a secret: 

"Many years ago... when I was sleeping... an old woman opened my window. Offered me that book. She wore complete disguise..." 

Arthur stared past Leo. 

"...I don't know if it was dream or reality. Maybe just an old man's delusions." 

He laughed, the sound raw and desperate.

"She offered me that book , cold as stone against my palm." 

"'Do not read this book, swordsman... I trust you.'" 

"'Just... hide it somewhere safe.'" 

"Since that day, I never dared open it... but the title's written in ancient script

Βιβλίο του Ιδρυτή " 

"Then she let herself fall from the window. No sound... Did she hit the ground? Or did she...?" 

Arthur lifted his head. "Oh! Right, I remember! " 

"Cyan wings pulsed like dying stars in the moonlight... swarmed around her. 

Maybe the same ones you've told me about?!

Leo's eyes widened at the words. 

"Maybe they guided her to someone trustworthy..." Arthur's voice trembled. 

"But I wasn't worthy enou—" 

Leo seized Arthur's shaking hands., cutting him off. 

"Don't say another word.

"I will find it."

Leo pushed back from the table, sword held tight behind his back. 

Arthur sighed, sinking deeper into his chair. 

"I have to say this, Leo..." 

"I trust you."

Leo smiled, then turned to Lin. 

"Wake her up." 

Seriousness drew across Leo's face like a shroud. 

"We're moving."