The Great Rebellion : Transformation And Swordsmanship

After a long walk crossing Rosa's Castle, passing the earth-touched milestone: 

"We're close to Rosa's village" Lin said, arms clasped behind her back. 

"Let's rest by this lake" Leo said, laying Alice gently on the grass. 

Sunlight warmed the earth, letting her burrow into the ground cover. 

Lin adjusted her robe before sitting. 

Leo stood watching birds skim the pure lake.

"So..." Lin murmured, watching Alice snore. 

"After bringing Alice back, we'll return home together," Lin said. 

"We'll finally walk through sunflower fields again," she added, fidgeting with her fingers. 

"..." Leo kept staring at the flock of birds, some shifting groups, merging mid-flight—his hand tightening on the bracelet. 

"Will we?" Lin lifted her head, eyes wide with concern. 

"...." Leo turned to her, expression hollow. 

"...L-Leo?" Lin glanced away, noticing his whitened knuckles. 

"You've changed..." The whisper trembled from her lips. 

She turned back to him, hands raised defensively. 

"I-I didn't mean to say it! I don't truly mean it!" 

"I'm the one who's sorry, Lin," Leo said. 

"For leaving you alone all these years..." 

Leo paused, gaze returning to the lake. A bird broke from the flock, flying solo as it strained to keep up.

"So you're not coming back..." Lin's expression saddened. 

"I see," a desperate grin crossed her face. 

Lin stood up, arms wrapping around Leo as she buried her face in his chest. 

"I think the weather got cold, isn't it?" Lin said, her voice trembling and muffled. 

"Stop crying," Leo murmured, patting her head with a faint smile. 

Alice opened her eyes for a moment, watching the scene, then closed them again. 

The sun set; the three lay on the grass after a long day.

"GOOD MORNING, LEO!" Alice's shout echoed in his ear. 

"Aaah, what's going on?" Leo sat up, rubbing his eyes. 

"SHALL WE CONTINUE THE JOURNEY?!" Alice cheered, waving blueberries. 

"Oh, Alice, you woke up... and those blueberries again..." 

"Look, Leo! How I wake her up!" 

Alice approached sleeping Lin, balancing blueberries on her nose. 

"BWAHAHAHAHA!!" Alice cackled. 

Lin stirred. "What's that noise?" 

She blinked at the giggling Alice. 

"Oh, Alice! You woke up, thank god you're fine!" Lin clasped her hands, her soft voice thick with sleep. 

"BWAHAHAHAHA!! I'M GONNA DIE!" Alice collapsed, clutching her belly. 

Leo sighed, pressing a hand to his temple. "Here we go again." 

He stood. "Lin, Alice....

 .. let's get going."

As they kept walking, Alice started complaining again. 

"Are weeeeee there y—"

The sign creaked in the breeze

"Welcome to Rosa Village."

"Nooo, we're not coming back to the tournament, are we?" 

"There's no tournament anymore, Alice," Leo said. 

"Tournament?" Lin wondered. 

"Let's just keep going..." Leo walked ahead, dust swirling around his boots leaving them._ both staring at the village entrance.

As they walked, a bandit in a black suit slithered from the trees, twin daggers glinting

Lin stopped, watching the figure advance. "L-Leo, we're—" 

Leo exhaled slowly. "What now?" 

He whirled around furiously as the bandit charged. Their eyes locked for an instant. 

The bandit's eyes widened "I am sorry!" 

The bandit stiffly turned and fled like a wooden puppet. 

Leo sighed before continuing. 

"You scared him! That's not what heroes do!" Alice mocked.

After another stretch of walking, they reached the sunflowers. 

"Those sunflowers... we only find them in..." Lin murmured. 

"We've made it!" Alice leapt among them. 

"See, Lin? We're walking around them. Had enough?" Leo said. 

"That's not what I meant!!" Lin pouted, turning away with a frown. 

"LEO, YOU'RE TERRIBLE AT JOKES! HAHA!" Alice howled. 

"I know, right?" Lin said; a laugh escaped her. 

A faint smile touched Leo's lips then faded.

"We reached the poor village!" Alice leapt only to stomp back down in frustration.

"Not yet, Alice. Our village is still a few feet away..." Lin swiped her hand through the air like a Local Knowledge Bearer

"But if we turn from this path, we'll find the Orph—" 

"WRONG!!" Alice shouted. 

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? ARE YOU A HUMAN MAP OR WHAT?!" Alice clutched her fists.

"Alice, stop complaining. We're getting you home," Leo said, pushing her forward gently. 

"ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT!" Alice crossed her arms, staring aside. 

Lin laughed faintly, making Alice turn. 

"What are you laughing AT??" 

After taking the right path, the orphanage appeared in sight. 

Alice frowned, grabbing Leo's shirt. 

"So that's it... getting back to this boring place... eating porridge," Alice said calmly. 

"Thank you, Leo. It was a great adventure!" She lifted her head with a faint smile. 

"Aaaah..." Alice started sobbing.

"I expected her to be a bit stubborn," Lin said, covering her mouth with a gentle laugh. 

"WHAT? I'VE GOT NO PROBLEM STRUGGLING!" Alice stared back. 

"No, no! I'm just joking," Lin said with a defensive gesture. 

"Don't cry. This isn't the last time we meet. I'll visit you someday, Alice." 

"Do you promise me?" Alice asked. 

"I promise..." Leo knelt and patted Alice's head. 

"GO GET EMMA, THEN, LEO! AND KICK HER FOR ME!" 

Leo smiled, then stood up, brushing dust from his clothes. 

Alice turned and waved with a wide smile, then walked toward the orphanage door. 

"Please send my regards to the matron!" Leo shouted. 

Alice turned and waved. "I WILL!!" 

A small tear dropped onto Lin's cheek as she waved. "Goodbye, Alice!!!" 

Alice walked through the door without saying a word, then entered. 

CLANK.