A few weeks passed by, the summer holiday came and the days became even hotter. Corvin convinced Amy to move to his house and work at his workshop until they had a better place for her ready. She had already gotten on her way to the village using the new car last night.
'She is probably already there.', thought Corvin as he stuffed his clothes to his luggage.
He was getting ready to leave the Institute dorms as well. But, unlike Amy who had to leave because she graduated, he was leaving because of security reasons. He glanced at the letter on his desk. The gold coloured ornaments on the envelope painted the desk yellow with it's reflection on the smooth surface of the wooden desk. It was a letter from the Emperor calling all the knights of the empire to duty.
"Even though he didn't write the reason, everybody knows why. The protests have stopped, trade has slowed down and people aren't leaving their houses as much as usual... Even the weather has been kind of dull these days, as if even the skies are waiting for something to happen."
After packing his stuff, Corvin sat on his chair and started to read the Emperor's letter once again. He held out his hand and his pen that rolled to the floor flew into it. He started writing an answer on another paper. After writing his refusal, he folded the paper and put it inside the envelope.
"...Do I really have to write a public statement? Noah did tell me to write it buutt..... Ah, whatever. Just write Corvin, just do as he said."
After a few minutes of deep thinking, he managed to piece together a paragraph to be published in this week's newspaper tomorrow. After putting the last period on the paper, he got up from his table and walked towards the window. The sun was five fingers above the horizon and a strong wind was shaking the trees in waves.
"I guess I should wear my coat today."
He looked calm, his face showed no particular emotion or stress. But his heart was beating rapidly. Deep down in his chest, he could feel something tangling his heart, making time fly slowly and unbearably. He knew what it was, he was feeling anxious. He had decided to walk down a path with no easy return but now that the no return part of that road rapidly approached, he felt scared. He couldn't afford to make any mistakes now. He gently cracked his neck and slapped himself.
"There is no use getting uneasy now. Just do what you have to do and think about it later. It is time to act now, not the time to think!"
He walked towards the door as his luggage and letters flew towards him. He picked the letters and stuffed them in his coat's pockets as he wore it. He held the doorhandle and stood there for a few seconds before quickly opening the door. A few steps away, Noah was waiting for him. He glanced at Corvin and turned towards him.
"You finally came out."
"Yeah. Writing a public statement was harder than I thought."
"Oh, you wrote one? I was sure you were going to act like you forgot about it."
"No, here. This is it."
"Good, good. Then, let's go. Oh, can you carry my stuff as well?"
"Yeah.", answered Corvin as Noah's luggage started to fly along with his.
"So, are we going to the publishing house?"
"Yeah, we will visit for a bit and then leave."
"I see."
They slowly walked in silence for a few minutes before Corvin asked Noah.
"Did Clair leave?"
"Yeah. She left earlier."
"Are you sure she won't get caught up in all this? I don't know what her father will be doing."
"She should be in the Duke's territory when the war starts. I asked the Duke to take her to safety before she can reach home."
"I see, you thought about everything, huh? Did you also give her a goodbye kiss?"
Noah didn't answer but his blush from the cold got redder.
"I am glad you did. Don't leave anything to tomorrow and regret it later. Since the future is uncertain these days."
"You spoke like an old man."
"I guess I did."
"Well, anyways. Do you know where we are going to go after visiting the publishing house?"
"No."
"We are going to the camp where our soldiers are preparing. It is to the south of the capitol, kind of close to Demice as well. We are going to confirm if everyone is ready and then start the final preparations."
"I see. So the other's aren't coming with us?"
"No. Everyone has a different place they are in charge of. Mrs. Roz is in charge of the north, the Duke is in charge of the east. Because Andy Sitta's territory is under Mrs. Roz already, he will be at the west. Russet will be working with the navy. And we will deal with the south and the capitol since it is closest."
Corvin nodded his head silently.
"Oh, by the way, Mr. Nehdean sent me a letter.", said Noah.
"Really? What did it say?"
"He wrote how he can guess what we are doing."
"Heh~ I guess we are kind of like him now, right?"
"Yeah. He said he knew how hard it was and wished us luck. He also said that the agreements we made were with us as people and not as nobles of the Altus Empire so they were valid even if the Empire was replaced."
"Cool. We should send him a few gifts after all this is over."
"We should."
They walked outside of the Institute's gate towards a carriage waiting for them.
"...Maybe you should have brought one or two more of those cars, Corvin."
"There were only two of them. And, there is nothing you will do by complaining now, so just get in the carriage. We don't have a long road anyways, we are just visiting the capitol."
Noah halfheartedly got on the carriage and they left the Institute.