The man's blue eyes flickered slightly beneath his mask, and the wind blew Raphael's white robe into a constant flutter.
Raphael nodded, his tone carrying a hint of gratitude.
"Thank you for your help these past days.
I wouldn't have been able to handle it all alone."
The tall, golden-haired man's eyes were weary, and his voice was hoarse and low.
"I should be the one thanking you for sheltering me.
If it weren't for your help, I would've been captured long ago."
Raphael turned his gaze to the distance, watching the vast sea rise and fall, with waves occasionally sending up massive sprays.
He turned back, asking seriously, "Do you have any plans for where to go next?"
The golden-haired man slowly shook his head, his eyes still filled with uncertainty.
"I'm unfamiliar with everything in the Southern Province. I don't know where I should go."
Raphael sighed softly, the sea breeze blowing his white robe, making the sound of his voice seem even more tranquil in the vastness of the cliffside.
"Then head further south, to Stormhaven.
The Church's grip there has always been weak, and you might find a chance to catch your breath."
The golden-haired man remained silent for a moment after hearing Raphael's suggestion, gazing out at the turbulent waves as if contemplating the idea.
After a few moments, he nodded, as though he had made up his mind.
"Alright, I'll take your advice. I'll leave right away."
Raphael nodded as well, not surprised by the man's decisiveness.
Just as the golden-haired man was about to turn and leave, Raphael pulled a small object from his robe.
"You dropped something, and I managed to find it for you."
The golden-haired man paused at Raphael's words, glancing down at the item in his hand.
It was a finely crafted golden badge, about the size of a egg and weighty to the touch, its surface engraved with intricate patterns.
At the center of the badge was the head of a noble golden lion, carved in exquisite detail.
The lion's head stood proud and majestic, its mane flowing, exuding an aura of honor.
Though time had dulled the badge's shine, its imposing presence remained undeniable.
The golden-haired man's eyes fixed on the badge, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze.
His body trembled slightly, and complex emotions flickered in his blue eyes.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice choked with emotion.
"Keep it. I don't deserve it anymore."
His voice trembled, as if he was trying hard to suppress some deep emotional surge.
It was clear that this badge carried the weight of his past.
It represented his identity, his honor, perhaps even a piece of his very soul.
But now, he felt as though he was drifting further and further away from his former self.
Raphael watched the man in silence, not rushing to break the quiet.
After a long while, Raphael spoke softly.
"This badge will always be yours. You are its rightful owner."
The man's hands trembled slightly, his eyes full of conflict.
His gaze lingered on the badge, memories of the past flooding his mind—glory, battles, victories...
Those times seemed both close enough to touch and yet forever out of reach.
"The person I am now no longer deserves to wear this badge," the golden-haired man said quietly, his voice full of doubt.
Seeing that the man had no intention of taking the badge, a thought occurred to Raphael.
Without saying more, he reached out, grabbed the man's wrist, and forced his hand open, placing the badge firmly in his palm.
The man looked startled, his eyes shifting to the badge that once symbolized everything he stood for.
His emotions were too complicated to describe.
Raphael grinned, baring his teeth playfully, his tone light and teasing.
"This badge is a big problem. If you leave it with me, that's like dumping your trouble onto me.
I'm not taking on that burden—this one's yours to keep."
The man gripped the badge tightly, pausing for a moment before his lips curled slightly.
The heaviness in his heart seemed to lighten just a bit at Raphael's words.
"Trouble? Maybe you're right...
This is my burden to bear."
The man smiled bitterly, shaking his head.
He lowered his eyes, his fingers gently tracing the lion's intricate features on the badge, as if touching a lost piece of his past.
The familiar texture, the familiar weight...
"Thank you," he said softly, his voice laced with a faint sense of relief, though the pain in his eyes had not fully faded.
He carefully put the badge away, placing it solemnly into his cloak.
Then, without warning, he stepped forward and pulled Raphael into a tight embrace.
Raphael, caught off guard by the gesture, stumbled slightly but quickly regained his footing, patting the man on the back, returning the hug.
The only sound between them was the howling wind, as if it carried away the weight of their words.
The hug was a silent expression of gratitude, as though this was the final crossing of their intertwined fates.
Raphael spoke softly.
"Take care, Leon."
The man loosened his hold, his blue eyes filled with complicated emotions as he looked at Raphael, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
"You too, Raphael."
They held each other's gaze for a moment, as if countless words had passed unspoken between them.
Then the man turned and began walking away into the distance.
Raphael stood there, watching as the man's figure slowly faded, feeling a swirl of emotions inside him.
He knew that with this parting, it was likely they would never meet again.
The sea wind whipped through his brown hair, lifting his white robe as if blending him into the vast sky and earth.
The scent of the sea mingled with the sharp chill of the wind, making him squint slightly.
As Leon's figure disappeared completely from view, Raphael remained standing there, letting the cold sea breeze wash over him.
He sighed softly.
"I hope you can avoid the danger, Leon."
Father Raphael closed his eyes, letting the sound of the wind and the roar of the waves echo in his ears.
The sea continued its endless roar, crashing against the cliffs.
The biting wind rushed in from the sea, whipping his white robes into a wild dance.
In the sky, a lone seabird soared through the clouds.
On the cliff, only Raphael remained.