【Sen no Kiseki】【Crolin】The Guardian of the Morning Sun

Walking in the corridors of the hospital always feels like walking on eggshells.It is always cold here, reminding Li En of the battlefield.In fact, he has spent several winters in that kind of place, and he is no stranger to this cold feeling.But at this moment, he felt that maybe it was only his own heart that had become cold.

After learning that Kuro was assassinated by unknown sources in the hospital, Li En almost lost his temper at Claire who told him about it, and asked her why she couldn't protect one patient when there were so many soldiers .But he still held back, this stage is not a good time to confront the railway gendarmerie.The only thing he can do is to skillfully handle the task at hand, and at the same time complete his "real task", and rush back to the empire as soon as possible.

Since becoming Iron Blood's "accomplice" two years ago, Li En has hardly returned to his hometown Yumir.Except for school, most of the holidays are spent in the hospital.After leaving school, the only place he went was the hospital.After Kuro woke up, the Railway Gendarmerie restricted Li En's time to freely enter and leave the hospital, and could no longer stay overnight in the ward, so he had to go back to the nearest town to the hospital, where there was a temporary residence provided by the military.For the heroes who had ended the Civil War and prevented the Republic from invading Crossbell, the one-bedroom seemed a bit petty, but Rean didn't care.For him, no matter where he lives, it is not his home.He can't go back to any of the places he considers home.

...I don't care about my own affairs, the important thing is Kuro.

Li En walked anxiously through the long corridor of the hospital, and the soldiers guarding the stairs saw him and saluted him neatly.He just nodded in response. After all, he was only a temporary military attache, not an official soldier.

He walked all the way to the innermost special ward on the third floor, and at that moment, he heard a joking voice from behind.

"Yo, hard work."

Without having to turn around to know who is greeting, Li En reluctantly turned around.

"Captain Rector."

"Hey, every time I see me, I have a sad face. Even I will feel heartbroken. Maybe I will be scolded and abused by the uncle."

Li En didn't have the extra emotion to greet this person, and frowned impatiently.If it's okay, I'll go there first. When he coldly dropped this sentence and was about to turn around and walk away, the man behind him spoke again, in a lowered and lazy tone.

"I told you, don't play too hard."

Li En stopped, and Rector said coolly:

"I think it would be better to stop as soon as possible. You should understand your position—and the position of someone in that ward."

Li En said calmly, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"It's not suitable for you to be stupid." The voice behind him was approaching, and Li En couldn't help but tense up. "I know exactly what happened at Cross Bell. Even if Altina was brought back to the workshop for overhaul during this period and you are allowed to act alone temporarily, but don't forget that you are carrying out missions under the surveillance of the intelligence department. "

Even if Altina was present, she would not do anything to herself.Li En cursed in his heart, and couldn't help retorting: "Since Captain Rector is so worried, why don't you send Miriam to monitor me?"

"Thank you for being able to speak, why do you think our manpower is so short, you natural strategy king—" Rector scratched his hair in trouble, "Leave that aside, I'm kindly trying to persuade you right now, Li En little brother? If you don’t stop, it’s not just a simple warning.”

"So I don't know what you're talking about." Li En stared at him.

The red-haired man sighed, his eyes froze suddenly, he grabbed Li En by the collar and slammed him against the wall, he couldn't help but gasped.Rector didn't give him more leeway, and stared at the other party with a stern look.

"Do you really think I don't know about the aid you provided to Crossbell's gang of good people? I'm not interested in knowing how you colluded, but stop before uncle finds out your secret."

Li En met his gaze without fear, and his lips were tightly pursed into a line.This man obviously showed others with a carefree and frivolous attitude, but at this time he exuded a sense of oppression that could not be ignored.

"You haven't forgotten our original deal, have you? This approach is too foolish. Think of your friends, and Clow Ambuster, and don't forget what you really should protect."

Receiving such a blatant threat, the furrow between Li En's brows deepened.

"Can I trust you guys? What happened to Kuro?"

"Nothing happened as far as it turned out, did it?"

Li En noticed something, and immediately widened his eyes.

"You... you guys made Craw—"

"Don't get me wrong, little brother Li En." Rector interrupted him, "He is a prisoner in our hands. We have endured until now because of you. If you don't even cherish his life, then No one will cherish it anymore. This is advice, remember it well.”

Rector let go of his hand, and heaved a sigh of relief as if he had completed the task.Li En adjusted his collar silently, trying to suppress the anger in his chest.Not yet, the time has not yet come, you can't stimulate them, you can't startle them... He repeated in his heart, trying not to look at that annoying smiling face.

To recognize one's position is to recognize the position of the victim and the victim.Until Kuro wakes up, he has always followed this rule and acted.But now, it's time to make a change.

"If there is nothing else, please allow me to say goodbye."

Li En put on an indifferent expression that was unimaginable two years ago, saluted the other party, and walked to the front ward without looking back.While leaving, the lazy voice behind him entered his ears with a helpless sigh.

"That prodigal prince is really nosy, it was the same in Libel, and it is also now..."

Rector is a ruthless character that cannot be ignored, and Li En understood it when he worked under him for the first time.It's just that he didn't expect that the other party would track down his whereabouts so quickly. Not only that, but he also found the real supporters behind him.Not long after the recovery operation of Crossbell started, Prince Oliver reached out to Li En and offered him advice and help.Olivet would do this, first because he had met Lloyd and the others; more importantly, the Crown Princess Kolos of the Kingdom of Liber provided them with secret assistance, and he, who had a good personal relationship, also decided to support them.Not only the Kingdom of Liber, but also some countries seem to have a lot of dissatisfaction with the iron-blooded prime minister's approach.The Principality of Remifilia and the Autonomous Prefecture of Leman also supported the Crossbell Liberation Army in different ways.With the assistance of many parties, the recovery operation was carried out in full swing, and Li En, as the temporary military attache, played an important role in it.

It was an unprecedentedly difficult and dangerous task.Originally, Li En was sent to Crossbell to suppress the actions of the People's Liberation Army.After accepting Olivet's personal entrustment, he was deterring and suppressing the rebels on the surface, but secretly contacted Lloyd and others to provide information and disrupt the sight of the Imperial Army.

Before accepting this task, Li En hesitated for a long time in the face of Prince Oliver's lobbying.Not because of the danger of the mission itself, but because he was worried about the possible consequences of being informed by the intelligence department.The reason why he set foot on the battlefield, apart from his inescapable responsibilities, was for his companions from Group VII and the unconscious Crow.They are the insurance bolts imposed on him by the prime minister, and they are also his biggest scruples.Regarding Li En's concerns, Olivet smiled.

"You don't have to worry about Group VII. After all, I'm Thorz's chairman and the founder of Group VII. I won't just stand by and watch my lovely students get hurt."

That left Clow with the problem.Li En has no idea to what extent Kuro, who has lost his memory, will be used by them.But procrastinating on like this would not do him or Clow any good.If Kuro has been under the control of the iron-blooded prime minister, no matter whether his memory is restored or not, he will almost never see his day.

After weighing the pros and cons, Olivet left it to his own consideration.The answer was actually there, and Li En knew it very well.He just didn't understand why Oliver, the prince of the empire, would take such a risk.

"Because I don't agree with the iron-blooded prime minister's approach. I have been paying attention to this issue since the time of the trade conference. To be honest, I can't agree with this approach of taking advantage of the situation."

In this regard, Olivette answered him seriously.

"Well, I am called a prodigal prince, but I am actually just acting according to my own heart. Of course, if a friend entrusts me with something, I will definitely do it. But more importantly, I want to use my heart Come to think about what is the right way. Maybe my approach is wrong for Prime Minister Osborne, but I believe that I am not wrong. Because of this, I wanted Group VII to be the third gust of wind, opening up new Hope."

——I look forward to all of you finding your own way, including you, Li En.Don't you also need to listen to your heart.You've ignored it for years, and it's time to think about your future direction, even for yourself.

Li En was shocked when he heard such serious words from the blond man who had always been unscrupulous.He is indeed tired.Years of fighting, performing tasks like a machine, the blood on his hands is probably more than that of Crow in the past-he is gradually being worn away, like a stone being smoothed by endless waves.Completing the task not only did not give him any sense of accomplishment, but brought endless emptiness and humiliation.He hates himself who abandoned his dreams and beliefs, and also hates himself who has to compromise with reality and is powerless.I keep obliterating myself, forcing myself to fight, step by step to today, but the future becomes blurred in front of my eyes.

The only consolation was that Crow was still alive, but even this consolation would not know when it would disappear.He was completely tired of living in constant anxiety.The so-called heroes are nothing more than the product of sacrifice and compromise, even if they get this title, they will not get any salvation.

That being the case, let him follow his convictions.Wars that are nothing but pain should end.Abandoning that sad taboo and becoming a traitor is heartbreaking, but this time, I will end it by myself.

Perhaps when all the dust settles, it is time to get a glimpse of the way forward.

——However, Rector said that to him.

This means that hospitals are no longer safe either.The only possibility for such a thing to happen under the supervision of the Ministry of Intelligence and the Railway Gendarmerie is that it was deliberately done from within.Craw may not have noticed, but now is not the time to sit idly by.Thinking of this level, Li En anxiously pulled Kuro out and handed him the prepared force gun.Compared with the possibility of Craw fleeing without authorization, he is now more worried that the other party will encounter something unexpected before the operation is over.

The only good news is that Clow has not shown any signs of recovering his memory - simply because restoring his memory under the existing objective conditions will only disrupt the situation, and he will be treated more cruelly, which is not conducive to future plan.Li En told himself that there is no other reason to be grateful.

There is no time left.Get everything sorted out before it gets too bad.However, situations that get out of hand before then also have to be taken into account.Is there a way to do that?The way to get Crow out.

Li En leaned on Kuro's shoulder blankly thinking, the feeling of being stroked on the head was very similar to before, which made him relax a little.Then Kuro mentioned to him his companions in Group VII and the matter of President Towa, and the familiar sense of nostalgia welled up in his head, making him want to cry.

"...Emma said that as long as she can help, she will try her best to help. You have a group of good companions, Li En."

Who said no?He knows their good better than anyone.He will never forget who helped him escape at the critical moment, and who encouraged him to cheer up in those years of sharing joys and sorrows.The youth he spent with them was the last good day that he could never come again.Although I don't know when I will see them again, I can only cherish the memories as treasures in my heart.

... Craw's memory is also the same, I will be able to get it back one day.

Can not give up.How could I give up at a place where I arrived here after alternating stagnation of hopes and frustrations.What's more, there are still opportunities and methods, aren't there?

——How about becoming a guerrilla?

In the basement in the dark passage of the ancient battlefield, Lloyd suggested this to Li En.Out of the need for information exchange, they sometimes meet here at Cao.Talk to Lloyd about what he's considering, and Lloyd gives this opinion without thinking.

"A guerrilla..."

This word is no stranger to Rean.Mr. Tovar also gave the same suggestion, but he was unable to give an answer at that time because he still had unshirkable responsibilities.

"Isn't it good? I personally think it's very suitable." Lloyd showed a refreshing smile, "What Li En usually does in school and practice is actually similar to us and guerrillas, isn't it? But foreigners come to be policemen Sure enough, the system is still a bit difficult, but relatively speaking, guerrillas are much more free.”

"...You mean, come to Crossbell to be a guerrilla?"

"If you want to come, we welcome you at any time. ...Ah, isn't it a little arrogant to say that? But I think Mr. Arios will definitely agree."

Immediately, the two were reminded by Cao to focus on information exchange, and this topic was brought over like this.But the word guerrilla was deeply etched in Li En's mind.

Li En's job is to rush to the scene to stop and drive them away after receiving news of the activities of the Crossbell Rebel Army. Such a duty gives him a better chance to let them go; task, he will find ways to leak information to them.Does not appear to be directly involved in the activities of the Rebels, but plays an integral role in assisting them.After going back and forth, he also became familiar with Lloyd, Randy and others.After getting in touch with them, Li En gradually understood why everyone was willing to help them.No matter how insurmountable the barriers in front of them are, they will never give up, and firmly believe in that tiny hope—these young people have something that Li En once lost, that kind of persistence and unbreakable mutual The trust made him involuntarily envious.

Not only did Lloyd and the others not have any repulsion towards themselves who had been enemies, but they took good care of themselves.This made Li En, who hadn't had close contact with anyone for a long time, feel the long-lost warmth.It would be nice if you really live here, and take Kuro with you...

At that time, he couldn't help but have some longing for the future, with nostalgia for the empire that he couldn't give up.On a certain cold and tormented day before the recovery of Crossbell was the last step.

However, at the moment when Prime Minister Osborne appeared in the hospital, all his hopes and hesitation were shattered.The man who was supposed to be his biological father looked indifferently at the silver-haired young man glaring at him through a glass window.Facing this scene, Li En felt the blood recede from his fingertips.

"What are you doing!"

He ignored the etiquette and rushed up to question the other party.Osborn turned a deaf ear, just facing the glass window without saying a word.

"Why did you come here? What do you want to do to Crow? He lost his memory, and there is nothing you want here!"

When Li En shouted these words, somewhere in his heart seemed to be cracked, and magma-like emotions gushed out from it, with the heat of anger and fear.He was afraid, afraid that Crow would remember everything and learn that the enemy he killed with his own hands was still alive.Fear that Osborn will see through his fears and lies, fear of wasting all his efforts.

The man in front of him showed a mocking smile, and he turned around with an invisible pressure in his voice.

"As far as I can see, at least he hasn't forgotten me."

Osborn left this short monologue, which was like a death sentence, and stepped forward.When passing by Li En, he showed a meaningful sneer.Li En stood there with a dead face, until another voice with compassion sounded, and his time began to flow again.

"So don't overdo it—I warned you."

Captain Rector stood by the wall, weeping pitifully.

"Why...he is here..." Li En murmured.

"There are various reasons. Our polygraph didn't work, and I didn't expect Uncle to be interested in it. If Crow Abster really can't remember anything, then it would be nice to have him under his command." , just to make atonement—that’s what uncle means.”

Li En couldn't believe his ears.

"You mean... want Crow to do things for you?" He glanced at Crow in the examination room and stared angrily at Crow here, his voice raised excitedly. "You know how much he hates that person, but you deliberately put him next to him? Are you crazy?!"

"That's why we have to do this." Rector casually glanced elsewhere, "Instead of putting a time bomb here, it's safer to stare at it yourself."

Li En felt something choked in his throat that was difficult to swallow, and it took him a long time to utter a word.

"...In case he recovers his memory..."

"Oh, don't worry about that. Although the means to make him remember are relatively poor, it is much easier to make him unable to remember. For example, using drugs and the like, in short, we can make him behave and help us. There will still be a way." After a pause, Rector raised the corner of his mouth mockingly at him, "Anyway, you don't really want him to remember, do you?"

His words soaked Li En's nerves like icy water, and then ignited the most vulnerable part, thus burning violently.Li En felt his eye sockets and nasal cavity were burning hot, and even the breath he exhaled was mixed with the flames of anger.

"How could you... how dare you treat him like this?! Although Clow did a lot of wrong things, but didn't he also make up for it! Prince Cedric only saved his life because of him, and now you are like this to him--"

Rector smiled noncommittally, he finally got up from the wall, and patted Li En on the shoulder sympathetically as he passed by.

"——I reminded you of the consequences if you don't stop. Children who don't listen to others will suffer sooner or later."

The merciless words stung Li En, until the sloppy red-haired captain disappeared from sight, and he tasted the blood in his mouth.That made him return to the cruel reality that he had to face up to.

He once naively thought that he could find a way out after everything was over, but the reality didn't give him more time.The man named father died and came back to life, and then easily took away his daily life, companions and ideals, and gave him a useless title of hero and endless war.And now, he's trying to take Crow from himself.

Li En can no longer bear to watch the things he finally regained being taken away again, not to mention that the current Kuro has nothing to lose. Eun felt unbearable.

——they would never let them touch a hair of Clow again.

No one will give him orders anymore, and he will never perform any duty for some greater justice.At this moment, the only thing he cared about was to take Kuro, leave this place, and then find a new way out together.

It was not difficult to get Kuro's approval, but his answer without hesitation made Rean's heart ache.The man in front of him didn't know anything about what happened before or what was about to happen, he just trusted himself, the only one he could trust.In order to protect Kuro, he couldn't reveal anything about taking him away. For some reason, this kind of behavior always made Li En feel like he was lying.But he has no time to think about more, the most important thing right now is how to escape from here with Kuro.

Presumably, Rufas in Crossbell has already received Rector's word that he will be under strict supervision in the future, and it may be difficult to have the opportunity to assist the rebels.But before that, he had finished his mission in Crossbell.Everything is ready, only the east wind is owed, and then there are only actions left in all aspects.

It didn't take much time for Li En to come up with a rough plan, but he just needed someone's assistance.I didn't want to involve them at first, but now it seems that I can't help it.

On the day of the action, in the evening.

Emma used the transfer technique to transfer her and Li En from the woods near the hospital to the hospital rooftop.They walked down the third floor from the empty rooftop and ran into two soldiers who were about to hand over in front of Clow's ward.Before they had time to be surprised and suspicious, Emma took off the glasses and hypnotized them.After a while, the two soldiers nodded drowsily and obediently let them enter the ward.

As soon as Kuro in the ward saw them, he immediately understood what had happened.Li En took out a set of railway gendarmerie uniforms from his bag and handed it to him, and he frowned.

"Kuro, it's not time to pick and choose!" Li En urged.

"I'm sorry, I just feel like vomiting subconsciously when I see this."

Although he was full of complaints, Clow put on the military uniform, and the hat was more or less concealed, at least it would not look too conspicuous.

After packing up, they fled to the rooftop together, and Emma and the black cat Celino who was waiting there activated the transfer technique again.After a burst of blinding white light, they came to the place they had left for a long time.Kuro looked around the surrounding campus in surprise, Emma collapsed on the ground exhausted, and Celino also showed a look of fatigue.

"Sorry, such a long-distance teleportation technique is still a little bit reluctant, it seems that my practice is not enough..."

Emma smiled reluctantly, and Li En quickly helped her up.

"Don't say that, the squad leader is already very powerful. I really didn't expect the teleportation technique to be able to teleport so far..."

"I told you, now is not the time to talk about this!" Panting Celino patted her tail impatiently, urging them to leave quickly.So they ran all the way to the old school building, and the blond young man guarding the door saw them and hurried up to meet them.

"What the hell are you doing..." The blond young man looked at Clow in military uniform suspiciously, and was stunned. "Crow? Ambuster...!" He turned to Li En and asked loudly, "Hey, what's going on here!"

"Sorry Patrick, I don't have time to explain to you, I have to ask you one more thing." Li En interrupted his shock, took out a letter from his coat and handed it to the other party, "Please give this to Alice .There may be someone monitoring everyone in Group VII. I can’t let the squad leader take that risk. I can only think of you. Leave it to my family, please.”

Patrick took the letters and looked at them back and forth in confusion.

"You... don't tell me..."

"I'm taking Crow out of the Empire, and maybe never come back."

Facing Li En's answer, Patrick grabbed him excitedly.

"Wait for me!! Then what will Elysee do?! Where are your parents?!"

"I'm sorry for them, but I have no other choice." Li En said bitterly, "Kuro is in crisis now, and I can't sit idly by."

Patrick stared at him gaping.Celinu anxiously shouted that there is no time to hurry up, Li En nodded, and patted Patrick on the shoulder, and the latter let go of his hand in a daze, looking as if he was about to cry.

"Patrick, Elysee is on your leave. The elder brother can no longer protect her. Say sorry to her for me."

"Bastard! Tell it yourself! Elysee will cry if you leave everything behind for no apparent reason!"

Patrick cursed unacceptably. Although he didn't know the reason, he also realized how irreversible what Li En was about to do.

sorry.I'm really, really sorry.I don't know how to express the guilt in my heart, but it's irreversible now.

Li En condemned himself deeply in his heart, and turned to Emma with a face full of shame.

"Squad leader, I really don't know how to thank you. I can't tell you our destination, and it's for your own good. I will be scolded by everyone if I act like this. But I'm really sorry, I have nothing to do. "

Emma shook her head again and again, with a gentle smile on her face.

"No, I understand you, and everyone will understand too....Moreover, I also believe that this is not the last time we meet. Maybe we won't be able to see each other in a short time, but you have to believe in the future, classmate Li En."

So please go ahead now.Emma gave him a slight push.Li En smiled gratefully. He held Crow's hand and walked into the old school building.

"Goodbye, monitor, Celino, Patrick. Thank you."

He watched bitterly as the door of the old school building gradually closed, and the faces of old friends from the past closed and disappeared before his eyes, and he silently hoped that one day they could meet again.

Taking the guide ladder down to the last floor of the old school building, the huge gray body is half-kneeling behind the gate, waiting for its initiator.The empire blocked Li En's authority to act in Crossbell, but it did not hinder his plan: he asked Patrick to return to Tolista, borrowed the key of the old school building in advance to open the door, and parked Valima in the old school building by himself. Among them, go to the hospital with Emma.With the help of Emma's witch power, not only can she escape quickly, but also delay the time when the soldiers find out that they have escaped.At the same time, the Crossbell Liberation Army will launch a comprehensive operation, and Li En will rescue Clow in the Empire and take him to Kezhou, and someone will pick them up at St. Ursula Medical University.You can't escape the empire with ordinary means, and the next step is the highlight.

Sensing the approach of the approaching person, Varima emitted a faint light.

"You're here, Li En. There's also the knight of the blue—Kuro."

Li En glanced at Kuro who was beside him. The latter stared at the huge machine with an expression neither surprised nor unfamiliar.

"Valimar, remember what I told you."

"—For sure. Open the way of the elves, send you and Kuro away, and then seal yourself."

Valimar's inorganic answer resounded in the empty old school building.Li En walked forward sadly, leaned against the riding god who had accompanied him through life and death so far, and gently stroked its metal surface.

"I'm so sorry, Valima, that I had to do this to you..."

The Gray Rider fell silent briefly, and said:

"Li En, I exist in response to the wish of the initiator. If this is your wish, I will help you as much as possible."

"...This is my only hope." Li En lowered his head and said in a low voice.

"Then go, Li En, you still have a long future. Your qualifications as the initiator of Ashes, and the fact that I'm a partner, will not change no matter what happens."

We still have a chance to see you again.Until then, you and Crow will have the life you deserve.

Valimar's prophetic words lit up Li En's gloomy face.Thank you, Valima, for your hard work.He smiled from the bottom of his heart, and hugged his partner one last time, and Valimar's eyes lit up, and then a soft light streamed around them, illuminating the dark schoolhouse like dawn.

Li En pulled Kuro to stand on the light, and the light sucked them away at once, and quickly isolated the old school building and Valimar, and soon they couldn't see anything.Their memories, family, friends, enemies...all are left behind with that light.From then on they have nothing but freedom, and freedom is everything to them.

"Feel sorry."

Kuro looked at Li En who suddenly apologized in confusion, and the latter said with a wry smile: "If you take you away without permission, the future may be dangerous, and I'm not sure what the future will be..."

"It's okay." Kuro didn't let him continue, "I have nothing at all, and I think it's good to have you by my side."

He held Rean's hand instead.Li En was stunned at first, and a soft smile climbed up the corner of his mouth little by little.Crow always knew how to comfort himself after seriously hurting himself, and he hoped that no matter what he encountered in the future, this person would not change his original intention.

They feel each other's body temperature, and go to a new life like white paper together.