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Dimitri stood alone on Gronder Field examining the chaos around him, rain pouring from the sky. The battle had ended several hours ago, his army had broken camp and prepared to move on, but still he could not bring himself to leave. His legs were lead beneath him, his chest an odd mix of fire and ice. He burned with rage and a desire for justice, for vengeance , yet the crushing numbness of reality was beginning to wash over him.
“Your Highness…” Gilbert called hesitantly from several yards behind Dimitri. The young King turned his head slightly in acknowledgment. “I’m sorry, but we must keep moving.”
Dimitri lifted his head to the sky. “I know. I shall be along shortly.”
“Very well.” Gilbert bowed, then after a moment of silence Dimitri heard the old general’s footsteps retreating.
“I’m sorry, Rodrigue. You died because of me. Because I was careless. Reckless.” Dimitri closed his eyes, and could see Rodrigue smiling at him. “You treated me like a son, and I let you down. I hope that through my actions, I can put your soul at rest. I owe you that much.”
Dimitri sighed and began to walk around the field, weaving between blood spatters and discarded weapons. “Father. Mother. I’m sorry. I allowed myself to be warped by rage and hatred, and I have besmirched your legacy. I swear to you, I will reclaim the throne. I will restore our nation.”
As he walked, Dimitri felt a weight lifting from his shoulders. The voices in his head, the ghosts he saw around him, they began to dissipate. “Glenn, I’m sorry. You taught me how to wield a blade to protect others, and I used your training for slaughter. I isolated your brother. There is nothing I can do to fix what I have broken, but I swear that I will be better.”
“Dimitri.”
Dimitri turned and saw his friends standing before him. Sylvain was grinning mischievously while Ingrid glared at him. A few feet behind them, Felix leaned nonchalantly against a tree, examining his blade.
“Felix. Sylvain. Ingrid. I know I should have said this a long time ago.” Dimitri took a shaky breath and kneeled before his friends. “I’m sorry. You all lost a great deal that day, but I took everything on myself. I shut you out for too long. You offered me wise counsel on a number of occasions, but I was too consumed by anger to listen to you. I know I cannot ask for your forgiveness, but know that I hold your words in my heart even now, and I will strive to live by them. You were always the best parts of me. I pray that you continue to guide me.”
Dimitri stood and turned his back on his three oldest friends. He took a shaky breath and made his way carefully back to his army, allowing his lifelong companions to finally find rest in the field where they were slain.