"Yeah, well, sorry to break it to you," Dawn said flatly, grabbing Lucian by the collar, "but we don't have time for your internal monologues, poet-boy. I'm gonna man you up."
"Wait—! That's not encouraging—!" Lucian protested as she dragged him out of frame. Behind them, Julius raised a half-hearted hand. "Uh… try not to die, Lucian. Good luck!" From down the hall came the fading protest: "I did not agree to this—!" Julius chuckled under his breath. Dawn didn't.
The days that followed passed in uneasy quiet. There was no conflict—no skirmishes, no tremors of war. But that stillness was not peace. It was suspense.
Then , Knock. Knock. Knock. Rapid, forceful pounding broke the silence at the TLF warehouse entrance. Julius answered the door, squinting cautiously into the light. And froze. Standing before him was General Jorg Zagyg—his towering frame casting a long shadow flanked by a full battalion of Heilen's Royal Army. Julius's brow tightened. "What do you want?"
Zagyg's voice was gravel dipped in thunder. "Where is Clarence Cross?" Julius didn't flinch. "What do you want with him?" Without warning, Zagyg seized him by the collar and lifted him off the ground like he weighed nothing. His eyes were ablaze.
"WHERE. IS. CLARENCE. CROSS!?"
From deeper inside the warehouse, footsteps echoed lazily—then the sound of a yawn. Dawn stumbled into view, still half-asleep, rubbing her eyes. "Whuh… What's all the noise?" Zagyg's glare snapped to her. He tossed Julius aside like a ragdoll. "They're here for Clarence," Julius muttered from the floor, coughing.
Dawn blinked at the Royal General, unfazed. "Are they now?" she said, stretching. Zagyg stepped into her space, face inches from hers. "Woman… Do you have a death wish?" Dawn smirked. "Nope. Can't say I do. Do you?" Zagyg's teeth clenched. "Let's find out." He raised his hand. She grinned. "Oh, why not?" But before the clash could ignite
"Stop right there. Both of you." The voice was cool. Firm. Unmistakable. Clarence Cross stood in the doorway. And the temperature of the room shifted.
Zagyg's eyes locked onto him. "Clarence Cross…" he muttered, voice low with contempt. Clarence stepped forward, resting a calm hand on Dawn's shoulder. "Now, now," he said smoothly. "Let's all try to show a little restraint." Zagyg sneered. "It takes all of mine not to kill you right here and now, Clarence Cross."
"So you're not here to kill me," Clarence mused aloud. "We've established that much. Good start." Dawn cut in, arms crossed. "Then what are you here for? Doesn't Heilen feed you enough? Should we give you some leftovers?"
Zagyg's fist clenched so hard the leather on his glove creaked. "Dawn. Shut up," Clarence said, cutting her off firmly. "Whatever," she muttered, stepping back, still smirking. Julius groaned as he pulled himself off the ground. "So, seriously—what is this about?"
Zagyg turned, gesturing to one of his soldiers, who stepped forward and handed him a scroll. Zagyg unfurled it with a snap, eyes scanning briefly before reading aloud: "By decree of the Kingdom of Heilen, Clarence Cross of the Liberation Front is hereby sentenced to banishment to the Ancient Runes for a period of two months." He finished, eyes now trained on Clarence again—watching for a reaction. Clarence blinked. "Wait… that's it?"
Zagyg grunted. "You should feel grateful it's only this. If it were up to me, you'd be rotting six feet under." He turned to leave, muttering under his breath. "I won't waste another second of my life on someone so pathetic." But just before stepping out, he paused. "Oh, and one more thing—your deadline is tomorrow. Stay a minute longer, and you're dead meat." Then he left. The warehouse door shut behind him with a dull thud. Silence followed.
Julius scratched the back of his head. "Okay… but why did he bring the entire royal army just to read a scroll?" Clarence exhaled through his nose. "Maybe he was hoping for a confrontation." His gaze slid sideways toward Dawn. "…Which a certain someone almost gave him."
"Hey!" Dawn protested. "Don't look at me like that, okay?!"
Later, the Liberation Front gathered in tense silence. "But… why are they banishing Clarence?" Lucian asked, voice tight with disbelief. "Considering what we did," Arlen replied, casually inspecting his nails, "banishment is honestly a merciful outcome." Clarence leaned back in his seat. "Then that means that there's not much to discuss." A heavy stillness followed.
"We'll miss you, Lord Clarence," Julius said quietly. The others nodded. Some swallowed hard. Some looked away. Clarence smiled, the kind that carries too much weight."I'll miss you all too."
The next morning, the warehouse was still cloaked in silence when Clarence finished packing his things. "So you're actually leaving, huh?" Arlen asked from the doorframe, arms folded as he watched him. "Yeah," Clarence nodded. He stepped toward him, resting a hand on Arlen's shoulder. "I'll be counting on you and Dawn to keep things steady while I'm gone." "Of course we will." Arlen's voice held rare sincerity. "You're leaving so soon?" he added after a pause. "You could've waited until everyone was awake." Clarence smiled faintly. "The pain of separation… isn't for everyone." Arlen stared at him for a long second, eyes narrowing with quiet understanding. "…Take care."
"You too," Clarence said, then stepped out.
As the warehouse door creaked shut behind him, a voice rang down from above. "Leaving already?" Clarence looked up. Dawn sat cross-legged on the roof, her silhouette painted by the dim morning light. "You figured it out, huh?" Clarence said, raising an eyebrow.
She leapt down, landing gracefully beside him. "Of course I did." Silence lingered between them—heavy, unspoken things hanging in the air. "Take care," Dawn murmured at last. "And come back in one piece, idiot." She stepped closer. "I'll miss you." Clarence's voice was soft. "I'll miss you too, Dawn." There was a pause. "…Why don't I come with you? That wouldn't be so bad, would it?" she said, gently fixing the collar of his coat. He chuckled. "That's sweet. But someone has to look after the TLF… and Lucian."
"I know. I know…" she sighed, voice cracking slightly. "Just let me whine for the last time." And then, without a word more, she leaned in and kissed his cheek. Backing away slowly, she forced a smirk through misty eyes. "I need my man back in one piece. Got it?" Clarence smiled. "Got it." And just like that…
Clarence Cross walked into exile.