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Well, the big day had come.
It's not that they weren't all expecting it. Deep inside, they knew it was going to happen, it just became less and less something they'd have to face one day, and more and more a nebulous event that is supposed to happen in the unclear future.
The future has been made clear, though. Nohr had won, Xander had ascended to the throne, all thanks to Corrin's single choice. And as for the three foreigners masquerading as retainers, that meant it was time to go home.
They've all made their rounds already. Said their goodbyes to the people they wanted to, officially resigned from their positions. Xander had been awfully understanding. When Laslow came to him, he let him go without any fuss. He said that every man must some day return home, and he did not fault Laslow for wanting to leave. Laslow bit his tongue and didn't tell him his name. Pity. Perhaps if he said it, admitted to all that, he'd be made to stay. Odin apparently had little issue with Leo - some words similar to those exchanged with Xander were said - but Niles gave him a stern talk, ending with a threat Laslow couldn't quite wrap his head around with Odin's flowery reenactment. The closest he got was that it sounded like a cross between dismemberment and marriage. Selena just said she's free to go. Whatever went down between her and Camilla must've been awful, but also maybe nothing happened. Who knows. Only the two women. Three, with Beruka lurking in the room.
Now, the actually difficult part was talking to their kids and spouses. I mean, announcing to them it's time for you to leave their whole world, that's a pretty big thing to talk about. Odin was lucky, both Ophelia and his spouse wished to go with him. Little Ophelia was ecstatic, even, at the prospect of a world unexplored, where she would be one of the sole people of Nohr walking among rainbow-stained fields. Or something. Hey, he's gotten quite good at imitating their monologues! Oh gods no. Selena was put in a slightly less favorable position - her spouse wanted to go, but her child wished to stay.
(They once promised they would never abandon their children the way their parents were forced to abandon them. They swore, under Ylisse's sky, that should they ever start a family, they would not fall in battle.)
She let them do as they wished, of course.
Meanwhile Laslow... Soleil was happy, and wanted to come along to find more women to flirt with, an aspiration Laslow couldn't help but respect. She also didn't want to leave his side, is what she didn't say, but Laslow understood. But, Shigure…
"Are you sure you aren't mad, father?" his son asked with a quiet voice. Laslow smiled and ruffled his hair a little, drawing out a slight sound of embarrassment.
"I'm more than sure, Shigure," it wasn't his place to force anyone to leave their whole life behind. He wanted his children, at the very least, to have a choice. "It's your life, and your choice."
Shigure smiled weakly, nodded. Perhaps it hasn't set in yet that this is final - that they'll never meet again. That Shigure is about to be left alone, with no family to speak of.
"Besides, your mother entrusted you with that magical pendant of hers, and you know her songs, don't you? Both of those things should stay in Nohr, should there be a need for a mystical singer again."
That seemed to give Shigure a little more courage, as he moved his hand to grab the pendant hanging from his neck. The only thing Azura left behind.
(Well, they achieved what they swore. They survived the war. It wasn't death tearing them apart, but it might as well be. It had the same finality to it. Either way, Shigure will never see either of his parents.)
"I won't disappoint you, father,” he looked up, meeting his eyes and locking them with confidence. Laslow couldn’t help but smile a little wider at seeing his son so sure.
"You'd only disappoint me if you were to die in some unimportant battle. So, don't do that, and I'm sure I'll be proud of you."
"I won't, father," Shigure said, without hesitation.
But some things, you could tell them from just looking at the person. Shigure resembled his mother in every aspect, from appearance, to demeanor. Laslow knew that should he be faced with the same choice Azura was, Shigure would choose the same. Some things, perhaps, stay in the blood. Some curses, perhaps, too.
The curse of watching your loved ones die seemed to be his only legacy.
Looking at those yellow eyes his son got from his mother, Laslow couldn't help but think, albeit briefly, if he'll see her again after he dies. If the afterlife exists in the ocean between space and time, or if their worlds were so far apart not even spirits could find each other again.
Suppose he'll find out soon enough. No one in his family has made it past thirty yet.
He felt a glare at the back of his neck, and turned to see Selena, and the whole rest of their traveling party, already gathered up ahead. Seems like time's up.
"Soleil, dear! We've got to go!"
Soleil turned her head, surprised at being pulled out of a conversation with some of her friends, but bounced right back to say her own last goodbyes, then sprinted over. She almost tackle-hugged Shigure, the much lankier boy staggering on his feet.
"Find a way to write me letters! I've GOT to know when you get together with a girl! Or a boy! Or how you're doing!" She said with almost as much speed as her sprint.
"We'll find a way to communicate," Laslow assured her, before gently tugging on her shoulder. Truthfully, he didn’t know if it’d be possible, but hey, why not hold out some hope? "But really, the others are waiting for us."
Soleil squeezed her brother one last time, and he did the same. They stayed like that for a moment while Laslow made his way to the group departing this land. Soleil sprinted up to him after a moment.
“Are we going to meet the rest of the family?” she asked, pep in her step.
“Of course,” Laslow immediately nodded. “First thing we’ll do after we arrive, I’m going to introduce you to my mother and my father.”
Their graves, or their alternative selves with a little Inigo. They still weren’t sure which.
"Everyone's ready? If you forgot anything, you won't be able to go get it back," Selena interrupted, slightly annoyed. Laslow shot her a sheepish smile, which she dismissed with a roll of her eyes. Everyone confirmed that they're ready. She huffed, and took the hand of her love, then took out a small, crystal ball. Odin and Laslow did the same. All three of them shone a bright light, and then the entire group was swallowed up by illuminated darkness.
In that in-between, Laslow thought, albeit briefly, that a certain song of conquest and fate, sung by a certain voice, bid him one last farewell.