Vadim PoV
[Time of Niconora's childhood]
I sighed as we rode our unicorns closer to the border of the former crown lands, the south, and Kuroichi and Raiyama.
"What's wrong, Vadim, getting cold feet?" Alexos asked, his voice half playful, half serious.
Amelia looked over at me and looked down at her unicorn. "You didn't have to come with us, Vadim."
I slapped myself, trying to push away my concerns about having to kill even more people. It wasn't just about the battles ahead; it was about the lives that would be lost, lives that could have been spared if we found another way.
"Of course I had to come," I replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. "You're my family, and I can't let you face this danger alone. That said... can you let me talk to Eiro? I want to try to strike a deal with him."
She sighed. "Do you really think he'll accept? He doesn't seem like the diplomatic type."
"Didn't he strike an alliance with Kuroichi?" Alexos asked.
