[*]
His eyes, like black lacquer, flickered with firelight—dark and chilling.
The young man's eyes were exceptionally clear, yet now they seemed veiled in a black mist.
After a long moment, he said softly, "So it's a dead end."
A hush fell, leaving only the CRACKLE and POP of sparks from the fire.
"Little General," Amy clapped her hands lightly and smiled at him. "Weren't you determined to serve your country with utmost loyalty, to repay the nation with your life? Why are you so afraid now?"
"If I had been born in a time of chaos, with no family to speak of, it wouldn't matter if I died. But now, with my family and country in peril, even if I'm willing to give my life, I fear it won't be enough to save a great house from collapse."
