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Noan: Arca VI
When Noan turns to the last page, it is already late in the night.
...Commandant? We need to go.
He calls softly, but the human is still deep asleep.
...Commandant?
Commandant... You can't stay here too long. You should rest in your own lounge, or Gray Raven's preparation room.
He tries to wake the commandant up again, but nothing happens.
Noan sighs with a smile. He gently puts the human on his back.
He is about to go back to Gray Raven's preparation room, but the terminal suddenly rings. The vibration causes it to slip out of the human's hand.
Noan can guess who is calling without answering the call. The commandant called a sick leave but is still not back. There must be a lot of people worrying.
...
Even so, he still wishes nobody interrupts the commandant's rare, good sleep.
He had problems sleeping before, so he knows how precious this moment is.
He carefully picks up the terminal and turns off the ringing while keeping his balance.
...Where's the lounge?
Um, I don't know where Gray Raven Commandant's lounge is... Forget it...
Noan helps the human to get steady. He gently walks toward Gray Raven's preparation room.
He avoids the surveillance in the safety path and returns to the square.
The person on his back is breathing calmly.
Compared with him, the human's body is soft and warm, trembling as he walks forward. A few hairs are scratching against his ear.
...
He checks again, but the human has no signs of waking up.
Have you been too exhausted lately?
Are you sleeping so deep because you haven't relaxed for a long time?
Or...
...Are you really not scared of me?
Ever since he started to use the "Noan" name again, many troubles have come back to him, making his awkward situation in Babylonia even worse.
Which makes him fall back to the same state he had a few years ago.
Noan knows it is not good, but whenever he is questioned or avoided by others, he would smile and try to change the topic out of instinct.
It's been many years since I left the cargo team...
Life in Asslam was harsh, but he could rely on others without being on guard. This peace of mind had always been his best way to relax.
Like a wanderer in the night finally seeing a familiar light, he feels a nostalgic, calming emotion.
If only he can stay a little longer in this relaxed moment. If only he can keep one person that is willing to trust him in this strange and lonely environment.
He wants to stay with true friends and find his honesty, sincerity, and kindness back.
Lillian once asked him when he just arrived in Babylonia...
What are Babylonia and Dark Aries to you?
A prison? Or a temporary shelter?
...Neither.
To me, this is more like a training room for self-redemption. It is a journey to prove myself.
Not just about the Ascendants, but also everything behind the name "Noan"...
I want to take this opportunity to stop running and hiding. I want to embrace the future with my original name and look.
—Because that's the kind of life he likes.
Noan knocks on the door of Gray Raven's preparation room, but nobody answers. He carefully walks in.
Where is Lee...? Nobody is here...
He was prepared to receive a reprimand. Now he finally lets out a sigh of relief.
...Alright. Next...
He gets down on one knee and puts down the person behind with extremely slow and gentle action.
He then finds the commandant's coat and covers the human with it.
...
The time displayed on the terminal has gone past 12:00 a.m.
Time is running out. He must return to the library and put on his "shackle."
...
He would like to stay a little longer in this calm moment.
Noan spreads out the coat and gently moves the human's hairs near the eyelashes behind ears.
He quietly gets up and leaves.
When he returns to the deceitful night in the library, everything still looks the same.
He hears someone shouting on the other side of the square. Another team of Constructs is rushing to battle.
—"We need a few more. It's an emergency!"
—"Leave that alone! They need our help!"
...
They are igniting themselves in the battle.
But the library is so quiet, as if it has never been visited by anyone.
Only the wrist band is witnessing the impulsive trip he had earlier.
If he just leaves this shackle here and blends in with those going to the battlefield, will he gain the freedom that he has always wanted?
...Yeah.
But freedom always comes at a price.
Noan takes the tagged wrist band and puts it on himself again.
He gazes at the crowd as they run, knowing that someone who is willing to trust him is having a deep sleep.
For that trust, he will endure until he proves himself.
...Good night, Commandant.
He smiles like a spark in the night.
