The Laughing Swordsman

Once the leader turned around, he noticed that his fellow rabbit mask-wearing people were still frozen in place, shocked from Apollo's explosive strike. This immediately made the leader anxious. Not wanting to displease Apollo, he called out to them.

"We are escorting the angel. Now!"

The rabbit people shook before hurriedly running after. They made a formation around Apollo, giving a healthy distance so that he could feel comfortable.

And so, they began walking.

Apollo looked at the leader with a bit of a curious expression.

"By the way, you keep calling me angel. It is pretty close, but my name is actually Apollo!"

The leader at the front hurriedly nodded.

"Yes, Apollo. Please do not misunderstand when I have called you angel, I simply did not know what else to call you."

Apollo raised an eyebrow, but decided to drop the subject.

"Anyways, what is your name?"

The leader hesitated for a moment.

"...Do you want my real name or my nickname?"

Apollo shrugged his shoulders.

"Your name is whatever you want to be called."

The leader laughed and nodded.

"Alright, then call me Hare."

Apollo rubbed his chin with his thumb and forefinger.

"Ok, Hare."

Hare cleared his throat.

"Are there any truths that you wish to tell us?"

Apollo tilted his head to the side.

"Huh?"

The corner of Hare's lip twitched.

"I am not forcing you. My only intention is that we can spread your messages on your behalf."

Apollo put a finger on his chin and let out a soft hum.

"Truths..."

He closed his eyes.

"Some people are good and some people are bad."

Apollo's eyes slowly opened.

"But they can change, so it doesn't really matter if they are good or bad."

He shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm pretty sure that's true?"

Hare fell silent for a moment. Then nodded.

"Thank you for imparting your wisdom. I shall impart it to the people."

Apollo also nodded, but was a bit absent-minded. He stared off into the sky, thinking of something else.

...

Eden left the dojo, but was so muddle-headed she didn't even realize it. By now, the only people on the streets were those that were a few passersby that were gossiping about what just happened.

One of them, a young woman, walked up to her.

"Ah, you came from the dojo! Did you hear about what happened?"

Eden held her head with a pained expression.

"Please leave me alone."

The woman was taken aback.

"Oh... sorry."

With that, Eden went back to her home. She hadn't known Apollo for long.

In fact, it wasn't even a whole day.

However, it wasn't the fact she missed Apollo. At most, they could be considered acquaintances. It was because of how she couldn't even try to defend him when he was randomly detained.

Eden knew from their time together that Apollo was essentially just a child. He may be an angel and maybe even a fallen angel. However, from what she saw, Apollo wasn't anything evil.

This wasn't the first time Eden convinced herself it was ok to watch someone innocent be taken right in front of herself.

...

"Daddy, can I have that flower?"

Eden was at an age even younger than Apollo. She pointed to a pink flower within a vase of many flowers. Her dad chuckled.

"You can have it, but you must take good care of it, or it will wilt!"

Eden nodded.

"I will take extra good care of it!"

They were standing in a courtyard. Their house was quite big and was also quite far in the center of the city. Eden's father gently took out the pink flower from the vase.

There was also the sound of clanking metal far off in the distance, gradually getting closer.

As Eden's father brought the flower over to his daughter, there was a shout in the distance.

"Cease all actions immediately!"

Eden's father didn't seem to mind. He continued to hold out the flower. As for Eden, she froze up confused as to what was happening.

Eden's father smiled softly.

"Ignore them, they are here for me, not you. Take the flower, princess."

Eden blinked a few times.

"W-What?"

She did not take the flower.

Eden's father sighed.

"I'm sorry, princess. This is probably a bit abrupt, but goodbye."

He was uncannily calm about this. It seemed he saw this day coming a long time ago.

Two guards each grabbed onto a shoulder of Eden's father, restraining him.

"You are being detained for attempting to lead a cult!"

Eden's eyes widened

"Father?"

The guard looked towards her.

"Don't interfere, kid!"

Eden shook and froze in place.

As for her father, he simply closed his eyes.

"You have to be brave, princess."

With that, Eden's father was dragged away.

For several minutes, Eden simply stood there, in shock. It was simply too abrupt for her. Just a little while ago, she was standing next to her father, asking for a flower.

And in the next, he was detained, never to be seen again.

For the longest time, Eden didn't even feel sad. She was still processing the situation.

Then, she broke down.

Eden sniffled as tears streamed down her face. She ran into the house, all the way to her mother.

"They took daddy! They took daddy!"

Despite hearing such news, Eden's mother was not even slightly shocked. She brushed Eden's hair and let out a soothing voice.

"The council has taken him. There is nothing we can do about it now, as they are too strong."

Eden wrapped her arms around her mother, still sobbing.

"But daddy!"

Eden's mother shook her head.

"He is gone now. I believe we will also be moved from this residence as our status has fallen without him, so think about what you want to bring."

Eden looked up, speechless.

How could her mother care so little?

Eden's mother pulled open a drawer and pulled out a tiny stuffed bunny.

"Take this. Make sure the guards don't see it, as it is illegal.. Keep it to remember you are defying the council."