Somewhere, far in the borders. On top of a mountain where snow falls abundantly, all year round. A male dwarf stroking his long brown beard looked at a man wearing a mantle embodying the symbol of freedom already stained with blood.
Dwarf: "Hey, How long are you going to sit there for? All so down."
The Dwarf spoke with a rough and rugged voice wearing a crimson cape and steel armour, his long brown hair braided, staring at the back of the man with short white hair sitting on top of a rock.
Elf: "Hey, don't. You know how he feels about what happened earlier."
A male elf around 300 years old with long pointy ears, long blond hair, wearing a hand guard dressed in silk and a chest plate tried to pacify the tension between the two.
With the Saintess of the human race standing right beside him with long silver hair, paired with two beautiful golden eyes, wearing a white robe stained with a bit of blood, gripping her staff with worry.
Human Saintess: "..."
The Dwarf tries to reason with him, asking him to move on, but.
Dwarf: "Still, this isn't the time for this. So what if we have lost someone! We all live and die someday you know!"
After hearing what he had said. The Hero slightly turned his head his way, looking at the long cliff beside them.
Hero: "Who cares...? Tell me... What was he to you...?"
A strong gust of wind blew over flapping the ends of the Hero's mantle.
Elf: "Hey guys, cut it out."
The Elf tried to go in between their conversation. Telling them to stop the argument, but the Hero insisted on hearing the Dwarf's answer. The Saintess, anxiously gripping her staff that made her fingers bleed, looked at him with trembling eyes glistening under the cloudy skies, covering the entire sun and sky as the Hero argued with the Dwarf.
Human Saintess: "Hero..."
Hero: "Tell me, Dwarf... What was he to you...?"
The Hero questioned.
Dwarf: "... I know that it pains you a lot to bear this guilt. But, are you just going to sit there and watch as the Demon King's army approaches?!"
The Hero looked to his front again, clenching his fist tightly until it bled.
Hero: "... I... I just need a moment of silence..."
Human Saintess: "Hero... The battle is currently in heavy favor of the demons... If we sit idly by here..."
The Saintess urges him as he sits on the cold rock covered with snow.
Hero: "I know...! But...! Who am I to deny this?! I'm just another living being just like you guys! Why... Why can't I mourn for my fallen comrade?!"
The Hero subtly closed his eyes as he argued, immediately standing up to face them just to see that they were also hurt and wounded by what had transpired.
Each is holding their signature weapons, already dull and brittle.
Elf: "Let's just leave guys... He'll need a little bit more time to cope with what just happened."
The Elf was being logical of the situation, knowing the personality of the Hero. He suggested giving him some time to think.
Dwarf: "Cope?! Do you think we have time for that?! If he truly cares for him! Then he would have ended this damn war already instead of sulking like a sore loser!"
The dwarf continued to prattle, adding salt to the Hero's wound.
Hero: "... Dwarf... This feeling is what made me... As to who I am today... This emotion is what carried me this far... If you're telling me to abandon it... It's like telling me to just die right where I stand."
The Hero looked at the sight of the Dwarf covered with blood stains and bruises along with his other companions, anxiously waiting for him.
Elf: "..."
Human Saintess: "..."
The other two fell into silent in exemption of the Dwarf.
Dwarf: "... Throw it, I do not care for such flimsy feelings. I care about the survival of our race more than that! If you're telling us to grieve, we can do it later for all we care! But now! Now is not the right time for such weakness!"
Hero: "Dwarf..."
Hearing his words, the conflict within the Hero's mind seemed to slowly settle.
Human Saintess: "Hero... Although Dwarf's words may be a bit rough, I know that he meant good in what he said..."
Hero: "Saintess..."
The Saintess understood that what Dwarf said to him was for his own. His unique way of expressing his feelings to encourage him, the Hero.
Elf: "I know that we were all taken aback by his passing but... Hero... We need you to end this war..."
Hero: "Elf..."
The three concluded that without him, this war would end with their defeat. All of them looked at the Hero, expressing that they needed him more than ever before, even after the fall of almost 98% of the continent's nations.