"Pour me some more ale!"
"A definite victory, finally!"
"I feel so refreshed!"
"We've won!"
The newly built tavern was packed and filled to the brim just a few meters away from the barracks. The people who didn't drink and eat inside the tavern were outside.
"I'm telling you, it was like crushing a minuscule ant under my foot. I barely touched the guy, and he disappeared into dust!" Merlyn laughed, twisting her foot to the ground, clad only in her leg armor, allowing her upper body to breathe. The soldiers around her laughed.
A few lanterns hung from the roof of the tavern, coloring the wooden walls and the individuals inside the tavern with warm, soft colors. Dark orange colors. The lanterns swung at times when a lot of movement was happening, almost like a pendulum.
The spirits were high.
"We'll be able to take over Sar in an instant at this rate!"
"That's not happening. The king will surely find a diplomatic alternative to avoid unnecessary deaths." One soldier said, trying to be the voice of reason.
"..."
"..."
"Although... I guess it does make sense that we get revenge for those who were lost at the first attack."
"That's more like it!"
"Yeah!"
"Right on!"
The tavern roared into enthusiasm, singing, passion, brawls, and sweat. An overall lively situation.
Outside the tavern, outside the barracks, in a secluded area deep in the forest, illuminated only dimly by the full moon's invading light, sat Lunan.
The back of his neck nestled in the moist grass, a deep sigh escaping his lips. It was just him.
⏤ I won... and I'm gonna win again. And kill again.
He grabbed at the sky, his palms reaching and stretching up, trying to collect the moon and hold it for himself. Of course, that wouldn't work. He would never be able to touch the moon.
He sighed again, even heavier than the first time. His back was starting to feel a little itchy. So, he slowly got up, swiping the blades of grass off his white t-shirt that he wore.
His way of entering battle was quite dangerous and lackadaisical. No armor, nothing to protect him. He did this so often that people thought he was mad.
"Lunan."
He sat up, the familiar voice giving him just the slightest chill.
It was Nueluth van Mahaut, in all her glory. The half-elf woman stood tall, taller than Lunan. Short black hair, with almost glowing yellow eyes, being the prominent mark of the Mahaut family.
"Nueluth of the Mahaut family."
He stood up, Nueluth still being taller than her. She was a tall woman. But he was also a bit short.
"Congratulations. You've won your first battle as a general. With a surprisingly low amount of casualties."
There was this unnerving presence in the conversation. As if someone was there, sitting with them, listening in. Sometimes, even chiming in with their own words.
"Thank you."
His words were short. He stood up, this time fully, and began to walk. But his walking did not stop Nueluth's words.
"You know, I thought that by... becoming stronger. More cunning. Wiser. I thought that it would allow me to forget. To stay as far away as possible from you. But look, we're comrades in war. This war... It's brought us together. Aren't you glad?" she smiled. She smiled very brightly. But her words were sharp, laced with killing intent.
He stopped walking.
"Nueluth... how many times have I said-"
"You always said that! Before you fled and hid away from me, which I was perfectly fine with, you always talked and yelled and screamed about how sorry you were for what happened! But do you think that's gonna change anything?"
"You know it won't change anything! So why do you continue to bring it up!? Do you think I'm unaffected by it? Your sister's death... it was a result of my immaturity, and it haunts me every day. Do you think that isn't enough of a punishment already?"
The volume of their voice changed at increasing intervals.
Nueluth stopped to chuckle, rubbing her eyes with two fingers.
"Hah... you have no shame. You're arguing with me about this. After you killed my sister, do you think you have the right to suffer? You should've never become a general, Lunan. You should've never shown up in my life again."
"..."
"I was fine when I didn't see you. When I couldn't be reminded of her. But you... Everything about you... just screams that day. That day that she died. I can't work with someone like you. Someone so evil... someone so cruel."
"Nueluth..."
"So I figured it out. Haunting isn't nearly a good enough punishment for you."
"Nueluth...?"
"Jeez, why didn't I think of it before? I shouldn't be hiding from you."
A loud 'shing!' was heard as she unsheathed her sword, brandishing it. It was not her primary weapon. But it was the only thing she had at the time.
"I'll kill you. Then, she'll be avenged. And I won't ever have to think about the state you left her in."
"Nueluth... you don't need to-"