[Aura of ??? : 210 (+10)]
[Eye of ??? : 55 (+5)]
[Crystals : ~7000]
[Ghoul mother cores : 92]
[Ghoul golem cores : 86]
[Ghoul golem cores (broken) : 50]
[Mist crystals (small) : 700]
[Mist crystals (medium): 260]
[Mist crystals (large): 160]
Rey and Ria stood on the platform overlooking the empty elevator shaft.
The sound of steam cores rattling.
A convoy was just about to depart.
Injured troops sat in covered wagons, singing and laughing to each other.
Builders whose jobs were finished after they repaired the fortifications around the elevator shaft.
The lucky ones that survived.
They couldn't wait to go home.
Wagons and steam tanks filled up with canisters of processed mist crystals.
They would be shipped to Moradale and the spire city which are always happy to produce spire silvers to exchange for them.
In the distance, three zeppelins hold their positions over the battlefield.
Two of them flew the flags of Moradale.
One flew the flag of the holy goddess of Silora.
A statue in her image on its bow.
Two officers stand on the watch tower.
The lodestones arrayed in front of them hums.
They signal the zeppelins.
One of the zeppelins hums.
The massive floating machine slowly turns back towards Carla.
A pit crew got ready to receive it.
The zeppelin docks.
The crew disembarked in high spirits.
Their captain promises one more trip and they'll be back in moradale for shore leave.
When Rey is not looking, Ria sneakily lifts her arm.
Wham.
"Ow! What gives?"
She punches Rey on the arm.
"Nothing."
"What? Hey…?"
"So."
Ria clears her throat.
"Now that the raid is winding down. You will be returning to Escher?"
Rey responded with a quiet laugh.
He turns and looks into the distance.
Ria nudges him again.
"Don't ignore me."
Rey turns around and gives her a mildly sarcastic smile.
"You sound like you couldn't wait to see me gone."
"Which part? I didn't say anything like that."
"Nothing in particular. It's just that nobody seemed to want me around right now."
"What about your sister Sheela? She doesn't appear to have any beef with you."
"With the exception of Sheela that is. With her, it's the opposite. She does seem to enjoy my company. Especially the part where she choke me half to death in lop-sided wrestling matches and bury me neck deep in sand that is."
Ria suddenly blushes.
She looks away.
The pit crew by the zeppelin bay were busy removing expanded shell cases.
The air crew lined up in front of a boiling cauldron for a hot meal.
On a nearby platform, a scribe carefully documented the remaining stores.
Of the initial stockpile, about a third was left.
As she turned back to Rey, he was staring at her with dead eyes.
She bursts out laughing.
"Ah!"
Rey pokes her, causing her to cough.
"Are you alright?"
"Cough. Ahem. Yes, that was quite the ambush you pulled."
"I learnt it from you."
"Is that all you take notice of?"
"One of the more important things."
Pat. Ria gently punches him on the arm.
He responds with dead eyes.
The rumbling of the elevator shaft.
Another elevator load full of crystals.
The men towed them towards the horses and steam tanks waiting to move back out into the swamp.
"Hey, Rey."
"Yes?"
He shuffles one step away from Ria, keeping an eye on her.
"What? I'm not going to eat you."
"You might beat me half to death before you do."
"Really? If you could survive Sheela, surely you wouldn't see any problems with me?"
"Fine, you have a point."
Rey nudges two steps back towards her.
He was leaning close enough to make it difficult for her to punch him.
Ria didn't mind.
She looks back down onto the elevator platform.
Supplies were loaded.
More empty wagons to bring back the crystals than supplies.
The major battle had just been fought, clearing the way to the ruined city.
The troops only needed provisions and water to hold their positions.
"I lost my train of thought."
"You were definitely not going to strangle me."
"Yes, that much is obvious."
"What else is on your mind."
Ria keeps quiet for a few moments.
Rey stares at her.
"What?"
She threw an annoyed glance at him.
His face was rather close,
"Thanks."
"Huh?"
Rey looks at her.
Eyes wide open.
Examining her as though she had a serious illness.
"The word 'thanks' expresses gratitude. Does the general need an elementary lesson on that?"
"The general understands the word well enough. It's just a rare occasion the lady has conferred the word upon the general."
"Can the general just accept the conferment of the word and show some humidity then without further complaint?"
"Fine. The general humbly accepts the expression of gratitude from the lady. "
"Can the lady get in a word as to why the general is suddenly receiving the words of gratitude."
"Certainly, please do tell."
Ria takes a deep breath.
"You did good on the logistics planning. Saved me a lot of hardwork. The steam tanks too. It helped a lot to have been able to lend part of the fleet from Escher."
Rey was visibly surprised.
He blinks at Ria.
It actually sounded like a genuine complement.
"Don't sweat it. Those metal hulks were just collecting dust in the warehouse anyway."
Ria continues to look at him, seemingly contemplating something.
"You're going back to Escher now?"
"Well, It's not as though there's much for me to go back to, but where else would I go? Once I return, I'll probably just get another backwater assignment."
Rey signs and leans on the platform barrier.
"Would you like a job then?"
Rey paused.
He turned his head.
He blinked.
Ria blinks back.
"Hold up, a job?"
"Yes, interested?"
"Sure… what kind of job?"
"Its just the kind for you. You see, this territory that we have retaken from the cult of Eon and then now from the mist needs to be rebuilt and administered. Once the raid party is disbanded, a regular militia force would need to be raised to hold the territory. Plus all of the administration and construction that needs to be done."
Rey goes into a think.
It did seem to intrigue him.
"But… officially I'm a Herdial general."
"Well, it's not without precedent for Herdial generals to act as mercenaries. You have been shelved as one anyway haven't you? I don't believe anyone would mind you making a living on the side. You'll be paid quite well in spire silvers. We'll help you fix your robot suit too."
Rey was silent.
He rolls his eyes.
It goes from the left to right and back again.
Switching between calculating and juggling emotions.
Ria just looks at him in silence.
She gives him some space.
"Alright, let's discuss this further back at the Herdial guild house. "
Ria smiles.
"Welcome onboard general Rey."
"Happy to be here."
He pauses.
"Lady Ria."
"What?"
Ria throws him an annoyed glance.
"What wrong, my lady?"
"Everything."
"Apologies, my lady. I am just practicing the proper etiquette now that you are formally my employer."
"My father, the Lord RazenHeir is going to be formally your employer, so cut the act."
"Understood, my lady. But I do need to treat the daughter of my employer with the proper respect, do I?"
Ria glares at him.
"Come here…"
Rey backs off.
"Oh, I just remembered. My shift to man the observatory is starting soon. I think-"
He turns and runs for it.