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107 Days Since First Encounter
...
Over three months had passed since the Kentaro family had come under attack. Utilizing Homunculi, small teams of magi, and fiercely loyal militiamen led by a select few individuals, the manor had managed to hold with minimal losses. Minimal losses, though, were not no losses, and considering the rather pathetic size of the Kentaro militia, every loss was one they couldn't afford.
Akitaka was undoubtedly one of the most valuable assets in this siege, proving not only his immense skills in combat, but his effective leadership tactics.
Even the greatest leader, though, would struggle in his situation.
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Another battle has been lost. A failed offensive by the remnants of Alpha and Havoc Squadrons had been repulsed, and now, led by a specific Captain, they began to try to link up with Lieutenant Naoko's Omega Squadron at the ruins of the ancient city of Dornein...
...
"..! You, why did we stop?!"
Those aggressive words came from a woman in a dark blue military uniform with green accents, and a green beret with light red accents around the rim topping a head of raven black hair. The woman wore a number of medals on her overcoat, marking her as a hired mercenary -particularly one with previous military experience-, and, perhaps strangest of all, she was tiny. Maybe around the height of the Kentaro family's youngest son, Wakata.
...It didn't stop her from being absolutely terrifying while angry, and one of the most effective strategists in the militia.
"You, I asked you a question! Why have we stopped?!"
Approaching the head of the convoy, the short woman stopped suddenly, as the smell of rotting flesh assaulted her senses.
"...Ah. I see why. ...So, a few corpses is enough to stop you all?! Ha! And you call yourselves soldiers?! Pathetic! Keep moving! Anyone who lags behind gets left behind, understand?!"
The short woman's words were very effective.
Even though she spoke with such zeal, she would never be willing to leave behind someone placed under her command. In this situation especially, this woman commanded a force of barely a dozen strong, mostly made up of mages with little combat experience, only fighting out of pure loyalty to the Kentaro family name.
This woman was given three squads to command, and free reign over the estate, on the condition she stalls the enemy army for 142 days- the time remaining since the first sighting until a routine patrol from the capital would arrive.
Already the woman had held for 107 days, leaving little over a month until a routine patrol would arrive at the manor.
It was thanks to this woman that the most important sectors had been held for as long as they have been.
...This woman's name was Captain Kaede Tamura.
"...Abort mission, redirect march to position Tec-29! Send a messenger to Lord Kentaro, tell him we've lost Dornein!"
As the small group filed out around the clearing, the small woman stood in the center of the scene, seemingly unbothered by the carnage around her. Staring at one corpse in particular, the Captain wore an expression of disappointment to hide her anxiety, the knowledge of what that corpse meant rooted deep within her.
The tiny militia force had lost another officer. With the death of Lieutenant Naoko, whose lifeless body lay before Captain Tamura amongst the ruins of Dornein, the small woman was left as the last remaining member with any battle experience.
With a grumble, Captain Kaede Tamura spun around and, slowly at first, began to rejoin her small force. To the magi, she was annoyed- but in truth, the primary emotion running through her mind was a sense of fear.
Pulling her beret down over her eyes, Tamura grimaced, her long black hair flowing freely behind her as she walked briskly, a single thought on her mind.
...I never should have taken this job...
...
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...
"...So. Our Frontline has been pushed back, all the way up to position Tec-3... Lieutenant Naoko has been confirmed KIA, and Captain Tamura's forces have been all but wiped out, and are now headed back here... and we still have, what, 35 days left at least-?"
Letting out a sigh, the man leaned forward, a look of absolute exhaustion covering his face.
Rhen Kentaro. A Lord, a representative on the Council of Celestials, and a loving father. All of these things could be used to describe him. But, at this moment, none of those titles helped him- nothing could, at this point. He knew all too well that all it would take is a single dedicated assault by the horde, and the feeble defenses he implemented would crumble.
Even with Kaede Tamura, a former member of the Capital's elite guard, The Silver Wolves. Even with Akitaka Kentaro, the Lord's own son, fighting on the frontlines with his exceptional swordsmanship. Even with Rhen's planning and wisdom- it was not enough.
All he could do, know, was hope.
...Hope, because the only one who could save them now could not answer prayers.
...
Rhen Kentaro had no idea how much time had passed since he fell asleep. Maybe an hour, maybe a day- but the man was exhausted, even still.
He stood tentatively, and once he found his legs were steady, he walked through the door into the main entrance, only to find it empty.
Slightly worried now, he rushed up the stairs to check all the rooms, finding them all empty.
Panicking, now, he flung open the doors to the dining room-
...Only to find all the people he couldn't- sitting, eating, laughing.
On the table were stacks of food, perhaps the biggest feast since Rhen's own coronation -if it could be called that. Thinking only for a moment, the Lord was overcome with a sense of shame, yet also a feeling of happiness.
Shame for nearly forgetting, and happiness because it was this day that Akitaka -his own son- would finally turn sixteen.
And yes! There he was, sitting before a plate stacked high with food -likely placed on there by one of the people sitting next to him. To Akitaka's right, Rhen's other son sat, Wakata, smiling wider than ever before while eating a leg of chicken quite messily.
Next to Wakata sat Chiho, shy as ever, but still smiling as she looked over at Wakata. She didn't have nearly as much food on her plate, but that was normal for her, being such a timid young girl.
It was who sat to the left of Akitaka that was a surprise. None other than Kaede Tamura herself had taken that place, where traditionally the mother of the boy would sit.
Even more strangely, she had removed her military uniform, something she's only ever been known to do while either sleeping or bathing, nothing in between. She was even... smiling. An occasional chuckle, even.
...What a strange sight.
Shaking his head vigorously and choosing not to mention Tamura's irregular behavior -partially because she scared Rhen- the man looked to the head of the table, where not only a place was left open for him... but, someone had placed food on it, too.
Smiling, Rhen took his place, the lively conversations around him not halting in the slightest.
It was only a few minutes in that someone noticed he was there.
"Ah, Father! You're here, huh? Haha, great! Pretty nice spread for a place under siege, huh~?"
Rhen chuckled before looking up from his food, expecting the upbeat words to have come from Wakata as usual, being the energetic little kid he was.
To Rhen's surprise, though, the speaker was Akitaka himself.
The tone of the words weren't quite what surprised Rhen most though. Instead, it was the exact words Akitaka used- much more polite and formal than would normally be expected of him.
The Father's mind went into overdrive, thinking desperately of a reason.
...Hmm... could it be, since it's his birthday? ...No, certainly not... Ahh, is he maturing? ...No, he just flung a spoonful of potatoes at Wakata... Then, it must be because of me, right? Right! Yes, that's it! The boy has learned to respect his elders, finally!
Everyone sitting at the table saw how proud the older man's expression was, and likely why he was so proud- many couldn't control their laughter.
They didn't bother telling him off, though.
After all, Rhen was beaming like a child.
His stresses were not forgotten- he had dark circles under his eyes, a near dead look in his eyes, and he hadn't shaved for months, leaving quite an unkempt beard.
But because of this, the stressed Father could smile earnestly for the first time in a long while.
...
A few pork chops and lots of idle conversation later, Rhen had an... interesting idea. He and Ume met eyes and smiled, Ume's smile being much more refined, while Rhen's was as wild as his beard.
Rhen turned to Akitaka, who was deep in conversation with Tamura- though, Akitaka did occasionally turn to fool around with Wakata, who sat to his right. With a teasing grin, Rhen spoke to Akitaka, making sure everyone at the table could hear him.
"...Sooooooo... Aki. You're sixteen now, great job... but, y'know... sixteen is usually when a Lords' son gets betrothed... y'know, married off-? ...Heheh, so, got anyone in mind...~?"
The table had gone silent when Rhen began to speak, but now multiple people quietly giggled to themselves. Though, Wakata and Chiho were very confused, as they didn't understand quite what their Father meant.
Akitaka, however, was blushing- actually BLUSHING.
His Father simply couldn't get enough of it. Akitaka had never openly did anything embarrassing or awkward -quite unlike his Father-, so Rhen was having a bit too much fun.
"Ohhh~? You have someone in mind, then? Oooooh, who is it, who is it? ...Ahh? Am I gonna be a Grandfather-? So soon...!"
...Rhen intended to take full advantage of this opportunity.
Ume was laughing, but as Rhen pressed Akitaka more and more, she began to try to signal Rhen to stop. At first, while laughing- eventually becoming more and more desperate, as if she knew something he didn't.
Unfortunately for all of them, Rhen was having way too much fun.
Also, he was frankly very dense.
So, when given all of these hints, it was only after mercilessly teasing Akitaka that he was able to put it all together.
As soon as Rhen stopped talking, there was silence. He leaned back in his chair, staring at the table. The older man was impressively embarrassed that he just acted so idiotic, trying to figure out something so clear. His voice was filled with embarrassed shame, but he did try to keep a light-hearted tone to it, at least somewhat.
"...So, uhh... when's the wedding, Aki...?"
At that, everyone laughed a bit harder. Ume in particular knew the answer, and knew also how hilarious Rhen's inevitable reaction to it would be.
Akitaka had recovered somewhat, though he still looked a bit embarrassed himself. He opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Tamura speaking loudly, a wide and fierce yet absent-minded grin across her face.
"We have already been wed atop an altar created from the bones of our decayed enemies, bathing in the blood of our allies-"
"No, that never happened."
Tamura is quickly silenced by Akitaka speaking with exasperation and a bit of annoyance, as he placed his hand on her shoulder.
...Kaede Tamura was an avid drinker.
"Honestly... Sorry, sorry. I think she's trying to say we've had an unofficial ceremony already during a battle..."
Even as Akitaka tried to apologize on Tamura's behalf, the small woman stood up in her place, speaking even louder.
"Yes! It was as I said, a field covered in bones and blood! ...Ahahaha, Aki is so cute when he's being carried-"
Laughter erupted once more as a large blush washes over Akitaka's face, and he quickly made Tamura sit down, even as she grinned at him with half-lidded eyes.
"That's enough outta you."
Akitaka guided her head to a clear spot on the table so she could rest. As soon as her head met the table, though, it shot up again. Eventually, Akitaka gave up, leading Tamura to rest her head on his shoulder, and begin to snore loudly.
The black haired boy only let out a sigh, as he went back to eating, trying his best not to disturb her.
Still laughing, Ume was waiting apprehensively for Rhen's reaction to the news.
She observed the man with his head in his hands, staring at the table, completely motionless.
Ehehe... I wonder what he's thinking... Ahh, perhaps he's wishing he would have been there to see it? Hmm... I'm sure he'll speak his mind eventually...
Ume was left wondering these things, as everyone eventually went back to eating.
...
Rhen was left with his head in his hands. Not out of disappointment- on the contrary, Rhen could not be more proud of his oldest son-, but it was something else entirely that left him stunned.
...Holy shit she's so much cooler than me.
Ahh, what am I gonna do?! I had no idea Captain Tamura was so cool...! Akiiiiiii, why'd you have to go and marry such a scary lady...?! I've been upstaged...
...Rhen was perhaps the only one at the table unaware that Kaede Tamura was drunk.
And so the dinner went on. Akitaka Kentaro's sixteenth birthday, and the happiest that the members of the Kentaro family had been in a long while. It went on well into the night, the lively conversations continuing long after the last person finished eating.
It was improper by the standards of many other nobles in the Celestial Realm, but the Kentaro family was different.
It was, without a doubt, truly that-
A family.
...
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107 Days Since First Encounter, In The Royal Capital
...
There, in a small room in a large castle, sat a boy. A boy absolutely buried in paperwork, sighing with exhaustion.
"...Sydri. You simply must take a break. All this work, it's not good for you..."
The gentle voice washed over the boy, its kindness not lost on him.
The small boy laughed a little, a soft, pleasant sound.
"Yes, you're right. I'll take a break... I simply need to finish this form here..."
The woman who spoke earlier grabbed the form from him immediately. Perhaps the only person in all the three realms who would dare to do such a thing -even if the boy wouldn't care-, this was precisely the reason the boy enjoyed being with her so much.
"You will not. You will take a break now, or I won't braid your hair next time you ask. ...Goodness, Sydri, it's long since been dark! You need to sleep!"
The boy sighed, but ultimately complied with the woman's orders. Standing up now, the boy was able to get a good look of her.
The woman wore a black suit, in one of those ancient styles found in the middle realm. Her hair was a light pastel purple, tied back in a messy bun. Her usual expression was fairly neutral, though right now, she looked quite annoyed.
Standing up, the boy rubbed his eyes, realizing only now just how tired he was. His floral patterned robe had come loose, exposing his collarbone and some of his upper chest, and though the boy wouldn't mind, the woman made an effort not to look.
His long, silvery hair had come undone from the braid it had been in, falling around his neck. The boys face, though, was left uncovered, because of the bangs framing his feminine facial features.
The boy smiled, before yawning widely. As he spread his arms up around him due to the yawn, the robe started to slip even more- almost instantly, the woman pulled the robe up around his shoulders with practiced ease.
Again, the boy smiled softly, staring up at the woman.
"Ah, thank you. I did not notice that... Mm. This robe slips quite easily..."
The woman's expression remained neutral, though someone with a practiced eye would easily see a twinkle of amusement in her eyes.
"No it does not, Sydri. You simply do not have a sense of public decency."
The small boy laughed at the woman's words, nudging her slightly. His idea of slightly, though, was not quite as gentle as anyone else's would be- luckily, the woman did not budge, not even from a nudge with that much force behind it.
"I am not in public, though."
They both laughed at the boy's poor attempt at a joke. The boy, because he genuinely thought it was funny- and the woman, out of fondness at the boy's poor sense of humor.
Still laughing and talking, the two began to leave the room, walking closer together than the woman would allow anyone else to walk- whether it be close to her, or to him, the woman would not allow it. Not unless it was them, specifically.
The two eventually reached the boy's lavish room, outfitted not by him, but by many people long before his creation. The boy climbed into his bed, not bothering to shed his robe.
...After a few rounds of the woman correcting the boy is what he shouldn't be doing- such as sleeping in his clothes, or leaving the candles lit-, the woman was about to walk out of the room, before the boy called out to her, his polite and soft spoken voice echoing through his largely empty room.
"...Excuse me. Lillian... If you wouldn't mind, could you... ahh, this might sound crazy, but... I have a really bad feeling about something. Like... it's like, I'm about to 'see' something, but I'm not strong enough yet... anyway, please send a patrol-... no. Uhm, please, go visit Lord Kentaro at his manor. I just... feel like something really bad will happen if you don't..."
The woman considered his words seriously for a moment, then smiled gently.
"...Yes, of course, Sydri. If it helps you sleep, I'll go visit Lord Rhen. Now, go to sleep, okay? I'll be right back... Also, that's not my name..."
Her last words were grumbled, but not because of annoyance or anger at the boy misnaming her- on the contrary, though she didn't know the reason behind what he called her, the reason why he simply couldn't call her anything other than Lillian... she knew, from the way he said it, that it was not out of malice, or because he didn't care about her. It was something... much deeper.
Perhaps that was why she was blushing.
The woman closed the large door as gently as she could, careful not to make any sound too loud. Walking at a brisk pace, she set off to the Kentaro manor. Though she herself didn't feel anything amiss, she had long since learnt to trust the boy's senses.
That woman was Tatrasiel, Captain of The Silver Wolves, the Supreme Royal Commander of the Celestial Realm.
That boy, the boy she was so protective of, the boy she was ordered to protect under any circumstances, was Sydrial, Prince of the Cosmic Reach.
Both of them had more than enough strength to lift the siege on house Kentaro in a single battle.
And one of them was already en route...
...
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