Chapter 34 Unauthorized Subjugation Missions

They walked side by side through the narrow cobbled streets, the sky turning dark with the last light of evening. Rein didn’t speak at first, his eyes forward, boots thudding against stone.

"So, Mira, can you tell me more about yourself?"

“Ummm... sure. I used to live in a little village outside the city. Far to the east. You probably haven’t heard of it. It wasn’t much. Just farms, families, and a chapel. We didn’t even have proper roads.”

“What happened? What made you go on a trip all the way to the town?” he asked, though he already suspected.

She gave a sad smile.

 “Monsters. Came out of the woods one night. Burned everything. We tried to send word, but... the soldiers never made it in time.”

 “I'm sorry to hear that, Mira. Knights don't get word in time. There’ve been too many cases like yours recently. Villages on the edges left exposed. King’s forces stretched too thin—or sent the wrong way.”

He looked down at her.

 “Did anyone else make it out?”

She slowly shook her head.

 “No. I was the only one. I hid in the cellar, for a few days. Then, when the hunger and thirst was unbearable, I crawled outside the wreckage of my home. With nothing left, I decided to try my luck going to town. And... well... you saw how that turned out.”

A long silence followed, broken only by the hush of the wind between buildings.

Then—grrgrrlk.

Rein blinked and looked over. Mira flushed deeply, both hands darting to her stomach.

 “S-Sorry! I didn’t mean—”

 “You haven’t eaten today, have you?”

She shook her head.

 “No. It was a while since I ate something.”

Rein scratched the back of his neck.

 “Well, can’t have you staying in a shelter on an empty stomach.”

“It’s fine, really,” she said quickly, “You’ve done more than enough already.”

“Nope. Come on. I know a place that won’t ask questions. Cheap, a bit shady place but they have good food and even a place to spend the night.”

She hesitated.

 “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I'm sure. She wouldn’t leave someone hungry.”

Mira tilted her head.

 “She?”

He paused.

 “…Someone I used to know.”

 Mira walked just a bit closer beside him, hands tucked together in front of her cloak, voice soft as the breeze.

“She must’ve been kind.”

Rein didn’t answer right away. His hand clenched at his side, and his voice dropped low.

“Yes. She was.”

---------

The heavy oak doors of the castle closed behind her with a dull thud. Liora stepped into the late afternoon light, the sun casting long shadows across the stone courtyard. 

A company of armored soldiers stood in the square—gear polished, swords sheathed, packs secured. Horses snorted nearby. Clearly a deployment. But no word of this had passed her desk. And at the front, issuing final checks, was him—Commander Kael.

Liora fixed her glasses ever so slightly.

"What the hell is this?! No one told me about any deployment," she thought, "And they dared to let him lead it? In person? At a time like this?"

He stood tall, lean in his dark blue cloak, silver pauldrons glinting in the dying sun. His voice was sharp but calm and cheerful as he barked orders. A leader to the bone.

Liora felt her stomach twist with anxiety, but her expression remained flawless. She adjusted her posture and slipped on her mask—eyes half-lidded in polite curiosity, lips gently upturned in her usual serene smile.

“My, my,” she said sweetly, folding her hands before her.

 “What a lively little assembly. And here I thought I was the one coordinating troop movements. Has something changed? Imagine my confusion, darling. I only walked out from the castle, and suddenly, I find soldiers being dispatched without so much as a whisper to me.”

 She took another step forward, now just close enough that her voice could dip into that flirtatious political cadence.

 “Tell me, love… what’s going on? I don’t recall authorizing any expeditions or monster subjugation missions.”

"My Lady Liora, I swear, this time, I’m just the handsome face following orders. Straight from His Majesty himself. Said we’re to check out some rumblings up north. Creepy stuff. Shadows, rumors, the usual bedtime stories.”

Liora tilted her head.

 “And let me guess—strictly non-aggressive?”

He held up a hand, palm outward like swearing on a holy text.

 “Promise. Observe, map, report. Not a single sword drawn unless we get kissed first—and not the good kind.”

Her voice dropped a note, quiet but sharp.

 “Kael, be serious. The plains are unstable, the teleportation barrier was just activated, and you’re heading into contested territory. You should wait for Rein. He’s the one meant to lead expeditions like these. You’re risking your life—and others—charging ahead without him.”

“My beautiful Liora. Love,” he said, softer now, “I appreciate the worry. Really. But if we wait for Rein every time a bush rustles, we’ll all die of old age before a mission starts. The man's got enough weight on his back. This is just a quiet ride and some maps. It's not a mission for our Hero.”

 “You’re brushing this off too easily, Kael.”

He stepped closer, tilting her head slightly. 

“That’s my job, remember? Keep the morale up. Be the charming distraction from the doom hanging over everyone’s head.”

Her lips pressed into a line. 

“You’re not invincible, Kael. Wait for me, I'll get ready in few hours. I'll join you on this mission.”

“No, my love. You are needed here. I can handle this. And besides—if things go bad, I’d rather be out there than in here watching someone else bleed for it. I’ll be back, Liora. Promise. You’ll have someone to scold in few weeks.”

“At least… let me send you with my teleportation magic. It’s faster, safer. If something happens, I’ll know immediately.”

Kael chuckled, lifting a hand as if to gently wave the offer aside.

“Liora, love, you can’t keep spending your strength every time I take a stroll past the gates. We don’t need the Hero’s Second draining herself just because I’m off chasing shadows on a border map.”

“This isn’t just a stroll, Kael.”

“It’s not a war either. Save your magic for when it matters. You’ve got the weight of kingdoms on your shoulders. Me? I’m just the reckless knight who gets to swing a sword and look dashing doing it. You’re worrying too much. Trust me, Liora. I’ll be back. You’ll get your chance to yell at me for ignoring your good advice, just like always.”

She exhaled slowly, then glanced toward the waiting soldiers.

“Just… don’t do anything stupid.”

He gave her a mock salute.

 “Too late, Love, I joined the army.”

Liora moved closer to Kael, her voice lowering so none of the others could overhear.

“Love, I need you to listen. This—this won’t last much longer. The war, the marching, the orders from that mad King. We just need to endure a little longer.”

“Liora, you sound awfully certain for someone juggling the kingdom’s diplomacy and King’s ego.”

She smiled faintly. 

“Because I’ve been planning. Saving. Every coin I could hide without raising suspicion. It’s not much, but enough—for both of us.”

Kael tilted his head, studying her, his smile flickering to something warmer, quieter.

“I’ve found us a place,” she continued, “Far from here. A little patch of land near the sea, tucked into the cliffs. No politics. No demons. No kings or crowns. Just us… and maybe some noisy seagulls. And maybe some kids, too? If you're interested.”

He laughed and leaned in, voice low.

 “I like the sound of making them. Peaceful life sounds even better if it starts with you, ends with gray hairs and stubborn grandchildren.”

Liora didn’t laugh this time—just looked at him, gaze lingering.

“You’re all I have,” she whispered, “If anything happens to you out there…”

He gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, smile lopsided but sincere.

 “Then I’ll owe you a thousand apologies in the afterlife. But I’m not going anywhere, not when we have something like that waiting.”

A horn blew across the courtyard. Orders rang out.

Kael stepped back, winking as he turned to mount his horse. 

“Don’t spend all those coins before I get back, diplomat.”

Liora watched him ride off, her hand unconsciously clutching the edge of her cloak near her chest.

"Just come back, Kael," she thought, "Just come back."

As she walked off, her smile faded the moment her back was to him. Her hands curled into fists beneath her sleeves, clenched so hard that her leather gloves burst.

"Another foolish move from the throne," she thought, "And this time, he’s dragging Kael into it. Damn that fool! If anything happens to Kael, you will pay for it, Arthur!"