Duty and Discord

Mira stood defiant, the sharp chorus of soldiers’ voices biting at her from all sides. The artisans behind her shrank back, clutching their tools like children clutching toys, but Mira refused to budge. Her chin was lifted, her voice firm despite the tremor edging its strength.

“You waste what little we have!” one of the older soldiers barked. “Scraps and ore are for keeping walls standing, not for your tinkering!”

Akari hovered behind Seren, her flame flickering uneasily at the tension. The words lashed out like blows, and she almost expected the woman named Mira to crumble under them. But Mira stood tall, her voice cool but cutting, each word honed with restrained fury.

Before the soldiers could hurl another round of accusations, Seren loudly clapped to cut through the noise.

“That’s enough.”

It wasn’t shouted. It didn’t need to be. His words landed like a stone dropping into a still pond, ripples silencing the corridor. Every head turned.

Seren stepped forward, Barkley’s heavy paws echoing against the stone floor beside him. His presence filled the space as though the air itself recognized his authority.

“Mira speaks truth. Supplies are scarce, yes. But scarcity doesn’t excuse stagnation. We endure because we adapt. The council allocated the resources as they did for a reason. You all remember the night the walls nearly fell. Would you rather be patching cracks with prayers here when the next horde comes?”

A hush fell. No soldier dared answer.

Barkley gave a huff, his deep voice rumbling dryly. “Humans. Always arguing over scraps even when predators are closeby.”

The soldiers dispersed, muttering under their breath but obeyed Seren’s word without another complaint. The artisans lingered, wide-eyed. Mira exhaled slowly, her fists loosening at last.

“Thank you, Seren.” The woman faced him and nodded.

Seren, already turning toward the prayer chamber door, tapped her shoulder and winked. “Save your thanks with results, Mira. That will silence them better than I ever could.”

Akari followed him, her little flame flickering brighter with awe. Seren’s strength… it was on another level entirely. The wisp thought she felt Mira's eyes linger on her form before catching up to the captain and wolf.

...

Inside the chamber, Noel sat upright on a low bench near a carved altar. His arm was bandaged, but his posture was straight, composed. He looked up as Seren entered, caution flashing in his eyes.

"Noel! You're okay!"

"Akari?"

Akari hovered close to Noel, relief spilling from her in soft waves of heat.

“Noel Velrath,” Seren greeted and bowed, one hand on his chest. “How are you holding up?”

“Well enough,” Noel replied evenly. His tone was polite but stiff, as though measuring every word. "Also, just Noel is fine."

"Well, that's great!" The captain grinned and took up a chair." Didn't want to have to treat you like all those stuffy nobles."

Barkley stretched out nearby, resting his great head on his paws.

“Glad I can speak plainly,” Seren said. “But... you’re not just another stray to this fortress. The blood in your veins ties you to this land. I need to know what you can do and what you want to do.”

Noel gazed downward. His hand rested briefly on his knee before tightening. “…I attended the imperial academy, but I wasn’t trained for the military. My focus was mainly logistics, and I dabbled in other subjects here and there. The typical education of a second son to support the territory. I’ve only had the most basic combat training.”

Seren put a hand to his chin. "Yes, I remember in knight training the heir of the Velrath duchy was there. I always wanted to give him a good punch."

Akari tilted toward him, surprised. “You told me that your job was in the military front lines when we met!”

Noel’s mouth curved in a bitter half-smile. “Once I graduated, they pushed me into military service anyway.”

Seren’s expression didn’t shift, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "Tell me one thing. Do you plan to become the lord here?"

Noel’s lips pressed thin, his pale face white as a ghost.

“You don’t need to carry that burden yet.” He set a heavy hand on Noel’s shoulder, steady but not forceful. “The noble council tends to the fortress for now. If one day you truly want the lordship, prove yourself by living here. Adjust. Grow strong. The North doesn’t need a weak boy weighed down by titles - it needs men who endure.”

Akari could feel a wall between them. Noel wasn’t like how he was with her - open, vulnerable in quiet moments. With Seren, he seemed armored, every sentence weighed and measured.

"Well, I'll leave you two to catch up. Barkley and I will report to the council about today. Just get some rest until someone comes to fetch you."

When Seren rose to leave them alone, Noel exhaled softly and leaned back against the bench. His shoulders eased.

Akari floated closer, her warmth brushing against him gently. “Noel, are you really okay? That looks like it hurts a lot.”

His eyes softened at her words. “I am. The temple did a great job as they always do." He flexed his arm up and down. "It's just always a little hard to move after being hit with dark mana. Being next to me already makes it feel better, Akari."

"Oh, yes!" the little flame whipped back and forth across the noble's face, "what was that about the blood and this land?"

"When I was younger, I came here once with my mother. She was from the North before she married into my father’s family. The man who welcomed us was my grand-uncle, the previous lord. He’s been gone a year now.”

Akari flickered with recognition. “The one Seren said died last year?”

Noel nodded, his jaw tightening. “I had always planned to return here at some point, and in a twist of fate, my exile brought me back.”

The moment was broken by a distant, clanging bell. Once, twice - then a steady rhythm that shook through the temple halls. The priests froze mid-step. Outside, voices rose in alarm.

“The wall!” someone shouted. “Attack at the northern wall!”

Noel and Akari rushed outside to see an organized chaos. Everyone was running and rushing but it seemed routine and deliberate.

Seren, who had been conversing with a priest, straightened at once. His calmness turned sharp and focused. Barkley rose with a low growl, hackles bristling.

Akari flared nervously. “Monsters?”

“A small horde at least,” Seren confirmed. He looked at Noel. “You said you trained in logistics. Then after the fight, you’ll put those skills to use. We lost a number of educated people recently. The artisans will need help assessing damages, directing repairs, managing supplies. That will be your battlefield.”

He turned, cloak sweeping behind him as he strode for the door. Barkley stomped at his side, rumbling with anticipation.

Akari pressed close to Noel’s shoulder, her light wavering but determined. And Noel followed Seren with a fire in his eye that hadn’t been there before.