"Rey?"
The general gets off his wagon.
His neat, light colored tunic. Bland. Short sleeved. No medals except for a hearthstone pedant.
It glows with calm natural energy.
It was both a symbol of the hearthstone house and a means of self defense.
Ria stands by the roadside.
Fresh shirt. Black skirt. White gloves. A pair of brown boots.
A cloak on her back.
Her rapier and musket on her belt.
It was her job today to greet the esteemed guests that frequented the estate while the raid was ongoing.
But an unexpected guest had shown up.
"Ria? Ha. What a coincidence."
"Coincidence? This is where I live. Have you got sand in your eyes?"
"Of course I knew that. I just thought you were still in Moradale."
"I couldn't be happier to not be in Moradale at this time. I hear that the emissary from the royal house still is. It would seem he has not procured enough aid to convince himself to leave."
"And he really hasn't. What Moradale agreed to just about keeps us afloat for the time being."
"Well, that's all Moradale could really afford. Its territories are only a fraction of the size of Herdial itself. And it still has to deliver support for an ongoing war in the north."
"Then there he stays. I'm sure he much enjoys the view in a zeppelin port to the ruckus of the capital. I hope the wine here is to his liking."
"Are you here to join him? Perhaps he'll share his luxury suite with you."
"Never. I'm afraid I don't have a level of standing for him to even offer me a cup of tea."
"I see he's more obnoxious than I had believed. Treating even a general like that."
"Oh, he's even more obnoxious than whatever you currently believe. You'll quickly discover that if you become a general yourself."
"Then I'd hate to become one. Though, I'm curious. Isn't the general supposed to be commanding armies? Are you on vacation?"
"In a way. After the losses from the wyvern raid and the outbreak of ghoul mothers from Carla, I don't think I'll be taking command any time soon."
"So what has the conquering general been up to?"
"Nothing. Certainly no conquests as of late. Just got recalled to the capital to stand in for a senate session."
"Oh? So the conquering general also happens to be an esteemed senator on the side. Which faction were you standing in for? The hearthstone house or the army?"
"Officially the army. Though neither wants to be associated with me. My own house made me a general just to save face. The army generals hate the idea of having a failed scion of a house stand on the same level as them. They have tried more than once to evict me from the post. My recent failures have given them fuel."
"Those are not really your fault. I heard from Hikari about the battle at the Herdial border. No knights or even sand benders. You're lucky to be alive."
"And I'm most grateful for it. I just wish Herdial politics were kinder to me than she is."
"Haha! By the way, how was it?"
"How was what?"
"I found reports about how she brought you to the forward camp. I happen to find a very interesting medical report about a guest she brought back."
"Well"
Rey clears his throat and adjusts his shirt.
His eyes rolled away for a moment.
"Let's just say she wasn't particularly gentle. Miraculously, I returned to Escher with all of my bones intact."
Ria raises an eyebrow.
Creek!
A loud creak of moving steel parts.
Thud! A massive metal lid hits the ground.
Thud. Thud.
Hikari emerges from underground.
Her knee socks drenched.
The heat of the forge could be felt.
"Urk! The smell." Rey covers his nose.
The forge assistants sprayed the giantess's socks.
Ria hands Rey a napkin.
"Wipe it on your nose."
It smelled funny. But it blocked out most of the stench.
"Thanks."
Thud. Thud.
A pair of giant flats appeared in Rey's view, startling him.
"Rey."
He looks up.
He was completely shadowed by the giantess.
"Hello here, Hikari. I hope you're doing well. I have brought you some more goodies."
His voice was dead straight.
Hikari looks down.
She notices his crotch armour.
She lifted her head and saw the crowd of men that arrived with him.
They were staring at her.
Their pants bulged.
"Hikari. Go get some rest back in your chambers. You'll be heading down to the shaft soon."
"Yes, my lady."
Thud. Thud.
The giantess strides away.
A head pops up from below the ground.
Black hair. Golden eyes.
It blinks at Rey.
He flinched.
It felt familiar.
"Rey!"
"What- what-."
He shakes his head.
Ria was looking at him with curious eyes.
"What has gotten into you?"
"No-nothing."
Several RazenHeir guards show up, distributing crotch armour to the newly arrived men.
Many of them choked in embarrassment.
Several refused the armour.
"The new settlers? They look reasonably well-built."
"The farmers are the first to receive food. Even with official decree, it's not easy to prevent them from keeping enough for themselves to eat."
"So how are they liking the prospect of recultivating land that was overrun by the cult of Eon."
"I'd say they were thrilled to be selected. The guards had to stop them from overloading the wagons. Word has spread about the one that stayed the wyvern queen. "
"Thats good to hear. We are in quite the rush to get the new farms going well before the next harvest."
"Is that what you've been up to nowadays? Running a farm as a land lady?"
Ria throws him an annoyed glare.
"Yes, indeed. So what If I'm a farmer lady now. It's quite a good fortune that I come to possess the second most fertile areas around. "
"He. I hear that Hikari had formally received the gold rank from the Herdial commission of adventurer's guilds. Did you know there's an equivalent rank for farming?"
Ria pokes him on the side with her finger.
"Ow! That hurts! Have you been training?"
"I'm sure glad that I have been. So that I can teach the baby fawn general a good lesson."
"I can tell you have been putting in serious work. You must be training for the academy."
"Indeed, will you be attending? Even if you can't manifest a mana form. There is a career path for regular officers. You don't need a mana form to man a command post and plow through stacks of paper work."
"To be honest, I would really love to. There just isn't the political capital for it. I'm appointed a general purely as a political pawn."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Lies."
"What more do you expect?"
Rey lets out a laugh.
"So, will you be staying around?"
"Of course. I am here as an official attache to observe the raid on Carla. When the city still functioned as a zeppelin port, there are endless letters detailing the stunning view from the observatory. Shame they stopped taking tourists."
"I hate to spoil it for you. But the raid party isn't allowing tourists into the observatory either. Not even I could get a front row seat. Perhaps once the raid is over?"
"Would you reserve one for me?"
"Only if you ask nicely."
Rey tries to poke Ria.
She dodges.
Creek.
The sound of wagons stopping.
"The consignment has arrived."