The Two Captains

"Guess we aren't mistaken. Nego received an internal attack."

Captain Ravil paused in the air before finally descending on the ground to study the territory and thought to himself.

"This should've not happened if they listened to their oracles. Captain Ratul was stuck with a narcissistic and avaricious commander."

The captain beckoned to the Minokawa to land. Before leaving, the Mikonawa blessed Captain Ravil and Agor should they encounter monsters or a feat with the rogues of the underworld. This blessing will save them should they be involved in a life-and-death situation.

The troop from the Capital came one day ahead of those from Leyte and managed to weaken the barrier. Leyte's timely support came to face the low-level monsters that started to attack when the barrier started to weaken.

They were able to communicate with the oracles and the wizards and finally removed the barrier of the stronghold. The removal of the barrier used a lot of magic and required a lot of mana. Monsters near the border of Nego are mana users like the rogues and when they sense mana usage, they are lured to them and won't stop until they are dead.

"Commander Dumalo!"

Captain Ravil and Agor went straight to Nego's castle to report to the commander. The troop coming from Boho that left at the same time as them will arrive in 7–8 days and will replace the soldiers in the main town while the arriving troop from Ilo will replace the border soldiers which will arrive in two days. Boho troop secured blessings from the spirits that expedited their travel assuring they will traverse the forests. The forest spirits are intimidated by external forces and limit their powers within their territories. But once inside, even the deepest forest, and one is guided by the spirit, they can defy the call of death.

"The nobles have taken refuge underground while the workers ran into the mountains." The commander reported back.

"I shall meet with Captain Ratul for the dispersal of the coming troops in the next days."

"Do it, Captain. I am indebted. The captain is in the left-wing palace."

"Thank you, Commander."

Before Captain Ravil and Agor left the commander's room, the commander looked at Agor, scrutinizing him from head to toe. The captain noticed it and spoke nonchalantly.

"The soldier will be dispersed in the central castle."

"That is where the oracles are—"

Commander was almost taken aback but was able to hold himself. The captain knew that the commander didn't like it but the decision has nothing to do with him. Instead of talking more, the captain saluted and left the room followed by Agor.

***

Ravil met with Ratul in the left wing of the castle, drinking alone. Seeing a lot of bottles on the floor, Ratul seemed to be in a devastating state of mind that instant.

"Caedman."

Captain Ravil called for Captain Ratul impassively.

Standing with his left hand on his back and his right hand holding a bottle of vintage wine, Cadmaen stares blankly outside the window. The tranquility of the night seemed to be an illusion.

"Ah, Qadir! My dear friend."

Caedman raised a bottle of liquor seeing his dear friend and approached him slowly.

"Have you lost your mind?"

Qadir inspected the room and it's unusual for the captain to keep his room in havoc.

"I was in the wrong believing the commander and now... how can I even face my wife when my time has come?"

"Nonsense."

Qadir replied to Caedman without looking at him. Instead, he started picking up the bottles and placed them on the table. Finding an unopened bottle, he sat comfortably on the couch and beckoned Caedman to sit.

"Your wife won't even desire to come and pick you up when your time has come."

Opening the bottle, Qadir casually teases his friend and offered a toast.

"To the future."

Caedman smirked. There was stillness for a moment and Qadir sighed like he's so desperate to bring back his friend into awareness. Caedman looked at him with smiling eyes and started reminiscing.

"Do you remember the time we sneaked out from the training for me to introduce you to her?"

"How could I not? It was the time you shattered my dream into pieces. It was a glass I always polish and just so fragile that you easily broke it."

"Don't say that. If anyone hears you, they might think I'm a villain in your past."

"Until now."

"Huh? What did I do?"

"When your wife died, you ignored your principles and let yourself eaten by guilt."

"..."

"Is that the reason why you chose to stay with Commander Dumalo? I am not judging your choice and I believe you have your reasons. I was just hoping you're not letting yourself be commanded without proper reasoning."

"When my wife—your sister, died... I realized the dream you have for her. I became childish in love not considering how special your sister was. She doesn't possess magic but she has a natural thing for handling any difficult situation. She doesn't have the blessing of any high spirit and guardian but she has her own way of fighting. I forced her in our world so there would be no need for us to part."

"..."

"Maybe if we can isolate the territory and create an indestructible barrier—"

"Captain Ratul!"

Qadir interrupted Caedman, clenching his fists and slammed on the table. Caedman was taken aback but then recovered to Qadir's rage with a miserable smile.

"That's why I told you I was wrong."

Caedman tried to pacify the sudden change of the atmosphere and admitted his fault like he's holding his tears to fall.

"Ah, Ratul! You're still a pain in the ass."

Qadir surprisingly calmed right away seeing Caedman's miserable face, trying to compose himself.

"Your sister told me… if things can be changed for the better, there's no reason to stop."

Understanding what his friend is trying to impart, Qadir has his fingers intertwined and placed his chin over, eyeing Caedman with unwavering and fierce glares but with noticeable melancholy. Just as the silence overwhelmed the room, Caedman tried to change the pace of the moment.

"Ravioli, Ravioli..."

"Ratatouille."

"Old times, is it?"

The two captains shook hands and toast for more.

"I know you don't want to see me like this and I tried to get myself back. I might've lost some sense but I also know you received reports from your privates."

Qadir couldn't hide his amazement at his friend's ability. He leaned back and sip his wine. Sending special privates from top-of-the-line wind mages, "He really is something," he thought.

"I'm not a kid nor no longer your brother-in-law. Please don't turn your sister-complex attitude towards me."

The room was enlightened by laughter and more teasing. They're not young anymore but reminiscing their pasts just made them livelier than they have been before. Fighting alongside each other in the wars, serving community works in their younger years, being a family in an unexpected way, but always brothers by heart.

"We can't ignore the contribution of the Dumalo family in the great war and even in the past wars we have joined."

With the pacified atmosphere, Caedman started to getting back to the subject. If it wouldn't have been due to Nego's situation, he would still know what Qadir was concerned about ever since.

"He's sick of waiting and sacrificed a lot. Being blessed was a burden to his family. He thought by devising a strong barrier that could last for another generation can compromise a deal for all Irca's sake."

"Deal?"

Qadir leaned forward and narrowed his brows.

"That I really have no idea. I guess…it shouldn't be heard by me in the first place."

Caedman sat more comfortably instead and leaned his head on the crest rail of the sofa massaging his temples.

"This could probably put you down once he learned you knew something."

"That I know for certain."