Lance’s Right Hand Man

Commander Ignos Fire, the right-hand man of Lord Lance Hua, was a simple man who didn't do much talking. His golden locks of long hair hung at his back, reaching the middle of it with grace. On this day, he visited the South Manor to check the well-being of his master and report things that could not be efficient if conveyed by emails or video calls.

He took his time to walk inside the Crystal Garden fences, only stopping underneath the cypress tree to ground himself. The electromagnetic field in the air made him dizzy, however pretty the ambience was. He looked at the clouds the colour of cream puffs, a dessert he had never been able to taste as nobody knew how to make the cream from non-dairy milk yet in the north.

"Commander Fire," the wife of his employer greeted him. She was the famous General Chiaki Spring, dressed in full regalia of her status, she was probably just coming back from the Council City Hall, presenting whatever new findings of the barrier status.

Poor Guardians' combined power varied in levels and sources, making the overall quality of their protection subpar to the arrays Lance Hua set in the north.

Ignos Fire didn't know whether to address her as a 'madam' or still 'General Spring'. In the end, he opted for "General Hua," a form of address resulting from the mixture of his nervous mind that jumbled 'Madam Hua' and 'General Spring'.

The gleeful smile erupting from the lady reddened his face even more. Her navy blue long skirt fluttered with the breeze of wind that tickled the hem of it. Ignos Fire was still captivated by the glittery dust sprinkled at the bottom like a star pattern.

"Commander Fire must be so tired from the journey. Please rest in the Sentalu house, the refreshment has been prepared to welcome you. And, no spicy food," she added with a playful smirk.

Oh, so the lord's preference had been known, then, he surmised.

"Madam . . .," he called as he finished his tea. The tea at the manor was fragrant with a hint of rose, a style the Northerners tried to replicate with other flowers. The North was famous for its chamomile and osmanthus brewing, but for the tea leaves, they weren't blessed with the land that favoured the growth of the plantation.

Chiaki scrunched her eyebrows and tilted her head. Only a couple of seconds later, she realised him uttering the reference to address her.

"Oh." Her perplexed face switched into understanding. Commander Fire, a straightforward person he was, appreciated the face journey the southerners had. He rarely ventured to these regions, but when he had the chance, the locals' vibrant expressions on their faces kept amusing him.

"You can call her General Spring. It looks like she doesn't want to be called Madam Hua. Mind your etiquette."

A masculine, stern voice scolded him as the heroic appearance of his leader came from behind the screen separating the inner living room and the outer.

"My lord," he said reverently as he rose from his seat and bowed his head. Chiaki rose and stepped aside to allow his master more space in the seating area. When all three people sat down together, Ignos Fire noticed there was a wide blank space between the two, as if they were two separate objects painted on a canvas; the white space enhanced their distinction.

Chiaki sensed they were going to discuss the Northern regions' affairs, so she excused herself to resume her work at the study.

Ignos Fire shared the latest news from the north to his lord, summarising the status and emphasising the follow-ups.

"The clan leaders didn't try to revolt, then? It must be difficult for them to unclench their teeth from the bridle and unite their voices," Lance Hua gloated with a laugh.

Ignos Fire shook his head. It was not new that this cold-blooded ruler of his had noticed the raucous clans' tendency to crave for the ruler's seat. It took efforts — blood and sweat, not tears — to unify them.

And maybe some killings. Many killings, to be exact.

Ignos Fire was well-versed in the open and close-area combats, in sportsmanship or clandestine, by following Lord Lance Hua in his mission to conquer the Northern clans.

Without the necessary extremities, the Northerners wouldn't know peace to see the bright side. Therefore, Ignos Fire launched more spies and tightened the command on the clan leaders as his boss was away in the south. He didn't want to be that lousy and untrustworthy subordinate causing the downfall of his saviour.

"Then, all is good."

"But my lord has to hear one more thing from me before you dismiss me."

Lance Hua trained his gaze at him, letting him continue with a brief nod.

"It's about the madam, General Spring."

Although the lord didn't say anything, he leaned forward, his elbows pressing to the table. Commander Fire read this as a sign not to hold back.

"She's the newest Guardian. Compared to the rest who have served for over a decade, she might not lack power as theirs, but her physiognomy is something we should be doubtful on."

Ignos Fire continued, "Grand Elder Marion herself assigned her to marry you. The clan leaders and I thought there would be a showdown between you and the grand elder at the hall the day you arrived to confirm the wedding plan. Even though nothing has happened so far, we don't know if the Council ordered General Spring to spy on you. Everyone in their government is a two-timing official, the Guardians included."

"So, you're implying they're after something from us?"

"Our land, our people, and . . .," Commander Fire stole a glance or two around the living room and lowered his voice, "that thing."

"Don't you worry. The clan leaders didn't even manage to steal it from me, let alone those who didn't come from this world."

"But, my lord, complacency like this–"

"Complacency is too big a word to call this."

"My lord, but with her track record as the Guardian that oversees the capital, don't you think she's the first choice in case the elders want to ambush you?"

Lance Hua raised both eyebrows, his face looking amused at the conjecture his trusted commander showed.

"Or, is my lord finding the general trustworthy?"

"Obviously not," he scoffed. "Has my number one teaching to you that the Guardians and the Council members are birds of the same feathers gone from your head? Did I teach you only to forget it myself?"

Ignos Fire, inheriting the same ruthless and cunning trait from his lord, shook his head rather forcefully. "Of course not. But my lord looks unguarded around her. Does my lord fall in love with her?"

Spoken with such a straight face, neutral eyebrows, eyes, and lips, the interrogative question sounded flat in Commander Fire's mouth.

But Lance Hua only remarked with a scowling face, "Why should I bother to show affection for someone who cultivates the Path of Indifference? It's like sieving the water."

After this explanation, Ignos Fire was utterly sure that Lance Hua wouldn't fall so low to love his new wife. He was a short-sighted subordinate who took the conclusion without thinking. Lance Hua was still Lance Hua. The newlyweds were the most incompatible couple the commander had ever seen, a tactical ruler and an emotionally restricted general.

It would be faster for them to point their metaphorical swords at each other rather than admit a ridiculous thing called love.

His vindication was confirmed an hour later when he was about to take his leave from his leader and the master of the South Manor.

He bowed to them, wishing them health and happiness, promising Lance Hua to keep the clan leaders under order (this fact was somewhat widely known across the Council members and Guardians, so he didn't find any issue in mentioning this in front of Chiaki Spring) and to maintain the mansion to welcome them whenever.

As he was about to step over the threshold of the Sentalu house, an officer sent a message to General Spring, her holographic pop-up disrupted their parting conversation.

Janice Wymark has arrived, under the request of her brother, to deliver something to General.

General Spring slightly opened her rose petal lips and replied to the officer to let the lady in.

The jangling sound of the accessories coming nearer told them that the guest was in her formal attire. The Wymarks had this intricate clothing style, with belts and necklaces, bangles and hair crowns with dangling hairpin tassels.

Among all the four Guardians, only the West Guardian Jasper Wymark dressed extravagantly, and it ran in the family. Ignos Fire stepped backwards near the door to give way to the lady. Since he didn't report to the Council, he needn't salute the Guardians, let alone only their family members. His respect for General Spring was extended from his natural adoration for Lance Hua.

The young lady had a fresh face, playful upturned eyes and sensual, plump lips painted cherry red as if inviting other people's gaze straight to this part of her face upon the first meeting. She was shorter than Chiaki Spring, with longer hair and a more voluptuous body.

However, her footwork was light and airy; it reminded Commander Fire of a fawn hopping in the forest. Janice Wymark was a famous dancer, but she never let one live it down if they forgot that she was a skilled battlefield warrior. Dancing was her cultivation path; her frenetic struts and intricate silk once wrenched the shadow puppets out of their victims in her brother's campaign.

But this time, Ignos Fire knew she had a personal goal to fulfil. It was never good. This girl was too pampered; Jasper Wymark never said no to her requests.

"Oh, I see. I wonder if my senior General Spring has changed. Luckily, she hasn't," Janice Wymark sighed dramatically. Her eyes moved up and down Chiaki's height, judging the entire situation.

"Because it means I still have the chance to please Lord Hua. He only needs to back out from this laughable arrangement."

Ignos remembered one occurrence from Janice Wymark: she mentioned in a public event, probably someone's birthday a few months ago, that she had her eyes trained on the handsome, powerful ruler of the Northern regions. And she even dared to say that if there were a political marriage arrangement with Lance Hua, she would step forward willingly.

Commander Fire braced himself for the brawl, for it was a humiliation for this competitive lady to lose. He panicked internally about how his lord would act.

An arrogant man, a cold lady, and a homewrecker in one living room. Ignos Fire sat at the front row to watch the imminent showdown.