Departures

The maid's name was Charis-- apparently, she had been Aspasia's maid ever since she was a child. She attempted to tend to Diego's wounds, but he opted to do it himself, avoiding as much physical contact as he could. Aspasia observed the young man as he stitched his wounds, Charis at the very least holding a mirror up to his face as assistance.

"Taking down three men by yourself. Even though..." She scanned Diego's body. "You aren't something to write home about.... bet it was a struggle."

"I'm an asset now?'

"Yeah. You'll be useful for my survival. Keeping people like you by my side is how I can become something in the military, y'know?"

Diego whinced as he passed a needle through his cheek. "Even though my hair is red?"

"I never really gave a shit."

"Appreciate that, I guess."

Aspasia ran a tongue across her teeth, thinking. "I feel... if I help you. If you train, you could become stronger. You'd become somethin' special."

"Thanks?"

"Same with the others. That's what an asset is. It's cultivating something that will persist until I die."

"Sounds more like you're cultivating a cohort?"

"Not a bad idea?"

"I suppose not. If anything, I'm just a bit more intimidated by you than I was before this."

Charis sighed. "I apologize about the mistress, she is like this... all the time. She is a very... logic-based humanoid."

"Humanoid is certainly a word."

"I don't like you. But... if the mistress believes you to hold great potential, then I will believe her."

Diego looked at Aspasia. "You think you'll be commanding me in the future?"

"No, probably not. But I do believe that we could be great allies, and if I do get to command you, all the better." Aspasia went on to say, laying out her injured leg in a more comfortable position.

Diego looked at her leg with a raised eyebrow. "How is it?"

"Healers are amazing."

"When do you expect to recover?"

"One more week."

"That's good."

"You have such a caring personality that you refuse to show-- and you're somewhat of a trickster, too? Why don't you pick a lane?"

"Huh?" Diego looked to Aspasia with a questioning expression before turning back to the mirror. "I just don't want people dying around me. That's it."

"What about that side of you that likes being a little shit? That one guy you lied to? What was that about?"

"He was annoying so it was a good way to get him to fuck off."

Aspasia chuckled. "No, it wasn't."

Diego grimaced before continuing with his suturing. "Guess it wasn't."

The next day, Nikolas looked surprised by Diego's injuries, all of them setting up at the Naiad Coast Military base. "What happened to you?"

Diego sighed. "Some guys who didn't like my natural complexion wanted me gone for good. I... handled it."

"By yourself?'

"I guess?"

Nikolas seemed impressed, polishing his gear. He looked over to Aspasia and then to her maid. "So... uh... you're allowed to bring her along?"

"Charis, her name is Charis," Aspasia responded.

"Oh... uh... will 'Charis' be alright with us?"

"She knows how to fight."

Maria raised a hand to gather everyone's attention. "So... we're meeting with our new leader today, yes?"

Diego sighed. "That's the hope."

An older gentleman with slicked-back hair and dark skin approached the party in military gear, holding themselves up with a tangible sense of authority. Once they arrived at their party, he scanned everyone there for a moment before speaking up. "I am Horus, I will be leading this platoon from henceforth under the command of the Duchess, Cirillo."

Nikolas saluted the man. "I'm Nikolas Amarli."

Diego stood up, putting his hands behind his back as the others began introducing themselves. Once it landed on him, he did the same.

Horus gave an understanding nod. "Good." He scanned the party once again. "First, we'll be delivering the diseased soldier, Kamila, back to her family in Ucitiel, no?"

Aspasia nodded. "That's the intent."

"Why do you choose to personally deliver them back to their family?"

They all stood in silence for a moment before Aspasia motioned toward Diego. "He believed that it was the platoon's responsibility to deliver the news. We were close to her after all."

"So you listened to him?" Horus gave a pointed look at the red-headed young man.

"All I did was agree with his logic."

Horus looked back at Diego, staring for a moment. "Then it shall be. He is right." They paused, letting a huff out from their nose. "We will make moves to the Capital, and proceed from there over to the Wall. Luckily, it is a straightforward path as it's directly south of the Naiad Coast. We'll unfortunately be forced to go by carriage as, overall, this is a patrol mission. We'll be patrolling more than just the wall, but instead the entire stretch leading to the Wall itself."

Diego didn't seem to mind all too much, but the remainder of the party grimaced.

"Three days to Ucitiel, a momentary respite, then another three-day journey down to the wall. That's if we don't face any momentary setbacks, of course. In general, the trip should take us no more than two to three weeks if we keep a steady pace." Horus blinked as he spotted the maid standing at Aspasia's side and pointed to her. "Can she fight?"

Aspasia nodded. "Everyone under my family's name can fight."

Horus nodded. "That is all I needed to hear. Any other questions?"

Nikolas raised his hand. "They wanted us to patrol The Wall, yes?"

"Yes."

"So... why? What are we looking for? They don't have people patrolling like this without good reason."

"Hero King, Ilias, is being sent out for a Salvantis Expedition. They want us to look around for any suspicious people lingering around the perimeter."

Aspasia raised her hand. "Do we know what comes after that?"

Horus nodded. "We do. We'll be overseeing the festivities in Osuna." Diego flinched. "They're planning on making another attempt at pulling that Mantra Blade from the stump-- as they've done for years before."

Aspasia mumbled. "Another one, huh?"

"Any other questions?"

The cohort remained silent.

"Then... we'll set off."

The group found themselves a carriage that they could haul themselves into, placing Kamila's preserved body in the middle of the carriage itself. Battle Horses pulled the vehicle forward, led by Maria holding the reins, Horus watching quietly from within the carriage.

They leave the Naiad coast, met initially with swampy grasslands with sparse forestry scattered about in the distance. As they slowly picked up the pace, the grasslands persisted, from afar, overcast shifted high above the sky, the light of the sun peaking through the clouds like spotlights.

Oftentimes, whilst close to the Naiad Coast like they were, they were forced to trudge through muddy ground, forcing the carriage through before being forced to scrape off any residual Earth that may have gotten stuck against the wheels.

As Horus predicted, the journey had taken no more than three days, and they were uneventful three days.

Admittedly, Diego was enthralled by the natural sights that Haflastus would produce. He hadn't left Osuna much, and when he did, he would go by train, never taking the time to admire the scenery around him. This was what he believed made his journey so far worth it. The nature, the air, the feeling of wind hitting your back. The sound of shifting fauna and the sounds of Landliners flying across grassy fields.

Diego was surprised as he watched a Landliner fly across the Earth, growing below them over to the next city. "I've never actually seen one in person."

Maria giggled. "Me neither... I've always heard of them, seen them parked around cities and stuff, but... never in motion."

Nikolas cocked a brow. "What are you guys talkin' about?"

"The Landliners." Diego pointed.

"Oh yeah~! Hey, Aspasia, have you ever ridden in one of those?"

She raised a brow. "I have. They're quite large in person."

"I'd imagine." Maria cut back into the conversation. "They seem pretty big on the outside."

"Just as big on the inside as well. They got little capsule beds for everyone on board. Could probably house a decent crew on some of the bigger ones-- but those are sky-bound in comparison."

"Skyliners, right?" Maria paused. "I don't think I've ever seen a single one!"

"Almost always exclusive to Royals. If you ever see one, it's probably from them-- either that or the Alqayid of Sitaarnujum came visiting."

Nikolas tapped Horus's shoulder. "Hey, I know this is random, but you look a bit too competent to be put with a group like us. What's the story behind that?"

Horus's pinched expression softened slightly before looking straight ahead. He blinked, "I'm experienced, but I'm a teacher, not a commander."

"So... you're essentially our trainer?"

"Half and Half. I'm a leader, sure. But I'm not someone who could lead armies. I thrive in platoons such as this. The duchess saw potential in you all, and I was sent here."

"Man... that's an honor. Can't believe the Duchess of Cirillo of all people thinks like that about us!" Nikolas chuckled. "Also, she's gorgeous; the stories don't do her justice. Don't you agree?" He looked at Diego, who was spacing out at the scenery.

"What?" Diego cocked his head to the side.

"Don't you think the Duchess is gorgeous? If I were a noble, I'd give it a go, y'know? Try my hand at courting."

Aspasia sighed. "Should you be saying these things about our benefactor? A Duchess no less?"

"A man can dream, y'know?"

Diego narrowed his eyes. "What the hell are you even saying to me?"

"Are you saying that you wouldn't try takin' a shot?"

"Ta-Take a shot? I'm... I'm lost-- what are we talking about?"

"The Duchess! Ms. Cirillo."

Maria chimed in. "I heard that she had a fiancé at some point, but due to her scars, they broke off their engagement. A pity that is."

Nikolas scoffed. "What the hell!? That's so bull! A waste that is! I'm outraged, can you tell?" He smiled.

"From the stories, I imagined that she was more brutish, but... she was much more elegant."

"Elegant is a word."

"Like... her steps were very purposeful, y'know?"

"I think... I've met her?" Diego said as more of a question to himself rather than a question to anyone else, looking at his hands. "Uh... maybe... I dunno."

"You feel like you've met her?" Nikolas leaned in. "What do you mean? How?"

"The eyes... some girl I met when I was a kid had the same eyes as hers—a rose-silver color. Dark hair and skin. Barely saw the rest of their face though."

"Weren't you from Osuna?"

"Crime is frequent there... it wouldn't be an impossibility..."

"Wait, so... how did you meet? What happened?"

"I barely remember. I think I helped them out, and they left. That's about it. I don't think anything else happened."

"Th-This is-- wait, so that would mean that you knew the Duchess of Cirillo before she was rediscovered by her own family!?"

"We're only a couple of years apart, so... maybe?"

"That has to be some type of destiny in the making~!" Nikolas laughed.

"I wouldn't say that. Any criminal during that time could probably recall at least one run-in with someone like that... I think."

"Anyways! You still haven't answered my question, Diego, sir! What was your impression of the lady?"

"Hm? What about it?"

"What did you think?"

"She looked scary."

"No!" Nikolas sighed. "No! I-- Her looks! How do you think? She's gorgeous, right?"

Diego lifted a brow. "W-Why are we talking about this?"

"I'm not crazy, right?" Nikolas looked to the rest of the party.

Maria shook her head. "I agree, she was... I couldn't help but admire her."

Diego sighed. "She carried herself in a... scary way."

"What!?" Nikolas exclaimed. "Scary!?"

"Was she not?"

Aspasia chuckled. "The Duchess is certainly an intimidating person."

Charis steepled her fingers together. "I wish I could've seen her. I admire her greatly for her feats as a General."

Nikolas seemed aghast. "I feel that we're focusing on the wrong things here."

Horus interrupted the conversation. "I feel that you are having an inappropriate discussion about a high-ranking figure in Haflastus."

"If given the opportunity, would you not want to have a shot?"

"A shot?"

"Marriage!"

"Straight to marriage?" Horus shook his head. "No. I'm in my thirties now. Leave that to the young nobles sitting within the courts."

"It would have to be some sort of house husband."

Aspasia grimaced. "Why are we still on this conversation?"

"'Cause I want the people around me to confirm that I'm not crazy."

Aspasia threw her head back against the supports of the carriage. "No, you aren't crazy."

Nikolas's eyes widened. "Oh? You're agreeing with me, of all people? I knew I could sense so-"

"Could you shut up already?"

Nikolas smirked, turning back to one of the only men in the team, that being Diego. "Give me an honest answer."

Diego sat in silence for a moment, giving a pointed look to Nikolas as he thought to himself. Diego sighed, "Uh... I don't think I'm in the headspace to think about these things at the moment."

"What? You don't like women?"

Diego's arm twitched. "That ain't it."

Nikolas put his hands up a little, noticing some frustration in Diego's tone. "Sorry, I won't press any further. I'll let you know, I don't mind-- in fact, I don't think anyone here car--"

"Like I said... that wasn't it."

Nikolas clicked his tongue, thinking. "Sorry... for sounding annoying, but... what is the reason?"

"Ask me when I'm in a better mood." Diego looked away, occupying himself by polishing his weapons.

After a few days of journeying, they had finally arrived at the capital of Haflastus, Ucitiel. It was a short, one-day stop, taking up housing at a local inn before heading out with Kamila's body. They approached the estate where her family lived, making sure to ring their front doorbell. Diego was the one who was assigned the speaking role at the time, whilst Aspasia and Nikolas watched in the back, essentially only helping him bring the poor young woman's body back to their parents.

They watched from afar as Diego gave a deep bow to the older couple who looked on in despair at the corpse of their daughter, laid out on a tourniquet, covered in a thick grey cloth. It wasn't any normal material; it was specifically a material chosen to cool the bodies, to keep them preserved through various conditions.

Her parents were not as kind as she was, the prejudice of one with crimson hair sticking to him like a curse. Ultimately, they blamed the demise of their daughter on a creature of ill luck such as himself.

It's said that if a Carmesi is on your side of the battle, the army will either come out in shambles, or they will win the battle with a savage at their side. Diego guessed that the former seemed to be the case.

Diego crossed back over to his cohort. Nikolas motioned awkwardly at Diego, avoiding touch. "They gave ya shit, huh?"

Diego shrugged, pushing forward.

They eventually stopped at a restaurant with what remained of the cohort, eating their fill, Horus included. Nikolas observed the bustling city streets before looking at Diego. "Osuna is pretty packed as well, right?"

Diego scanned his surroundings as well. "Yeah... bit more grimey I suppose."

"That's a surprise."

Aspasia took a bite from her food as she spoke. "Osuna is known for its criminal underbelly. The Duke there neglects it constantly-- complaints from all sides have met the man's ears."

"Including you?"

"Not me in specific."

Horus sniffed. "My Cousin has certainly sent complaints."

"Cousin? Are they some big noble?"

"Caladan. The Guard of the Duchess."

"Oh! That one guy hanging around her when she visited? One in blue?"

"Indeed."

An impressed hum escaped Nikolas's throat. After that, they rested in a comfortable silence. All of them invested in their food.

Horus sighed, interrupting that quiet. "Alright... we have almost a week and a half to reach the wall. We'll be leaving Ucitiel tomorrow, first thing in the morning."