Chapter 23: "Come and Marry Me Soon"

 Early Morning.

 "My lady, the Thais Legion has been defeated," Para said as she stood outside the tent.

 "Defeated so quickly. How many troops came from the Southern Empire?" Alva asked from inside the tent.

 "There are more than two troops in the city of Razih, and about two or three hundred heavily armored soldiers are hidden. Fort Tammunu also hid a large number of cavalry. These troops then didn't withdraw to the Southern Empire and have been on this side. During Taeis' siege, Lagaiya only sent two troops to feign support, and after Taeis decimated these two troops, he thought he had no worries and attacked the city in force, only to be sneak attacked by the Southern Empire cavalry from the rear."

 "It's a good thing for our Saran tribe that Taiis couldn't attack Razih," Alvar walked out of the tent, "hurry up with the recruitment, we may attack Razih as the main force later on, only then can Razih be divided among the Saran tribe again. Tell Vahan to come and meet me."

 After a while, Vahan walked into the tent.

 "Missed me after not seeing you all night?" Vahan whispered cheaply.

 "You can leave today," Alva's tone was heavy, "This is the banner I made for the Antara Legends. Every noble and mercenary family has their own flag, see if you like it?" Alva unfolded the banner with both hands.

 Embroidered in the center of the cloudy white rectangular piece of cloth was a blood red rose with a slightly curved neck and upturned stamens, blooming towards the sky.

 Vahan gently stroked the rose on it, "Have you been preparing this for a long time?"

 "Prepared since you disappeared, I knew you wouldn't die so easily. In the future as well, don't let yourself get hurt, let alone die," she slowly wrapped her arms around him and gently laid her head across his chest, "Go, Para has already gathered the mercenaries."

Together, Alvar and Vahan walked out of the tent and headed to a flat area at the bottom of the slope.

 The mercenaries stood in unison, both Southern Imperials and Aseleans. The five men of Ramtor stood to one side of the group, leaning on their weapons in their hands. Soldiers from Alvar's forces sat and stood on the slope, looking at the crowd.

 Alva, Vahan, Nadeem, and Para stood in front of the crowd.

 "Starting today we are leaving this place. The name of our unit is 'Antara's Legend', and I hope that all the people in this unit will be as valiant, virtuous, and supportive of the weak and the poor as Antara bin Shehdad was, and I hope that every mercenary here will write his or her own legend, each and every one of them! This name in the near future will resound through all tribes and spread through all nations like Antara in the book, and you are all Antara," Vahan told the crowd, "This is our banner, and everyone must bloom like this rose, with its own beauty and fragrance, its own worth and beauty. "

 The group of mercenaries looked at the man, the man who had been so intimidating in the arena, and who, at that moment, had reassured themselves in a way that no troop, no slaver, had ever had around them.

 "Go pack up, we'll leave in a few minutes," Vahan finally said to the crowd.

 The mercenaries dispersed.

 "My lord, we would like to follow Vahan as well, is that alright?" Two soldiers said to Alvar as he was about to turn around.

 "What, am I treating you poorly?" Alva looked at the two angrily. It scared the two into silence with their heads bowed.

 Vahan stepped aside to pick at Alva's arm and said to the two, "Are both of your injuries healed?"

 "Fine!" The two soldiers returned in unison.

 "It's okay if you guys follow me," Vahan said and looked at Alva prayerfully.

 She glanced at him in a bitchy way, "It's okay for you two to follow him and take care of him. Know what I mean?!"

 Vahan instantly put away his smile.

 "Understood!" The two soldiers said cheerfully.

 "You guys go pack up, and follow them later."

 The younger soldier limped and stumbled with every step. The older soldier, his shoulders slumped. The two left slowly.

 These two were the soldiers who were sold into the arena with Vahan, and in the end, only these two and Vahan made it out alive.

 The younger soldier, whose left leg had been pierced by a spear during the battle in the arena, had his hamstring cut, and stumbled from side to side as he walked.

 The slightly older soldier had his left shoulder slashed several times, making it difficult to exert force or lift his entire left arm; the fingers of his left hand were also chopped off three times during the jousting, leaving only his thumb and index finger. It was because of their injuries that these two men were able to regain their lives. During that time in the arena, Vahan had been taking care of the two, which had prevented them from dying of illness in the cage.

 "What about your blatant placement of scouts," Vahan scowled at her.

 "Yeah, you'll be honest from now on. Nadeem will be coming with you," Alva said, her black veil unable to hide her smile.

 "That would be too big of a deal, let him stay and help you," Vahan said in a huff.

 "No, he has to go with you or I don't feel comfortable," Alva said solemnly.

 "If he doesn't stay, I won't go either," Vahan grabbed her hands and stared at him seriously.

 "I'd better stay, these dogs are resourceful, they won't be able to do anything," Nadeem called out to the two men as if he had heard their conversation, from beside a large tree.

 Alvar hastily drew back his hands and turned his face sideways.

 "See, the Archery Master agrees with our abilities, what are you so uneasy about ...."

 "Miss, they're ready to go, they're all waiting for him," Para said as she approached the two.

 Vahan took her hand and said in a deep voice, "I'm leaving, take care of yourself." Then, turning around, he walked away.

 Suddenly, however, he was tugged back by her hand and pressed against her, "Come and marry me soon."

 "I will!" Vahan strides off toward the mercenaries, how he dares not turn back.

 The mercenaries headed deeper into the forest, dappled light spilling onto the grass.

 She stood in place for a long time. The indigo robes were still soaked with his blood, the man who had held himself hostage with a blade in his hand and finally fainted on his shoulder, and at the thought of it, she smiled involuntarily again, and walked back towards the tent.

 ----

 Fifty or so men were walking through the forest.

 "This woman was just conquered by Vahan?" Radha muttered in a low voice next to a few people.

 "What woman? Call sister-in-law from now on," Bogie slapped him on the head.

 "That's right, watch what you say from now on, this day and age, and give armor and weapons and soldiers," Zayin slapped him on the head again.

 "In the future, if you don't respect your sister-in-law, I'll whack you to death," Ramtuo slapped the fat man on the head again.

 "Killing the arena alone and leading the troops to bring down Hubia. It feels like being a sister-in-law is a bit of an aggravation for her," Zana said in a deep voice.

 Hearing this, Fatty had already dodged far away for fear of receiving another slap, "You guys are so right! If Vahan has second thoughts in the future, I'll be the first to say no."

 Vahan listened to the conversation of several people and didn't say anything, just walking in silence.

 "Where are we going, my lord," Zayin shouted to Vahan, who was walking at the front.

 "To clear the hideout!" Vahan shouted.

 "Yes!" Several people said in unison. There was nothing more pleasurable for them than clearing out the bandits, who made them all have a grudge against the bandits.

 A group of people followed the southern slope of the Mengla Mountain Range southward, heading towards Luxor City.