A few minutes later, Radulo and McRoy had finally arrived at the house. Radulo was a few inches taller than Jero. His skin was a dark espresso color while his short, curly hair was black, his eyes were dark green, and his face was cleanly shaven. He was wearing a black uniform top with white trousers and gold colored epaulets on his shoulders. He had a red sash around his torso and and his shirt had a handful of medals on it. Along with that, he wore shiny black knee-high boots and a black military cap that he had taken off once he entered his home.
McRoy, Jero's pal from his adolescence and Saphrin's knight, was around Jero's height. McRoy had rose beige skin, light grey hair, and hazel eyes. He had a short, boxed beard with a mustache that covered the wrinkles around his lips. His forehead contained many wrinkles and sunspots that his short, slicked back hair could not hide. The knight wore a white button down shirt with a black tapestry vest on top. His trousers matched his vest and his bow tie was dark red. The knight had decided to leave his sword at home and bring his cane instead. The body of his cane was made from dark brown wood while the handle was a brass knob. Despite being only a couple years older than Jero, McRoy hadn't aged well and looked like he could be Saphrin's grandfather.
After their arrival, everyone (except for Kreed) had moved into the dining room. The tablecloth was white while the walls of the room were a dark red color. The porcelain plates and bowls all had images of little grape vines on the rims. Jero sat next to Radulo while Mairey and Saphrin sat across the table from them. Lemar sat in the other chair next to Saphrin while McRoy chose to sit on the side of the table, close to Jero but not too far from the lass. The kitchen staff had prepared a roasted boar with an apple in it's mouth along with a bowl of creamed corn, cranberry sauce, vegetable medley, stewed eels, and raspberry pudding for dessert. Mairey, Jero, McRoy, and Radulo all drank some red wine while Saphrin and Lemar drank the apple cider that he brought.
"Congratulations on your retirement, General DiMero!" Said Mairey.
Radulo smiled, "Thank you, Ms. Bhatti!" He spoke with a Castilian accent.
"Congratulations, DiMero!" McRoy smiled, "So what do you plan on doing in the future now that you're done with the military?"
"Hm," Radulo thought for a moment, "Maybe go back to school and study to become an accountant."
There was a second of silence in the room before McRoy, Jero, and Radulo all burst out laughing.
"Ha! Good one!" McRoy slapped his knee.
"Huh?" Saphrin, Mairey and Lemar all looked at each other in confusion.
"You know I hate anything to do with being in customer service," said Radulo, still laughing.
A few seconds later, the laughter died down and Radulo cleared his throat, "I'm actually thinking about going somewhere nice next year. Maybe the Caribbean, maybe Thailand, or maybe somewhere like Italy. I want to stay there for at least a few months."
This caught Lemar's attention. Oh no! He panicked, What if Moria goes with him? I don't want to be away from her for that long.
"Is there anyone you plan on taking with you?" Asked Lemar right before he shoved a spoonful of creamed corn into his mouth.
"Well," said Radulo as he placed his hand on Jero's thigh, "I do have a certain person in mind, however," he began to squeeze his thigh playfully, "He shall not be named." Radulo then smirked at Jero.
The two men had been away from each other for almost three months and they have missed each other very much.
Jero looked at him and blushed, "Why are you keeping this mystery man a secret from us, brother?" He said as he bit his lower lip and struggled to contain his excitement.
"You see, dear brother," said Radulo as he slowly leaned in towards Jero, "This man is very special to me and I want to keep him all to myself." Jero then placed his hand on Radulo's hand.
This caused something to flash before Jero's eyes. A vision. He witnessed Radulo falling to his knees in defeat while coughing up blood. After the vision had ended, Jero gasped and jumped in his seat.
"Ouch!" Jero yelled when he hit his leg against the bottom of the table.
"Dad?!" Said Saphrin, sounding concerned, "Are you alright?"
Mairey just glared at them, seeming to be very disgusted.
"Is everything alright, chap?" Asked McRoy, raising an eyebrow.
Why is Mr. Wischtara acting so strange? Lemar thought as he continued eating.
"Oh it's nothing." said Jero, rubbing the sore spot on his leg.
"Are you sure?" Asked McRoy.
Jero nodded and smiled awkwardly, "Yes, yes. I assure you that I am perfectly fine."
"Thank goodness you're alright, dad." Said Moria, smiling.
Mairey rolled her eyes at them.
General DiMero's brother-in-law is so weird. Thought Lemar.
Radulo leaned in towards Jero and whispered, "What was that?" He sounded concerned.
"I have no clue." Jero whispered.
About an hour later, everyone (except for Saphrin and Mairey) returned to the living room. The two women went to the garden where they both sat on a white, metal bench. Mairey looked at her watch and then took out a tiny, metal flask from her purse. She threw her head back and took a swig from her flask.
"Why'd you bring your own drink?" Asked Saphrin, "We already have wine."
Mairey put her flask down and wiped her mouth with her handkerchief, "This is not alcohol," she responded, "It's a potion, prescribed by my physician, that I've been taking for a couple years now."
"Oh really?" Saphrin raised an eyebrow, "What's it for? If you don't mind me asking."
Mairey smiled, "I don't mind." She quickly put her flask away before answering, "This elixir allows my body to become more feminine by disabling my male organs. My physician said that I must take this once everyday for another year before I can go through with the surgical procedure."
"Another year?" Said Saphrin, seeming confused, "Aren't there potions you can take that have the same effect but work faster?"
Mairey shook her head, "Unfortunately no. There are permanent potions that can cause one's body to become very masculine after an hour of ingestion. However, that's the closest elvish medicine has come to instant gender change."
"Oh dear," said Saphrin, "What are you going to do when it's time to leave for Heishter?"
"I have almost a year before classes begin, however," Mairey sighed, "The recovery process can last up to two months. Which means that I'll have to choose between either holding the procedure off for another year or missing two months worth of school." She looked down in worry, "I just wish I could obtain my new form before school starts."
Saphrin placed her hand on her shoulder, "Well I know that you've been wanting this procedure for years now but I also know that Heishter is your dream school," she gave her a soft smile, "Whatever happens, I know that you'll make the right choice."
Mairey looked up at her and smiled, "Thank you, lass." The two women then hugged each other.
"There you are!" Said Lemar as he walked up to them, "I've been looking all over for you, Moria." He seemed to be holding something behind his back.
"Why's that?" Saphrin looked at him in confusion.
"Well I've been meaning to ask you something." He answered.
The two women looked at each other for a moment, wondering about his question.
He glared at Mairey, "I'd like to ask her in private."
Mairey crossed her arms, "What's the magic word?"
Lemar sighed, "Please?"
Mairey smirked, "Alrighty," she got up, "You two have fun." She then went back inside.
Lemar sat down next to Saphrin on the bench.
"So what's your question?" The lass asked curiously.
"Well," Lemar took the bouquet of roses out from behind his back, "Will you go to Lord Rivmer's ball with me?" He asked as he handed the flowers to her.
Saphrin sighed, "Listen," she refused to take the bouquet, "I can't."
"What?" Lemar was shocked, "How come?"
"I'm already going to the ball with Sir McRoy."
"Why him?" He asked angrily.
"Lemar," Saphrin began, "I'm his squire, remember? I must assist him. It's part of our duties as squires to attend these types of events with our knights."
"Oh…" Said Lemar, not knowing how to respond. *When did she get a knight?* He wondered.
"I already told you that I'm going to the ball with Sir McRoy," Saphrin was upset, "I told you that he's my knight numerous times and that we always go to these events together. Were you not paying attention?"
"You see," said Lemar, "I knew that you're training to be a squire but I never realized you were taking it *this* seriously?"
"Excuse me?" Saphrin was now furious, "Everyone at our school has a knight that they're working under."
"I know that." Said Lemar.
"Then what did you mean by this seriously?" She asked, glaring at him.
"Well," Lemar scratched the back of his head as he carefully thought about what to say, "You're the only female squire I know. Therefore, I assumed that you were only attending our school for status reasons."
"What?! You didn't think I was serious about becoming a knight? Unbelievable!" Saphrin got up and went back inside.
Lemar attempted to get up and follow her but then realized that it's no use. Once she left the garden, Lemar threw the bouquet onto the ground and began stomping on it.
"Pathetic dull roses!" He mumbled angrily, "Foul elvish hag! Foolish bloody Kreed following me here! Bloody McRoy taking my love to the ball!"
Meanwhile, Mairey was in the dining room getting some fruit punch. Kreed carefully approached her.
"Hello there!" he smiled shyly.
"Hi, Kreed." Said Mairey, barely making eye contact with him.
"Listen," he frowned, "I just want to apologize for what I said to you earlier. It was unkind and disgraceful of me to say all those things to you. I am deeply sorry for making you uncomfortable."
After hearing this, Mairey was pleasantly surprised. She finally looked up at him, "You know, you're the first one to ever apologize to me for something like that." She gave him a soft smile, "I forgive you, lad."
"Really?" Kreed smiled.
Mairey nodded, "But don't get your hopes up. I ain't gonna date you or anything like that."
"I understand," Kreed nodded, still smiling, "I just wanted to start over and be friends."
Mairey smirked a bit, "I'm alright with that, lad."