Deridiv Listes looked at himself in the mirror. He was tall and well built, had clean and tidy black hair, and no scars on his face even after fighting thousands of battles. Battles that he had never lost.
His polished black set of armor sheen under the lights with lines of gold created an intricate pattern. This gold line flowed from two huge golden bats sitting on his shoulder while baring their fangs. A small golden badge with the shape of a spear was pinned to his heart. And embedded on his chest was a statuette the shape of a man with two bloody swords piercing through his waist. This was the symbol of death, and despair to the enemy. A reminder that nothing would save them from the black legion.
But who was his enemy?
His sight turned to the side where a floor-to-ceiling window overlooked waves after waves of soldiers lining up in black polished armor. Black Legion. Each and every one of them is his comrade, friend, family, and they are also his sword to cut down his enemy.
But... who was his enemy?
For years he had fought at the very front of this kingdom to protect its citizen. Now he turned his spear towards them.
His enemy...
Deridiv took a miniature of a soldier with a spear in its hand, roaring towards the sky.
"What should I do father?"
Lightning flashed and rain poured on the forsaken land where not even a single weed could be found. Thunder boomed and the wind struck. The soldiers below stood straight as a statue even under the violent wind of nature. Not losing out to them, the tents on the camp stuck still on the ground, not even giving up a single budge to show their resilience.
Suddenly, a knocking sound came from the door. But the door was locked, so he needed to open it himself.
"Wait," Deridiv said, walking towards the door.
He opened the door and a beautiful woman with a dress pounced into a hug and kissed him.
"Stedrin, my love. This is not how a daughter from Armwell should act."
Stedrin looked at him and pouted. "Deridiv, my dear, this wife of yours traveled through thunder and lightning to see you and you didn't even return the hug."
"Alright, I was in the wrong." Deridiv hugged her.
But she pushed him away. "Too late."
"I'm sorry, dear. Please give me a chance."
She looked at him up and down. "Take off your armor, then I'll reconsider."
Towards her, Deridiv could not argue nor refuse so he took off his armor which revealed his simple shirt and trousers underneath. The clothes were nothing much but with his muscle, he could charm his wife even if he wore something worst.
As expected, she blushed and rushed to hug him. This time he returned the hug and kissed her head.
"There you go. Happy?"
She nodded her head as she sunk into his chest.
"Except me, what brings you to this forsaken land, my love."
She pushed him again. "Who said, I'm here for you."
Deridiv sighed with a smile. Twelve years of marriage and she had never changed. Not even for a second. But it was a good thing.
"Then you're here for your brother?"
She pulled and hugged him again. "Maybe."
Deridiv bitterly smiled. He would never get a concrete answer out of her in this situation. Not that it matters. She might just be bored at home and miss him. Maybe he should give her a child to accompany her next time. Or maybe two or three more. That should be enough.
"Come on," Deridiv said. "Sit down and get some rest. I'll call someone to bring some food and drinks."
She bopped his nose with her delicate finger. "That's my man. It would be nice if you give me a massage too. My feet are a little sore, you see."
"Anything for my queen." He took a small bell from the table and rang it once before he lifted her off her feet and put her down on a sofa gently.
Kneeling on one knee, he rubbed and kneaded her legs. This reminds him of the time he gave his mother a massage. That was the day when his father still taught him the way of the spear and the code of honor. But everything changed within the passage of time. Just like everything else.
Except for his wife.
"Is it good?" he asked. "Why are you smiling like that?"
She fumbled his hair. "What's wrong with your wife smiling?" She turned her gaze to the side. "Weather training again?"
"They need it."
"For what?" Stedrin said.
"For anything."
"They're soldiers. They fight against people, not the rain."
"If they can fight against the force of the world, I think they'll win against anything."
"That's a dumb way of thinking," Stedrin said.
"Are you saying that your husband is dumb?"
"Yes. I, your wife, said that you are dumb. What are you going to do about that?"
"I think I need to enforce some laws to remind my dear wife that any rebellious thoughts have a dire consequence."
"And how are you going to force this 'laws'?"
"I don't think you're ready."
"Who decides if I am ready or not?"
"If that is what you want then don't cry to me for forgiveness." Deridiv tore his shirt and threw it away.
Stedrin flicked her finger and the curtain moved by itself, covering the window. "I assume you wouldn't like your subordinates to see this side of yours."
He reached out to her and was about to untie her dress.
Knock! Knock!
Deridiv and stedrin looked at each other.
"I guess my enforcement shall wait for another time," Deridiv said.
Stedrin sighed and glared at the door. "It better be for something important, lest this wife of yours shall show her bad side."
"It might be the food we ordered."
"You better pray it's not."
"We'll see." Deridiv walked towards his armor and wore them before he opened the door."
"Hey, Deridiv. How have you been?" Keldall smiled and hugged him.
Deridiv smiled as well as he returned the hug. "I've been good, Keldall. How about you. Did the twelve botsahoppers I gave you did well?"
"Those giant toads you mean? Yeah, they're pretty good. As you said, they can jump inside the enemy formation and wreak havoc on the enemy backline, then my cavalry mows them down like grass." Keldall laughed. "It was such a sight."
"Good, good." Deridiv put a hand on the man's shoulder. "Come on, sit down so we can have a good talk."
"Hey, what about me," Stedrin said.
"Stedrin, what are you doing here?" Keldall said.
"What's wrong with your sister being here?" She said. "This sister of yours has been married to this man and can visit him anytime this sister want." She walked towards Deridiv and hugged his arm.
Keldall shook his head. "I thought you would grow up if you get married, father also thought the same. Alas, we were wrong."
Deridiv sat down with Stedrin and rubbed her head.
Keldall looked at him weirdly.
"What?" Deridiv asked.
"I think I know why she didn't grow up now."
Deridiv chuckled. "I don't care if she has grown up or not. She's a lovely wife and that is more than enough."
Stedrin blushed and hit his stomach. Her efforts proved to be futile under the protection of his armor.
"Well, at least she's happy. She's rather useless but Father is rather fond of her."
"Who you call useless?" She glared at her brother.
Deridiv hugged her and caressed her head. "No one calls you useless, my love."
Keldall sighed. "Father also treats her the same way as you. I guess that is also the reason." He leaned on the sofa. "I guess the saying is true."
"What saying," Deridiv asked.
"To win a woman's heart, you have to follow her father."
"Stedrin, is that true?" Deridiv said.
"Yes, daddy."
Keldall had his eyes wide open. "Oh no. My ears. I can't believe that came out of my sister's mouth. Who taught you that?"
Stedrin put a hand on her mouth and giggled. "I got a lot of new friends since I lived in Listes Manor."
"You need to control who she befriended with, Deridiv. Or this situation could get out of hand."
Deridiv rubbed his chin. "What about no?"
Keldall was shocked. "Don't tell me you actually like being called a... For the Eye of Fate bless us! She's your wife!
"What's wrong with that?" Deridiv asked.
"Yeah, what's wrong with that," Stedrin said. "You're just a 27 years old loner. What do you know about love and affection."
Keldall gasped and his expression turned for the worse.
Stedrin had said too much this time.
"Stedrin, my love. Why don't you apologize to your brother."
"I don't want to."
"Come on," he said calmly. "He's my brother too, why don't you do it for me."
"Alright, but no battle for three months, no jumping botsahopper, no thousands of boots marching the ground, no loud noises, and you have to stay with me until I'm satisfied."
"Seems like I need to put my men on vacation," Deridiv said.
Stedrin smiled, walked to her brother, and kissed him on the cheek. "Sorry, brother I didn't mean it."
Keldall waved his hand. "Go, go. Go back to your husband's embrace."
Stedrin spun around. "You two have a chat. I'm going to take a shower."
"Don't take too long, love. Let's eat together after your shower."
She exited the room, smiled, and closed the door.
Keldall looked at him. "Why do you agree to not take any battle. The rebel forces would have so much time under their belt to prepare."
"Even if I give them a decade, nothing will change. The bleassephere's rule is eternal and nothing can change that."
Keldall leaned forward. "Bleassephere might be eternal, but its emperor doesn't. You know why this war was fought, Deridiv. You know why the emperor assigned you."
"He trusts no one else," Deridiv said.
"No, Deridiv. The rebel is getting stronger and the emperor worries that they will keep this momentum."
"This is not my battle, Keldall."
"The Emperor decreed that this is your battle, Deridiv." Keldall squinted his eyes. "Nothing can change that."
Deridiv sighed. "I really don't want to do this."
"You have no other option. It's fight or die."
Deridiv looked at him. "Don't you miss fighting on the frontline? Killing any invader and traitor that comes our way while protecting the citizen."
"Of course I do."
"Here, I felt like the invader and the traitor. They're used to be the ones who we protect. I can't bring myself to kill them. Not anymore."
"Used to be, Deridiv. As you said, we killed any invader and traitor that comes at us. And they are the traitor. They are the invader. Anyone who opposes the emperor is our enemy. And you will be his sword."
"You've changed," Deridiv said.
"And you should too. For the emperor. For Bleassephere."
Deridiv sighed again and leaned on the sofa. "I'll think about it.
Keldall sighed too. "Is that why you chose to agree to her request? To take some time to figure things out?"
"Not really. My father gave me advice one time."
"What advice?"
"Always admit defeat when you fight against your wife."
"Why?"
"Because you don't fight a losing battle."
Deridiv and Keldall laughed.
Author note: Author note: Hey, so some of you might know but I have started a second series. It's my first time writing two books at once so I need a little help. I don't have much to offer but what about reading early chapters before everyone else sounds to you? I only need help with proofreading and you can also tell me your opinion while we work on it. Proofreading is just simply finding misspelled words and stuff like that. So if you are interested join the discord server here: https://discord.gg/yPtRt29tAg