POV: Casimir
"Did you hear abo-"
"-SHOLE YOU BETTE-"
"-so bout the Bri-"
"I cant beli-"
I couldn't help but notice the chaos and commotion in the bar. Amidst the noise, I savored the taste of the succulent mutton in my mouth. As I enjoyed my meal, Oliver, my trusted second in command, approached me with a question.
"Sir, are we departing tomorrow morning?" Oliver inquired.
"-ight of the r-"
"-ny news abou-"
Glancing at him, I observed his aging features. Despite his years, he remained strong and reliable. With his short, grayish blonde hair and a long beard, he exuded wisdom and experience. His simple chainmail armor, adorned with a green and black cloth, spoke of his loyalty.
"Yes, Oliver. Tomorrow morning, we set off for the Serpentine Valley," I replied, taking a sip of my ale.
He nodded, taking a sip of his wine. Looking around the bar, I noticed the soldiers seeking solace in their drinks. The vibrant paintings on the walls caught my attention, but it was the waitress who truly captivated me. Clad in a white shirt, a black corset, and a flowing green skirt, she moved gracefully from table to table, her long red hair cascading around her. She was truly a sight to behol-!!!?
In that instant, a surge of warning signals flooded my senses, causing my hair to stand on end and a shiver to run down my spine.
Before I could even comprehend the situation, my body reacted instinctively, propelling me out of my seat.
The room was engulfed by a deafening "Boom," reminiscent of a massive boulder crashing down a mountainside.
Silence fell over the entire bar, a large crack splitting the floor beneath me along with the remnants of the chair I had been sitting on, a cloud of dust obscuring the figure that had nearly flattened me into a bloody mess.
My eyes widened as I recognized the silhouette emerging from the dust cloud.
"What the hell was that for, you old bastard!" I yelled at the elderly man who still haunted my nightmares.
"I'm disappointed... you let your guard down... Have you forgotten everything I taught you, Casimir?" Rainham inquired, his expression bored as he stared at me.
"Supreme Commander Argus vii Harmonia requested a meeting with you, General Casimir," he informed me sternly, his voice carrying a serious tone and his stoic expression remaining unchanged.
....Oh no.
.
.
.
Rushing through the bustling shopping district, I sprinted towards the city hall, weaving through the crowd of people.
"Seriously, why does this city have to be so massive?" I grumbled, fully aware of the vast number of troops stationed here. But this was getting ridiculous - a whopping 10 kilometers from the shopping district to the damn city hall.
For an average person, it would probably take an hour to cover this distance on foot. However, I couldn't afford to waste any time. The longer it took me to arrive, the angrier Argus would become.
Swiftly maneuvering around the busy stalls, I managed to go unnoticed by the vendors, moving to fast for them to see me, as I made one final sharp turn. Finally, I reached the grand city hall, my heart pounding with a mix of relief and apprehension.
As I entered the building, the servants scurried around, acknowledging my presence with quick bows.
I simply nodded in response, gesturing to a maid to lead me to the Supreme Commander.
"It's not necessary," I said firmly as she bowed once more, "Just show me to the Lord's quarters."
The maid guided me through the labyrinthine corridors of the city hall. Normally, I wouldn't require assistance, but Argus had a habit of changing his room every night to avoid potential "tragedies."
While I highly doubted the Siriath empire would attempt anything, after all Ewan's arrogance knew no bounds. Argus' constant room changes were more likely due to his strained relationship with his siblings.
Lost in my thoughts, the maid bowed once more before departing, leaving me standing in front of a door at the end of the interconnected hallways.
Well... Here we go, I muttered to myself, gripping the door handle tightly. I couldn't quite comprehend why my strength seemed to be draining from my arm, but I pushed through it nonetheless and entered the room.
"Hey..."
Gazing down at the floor, I sensed Argus's piercing stare on me, the kind that could send chills down anyone's spine. Summoning some courage, I lifted my head and locked eyes with him.
His dark eyes bore into mine, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. Argus, a man that looked to be in his early twentys with olive skin and long black hair styled with side-swept bangs while the rest was kept tied in a tail. His military uniform, white and green, resembled Rainham's, but with its own unique flair.
Argus called out to me, his voice carrying a sense of urgency and anger, while a smile on his face that left me feeling uneasy.
.
.
.
"Alright you lot, rise and shine! It's time to move out!" I bellowed at my soldiers, using mana to amplify my voice. Many of them seemed groggy or too tipsy to pay attention to my orders.
"We're marching towards Arminaria and we must arrive by noon tomorrow," I declared.
The majority of my troops stared at me in disbelief, as if I had lost my mind.
"But Sir, Arminaria is quite a distance away. It would take us at least three days to reach there. Are you suggesting we get there by tomorrow?" James, a young soldier with brown hair, questioned me.
"Hey, weren't we supposed to depart for the Serpentine Valley tomorrow?" exclaimed another soldier in the back, whose face I couldn't recognize.
"Orders from the Supreme Commander, can't do anything about them, so stop the questions and get the horses ready!" All of them went to prepare their equipment, a few muttering under their breaths.
I sighed, realizing that reaching the Arminaria Fortress by tomorrow and being battle-ready would be a challenging task. My men would be exhausted by the time we arrived, and I doubted there would be any time for rest.
"Sir, is everything alright?" I was snapped out of my reverie by Olivier's voice, as he led my horse Clove, a majestic black stallion, towards me.
"Yes, Olivier, everything is going well. How are the rookies doing? They're quite young and most of them come from noble backgrounds. Have they been causing you any trouble?" I asked with genuine curiosity, as I gently patted Clove on the snout. It was a way for me to momentarily distract myself from the challenges that lay ahead.
"Sir, everything has been going smoothly. Just because I'm old doesn't mean I can't handle a bunch of youngsters who still smell like their mother's milk," Olivier replied confidently.
His words brought a smile to my face, and I couldn't help but chuckle. As I gazed beyond the trees, my eyes fixed on the moon rising in the sky, I felt a sense of peace.
"Well, I suppose it's time to head out" I murmured softly, more to myself than anyone else.