Standing before his crew's door, the General studied the slip of paper in his hand, his fingers brushing over the rough texture of the papyrus. The ink was fresh, the scent sharp and unmistakable. This morning, he had discovered the note slipped under his suite door. The message, hastily scribbled and cryptic, read: "Meet me in room 5 at noon. I have intel on the Duke." The words were clear, but the sender's intentions remained a mystery. Despite his reservations, the potential to gain critical information on the Duke was too valuable to ignore.Leon cautiously peeked out from behind the door before his lips curved into a wide, welcoming grin. "General," he said, his voice softening, "come in." He stepped back, the door swinging open.The General hesitated in the doorway, his breath catching as he stepped inside. The door clicked shut behind him. Leon stood before him, a single towel hanging loosely around his hips. Water droplets glistened on his smooth chest, while dark strands of damp hair clung to his handsome face.For a moment, the General was at a loss for words. His gaze flickered over Leon's form, lingering on the way the droplets of water slid down his torso, tracing the lines of his hard muscles. He quickly forced his eyes away, but the brief glance left his heart pounding with an unfamiliar sensation."Captain," the General managed to say, his voice a touch lower than usual. "I wasn't expecting...""To catch me fresh out of the bath?" Leon teased, his grin widening. "I didn't expect you this early, General. But you're always welcome, of course."The General's composure faltered as he redirected his gaze towards the ground. He hastily shoved the note into Leon's hands. As their fingers brushed, the contact sent a spark through the General's skin. "I have important business to attend to, but the mission cannot wait. Proceed to the Duke's territory and begin the investigation. I'll rejoin you shortly."Leon glanced at the note, his brow furrowing slightly. "A mysterious message? Are you sure you should go alone, General?""Good morning, General," a suave voice greeted before the General could respond. Donned in a green robe that matched his eyes, Kendrick entered from the adjoining room, curious about their visitor. He turned to Leon with a raised eyebrow, his posture relaxed. "Where are your clothes?""Oh, I forgot to grab them," Leon replied, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips as his hand rose to run through his smooth locks."Don't pretend," Kendrick smirked, "I know you just want to show off that majestic figure. Don't you think he looks good, General?" he asked, running a teasing hand down Leon's chest.Leon's laughter was warm and infectious as he threw an arm over Kendrick's shoulder. "Kendrick," he teased, his voice laced with mock seriousness, "when are we getting married?""Are you proposing to me right now?" Kendrick asked, pretending to be touched. "Also, catch," he walked over to the dining room table and tossed over a small porcelain bottle towards Leon, "thanks for letting me borrow the ointment."Leon reached behind the General, catching the bottle in one hand. With the close proximity, the General could feel Leon's hot breath on the nape of his neck.The General stiffened, his gaze flickering between the two men. He quickly nodded at Kendrick and turned on his heel, heading for the door. "Proceed with the mission. I can handle myself. I'll join you all shortly," he said. Without waiting for a response, he hurried out of the room.At noon, the General stood outside room 5, his fist poised to knock. After several moments of silence, the door remained stubbornly closed and he realized no one was coming. With a resigned sigh, he turned away, jaw clenched in frustration. He silently berated himself for trusting the note, but his irritation was quickly overshadowed by the unease gnawing at the back of his mind. If this was a setup, what other dangers might be lurking nearby?Descending the stairs of the rest stop, the General was prepared to continue his journey when his keen hearing caught the muffled sounds of a struggle near the back door. His body tensed, instincts honed by years of battle kicking in. Without hesitation, he moved silently toward the noise, each step deliberate and controlled.As he neared the kitchen entrance, the sharp scent of blood assaulted his senses. His eyes quickly found the source—a rest stop worker lay unconscious, crumpled against the doorframe. Beyond the motionless figure, a hulking shape in black cloth was attempting to strangle Cheri. She flailed wildly, her limbs thrashing in a desperate attempt to break free.Cheri's breath came in ragged gasps, her vision blurring as she fought to stay conscious. The attacker's grip was like iron around her throat, but she refused to give in. Through the haze of pain, she caught sight of a shadow moving swiftly through the doorway—a figure she recognized as the General.The General's movements were swift and precise. In a single, fluid motion, he struck the assailant between the neck and shoulder, rendering them unconscious. The attacker crumpled to the floor, and the General turned his attention to Cheri, his expression unreadable.He looked down at Cheri and asked in a low and steady voice, "Are you alright?"Cheri sat up, her hair now a knotted mess, and reached for the cloth bundle bag behind her. "I'm fine. Thank you for saving me.""Okay, good," the General turned to leave."Wait!" Cheri exclaimed hurriedly, scrambling up. "I wrote the note!" she admitted, her voice breathless but determined, "can I come with you?""Why... should I let you come with me?" the General questioned, cocking his head."I may be of help to you. I have been doing some research and our goals intersect. I also want to take down the Duke. Here, look," she pulled out some slips of paper from within her bundle. "These are some secret messages that I've intercepted between the Duke and his correspondent. I found this in Master Li, the Duke's henchman's room."The General took the slips, reading them thoughtfully. These were the missing pieces that the General had failed to obtain before. With these new clues, it confirmed that the Duke was certainly involved in the kidnapping of the prince, and the prince might be hidden somewhere within his territory."Why do you want to take down the Duke?" The General's voice was low, almost dangerous, as he took a step closer, his gaze narrowing. He searched her face for any sign of deceit, his own emotions tightly leashed beneath a mask of indifference."I want revenge on him," she said bluntly, with her shoulders back. "The Duke destroyed my family. He took everything—our wealth, our name, even our heirloom that's been in the family for generations. My father was an honest merchant, and when he refused to help the Duke smuggle salt and children, the Duke framed him. And look what happened today. When Master Li became suspicious of me, he sent someone to kidnap me."The General listened intently, however, he betrayed no emotion. "That's very sad. But if I let you come with us, you will only slow us down.""Please," Cheri begged, her tone pleading. Cheri's voice wavered, but she steadied herself, determination hardening her tone,"I am my family's last hope. My father was crippled by pirates while at sea and I have no mother. My brother became insane at a young age. I need to ruin the Duke with my own two hands in order to get justice for my family."Upon hearing this, the General's eyes flickered and his shoulders tensed. He forced himself to remain calm, but his fingers curled into a fist at his side. "Your brother... What was his name?""His name was Cameron?" Cheri responded, confusion lacing her voice.The General let out a tight breath. His heart continued to pound while his eyes revealed an unmistakable sorrow. This name brought up memories, painful ones that he did not care to remember yet still haunted him. He blinked forcefully, trying to deter away the scenes that were emerging before his eyes."Fine," he said, though the word tasted bitter in his mouth. "But you'll keep up, or you'll be left behind. This mission is not a personal vendetta."...............................The General and Cheri had been riding their horses for hours already and they were more than halfway through the dense leafy forest. The late autumn sun was already hanging low in the sky, streaks of vermillion adorning the golden vastness. They rode in silence, with only the pounding of hooves and crunches of leaves beneath them marking their presence.Behind him, the General could hear that Cheri's horse had been slowing down. He turned around, "Keep up. We'll be out of here soon"Cheri straightened in surprise, this was the first time he spoke to her in hours. "Okay. I'm just starting to feel a bit sore from the kidnapping attempt earlier. I think I didn't notice until now because of adrenaline."He observed her analytically, noticing her arms which were beginning to shake slightly from muscle fatigue and the bruises that still lingered on her skin. Then he stared off ahead thoughtfully, weighing in his head the risks and benefits of staying overnight in the forest. As annoyance crept into him at the incovenience, he felt a tinge of guilt and quickly extinguished his indifferent thoughts. "Let's find a nearby cave to rest," said the General, scanning the forest.Years of experience had taught him that caves were often found near springs, which in turn attracted wildlife. His sharp gaze caught sight of deer tracks pressed into the soft dirt, and he followed them, leading the way deeper into the forest. The tracks soon brought them to a spring where crystal-clear water shimmered under the fading light. The air here was cooler, carrying the fresh scent of pine and earth, a welcome reprieve from the tension of the day. Near the water's edge, a cave mouth yawned open, its dark interior offering a promise of shelter as the night approached.The General dismounted, his movements fluid and purposeful as he approached the cave entrance. He peered inside, noting the patches of dry land where the water flowed around them. It was silent, devoid of any signs of large predators. The yawning darkness inside felt both welcoming and foreboding, a place of refuge yet filled with unseen shadows. It reminded him of his own mind—deep, guarded, and full of things better left undisturbed."We'll rest here tonight," he said, his voice echoing faintly against the cave walls. The silence that followed was thick, almost oppressive, as if the forest itself was holding its breath. "Help me gather some firewood. And be quick. It's not safe outside at night."
...........................…..
Flames crackled between them, casting flickering shadows on the cave walls. Cheri huddled closer to the warmth, her eyes reflecting the dancing light. "You know," she began softly, breaking the heavy silence, "my father used to tell me that the night was a time for stories—stories that could chase away the darkness." The General didn't respond, but his gaze remained fixed on her.
"When I was little," Cheri continued, "and before my brother went insane, we used to play hide and seek near the woods. One time, I got distracted and followed a fluffy white rabbit into the woods." The light from the flames illuminated her face, revealing her indulgent expression and remniscent smile. "I got lost and was wandering around the woods crying. Thankfully, my brother had cheated as the seeker. He knew that I had gone into the woods so he was able to find me shortly." She laughed softly, shaking her head.
"How…is your brother now?" the General asked hesitantly, his expression unclear under his mask.
"He's alright. The same old. He's staying at a family friend's house right now." Cheri sighed, poking at the flames with a stick. "What about you, do you have any stories?" she asked.
"I don't like talking about myself," the General responded coldly.
Cheri stared into the fire, reflecting on the stark differences between the General and his captain. Leon was always smiling and his presence emitted this comforting warmth, like the flames before them. In the hours that Cheri had spent with the General, he had never smiled and it seemed that he had the tendency to hold others at an arm's length with his icy demeanor.
"Have you known Leon for a long time?" Cheri inquired.
General tensed involuntarily. "Go to sleep, you need to rest well so we can leave early tomorrow." With these words, he turned away towards the entrance of the cave, staring up at the luminescent moon and stars dotting the night sky.