"How dare you scream in pain!" Haelkrie's voice was a thunderclap of authority and fury. "Do you even comprehend the disgrace you've brought upon yourself? A newly recruited battle slave, with only one percent of his strength, has completely outmatched you. How can the fifth general's son be so weak?"
The slap left Richard's face reddened and his eyes brimming with shame and anger. He tried to raise his head, but the pain and the colonel's rebuke left him immobilised and trembling in rage, obviously not directed at Haelkrie but at the bastard slave!
Haelkrie's fury then turned toward the four knights who had been standing by, their faces now pale with fear. The knights, seasoned warriors in their own right, were no strangers to discipline, but Haelkrie's wrath was on an entirely different level.
"And as for the four of you," Haelkrie continued, her voice laced with venom, "your punishment will be severe. These recruits are meant to spar with you to gauge their strengths and weaknesses. Instead, you allowed the young general to be wounded and nearly killed!"
The knights exchanged fearful glances; their previously confident demeanour was now replaced with anxiety. Their loyalty to the fourth general had compromised their duty to the fifth, and they knew well the consequences of failing in such a critical task.
"Your incompetence has stained the honour of the fifth general's household," Haelkrie continued in a cold tone.. "You will answer for your failure, and it will not be forgotten."
Haelkrie turned on her heel and strode purposefully towards the carriage, where General Arthur awaited. The general sat with an air of calm, a subtle, knowing smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he watched the proceedings unfold.
"Now do you understand why I chose him?" General Arthur asked with a sly smile, his tone laced with pride and satisfaction. "When I witnessed the black aura emanating from the boy, I knew something was amiss. The potential sense had never detected a black aura before. It was an anomaly, and that piqued my curiosity."
Arthur's eyes gleamed with a dangerous fascination as he continued. "The black aura represents untapped potential and hidden power, something that even the most skilled seers and mages have difficulty comprehending."
Haelkrie, now beside the general, looked over at him with a mixture of respect and curiosity. However, the real test will be to see how he adapts.
Arthur's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Exactly. I do not doubt that he will rise to the challenge. The potential he possesses is both a gift and a curse, and it is up to him to master it. As for the others, their roles will be crucial in shaping the outcome of this endeavour...If all three survive, there would be no doubt in us winning this war.
…..
The field outside continued to buzz with activity as the remaining knights and servants prepared for the night. The atmosphere in the carriage shifted abruptly as Haelkrie withdrew from the passionate kiss, her eyes narrowing with frustration at the interruption. She had been lost in the moment, her desires momentarily eclipsing the mission at hand. The sudden knock and the carriage driver's intrusion brought her back to reality with a jolt.
"Your grace, letter from the queen's raven," the voice said behind the closed carriage door.
General Arthur, now composed but visibly irked, buttoned his shirt and tried to mask the irritation that flickered across his face. His calm demeanour was a thin veneer over his displeasure. He settled into his seat across from Haelkrie, his posture rigid as he prepared to address the situation.
The carriage driver, standing outside with the letter clutched in his hand, waited patiently. His voice, though polite, carried an undercurrent of urgency that couldn't be ignored. The general gave a curt reply, signalling that he was ready to receive the letter. Haelkrie stood immediately and opened the entrance for him.
The driver entered the carriage, handing over the letter with a bow. Arthur took it with a grim expression, his eyes scanning the wax seal that bore the emblem of the kingdom. The letter was an official communication, and its arrival at such a moment was anything but coincidental.
Arthur took a moment to read through it; he ignored Haelkrie's curious gaze and let some of his exogene sip through his fingers, converting it into arcane flame.
Arthur watched the letter disintegrate into ashes, the flames consuming the words that had stirred a mix of personal and political turmoil. The general's eyes hardened as he reflected on his past choices. His marriage to his wife had been a political manoeuvre, a means to consolidate power and influence. There had been no genuine love in their union, only the cold calculations of ambition. The queen, however, was his childhood friend, and their friendship later developed into genuine love as they grew older. But fate was merciless as she was married off to the king, relentless in his pursuit. Arthur joined the king's army and rose to his ranked position, all in order to be closer to her.
In contrast, Colonel Haelkrie had entered his life under different circumstances. As a slave, she had been taken in and groomed by him. Over time, their relationship had evolved beyond mere dominance and submission. She had become his confidante and lover, though their bond had been marred by the power imbalance inherent in their roles. Haelkrie's feelings had grown deeper, but for Arthur, she remained nothing more than a temporary fuckmate.
He needed a means to release his frustration. He sent Haelkrie away and waited for a few hours before leaving his carriage. Outside, Haelkrie watched as Richard punished Omen with a whip. Arthur ignored them as he headed to the slave carriage where the two women were and quickly opened the door.
His eyes immediately turned to Virgo. "Leave us!" The woman immediately complied and hurried outside with quick footsteps. He then turned to the dark-skinned woman with a lecherous gaze he intentionally revealed, not wanting to hide his intentions.
He sat down across from her. "Kneel," he said in a cold voice. Arthur's gaze was cold and unyielding as he issued his command as he suddenly gripped her neck.
"Obey, or the pain will only worsen," Arthur said coldly, his voice devoid of empathy. He maintained his grip until Dahlia's struggles subsided and her breathing became ragged but controlled. "Take off your clothes.
With her resistance weakened, Dahlia's fingers trembled as she began to remove her clothing, not in fear but with an intense rage. She had suspected something like this would happen soon, if not from Richard, then from one of the guards, yet she had never suspected the general himself, always thinking his righteous air was genuine; now she knew better.
As the last of her garments fell to the floor, Dahlia stood exposed and vulnerable before Arthur. Her eyes remained averted as she tried to hide her rage. The general's gaze lingered over her, scrutinising her form with a lecherous gaze. Ever since he met this slave, her passive ability had already greatly affected him. He wanted to fuck her so badly that he couldn't control his urges.
"Come closer," Arthur commanded, his voice brooking no argument. The general's eyes remained fixed on her as she complied, her movements hesitant and tinged with fear. As Dahlia knelt before him, her head was forcibly guided downwards towards his groin. "Suck it, and you better not try anything funny. If you intentionally harm me, your death would be imminent," Arthur said confidently. He observed as the slave slowly unbuttoned his trousers and pulled his massive dick out.