The Soldiers of the Capital

The night seemed longer than usual; even longer than that of Boho's. The storm doesn't seem to want to stop at all. The rain keeps on splashing against the windows. The blustering wind mercilessly lashes even the tiniest shrubs on the ground.

Swoosh!

Splash!

Rumble…

"Who would have thought that you could get mad and disappointed more than I do?"

Upon entering his room, Captain Ravil walked towards the glass door of his room's balcony. He stood there in oblivion as long as a filibuster.

Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!

There were familiar and particular knocks on the door. The first two were quick and sharp followed by a pause, then a single percussive knock, then two consecutive milder ones.

"Come in."

Without looking back, the captain kept his gaze outside the window.

"Captain… due to the raging storm, it will be impossible for us to travel tomorrow."

"…"

"Your orders, Sir?"

"It's ok. We'll leave once it's safe to travel. I'll ask the oracles to send a message to Commander Diaz."

"…"

The cadet noticed the captain is broody. Though hesitant, he asked the latter out of concern.

"Are you… feeling fine, Sir?"

"I'm fine, Wilo. Please tell Agor to come with me to the east palace to meet with the oracles. Thank you!"

"Yes, Captain. I'm leaving now."

Not too long, Agor went to see the captain and met with the oracles to communicate with the commanders of Ilo and Boho.

The following day didn't differ from the aggravated night. The weather didn't seem to get better. The cadets and Captain Ravil hit the dining for breakfast before they start training.

Since it's still raining, they could only use the covered training area in the west palace. When they arrived at the training hall, some soldiers of the Capital have started their training.

Soldiers of the Capital report directly to the general and their position in the military was thought to be equal with the commanders. Though they don't have specific titles or positions, they are the honored special troops of Irca. The heads are chosen based on superiority but it's just for formality since each troop needs someone to lead. In terms of strength and power, most of them are comparable to the commanders.

One of the Capital soldiers noticed the arrival of the group or more specifically, the existence of a goddess on earth.

"Oh… my…"

Thud!

The soldier who is currently sparring with a practice sword was taken down abruptly.

"Hey, where's your head, rascal?! If I was using a real sword, you're dead."

"I might be truly dead right now."

The soldier stares at the goddess intensely and in total elation. He rapidly blinked his eyes and scratched them, thinking he's dreaming or, if truth be told, dead.

"What are you saying? Get up now and fight!"

"No, Hans. Just… look behind you!"

Soldier Hans followed the other's instruction irritatingly and saw the goddess he's been claiming. To his surprise, he naturally drops his jaw, raised his brows, and his dilated eyes bespoke an unnamed desire.

Both soldiers unknowingly walked in the direction of the goddess.

"Hey."

Blair nudged Wilo.

"Are all the Capital's soldier men?"

"I think so."

Wilo pulled a shrug.

"Oh, hey. They are coming in our direction. Let's ask them."

Approaching their destination, the two soldiers halted and kneeled on their right, and bowed.

The atmosphere changed in an instant, and time seemed to stop. A cool breeze shrouded the room like there's a ghost that just passed by. Even the captain couldn't hide his dumbstruck expression.

"Hail to the goddess who will bring peace and happiness to our hearts now and forever."

The two soldiers sounded gallant and modulated in their positions but seeing their faces when they got up, one could only withdraw or draw a sword to fight them off.

"Kyaaahh!"

With the penetrating scream, other training soldiers stopped and turned their heads in the direction where it came from.

"Goddess, what's wrong? Hey, Gunther! What did you do?"

"Huh? Why me? It was you!"

The two soldiers then quickly bowed over and over again.

"We're sorry, goddess… we're very sorry. Command us anything, and we'll do it whole-heartedly."

Once again, the ghost in the room came back.

"It seemed that the palace is hunted."

Agor commented in his usual way. Everyone looked at him, disbelieving.

"He's the one to talk, huh? Himself is a living ghost."

Blair chortled. Agor just shrugged and walked towards the other training soldiers.

"How can he just go to them and blend in naturally?"

Wilo wondered and went near the two soldiers as they keep on eyeing Blair with such adulation.

"Why are you calling my comrade a goddess? No offense but… are you two… incapacitated?"

Wilo pointed his eyes. Hearing him, Blair punched him in the stomach and whacked him in the head.

The two admirers were left utterly flabbergasted on what they have witnessed. Two other soldiers approached them and pulled them away from the captain's group as they expressed their apologies to them and dismay on the two.

"Go… goddess doesn't have just ineffable beauty but also has a marvelous strength."

Gunther is dead mesmerized by Blair's presence. Being under Blair's 'natural spell', Gunther sunk in reverie. Living that moment in his daydreaming, he might not be able to continue training for today.

Blair's golden wavy hair, her lustrous and dazzling emerald eyes—they're taking Gunther more into another world.

"Her voluptuous body… no, no, no."

Gunther shook his head aggressively to sweep away the nasty thoughts.

"She's just perfectly sculpted… her skin is delicate as porcelain, and her smile is undisputedly captivating."

"Hey, Gunther! Get a hold of yourself. The leader will get a load of you again."

The soldier who took him shook him aggressively. And speak of the devil, the leader is now heading to the captain.

"Captain Ravil."

The two saluted each other, then shook hands.

"Please refrain from calling me captain, Leader. It's impudent of me to think that we are equal or somewhat, Sir."

"You haven't changed, Captain. Please, at least this 'small thing for you'… let me do it."

The two leaders talked amicably towards each other and exchanged thoughts of humility. Instantaneously, both of them drew their swords and leaped backward.

Everyone grew confounded, even Gunther who is still in his reverie. Those who were near the two leaders drew their swords and prepared protective spells. The leaders exude eminent mana that was clearly visible in their auras.

"Sheathe your swords and retract your spells. It's our fight."

The leader warned. Their presence exhibits danger once one comes close to them. The discharged mana from them threw the soldiers away.

"Wha… what's happening?"

Rai stood behind Rigor.

All the noises from the clashes of wooden swords and chattering disappeared. Everyone's waiting for the next thing to happen between the leaders.

Without any thoughts, they charged each other unrestrained.

"Don't you dare hold back, Qadir!"

"Same to you, Harold!"

The blades of their swords appeared to yearn for each other's defeat. The wind howl in every swing of the swords.

Clang! Clang!

Swash!

Harold looks younger than Qadir but he has a tenacity comparable to that of a transmogrified monster. Qadir is another story. Honed by experience and innate power, his agility is unsurmountable.

It's amazing how the two leaders could exchange full blows in close proximity. They aren't using any magic powers yet but they are about to blow up the training hall with their innate strength and skills.

The fight continued for another couple of minutes. As their blades exchange seething jars, they became swifter in moving like their dancing with swords. The clashing of their swords became a melodic sound mixed with the whistles of the wind as they go along with their movements.

Huff… huff… puff

"You still good, Captain?"

Chasing their breaths, their swords are neck and neck.

"Never been good, I guess."

Qadir grinned.

"We better settle this now, right?"

"You bet."

Their swords gracefully slid from one another as they move away from each other. Harold instantaneously lunged with his sword inside right and charged forward. Qadir stomped his right foot on the ground and somersault. While head over heels, his sword was prepared with a low blow and slashed Harold's right shoulder. Before Qadir could completely land on his feet, Harold turned around making him execute a middle blow. There was a cut made on his chest when he landed.

"Hey. You know how to cast a protective barrier?"

Though Agor sounded muffled, the mage beside him appeared to understand him and nodded.

"Powerful enough?"

"I guess so? I might need some help at some point."

Narrowing his eyes, the mage flinched and started to prepare the barrier spell. Agor instructed him to wait for his signal when to release it. He waved to Rigo on the other side and motioned his hands in a circle then putting them over his head. He repeated doing it two times then pointed to the leaders who were fighting. Rigo acknowledged it and cast a barrier spell.

It was then. A thick and impregnable barrier started to exist in the hall surrounding the two leaders. Agor thought at some point, the fight is inevitable and would put others in danger. And as expected, the two started to use their magic.