This was it. This was the last stand. Haru looked left and right to only see a handful of warriors of different countries by his side. There were his knights, bravely forming a wall around their lord. Haru only drew his sword as he saw the unholy man behind the Black Dogs emerge from the crowd of monsters.
He wielded a giant sword, too large for any normal man to wield. He had dark skin, his muscles were obvious, given his choice of clothing. His face bore no helmet, showcasing his evil smirk. He walked slowly towards Haru and his other knights. They froze as they heard him speak.
"So this is the legendary Duke I've been hearing about so much!"
Haru offered no reply, holding tightly onto his weapon. The large man then bellowed with laughter as he circled the defensive circle.
"What's wrong? Can't face me like a man, Haru?"
"I offer no fair fight to you, bastard."
"Careful with your words there." The large man grinned. "You will not take the name of Volt lightly, especially when I have someone precious to you in my possession."
Haru saw a few men drag out a woman tied up with a sack over her head. They talk off the bag, revealing his wife, Rias, beaten and abused by the Black Dogs, much to Haru's rage. He tries to rush to her, but his knights block him from getting out of his protective circle.
"So, do you have the incentive to face me now?"
Haru breathed heavily, still taking a breather from his escape attempt. His fists clenched so tight that he could feel them bleed.
"I'll take that as a no then." Volt added in before commanding. "Do what you wish with her!"
Something inside the Duke snapped, seeing his wife being prepared like a harlot. He broke free of the protective circle and ran for his wife's body. He sees the men begin to undress her, groping her inappropriately. Haru nearly reaches her, but a giant sword gets in his way.
"To get to her, you must get past me."
Haru snarled at Volt as he swung at the larger man. The man blocks and parries the blow, knocking Haru back and then kicking him back. With Haru on the floor, Volt then plants his foot on the man to subdue him. He crouches down and holds up the man's head, forcing him to watch the rape of his wife.
"No!" Haru screamed, his eyes watering up and reflecting the horror he was witnessing.
"See what happens when you choose to oppose me!"
"NOOOOOOO!" Haru screamed with all his anguish.
Haru woke up in cold sweat, breathing heavily and his body shivering. It was a cold night out, so a spare drift did chill the room a bit. Haru starts patting his body frantically, to see if this was real. He pats his body, then his shoulders and even gives himself a pinch. He breathes a huge sigh of relief, before sobbing uncontrollably. It was a mixture of anguish, fear and relief that caused him to weep so much.
" Thank the Lord! Thank the Lord! My wife and family are still alive and well!"
But his panicked state wakes up his love, who was sleeping calmly and serenely. She wakes up, rubbing her eye, wondering what was that racket. She looks at his face and sees the tears flowing down his cheeks. She realized the implication of it as she hugged him and asked.
"Did you have another one my love?" Rias asked. "Was it about her?"
"No, no. It was… different." Haru replied while scratching his head. "It was about you."
"Me?" Rias asked, genuinely surprised.
"You were in my dream, becoming raped and abused by those damned Black Dogs and I couldn't do anything." Haru replied with much anxiety. "I've never felt so helpless in my life, not since—"
"Yes dear, I get it. No need to bring up any more bad memories." Rias replied while embracing the Duke. "At least it was just a dream, right?"
"But I fear it may become a reality soon."
"But you know what else is a reality," Rias said while putting a hand on Haru's cheek. "We still need our heir."
"I thought we settled to have children after the war ends."
"But what should we do about the lineage should you and I unexpectedly perish? People aren't so ready to accept Millicas so we should start considering heirs."
"Okay, let's talk about this tomorrow—mmph!" Haru said before being interrupted by Rias grabbing his head and kissing him on the lips.
"How about now?" Rias asked, blushing while undressing her nightgown. "It's been awhile since we have done it."
"Okay…" Haru smiled before holding onto his wife. "I will indulge in your desires."
Little did the couple know that someone was watching them. A certain blonde knight happened to have seen it through the window. And boy, did she have so many questions running through her mind.
Maia could feel her strength returning. She opens her eyes, to see all her fellow shield-princesses waiting by her bed patiently. She tries to see if this is a dream as she reaches out to them.
"She's waking up!"
All the women in the room wake up to tend to Maia, who had just regained consciousness. Maia could see the blonde knight, Alicia prepared a towel and put it on her forehead. Maia looked to her left to see Prim, Claudia and Celestine sitting by her bed.
"What… happened?"
"Shhhh… Save your strength, you've been through a lot."
"Where… am I?" Maia asked again.
"You're in the castle infirmary of Whirlingpool, formerly known as Thore."
"Haru!"
They saw the armored man enter the room, causing Maia to stir in distress, obviously traumatized by her experience with men.
"Be still, I mean no harm." Haru said soothingly. "I desperately need your cooperation so please listen to me."
Maia sat stiffly, eyeing the Duke warily, while the Duke sighed and said.
"Look madam, you were found in a recently liberated slave camp by the Hospitalier Knights. They had found your mind broken and your body badly exploited by the enemy. Though we couldn't undo the damage done to your body, we were able to partially restore your mind, thanks to the priests."
Maia's eyes widened as she then turned her head to her friends, silently asking if it was true. Her friends only responded with a nod.
"Why did you… help me?" Maia asked.
"Because we need all the help we can get against the Black Dogs, and with our recent luck so far, we'll need every capable fighter, regardless of sex."
Haru then walked out of the infirmary, to see Ruby shyly waiting for him.
"What do you require?" Haru asked.
"I-I just wanted to accompany you for the rest of the day since I am your apprentice."
"You don't really have to go to such lengths to be helpful."
"But I feel so useless just sitting and doing nothing!" Ruby complained.
Haru and sighed, remembering his feisty young sister who used to be just like that as well. Fortunately, he had a solution for that.
"Then come, I'll have you help me in overseeing constructions. We are starting multiple constructions so I could use the extra head."
"Y-Yes sir!" Ruby nodded while running after Haru.