Sumire sat down on the porch in solitude under the roof of her family's house and sighed while strumming her lute in boredom. She had been assigned the duty of entertainment since she was very savvy as an entertainer, Rias trusted her to gather any performers using her connections. And while gathering a troupe of performers was easy, her personal performance was hard to nail down. Her days in the castle didn't exactly teach her anything about the Duke. She scratched her head in frustration, trying to come up with something that would please the Duke.
"Anything troubling you, Sumire?" a voice called out from behind Sumire.
Sumire turned to see Millicas standing there, leaning on the wall. Sumire squinted her eyes and said.
"How long have you been there?"
"Just came actually." Millicas said before looking closer. "Are you squinting?"
"Of course I am, can't you see?" Sumire replied emphatically.
"Honestly, not really." Millicas candidly admitted. "I'm not so used to people with such streamlined eyes, it makes you look a little less expressive."
"That's not a nice thing to say about my eyes." Sumire commented in an affronted tone.
"Don't get me wrong, your eyes have their own form of beauty, just not one that I frequently encounter. I apologize for any offense."
"… Okay, you're forgiven." Sumire replied coldly. "So what do you want?"
"Well, you seem to be in a sour mood right now so I would like to remedy whatever is troubling you."
Sumire sighed at that, maybe the Duke's nephew could give some good advice for her situation, and replied.
"It's the Duke's birthday. I was able to gather the entertainment for his banquet, but it's my performance that I am worried about. I have no idea what I should perform for his birthday and I'm the final performer for the event."
"That is quite the enigma indeed." Millicas commented while sitting beside Sumire. "So what are you planning on doing?"
"Maybe a war epic or a song glorifying his exploits as a conqueror?" Sumire said, doubting herself.
"Oh no, don't do that." Millicas remarked while shaking his head in disagreement. "My uncle doesn't like having his ego stroked by praise and glorification, since he only became a conqueror due to some extremely bad circumstances."
"So what do I do then?" Sumire asked in frustration. "I know nothing of your uncle's music tastes after all!"
"Huh, why don't you do that music you played back at the inn?"
"You mean the music from the Far East?" Sumire asked skeptically. "What makes you think your uncle will enjoy that?"
"It's rather peaceful, and the Duke doesn't really give any damns about the lyrics, as long as it sounds nice."
"Well that's a good way of narrowing it down." Sumire replied with a bit of satisfaction. "But what exactly would you suggest?"
"Hmmm…" Millicas thought to himself while reaching out for Sumire's lute. "May I?"
"Go ahead." Sumire said while handing Millicas her lute.
Millicas then strummed the lute to get the tune, before playing a tune. His hands masterfully started pulling the strings as he began to form a complex tune.
{Soundtrack: To Faraway Times Guitar Cover}
Millicas then closed his eyes as he let the music flow from his head. Sumire was impressed by Millicas' affinity for music as Millicas pulled the strings with perfect synchrony. Millicas' tune was hopeful, and nostalgic, it made Sumire a bit homesick of the Far East and that she would one day go back home with her family. Millicas stopped playing and handed the lute back to Sumire.
"I think I nailed down the tune, the rest is up to you."
"How did you come up with that so fast?" Sumire asked in awe.
"I didn't. As an instrument player, I've always had that tune in my head. I never really had the chance to finish that tune, but today, the thought of my uncle's birthday had inspired me to finish the tune."
Millicas took out some papers, diagrams of how to pull and pluck the strings to make the tune, accompanied with sheet music. It was very comprehensive and no doubt Sumire would be able to master it within the day. Millicas then handed the papers.
"But seeing your dilemma, I'll give the tune for you to play." Millicas said with sincerity.
"A-Are you sure?" Sumire asked in astonishment.
"Knowing you, you'll do great with it." Millicas said before standing up. "And I'll be there to hear it."
"T-Thank you Millicaa." Sumire said with much gratitude, still stunned at Mark's generosity.
"It's the least I could do for dragging you into my family affairs." Millicas winked, prompting a giggle from Sumire.
"I see." Sumire replied with a smile. "I wish you the best of luck."
"I should be saying that." Millicas said while turning around and waving. "See you at the banquet."
"Likewise Millicas!" Sumire shouted at Millicas.
Sumire watched Millicas' figure disappear as she smiled. While he was a bit dense, he wasn't so bad. And with his help, Sumire should be able to nail down the song in time. The day was still young after all.
Haru sighed as he stared over the balcony, watching the town activity in the noon time. As useless as it was, he couldn't help but wonder how the other knights were doing. If anything he was responsible for sending them on their most dangerous missions to date, knowing how dangerous this world was.
"Lamenting on your failures?" A voice called out.
Haru turned to see Celestine behind him, before sighing.
"I just feel like I could have done something to help them." Haru admitted. "I feel guilty for sending them so recklessly."
"Honestly, I think it's amazing how a man like you can be so concentrated on his failures considering what you have achieved."
"You can add that to another long list of compliments that I have received." Haru said sarcastically. "I'm well aware of my achievements, but it would not hurt to have some humility."
"If my memory serves me correctly, people have praised you for your strategic prowess and tactical thinking, your leadership, bravery and willingness to face overwhelming odds, and your triumphs over such odds. There is little to be humble about."
"That's true, but the painful fact is that they came too late. Before my mother died, I was never brave. Before my father died, I was not a good leader. Before my sister died, I wasn't a tactical genius. I only gained these traits through necessity rather than my free will."
"But you should be proud of them nonetheless. Had you been a high elf, you would have gained the recognition of being akin to a griffin, who has the strength and courage of a lion, together with the sharp eye and quick wit of an eagle."
"Hm…" Haru snorted amusingly. "A griffin. Haven't seen one before."
"You haven't?" Celestine questioned. "From what I heard, they are very common in European culture."
"Yes, but we've only encountered their bones and not the living creature itself." Haru said before going inside. "I'd really like to see one."
Celestine then pondered on this. Haru was a legendary general and his achievements are not to be laughed at. Even proud races like the High Elves would have been intimidated by what he has accomplished in a short span of fifteen years. If he were a High Elf, he would have been given the honor of riding to battle on a griffin. Eagles were commonplace for elves, but riding a griffin was an honor saved for only the best of the best. Though sadly, there is little remaining of the once proud High Elf culture, but Celestine still felt adamant on keeping the traditions of her people.
Penny sat down at the top of the bell tower with a needle and other sewing materials. She was deep in thought as she stared at the sunset. She was going to do something spectacular for the Duke and make Lady Rias proud. Being a lass, Penny had been sent by her family from France to learn and serve under the wife of the great Duke himself. At the same time, she met Millicas, a boy who was betrothed to her from birth. She always imagined accompanying the Duke on his campaigns would lead to some interesting adventures, but she certainly did not expect this. She hears the door creak behind her as Millicas went inside and dropped the belongings on the floor.
"I got what you needed." Millicas said, while sitting down. "Here are the materials you need for your gift."
"Our gift, Millicas." Penny corrected, while putting a hand on his cheek. "We might as well do this together since we are betrothed."
"Okay…" Millicas replied, his cheeks flushing from Penny's intimate comment. He sniffs a bit before asking. "So what are we making then?"
"We are making a new tabard for the Duke." Penny said while bringing out schematics and drawings. "So I'll just be needing you to help me assemble and put things together."
"Okay." Millicas said while leaning closer to Penny.
Penny and Millicas began to work on the tabard tirelessly, with Millicas assisting Penny with whatever she needed. Millicas handled the materials with careful precision and focus, making sure that each tool was the right one. Millicas would sometimes reach for the nearby cloth and alcohol to take care of any pricks on Penny. But as they worked, Millicas began to notice the atmosphere change. The room was getting a little hotter, the air a bit sweeter, and Penny was getting even more pretty. Millicas sniffed the air to find a sweet and alluring scent originating from Penny.
"Erm… Penny, did you change your perfume?" Millicas asked out of curiosity.
"Yes, you noticed!" Penny said in a pleased voice. "So how do I smell?"
"Good. You smell much better now." Millicas said stiffly.
"Okay, now please pass me the—" Penny said before suddenly being tackled.
Penny recovered from her shock to see that Millicas was right on top of her, staring at her in the face. Being in this position, at Millicas' mercy was embarrassing for Penny as she looked away. Millicas suddenly realized his error and recoiled in embarrassment, scratching his head while his cheeks flushed red.
"I-I'm so sorry!" Millicas apologized frantically. "I don't know what came over me!"
"That was embarrassing…" Penny said with red cheeks. "Being so close to your face, and even smelling the sweat of your body."
"I-I just couldn't control myself for some reason…" Millicas replied while scratching his head.
"Look… just don't pull that stunt on me…" Penny said before grabbing the tools. "Let's get back to work."
Both immediately returned to their tasks, working even more vigorously to ignore that awkward moment they shared. It was getting dark, and soon, Penny and Millicas finally finished the tabard and looked at it in satisfaction. Penny and Millicas then packed it into an ornate box and locked it. Millicas and Penny were both very tired and sweaty from working hard on the Duke's present. Millicas looked at a tired Penny and asked.
"What do we do now?"
Moments later, Millicas pushed Penny against the wall, both staring at each other, panting with blood rushing up to their faces. Millicas and Penny then held each other as Millicas asked.
"Are you sure about this?" Millicas asked.
"I'm ready…" Penny said before pulling Millicas closer for a passionate kiss, fondling and groping him while doing so.
Both Millicas and Penny kissed passionately and endlessly as they moved about the room, their burning ardor being too intense to be stationary. It escalates to a point where Millicas and Penny were already reaching into each other's clothes and groping bare skin. Millicas and Penny get on the floor and kiss some more, while holding and fondling each other so passionately. Needless to say, the bell tower was a tad bit noisier than usual.
Jaune grit his teeth as he readied his poleaxe against a group of muscular women wielding swords and spears. They were wearing a Greek-style outfit, with leather skirts and bras as their choice of clothing. It was going to be dangerous for Jaune, but he needed to do it, as he saw Marin getting dragged away by other Amazons.
"Jaune! Help!"
"Don't worry! I'm coming!" Jaune said while pressing forward before being blocked by the two women. "What are you going to do to her!?"
"We will not let any man-filth trespass into our territory, even the Black Dogs are not allowed to cross the border! That's the agreement!"
"You still didn't answer my question!" Jaune growled.
"Your companion is quite lovely and will make a nice consort for the chieftain! She'll make strong children for us!"
"Not on my watch!"
"We have the numbers, so surrender or die!"
Jaune couldn't give up, Marin's life and purity were at stake, he couldn't just leave her to their mercy. But before Jaune could even start fighting, there was a bellowing shout that came from the treeline.
"Dø tisper!" (Die bitches!)
Oswald sat down by the fire, eating his portion of food. He was having fun times with his comrades, making banter and sharing stories. But he soon excuses himself with a few extra portions. He entered a tent, the tent of Alfalfa, his elven prisoner. He then handed her the bowl and said.
"Go on, eat." Oswald said while pointing to the bowl.
"Why are you giving me this?" Alfalfa asked weakly.
"A person your age needs food to eat."
"But why are you being so kind to me, an enemy?"
"… It's complicated, but let's just say that one of our most well-known mottos is Love your enemy. "
"That sounds dumb." Alfalfa said candidly.
"So are you going to eat or not?" Oswald asked.
Alfalfa huffed as she then decided to bite from the portions provided by Grandmaster Oswald.
"You'll need that strength, because we'll be passing Black Dog territory tomorrow."
Alfalfa nearly spit the food out of her mouth as Oswald left the tent without a word.
Rene felt a large pain in his neck as his vision began to return to him. He tried to look up but lacked the strength to do so. He looked left and right instead. It seemed that he had reached the base of the river. But he had no strength to stand up right away, and it was still too dark to go exploring, Rene decided to drop his head and rest just a little more, at least when morning comes.