Weiss and Satsuki were sitting in an ox cart, which was making its way towards the next village. It was awkward for Satsuki, as the silence was annoying her, and she was unable to read Weiss' emotions under that helmet of his. She then decided to just take a look at the scenery. But she catches Weiss offering her a cup of liquid as she heard him say.
"Rice wine?" Weiss offered kindly.
"Er, sure." Satsuki replied, before taking it and sipping it. It had a very strange taste that was unlike any rice wine she had tasted. "Where'd you get this?"
"Oh, the innkeeper was kind enough to offer me some." Weiss said. "Had a sip of some and I liked the flavor of it."
"You fool!" Satsuki hissed while throwing away the wine. "That wine might have been drugged!"
"I certainly didn't taste any drugs in it." Weiss reassured. "In fact, that wine made me feel more energetic and active! It should be good for you!"
"That's what the drug does, you dolt!" Satsuki chided. "It's supposed to make you more energetic for sexual activities."
"Well, if that's what the drug does then I haven't felt any better!" Weiss said before handing a cup to Satsuki. "As long as you don't commit the act, you're not doing anything wrong!"
"Well, one sip wouldn't hurt…" Satsuki admitted before gulping the cup.
Before Satsuki could say anything, the cart came to a sudden halt as both dismounted the cart. Satsuki hailed the driver and took a coin from her hair.
"Thanks for the ride!"
"No problem missy!" The old man in a jingasa happily replied.
Satsuki then flipped the coin as used her hips to bump the coin into the man's hand. The man tipped his hat before going his way. Satsuki dusted herself before she saw Weiss stare at her blankly, much to Satsuki's embarrassment. Her face flushed as she growled at Weiss.
"What?!" Satsuki asked brusquely.
"Oh, I was just taken aback by that little hip bump you did when you passed the coin to the driver."
"You got something against it?" Satsuki asked threateningly.
"I just found it to be quite adorable to say the least." Weiss said.
"A-Adorable?! What do you take me for huh?!" Satsuki snapped.
"It's fine." Weiss reassured as he walked towards her. "Besides, your hips must be really big for you to do that."
"Did you just say that I have fat thighs!?" Satsuki scoffed.
"It was an innocent comment, but take it as a compliment." Weiss said while turning around. "Come on, the village shouldn't be far from here."
"H-Hey! We're not done yet!" Satsuki barked, before thinking. "Damn it, what's with him? Making me feel weird and stuff just by saying that!"
Satsuki ran after Weiss, only to see him frozen, as if he saw something horrifying. Satsuki looked over him to see just that. The village that they meant to visit was up in flames, with it being absolutely empty. Weiss took a step closer, but noticed Satsuki didn't follow him. He turned to see Satsuki on her knees in absolute shock.
"How did this happen…"
"Satsuki, listen to me." Weiss said while putting his hands on her shoulders. "It's not your fault."
Satsuki bore an empty look, a distraught look on her face. She fell to her knees, the ashes of the earth cushioning her fall. She stared emptily at the carnage seeing the remains of a scorched village. She could not comprehend how this could have happened. What happened? Why did it happen? More importantly, why did she let this happen?
"I'm the Wild Warrior, the assigned special Border Guard of the Emperor, and I failed to protect our people…" Satsuki said before banging her fists on the ground. "DAMN IT! I FAILED THEM!"
Satsuki broke down into sobs as she knelt on the ground.
"Why? WHY? WHY!?" Satsuki screamed to the heavens.
Weiss then knelt by her, as he tried to say.
"It's okay… It's not your fault…"
"How would you know that huh!?" Satsuki snapped at Weiss. "How would you know what it's like to fail to protect someone or something you loved!?"
"Because, there was a time when I was the one who needed protecting." Weiss said, before his eyes began to tear up. "And the one who protected me failed ."
Satsuki could sense the pain in Weiss's voice and could tell that he was speaking from experience. She looked at him with wonder as Weiss then took off his helmet, revealing his snow white hair. His eyes were a bright shade of blue and they seemed to be glimmering as Weiss then told Satsuki.
"As someone who has suffered at the hands of monsters, I can assure you that I don't blame those who failed to protect me. And I'm sure the people of this town would do the same."
Satsuki stared at him for a moment, before resting her face on his shoulder, letting her tears flow. Though he was still wearing his gauntlets, he wrapped his arms around Satsuki and patted her on the back.
"Cry into my shoulders child." Weiss said soothingly. "Let your sorrows be cleansed."
For that moment, Weiss had to comfort the child within a supposedly strong woman. And he had to reassure her that it was never her fault in the first place. Satsuki unwittingly held on tighter to Weiss, as she desperately needed a shoulder to cry on.
The moment soon passes as Satsuki and Weiss take shelter in one of the still intact houses. Satsuki and Weiss build an indoor fire, with Satsuki snuggling into her blanket while Weiss simply took off his armor to only his tunic and trousers. Satsuki then asked.
"Weiss, what exactly happened to you?"
"I don't share it with a lot of people, you included."
"But what happened?"
Weiss sighed before saying.
"Let's just say I was unfortunate enough to be captured by some very evil men." Weiss said simply.
Satsuki stayed silent after that, only to ask another question.
"About your Teutonic Order, are they like warrior monks or something like that?" Satsuki asked innocently.
"Yes, we are dedicated to battle while still maintaining our faith and religion." Weiss answered while adjusting the fire.
"So you can't marry or have romantic partners right?"
"I'm quite sure we've had this conversation before, but to remind you, yes, we cannot have romance or sex."
"Okay, but what if someone loved you and you couldn't break their heart?" Satsuki asked curiously.
"Well, best advice is to settle all accounts before moving on." Weiss replied before asking. "Why are you so curious?"
"I was just wondering, that's all." Satsuki replied.
"How about you? Will you ever get married after this Emperor's chosen business?" Weiss asked.
"W-Well… I can choose to step down from the title and live life normally." Satsuki said embarrassingly for some reason. "But one would be crazy for discarding such an honor for something silly as love."
"I mean you need one hell of a man to convince you to do that." Weiss laughed. "Rest assured, I believe it's possible for someone like you."
"W-What do you mean?" Satsuki asked.
"You'll find an amazing suitor soon enough, so maybe you'll change your mind."
"D-Don't say that!" Satsuki snapped. "Hmph! I'm going to sleep!"
"Suit yourself, good night." Weiss said before putting out the fire and sleeping as well.
" Hmph! Such arrogance from him! Thinking that a mere man can make me quit!" Satsuki inwardly huffed. "Such a man would have to be absolutely perfect! Strong! Fearless! Wise! Handsome! Kind-hearted!"
Satsuki then began to have flashbacks. Of Weiss defeating her in battle, of him running off behind enemy lines to launch the enemy's catapults against them. Of him giving her advice in combat whenever they sparred. Of their stay at the inn, and finally, of him comforting her as she cried into his shoulder.
"No! No! No! No! Bad Satsuki! Bad Satsuki!" Satsuki screamed inwardly as her face flushed red, hiding herself under the blankets, hoping Weiss would not see her, while Weiss snored at his own pleasure.
It was raining, but that didn't stop Oswald and his men from walking through the thick fog. Oswald spotted a figure through the mist, and signaled his men to ready their weapons. He counts down with his fingers before signaling a charge. He and his men set down their lances and charged down whoever was behind that mist. As soon as they stopped charging, Oswald signaled everyone to dismount and investigate. They dismounted to find that they had just charged down an elf patrol, though they were different. They had white hair, and white, pale skin, contrasting the natural tan skin of dark elves. Oswald then signaled his men to collect prisoners. He then turned to see the Anthrosaur he fought before, still tied against one of the spare horses. Oswald then approached the lizard man and said,
"So how's the ride beast?"
"The sooner I get free, the better. These dark elves are irritating me already." The lizard said before pointing its snout to the dark elf on Oswald's horse. "And once I let my people know that you've taken a dark elf under your wing, you will soon face retribution."
"That may be, but that only happens if I let you go!" Oswald replied, before turning to one of his soldiers.
"Captain! I think you should see this!"
Oswald turned his back on the Anthrosaur, as he followed his subordinate, who pointed his hand to a group of monsters down the valley, Black Dogs from the looks of it. The subordinate then asked.
"What do we do sire? We need to pass that way to finally get home!"
Oswald was in deep thought for a moment before replying.
"I have a plan."
Meanwhile...
Haru felt blinded as he tried to navigate the way through his castle, with the assistance of his wife Rias. He extended his arms as he tried to see in front of him.
"Where are we going my love?" Haru asked. "Why did you insist on blindfolding me?"
"Because it would ruin the surprise!" Rias replied while giggling.