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The townsfolk parted as the soldiers made their way through the town square and out of the capital. The castle loomed not too far behind them; if one looked closely, they could almost spy a feminine horned figure briefly watching them go before disappearing from one of the grand windows. At the head of the small battalion was the Phantom General, Lilia Vanrogue: arguably the army’s most fearsome warrior. One either eyed the man with fear, respect, longing, or some combination of those. Those gazes were cast to his other comrades as well, though not as noticeable. Lilia had grown quite used to the ogling now. He couldn’t tell you whether or not he liked such attention, however.
The man that walked beside him, Baul Zigvolt, was another fae that commanded respect - unspoken and spoken. Though the times he demanded that respect were often to rowdy new recruits. Despite his booming voice and towering figure, the man was all bark and some bite. Baul put on quite the show, but he was a bit softer than the general nearly two heads shorter than him. You could never say that to his face unless you were honorable Vanrouge, however. Commander Zigvolt would surely bite your head off otherwise - figuratively.
There were other sides to the man and his loud mouth, ones only known by those who fought alongside him. Like the fact that it seemed his hunger knew no bounds. Some days he could eat his entire body weight in food - maybe a bit more if he’d gone a day or so with minimal sustenance. When you spent days upon days, weeks upon weeks, sometimes even months, with the fae, you got to learn much about him. There were little things only the most keen could pick up on, though. One of those quirks made itself known to the observant Lilia as he noticed Baul step away from him and slow his pace. Lilia raised a brow as he glanced back to see just where the commander had wandered off to - the question was quickly answered.
It appeared Baul didn’t even notice he’d lagged behind. He was oblivious to the puzzled looks from his fellow men-in-arms. His eyes were solely focused on a fair maid a small several steps away. She busied herself sweeping the stoop of a small shop, one Lilia knew to sell food and other goods one needed to live. Either the fae lady worked at the establishment or owned it; Lilia doubted she was sweeping the stoop just in good nature. Her hair was tied back in a braided bun, a few baby hairs wisping about her forehead and behind her pointed ears as she worked. The dark green of her dress complemented her pale skin, that dress and black apron framing her figure perfectly - her curvaceous figure.
It looked like Baul had the good sense and decency to try and keep his gaze away from her curves, the way her body moved, but he just couldn’t. Paired with the way his pale green orbs seemed to almost sparkle when he beheld the rest of her visage, the soldier was absolutely mesmerized. So much so he didn’t notice that he was heading straight for a wooden beam that held up a little trinket stand in the center of town. Lilia said not a word. An almost wicked smile tugged at his lips as he simply watched the fae slowly but surely come up to the beam, then smack right into it with a loud ‘WHAM!’ The look on Baul’s face when he realized his blunder - the thought of holding back his booming laughter nary crossed the general’s mind.
The bellowed cackle startled more than one individual. Nearly all eyes were on the general and his commander: the former who was almost keeled over in hilarity, and the latter whose pale skin was now glowing red. Some were frightened by the spine chilling laughter, while others began to laugh and giggle along with him - but a lot quieter. Whoever would have the courage to try and outmatch Lilia Vanrouge in anything was a fool. No one knew that better than the soldiers who’d come to a brief halt to witness the little spectacle. Once frozen on the spot, Baul quickly, yet mildly clumsily, regained his composure. He ignored the pain that radiated through his face and forehead in favor of trying to save his image.
At the same time, Lilia and Baul spared a glance back at the little maid. She, too, stared at Baul, yellow eyes wide with a mix of confusion and surprise. It looked as though she’d stopped mid-sweep, as she held the broom mid motion. Baul quickly turned away from her, clearing his throat more times than needed be. Lilia held his smirk, crimson eyes cut to Baul like daggers, though this time they held no ill intent - only mischief. Commander Zigvolt ignored him as he continued marching on, a bit faster than before. Lilia matched his speed, and so did the other soldiers as they followed after him.
When they finally passed the gates of the city and trudged out into the vast forest surrounding it, Lilia began his relentless teasing. “Pretty little thing, wasn’t she?” he asked Baul, rhetorically. “Very soft-looking, too. A stark contrast to your figure, to be sure.” Baul silently nodded. Lilia persisted.
“Her biceps were particularly plump, from what I could make out. Very endearing.” Though Lilia was nowhere near close enough to whisper in the man’s ear, Baul heard the suggestion loud and clear. “Were you thinking about grabbing a nibble before we headed out?~”
“NO!” While every other soldier jumped in surprise at the outburst, Lilia didn’t flinch. His smile only widened into a grin as his eyes narrowed deviously. “It is far inappropriate to even suggest that! Of all the indecency-!” Baul seemed to catch himself yelling. He took a deep breath in, held it for a few seconds, then exhaled.
“Lil- General Vanrouge, please refrain from making such suggestions again.” His next words - a plea - came out as a hiss. “ I beg you .”
Lilia feigned ignorance and shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not sure what you’re on about. The lady runs a grocery, or at least works in it, doesn’t she? I simply thought you wanted to grab a spare ration before we departed.”
Lilia could see the gears turning in Baul’s head. For a moment, it looked as though he actually believed him, almost ready to apologize. And then the next he saw through Lilia’s rouse and glared down at him. “It is uncouth of a man in your position to lie.”
The general huffed in amusement as he glanced to the side and scanned the area to his right. “Again, no idea what you mean.”
“You’re impossible,” Baul grumbled.
“And you’re thinking about that woman being in your arms right now,” Lilia retaliated.
Only a fool would challenge the general to a duel.
Fool, thy name is Baul Zigvolt.
“HOW DARE YOU MAKE SUCH AN ACCUSATION!” Sebek’s voice boomed, bouncing off the high ceilings of the hallway. “YOU THINK ME SO UNCOUTH, SO CRUDE, AS TO ACT IN SUCH A WAY?!”
“‘M jus’ callin’ it like ah see it,” Epel replied, a thoroughly amused lint to his words. “Fer someone so high ‘n mighty, ah didn’t think you’d ogle the prefect like that.”
“I WAS NOT OGLING THEM !” Sebek protested, louder than before. “I…I simply was distracted by how audacious you humans are! To see the prefect address our upperclassmen so casually - no respect whatsoever!”
“I think they’ve come to respect each other equally, due to [Name] helping them out with their overblots.” Deuce adjusted his hold on his textbooks, which were now tucked under his arm. “I mean, they don’t refer to them by name yet, aside from Kalim, but I’ve seen a change in their interactions.” Deuce smiled at the thought. “Either way, I’m just happy they’re all doing better.”
“Yer tellin’ me,” Epel agreed. “Vil’s been on my ass less since he got over his overblot. Think that’s in part thanks to the pre- [Name].” He scratched the back of his neck. “Sorry, still tryin’ ta remember it’s fine to call them by name, not the stupid title.”
“Hmph.” Sebek smirked. “Quite a thing to believe; I can’t say I’m surprised. You humans are the species with the least respect for others. You could not even begin to comprehend what such titles command.”
“Oh, shove it up yer ass, Sebek!” Epel groaned. “Gon’ punch ya in the face one of these days, ah swear!” A devious grin then spread across Epel’s face as he thought of something. “Oooor ah could just tell them you got a crush on ‘em~”
“A WHAT?!” Sebek balked.
“Y’know, a crush,” Deuce offered. “It’s when-”
“I KNOW WHAT IT IS! WHAT DO YOU TAKE ME FOR, A HUMAN?!” Ironic, since the prince the freshman so worshiped was one of the most oblivious boys on campus. Sebek shook his head in denial of Epel’s accusation. “You would be telling the prefect falsehoods, human. I hold no such feelings for them.”
“Uh huh, surrrre ya don’t~” Epel drawled. “Definitely not - not when ya stare at ‘em all the time every chance ya get.” Red began to flood Sebek’s cheeks; Epel noticed, grin widening as he continued. “Not when ya carry the books and bags and whatever other shit they got whenever ya walk with them. You especially don’t like ‘em when ah catch you smilin’ whenever they thank-”
“I WILL LISTEN TO THIS SLANDER NO LONGER!” Sebek interjected, again loudly. His face was as red as Deuce's magestone, however. The one who watched them knew it wasn’t just out of embarrassment and anger. “IS THERE NO END TO YOUR HUMAN-?”
“ Oi! ” The freshman stopped in their tracks, and Sebek stopped his scolding, as they all turned to look at the beastman suddenly before them. “Keep it down! You’re going to give me and every beastman in the building a headache!”
Sebek was more embarrassed now than he was before. He huffed as he closed his eyes and turned his head away from Jack. “Apologies.”
Jack rubbed the back of his ear as he winced. “Almost had to run to the infirmary,” he grumbled.
“C’mon, let’s go.” Deuce cut in. “We’ll be late for class if we don’t get moving.”
“Least this time we’re all in the same period,” Epel mumbled as the little group turned the corner and headed down the adjacent hall.
The unnoticed eavesdropper behind them smiled to himself as he watched them go. He shook his head as he let out a small chuckle at the boy’s, Sebek’s, antics. “Just like your grandfather,” Lilia regaled to himself. The fae finally let his footsteps be heard as he walked down the hall, then rounded the corner into the one going in the opposite direction of the freshmen. “At least you haven’t slammed into an obstacle - yet.” Emphasis on ‘yet’ as the boy was still young and had plenty of time for such fumbles. One often found themselves in them in the throes of love, especially at the early stages.
Sebek’s grandmother would no doubt agree.