For The Glory Of Sitia Empire

As she finished her breakfast, Maitea had to do on her daily patrol around the town. though it was called patrol, it's more like a morning stroll assigned to her to shut Maitea from nagging her master to let her help him with managing the town.

Jennings smirked at the frustrated Bernard, making him more annoyed as he talked to Maitea:" why are taking him with you?!!!!!".

Maitea answered with a cute frown: "then brother Ba will hurt the shiny mister if he stays here, master said to keep him safe".

Bernard pleaded:" then take me I will go with you!!!".

Maitea pouted: "no, brother still have house chores to do".

Deepening his smirk, Jennings looked down at Bernard with cunning eyes.

'That's right! The supreme and esteemed general has to do laundry. Hehehe, you better do it right or your master will chew you alive'

'You asshole, just wait 'till we return to Alara, I will mess you up that even your kids won't recognize your face'

The silent conversation happened with their eyes only, as Maitea shifted her gaze between the two men staring at each other vigorously.

"Then we will leave now brother", Maitea pulled the corner of Jennings's shirt, gesturing to for him to get going.

The two of them walked around the town leisurely as they would stop to the people who called for Maitea to give the lovely child a hug or candies. Jennings already figured that this patrol was something her master made to fool the little girl, 'cause everything she did until now was hopping aimlessly.

Jennings was satisfied with whatever was the reason, since he was given this golden opportunity to observe the small ball of fluff without a certain jealous brother butt in, nevertheless, she seemed to have overcome her shyness when being with him.

Jennings: "hm, Maitea".

Maitea, who was walking on the front, stopped and turned towards Jennings saying:" what is it?".

They had finished their patrol and now heading back home, however, Jennings was still curious about the sudden change of attitude Maitea had towards him, he responded smiling fairly:" I see you are not uncomfortable around me anymore?".

Instantly, Maitea sparkled and looked up at Jennings with eyes blazing in excitement:" kings are so cool!! Yesterday master told me a bedtime story about heroes and kings, it was amazing!! Now I am sure that your majesty isn't a bad guy".

'Your majesty?... I prefer being called the shiny mister :( '

Jennings crouched down next to her and said:" thank you for trusting me".

With her spark still flouting, Maitea nodded her head vigorously few times.

' Now that I think about it, how am I supposed to address their master? I don't even know his name...should I call him master too?'

At that moment, sounds of drums and bells ringing could be heard from the other side of the street, many people gathered there as they were dancing and singing happily.

Maitea subconsciously said: "ah, it's a party".

Jennings corrected her: "No dear, this is a wedding ".

Confused, Maitea asked:" wedding?".

Jennings was taken aback, isn't she old enough to know what a wedding is?

He patted her head gently saying:" a wedding is when two people who love and care about each other make a vow to stay by their beloveds' side and never leave".

Maitea murmured:" love each other.....".

Jennings chuckled:" yes, one day you too will find someone like that, someone who will forever love Maitea".

"....forever love Maitea ".

As she whispered those words for herself, Jennings noticed that the people around them were staring at him with awkward gazes, he quickly stood up and grabbed her soft little hand saying:" let's hurry back, your brother will cry if we were any late".

*******

Amaira----> the mining location.

"FIVE MINUTES LEFT, EVERYONE MAKE SURE TO TAKE ALL YOUR equipment" shouted the vice-captain at his subordinates.

The moment he finished his words, the head of the magicians' team approached the man, he said with a concerned voice:" are you sure about this? From its mana flow, the monster isn't normal at all".

The vice-captain sighed at the question, he turned to face the man with a helpless expression, he said: "what do you expect us to do? Retreat? It's not the first S rank monster that appeared in our lands, plus the mine is important for the martial side of the Empire, we can't leave it just because a beast happened to be there".

The head magician said after a pause: "what about general Egerton? It will be much reassuring to have him around ".

The vice-captain said:" he is out of reach at the moment, we can't just depend on him all the time, can we?".

Seeing the worried expression on the head magician's face, the vice-captain patted his shoulders to comfort him, he tried to hide his uncertainty under a cheerful laugh. The vice-captain said: "it's okay man, whatever happens we will give our all, in the worst scenario, you guys trap the bastard inside so things doesn't turn to a chaotic disaster".

He said this then turned at field shouting loudly: "OKAY PEOPLE, EVERYONE GATHER HERE".

About thirty knights and fifteen mages were at the field next to the caves' entrance, the vice-captain made sure that everyone was present before speaking again.

" now we will enter the beast's lair, no one knows what is waiting for us there, however, we shall give our best. Stay with your group as you have been divided, group leaders are responsible for their members, listen to your leaders and don't be irrational. Once we are inside, be extra cautious, move with responsibility, UNDERSTOOD?".

Instantly, the crowd roared to show their determination, seeing how energetic they were, the vice-captain nodded in satisfaction.

"Good, now let's go!!".

As the knights' troop followed their leader, the mages also began preparing the magical formation that surrounded the whole mountain.