Nightfall has presented itself again like a malady which devoured all light. It was quiet inside of the fortress walls. As always.
In the war god's camp people cheered and drank merrily. With wild fervor and ruffian horseplay, they grew closer, even their previously disliked leader was being entertained.
Riley found himself sitting dry on a small mountain of crates near the edge of the party.
By his side were his most trusted teammates, and Lydia. Despite his many pleas to leave him be for a period of time, she never once backed down. He swore that at times, when a fleeting touch was exchanged with Lucy, Lydia's jealousy grew tenfold.
'I wish there was an opportunity to talk alone. But…the more I try to create that chance, the more I am met with this feeling of helplessness.'
Lydia had managed to foil his every attempt at solitude. As if her eyes and ears were embedded in every wall.
His spine tingled and he jumped up, finally deciding to turn to her.
"Lydia, dear, would it be possible to come with me for a second?"
Lydia's smile turned deeper, the shadows that were splayed on her face darkened with hooded desire. She licked her lips and stood up, sauntering over to Riley and poking his chest.
"My liege has finally gotten over his little act of defiance against his most treasured concubine? Music to my ears."
She looped her finger around his hair and pulled him closer to her face.
"You've left me hungry for far too long. How mean~"
And with that she pulled him along inside of Riley's tent, leaving his cohort behind to look at each other with confusion.
Yara laughed awkwardly.
"Should we…leave them be?"
"Rilley is a man too…I think. It must've been hard to be lonely through our trip here, at least we had each other."
They embraced each other and Yara let out a low satisfied hum.
Lucy however was not happy in the slightest. Not one bit. She despised Lydia.
From the very second they met, she had seen the way her hands glided on her older brother. They reeked not of love, but perversion.
She could feel her essence flare up, and her mind was ready to summon her spear. But she dismissed the thought with a deep sigh.
'That's right. If it's Riley, then it should be alright. He has a plan. He HAS to have a plan.'
She jumped down from the boxes. After having learnt the general layout of the camp, she headed to the place that interested her most. The watch tower.
Despite its need to observe the enemy fortress, it was placed in the back as per the old leader's orders. He had complained that his view would be obstructed. Lucy wondered how he had managed to rise so high.
From a young age she was taught military strategies, only the simple ones of course, but she at least had a basic grasp of how things SHOULD be run. So everything in the camp screamed of unprofessionalism.
'What a chore.'
After having climbed up the steep stairs, she found herself overlooking the camp. The small lights that were strung around the camp glistened like fireflies. She could even recall the taste of the crude steaks cooked down below. Even the smell of copper invaded her nose.
She cast her gaze down to the railing.
"Butterflies? Why would they be up here-"
She stumbled back. Pain shot up her spine as she fell onto the wooded flooring.
Crimson painted the pale skin, and a figure emerged from the darkness.
"My oh my. You've come at a terrible time. I'm sorry young one but this is the end."
Just as he raised his hand, he stopped. A faint smile crept along his lips at the familiarity of the scent.
"You smell a little bit like me, but we've never met before."
He paused, his golden eyes twinkling with a mote of understanding.
"Ahh, I understand now. Very good, he still lives."
Before she could even mutter a word, he vanished into a flurry of butterflies. The blood had been devoured, and no trace was left of a murder.
She jumped down the stairs and bolted back towards camp. Bright colours blurred, and only one thing was on her mind.
"Riley!"
The tent flaps parted and she looked inside where Riley had been cuddling with Lydia. His face was pink. Lucy scrunched her nose at the stench.
"Get up! There was murder! We have to go damn it…"
She pulled at his legs and his head hit the ground.
"Hic- Hey! Don't be so rough."
Lucy's face darkened, veins popped and her blood boiled. With a single swipe of her hand her spear materialised.
"What did you do…to Riley?"
Lydia cocked her head to the side with a hazy smile.
"Just loosening him up. The war must've gotten to him. Otherwise he wouldn't have changed."
Lucy jabbed her spear forward. It was caught with ease.
She stumbled as Lydia pushed the spear to the side. Carefully, she picked Riley up and placed him back on the bed.
"Leave."
She barked and a wave of nausea pushed her out of the tent. Lucy clutched at the hems of her tunic, breaths uneven.
"W-What is going on??"
She dashed through the camp. Drunken eyes lingered on her. Scandalous whispers erupted with laughter.
Tears threatened to spill as her spear disappeared into sparks of essence.
Her feet skidded across the stony path. Before her was the entrance of a small cave, enough to fit Lucy and emotional baggage.
"He really fell for it…"
She sniffled, rubbing bits of snot away with her sleeve. A part of her hoped that he would show up, comfort her.
But the only blanket that befell her shoulders was that of the lonesome night.
====
Day had risen, and the camp bustled with authoritative commands. The artillery had been moved to the front as instructed, manned by a small group of knights being trained by a tubby man.
Archers lined the cliff sides. Some were armed not with bows but binoculars. And nimble slaves trekked up and down to relay the information gathered.
The silver luster of the knights' blades shone under the muted grey sky. Barricades were being set up around the perimeter, in preparation of the siege that was to come.
Baltamor drove the knights forward, appointing them to different zones. He would surely rise to be a great general one day.
Lucy stood at the back of the camp with Yara and Dari. As scouts, they must not be seen.
"Look who it is!"
Dari landed a weak punch on Riley's shoulder. He arched forward, his throat making abhorrent noises as bile rose up.
"Woah woah! Not on me!"
Riley took a few moments to relax and let the nausea pass.
His shoulders slumped down and he gave out his order.
"We will infiltrate the fortress today!"