2-Beauty of Love

"The temple was celestial! Marik, if you had followed us in, your eyes would have been dazzled." My fiery-haired friend waved his arms in the air to describe the temple's vastness. He went on to talk about the goddess' titanic statue and the legends surrounding Ithys. He described the different aromas drifting around the temple as people burned herbs, spices, and oils.

Silver banners displaying different sword-shaped symbols hung beside large windows. He said those windows were made with turquoise-coloured glass. Inside the glass, flakes of gold have been trapped to add more beauty to the temple's eyes. Sebastian continued to speak of beautiful tapestries, clothing, and shrines.

"Krasea has only one temple. Imagine thousands of people visiting the place of worship each day!" My friend wrapped an arm around my waist, placing his beautiful head on my shoulders as we walked through the new city. "This city is gorgeous and its people are very good looking."

I glance over at my tired friend who muttered words of wonder, still speaking of the temple. Suddenly, he takes my wrist to turn my hand up. My eyebrow furrowed as I did not expect his hands to be so warm and smooth.

Sebastian does not need weapons during wars because his body is his weapon. He could seduce both men and women and he could look like either gender. I remember the first day I discovered a man like him existed. He had walked into my tent dressed as a woman, taking me by surprise. He had to prove that he was a male although we do have women among our ranks.

"Look at this shawl," Sebastian whispered into my ear before placing all his weight on me. Oblivious to my feelings, he wrapped his milky arms around my neck and I thought he had perished in my arms.

I glanced down at a bunched up shawl, wondering where he received such a gaudy item. Its gold tassels barely attached to the edges of the cloth and I could see that the white fabric had been soiled multiple times. I am not familiar with the art of fabric, but I can see this piece held no value. For my friend, I clutched the shawl.

I wandered around without a destination, my legs starting to feel heavy after a long day of fighting and carrying Sebastian. I have carried many comrades and many were heavier than this man. Despite this, I was shocked to discover that my friend who was lightly built turns out to be heavier than I thought.

I hastily stuffed his precious shawl into my armour, wrinkling my nose as the cloth refused to go down into my chest and smothered my face. I smiled, feeling triumphant when his treasure is now pressed against my chest. It was held between my red tunic and dark armour, like a baby hanging from the bag-like item women loved to use.

Speaking of babies, I veered off the main road to stop near an alleyway for Sebastian. I carefully removed Sebastian from my side, holding him in front of me as I squatted before him. If any vulgar adult should witness this, they would not think I am a friend preparing to carry his intoxicated mate. "Damn, you are an elephant!"

I let go of his waist, wincing once he fell onto my shoulder. Then, I lifted him off the ground by the legs and adjusted his body until I could carry him like a sack of potatoes. His crotch pressed against my ribs did not help me carry him. Whoever becomes his wife should be prepared for his big jewels. Of course, I would not warn her myself.

Soon enough, the moon and stars entered the sky, smiling brightly on us as I hobbled through the streets. I suddenly found beauty within the dark city, and I paused to admire the inky sky full of twinkling stones. I now understood the swirls of glowing stones on Krasea's towers.

Each tower took a piece of the night sky and reflected it in the pattern of luminous crystals. Now washed in darkness and moonlight, white walls became gray so the stone's light could make small areas white. Just like the night sky above us.

Sebastian stirred on my shoulders, kicking the unsheathed sword hanging from my belt. I winced when the blade nicked my thigh, betraying its owner. I had to question how I, Vales' greatest warrior, came to carry a man through Krasea. My friend moved behind my back and I quickly discovered his plan.

"Did you grab my assets?" I squealed, receiving odd looks from people eating their night supper on steps of houses. My cheeks flushed and I willed my legs to carry us away faster.

"What if I did?" Sebastian asked groggily. He groaned and tapped my back with his knuckles as if to tell me something, but I did not understand until a sticky substance splattered onto my leg, slipping down to the soles of my sandals. "Sorry Brother, I don't feel well being carried like this."

"I see," I groaned, feeling disgusted by the squelching mixture on my leg. I do love the feeling of blood crawling down my legs, arms, and forehead, but Sebastian's regurgitated food was in another realm of its own. "I will let you down now."

"Thank you," my friend giggled as he held strands of hair away from his face to keep saliva and food chunks off his red mane. Sebastian stayed in this position as he looked around the street, trying to understand where we were. "Marik, do you know where this is?"

I shook my head immediately. "No, I only know we are is Krasea."

"You should have a map of the city. How else would we be able to defeat this strong city if you did not know its structure and customs?" Stunned by the fact of being lost, he threw his hair back and daintily wiped his mouth with a white handkerchief. He smiled sheepishly, forgetting who I was. "Right, you are our God of War. Ha, what god would need a map?"

"Laugh all you want, I am an arrogant bastard for a good reason. I may be a god's incarnation." My friend and I snicker unanimously. I turn to the people glaring holes into our backs.

Sebastian saw a look on my face, crossing his arms and nodded at my calves. A phoenix feather dropped from his hair. "They are curious about the fruit chunks."

I groaned, hesitant to wipe the gunk off my legs. Then, a brilliant idea came upon me like cold water in the desert. I reached into the gap at the base of my neck and pulled out the old shawl from the temple. "I hope this was not hung in the temple."

"No! You cannot use that!" Sebastian dove at me to snatch the cloth from my hands. He replaced the shawl with a glass bottle of rose water. "Use this instead."

"What can I do with this?" I held the tiny bottle in my hand, squinting in the dark. I planned to find a strategy to use the scented water on my legs, but I found myself being pulled along the road. My heart lurched forward in their cage. "Sebastian, what are you doing?"

"The grandmother told me that there is a tavern near our location. If you do not want to be glared at and dirty, we should find the house." Sebastian continued to drag me by the wrist. "I hear it even has a private bathing house."

"Yes, but how much will it cost for a soldier who destroyed their kingdom? I do not think they will let me in. They may not welcome you because of your connection with me." I knew he was having the same thoughts as I was. "You can go ahead, alone. I have other things I need to prepare for Prince Fabio."

"Like the slaves?" My friend asked with a low and sorrowful voice. He knew the answer to his question, so he nodded and let me leave. "I heard some of our boys have set up registration tents outside Krasea. They cleared the dead bodies so they would not suspect anything. Although you are the General, I am your deputy. Be careful out there."

"Of course," I smiled in the moonlight. I watched Sebastian as he started to go down the road, finding the tavern by himself. I called after him, reminding him to report to duty in the morning. "Do not worry about me, I'm not your lover!"

"Not yet, you are not!" Sebastian hollered back to me, slapping his thighs happily as he strolled further away from me. His words left a small smirk on my face.

I spin on my heels to face what should be the street leading straight outside Krasea. Under the night sky, something sinister was underway outside the peaceful city. I did not need to reach the registration tents to know many lives would be destroyed there. However I felt, I must carry out my emperor's orders.

I walked on, the rattling of my armour rang in the stillness louder than it should be. After what seemed to be an eternity of stumbling in the darkness I find the city's stone walls, seeing an open gold gate where people lined up. I shook my head, hoping they would not be entering our tents.

My conscience has been damaged by war, but I did not want Krasea's citizens placing their fate in our hands. I knew the horrors they would face if they drag those bags and children into the registration tents. I moved closer under the blanket of the night, curious to hear their conversations.

"I have been farming for twenty years, my ancestors have provided for Krasea and I thought my labour held value! Now that Vales- a strong empire -swept our king, I would gladly serve Emperor Utar." A middle-aged man shook his fists at Krasea's gates, full of rage. He spoke of travelling to Vales with so much hope.

I shook my head as I pushed past bags and people. I pitied them, yet I have no authority over their life. The naive people believed they were registering to become migrant workers in our land. Nobles believed they can become Vales' official citizens. The reality is that they are signing their name on a list of slaves.

Once they sign the contract, they take an 'oath to Vales' emperor' which never states the emperor's name for a reason. It is very similar to a soldier's oath to the empire because we swear to serve Emperor Utar with our heart and soul, we must be loyal to him, we must be ready to die for Vales, and if we were suspected of being traitors, we will be killed.

There is a slight difference between the oath taken by me and the Kraseans. Where Emperor Utar's name could be placed, they say 'master', blindly pledging themselves to their future masters. Of course, if a blank paper looks normal in the day, no one would suspect a murder plot would be written in glow-in-the-dark ink.

These people have come out of their city to wait for a new life under the moon. I could only grin as I thought their lives would surely be new. The poor farmer was better off receiving little pay for his crops than living as a slave. If he is lucky, we would soon stop taking people because we have reached our demands.

I hear people complain about my cutting through them but they close their mouths upon registering my armour, especially the helmet loosely placed on my head. They knew I held a high position in the army and paved my way, removing their belongings from my path. As I walked past them, I received undeserved greets and praise.

This is not how defeated people should act towards their enemies. I ducked my head, feeling ashamed for both myself and them. As I wove through the line, I forced a smile on my face. "Excuse me, passing through! Good luck with your registration. I promise good things will come to you if you register!"

Hundreds of horses from Krasea have been surrendered to us by people who owned them. These same horses would be carrying them to Vales as if they were truly travelling for business purposes. Once we reach Vales, they will lave the army to register again at a large house and this is where their lives in chains begin.

I reach the front of the line where the three tents are. The tents were white and plain. The first tent was the registration tent where a table had been set up and five recruiters were giving instructions to the ones signing a long scroll. The second tent is larger and should be full of medics. There, people will be tested for disease and fitness levels. The last tent is not as big as the second and that is where people declare their possessions.

I walk to stand behind a long table, asking five soldiers how many people we needed to gather and how many we have gathered. I was not interested in human monopoly, but I had to play the part of the employer. "Three hundred already gathered, fifty more? Should I send people out to inform potential candidates?"

I sent a random man outside to announce the registration is quickly coming to a close and whoever cannot register must return to their homes. In my mind, I told them that the returners have been blessed by their gods. Ithys, their goddess of order would be protecting their lives from us.

Outside, a collective groan rose from the crowd to the sky. I chuckled at their foolishness as they should be thanking their gods!

Despite this, I continued to greet new people who held hope in their hands and their hearts on their sleeves. I had to act welcoming and kind to these oblivious Kraseans. Killing hundreds of soldiers in one day was not as painful as watching naive people go through this process. I had thought Kraseans would be in high demand, but they were not.

Vales' women have envied Krasean hairstyles and I thought more females would be needed to become styling slaves. Emperor Utar also told me he was contemplating building a new palace for Princess Florentia. Would he not need more males to build?

Krasean people are known for their beauty and artistic abilities. One person should be worth more than other slaves who usually sell for a couple of silver coins. I would not know the business of selling and buying humans as I never got close to a bartering house. I only supply the bodies.

"General, we need your help in our tent!" I spun around to see Paion- a new healer recruited right at the halfway mark of the war -had poked his head through the tent's flap behind me. He smiled innocently, realizing he had startled me. He twisted a gold ring on his finger. "One of the women who registered informed us that her due date is fast approaching."

I blink twice, not understanding the problem with a pregnant woman. "What is the matter? If she had sex with her husband and is soon expecting a child, why should you report that to me? Where is the spouse? Go ask him instead of me!"

"Marik, he was separated from her during the registration process. The issue is that we will not have the resources or time to deliver her child if we set off for Vales tomorrow. Prince Fabio will surely question you. You will be held responsible if anything happens to her because you let her through." Paion grabbed my ashy wrist to drag me out of the registration tent.

"Then, let me take responsibility. I cannot care any less about this business! Let me do something more fun like fighting in the arena. Besides, that pompous prince can never touch me." I reach for Paion's arm, not planning to forcibly remove his hand.

"I wonder how Sebastian is able to tame you." The healer released my arm and pushed me forward, kicking my behind to get me into the medical examination tent. He is lucky to have me as his current general. If he touched my predecessors like this, he would be seeing sharpened axes flash before his brown eyes.

I stumble through the tent's flaps, most likely looking like a startled tiger as I regained my balance inside the large canvas shelter. I recovered from the shock to stand straight and tall, smiling at a group of people. Kraseans were seated on makeshift cots made from stable hay. I held up my hand and bent my fingers, "Hello everyone!"

"Hello, Marik Valerius!" Kraseans yelled enthusiastically alongside my army's healers. Those foolish fools!

I keep my mouth shut and nod to reply. Then, I leaned over to Paion to ask him where the expecting mother was. I did not care for her situation, but since I have been pushed into the tent, I should check her state. Like a fool, I continued to search the sea of heads. "Who is pregnant among you?"

"Surely, not I." An elderly man muttered to my right. Beside him, a medic was inspecting the man's head? I suppose digging fingers into hair was a new form of inspecting heads.

"Marik, over here," Paion called from somewhere in the tent. Although he was by my side just moments ago he had left me alone. Then, he made himself known by waving a bunch of herbs in the air.

I follow the dancing stems, tripping over scrawny legs and bulging bags. I apologized blindly to everyone and everything, even a silver bowl. I pause to wipe Sebastian's vomit off of my legs with a wet towel one of the healers offered to me. "Thank you, you can keep working. I am well."

"Oh, Mariiiiiiik, where are you?" Paion trilled, impatiently waiting for my presence. I could not understand the urgency of the situation but the medics are experts, not I. "Marik, finally you have come! She may pass out at any moment."

"Is it too hot in the tent?" I wiped the sweat off my forehead, answering my own question. It made sense as there were many bodies moving in and out of the medics tent. "Fine, let's discuss this woman and send her out quickly. Can she talk?"

"Only in Cithenian. I only understood she was nearing her due date after consulting translation books. She has been here since the evening." Paion swept his hand to point at multiple medics. "They did not know what to do with her so I had to stay with her while they looked for you. Where were you that you were not with the others?"

"You know I do not like wine and women, why would I follow them to brothels? I was not doing much, only exploring the city with Sebastian." The healer cracked a knowing grin and I pat his cheek with my hand. "Get you head out of there. I do not like wine and women, but that does not mean I like men. Sebastian is my deputy and friend, he's disgusting!"

"Yes, believe whatever you want to believe. There are interesting rumours being thrown around." Paion pointed at the trembling woman, bringing our attention back to her. "What do we do? We have sent men to find her husband, but every man took the chance to explore. I am sure none will return with the man."

"My husband, you must find him!" I stare at Paion, raising an eyebrow at him. I thought he said she only spoke the language of Cithen. Unless I have abnormal language detecting and translating skills, I would not be able to understand her sentence.

The healer stared back at me, shrugging and holding his hands up in the air. "I did not know she spoke little Valesian. Perhaps she only knows this sentence?"

"Fine, whatever the case is, we need to find the man. How many did you send after him and with what information?" I rub my temples with two fingers on each side. "No, even if we do find him, fifty people would be registered and everyone would be turned away. Should we release the woman?"

"He is tall, middle-aged, brown-haired, tan, and has hazel-coloured eyes. The woman also said he told her to wait for her in line, but did not return for hours until it was her turn." Paion crossed his arms. "So, was this a problem worthy enough of your time?"

"Yes," I replied curtly. "If she gives birth today, you have to help her. I will look for her husband until morning. After that time, she will have to travel to Vales alone or we will let her go and choose another Krasean to take her place. Does this sound reasonable?"

"It sounds like a plan compared to what we did. Once again, her husband is tall, middle-ages, brown-haired, tan, and his eyes are light brown." Paion reminds me with a finger in the air, pressing it forward every time he adds a feature to the list.

"Wait," I remove my heavy helmet and discard it to the side of the tent. I dragged the healer to a corner, away from the woman. If she heard my yelling, she would be pushing out her baby right now. I smile, slightly annoyed with the description given to me. "How am I supposed to find that bastard? Krasea is full of people like him! Any distinct features?"

Paion shook his head, touching his curled bangs. He meant to tell me he had no more information than I had.

"Perfect! Shall I go drag every man out of his house to see if he looks like a tall Krasean man?" I could feel my face heat up and not because of the hot tent. I would chase criminals, but this man must have been a poor lad who deserted his wife. "How is her baby?"

"Babies," the healer corrected me almost immediately. I closed my eyes, seething. I now understood why she was left alone in line for a better life. The husband could have had good intentions, but he was sending her and their children to slavery. Paion nodded, "We have guessed the same scenario as you. We cannot know exactly, but that most likely happened."

"Send her back home, her husband may have left her here but he cannot move to another place so quickly. He could not have planned this either because we defeated Krasea earlier than we should have." I sigh out of frustration. "Send her back! Take her name off the list and find someone to replace her."