Chapter 35: Dinner time

During the meeting, Lireesa answered any of her subordinates' doubts, while sometimes even pointed out flaws. She explained the solutions to most problems in a simple way. For complex issues, she told her subordinates, she would display them in the practical sessions tomorrow where they would train on tactics. Lireesa never exuded impatience from her appearance but showed the opposite—mild and malleable. Many subordinates applauded this behavior and cherished their luck to serve such a lord. In spite of their harsh questions, Lireesa always nailed the issues succinctly without jeopardizing her image of a wise lord. Her confidence grew as she spoke more, and her back-up wasn't being the lord but from the wisdom and knowledge of civilization in her previous life. She was fortunate enough to have interest in learning histories where strategies and tactics were all included not to mention unproven conspiracies and game theories way of thoughts.

Questions and answers went on becoming more and more difficult to reply requiring deep calculation. It appeared her subordinates had all understood the meaning but was unable to envision without a real battle. She raised her hand to stop them from probing onward and replied, "Let's stop this for now. Today's meeting will end and I believe other problems you want to ask will be answered together tomorrow during our practice drills. You are all dismissed."

Lireesa's eyes watched them carefully and expressed dismissal, where she discovered most of her subordinates had crystal clear eyes showing they were in joy of comprehension. They all nodded their head and saluted.

"Lady Lireesa." Then, everyone exited the hall and went out where she could hear their mumbles. Lireesa looked back at her daughter and her friend who were standing beside her and smiled at them. "Let's wait for Ella's business to finish. We'll go back together. Sena, we'll be eating at my manor. Any time?"

"Of course," replied Sena. She was now damn high in heaven, who would reject their belove invitation, quickly forgetting the unhappiness of being overshadowed by Lireesa. Lireesa was actually feeling lucky to dispel the confusion among the ranks of Windrunner high level officers. In addition to having access to opensource information related to what they were discussing, Lireesa also had a family member affiliated with military in her previous Life. Her uncle was an ex-military personnel who never delved what he had done during his combat tour, and she reckoned, it was definitely special force. The way he hid his identity and being too secretive about his operation unlike other tier-one units made Lireesa had a guess. An ex-Delta member.

It wasn't only her uncle teaching some military essence but also Lireesa had strong interest in military warfare books, almost available whenever she visited her uncles and read them thoroughly, even taking notes, which surprised him and forced him to ensure Lireesa stayed away from entering the military. Lireesa now had no regrets for her having such interest; she was even thankful of her behaviors when she was suddenly transmigrated for unknown reason. Nonetheless, she enjoyed her life and glad to continue living. Only those who had faced death understood what it represented and how precious life was.

"Alleria, what's wrong with your expression. The look on me and Sena. Did you two fight?" Lireesa was puzzled and wondered how in the world the two had conflicts. She knew her friend's character and it was impossible for Sena to bully younglings if she wasn't being treated worst by the other party. She had clear grievance and virtue. Sena would never mix the two. Besides, she behaved mischievously around everyone so much so that anyone encountering her except for those with deep friendships would always wipe their cold sweats on their forehead. Alleria was her daughter, who she raised as her heir personally and knew her inside out.

Now Alleria looked at her and her eyes enunciated complexities, while her gaze at Sena was very unfriendly as if she were bandits who planned to loot her belongings. On the other hand, Sena was calm despite showing some annoyance at her daughter's behavior. She remained quiet and didn't speak but her eyes never met Lireesa's. The problem was probably with her and Sena relationship, causing Lireesa to wonder when her daughter already noticed the sign, oblivious to the fact she teased Sena previously inside the room in front of Alleria. Although she might need her daughters' approval if she desired to go deeper and sought her happiness, she was already a big grandmother and would never care about their thoughts except to contrast them too much, because she knew her daughters understood their mother. After all, she passed away in her previous life confessing and never experience what the relationship would be like.

She shook her head quickly at her whimsical thoughts and threw them away. Now what Lireesa must do was to improve strength. Everything in this world was related to strength, for survival, for life enjoyment, and for any goals she had, which she currently obviously didn't. If everything returned to calm and she had enough strength, maybe she could ponder about this issue. Lireesa picked up a piece of paper on the table near her and asked Sena for an ink pen. She wrote down some of the questions by her subordinates she hadn't answered and thought about her profession—ranger—jotting down lists of disadvantages of ranger professions.

Obviously, the main shortcoming was their close combat method, where ranger usually used a dagger to fight melee, except for superbly skilled like Lireesa who used dual-wielded daggers. As soon as one skilled fighter closed in to the ranger, they were already pretty much screwed unless the ranger also had sufficient training with close weapons. She had read many fantasy novels in her past life of elven cultures, where the archers possessed the skill to dodge all attacks through dancing. If she recalled correctly, it should be called 'Dance of the elves'. She wasn't really sure but through this practice elves avoided the blows from melee fighters. Since the current ranger of Quel'Thalas seemed to not have this skill, she would create one as Windrunner's skill.

Another demerit was the effect of ranger on group attack, also known as AOE or area of effect attack. Their singular blow couldn't be denied being very powerful, but when facing the charging hordes rangers soon experienced difficulties with their damage output and often engaging in close range where they were poor at. Many losses fighting with trolls occurred because they were in close combat and naturally trolls were highly proficient majoring in close weapons.

Sena and Alleria watched with their gentle eyes at Lireesa who was fully on concentration and outside disturbances couldn't extract her mind out of it. Soon, they didn't know an hour passed and Lireesa was still writing; her head would only be brought up when she was thinking again. Ella came in and saw Lireesa busy on her own. She also sat down on the chairs in the room waiting like the others. Lireesa never knew how long the time had passed and looked up and saw everyone had arrived. She gave an apologetic smile and stood up from her seat.

"All of us are here. Let's go"

Ella crossed her legs and continued sitting, "Oh! After letting us wait for so long, you just stood up and no compensation?" Lireesa nearly laughed out from Ella's expression, who now thawed her strictness and felt closer, even though she already expected how the gentle Ella would be.

Sena also put in her own words or maybe setting up a trap. "You must drink with us and let us sleep in your manor."

Ella raised her eyes and thought this was the real Sena, striving for direct hit whenever the opportunity was given. After living together for so long, Ella already knew about Sena's liking and discovered her heartbreak when Lireesa got married. Back then although Sena didn't say anything, how could Ella miss her friend's heart, who was grieving and the whole aura gave a gloomy feeling. Even though the outsider wouldn't regard Sena's mood as a friend should have when she was in joy because her friend's husband died, Ella understood her goals, difficulties, pain and ecstasy because of her new hope especially the current Lireesa, who was willing to accept not feeling one bit disgusted or to not escape.

So, she didn't argue with her, but didn't think it was the way for the lord of Windrunner family to fall in love with same gender before. However, her thoughts changed when she saw Lireesa almost always completely relax in front of them and Lireesa's fear of what's going to happen in the future when she mentioned during the past days. When one recognized life was always short and precious to enjoy, they would spend every moment seeking happiness. Ella now understood, as long as her friends were well and happy, everything else didn't matter.

In contrast to Sena's expectation, Alleria cut in and said receiving a scornful gaze, "Mother, drinking mustn't be done in front of the minor especially Lina. She's still a child."

Lireesa remembered her little padded jacket she always wanted to hold on. Lina was sweet and her mischievous action brought laughter out from Lireesa driving away any depression she had when she returned from her house. To the current Lireesa, it appeared Lina was the real child she brought up. This might be owing to the fact she hadn't spent a long time with her daughters.

"Yeah, you're right, dear. Sena, maybe next time. For now, let's go eat." Lireesa ignored her mournful face and gestured at Ella to follow her to the manor. Ella smirked when she saw Sena's depressing eyes and gritting teeth at Alleria. Lireesa now knew nothing about how to solve the crisis between the two, but to let the nature took course.

As the group arrived at the doorstep of manor, Lireesa heard a milky childish voice. "Mommy, Mommy. We've being waiting for you. What took you so long?" She saw chubby Lina running on small steps toward her and complained with her mouth pouting as if asking for a kiss. She was followed by maids who were worried her legs would trip over. Lireesa's mood instantly sublimated and brought her arms wide. Lina ran into her arms and was immediately raised high. Lireesa swirled her around for a second. Holding Lina with one arm under her butt, Lireesa squeezed the cheek of her lovely daughter and asked.

"Sweety, why you wait for your mother?"

Lina's eyes wandered around and spoke softly, her fingers twirling around. "Because I'm hungry. My sisters were also hungry."

Lireesa asked in a soothing tone, "Why don't you eat first?"

Lina laid her head on Lireesa's strong yet feminine shoulders and groaned out in dissatisfaction. "Because Aunt Ella says this is the rule of our family. We must wait for mother. Mother let's go. Eat. I'm hungry."

Lireesa chuckled out loud and patted her daughter's back. She now knew her Lina also had her opinions about Ella. She raised her chin at Ella as if to say look what you had done. "Alright, our Lina is hungry. By your order, my princess. Let's stay away from Aunt Ella."

Even if Lina and Lireesa whispered softly to prevent others from hearing, everyone heard it. Sena laughed without any regards to her appearance satisfied with Lina's obedience and at the same time knew Lina wasn't happy with Ella teaching.

Poor child, she thought, under strict rules earlier than your sisters.

Alleria just smiled and believed it wasn't bad to follow rules while Ella didn't care as long as Lireesa never really objected to her behavior. Naturally, Lireesa agreed with discipline since young age and thought alongside with her pampering, it would be the best parenting method.

Chuckles from the adults and weeny voice of a child when she put her cheeks on Lireesa and said out with her mouth on the skin expressed the closed family affection, if seen by outsiders would surely thaw the coldness in their hearts. Maids beside them also had hands on their hearts as if the whole person was filled with cute energy.