Chapter 207: A Brief Respite

"Mizik! And is that Princess Cassandra? When did you get here!?" My father said as he approached.

"Hey, Dad. It's good to see you again. Amelia too. Also, we just arrived," I said.

Suddenly, both Ulysses and Amelia looked at me strangely.

"I...haven't introduced myself. How do you know my name?" Amelia asked.

"I've met you before, that's how," I said.

"Wait...is this coming from Warmage?" Ulysses asked.

"I'm Warmage. Or I was, at least... Before I was killed," I said.

"What have you done to my son!?" Ulysses said.

"I am your son, Dad. Warmage is Mizik. I merged with the one in this body. We're the same person, remember? I explicitly said that I was Mizik Iratus."

Realization dawned on him.

"Oh...so how did you die?" He asked.

"That's a long story. Since I'm here now, we have some time to kill before our asshole of an ally shows up," I said.

"Well, how about you take us somewhere to talk then, Amelia?" Ulysses said.

"With pleasure. And...is it really okay for her to be here? I mean...she is one of the Princesses, right?" Amelia said.

"I am Mizik's beloved wife. Please do not think of me as a Princess. I have forsaken that useless title to follow my darling forever," Cassandra said.

"I...guess that solves that, then..." Ulysses said.

* * *

After several hours of discussion, we had finally brought Amelia and Ulysses up to speed.

Amelia was quite shocked to learn that Tyranus had murdered her in my time. And My father was beyond amazed at the things I accomplished after he passed.

"Wow... My son is amazing! I've never been so proud of you in my entire life!" He said as tears began to well up in his eyes.

"No need to get sentimental on me, Dad. I'm just happy to see you again. It hasn't been long for you, but it's been around twenty years for me. I...really missed you, by the way..." I said.

"Well, I can see what you've dealt with has definitely had an effect on you. When I talk to you, it's different than before. You were fairly innocent, but now..." Ulysses said.

"It's like talking to a hardened war veteran who has seen countless battles and lost far too many comrades. Is that alright for me to say?" Amelia said.

"It's accurate... A little too accurate for me to be comfortable with it, but I don't mind," I said.

"So...my son is quite the ladies man, too, it seems. How are you and Cassandra getting along? Did you have a good night after the reception?" He asked with a wink.

I felt my face heat up as I recalled that...rather extreme emotional situation.

That night was intense. She was like a predator feasting on her favorite meal.

Cassandra also seemed to blush as she looked at me shyly. But I could tell she was reminicing, rather than feeling embarassed.

"What? You've done that before, right?" Ulysses said.

"I have! But this body isn't used to those things! I still get flustered because I'm in a 14-year-old's body! And maybe my love life should be my own business, Dad?" I said.

"Oh, fine! You're no fun! It's like talking to someone almost my age, sheesh," Ulysses said.

"Umm...I'm certainly approaching it if you count the fact that I was in my mid thirties before the Oracle shot me in the chest..."

"I rest my case! Come on! Crack a smile! Tell a joke! What happened to you!?"

"Maybe it had something to do with watching everyone I love die!? Losing two entire worlds and all my effort being for nothing? You know...that kind of thing? You try experiencing that nonsense and still making jokes. It wasn't fun by any means!"

"Pfft...you could still say something like: 'yeah Dad, I totally stormed that castle like you wouldn't believe!'."

"And how is it that such a crass and childish man holds the sacred skill!?" Amelia said angrily as she looked at Ulysses.

"Because I'm still one hell of a warrior with honor to spare, that's how," he said.

"I hate to interrupt your fun, Dad, but I need to discuss plans for the future," I said.

"Right! Grandkids! When am I going to see them, Mizik? And will they have pink hair and emerald eyes, or black hair with emerald eyes? Or will my hair color skip a generation-"

"DAD!" I shouted angrily.

"Uwaa... I would love to bear Mizik's children! But now isn't a good time. Unless Mizik thinks it's a good time..." Cassandra said.

"Now is a terrible time to be discussing those things! I was talking about war plans!" I said.

"When did you become such a stick in the mud?" Ulysses said.

Why is he like this!?

"Are you still on about that!? I'm not a stick in the mud! We're wanted criminals! Or at least I am in Albatross. Those idiots think I abducted Cassandra!" I said.

"I don't think I believe that... She seems a little..."

"Obsessed?" I said.

"No, I was going to say attached. But she does seem kind of obsessed," Ulysses said.

"Mizik is all I think about most of the time! What else is there?" Cassandra said cheerfully.

"Of course... So, Mizik, what do you think Albatross is likely to do right now? I'm asking the war veteran guy we called Warmage, by the way. I'd like to get an idea on how experienced you are with this stuff," Ulysses said in a serious tone.

"We're the same person now. We merged. And I'm worried they'll send a small army to attack and try to get Cassandra back," I said.

"Well, we have plenty of troops stationed here. I used to be quite infamous back in the day and Amelia is also no pushover," Ulysses said with a grin.

"I know. The Emerald War Demon, right?" I asked.

"Damn it all! I wanted to show off a little for my son! I'm supposed to be your role model, right? Couldn't you just pretend that you never heard my old nickname?" He said.

"Not a chance. But with you here, we should be able to hold off an army. Unfortunately, we have to stay until our ally arrives... And he seems to be taking his sweet time like the asshole that he is..." I said.

"To be fair, this Difar guy sounds like a dick. He's probably making us wait on purpose," Ulysses said.

"He is a dick. I can only think of one person I hate more than him and she's the reason I'm in this mess to begin with. Remember when I said that he raped Aria in front of her family? He's a monster among monsters. But I need his help until I can get ready to slit his fucking throat."

"Ah...yeah...that. Well, in that case, maybe you should relax a bit? You're a pretty intense guy, Mizik. You have to know when to change modes," Ulysses said.

"Intense...? I prefer to be ready for anything. You don't get as far as I have without always being ready," I said.

"Take it from an old soldier as well as your father. You have to learn when to slow down and take a break. Just relax."

"I suppose I could do with some extra training... I relied so much on The Warlord to help me with my sword skills that I might have gotten sloppy..."

"No training! Just go to one of the nicer rooms usually reserved for nobles. Relax with Cassandra! Make some grandkids! I don't know!" Ulysses said.

Can we PLEASE stop talking about that!?

"Darling, your father wants you to relax. Why not listen?" Cassandra said.

"I...I guess... Fine. We can go lay down and get some sleep," I said.

"That sounds wonderful!" Cassandra said.

"Hey, Cassandra. If you don't mind, could you make sure that kid gets to relax sometimes? Mizik has always been kind of straightforward with things and sometimes he has trouble pacing himself. Looking at him now, I didn't teach him to stop and rest enough."

"Absolutely! But...umm... Can I...call you father? Maybe...?" Cassandra said hopefully.

"I don't see why not! You're my daughter-in-law now!" Ulysses said with a big smile.

"I'm part of Mizik's family now! My life feels so complete!" Cassandra said.

"I'm not a damn kid..." I said angrily.

"To me you are! I don't care if you were in your thirties when you got killed, you're still MY son! And you seriously need to stop being so angry."

"If you had listened to me and decided NOT to go to the mines, LIKE I ASKED, maybe I wouldn't have ended up so angry! You know...because my Dad got eaten by a damn dragon!? And how I ended up an orphan!?"

"Gah...maybe I should learn to be more trusting, then... But hey, I listened this time, right? Haha..."

"Too late. The damage is already done. Do you know what that does to a person?"

"No...but, I do now. Although knowing won't change anything. If it helps, I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry I ignored you, I'm sorry I died, and I'm sorry you ended up as an orphan. I never meant to leave you all alone, Mizik. And for what it's worth...I love you. I mean that, okay?"

"Hm... Yeah..." I said.

I felt tears forming in my eyes and quickly wiped them away.

"Hey, cry if you want to, okay? You can't just bottle everything up! Cassandra, help me out, please?"

"Darliiing~!"

Shoved my head in her chest.

"Please let everything out, darling! Cry as much as you like! Cassandra will always be here for you!"

"Gah...I need to lay down..." I mumbled.

"Hahaha! See!? She's already doing great as a wife!" Ulysses said.

"You say that, but you look a little more than envious..." Amelia said suspiciously.

"Shut up, Amelia! I miss Karia enough already, as is! This makes me a bit sentimental..."

Amelia rolled her eyes.

"You two should go lay down. Get some rest. We'll handle preparations," Amelia said.

"Yes, Aunt Amelia!" Cassandra said.

"Hmm..."

Once we finished our talks, the two of us got up and went into one of the spare rooms in the upper part of the fort. This one offered a nice view of the side where Albatross was via a window with heavy bars on it.

I almost laid down in my armor and Cassandra stopped me.

She was determined to have me relax, so I ended up letting her take my armor off.

After that, we laid down together and slept for a while.

Actually...we were like this for several days...

* * *

When I woke up one day, Cassandra was trying on a set of hard leather assassin armor made for stealth and freedom of movement. She kept the cloak on her as well.

When she saw me, she seemed somewhat sad.

"Cassandra? Are you okay?" I asked.

"I...was thinking for a bit after I woke up... I remembered something you said a long time ago. When we met in the dungeon," she said.

You remember that...?

I sat up and bowed my head.

"I'm really sorry for the things I said to you back then, Cassandra. I was just really angry, is all. I could have handled it better, but sort of lost my temper. Can you forgive me?" I asked.

"Please don't...apologize to me... You have nothing to apologize for as far as I'm concerned. I deserved it, after all... What I'm worried about is... Well, I just sort of want to hear you say it. A long time ago, you said that if you woke up one day and I was your wife...you would hang yourself... You won't do that, will you? Truly?" She said.

"Absolutely not. Things have changed significantly since that day. I'm happy to have you at my side and I would never want to give that up."

"Really!? Even if Isabella came back!?"

"I would fight for you at this point. I love you and value your unshakable loyalty above all else."

"That makes me so happy I feel like I'll explode! Oh, also! I was going to wake you up soon to show you the armor I got. How do I look?" Cassandra said.

I looked her up and down.

The armor suited her well. Especially for her style of fighting.

It hugged her body quite a bit as well...and in all the right places...

"You look beautiful. I appreciate the fact that you care what I think."

"Y-you think I'm beautiful!?"

I slowly got out of bed and smiled at her.

"I don't think I've ever met a woman more beautiful than you, Cassandra," I said.

Honestly, I wasn't lying, but...

It was a fairly hollow sentiment. I could have been complimenting Isabella's looks and Cassandra could still take that in stride.

Due to them being identical twins, and all.

Regardless, Cassandra's face lit up with joy and she ran over to me.

Then, she tripped over herself and tackled me to the ground by accident.

"Gah!"

After we landed, she looked down at me worriedly.

"I-I'm so sorry! I got excited and lost my footing... You're not hurt, are you!?" She asked.

"The floor is pretty soft, here, so no. I'm fine. Just surprised, is all," I said.

Then she narrowed her eyes and leaned closer.

"Then perhaps...we could stay like this...?" Cassandra said as she pushed herself on me.

I didn't respond, but she slowly lowered her face to mine.

Just before she kissed me, she stopped as we both heard a loud commotion outside.

Then, I heard someone yelling...

Someone very familiar...

"BY ORDER OF THE CROWN OF ALBATROSS, IF KALSA IS HARBORING THE CRIMINAL MIZIK IRATUS, YOU ARE INVITING A WAR! RETURN MY SISTER, PRINCESS CASSANDRA, OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES! MIZIK IRATUS!!! GET OUT HERE, NOW!!!" Isabella screamed.

This is what we get for waiting several days for that ASSHOLE to arrive! DAMN IT ALL!!!

Cassandra glared in the direction her voice was coming from.

And I mean I had never seen such a pissed expression on her face in my life.

"That bitch... Interrupting my lovey-dovey time with my darling Mizik... How dare she..." Cassandra hissed.

Cassandra got up off of me and I stood up.

We looked out of the window and saw Isabella with a huge army of troops at her back. They looked VERY elite and highly dangerous.

Walter sat on a horse at her side in his immaculate, golden armor. Isabella, herself, wore a beautiful set of silvery armor with her hair up underneath a crown. She sat on an armored white horse.

It was likely just for show, however.

She was extremely low leveled, currently.

Lastly, I saw Sir Gordon standing beside Isabella as well, next to his horse.

"Don't worry about it, there will be plenty of time for that later."

"B-but...the mood was just right and everything..."

"When things calm down, we'll spend plenty of time together. Okay?"

"Yes! I can't wait! But first...my naughty sister will have to be punished harshly for disturbing my sweet Mizik..." Cassandra said with a menacing smile.

She cradled her dagger next to her face.

Instead of worrying about her mental health, I grabbed her hand and pulled her away with me.

A few minutes later, we walked out of the fort together and I saw both my father and Amelia standing in front of a group of Kalsan soldiers.

They looked extremely confident with Ulysses up front.

"Oh, Mizik! So nice of you to join us," Ulysses said.

"Where is your armor, Mizik?" Amelia asked.

"I just woke up to the sound of Isabella yelling. I hadn't put it on yet," I said.

"Let me protect you, Mizik!" Cassandra said as she stepped in front of me and readied herself.

"MIZIK IRATUS!!! YOU FIEND!!!" Isabella shouted.

"Ugh...WHAT DO YOU WANT, ISABELLA!?" I shouted back.

"I want you to release my sister and turn yourself in!"

I looked at Cassandra and she seemed somewhat confused.

"You're...free to do as you please? The decision is yours...?" I said.

"I want to stay with my darling Mizik forever. Isabella, why do you think I've been abducted?"

"I...don't understand... Has he brainwashed you...?" Isabella said.

You have got to be fucking kidding me!

"Mizik has not brainwashed me. He didn't convince me to do anything for him, either. He even asked if I wanted to stay in Albatross and I chose to go with him. Being a Princess is pointless if I cannot spend my life with Mizik."

"I see... Then you've been convinced of your own freedom of choice. This is a difficult situation..." Isabella said.

Have you always been this dense!?

"Ulysses...it is a pleasure to see you again after the wedding... But I must say, I am disappointed in the son you've raised," Walter said.

"Honestly, Walter, I don't think you understand the situation. Instead of judging my single-father parenting, maybe you should be a little more trusting," Ulysses said.

"Hmm..."

I decided to speak to Isabella at that point.

"Isabella, please listen. I'm not your enemy! I don't mean you any harm! I've only ever wanted to be by your side!"

"How can you say such a thing when your wife is standing right next to you!? You are a horrible and filthy pervert! Only interested in the female body!" She said angrily.

If there's one thing I can't stand...it's being called a pervert.

I could feel myself getting angrier by the second...

Walter seemed to pick up on this and took out his sword.

[Walter Orthright. I deem you a false wielder for standing against me. Mizik, you know what to do.]

You can consider it done. I don't care, anymore...

As much as I loved Walter all those years ago...that Walter was dead and gone forever. This one was no friend of mine.

Then, many of the soldiers prepared for battle as well.

Before we started, I still wanted to try and calm things, however... My emotions were already going out of control, but...

I just didn't want to hurt Isabella.

"Isabella, I am NOT a pervert! Does this place ring any bells!? You helped me kill a monster here, before! This is where you were selected by Bravery! Please! I know you're in there somewhere, Isabella!" I said.

"Tch...I've never been here before, you rotten pervert! And I've only just held Bravery a few days ago! How deep do your delusions go!?"

Finally, I felt something in me snap.

"Damn it all... I'M NOT DELUSIONAL, YOU CRAZY WOMAN!!! HOW THE HELL COULD I COME UP WITH SUCH A DETAILED STORY!?!? ANSWER ME!!!" I yelled.

"With lots of planning, of course! You have likely had plenty of time to fantasize about me while you were creating your vile mind control magic. I will not ask you again. RELEASE MY SISTER AT ONCE AND TURN YOURSELF IN!!!" Isabella said angrily.

"My wife is truly lost forever... Damn that Oracle... Everything we did...all of our love...gone in an instant! How could I have been so naive!? I'll make her pay..." I said aloud to myself.

"SOLDIERS! BY MY ORDER AS FIRST PRINCESS OF ALBATROSS! I COMMAND YOU TO STRIKE DOWN MIZIK IRATUS WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE!!!"

As the soldiers began to step forward, Ulysses slammed his foot onto the ground and it shook.

"ADVANCE AT YOUR OWN RISK, SOLDIERS OF ALBATROSS! I AM SIR ULYSSES IRATUS! THE EMERALD WAR DEMON!!! STEP FORWARD AND FACE YOUR DOOM!!!" My father roared.

The Albatross soldiers hesitated and Walter seemed conflicted.

On one hand, he knew he was to be by Isabella's side protecting her from us.

On the other, he would be necessary for fighting both myself and Cassandra.

It went without saying, that since my father was on the field, he would be a prime target.

Because if Ulysses was allowed to roam freely, he would slaughter the enemy troops with ease.

Even by the hundreds...

I was also certain that Amelia could hold her own against many of them as well.

Additionally, we had support from the border walls.

I saw several Albatross mages and archers in the back preparing to fire...

As I thought about the chaos that was soon to erupt...

I saw a shadow appear in the air between all of us.

"What's that!? What's going on!?" Sir Gordon shouted.

"Looks like our piece of shit ally finally decided to show up!" I said.

Both Cassandra and I then flinched as an overwhelming wave of impending doom washed over us.

A heavy pressure fell over the battlefield as many of the soldiers on both sides cowered in fear.

Then, a hooded and masked figure emerged from the shadows.

Behind Valtheim, a tall man with pale skin emerged as well.

His hair was as white as snow and his eyes were dark purple. He had a menacing scowl on his face and wore the exact same clothes he did the day I saw him on Ignitus.

I saw a single earring with a purple crystal dangling from one of his ears as well.

"The star of the show has arrived," Difar said with a smile.