Chapter 33: Ayesha's Tent

"Have… you been in the Commander's tent before?"

"No. Who would want to be? You've seen the way the woman treats people in public, you really want to find out what she'll do to you behind closed doors? Nope, no. Not me."

"But, I mean… aside from her tendency for violence and impulse to berate everyone, she's… super hot."

"Get that toxic shit out of here, man. You don't date crazy people, she clearly has a few nuts loose."

"She can loosen my nuts."

"...Why am I even your friend?"

Outside Commander Ayesha's tent, the two soldiers that were making their rounds around the camp were walking exaggeratingly close to the tent—their ears, almost visibly getting larger as they tried to eavesdrop on whatever was happening inside.

But then again, the two couldn't really make their rounds if they wanted to. After all, it wasn't only them. Even those that were not supposed to be there were surrounding Ayesha's tent, making it impossible for the two to move.

How could they not be curious, when this was probably the first time any of them was asked to enter Ayesha's tent—and a fresh recruit at that?

"Don't worry about those idiots, the tent is equipped with some silencing magic or whatever it's called."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Rhys wasn't really thinking about the soldiers as he was busy scanning Ayesha's tent. He was already half expecting it because of the pair of feathers strapped on her hair, but Ayesha's tent was filled with things that Rhys could only describe as… tribal.

There were totems, not of the Olympians, but of random idols that Rhys could only assume to be of old gods. Gods that were proven to be false as soon as Zeus made themselves known.

There was, however, one thing out of place—a small teddy bear sitting on the desk.

…No bed.

Does she not sleep here?

"Wow… you think a lot," Ayesha scoffed as she started walking and circling around Rhys, "Not a good trait for a soldier."

"I apologize, Ma'am," Rhys quickly stood up straight, "I'll try to change my—"

"Pft. No, forget that…" Ayesha then stood in front of Rhys, crossing her arms as she looked him straight in his hidden eyes, "...Whose blood is running through your veins? You should have instinctively known it when you Awakened, it's weird like that."

"..." Should he tell her? She's one of the most powerful people in the world, as well as one of the highest-ranking officers in the military. She will find out—

"You're doing it again," Ayesha groaned as she leaned her head closer to Rhys; her lips, slightly snarled, "As a soldier, you answer when asked. Understood?"

"...Understood, Ma'am."

"So…? You certainly know mine, and I'm going to find out yours sooner or later, either way. I am sure you told someone of your abilities already…like that naughty nurse friend of yours."

"She's a doctor, Ma'am," Rhys let out a small but deep sigh as he shook his head.

"I know, I'm just letting you know that I know more about you than you thought," Ayesha scoffed, "The tragedy of—"

"Eros," Rhys breathed out; his fingers, almost digging through his palm, "It's called Eros."

"Ares!?" Ayesha slightly backed away; her eyes, widening as she looked at Rhys from head to toe, "That's… a rare blood! It makes sense that even a Lowborn would exhibit… combat abilities like yours."

"...Eros, Ma'am."

"Oh," Ayesha once again quickly crossed her arms and stood up straight, "I have no idea who that is."

"..."

"..."

"!!!"

And out of nowhere, Ayesha suddenly stretched her hand…straight toward Rhys's face.

"Well, whoever that is, you lucked out," Ayesha then smirked as she tilted her head to the side, only to see that Rhys was able to lean his head back to avoid her fist,

"I thought a little depressed Lowborn came here to die when that tall pervert sent a letter to me…

…but you're not that simple. Are you, recruit?"

Tall pervert; was she talking about the deputy mayor?

"Meh, I don't believe in all that blood supremacy nonsense anyway. Lowborns, Commoners, Nobles… you will all just shit and pee yourselves when hit hard enough," Ayesha then said as her smirk turned into a chuckle,

"On that note, hit me."

"Ma'am…?"

"Punch me. You don't have to worr—egh."

"..."

"..."

Ayesha could really only stand there in silence; her eyes, batting several times as she stared at Rhys… and his fist that was now planted right in front of her face.

"This little…" Ayesha grabbed Rhys's wrist as she leaned her head back, "...you didn't even hesitate to hit your Commander?"

"I'm a soldier, Ma'am," Rhys said; the tone of his voice, still soothingly lazy, "I... shouldn't think and just follow orders."

"Oh? A soldier? Not just yet," Ayesha once again smirked, "What else? What else do you have?"

"..."

"Listen, recruit…" Ayesha slightly tightened her grip on Rhys's arm; her slightly playful and authoritative voice, now only filled with the latter as she saw the hesitation on Rhys's face,

"...You don't have to show me whatever it is you're hiding, because whatever it is, it will surely be useless if the one in danger is already me. But the people out there, recruit? The people that will be your brothers and sisters? They will trust you with your lives."

"..."

"If you continue to hide your abilities even then… I will gut you myself. Unders—"

And before Ayesha could finish her words, Rhys gave her the same treatment as she did Katarina when they were discovering his abilities…

…shower her face with his thick cobweb.