ENGAGEMENT PARTY

Odd gazes, tense atmosphere, awkward silence, evasive eyes, heated breaths. Surrounding a small hilltop, there were currently thirty or so people focused on the central scene before them, unsure whether to watch or run away. The focus of the attention were, unsurprisingly, Parsia and Ayya, who have become a huge comedy hit during their stay here.

“… what are you doing?” Parsia asked, his expression that of exhaustion.

“Trying to make love to you.” Ayya said teasingly as she licked his neck.

“Don’t.”

“Ouch, so mean!” she pressed her chest against his arm, creating a bulge. “When did you become so mean, huh? Did you meet another woman? Did you? DID YOU BASTARD?!”

“Of course not,” Parsia turned toward her, smiling brilliantly. “You’re the only one for me, idiot.”

“Aww…” This is weird! This is definitely weird! The audience thought.

“Oh, you two are here?” sudden Lynne appeared, startling Parsia. “Walk with me.”

“Oh, handsome King!” Ayya jolted onto her feet, pulling Parsia along with her and joining Lynne’s side. “Aah, if only I didn’t devote 160% of my heart to Parsia, I’d give you some remnants.”

“No thanks.” Lynne said plainly. “Rather, could you devote less of that heart to him? Could you turn back into a normal human?”

“Well past that point!” Ayya exclaimed proudly.

“Dude, I don’t know whether to admire you or pity you.” Lynne said bluntly.

“Neither. Just ignore me.”

“Can’t. Every time I perk my ears up, I hear her moans. It’s become like a Kingdom’s hymn.”

“Aah, you flatter me!”

“No, trust me, I’m not,” Lynne said. “Anyway, I hate to be the cockblock--”

“--no you don’t.” Parsia said.

“No, I really don’t. Anyway, I have assignments for you two,” Lynne said, his tone growing serious, causing both Parsia and Ayya to tense up as well. “But, before that, I may as well shout a proper warning. Neither of you are really a part of this Kingdom, so if you want to elope away, now’s the time.”

“So, it’s happening, huh?” Parsia asked, sighing.

“Yeah.”

“Don’t worry! Our love will defeat all foes that stand in our way!”

“Unlikely,” Lynne said. “Anyway, if you’re not eloping (I seriously recommend it), I’ll put you in charge of the Twin Dragon Formation.”

“Not direct confrontation?” Parsia pondered.

“What direct? We’d die in minutes if we butted heads directly,” Lynne said nonchalantly. “Seriously, we have like thirty Grand Mages at disposal, at best. The other side will probably have hundreds, if not thousands.”

“… yeah, about that eloping plan…”

“Anyway, you two will use the formation to give them good ol’ push and pull game,” Lynne explained. “Stick to the flanks, and just try to distract them while picking them off one by one. Y’se reinforced the direct defensive formation, so the battle will most-likely be led on the outskirts. We can’t let them breach any further.”

“… what are our chances?” Parsia asked.

“Chances?” Lynne looked at him oddly. “Forget chances, we’re winning this shit. Don’t worry about it, just focus on your task. If, due to unforeseen circumstances, things begin turning grim, you’re free to run away.”

“Why o’ my, thanks…”

“No problem!” Lynne exclaimed, smiling. “Ah, but please don’t start screwing each other midway through the battle. That would be highly embarrassing.”

“… what do you even think of us, damn bastard?!” Parsia cried out.

“What do I think? You’re a lovely pair,” Lynne smiled. “And as much as it doesn’t look like it, you fit well.”

“Aah, he said we fit well!!” Ayya exclaimed, flowers behind her blooming like a mirage. “Did you hear Parsia? He said we fit well!! Aah!”

“… you really think so? Back home, everyone told me I was insane for chasing her for so long. Especially when I actually got her to marry me.”

“Who cares what they think?” Lynne said. “Although you’re trying to play it cool, I’ve never seen you as happy as you are now. I have some other things to take care of, so I’ll be going now. See ya’.”

“… he’s really amazing, isn’t he?” Ayya mumbled, watching at the spot Lynne was at a second ago before disappearing, leaving only a faint trace of his aura behind.

“Hm,” Parsia nodded, sighing inwardly. “When he first proposed to build the Kingdom, I honestly wanted to beat him to a pulp. However, when I think about it, he’s perhaps the best kind of a ruler.”

“What do you mean?” Ayya asked, curious.

“Maybe he doesn’t realize it himself, but he’s got a strange charisma that draws people toward him. Honestly, even as a Prince, for the most part… I just followed him around. He’s grown up so quickly.”

“… he wasn’t always like this?” Ayya asked.

“Ha ha, not at all. Anyway, let’s go back home.”

“Aww…”

“… ah, shut up, horny devil incarnate.”

“… then you must exorcise all my demons, Mr. Holy Priest.”

“… what the hell…”

* * *

Y’se was standing atop the tower, calmly drinking Heavenly Ale, when Lynne suddenly appeared next to her. Her eyes glanced at him once, sighing inwardly, before reverting her gaze back onto the distant south, worry in her eyes.

“You just had to go and provoke him, huh? You hotheaded bastard.” Y’se grunted, gulping down the last of the bottle.

“Eeh? It was fun, so just let it go,” Lynne said casually. “Anyway, are you sure you should be getting drunk just before the big boom? Isn’t that irresponsible?”

“… then what are you doing with the bottle in your hand?”

“Killing my nerves.”

“Oh? The great, grand, cold King Lynne is nervous?” Y’se asked in a mocking tone.

“Of course I am,” Lynne said seriously, following Y’se’s gaze toward the south. “I’ve barely begun fulfilling my dream, and I already have to defend it. Isn’t that at least a little bit poetic?”

“… what are you planning?” Y’se asked, creasing her brows. “I don’t think you’re stupid enough to provoke him just because it was fun. Although, I still can’t put it past you…”

“You’ll be in charge of the Divine Wall Formation, right?” Lynne asked instead.

“Yeah, why?”

“I want you to leave a slightly hidden opening.” Lynne said. “Someplace past my position.”

“… are you nuts?”

“We can’t win a spread-out battle,” Lynne said solemnly. “And we can’t outlast them, even if you’re handling the formation. They’ll definitely try to overcome us with sheer numbers, and they won’t hold back.”

“Yeah, you made sure of that.”

“… why are you so afraid?” Lynne asked, shifting his gaze toward her, surprising her.

“I’m afraid? Wow, that’s a new one.”

“I’m not a suicidal moron,” Lynne said, sitting next to her. “Nor a masochist. Although, surprisingly, I found out I like being poked and pushed in bed.”

“…”

“It’s fine to be uncertain,” Lynne continued. “Hell, even I don’t know whether I’ll live past the battle or not. However, being cautious and passive is what got your asses into the position you’re at.”

“Hah?”

“The moment you began reacting to your opponent,” Lynne said. “Everything becomes much harder. The upcoming conflict is inevitable, yet you and others decided to stand behind the line and wait. And, even now, you’re still thinking about just packing everything and disappearing, right?”

“…”

“I’m not like you. I’ve stood at the side one too many times,” Lynne’s eyes grew somber as his voice grew ever so deeper. “Cautiously observed, waited, anticipated… only to end up being late, to lose what little initiative I had, and to watch it all crumble. Before Edgemaw fell apart, I had a chance to warn others that something was wrong. But, instead, I decided to watch from the side and see how things unfold. Because of it, I watched my homeland burn. I’m not saying that you should always be the aggressor, but when provoked, you can’t strap your maw shut and keep your throat empty. You roar back, louder and heavier than they did, and watch them piss their pants.”

“… is that your plan? To shift the momentum?”

“That’s impossible,” Lynne said bluntly. “For as long as this war goes on, we’ll never hold momentum.”

“… that’s rather depressing, no?”

“It’s fine,” Lynne said, smiling lightly. “If I can’t have the momentum, I’ll just dictate theirs, as simple as that. However, for that to happen, I need you, and those above you, to stop hesitating. If they, by some chance, attack with more than one Divine Magus, I don’t want you to retreat. I want others to join us instead. Got it?”

“… you think they’ll assent to that? You must be dreaming,” Y’se chuckled. “They’re a conservative bunch. Conflict or no conflict, they’d rather drink tea on the clouds.”

“Is that so?” Lynne looked up. “Well, I ought to make it rain then, to make sure they fall.”

“…”

“Just leave an opening behind me,” Lynne said calmly, getting up. “And watch your lil’ bro work his magic.”

“What magic? Aren’t you just going to embarrass yourself? And me while you’re at it?”

“Who knows…” Lynne said, smiling mysteriously. “Anyway, one last stop. See you. I’m almost out of the booze. Prepare some for me for the victory’s celebration. It’ll be a pretty grand event.”

“…” he disappeared as quickly as he appeared, leaving Y’se in silent pondering. A few minutes later, she sighed, smiling bitterly as she shook her head. “Everything will fall apart if I leave, yet he’s still keeping me in the dark. Damn, he’s worse than I imagined. Shitty brat…”

* * *

Thalia was meditating in silence, sitting cross-legged atop a small mountain that inched toward the south. Space near her suddenly tore and a youth walked through the tear, sitting silently next to her. He remained so without calling out to her or interrupting her, waiting patiently. Only an hour later did she exhale and glanced sideways.

“You should have let me know you’re here.” she said, taking the bottle from the extended hand.

“You were too cute,” Lynne said casually. “Watching you calmed me.”

“… that’s creepy. What are you? Creepy uncle?”

“Hm? I always thought I’m just your everyday, normal pervert.”

“That’s better how?”

“I can proclaim proudly: I love bouncy tits! Wet thighs! I love--”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it.” Thalia interrupted, smiling lightly. “You’re just a horndog in the end, huh?”

“Yeah, something like that. Though, lately, there’s something wrong with me.”

“Oh? What is that?”

“For some reason, only you can set my pervy self aflame!”

“… ya—yaay?”

“Are you ready?” Lynne asked, gulping down the bottle.

“Can’t say I am, can’t say I’m not.” Thalia replied after short silence. “You?”

“… who knows?” Lynne lied down, eyes fixated onto the inching night sky. “Remember how you promised you’d jump into fire with me?”

“… am I about to regret it?”

“Definitely.”

“Good.”

“I plan on drawing focus fire,” Lynne said calmly. “And welcome their barrage. Care to join me in my masochistic ways?”

“… what, your bedroom tendencies are slipping into outdoor activities?”

“Hey, they already slipped outdoor once,” Lynne said, smiling slyly. “Damn, that tree was really uncomfortable. I had back pain for nearly a week.”

“I’ll join you,” Thalia said, lying down as well, pulling his head onto her chest and gently stroking his hair. “That way, I get to be the center of attention and show off.”

“Really? Not to protect me?”

“Eeh, that’s just impossible. Aren’t you a masochist? Isn’t pain your drug?”

“… well, I’m in pain now, and there’s no accompanying delirium.”

“That’s strange. Are you circuits operating properly?”

“Where the hell is this conversation headed anyway?” Lynne mumbled, chuckling lightly.

“Looks like you’ve calmed down.” Thalia said, smiling.

“Yeah. Hey, I’m about to say something utterly embarrassing. Promise me you won’t laugh?”

“I may be your girl, but I’m also your straight man. Gotta keep those two roles in balance.”

“When we win,” Lynne raised his head, his hand slowly placed onto Thalia’s cheek, grazing it gently. “Marry me, and become my Queen.”

“…”

“You’re not laughing.”

“Where will we have our honeymoon?”

“Probably at another battlefield.”

“That’s the most romantic thing you’ve said yet.”

“I have my moments.”

“If you’ll have me, then,” Thalia said, smiling brightly. “Yes.”

“Wait, that was over way too quickly! You know how much courage it took me to ask you?!”

“Far less than it took me to say yes.” she pulled his head down, their lips quickly finding one another, as the silence slowly fell over the two.

“I can imagine,” Lynne mumbled in-between the kisses. “Any woman agreeing to become my wife is practically resigning herself to a life of suffering and despair.”

“Looks like that masochism rubbed off on me.”

“Looks like,” Lynne said, softly kissing her once more before slowly raising his head, gazing toward the south. “It seems they’re here.”

“Yeah, they are.”

“Shall we, then?”

“A moment.” she sat up and hugged him tightly; Lynne froze for a moment, but his expression relaxed quickly and grew warm as he wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her back. “This will be one hell of an engagement party, huh?”

“Yeah,” Lynne said. “So we better live up to it properly.”

“…” the drums of war sung as the two remained wrapped into each other’s embrace, their hastened heartbeats slowing down, second by second, as their warm and loving expressions grew colder and more ruthless. As they let go of one another and stood up, they looked toward the south in unison, their eyes exuding solemn sheen, but their expressions completely tranquil. It marked the beginning.