>>5956735Several weeks later…
At the height of your time with the Blackwings, you had marched with at least 200 well-drilled and disciplined mercenaries. The company had consisted of warriors from all three countries, who could be considered adepts at their respective skills. You commanded dozens of mages, pegasus knights, paladins, cavaliers, and infantry who could come out of a scrap with any soldier from any army and emerge victorious. So, as you made your way back to Rusalka with only Beathan, Corrine, and Yara at your side, it hit you just how alone you were in this moment. The Blackwings had begun to part ways right after you had dismissed them. Even Ashe, whom you had shared a special night with, had gone back to Arianrhod the day after. He travelled with Sebastian at his side, looking to retrieve his siblings and bring them back to Rusalka. Things were far quieter than you were used to. And frankly, far more boring as well.
>“We’ll be at the castle soon.” You announce to your companions. Having travelled by yourselves for quite some time, you realized you had run out of things to talk about already.“Do you think Gerald has made any progress in repairing the damage caused by the TItanus?” Corrine asks.
“I doubt it.” Yara says grumpily. The shaman had agreed to join you as you came back to Rusalka. While you were glad to have her, you couldn’t help but notice she had been in somewhat of a foul mood these last few days. Incidentally, you’d noticed that she had also stopped smoking. Perhaps the two were related?
As you arrived at the castle, Yara’s intuition had been correct, though it probably hadn’t been a hard guess to make. The entire front half had been blown off when the Titanus tried to kill you and Anemone. The sorts of repairs that were needed would certainly not be done overnight. You were looking at perhaps years of renovations before Castle Rusalka could be restored to the majesty it had once been. As soon as you’re noticed by the soldiers on guard, they frantically begin relaying the news that you’ve returned. It doesn’t take long for Gerald himself to greet you, marching up to you with a lazy stroll.
“Countess.” He says, a piece of straw firmly lodged between his teeth.
>“Gerald. How goes things?”“Oh, you know. We’re hard at work.” He gestures towards a group of youths, who are struggling to unhitch a wagon full of stone that had gotten stuck in the mud. “Did you find Charles?”
>“Found and taken care of.”Gerald grins, showing a row of pearly whites. “Heh, you’re ice cold alright. It’s a shame. I don’t know what got into him. He’d been a great ruler longer than he’d been a bad one. But if we won’t be seeing him anymore, then I suppose that’s that. There’s no one left to challenge your rule. Well, almost no one, I suppose.” He adds mysteriously.
