"Hush." - She raised an index finger, catching all of their attention.
"I've already forgiven Sir Hamilvan.. so no need to dwell in that..!" - She smiled! soothing the leftover emotions of frustration on their hearts.
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"..?" - But then she blinked, taking time to analyze her surroundings.
"erm..? where's Sis. Foryan..?" - She squeaked out.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the encampment there walked a furious Foryan with a solemnified expression on her face. Each step catching the attention of the militias whom had a pitch-black robe cradled atop their shoulders before she spotted a peculiar one with slightly-curly jet black hair conversing with the noble.
"..!!!"
————
Foryan quickly took cover behind one of the tents which was the closest to the two before she covered her mouth, as if trying to conceal her breathing.
"..Understood." - Hamilvan politely lowered his head before Sanum uttered out a reply;
"Good. Do not fail me this time." - His eyes solemnifying while he bored through Hamilvan's scalp.
"Because if you do boy.." - Sanum slowly closed in.
"I will be sending you to the Imperial Court."
He patted the individual on the shoulder before whispering closely to his ear.
"Be careful,
I'm your only ally here
I'm doing what's best for you and for everyone, okay?"
- Sanum paused before continuing in a more, guttural, low, deliberate tonality of voice.
"They don't understand you. Only I do.
So if you just follow what I say.. They will be saved."
After a brief moment of silence, Hamilvan gestured a slight nod before he muttered out a response;
"Understood. Sir."
Sanum released a satisfied scoff before he ruffled Hamilvan's hair a little.
"Good. Don't disappoint me."
- With a final utterance, he turned around and left with both of his fully armoured escorts, leaving the young man in complete silence.
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"HOW LONG DO YOU PLAN ON EAVESDROPPING FOR..?"
Hamilvan snarked before Foryan whom was concealed behind a tent gasped.
"..Crap..!!"
After her arms had began to slightly shake, she struggled to lift her legs as every single bit of her senses screamed out; DANGER!. —
"COME OUT."
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"Bakzeu."
"...!"
- Hamilvan ordered, causing yet another gasp to escape from Foryan's mouth as she diverted her eyes to her left. Seeing a black silhouette emerge from the shadows of the tents and join the black apparition casted by the setting sunlight.
"How much did you hear?"
- Hamilvan inquired, the cold sound of a metallic object unsheathing holding no cradle to his chilling intonation.
A lighthearted chuckle then greeted the eadrums of Foryan.
"Would you believe me if I said that I was just passing by?" - Bakzeu replied in a casual manner, contrasting Hamilvan's voice.
"You've always been good at Academics.."
- Hamilvan squinted his eyes -
"But you should've learned how to lie properly.."
- He scoffed.
Bakzeu scratched the back of his head with a goofy grin present on his face.
"Apologies there..being a jackass wasn't in the curricula so.." - His nonchalant reply caused Hamilvan's grip on the handle of the blade to tighten.
"For what reason have you even come here? To taunt me?" - He inquired, to which Bakzeu crossed his arms together forming an X shape as he quickly shook his head.
"No No! It's just that my conscience couldn't take it anymore.." - Bakzeu trailed off before he advanced towards Hamilvan, his shorter stature forcing him to tilt his head upwards to lock gazes, but despite the size difference; the glow on his irises showed no signs of faltering.
"Captain. Apologize to that Private!" - Bakzeu exclaimed, widening the eyes of the concealed Foryan.
"Bakzeu.." - Hamilvan gently replied, his eyes softening as if ridding itself of any unwanted emotions.
"Captain..!" - Bakzeu's eyes sparkled as he saw the expression of Hamilvan softening into a gentler countenance, as if considering his preposition.
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*SLAP!*
- As a loud smack echoed throughout the air, Bakzeu was suddenly launched away from Hamilvan, his figure landing right in front of the tent where Foryan was hiding herself at; allowing the Female commander to fully see the pulsating hand imprint on Bakzeu's cheek and a few drops of blood secreting out from his nose.
"Dang." - Bakzeu's head hanged low as he scoffed while his mouth bursted into a grin, before he covered one part of his nose with a finger and blew it, causing a blood colourated snot to be launched out.
*GRAB*
Hamilvan then walked over before tightly gripping the Crimson-coloured robe and pulling him up.
"Ridiculous. Why should I." - He stated, glowing silver irises peering through Bakzeu's gaze who paused before replying;
"She was worried about you! She handed her portion to you and that's what you do to her..!?
YOU—!" - Unable to sustain the casual charade anymore, Bakzeu's voice exploded into a full-blown roar—
*GRAB!*
Until it was suddenly halted by Hamilvan's hand tightly grabbing his lower face shut.
"SPARE ME SUCH DRAMA!
DID I EVEN ASK HER TO WORRY ABOUT ME..!?" - With silver irises minimizing in fury; Hamilvan's reply was etched unto a pent-up yell.
"MMMPHFF..!" - "what's with this..grip..!?"
- Bakzeu found it hard to retort as Hamilvan's grasp continued to seal the movement of his facial muscles.
"IT WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER IF SHE JUST ATE IT HERSELF..!!
I'M NOT HUNGRY..! I'M NOT PITIFUL..!" - Hamilvan continued to lash out causing Bakzeu's eyes to gradually widen.
"SO..STOP TREATING ME AS SUCH..!
DON'T..! URGHKK..!"
- A relatively, painful memory resurfaced on Hamilvan's mind causing an excruciating pain to shoot up from his brain stem and repeatedly prickle his brain.
-
"..Hamilvan..! r..un..!"
*BOOM!*
-
"DON'T PROTECT ME..! I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF..!"
Hamilvan continued, eyes brimming with unspeakable levels of blazing primal emotions that caused his eyes to bore holes through Bakzeu's head, but it appeared as if.. They were not even directed at him in the first place.
"..Cap..tain..!" - Bakzeu groaned as he loaded his forearm with all of his power in an attempt to pull out the grasp that Hamilvan had over his mouth.
"Li..grrr..!! Please listen to me..!"
Bakzeu replied; before flinching as he saw Hamilvan's grasp over his mouth to loosen and it to retreat before clenching into a fist.
"ENOUGH..!"
Bakzeu closed his eyes shut to brace himself for the incoming blow.
*FWOOP!*
"..Wha..!"
*SMACK!*
"..Cap..tain..!" - Foryan stands in between Hamilvan whose punch was veered off the direct collision course causing only a reddish graze to appear on her white cheek.
Due to the sudden apperance of the Lady, Hamilvan found himself suprised enough that he instinctively leaped backwards to establish some distance.
"...!" - Both Hamilvan and Bakzeu froze on their positions as they saw her; eyes proceeding to gradually and stay widened.
"Please..recompose yourself..!" - Foryan yelled, face visibly contorting and twitching from the damage that her cheek has sustained, a small stream of blood escaping out from one hole of her nostrils.
"..You are.." - Hamilvan trailed off, analyzing her stature from the armour she bore and the white robe that remained cradled above her shoulders.
"..Foryan Klapfon..!" - Bakzeu winced before he clicked a tongue and yelled out;
"Get away! It's dangerous..!"
Foryan steeled her resolve and replied;
"I refuse!" - with face; despite slightly twitching from the sensation is still solemnified with resolve.
Hamilvan's face quickly devolved to that of a calm, stoic state as he questioned;
"What are you doing here." - Before he unsheathed his sword and pointed it towards the Lady's throat which caused Bakzeu to blink and yell out;
"Hamilvan! Just what do you think you're doing..!" - with voice devoid of any formality.
Foryan gulped down a saliva before stammering out a response;
"..I..I Captain! I came..here to request for..!"
*Shing..*
"Request? On what grounds do you base that request?" - Hamilvan responded in a low hiss before the sword was drawn closer to her throat with the tip almost piercing it.
Bakzeu gasped before he opened his mouth;
"..Hamilvan.. STOP—!"
"Article Second of Azulunian Corps! Captain! Under no circumstance should a military higher-up inflict physical pain on a lower, or higher ranking member!"
Only to be halted by Foryan's undeterred response.
"..Article Two..?" - Hamilvan repeated in a confused tone, which earned Foryan a snarl before the blade was rested beside her neck.
"You're making up lies aren't you? I hate Liars."
"..!" - Foryan and Bakzeu recoiled in a panic-filled confusion.
"No..No! It is true, Captain..! It was even directly passed down from the Imperial Jurisdiction..!"
- Upon hearing the last part of Foryan's rebuttal, Hamilvan's eyes widened in rage before the—
"CRAP!"
*SHINGG!!!*
*GUUSHH!"
The sounds of flesh being ripped apart resonated through the air before a fountain of blood rained out.
"..Shortest..fricking.."
- Bakzeu whispered, face obscured.
"..fuse I know..!!" -
Hamilvan's sword was blocked directly by Bakzeu's forearm, stopping it midway before it could completely slice through it and reach the neck of the frozen Foryan.
*Whip!*
"Grr..!" - Bakzeu flailed his arm launching Hamilvan's sword away and causing him to leap backwards.
"You.." - Bakzeu's eyes slowly ascended to meet what he had expected to be Hamilvan's anger-filled irises but instead he saw;
"..Ja—!"
Eyes. Wide-open, as if looking horrified.
Though only lasting instantaneously and gone after a single blink from the Commander, it was enough of a window to cause Bakzeu to pause and ponder.
"GRR...!!" - Hamilvan growled before he viciously scratched his head.
"SCREW OFF!!! BOTH OF YOU!"
- Hamilvan yelled in complete rage as he turned around and ran away.
Bakzeu remained there steadfast as he watched the back of Hamilvan slowly disappear into the shadows after the sun had finally set.
"What..was that..?"
"Was..that just my imagination..?"
"No..! THAT WAS DEFInitely....ugh.." - He felt an intense lightheadedness assume dominion over his thinking and vision, causing the frozen Foryan to be brought back to reality and rush over to his aid.
"You're..losing too much blood..!" - Foryan yelled out before she hovered a hand over the sliced region of Bakzeu's arm, it oozing out blood like a fine river.
"Stay still..!"
"Ugh..!"
With a sweat sliding down her chin, she maintained undivided concentration on the wound and after a few seconds of finally being able to stop the bleeding, she found her gaze diverting from it and towards the disappearing silhouette of Hamilvan entering the shadows, her eyes filled with frustration, a tinge of anger and a hint of sadness all at once that caused a whirlwind of hollowness inside of her chest.
"SCREW OFF..!! BOTH OF YOU..!"
- With a freshly recorded memory replaying inside of her head, she focused her attention once more on Bakzeu, who is nearly unconscious.
"Okay.. then. Hamilvan..!" - She yelled out in an internal rebuttal.
"Don't..! Fight off the desire to drift off..!! You'll never wake up..!"
- She raised her voice as Bakzeu continued to twitch and contort his facial muscles; pushing his hardest to remain awake.