CHAPTER 68: CHAPTER : 68 : MEETING THE OTHER GENERALS!

Arisha stepped out of the tent with her cheeks still warm, her heart fluttering in her chest.

*He said he’ll be looking forward to working with me...*

The words replayed in her head again and again, making her bite her lip in flustered delight. She clinched her fist close to her chest as if it could hide the goofy smile spreading across her face.

And that was exactly the moment Adrish appeared, leaning against a post with his arms crossed, his sharp eyes glinting.

"Well, well, well... our mighty general returns," Adrish drawled, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Why’s your face red, Arisha? Don’t tell me our honored guest said something special to you."

Her head snapped up, her ears twitching furiously. "W-What? N-No! I-It’s not like that!"

"Oh really?" Adrish pushed off the post, circling her like a predator toying with prey. "Then why is your hand clinched near your heart? And why are you smiling like a girl who just got confessed to?"

"I-I am not!" Arisha’s face turned crimson, and she stomped her foot in frustration. "You’re imagining things!"

Adrish chuckled darkly, clearly enjoying himself. "Uh-huh. So if I ask you what he told you in there, you won’t mind saying it out loud, right?"

Her eyes widened, panic flashing. "N-No way! That’s private!"

"Aha!" Adrish snapped his fingers, grinning from ear to ear. "Knew it. Our cold, strict general finally melts when it comes to him. Who would’ve thought? No wonder half the camp’s already whispering about it"

Arisha covered her burning face with both hands, wishing she could sink into the ground. "Y-You’re insufferable..."

Adrish leaned close, his tone playful yet sharp. "Relax, sis. I’m not judging. I just never thought the great Arisha Zenith would fall head over heels like a schoolgirl. Hells, the others are eating this up already."

---

Inside the tent, Leona sat comfortably on Aiden’s lap, playing with his fingers as if they were her toys. Her bright little eyes darted toward him, then to Lysandra, then back at him again.

"Daddy... is she another mummy?" she asked in all innocence, her head tilting curiously.

The words struck like lightning. Lysandra nearly dropped the cup she was holding, her face turning crimson with a mix of embarrassment and fury.

"Aiden Nightshade!" she scolded, slamming the cup down. "What are you teaching her? Do you realize what she just said? Another mummy? Do you want her growing up thinking you can just collect wives like treasures?!"

Aiden flinched slightly at the harsh tone, raising his hands in mock surrender while Leona just blinked up at them both.

"It wasn’t me!" Aiden defended quickly. "She asked on her own—"

"Don’t you dare make excuses," Lysandra cut him off, her cheeks puffed and her crimson eyes narrowing dangerously.

Thristle, lounging on a cushion with a mischievous smirk, decided to add oil to the fire. "Well... I don’t really mind another wife," she said casually, twirling a lock of her hair. "After all, My King already has me, you, and Luna. One more wouldn’t hurt, right?"

Lysandra’s head whipped toward her, scandal written all over her face. "Thristle! Don’t encourage this nonsense!"

But Thristle only leaned forward, her grin widening. "What nonsense? It makes sense to me. Our King seems to like her, and even Little Flames here already called her mummy. You can’t fight destiny, Lyse."

Leona, as if to prove the point, hugged Aiden’s chest tightly. "Mmm! Another mummy is fine if Daddy is happy!"

Aiden nearly choked. "Leona! Don’t—! That’s not how this works!"

Thristle giggled uncontrollably at his flustered expression, while Lysandra pressed her palm to her forehead, muttering in frustration.

"This is madness..." Lysandra whispered, but her voice lacked conviction. She stole a sideways glance at Aiden—at Leona smiling in his arms, at Thristle laughing, at the warmth that filled the tent despite the ridiculous topic.

Finally, with a heavy sigh, she muttered, "...Fine. But don’t you dare think this means I approve."

Thristle clapped her hands victoriously. "That’s as good as approval!"

Aiden groaned. "It’s not approval..."

But Leona beamed, completely content, as if the argument had already been settled.

---

The tent smelled faintly of steel and smoke. A round table stood in the center, maps and carved wooden markers spread across it. Outside, the muffled sounds of goblin soldiers taking their positions echoed—the camp alive with the energy of an army preparing for war.

Arisha pushed aside the flap, Adrish following just behind her.

Groth Fenish, the brute of a man with muscles that seemed to bulge even under his armor, was the first to notice them. He leaned back in his chair, a grin splitting the thick beard on his face.

"Well, well! If it isn’t the Zenith siblings," he barked, his voice booming. "About time you showed. Thought you’d gone soft."

Arisha’s gaze was ice, her tone sharp.

"Keep your jokes to yourself, Groth. We don’t have time for them."

That only made the mercenary commander laugh louder.

Across the table, Lindash Madoka shifted, his full-body hood casting a shadow over his pale face. He didn’t look up, instead tracing lazy circles in the air with his fingers as faint sparks of magic danced. His dark, brooding mutter carried just enough to be heard.

"Blood will spill... fire will consume... all of us are nothing but dust waiting to scatter."

Adrish raised an eyebrow. "Still gloomy as ever, Lindash."

The hood tilted just slightly, as if Madoka smirked, but no reply came.

Then Adrish’s eyes landed on Aurora Paledusk. Short, delicate, her soft pale-green skin almost glowing under the tent’s lamplight. She was already looking at him, wide-eyed. When his gaze met hers, her cheeks burned pink, and she quickly dropped her head, staring into her lap.

Adrish grinned and gave her a little wave.

"Good to see you again, Aurora."

Her blush deepened, her lips parting, "Good to see you too, Sir Zenith."

Beside him, Arisha’s crimson eyes narrowed.

*Stupid brother. Can’t you notice how much she wants you? How she looks at you as if you’re her whole damn world?*

Adrish turned, catching her glare. "What?"

Arisha exhaled sharply, turning away as she strode to the table. "...Nothing."

She took her seat, crossing her arms below her chest plate with her usual prideful air, the coldness in her expression silencing the little exchange. Adrish dropped down beside her with a shrug, completely unfazed.

Groth leaned forward, slapping his palm against the table hard enough to rattle the wooden markers. "Right then, let’s talk positions. The men are ready, waiting on us."

Arisha’s tone was crisp, efficient. "We’ll be on the frontlines, cutting through the first wave."

Adrith, her elder brother, nodded firmly.

"We’ll cover the flanks—no enemy will circle past us."

Groth pounded his chest with a fist. "And my mercenaries will smash through whatever bastards get in our way. Pure strength—no fancy tricks, just broken bones."

A dark chuckle slipped from under Lindash’s hood. "I’ll handle the arcane. Fire and shadow. Leave the slaughter to me."

Aurora’s soft voice broke through, almost hesitant but clear. "My healers will remain behind the lines. I—I will make sure no soldier is left to bleed out alone."

Her gaze flicked, just for an instant, toward Adrish. Her hands trembled slightly in her lap before she clasped them tight together.

Arisha’s eyes lingered on her, then slid back to Adrish. Her expression didn’t move, but inside she was seething.

*She’s trembling just because you smiled at her. And you’re sitting there, clueless. Honestly... you’re impossible.*

Adrish, meanwhile, leaned back in his chair, completely at ease.

"Sounds like we’ve got everything covered. Front, flanks, brute force, magic, and medics."

The others nodded, though the weight in the air was undeniable—the battle loomed.

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END OF Chapter : 68 : METTING THE OTHER GENERAL’S

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