City of Desire [Kingdom Building]

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Axseer

He appeared behind me, and I sensed it through Warden’s Field. The skill usually lets me sense someone entering my field clearly, but I could only faintly sense him.

Still, it is enough for me to swing my staff toward him, with Spirit Strength.

The head of the lioness is floating over my staff. It’s not as majestic as it is after it consumes the blood, but it is still a powerful attack.

Clang!

He stopped my staff with the dagger, but also dodged the spells and sword coming toward him, before coming at me.

Rip!

Another cut appeared on my hand. It is faint as always, with barely a drop coming out of me.

Which was absorbed by my spirit, and I used it to power my attack, but he dodged it once more, and also avoided the Grade IV spell before attacking me again.

A few more minutes passed, and he continued, with barely any of our attacks having touched him.

It had been over an hour, and we were still unable to land a big hit on him. All we managed to get were a few minor cuts, despite four of us attacking him.

“I think it’s enough,” said Mr. Jon as he landed on the ground.

Hearing that, we all stopped and took a deep breath. It lasted for only around an hour, but it had tired us out.

“Thank you, Mr. Jon,” I thanked. To that, the man nodded, before his expression became serious.

“Brigadier General, old Yark. Your team now has enough cohesion to defend and deal with most late Lv. 30s,” he stated. It felt both relieved and frustrated hearing that.

“But not you, Mr. Jon,” said Sarad, the High-Mage.

He is one of the select few High-Mages who remained with the city, and they have provided me with one with my new promotion.

“Don’t underestimate yourself, you can even harm me. Here, we were all holding back, but on the battlefield, we will not,” he replied before his eyes turned to me.

“Once the battle begins. Even I might have a problem reaching Brigadier General,” he added, looking at the lioness over my staff, who started to fade.

“Thank you for the guidance, Mr. Jon,” I thanked.

“See you in Velvet Garden. Brigadier General, Old Yark,” he said, and walked away.

“There is only a few levels of difference between us. There were even four of us, but we were barely able to touch him. And he didn’t even use aura,” said Captain Lodiv, frustrated.

“He was not always this good, but the war made him. In the last battle, we fought on the island. He was able to fight the assassin from Night Manor head-on.”

“Though, now I think. His skills have gone beyond that,” replied Colonel Yark and sighed.

He is my head bodyguard, with Lodi and Mage Sarad below him—all of them, over Lv. 30.

Brigadier General doesn’t have such bodyguards, but I am a spirit shaman. My magic works differently and needs to be protected while I fight.

I don’t want the bodyguards. I want them to lead the units, but it’s the orders form above.

There was a silence of a few seconds before Sarad opened his mouth.

“We shouldn’t be thinking that. We should think about the party we are going to attend in a few hours, in a freaking Throne Legacy!”

“I never thought I would get such an opportunity in my life, and I will not have any regrets if I die fighting the undead tomorrow,” said Sarad, with his eyes turning excited.

“I will see you all in Velvet Garden,” I stated and walked away, while they discussed what to wear.

That is a question that has been on my mind as well. I pushed that away and went to the office, and quickly finished some of the work I had before taking the carriage home.

I had shifted here only two weeks ago; before that, I used to live in an apartment.

It’s a two-story house; it’s not big, but not small either. It’s my new quarters as a Brigadier General.

I got off the carriage and walked toward the door, before opening it with my keys.

“Mom!” “Misa,”

My girls called out. The oldest is twelve, while the youngest is seven. There is also the blonde human girl, around seventeen, the babysitter.

I could keep my daughters at the tribes compound, which I do two days a week.

To learn the ways of the tribe, but for the rest of the five days, they stay in the home with their human babysitter, to learn more about the human ways.

I could have gotten someone free from the tribe; they are more than willing, but I wanted someone human.

They are adjusting very well in the city, much better than I have. The older one had even started calling me ‘mom’ like humans do. The younger one still calls me ‘misa’.

“General Axseer,” greeted the human girl.

“Have they been well behaved?” I asked Lilin. “As always,” she replied. Hearing that, I smiled.

My children are good, but they are also a little spoiled. It was my fault. I was imprisoned for nearly a year. So, when I brought them here, I spoiled them.

I had become stricter since then, but some habits remain. I miss my husband. I wish he had been here; he was very good with them.

I pushed those thoughts and walked toward the stairs to my room with my daughters following behind.

“Have you thought about what you are going to wear to the party, Mom?” asked Atub, my youngest. “You have to look your best. It’s a party at Velvet Garden,” she said, with her eyes shining.

I took them there a few weeks ago for her birthday.

The officers receive privileges, one of which is access to Velvet Garden. As a Brigadier General, I could go there a couple of times a year in a personal capacity.

We also need to pay a significantly lower rate. It’s around 25% in Velvet Blue, which gets reduced even further if we are lucky and get a 25% discount on items in the store up to a certain value.

“I think I will wear my uniform,” I replied. The dress code is either uniform or formal dress, with badges.

“Mom, no! You have to wear a dress,” said Dura, my oldest.

I am still uncomfortable with the city clothes. In the tribes, it was simple. Now, with so many options, I feel my head spinning when I think about it.

“Dura is right, General. You are beautiful, you should wear a dress,” said Lilin. She usually leaves when I come, but now she is following behind me with my daughters.

It feels strange to hear the word beautiful when I think and am called exactly the opposite.

I am a pure blooded orc, but I have been thinner than most half-orcs with a bone structure like elves. Orcs have thicker skin and fuller.

I looked like a human/elf with green skin.

It’s the bloodline of my family; we have been like this for centuries, and my daughters are like that as well.

It is one of the things I like about the city. Since joining the army, many people, including humans and some city orcs, have called me beautiful.

It still makes me uncomfortable, but it makes me happy for my daughters.

People might say beauty didn’t matter, but it does. It affects people from deep within, and I am glad my daughters didn’t have to suffer through the things I did growing up.

Soon, I walked into my room and turned to them.

“I am going to shower. You can all choose the dress for me,” I said, walking toward the shower while they cheered and began to rifle through the dresses.

I went shopping with my daughters a few weeks ago and bought a few good dresses. Some, I regretted because I don’t think I would wear them.

A few minutes later, I was in the shower with warm water cascading on my body.

Sometimes, I miss the forest, but that is happening less and less. I don’t think I would be able to live in the forest now, if it comes to that.

I got too used to conveniences. My girls would raise hell if I even talked about it.

They like it here. They like the school, they like their friends, their new clothes, and their books. The things they get to eat, the things they get to do.

I got out of the shower, and they had the dress ready on the bed. Seeing it, I couldn’t help but get surprised.

“Select something else. This dress is scandalous,” I said, looking at the red dress. It shows a lot of back and even shows a little bit of cleavage.

I am a Brigadier General of Greltheaven; I shouldn’t wear such clothes.

“It’s not that scandalous. It will be one of the least scandalous dresses at the party. Do you remember General Trask’s son’s birthday party?” she asked.

“Many women were wearing dresses like these; some were wearing even more scandalous ones,” she stated. ʀᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛʀs ᴀᴛ NovєlFіre.net

“This is the latest fashion, General,” said Lilin.

I had heard in conversations that Greltheaven is developing a bold style in clothing. They are saying it is the influence of Velvet Garden, but also as a counter to the empire’s conservative style.

I barely understand what that means.

I hesitated, but seeing their eyes, I nodded. “Ok,” I said finally, making their eyes light up.

I am not doing this for myself, but for them. I want them to live free, do what they want. It is for them and their future that I will fight tomorrow.

I wore the dress and attached my badges before sitting in front of the mirror.

“Only do the light touches,” I said to Lilin. The girl is quite good at make-up. It’s her class; babysitting is just a part-time job until she finds a good one.

“Thank you,” I said as I looked at the mirror.

The makeup is light, but it has changed me. I must admit that I look good, too. Though the dress is a little scandalous, I have to admit. It looks good on me.

I watched for several seconds before getting up and walking out of the room.

“Girls, behave while I am gone,” I said to them. “We will, Mom,” the eldest replied. I smiled and hugged them both before walking out of the house.

I walked out of the house and sat in the carriage waiting in front.

It began to move while I watched the city. It used to be bustling, but now there are barely any carriages moving through it.

The battle is tomorrow, and the outcome will determine whether it will thrive or become desolate.

I could have left it all behind. I had offers, a lot of them—several merchant states and cities, including the unified army of the whole merchant state.

Baxzar Dominion and even Kalgha.

Several more kingdoms from the continent and outside of it had also sent their offers, and they were enticing. Offering the terms that many would accept instantly.

I didn’t, despite the risks. My loyalty isn’t for the sale. This human lord has earned it.

This city has given me the self-respect that I had never received in all my life from others, even from my tribe. They have promoted me and given me responsibilities, despite the resistance from others.

I am one of the highest-ranked Orcs in the army. Two orcs hold a similar rank to me, but no orc is above me.

Though I lead the most men among the three of us.

When I think about it, I feel the headache. They have promoted me to Brigadier General and given me command of a division. Fourteen thousand men.

My shamanic power couldn’t cover them all. I am trying, but failing.

To make matters worse, some of my men were taken from me. The most significant loss had been Rakgu. He had been promoted to Colonel and given command of a brigade.

I was in my thoughts when the carriage turned onto the bridge and entered the park.

Now, I am seeing more carriages, and the road seems to be packed with them, with the park filled with people. It seemed to have more people than I had seen when the city was bustling.

The officers are invited to the legacy, but the general soldiers are invited to the park as well.

They could also visit the legacy’s store floors.

In the park, a festival is taking place, featuring singers, dancers from the city and merchant states, as well as food cooked by chefs from the legacy.

They will leave at midnight, before the undead arrive tomorrow.

They deserve this celebration. It might be the last for them, for us. I have been informed of the actual numbers of the horde, and it is shuddering.

There is no way we could handle such numbers with our current army, but General Stone seemed to have a plan, and I am going to trust it.

The carriage reached near the tower, and I began to feel a little conscious about the dress.

The dress is scandalous. I have seen people wearing more scandalous outfits than this, but I am a Brigadier General—the second-highest ranked woman in the army.

I shouldn’t have let the girls make me wear it.

I was panicking over it when the carriage stopped in front of the gate.

I have only a second, and I wanted to ask the driver to take me home and change into something respectable, but that wouldn’t look good.

So, I took a deep breath and began stepping out as the door opened.

I walked toward the large glass doors of the tower, where three people were standing. Two women and one man are all from the legacy; this party is hosted by Velvet Garden, not from the city or the army.

“Welcome to Velvet Garden, Brigadier General Axseer,” they welcomed. “Thank you for inviting me,” I replied, relieved to see them wearing dresses more scandalous than mine.

I entered the legacy and felt its power. It nearly stopped me in my tracks.

It’s more powerful than before and also vaster. This power is different from before. There is a massive difference in quality.

Earlier, it felt like a gentle wind; now it is thick as water, but not overwhelming.

As it washed over me, I felt like this place could feel all my desires. I missed my girls and wish they could have come; I would have taken them to the store floors.

I looked around and saw a lot of people in the lobby, walking around, looking visibly enamored.

I recognised the few officers and nodded at them before walking into the elevator.

I began to move up, and a few seconds later, a frown appeared on my face. The feeling of the legacy is changing with each floor.

It used to happen earlier, but it was not noticeable unless one focused on it. Now it pulls one’s focus to it, tempting one to stop the elevator and explore each floor.

I resisted the temptation and stayed in my place until the elevator reached the top floor of the Velvet Garden.

“Welcome, Brigadier General Axseer,” welcomed the Madam. She is standing beside Lord Silver’s assistant and the headmistress of the college.

“Thank you for inviting me,” I replied, the same as before. They smiled, and a beautiful half-elf appeared in front of me.

“Please follow me, Brigadier General,” she said smoothly and led me into a huge hall.

There are tables everywhere with officers sitting with their colleagues and dates, with a large head table at the other end.

I looked at the people around, nodding at those I knew. There are a lot of people I know here. All were wearing their best and looking beautiful and handsome.

It is not just the officers, but the higher-ups in city hall, along with the most influential in the city.

Soon, we reached my table. The table is already occupied by four people, leaving only one unoccupied seat with my name on it.

“Generals,” I greeted Trask and Irab and nodded at their spouses. “General Axseer,” they replied and nodded as I sat down in my seat.

All three of us were promoted to brigadier general at the same time. Both of them were powerful. One is from the imperial army, while the other is a forest orc like me.

Irab or Cheiftan Ibra, as he used to be called before he changed his name. I used to work with him. Under him, to be exact, his tribe was big, still is, while mine was smaller.

Now, we both have the same rank.

“You are looking beautiful, General Axseer,” praised Mrs. Trask. She is a woman in her fifties with deep blond hair. Even in this age, she looks beautiful.

I like the woman, and so does my youngest daughter. She is her teacher.

“Thank you, Mrs. Trask,” I replied.

She is wearing a dress similar in style to mine, but in shimmering black.

It made me feel more at ease.

Compared to her, General Irab’s wife is wearing a more conservative yellow dress. It’s much different from the pelts and fur she used to wear in the forest.

She looked beautiful then and beautiful now. The dress she is wearing seems to be made for her.

“It’s quite the party. I wish it had happened under better circumstances,” said General Trask, looking around.

“It’s happening at the best time. We are going to eat the best food and drink the best wine, before fighting death tomorrow,” replied General Irab, with a grin, and finished the drink in his hand.

Humans and forest orcs are different. We party before we fight; they celebrate after they do.

“Have you found out what the plan is, or will they be just sending you all to death?” asked Hriva, Irab’s wife.

“Nobody knows what the plan is. I heard that not even General Blaze and Cardin are aware of it. Only General Stone and the Lord know about it,” replied General Axseer.

“Maybe, there is no plan,” said Hriva. To that, Irab shrugged and took the drink from the server.

“Maybe, but that won’t change the fact that we will be fighting tomorrow, with everything we have,” replied Irab, finishing another glass.

I nodded at that. It didn’t matter if there was no plan, because we are going to fight for the dominion that has given us so much.

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