I laughed. “Crazy how much you remind me of someone.”
“A friend?”
I nodded. “Yeah… you can say that.”
“Must be an awesome friend,” he said and we laughed.
“Hey, have you seen Rufian?”
Batto chuckled. “In a tent with some girl.”
I face-palmed.
“The guy sure knows how to get around.”
“Hey, don’t take any pointers from him! He’s a terrible influence. Take it from me.”
“He seems like a good friend, though.”
“Heh, yeah, Rufian is rough around the edges, but I'd like to think he means well.”
“So you never told us exactly what it is you're searching for. Rufian said paradise. You said a way out of the war.”
“They are both the same.”
“And very vague answers. Are you looking to stage a coup?”
I jerked my eyes to him, shocked he’d suggest that.
Batto snickered. “Yeah, talk like that is not forbidden in Citron, don’t worry.”
“But I could have been a promoter of the Order.”
“You seriously don’t look like the type who is.”
“I’m curious, if you’re against the fae council, why do you want to work for their military?”
“Well, it’s not their military. It’s our military. I fight for my nation, not the second gods of Thalian.”
“Ah, yeah, well… that makes sense,” I said.
“There’s a group of hunters who feel the same.”
“Hell, The Deo Guild feels the same.”
“Yeah, but they are going about it the wrong way. We don’t need to drown the world in curses to end this war. We just need the High Order to be dismantled so we could operate freely. Only then we will win.”
“So I’m assuming you don’t agree with some of their methods? How would you have addressed the war differently?” I asked.
“It’s obvious that we need spies in enemy lands. We and the goblins are the only race who can ‘shapeshift’ without potions.”
“Well for goblins it’s something innate. With fae, we need mana,” I reminded him.
“Mana we could keep serving through restoration vials. And some skilled arcanes need very little of it to keep the duration lasting.”
“So what about the non fae who have ways around that with a reveal crystal?”
“We have answers for that as well. It just costs time and resources.”
“Resources that are abundantly available?” I asked curiously.
“Available enough. Once we get spies out there we’d know where the dragons would strike next. After so many ambush attacks, they’d begin to wonder where the mole is, and at that point, we’d let them destroy their own army without lifting a finger.” He grinned. “You know how dragons are with their pride and purity of Dradersi. The kingdom will not stand for inferior breeds in their land, let alone their army. But enough about politics.” He chuckled. “I bet you get enough of that out there. You should take this minute just to relax.”
“You’re a pretty smart kid, Batto.”
“Brawler, I’m like only a few years younger than you.” He laughed. “You sound like my dad.”
I snorted. “I feel like I’m older.”
“You know, I can’t get that expression of my dad when we came back to the village out of my head. That look of pride on his face, knowing he raised my brother and I right. He couldn’t have been prouder, and I have you to thank for that, Syodas.”
“You did a lot of work out there too, Batto. Fearless and selfless acts like that are not easy to do. You looked that large beast down and charged at him. He was meters high, strong, fast, but you didn’t care. It takes a lot to do what you did, so there’s a lot to be proud about.”
“Thanks!”
“Your brother did good as well.”
“He told me you had a talk with him. He’s alive because of you, Syodas. If you ever need a place to stay in your journey, know that you have a home here.”
