Age of Heroes

War Camp

Lisa

Lisa was in her tent, washing herself from the blood and gore of the battlefield while thinking.

In these past few weeks the attitude of the nobles and Knights had changed for the better.

They seemed a bit more accepting towards her.

It was appalling for her, that to be accepted, a woman needed to prove her mettle more than a man. "Such is the way of the world," Helia once told her.

Arial, on the other hand, told her that it didn't have to be like that. That a new world could emerge, a better world, a kinder world. Such an optimist…She smiles a bit thinking of Arial

She was drinking some water and thinking about how brave and commanding Arial had been on the battlefield when her thoughts were interrupted by a booming voice.

"Hey!" the voice said.

Lisa quickly turned around. It was West Palais with a big smile adorning his face. He smiles at her like he knew something

For a moment, it seemed like she had lost her voice as she looked at him.

His blond hair had been blown up by the winter wind. Despite that fact, she couldn't help but admit that he did look good.

Also, he had proven himself to be a very capable Knight; calm, collected and above all honorable.

Not that she didn't know this already, considering that they were at the Academy together. And he and her had always fought together during the mock battles.

His face really looked different from his usual one on the battlefield, where he looked mostly expressionless or savage.

Well, war has that effect on men, she thought.

Her mind went back to Arial as she was wondering how this war was going to affect him.

Especially, with all the responsibilities he was bearing and refused to share, neither with his closest friends nor even his own fiancé.

This brief respite from the battle is intended to rest our body and replenishes our mind. But, she knows that Arial would never rest.

She has spent a long time with him to know that this is probably true.

He is determined to bear the burden himself. Even now, after all the heartbreak and her acceptance of the betrothal of Arial and Helia, there is still some part of her heart that was for him

"Hey," West called out again.

"Hello West," she said.

"Dreaming again?" West asked. Lisa shows him an annoyed face.

"Maybe. Why did you come here?"

West smiled as if he knew a secret. "Just checking up on you."

And then he chuckled. She immediately knows that he came here for another reason

"Alright, now tell me the real reason you came here," Lisa asked, a trace of anger in her voice. "I know it's not because we're best friends. Even at the Academy we were not that close. More like enemies. The Four Greats and the Four Lions."

West is trying to hide his smile. Then he shakes his head and said

"What makes you think that?" West said, visibly hurt. "During our time at the Academy, I never treated you like an enemy. My lady, I am hurt to be accused in such manner."

He said mocking her with his hurt expression while grinning

Lisa chuckled slightly. "I'm no lady and I don't think you are hurt."

"Yes, you are a lady, and true, I am not hurt. More like pricked, really. To have such an opinion of me proves your friendship was not true."

Lisa sighed. "Fine. Will you tell me what you're doing here, Ser West?"

West sat down on a chair without permission or asking anything. His annoying grin is on his face.

Then he asks

"Can I ask you one thing?"

"Go ahead."

"You like Arial, correct?" A grin had formed on West's face. He almost chuckled

"Pardon?"

"You like him. A one-sided love from the looks of it. With all your heart. A one-sided love with your friend's betrothed."

Lisa was filled with such anger that she broke the glass she was holding in her hand. Is he blackmailing me? She thought.

He chuckled. This is a side of West she never knew. Is he blackmailing her? She don't think anyone knew this side of West Palais

Her face becomes livid while West just grins at her.

"That is enough. Your livid expression just answered my question."

West got up with a satisfied look on his face and left the tent. He left the tent whistling a tune

"What? Hey! Wait!" Lisa yelled.

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Later That Week

"What do you want again?" Lisa asked as she entered West's tent.

"Help me find a map," he said pointing at some boxes. "I seem to have misplaced it."

'Look around the boxes and if it's not there, it is probably around the supply package'

"You still remember our deal, right?"

"You're not searching…"

With a grumble, Lisa spread around the tent searching for the map.

Yesterday the intelligence division has given them the map for this terrain. And unfortunately she was assigned together with this man, again, per his request.

For some reason he likes to do work with her. Some people have even whispered that West is trying to court her.

But she knows better.

They had come to the agreement that West would not tell Arial about Lisa's feelings towards him. In exchange, she would be at his beck and call for a month, ready to do anything he asked of her.

He promises never to do and ask her anything that would compromise her honor.

Seems good right?

But still it is still torturous.

He treated her like a maid. Fetch his water; fetch his map; bringing her everywhere, whenever he wanted. She was lost and couldn't figure out what his endgame was.

She never understands what is on his mind. But feelings for her? She laughed to herself. Him and her?

They'll make the worst pair.

From what she knew, West came from one of the oldest families of the nobility in the Kingdom while she was the daughter of an upstart lord.

The difference in status was too high. In her mind, he just found this to be fun.

She searched around his box and found it slit around the crevice of the box, hidden from plain sight

"Here it is," Lisa said finding the map in some boxes.

"Bring it here," West ordered.

She handed the map to him. Then he laid the map at the table and studied it. She was about to leave when he said slowly but his order can clearly be heard

'Where do you think you are going?'

She looked at him and sighed

'Again? I have to wait again?'

"Read that book on the table while you wait."

Lisa looked at the book on the table: A Lady's Etiquette and Noble's Behavior.

"Fine!" she said in a displeased tone.

This time it's this.

She began to leaf through the book, feigning interest.

Every time she waited on him, he would give her a book about something, mostly about the nobility and manners and then she has to wait on him until he is done.

She opens the book and sit on the chair. An hour later he is still looking at the map, though this time he is marking something

She then felt something weird. She looked at him.

'Wait, did he just glance at me?' She shakes her head. Impossible

Then he rises from his chair.

'It's alright now. I have to meet someone' He put on his coat and left in a hurry.

'Wait, wait Why so sudd-'

And he already got out. Once again without a clear cut answer he ran. How many weeks before this game is over?

She was left in the tent with the books on her left hand, flustered and embarrassed. She threw the book on the ground

"What Lion? He is just a cunning little weasel," she whispered to herself. "Taking advantage of me like this… I will endure this embarrassment."

Arial, Helia and even her brother had praised his honor, all were saying good things about him.

But if only they knew the real West, she didn't think they would utter any word of praise. And she had no choice but to follow his orders. She picked up the book.

He is surely going to test me, he did that last week with all the other books, she thought to herself.

And because she failed before, he hinted to her brother that she is in love with Arial. Thankfully, that idiot's brain is dull as a rock.

but she now is afraid at that mischievous smile of West Palais.

"AAAHHHHH!" She yelled in frustration, while remembering that mischievous smile of his.

Lisa got up from the chair, took a deep breath, and went to the table to write West a letter. The letter was mostly comprised of curse words, a way for Lisa to alleviate the stress.

When she was done, she pushed all the things on the table in her knapsack and left the tent, chuckling to herself.

If he found all this curse words written to him, would he get angry? Crazy?

She could not help but chuckle but she is also afraid that he would find it which is why she had to hide it.

She shakes her head and leave the tent

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We stop for a while from the war and scheming to delve a bit on Lisa love life. Leave some comments and reviews. Hopefully it would be a good review. Leave some votes too. And hope you enjoy reading it