Pledges [Ingressus x Achillean]

Chapter 1

Note: So I had the inspiration where Ingressus was appointed as the champion in the Great War and fought against the Nether. Achillean is still general in this AU though.

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Ingressus felt like running away.

Yet he was stuck here, in some inn, the Ardoni had rented for the negotiation time being. The human city was too suffocating and the negotiations were heading nowhere. He just wanted to be alone for once, not supervised by some squabbling senator or greedy delegate from Conchord, and the night was the only time he was able to be alone.

"If the Ardoni cannot maintain harmony within themselves, how can we expect the Ardoni to be in good relations with another species?"

Ingressus clearly remembered the smirk on the councillor who raised that question, the rotund cheeks spluttering with spit and the gold rings just as heinous. Equally ignorant and dismissive were the other councillors, cheering and applauding at the question, while their stares burned into the Ardoni representatives.

At that moment, Ingressus almost wished he was incinerated by an Aggrobeam laser to the heart at point-blank range, instead of being boiled alive in his rage.

How could they muster up the courage to be so arrogant, when they were the ones who pleaded and begged for the Ardoni to use the Prime Songs for the greater good no longer than half a decade ago? Where was their greater good now?

Where was their opposition when Achillean took up the mantle of general when his tactfulness and skill were unmatched by any other so-called superior human? When he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders for years and years of sleepless nights?

He could barely even pay attention to the meaningless conversation, with Achillean's presence shining bright in the halls like a burning star.

As if all the stars aligned in that blink of an eye, Ingressus' wandering gaze caught Achillean's sending him an equally hysterical glance, both of them irritatedly offended yet agreeing at the councillor's comment.

The rest of the day felt like wading through soul sand, his head no longer upon his shoulders.

Nothing else in the meeting was worth remembering, for Ingressus had already received his answer.

Until now, the other higher-ups of the Ardoni council were still wary of him, even after the Voltaris' contribution to the war on the Northern front. Ingressus had learnt to keep his hopes even lower for the humans; curse the long-winded ways of diplomacy, or so he thought.

At least all the word-fighting couldn't hurt his flesh.

Then he heard a knocking at the door.

Tap-ti-ti-tap-tap-ti-tap.

A secret knocking pattern which was only known by one man, and that was no other than...

"Ingressus?" A muffled voice asked.

The Voltaris paced unevenly towards the door, the floor wobbling beneath him as he reached the doorknob.

"Achillean..."

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" At the doorway stood Achillean. He had clearly shed all of the formality of the day, with a genuine countenance.

"Six months," Ingressus leaned on the doorway, "Last time we met, I was still laying in bed."

"It's been far too long," Achillean mused. "But I'm certain you've recovered nicely, judging by the fact you still had some energy to one-up that ambassador this afternoon," He said, letting out a smirk. "It was quite... Embarrassing for him, isn't it?" Achillean glanced up and down, "Anyhow, may I please come in? There are some private matters I must discuss."