TBATE Duality

Chapter 69

Jade Leywin POV

"Generals! We finished placing all the landmines and setting up the siege machines"

I opened my eyes and turned to look at the young soldier who just gave us the status report, well I say young but he's still at least 3/4 years older than me

We were currently in the command tent of the camp we established over the artificial gorge we built in the last week

"Great, it seems we finished just in time" I stated

"How long until they arrive?" Alea asked me, she knew I was keeping tabs of the alacryan's force through my spy-golems

"We have 3 hours left, how long will it take for everyone to get into formation?" I asked, turning towards her

She was standing next to me leaned over the table, fully dressed for battle: she was wearing a silverish armor which included a finely decorated chestplate with a motif that resembled her vines, gauntlets, greaves and cuisses, her whitish green hair were left untied and flowed freely down her back, I have to say she is quite the beauty, how the hell is she still single? though I guess that's true for the other Lances as well, they're all single despite all of them being objectively good looking (well aside from Mica who looks like a kid)

"It'll take around 40 minutes for everyone to take their positions" Alea's answer pulled me out of my thoughts

"Good, you!" I addressed the soldier still standing in the tent, I saw him visibly tense up as we made eye contact, I guess he's pretty nervous

"Go and tell the captains and heads to give everyone a 2 hours break, they'll have to be at their absolute best for the upcoming battle" I ordered

"Yes general!" he saluted and rushed out of the tent

"You think it's a good idea? to relax right before an important battle?" Alea questioned me

"Yes, first because a lot of people are still tired for what we did in the past week, second having free time will give the troops time to think about their families and loved ones which will make them fight that much harder once things will get dire"

"So you're an expert in psychology too?"

"Nah, that's just what I would do" I shrugged

"Your loved ones huh? I wonder who that might be?" she teased me while poking my cheek with her index

"You know full well who I'm talking about"

"Oh yeah I know, honestly looking at you two little lovebirds makes me want to have a relationship as well" she declared

"I still can't believe you're single, I mean you're talented, you're beautiful..."

"You remember you're engaged right? also you're a little too young for me"

"Hey, I'm loyal to Mai that said I still have eyes"

"Oho, so you do look at other women"

"Not in the way you think, I'm just stating facts you're objectively beautiful for human and elven standards"

"Well returning to the original topic, I'm still single because I choose to remain single, I never wanted a lover or anything I thought I didn't need one as long as I was strong but well looking at you I understood that I don't have to choose one over the other, I can be strong and have a love life" she told me

"Okay, enough fooling around, I'll go check on my friends and my family" I declared getting up from my chair

"Alright, I'll stay here and monitor the situation just in case anything unexpected happens"