Free and Unfettered 107 Deltan's Hidden Guard

Though, when she found out *who* exactly had applied for her brother's Hidden Guard position, she had, for once in her life, felt the urge to cough blood. Dimitri, no last name, had been one of the generals leading Cosmos Empire's army, but he had abruptly retired, to the shock of their father, and applied for the job description discreetly.

There had been no end to complaints to their father emperor that Dimitri was abandoning the country in times of upcoming crisis. The look on their father's face when he struggled to contain the mirth that wanted to break out was quite a sight to behold.

When Nine had cornered him one day, the well-built and stern looking man looked her seriously in the eyes without a hint of deference.

"To serve Master was what I've always wanted to do, but I was always rejected, so His Majesty sent me into the army, telling me that if I wanted to make myself useful to the Eldest Prince, then I should get some experience first."

Nine narrowly resisted the urge to facepalm at that. Both at the gruff looking man in front of them, as well as her father. See, this was what happened when someone made vague promises, then set stubborn individuals loose in hopes that they would forget about it or move on. It just didn't happen.

"Then, why are you so set on following my eldest brother? You have the army at your back. Surely, that would be more useful to him than you leaving your post?"

Dimitri paused at Nine's words, struggling to put it into words. He was a man of few words, and usually answered straightforwardly and frankly without any care of decorum, but he couldn't just do that in front of a prince.

His struggles did not escape Nine's eyes, but she decided to leave him to flounder a little (because it was cute) at least until she knew that she could trust him.

"Your Highness, if I may. I would rather protect Master from the shadows to prevent anyone from getting the drop on him rather than being stationed far away waiting for a fight that might never exist. Since Master saved me before, then it is only right for me to return the favour."

Nine temporarily gave him a pass as she had her information network report to her. The unbiased information that was presented to her placated her somewhat, but she would really have to work on his magical prowess until he was at least up to par with Deltan himself. Couldn't have the Master protecting his subordinate, right?

Nine ignored how she herself was flouting that last statement.

"Then, come. Your magic is just pathetic. This is unacceptable."

She could see the very moment Dimitri's hackles rose. Seems he wasn't as unaffected as he presented himself to be, but this was good. Excellent, in fact. She could see how he was channelling his inner rage and compartmentalizing it. The competitive aura in him was surging wildly.

When she dragged him into a practice room for a week of intensive training, she ignored the horrified but sympathetic looks (as well as some that were distinctly schadenfreude in nature) that were sent their way.

Dimitri looked on uncomprehendingly at the stares that he was getting. This wasn't the usual apprehensive looks that he was getting for his scarred look, but something else altogether. He wasn't able to piece it together before the door shut behind him.

Before he could turn around and ask what was up with the looks everyone was giving him, his finely-honed instincts caused him to dodge to the right, only to have to dodge by rapidly moving back again.

Dimitri was stuck in a loop of dodging, now understanding the looks that he had been given. He felt like cursing, but maintained his calm as his mind frantically whirled, trying to find a way to get out of his situation he was stuck in.

He had to break the prince's rhythm, but he was not given any space to attempt to do so. The ex-general, now Hidden Guard, had no way to break the rhythm unless the prince gave him an opening.

Nine, unlike the struggling Dimitri, was watching with coldly calculating eyes. What she saw pleased her, but at the same time, she could see all the shortcomings that were coming out from this unexpected spar.

"Don't just dodge!" Nine barked out in the military-style tone that the other responded to without thinking. The sheer command and will in that tone made it so easy for him to fall back into the training he had without a second thought. "See, this is why everyone who studies under me has to master a series of Tier One and Two spells first before ever dreaming of moving on."

Dimitri's mind whirled as he took in the lesson the other was giving. He grit his teeth, mind frantically trying to recall the spell circle he needed as he was being bombarded by increasingly complex tactics.

Every time he caught his breath, another spell would come to disrupt him, and Dimitri had to grudgingly accept the prince's superiority in the magic field, but this did not mean that he had given up. On the contrary, Dimitri was working harder and thinking quicker.

It wasn't long before Dimitri managed to return simple basic spells without a need to think. Though he needed to call out the names, unlike the monster who was sending spells at him without a second thought, he slowly but steadily gained ground, finally being able to disrupt the other's rhythm the slightest.

"Good!" Nine praised, as free with her praises as she was with her spells. "You're learning, at least."

Dimitri barely brought a fierce grin onto his face before Nine wiped it out again.

"Now, Tier Two!"

The poor Hidden Guard sweated.

By the time the week was up, Dimitri didn't even have the strength to drag himself out of the room by himself.

Nine tsked, but obligingly levitated the other's prone body as she brought him out. She nodded to the various onlookers, whereas Dimitri glared menacingly at everyone who dared meet his eyes. Somehow, he still managed to look dignified even though he couldn't move an inch of his body.

When Dimitri was deposited on a bed and tucked in by Nine with a mocking grin, he tried to dodge the patronizing pat on his head, but unfortunately, really couldn't move at all.

"Rest well," Nine said. "I'll drag you for some remedial training if I ever think you're slacking off on your magic training," she said pleasantly.

Dimitri fought off the shiver that went up his spine at her words, but grudgingly said, "Thank you."

Nine nodded and left the room, stopping an anxious Deltan outside the room to press him into a hug, before going off.

Deltan entered the room without any fanfare, directing sympathetic but worried eyes at his Hidden Guard.

At the very least, Deltan now had a strong Hidden Guard that would protect him from the back.

A day later, when she sensed the faintest hints of Dimitri's magic changing as he accepted her brother's mark, Nine let go of all reservations as she hid a satisfied smile. The fierce general was really loyal. She couldn't begrudge him that.

Suddenly, an image of Dimitri's fierce face as he cradled a baby popped into her mind, and it startled a laugh out of her. She couldn't wait to see that.

It was just that… time waited for no man. The sand on the hourglass was quickly running out. The Undyings were already growing stronger, and the catastrophe would be coming soon. Her brother now had a guard that he could trust, so she could rest the slightest bit easier.

Chapter end