Living, Passing and Aging

***Date Finished***: 12th February 2023

***Setting***: Spade Kingdom

***Characters Involved***:
* Spade Kingdom:
	+ House O'Moore
		- Rudolf
		- Elaine
	+ House Perun
		- Lyutsifer
		- Marida
		- Nora
		- Euclid
		- Nimah
		- Beatrice
	+ House Livey
		- Luigi
		- Nico
		- Hilda
	+ House Tiamat
		- Mary
		- Ernest
	+ House Eskildsen
		- Lucius
		- Rosaline
		- Guinevere
		- Clarissa
		- Ishild
		- Dixon
		- Hardey
		- Josephine
		- Lydia
	+ House Thankarat
		- Ketill
		- Duca
		- John
	+ Armour Devision
		- Soleil Excandescentia
		- Aegis Hysminai
		- Athena Soteira
		- Challea Ogmios

***Synopsis***: In this roleplay a party at House Eskildsen is held and we get to see some new characters.

## A new meeting

Soleil walked through the halls of the armor division. They had just finished setting up the pantry and refilling their food stores by using some of Challea's contacts. She was pretty sure they were blackmailed but she asked no questions and Challea didn't tell any lies. Her pace was slow and sure as she walked to the door.

Just as soon as they got settled, a semi-familiar face reared his head into St. Michelle, he was from St. Amalia and adored the area. While not fond of being so close to the capital due to his divison's.... ***recklessness***. Rudolf O'Moore would walk with his daughter, Elaine through the cathedral to find Soleil. With his daughter on his shoulders as they walked.

"Anybody hooooooome!" Elaine said, echoing down the halls.

Out of the shadows with not so much as a whisper Soleil emerged. "Yes yes we are." she said looking at Rudolph. "You do realize that people live here right?"

As if one cue two others walked down the hallway to see what the yelling was about. Athena Soteira and Aegis emerged. They had both been talking but the yelling had drawn both of them towards the door Athena running to see if anyone was hurt and Aegis walking behind her. As Athena skidded to a stop she saw Rudolph and her face turned from concern to a more neutral expression.

"My apologies for my daughter, I have come with word from House Eskildsen, Lucius Eskildsen. They're hosting Lydia's Birthday party and sending in flowers to the deceased Esklidsen's... but thats annual anyway. They have invited Aegis and Soleil, but I doubt they'd mind if you brought anybody with you," Rudolf informs, kindly putting his daughter to the ground and patting her head and holding her hand as he couldn't let her run around... he still didn't trust her. "Lyu is bring his whole family, even his kids, I'm bringing Elaine, the Livy's are going to be there, and the happy wed Hansen and Chirsley are joining us."

"Yeah! Aunty Hansen and Uncle Chirsley are gonna be there, and cousin Nora is gonna be there... Aunty Mary, and even Uncle Astro!" Elaine said, spacing out a little bit trying to map her family in her head.

She thought for a few seconds her second in commands besides her. "I would normally go with Challea and let her do her thing but thats seems like a bad idea." she said.

Athena looked excited commenting. "I could come. I'm your second in command anyways." In response Soleil nodded her head Athena pumping her fist up in victory.

"The more the marrier, right?" Rudolf stated, with a kind smile. Suggesting that the three of them should come so that it doesn't get boring.

"Worse comes to worse Lyu accidentally bowls something up and a fight starts." Aegis said smile on her face as she insulted Rudolfs boss.

"Trust me, worse come to worse, the Eskildsen's start fighting each other. The Perun's and Eskildsen have been around each other for a long time, Lyu is the least of their worries," Rudolf remarks, giving off a deep sigh as he's had to deal with... many legal and domestic disputes between the Eskildsen's.

"And thats why I said to my entire house that the family name could go stab itself in the dick flipped off my sister and then left." Aegis said with a smile. She hated noble house weirdness and had decided to leave it. "Sure now I'll never get promoted but screw weird noble stuff."

"C'mon. You get to meet Lyu's newborn, and things will be fine. Its good to keep up relations despite..." Rudolf crouched down and put his hands over Elaine's ears to make sure she didn't hear what he was gonna say. "To be frank, the Eskildsen's aren't even in the best mood... the lot of them. This is for them to get out and friendly with one another. I hardly like being around them in the first place, but the best we can do it let them talk down to us so we can eventually rival them. Its a roundabout game of hell, care to share it with me? Like all the Eskildsen's are bad, Lucius's family is good."

"Meh." Aegis said unimpressed. "Worse comes to worse I tell the Eskildsen's that the entire house should have a knife shoved up their-" she mimiked the motion drawing cringes from Soleil who quickly moved to try and stop Aegis.

"We will share it with you. If its a game of hell then lets see some demons burn." Soleil said.

"Well, its going to be hosted a little bit later. But we're paying respects to the fallen only a little after high-noon," Rudolf said, standing up and letting go of Elaine's ears. "Me and Elaine were going to go out with the Livy's for dinner before heading off to the Eskildsen's household. I would ask you to check up on Frida Eyvindur, but I doubt she'd show."

Who Rudolf was refering to? A character I'm currently making, trust me it'll be worth it. Nevertheless, Frida is the daughter of a Infantry Regiment Commander. Frigg Eyvindur, the commander before Aurora, who was before Ajax Livy, who is before Lyutsifer Perun. The Livy's are the children of Ajax Livy, the late commander. Frida is a nice person, not known to sturr up trouble and keep herself out. The Livy's are also good people, they keep each other safe and dont talk much, since their father died. They never trusted many divisions before their father got into rank, which is why they stay away from the politics despite their standings and understandings with politics.

Soleil signed something towards Aegis that translated to 'Don't swear in front of the child' in response Aegis signed back. 'Who me?'. "I don't think she would either." Athena said finally piping up.

"Now, we'll be off. Its casual to formal. Wear what you'd like, I dont have much outside of my work uniform, so formal is probably the best option," Rudolf stated, almost turning around but stopping right before he forgot. "Ya know who you should go check on before you get there. There's a small little set of shacks in the area before you get to St. Amalia and Glasgovium. Lyu will be in the area, he's looking for his sister. Now, when you find him. remind him whats going on today and head right over with both of them."

"Wait, isn't that where Aunty Marida lives?" Elaine asked.

"Yes, and we dont want Marida there because she doesn't do anything but be questioned stupid questions, but family is family," Rudolf explains. "Trust me, Lyu isn't stupid but its better to keep him on the road back to Glasgovium with Marida. Sorry for the bother and thanks for the time."

Rudolf and Elaine quickly rush out of the cathedral as they're late for their dinner with the Livy's.

Soleil, Aegis and Athena took their broomsticks getting to the small cluster of shacks in the area that Rudolph had mentioned before dismounting. They drew stares from the people there but these stares were not the rude ones given to the Infantry Division instead being more inquisitive. While Athena was slightly uncomfortable with it Aegis and Soleil had already gotten used to the barricade of stares due to having been at the job for so long.

Lyutsifer Perun stood outside in a fine formal, white, blue, and gold attire. Lyutsifer stood outside a shack as Marida Grey Perun stepped out in what was a mix of a battle dress and short dress. Lyutsifer would sigh as he noticed the Armour Division, waving kindly. slowly stepping from under the extended roof's of the shacks to say hello.

"My my, never expected to see you three today. Rudolf ask for you?" Lyu questioned, not knowing much right now as he was just gathering his family.

Aegis and Soleil waved hi more familiar with him while Athena just nodded as a greeting not knowing him too well. They were all dressed in their Armour Division uniforms, Soleil wearing her golden armor, Athena in her battle dress and Aegis just wearing normal armor because she didn't give a shit.

Soleil sighed stepping forwards. "Yes he did. We are going to the Eskildsen's gathering and Rudolph told us to remind you that you need to go there as well."

Aegis was signing behind her knowing that Soleil couldn't see it but Lyu might. 'I want to go as much as you which isn't at all. Duty calls.' she signed the last sentence with sarcasm added on.

Lyu's face grew sour. "We're just the guard dogs. Can't do much else but follow orders until we die. Either way, it'll be fine. Not like there's going to be unregulated fights. We keep those in the guardens." Throwing on his happy go lucky attitude to the bad stuff in the world.

Lyu was actually talking about something the men do by the giant gardens. They would light a bonfire and start fights around them, getting their horses to circle the men who are boxing at the time. No magic is allowed, but the first to shed blood looses. It's brutal, which is why none of the woman watch.

Marida stepped out of the house in a nice dress. Nothing out of the ordinary for a witch of her station. "Alright, I'm ready!" She said in a kind and nice tone, as she is super nice.

Aegis understood the reference to the gardens as back when she was someone who could be seen with nobles she had taken part in many of them enjoying the feeling of bloodlust. Then she had insulted her entire house and had been barred from the noble world. "Well they'll have to let me in at least. I'm on 'official business' now."

Soleil's face was grave as she listened to Lyu. "Well worse comes to worse civility and the noble posturing means nothing. Its protecting the people of the kingdom that matters." She believed in what she said wholeheartedly even as the kingdom tried to prove her wrong.

Meanwhile Athena looked at Marida noticing that she was a witch and walked over to her happy to meet a fellow witch. "Hello."

Marida was actually 2/3 Witch, 1/4 elf and 1/4 human. Odd innit. Marida kindly smiled, noting very shortly that she's a witch, "Hey."

"Don't worry, the Eskildsen's are nice people. Better than meeting half of the Perun's, but you still met 'em. C'mon, we have a ceremony to attend," Lyu said, walking over to two horses. "Marida, take the other horse. I doubt you forgot how to ride horseback. Will we see you three at the Eskildsen's household? Its on the North Western side of Glasgovium. Quite a large place if I do say so myself."

"We have our own transport." Soleil said gesturing to the brooms. She didn't know where the household was but Aegis did from attending parties there as a kid. "But yes you will see us there as duty demands..."

"You gardening?" Aegis asked. She knew that it was mostly a teen thing but she had seen older nobles fight during the brawls maybe just to puff up their own ego's.

Meanwhile Athena cracked a smile. "My name is Athena Soteira. May I request yours?" Witches couldn't exactly hex people whose names they knew but it was still thought of as rude to bluntly ask another's name.

"Marida, Marida Grey Perun. Its so nice to meet you. You have to meet my siblings, they're going to be so happy to see another witch around these parts," Marida said, before leaping onto her horse.

"Me? Maybe with Lucius... Maybe with Ketill, we're the older men running the show anyways. So I hope to see the younger bucks kickin' ass," Lyu said, getting his horse to walk circles around them before turning off.

"It's nice to initially meet you, Athena. So sorry this conversation was cut short, I'll see you again!" Marida said, being the nicest person in the Perun family she'll meet in a while.

"I'm sorry it was as well." she said mounting her broom and levitating it a foot or two off the ground. "I hope that we meet again."

Soleil and Aegis mounted their brooms as well Soleil waving goodbye to Lyu. "Well lets just hope we survive sanity intact." Aegis joked. She had been to the Esklidsen's gatherings before and they were..interesting.

## Eskildsen House.

At the house, it was busy, maids rolling in and out of the kitchen, parlor, and deep in the basement. It was prepared, just little things being checked over as the sun moved past its highest point. Lucius Rafferty Eskildsen stood at his balcony that faced the back of the mansion and drank softly from his mug of beer. His wife, Rosalie stepped into the room and chuckled.

"Honey, are you still thinking? The Tiamat's and Thankarats are down stairs waiting on you. Who knows when the O'Moores and Livey's get down their. Let alone the first wave of perun's," Rosaline questioned.

"I'm not worried, they'll just expect I was tired," Lucius explained. Putting his mug down and throwing his coat over his wife as he took her hand and spun her in place. Kissing her on the cheek before stepping towards the door.

"Alright lover boy, lets go before we get busy," Rosaline said, stepping to the door and walking with Lucius.

With their arms locked, Rosaline and Lucius would walk down their stairs and look down at the Thankarat's, Tiamat's, and even Eskildsen's from Clari and Maria's side of the family. Lucius was a bit shocked to see the entire Eskildsen family be gathered so fast. Yet, the two stepped down to the flooring to greet the others. Finally meeting Ernest Tiamat, the newest addition to the Tiamat family. The Thankarat's abrasive father hugged Lucius, as this would be the day he could mourn the death of his wife without being seen weak. While Rosaline talked calmly, Nora Perun tried to stay away from all the people. Same as her father, she didn't like talking.

"Nora, come here. Come meet your Uncle Ketill," Mary objected, siding to force her to talk to people.

"Yes, ma'am," Nora stepped forward. Finally meeting Ketill Thankarat.

Rosaline leaned over Guinevere's shoulder to listen to Ketill's conversation with Nora. As she'd never met Nora before. Nora hardly came around to meetings with nobles. The talk of who'd marry Nora was popular, as she held the most influence in the Perun Family. She was the suspected next in line if legitimized. This is why Lyu has rejected all marriage offers for his daughters and son.

"I heard she's pretty, but I'm surprised he wont let anybody make a offer," Clarissa mentioned to Rosaline.

"Its because she's her golden child. His favorite as I'd say," Duca said, budding in like a nosy child should.

"Duca, where's john?" Rosaline asked.

"He's down in the basement getting some alcohol," Duca responded.

"The 'boys' talk. Where's Dixon and Hardy?" Rosaline asked.

"Probabaly down stairs," Duca responded, hearing the door get knocked on.

Nora turned around, looking towards the door like *everybody* else did.

In came Challea with the air of a woman who had all the cards in her hand. She was wearing a white dress with hints of gold her hair braided with golden beads as well. She looked around with a practiced eye striding up to Lucius heels click-clacking on the floor. "Quite a nice gathering." she said looking around.

"Ms. Challea, nice to see you have arrived!" Rosaline said, speaking on behalf of Lucius.

Lucius would bow towards Challea, but this was before noticing that the O'Moore's and Livey's have arrived. The Livey's included Luigi, Hilda and Nico. Nico ran past everyone and rushed to hug Mackenzie Tiamat. As these two are basicly sisters at this point, they waste no time greeting eachother. Rudolf, Luigi and Lucius lock eyes. Lucius giving them a single.

"Alright," Luigi muttered. "Nice to see everyone got here safe, what lovely faces are about tonight?" Luigi asked, hugging any person who'd invite themselves for a hug.

Elaine would run after Nico and Mackenzie to go play some game with two maids watching over. This would be harmless compared to the men being just as dumb. Rudolf stepped to Mary and hugged her before waving towards Challea.

"Challea of the Armour division? Well, I didn't expect the others to be so late at this point," Rudolf questioned.

"They are getting Lyutsifer and Marida after all," Lucius informed, giving Challea a nice glass of wine. Lucius knew what Challea does, which is why he's the hardest person to ever blackmail. He's too clean, loving wife, loving children, great financial strength, not tied to Lyutsifer's ruthlessness, and overall just a great guy. Which makes him the most dangerous man in Spade.

Duca hated Challea because she had dirt on her father, since her father had dirt, but just a little. Regardless, she smiled kindly. Luigi somehow vanished, probably to the basement to get his fights in order.

"I wonder if Chirsley is going to fight..." Josephine asked Elora, standing in the back drinking their wine.

She smiled back bowing towards Lucius and knowing that Duca hated her while not particularly caring. After all it was better to be feared than to be loved, if she could not be both. She looked at Lucius straight in the eye while noticing that Luigi had vanished. "Well they may come late if they are tracking Lyutsifer and Marida one of those two is probably off getting arrested." She rolled her eyes in a gesture that was real if downplayed. Getting Lyu out of a Clover Kingdom jail was annoying. "How is Nora doing by the way?"

"Lyu wouldn't get arrested on days like these, that of all things he doesn't do on formal occasions," Nora explains, stepping forward to see Challea.

"Unless we're talkin the Winter Balls, then we avoid those like the plauge," Rudolf mentioned to Mary, with some members of each family laughing because we all know those are just horrible to be at.

"NIce to see you around here, Challea," Nora explains. Distracting Challea as Lucius and Rudolf vanish to the basement. Leaving... all but one boy in the room at the moment. Ernest Tiamat, the baby.

She smiled a small smile again knowing that Nora was lying. The boys were vanishing to the basement along with a few of the girls happy to take part in the brawls. It was a strange affair one she did not particularly care about or understand but she could play that game and turning to Duca. "Nice to see you as well. Hows your father doing by the way?" She knew that it would annoy Duca but she didn't care, always good to drive the point just a little further.

A knock sounded on the door.

"He's in the building, ask him yourself," Duca warns, taking Josephines drink and walking out of the room.

Lyutsifer walks into the door with the rest of the Perun's, Marida, Euclid, Nimah, and Beatrice. Taking no time and looking at Challea, then walking straight past her to hug Rosaline, kissing his wife Mary and stepping down to the basement. Marida kindly waved to everybody in the room, while hugging whoever she knew best.

Guinevere stepped out of the crowd of women, there's so many, and whispered in Challea's ear, "If you're gonna talk shit, head down to the basement and pick up a fight with the men. Until then, don't egg anybody on."Major Maria would then smile towards the Perun's and rest of the Armour division that would shortly arrive.

Athena, Aegis and Soleil arrived looking around. Soleil and Athena were both at various levels of comfort with the noble setting but Aegis managed to draw the most eyes mostly due to it being obvious that she didn't particularly care about anything going on moving towards the basement for a good brawl.

Challea nearly sighed as Aegis walked in before she moved into the basement before whispering back in Guinevere's ear. "I would only egg someone on if it was to make them act impulsive. The men already have that in the bag."

Soleil walked forwards confidently towards Rosaline giving her a hug and walking through the room hugging the people she knew best. Meanwhile Athena was just in the corner until she noticed where Aegis went and followed her curious.

For a while, the groups started to form in the house. People started to spread out more, the little kids (Nico, Mackenzie, Elaine, etc) would move out of the room into the play room, where Mary would follow suit as she would rather just relax. The younger ladies (Hilda, Elora, etc) would just kinda stay away, hiding in the upstairs kitchen and talk about sports they do outside of their main jobs as mages. A basicly the rest of the older women would stand around in the same areas, with the large group moving into the living room, and you could hear somebody play the piano upstairs... must've been Euclid.

"Challea, if those men are impulsive as you say they are. This house wouldn't stand, their impulses are controlled to the point where we dont have to worry about them when we dont want to," Clari mentions, laughing with Rosaline.

"I know." Challea said laughing along with them while walking into the dining hall. "But nothing wrong with a little reminder."

Soleil went upstairs hearing the piano and following the source of the sound until she saw Euclid. "You play well."

Euclid, Nimah, Josephine and Lydia standing around the piano trying to find different sheets of music. Euclid would turn from the piano playing from memory the notes, smiling to Soleil. "Thanks, I try my best. Nimah, did you find it? I'm startin' to forget how to play." Euclid said, getting slower when playing the piano to give them more time.

"No... found it!" Nimah stated, putting the rest of the sheets in-front of Euclid.

Nimah sped back up, playing softly and to perfection. Hobbies, am I right?

Rosaline would step into the room, handing everybody small cards to write something about Ishild, or even their thoughts on Ishild when she was alive. Just something they do about every 5 years to mourn the dead and respect them. Then, putting one big card down to write their names for Lydia's birthday. Of course Lydia couldn't write in it.

Soleil wrote her thoughts on Ishid writing down that she was someone who she respected for her kindheartedness. Challea wrote down a memory of her while at a party polite as could be. Both of them put their names down on the card as well.

Soleil walked up to the piano sitting down after Nimah had finished playing and playing a piece she knew well even if it wasn't exactly that classical or noble. Meanwhile Aegis and Athena were down in the basement Aegis being excited and Athena looking nervous.

Lucius stood next to Lyutsifer and Ketill, drinking from their mugs and watching the boys drink with Aegis and Athena. Getting them drunk just enough before the fight was crucial. Just so they dont use magic. Lyutsifer would put Aegis' name and Athena's name down. While throwing on Astro's name in the fights along side Rudolf. Yet, making it fair so that their age gaps weren't so big in the fights. Hardy looked over to Rosaline, who snuck down and handed Luigi Lydia's birthday card and cards to pay respect to Ishild.

"Athena and Aegis, are you joining in the fighting?" Rosaline asked,then turned to Lucius. "Honey, put Josephine in the fightings."

"We already have Nora in. So this'll be fun," Lucius said, laughing with Lyutsifer and Ketill.

"Yes we are." Aegis said with a smile Athena looking much more hesitant not having touched her drink or decided to join in the conversation.

Athena wrote in the card an encounter she had with Ishild where she had helped Athena get people out of a burning building. Aegis wrote down something less dignified about trying and sorta succeeding at getting Ishild to go drinking with her when they were just out of their teens. Surprisingly not much had burned down when she finally managed to convince her.

Upstairs Soleil had finished her song standing up to let someone else through armor clanking.

Guinevere shouted from the middle of the house, "The food set up, come to the dinning room if you'd like anything!"

Euclid looked to Nimah and Josephine. "Get me some food."

"I can't stand you sometimes," Nimah said, standing up and walking out.

Soleil chuckled. "Get me some food too!" she yelled.

"Say Soleil, I dont ever have time to talk to you one on one. How's life?" Euclid asked, playing rocket man's piano.

"Good. Meet one of the heart guardians, goat snuck into the barracks somehow and Luna caught it right after it had eaten a lot of stuff. " she chuckled.

"I heard about that. Why didn't you just ask Lucius for some money for the food? You know the Eskildsen's are too rich for their own good," Euclid said, slowing down softly, only waiting for Nimah and Josephine to step into the room with food. Greens, beans, Ham, turkey, fish, cake, grape vines, and pancakes. Which Euclid very kindly took all of.

Soleil managed to snatch some to going straight for the savory foods. Cake was too sweet. "Challea got us new food reserves." she said looking around. Challea had gone off somewhere strangely.

Meanwhile downstairs Aegis was drinking and Athena was wondering why this was her coworker.

"Hey Astro! You okay?" Aegis asked with actual concern slightly tipsy. "Heard you got your ass kicked." Athena just sighed.

Astro sat with the boys, sitting back as he put in his input on the battles. "Hmm? Yeah, I'm alright. I can't fight against the big boys today, sadly. But what I will do is fight these young bucks and kick them back to kingdom come."

Lyutsifer handed Astro a mug and looked at the board. Astro had his arm in a cast, but it wasn't the hard ones. It was a simple ol' sling. Astro had been in worse trouble, so this fight wasn't the most painful. Getting out of the fight was the hard part.

"Ahh keeping up the old traditions." she said nostalgically handing Lyu a mug and giving him a nudge. "Hey Lyu we gonna fight?"

"Hopefully not. I have you against Rudolf for the adult's rounds. I'm facing Lucius. If Durans, Tommy or even Keith get here soon. Then we'll have Ketil face Durans or me, swap me for Keith and throw the orders around for fun. If anything, we can get Clarissa in on this... I doubt that. Though the kids matches are all set up," Lyu explained, downing his beer.

"Alright boys, upstairs. Leave the adults to talk, best burn your letters by the fires before we start the races and archery matches," Rosaline said, getting the younger men out of the basement where all the beer was and moving them upstairs. Waving goodbye to the others.

"Lucky man," Astro jokes.

"Yeah, I dont see you with gettin' any kids any time soon Astro," Lucius remarks.

"Dont need 'em, I got my family where they are right now," Astro argues.

"Why would you need children when you've adopted a teenager." she joked.

"I'm the only person who adopted here," Lyu states. "And I only did so because I saw her parents before their death... those faces haunt me. Yet, I wouldn't trust Astro with kids.

"Why not?" Astro questions.

"Hmm, I dont know. How about all the bills we have to pay because of the mental scaring to minors?" Lucius questions.

"Or the lawsuits. I'm still organizing all the lawsuits," Rudolf projects.

"Alright, lets be honest, I wouldn't be the worst dad," Astro argues.

"No, I am. But you sir, you're the least trusted to be a dad," Lucius agrees.

"Nah, I'd say the worst dad is probably Hardy's old man," Rudolf questions.

"Nah, its me," Lucius rejects.

"If I were to think then I would say Astro. Also its not a legal adoption but we're trying to get the paperwork in order." Aegis said.

"Wait, you're trying to adopt, Aegis?" Lyutsifer asked.

"Yup. She's a teen but we talked it over and it makes sense for all of us."

"Well, I adopted Nora when she was only 5. The only problem with adoption is that you shouldn't take them to parties, gain their trust a little bit before ever bringing them to parties. And keep people who you know will help you out with taking care of them around you, it keeps their mind fresh with the people they know they can trust. Never forget that nobles probably wont be too friendly around them, but that does mean that nobody will want to marry them unless you legitimize them." Lyutsifer said, getting more serious by the end. "Which is the main reason I didn't legitimize Nora so soon. Since Ernest is my only son, but he hasen't taken my last name, Nora is the only child I have to take the Perun name when I'm gone. Another reason why I let Chirsley marry Hansen with Prenuptial that lines what eachother doesn't get if their marriage dissolves."

"Like they're unhappy, I haven't seen my son in the last week," Lucius states.

"Thats because they're fuckin'," Astro states.

"Language Astro, there are children in the house," Rudolf objects.

"Aren't we breaking a law by letting him be in a house with... women in general here?" A very blunt and slightly upset tone mooned.

Tommy, Keith, Chirsley and Durans had arrived. Wanting to put themselves in tonight's festivities. Durans had stated it might be illegal, but wasn't sure.

"I don't care about the family name and she seems very protective of her old one." Aegis stated before turning to Astro. "Yes in fact child. People do have sex even if it may hurt your brain to think about. You will understand when you're older."

Tommy, Durans, Lyu and Rudolf turned away and forced themselves to not laught, while Astro just... stood there dumbfounded to be insulted like that. Then Keith gave out one loud laugh at Astro, and the basement erupted.

"Y'all're assholes, gonna say that shit to a cripple? Shame on y'all," Astro said, just turning to his drink upset.

"Astro, grow up," Lucius states, stepped to the basement stairs and walking up before Rosaline opened the basement floor, telling him what was happening. "Hey, they're doing archery contests upstairs, who wants to join. Lyu, you're banned."

"We know," Lyutsifer muttered, standing up and walking up the stairs to watch.

Both Athena and Aegis walked upstairs Aegis with a maniacal smile on her face.

The others would walk upstairs and step outside to the back. To note, the bullseyes are much further away because of the skill level at the house. Lyutsifer was standing behind his wife, holding Ernest as his wife would hit the inside the second ring. Nora on the other hand walked right next to Mary and hit the bullseye with ease. Lyu would laugh as Mary stared back at Lyu, Lyu would stop laughing.

Lydia, the birthday girl would hit inside the last ring, but after that... wasn't doin' much. Guinevere and Clarissa were trying too hard and hit three bullseyes in a row, consecutively. Rudolf stood over Elaine and showed her how to fire the bow, which was sweet. Yet Hilda and Luigi argued on which way was a better way to fire the bow, but still helped Nico to fire the bow against Elaine. Duca and John watched, talkin' shit to one another like twins do.

After all of them had finished using the bows it was Athena's turn. In a slightly blatant misinterpretation of the rules she didn't picked up the bow. Instead she took her shield of her back and threw it. It hit the center of the target. She then walked up to it pulled the shield out, walked back to the place where the bow was and proceeded to do that three more times hitting the center each time. Aegis clapped and whooped, she thought throwing your shield was stupid but Athena had mastered it.

The only odd part was that this wasn't a time where they whoo'd. Nora turned her bow towards Athena before Lyu took it away from her.

"You wonder why we can't have nice things," Hansen states, standing behind Duca and John.

"Haha, very funny," Duca said, sarcastic.

"Did I do something wrong?" Athena asked confused. "I know it wasn't in the rules but.."

"Nah, just use a bow next time. Kinda like this," Lyu said, turning towards the furthest bullseye.

Lyutsifer reared his bow back and summoned a arrow made of Wind Magic, aiming up to launch the arrow, searing through the sky as it left behind a spiraling trail of sparkles and green pixes that faded as they fell. This was quite lazy from the others perspective, but very pretty none the less. Lyutsifer wasn't allowed to shoot arrows because of this flex, as he is the only person to be able to enact different effects on very small objects in the kingdom at such a massive distance. Lyutsifer would cause the arrow to explode around the bullseye, causing the snow to spiral around to reveal a perfect bullseye. Showoff.

A eruption of aggression came from Clarissa and Guinevere, then some more shouting as Lyu started laughing and putting the bow down before rushing away from the fields. Mary was just disappointed he couldn't hold in his own impulses. With Ketill and Duca laughing.

Aegis laughed as well with Soleil and Challea coming down to see what all of the fuss was about. Challea stayed to the edges but Soleil walked up to Aegis.

"What did you do?" she asked with the air of someone who had dealt with this shit a lot.

"Nothing blame Lyu." she said still smiling.

"I'm not gonna lie, its cool every time, except that time." Nora said, turning away.

"Yeah, that one was pretty lazy," Mary stated.

"It was wasn't it." Aegis said happy to riff Lyu.

"Alright, I'm gonna start the fire for Ishild. Bring your letters over," Rosaline said, standing over a large pit that had wood stacked like a Teepi, lighting it.

The armor ladies brought over their letters. "Are we going to put them in the fire?" Soleil asked.

"Its a tradition done by our ancestors to message the dead," Guinevere said, tossing in her letter.

"They said that if you burn the letter in a place near their hearts as a home, then it sends your letter straight through them," Lucius explained.

"So you can do it by a grave, their old home, or even next to something important." Mary explained, looking down at Mackenzie and Ernest.

"Hmm." Soleil looks at the letter in her hands and turned on lava titan mode just for her hand and arm. Then she placed the letter into the heart of the flame it only tickling her as the letter burned.

"Thats a way to do it," John mentioned.

"Hey John, have you decided your future wife?" Hansen asked, as this is a vary strange topic.

The topic was strange since he had promised to marry Euclid when they grew up, but since Jaida Axis is adamant to marry John, things get political. Now, John is standing right next to Euclid, so they're confusion turned into a flustered stammer. The group started to laugh at the remark since John also said he was going to decide two months ago.

"Soon enough John,the public might demand," Lyu mentioned, looking up at John with a maniacal grin.

"Then..." John started thinking.

"Alright, I'm gonna get out of this conversation," Euclid said, walking right into the building with a group of ladies following behind to joke about such a decision.

"I'll have to think about it!" John defended, not wanting to decide now.

Lucius nudged Lyu and they laughed. "Yeah right."

"I am interested in the fallout of this." Aegis joked handing over her letter to Soleil. Challea did the same thing.

"Everybody else is, its just that he wont decide," Luigi mutters.

A maid walks over to the bonfire and adresses a important message, "Sir Lucius, Frida Eyvindur has arrived."

The men skipped a heartbeat, Lucius took charge by the snap of reality. "Get Durans and Rudolf to my room. Take them through the Green book, Lyu and I will hold her off. Astro, go with them. Be watchout."

"I'm gonna need a full mug for this," Lyu regretting Lucius drag him into this decision.

The maid rushed off with the three. Aegis probably knew what happened, but nobody else wants or for their own safety should know. Frida stepped around and through the house. Giving death stares straight to Lucius and Lyu. Lyu having none of it, turns away.

"Lyutsifer Perun, turn around and face me," Frida demands. She held no power? Who knows, but she's scary.

"Lyu," Lucius asked nicely.

Lyu turned around and stared at Frida.

"Where is Rudolf? Or even Durans. I saw Elaine today, I'm just curious," Frida asks, in a aggresive tone.

"I haven't the clue, he told us to bring Elaine to the party as he still was stuck with paperwork I told him to deal with yesterday," Lyu lies, bluntly.

"Thats odd, because Mary said that he had some buisness outside of the Kingdom..." Frida countered.

Challea knew what was going on and as such she headed to the kitchen. Better to find some wine and let this whole thing pass over.

Meanwhile Soleil not knowing shit about noble politics signed to Aegis. 'Who is she?'

Aegis signed back. 'Trouble'

Lucius signed. 'You wanna hear the story? because I dont.'

"Well, if I'm being honest, we're hiding him from you. So that I can keep my men and make sure nothing bad happens to them," Lyu responds.

"Just like the Idun's? Sending them straight to prison and locking up beastfolk? That didn't go well with Lucius did it? No no no," Frida said, getting upset with Lyu. Picking up a drink from the table and collecting herself.

"The Idun's had it coming, Belial, Asmodeus, and Toru had their bad luck and I got my chance. Dont you blame that on me!" Lyu thunders.

"You're a monster..." Frida mentions.

"And you wonder why your mother doesn't love you..." Lyutsifer stated, walking off with his mug in hand.

Lucius used his magic on a lock that leaded to the basement. Getting the fuck outta there real quick.

"Well that was weird." Soleil said out loud before walking up to Frida. "Hello."

Firda seemed to have calmed down fast enough to look at Soleil, "Commander Soleil, so nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you as well." She said smiling.

Aegis was panicking inside.

Frida chuckled, "Forgive my remarks to Lyu, but I must go now." Frida said, walking out of the Eskildsen's property, with every step generating a pocket of nice.

"Well that was weird." Soleil said as she left. "Should I tell Lyu to stop hiding?"

Duca stepped out to collect the arrows and bows outside, as it was starting to snow. "No, I wouldn't. Lyu would probably start punching shit knowing Frida is gone... Did anybody tell you what happened?" Duca questioned, as the matter was semi-private but not necessarily public.

"We don't usually pay attention to Infantry things. You are all to put it politely *weird*." Aegis piped up happy Frida was gone.

"3 years ago, Lyustifer compiled information against the Axis family and many of their allies and associates. The Infantry Divison, including myself, were given orders to find them, root them out, and lock them up. We did, we did exactly that. The Axis family were charged with treason, acts of piracy against the crown, and homicide from the Infantry Divison. When questioned how he got this information, Lyu couldn't tell. So the charged were dropped agains the Axis family, yet we still locked up their allies," Duca said, with a downed expression. "Rudolf, Mary, and Lucius know why they were locked up, but nobody else knows why Lyu randomly brought up all these charges."

"Frida? Frida had charges aswell, but not her mother, Frigg the 26th Commander. Frigg spoke against her daughter and Lyu, eventually being set free with Frigg on the side of Lyu. Which is why they hate eachother, what happened with Durans and Rudolf? They were the ones who got the dirt on Frida. While also sleeping with their maids in the process, we found that out only a year ago. Resolving in a fight..." John stated, holding some logs on his shoulder. "Isn't that wild?"

"Thats an interesting tale" Athena said interested.

"Well we need to break the news somehow. I'm the best defensive mage here so this should be my job," Soleil said walking down into the basement where Lyu was.

"This is a bad idea..." Duca mentioned.

Lucius, Rudolf, Lyu, Durans, Tommy, Keith and Astro sat down at the basement playing poker.

Tommy looked up at Soleil and sighed, "Bout time she left..." Referring to Frida.

"Tommy, shut the fuck up," Rudolf ordered.

"Yes. Yes she did leave. So you can come upstairs or just stay down here." Soleil said unimpressed.

Lyu moved his hand over to his beer and grabbed it, but accidentally shattered it from stressing his hand in rage. "Fuck..."

Mary stepped down stairs, knocking that Lyu would be pissed. She grabbed Soleil's shoulder. "Lets leave, we have some food that still needs to be finished anyway. Best to bring it back to Saint Micheal." Mary said with a smile, trying to get her out of the basement immidiently.

"You okay?" she asked Lyu not really caring about the consequences. They were both captains after all.

The men all looked away as Lyu's mana started engulfing the room. Making everybody's stomach turn and feel horribly sick. "Its fine, just go take some food back home unless you're gonna stay for the fight,"

Mary stood there in silence, as she really wanted to puke due to Lyu's mana leaking into the area. This isn't intentional, it just leaks out heavily when he isn't focusing on controlling it. Which is why his mana control is so good, because if he doesn't control his mana, it just makes the entire room or area horrible.

"I think my wife wants to stay for it at least." Soleil said feeling the mana. It was strange and felt horrible so she summoned her own mana against it using mana skin to stop the effects. "Again are you okay? You can go outside and break some stuff if you want."

"Soleil, for the sake of my respect towards the Eskildsens... this conversation is over, do you understand?" Lyu asked, as his mana soon became poison to Soleil and started ripping into her mana skin. Mary finally stepped out of the basement while the men held themselves together and kept playing poker.

"Okay." she said her mana using its fire attribute to fire burnin up Lyu's attack as she stepped out of the basement unharmed but slightly worried about him.

The ladies stood around Mary as she puked in a can outside. This made them worry about Lyu, Nora standing in the back, away from Mary as she couldn't say much. They knew Lyu has anger issues, and couldn't help his annoyance and rage, but this is bad... worse than normal. Nora calmed herself and started to cry holding Ernest.

Aegis saw Nora began to cry and got a little pissed of at Frida. "Thats it I'm beating Frida up." she said with certainty.

Soleil put a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe not the right way to deal with this problem."

"No, its not worth the trouble..." Nora heeded. "We dont know his reasons, he keeps so many things secret from even me despite the fact im his first child. I dont know why he even adopted me when he was so young... he told me I couldn't handle the truth, and I lived with it. So if there's a reason behind it, let him deal with it himself. My dad told me to always fear the man who can cure his own problems with himself.

"Because he's talked to himself too much. Little did we know, he was talking about himself, and how much he fears himself," Duca mentioned, with a chuckle to follow.

Nora chuckled and cried silently. Annoyed with how her life has turned out and how little she's done to effect it. Despite everything being easy and her working hard.

Athena patted her on the back empathetically supporting her as she cried.

"He needs to explain some shit. Or Frida does at the very least." Aegis was still pissed off.

"He seemed angry his mana attacked my mana skin. So I think we should give him some time to himself." Soleil cautioned.

Mary finally stood up, collecting herself and walking to Nora. Hugging her half adopted child and looking at Aegis, Soleil and Athena. "Dont bring this up again, he has no reason to explain anything to anybody. I would know, I argued against it. Now, lets move on and pain eachothers nails. I'm getting quite bored." Mary said, looking at Nora at the last part and the rest of the ladies. "Okay?"

"Why not." Soleil said Aegis looking relieved. Challea was nowhere to be found having left when Frida arrived.

"I'm gonna go play poker with the dudes." Athena responded pointing to the basement.

The ladies would share their time, with them singing happy birthday for Lydia without the guys and Athena in the basement not knowing. Time would pass, food would be finished and nightfall soon arrived. a couple people started to leave, except for the guys who needed to fight. Guinevere and Clarissa left, with Hardy staying to fight. The ladies actually didn't get notified the men were starting their fights in the center of the garden's maze. It was Hardy Vs. Luigi, and Luigi was kicking Hardy's ass. But all the men were half drunk by the time the fights started anyway.

Aegis knew of course and Athena walked to the center of the maze with the dudes; both watching the fight. Aegis was excited and Athena was half-drunk so also excited.

Rudolf, Lucius, Ketill, and Lyu stood on horses, circling the men as they fought. Luigi had Hardy in a headlock before Luigi threw Hardy over his shoulder and Hardy repeated to slap his hand on the ground, giving up.

"Luigi wins! Dixon and John, you're up," Lyu commanded, waving a blue flag for Luigi.

Dixon and John got in the middle. touching knuckles before stepping back. By the crack of Rudolf's tree branch in his hand, the boys stepped towards each other and started throwing punches. They knew each other were heavily experience in hand to hand combat, so it was best to just start swingin'.

"Why would you grow a tree branch just to break it." Aegis mused. "Feels like it misses the point of making one in the first place."

"Its for the sound... the crack of the tree branch is loud enough for everybody to hear, ever noticed?" Luigi asked, getting medicated by Nora.

"Smells good to." Aegis joked. "Wow this shits a blast from the past."

John grabbed Dixon by the head and slammed his knee into his chest. Dixon blocked it but hurt his wrists, then rushed his head up into John's Jaw. Dixon started slamming his fists into John's head before John slugged him.

"Should I take my plate off?" Aegis asked Lyu. "Seems like a bit of an unfair advantage."

Yes, in fact, most of the men were fighting bare chested, except for Luigi, who fought in just a simple shirt.

"If you'd want, you're facing Nora first, so it wouldn't matter to me," Lyu mentioned.

Nora flipped off her father and sat down.

Aegis did the same before taking off her armor. She stripped of the metal before taking off her gambeson and stretching. "Wearing thats a workout on its own." she joked enjoying the weight off of her back.

John and Dixon slammed their heads together and John dealt the finishing blow with a grand slam. With Dixon passing out on the floor.

"John win!" Lyu ordered, looking at Nora and Aegis. "You're up, dont loose in the first hit."

Nora sighed, helping John move Dixon out of the match as he slowly recovered. Nora stepped in the middle with Aegis.

Aegis got into a defensive stance. She wasn't waiting for Nora to make the first move though.

Nora kept her arms loose, using her foot movements to pace herself, as she wore no shoes. Nora got used to the feeling of the ground quickly, she would step forward, fakking out a strike to Aegis's shoulder and slapped her arms, trying to see if she'll break her defenses. Quickly backing up, doing a small skip step back.

Aegis didn't do it but took the opportunity to grab Nora's arms before trying to knee her. Due to her height and reach she could grab on pretty easily.

Nora blocked with her leg and took her stance again, swinging her arm towards Aegis' ace, but lowering it fast enough to strike Aegis in the chest instead. Breaking free as fast as she could.

Aegis took the chest hit without much complaint using the last bit of time she had to headbut Nora on where else the head.

Nora slipped through Aegis's headbutt, throwing her arm down and grabbing her leg. With inside leverage, Nora was now able to throw Aegis over her shoulder. Lyu looked down, proud that Nora was able to hold her own for this long.

As Aegis hit the ground she decided it was time to stop messing around getting up quickly. She faked a punch to Nora's head following with a quick uppercut onto the solar plexus.

Nora let her body move to the side, rearing her elbow into Aegis's Jaw and aiming a right hood straight towards Aegis' dome.

She moved sideways dodging both hits before kicking Nora between the legs.

Nora skipped upwards, dodging the strike then stepping around within that second to swing her leg around and strike her on the head.

Aegis saw her chance stopping the strike and catching the leg before using it to execute a throw.

With a wide palm she would catch herself from the throw and jump off the ground. Almost landing out of the circle. Nora looked at her battered hands and sighed, getting a defensive stance before swiftly getting back into Aegis's face.

This was a bad idea for numerous reasons. Aegis clapped her hands onto Nora's ears knowing that this would stun her for a second then tried to knee her in the gut.

Nora would step back, trying to get her senses straight. All before she was kneed into the chest and gasped for air as she collapsed on the ground. Still breathing, Lyu smiled in admeration.

"Aegis is the winner! Rudolf, help me with Mary. Selene Verses Josaphine is next," Lyu stated. But the matches seemed to go so much faster than expected. With Aegis fighting in two more before being put in the big leagues brackets. The last two fighters standing. Lyusifer Perun facing Aegis Hysminai.

Lyu rolled his shoulders as his arms were scraped up from his beating with Dixon. Despite the hits to the head, he's a calculated fighter.

Aegis had won a few of the fights being fairly bruised on her side due to fighting with Athena. She cracked her knuckles and got into a defensive stance. Even though she was bruised she was still a good fighter.

Lyu took a foot back, with one forward. Rudolf gave off the sound to fight. Lyu broke stance and walked forward, looming over Aegis easily and sent down a single blow, with his arm too loose not to be used as backup to block. Looked like a death trap staying close to him.

Aegis knew this but she also knew that he had longer range then her. Damned if she did damned if she didn't so she decided to do what she was best at and stay in close range. She blocked the hit before moving to the side quickly and elbowing the back of his neck trying to bring him down.

Lyu moved quickly, throwing his elbow up to er face and slumping down to the floor. Circling one time, and aiming to knock Aegis on her ass.

Aegis was knocked down but she recovered almost immediately standing up and then using the ancient Hysminai tactic. Also known as kicking the problem in the shins.

Lyu was able to grab her leg in the air and rush to his feet, aiming to slam Aegis on the floor.

She punched him in the face to disorient him able to free her leg.

Disoriented, Aegis threw himself in hopws to elbow slam Aegis.

She was trying the same thing and the elbow slam hit her not stopping her momentum.

Lyu moved forward, slugging Aegis and keeping up the offense with a volley of short swings.

Aegis kept punching fists a blur but still being worn down a bit.

Lyu kept his arms up and blocked her volley with quick movements of her arms. Turning towards a crouched positioned very slowly, Lyu swung for a uppercut.

She caught the punch and grabbed on to his arm aiming to throw him to the ground again.

Lyu rolled back, then leaped off the palms of his hands to slam straight into Aegis.

She was hit it taking a breath from her before grappling onto his arm trying to slip elbow side so she could slam his face into the ground.

Lyu, in a moment of sober and a drunken state. Wrapped his legs around Aegis' arm and head/neck. Then rolled off the ground to slam her straight into the ground.

She got up, limbs hurting from the slam and grabbed him aiming to slam his face into the ground. However she also revealed a weak spot as she did.

Lyu whipped his free arm around. Slamming his elbow into her chest. Aiming to end this fight so he can go to sleep.

Aegis tried to dodge but was taken aback by the hit. Athena winced knowing how painful it was. Getting back on her feet however Aegis threw a one-two punch aiming to end the fight as quick as possible.

Lyu changed his style mid fight, dodging the movements from Aegis as she could feel the wind around her fist. Almost even seeing into the attack and predicting it. Dodging Aegis's swing and striking her in the chest. Following it up by a quick side step to gain some leverage for a second strike.

This managed to catch her off guard with her getting stunned. Seeing the side step she got ready to dodge.

Lyu had made it all the way to the side of Aegis, and swung once more. This time at her ribs, Lyu's strikes were fast, but weaker than standard attacks. Never the less, packing a punch.

She was ready for the punch and dodged it. Ducking in close she went for an uppercut planning to smash her fist into his throat and hopefully end the fight.

Lyu stood stif, not moving and yet bracing for the stirke. But the bell toll struck. Stopping the fight in a instant.

Nora stood on a horse and laughed a bit. Having the liberty of ringing in the bell today.

"You little shit, you rang that fucker on purpose," Lyu claims.

Aegis burst into laughter as she stopped the punch. That was a nice end to it. “I’ll pay you money if you do that again at the worst possible time.” She yelled to Nora.

Nora smiled bright, with her grin showing her bias towards the interference.

With a grunt, Lyu stood calmly. Adjusting his frame and fixing his shirt and easily throwing his petty coat on. Lyu looked towards Aegis, "Don't encourage her bullshit."

"Oh calm down, the timer went down any way," Nora explained.

"Never the less, we have to leave soon. The Thankarat household, along with most of the strays are leaving as we speak. Let alone that the Eskildsen's are leaving as well," Mary explained, stepping away from the fire-pit and to the fighting.

"I am the bad influence." she joked putting her armor back on.

Athena stepped up. "We have to leave soon as well."

"You're won to talk, look at him," Rudolf remarked, with his daughter in his arms. Elaine would then point at Astro.

"Astro! Go back to the barracks and make sure nobody broke something," Lyu shouts.

Astro looks back, then rushes to his horse. Acceding off into the skys on pillars of blue flames.

"Captain, we best be off ourselves," Rudolf recommends.

Soleil walked out of the house having been looking for Aegis. "There you are. Now lets get back to the barracks shall we?"

Aegis nodded.

"Have a great rest of your day!" Nora shouted. Having their day turn to a end. Rolling back with all the fun they've had. Letting the horses frolic for a minute, all in due time to collect the ruhm, beer wine, and weaponry to leave. Something uncommon was seeing Lyu in a fine suit.

After getting some booze the Armor Division left talking and laughing