"Of course. Please, do as you wish! I'll have the townsfolk clear out a few houses for you. They won't be enough to quarter the whole army, but they'll do for the lords!" Mayor Golden Egg said softly, pressing a hand to his chest.
"Sorry to trouble you, elder!" Roland nodded and watched Mayor Golden Egg leave.
"So many years have passed! He's grown old too!" Roland said with a sigh.
"Yeah. When I saw him back then, he was still hale and hearty. Now his hair's gone completely white!" Caslo nodded, sighing along with Roland.
"You've been with me for so long. It's been hard on you! Thirteen years... and you're still by my side just like the first time we met!" Roland patted Caslo on the shoulder. This man was the true founding veteran of the kingdom! Employee badge number 001! The harshest father the Orcs had ever known!
"You flatter me! This is my duty and my obligation! It is my honor to have met you!" Caslo shook his head. Being chosen for the Kindling Plan meant dedicating his loyalty and the rest of his life to the empire. The scale of time had long since lost all meaning!
"When we go back this time, get some proper rest! I don't want to fight anymore... I'm tired!" Roland gazed up at the starry sky, and for no reason, a trace of weariness and fear flashed through his heart. He had grown afraid of war. He feared that war would destroy his kingdom and his life.
"That doesn't sound like you, Your Majesty!" Caslo said with a soft laugh, resting a hand on his sword hilt.
"Shouldn't you be shouting kill, kill, kill, then jumping up to chop all those Orcs, Eastern Yi, and Nazgûl to death?"