Welcome back and enjoy also this may or may not be a short chapter with a few references.

Lilith walked towards the Emperor's Castle with the search party and Mateo who was dragged with chains as the large doors opened as they walked inside getting looks from the coven members as Kikimora walked in front of Lilith. "Lilith, you're early from your search, I don't suppose you have the owl lady with you? she slipped from your grasp again?" Lilith grumbled a bit before responding. "No she wasn't in our search area but I found something or better yet someone who the emperor might find intriguing."

Lilith then pushed the door and lead Mateo in with Kikimora getting the door slammed in front of her. "Just speak when you are allowed," Lilith told Mateo as he nodded while the two then walked closer and stopped. "My lord I have news for you," Lilith said kneeling while looking at the emperor who was tapping his gloved fingers on his throne. "And what news do you have so urgent that you need to see me?" Belos said as Lilith dragged Mateo near her. "A human? I don't suppose the owl lady has something to do with this."

"Yes but he may be an advantage to us, you may speak." Lilith then took away his chains as he stood up and spoke up. "Sir, You may not know me but I am simply a soldier and captain who simply wants to go back to my home and my loved one, I swear to you I'll do anything to go back although someone like you probably won't understand my situation." Belos then placed his hand on his chin thinking about the human's words before coming to a decision.

"I assure you that sooner or later I promise you that you will be brought back to your realm, until then-" He then made a spell circle as a set of clothing landed in his arms along with a gray bird-like mask. "Your current home will be the barracks with Lilith being in charge do I make myself clear?"

Mateo nodded as he and Lilith then left as Kikimora watched them. When they were alone for a bit Lilith then looked at his uniform recognizing the rank.

"He made you- a captain? You better know what you're doing." "I do I've to lead many successful missions except for one... but it's been years since I've been part of something like this" He confessed to her as Lilith held him while slowly whispering a few words to him.

"Troops are waiting in the field for you, If you join us right now, together we can turn the Tide, I have soldiers that will yield for you."

Lilith told him before leading him to the barracks waking up a few guards and scouts who then quickly got up and saluted.

"Gentlemen and women... met your new captain considering that your old one quit leading you after a week, now I'm sure that he won't fail you." Lilith then left Mateo with the troops before whispering ("Good luck.") to him as he looked at the soldiers who were rubbing their shoulders and necks.

"Now line up and provide me your names." He ordered them as it was evenly split between three men and women (Reid, Steve, Irvin, Ava, Jocosa, and Royse) as Steve then said "To think we have another chance of glory and to impress our new captain!" The rest then nodded in agreement as Mateo then held his arm on Steve's shoulder. "You know nothing about it the sacrifices and loss to reach the praise of glory and reputation unlike me..." Mateo said as he then looked at them before saying a few words.

"I was younger than you are now."

He then remembered himself at the age of seventeen signing up for the military before continuing.

"When I was given my first command."

At the age of twenty-five when he was given the promotion of Captian and his own platoon to lead and first and worst mission ever.

"I lead my men straight into a massacre, I witnessed their deaths firsthand."

Soon he stood next to a pile of scattered bodies in the sand his face covered in their blood.

"I made every mistake and felt the shame rise in me."

Years later he came back home.

"And even know I lie awake, knowing history has its eyes on me, History has its eyes on me."

He soon woke up in the middle of the night after remembering the trauma and it wouldn't go away even after many therapies and talking about it, and he then came back into reality putting his arms on steve like a parent telling something to their child.

"Let me tell you what I wished I know when I was young and dreamed of glory, You have no control. Who lives? Who dies? Who tells your story?"

He then looked at a map on the table that was left by the last captain as he examined the battle plans and changed them a bit before hanging it on the wall before looking at his troops.

"I know that we can win, I know that greatness lies in you. But remember from here on in, History has its eyes on you."

Mateo then left them to their sleep before saying "History has its eyes on you." closing the door and later Lilith walked in and saw the newly made battle plan as she took it before calling all the coven captains for a meeting to discuss it. "And of course all credit to our newest captain." She said as the rest of them clapped for Mateo who then bowed as Lilith told all of the captains

"If we manage to get this right, they'll surrender by early light! Our world will never be the same!"

She said before stabbing the target on the map with a dagger.

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