He was taciturn, cold, and efficient. Jensen Vernicus passed through the streets of Welton with a bloodhound in tow, sniffing at the ground from the front with the second most powerful vampire from Wisperium behind it. Unlike General Drake, he didn't possess any familiars; he was a combat class through and through. His powers were more applicable than the beastmaster's own in some instances. They had considered his cooperation during the adamantium shortage, but he had firmly stated it was outside of his duties and obligations. Welton's Furnace had no shortage of enemies to deal with, and taking Jensen to deal with an unusual Ego Beast without a real plan would only spread their forces thin and make them vulnerable.

An older dwarf noticed the man clad in black stomping through the city with a clenched jaw. He had a receding hairline and a simple tunic without any sleeves. Although he was old, there was still some considerable mass on his arms; proof of a lifetime of hard labor. The vertically-challenged elder had hopped off his seat from behind the counter and jogged lightly towards the vampire, calling out to him.

"Jensen! Jensen! Long time no see, where the hell have you been, mate?!"

The soldier turned his head and looked at the dwarf. His eyes softened a tad bit, releasing some of the tension he held in his shoulders. He had been a towering presence and often mistaken for the leader of the Wisperium forces due to his stature and domineering presence. Working hard behind the scenes, many would agree he was the backbone of the army. His record as a soldier was impressive, despite being stationed at Welton's Furnace and making the bulk of his career within the kingdom walls.

"Busy with the oncoming invasion, Gavin. I have been patrolling almost twelve hours a day. I cannot meet at the tavern until the issue is resolved."

His voice held a tinge of tiredness. A regular man would've died from the burden placed on his body, but it wasn't much to the war-hardened veteran. He had foregone sleep to fulfill his duties on top of the added patrols he did with the units, knowing that the possibility of spies roaming the city was high.

"Ah, damn it all to hell. You look like you haven't slept in years! Your mug's getting more intimidating; even my daughter's scared of ye'!"

Gavin's daughter was hiding behind the shop counter, inside of a smaller building placed in between two restaurants. Upon seeing the soldier's gaze on her, she flinched and slipped her wide head under the counter. He shook his head and ran back in, telling his wife and child to handle the store. Grabbing two bottles off the shelf, he went back outside and followed along with the vampire and his bloodhound. Gavin exerted himself to keep up with the others, going at a brisk walking pace even with Jensen slowing his stride substantially out of consideration.

"Take this, it'll wake you right up. It's a new blend from the Church, got these in stock today."

Sipping the room-temperature liquid, Jensen was pleasantly surprised by the very aromatic drink. It had many flavors, far too complex to describe one by one, but the primary ones were nutty and bitter. As he consumed more of the drink, the more his fatigue faded and his senses sharper. It gave him a slight, energetic buzz after he downed the small consumable in one go.

You have taken Highland Infused Espresso. All effects of exhaustion and stamina depletion will be reduced for five hours.

"...Thanks."

"No worries, friend. Apparently, the herbs are also good for virility. Has General Drake-?"

A large hand clasped the dwarf's mouth firmly. The vampire looked around to make sure nobody heard, before putting a finger to his lips and glaring embarrassedly at the grinning elder.

"You absolute pillock! You still haven't confessed?"

Jensen massaged his temples, refusing the urge to slam the flat side of his ax down on Gavin's head. He repeated a mantra in his head, consisting roughly of the punishment he'd get for assaulting a citizen of Welton's Furnace. He tried to find the words, an excuse that would satisfy the annoying dwarf who intruded upon his private life.

"I-We've both been busy, and I haven't found the right time to do so."

"Don't bullshit me, Jensen. I've known you for years. What's holding you back? You even showed me the gift you were gonna give her! You had a whole thing planned out! What the hell happened?"

The hardened soldier who had bravely defended the dwarven kingdom for a decade from all kinds of threats was blushing as Gavin told more and more explicit details about his plan of 'wooing' Natalia Drake. The bloodhound, which had stopped sniffing, tilted its head at the pale vampire who stopped walking altogether.

"Shut up. Please."

Lieutenant General Jensen had been completely silent about his passion for his military superior. During the draft for who would be selected to go to Welton's Furnace, the man had volunteered and proved himself to be a capable soldier that rose through the ranks as her right-hand man. Many speculated and asked the vampire why he was so diligent and dedicated to his duties, but none of their answers or theories were concrete. It wasn't until Gavin had picked up a piece of parchment that had fallen from the tall man's pocket years ago, which consisted of a love poem (he never delivered) detailing how he had been pining for her attention all this time.

'I've always been scared of you, but knowing you've got problems like this...I'll help you! Surely!' Gavin's voice resonated in his head, and the sheer embarrassment he felt from that moment was beginning to return. The man had always commented on the contrast between his cold demeanor and bashfulness when it came to General Drake.

Since then, the dwarf had become an unwelcome ally in Jensen's quest for love.

"I'm serious, mate. I know you lot live longer than us, but life's not guaranteed. Especially in a career like yours."

Jensen remained silent, knowing that the dwarf had a point. He had always made excuses for himself, unwilling to follow through with the next step, fearing the complications that arose with it. The possibility of rejection always consumed him, knowing that their relationship would become strained if she rejects him. It wasn't as though he could leave his post, after all. He had perfected his professional mask when interacting with the vampiress, unwilling to let a hint of his secret out to anybody besides Gavin.

"I'll get to it soon. Honestly; we have a war on our hands, and this is what you're worried about?"

"Hey mate, this is the more urgent problem by far. Why are you so scared, anyway? You're good-looking and tall, and you've known each other for years! Surely she'd want you as well."

"It's not that simple. You know that." Jensen said, walking once more. He hoped that the speed he went would be enough to make the dwarf give up, but Gavin only walked faster to compensate.

"Sometimes it is. You're making it too complicated. Life's too gritty to spend it without someone you love."

Jensen was clearly uncomfortable with the topic, but he relented and promised the man he'd do it soon. It wasn't much, but a promise from the Lieutenant General was extremely valuable. Willingly or not, whenever the man-made a promise, he tended to deliver. It was a trait Gavin valued in him.

"I...have obligations to attend to. Excuse me."

"Wh-You cowardly little rat! This isn't the end of this, you hear me?" Gavin yelled out as the speedy vampire walked off at a rapid pace. The dwarf sighed, going back to the shop with an empty bottle of coffee.

Trudging past the commercial area of the kingdom, he noticed a familiar visitor standing by the entryway spending time with his daughter. Jet-black hair and pale-white skin, given traits of the vampire species. With leather-bound armor hugging her curvaceous figure, Natalia Drake nodded her head and acknowledged the older dwarf with a small smile.

"The young lass has grown, I suppose it's about time I take her with me to get some real combat experience. Right, Gavin?"

"I'd rather lose an eyeball than have my daughter enter the forces! She'll be a proper lady and that's final!" The dwarf put his hands on his hips as the leader of Wisperium's forces tickled his daughter.

The little girl, who looked to be no more than four years old, turned to her father with a carefree smile.

"Dada! I want to be a swordy girl!"

His face made Natalia burst out into laughter. Her voice was pleasant to hear, smooth and velvety. She wiped a tear from her eye and patted the toddler on the head.

"Looks like you're gonna have a tough time making her follow your vision." The vampiress said, rising to her full height and continuing to smile. "Any news about Jensen?"

Gavin shook his head. "Still being a yellow-bellied bastard, that he is. Said that he'll wait until after the invasion. Why don't you make the first move, Natalia? You already know he likes you."

"Of course, I know. Every time he bows his head or thinks I'm not looking, he'll stare at these." She put her hands on her breasts and gave them a little slap. Gavin averted his eyes, seeing his wife at the door with a raised brow. "Jensen thinks he's so slick."

The elder dwarf sighed. He had wanted to tell his good friend that General Drake had been aware of his infatuation with her for some time, but he had been threatened with castration if the information got out. Knowing the female beastmaster's reputation, he was sure she'd follow up on it.

Resigning himself to secrecy, he enjoyed the silent game that the two played with each other, doing his best to move things along. Gavin had never enjoyed slow-burn romance novels like his wife, after all.

"Well, you better shape up before another gal gets a hold of him." He said off-handedly. The man had seen many adventurers throughout the years, both male and female, ogle the stone-faced vampire openly. He had long left behind any feelings of jealousy about vampire beauty, knowing that it was usually more trouble than what it was worth.

She closed her eyes and smiled, but there was a hint of frost in her voice as she responded to Gavin.

"There's no need for that. I've made sure nobody else could even try."

Gavin shivered. He hoped that Jensen would be able to handle the psychotic beastmaster and her possessive tendencies. Natalia kept most of her thoughts to himself, and although she never explicitly stated it, the elder dwarf was certain she returned his feelings as well. Gavin hoped that the tense situation in Welton would blow over soon, both for his sake and theirs. Giving the man a short farewell, Natalia left to return to her patrols.

The massive black feline, Archie, was sitting patiently several blocks away, toying with the children and knocking them over softly with his paws. They giggled and laughed, enjoying the panther's company. It reared its head and was beckoned forward by his master, letting her hop atop its back. Natalia's brows furrowed slightly as she thought ba

'Whoever these invading bastards are, they're going to pay for delaying Jensen's confession.'