“Militaries were so fond of parading themselves on triumphant returns for a few reasons, mostly. For one, it gave the common soldier the chance to bask in the adoration of the crowd, which might include their family, friends, and loved ones, which meant a long-term boost to their morale and improved the chance of them volunteering should there be a next time.

On the flipside, it also showed to the populace that stayed home that the military was strong and capable of protecting them. The festivities that generally followed also helped milden the losses that some of those people would inadvertently take, making them feel that the spouse, parent, sibling, or children never coming back laid their lives for a good reason.

In many ways, such parades and the related celebrations were great tools for morale and propaganda.” - Publius Cornelius Barca, circa 52 FP.

Roughly a week and a half after the battle of Aldenstadt, the half of the Free Lances that went there returned together to Levain with half of the militia that had been sent as reinforcements for the defenders there, the remaining five thousand militia stationed in the city as a garrison. Those militiamen would be rotated out in batches of a thousand men every month or so from then on, so as not to disrupt their scheduled training too much.

The citizens of Levain – or at least, a notable portion of them – had lined up on the sides of the eastern main road to welcome the triumphant defenders, wildly cheering and showering them with adoration as they arrived. Councilors Estelle and Bernd Adenauer led the return parade, since Reinhardt claimed that since they already paid him, they can have all the glory, while he’ll be happy with the money.

Not that the mercenaries could avoid attention even though they gave the most prominent positions to their employers, though, since Mischka’s platoon was amongst them and it was hard to not notice the group of massive folks that made up her platoon, especially since therians of large breeds tend to leave the former Empire for Boroes to the east instead since the conflict started.

“Getting cheered on just doesn’t get old,” mentioned the therian matron to Reinhardt even while she waved back at some young children who were pointing excitedly towards her.

“It’d help the amateurs gather more courage for when the next time war comes calling, yeah,” noted Reinhardt dryly. When he was a younger lad, he too was quite emotional about being part of such parades. Decades of living as a mercenary had mostly inured him to such feelings though. “I’m just glad that we work with people who understand that coins are the best way to motivate mercenaries like us instead of parades and awards.”

“Still a good experience for the youngsters, though. They haven’t been so far jaded to not have their spirit buoyed from stuff like this,” replied Mischka with a chuckle as she looked towards the side where several of her grandchildren were marching proudly as part of Erycea’s platoon. “I think you agree with me on that, considering that you placed them right on the side where they can get into close contact with the populace.”

“It’s not a bad thing to experience,” admitted Reinhardt with a slight smile of his own. The fact that his two daughters both decided to join the family business was a point of pride and a cause for worry to him, all at the same time, for rather obvious reasons.

He had given Erycea notably more duties and responsibilities than most newcomers to the company, as it was more common to have the newcomers dispersed amongst the various platoons instead of leading a platoon on their own like she did, barring exceptional circumstances like with the warforged. As such, his giving Erycea a command that early was both a test and an opportunity for the girl.

The girl had risen up to the challenge and performed splendidly at that.

Given how the Free Lances had always been a family business, chances were very high that when Reinhardt retired – or fell in battle, always a possibility in their line of work – one day Erycea would be the next to take up the mantle, and as such he did what he could to help prepare the girl for such an eventuality. Of course, he hoped that it would only come to be when he retired peacefully in his old age rather than in the manner in which he inherited the company from his late aunt.

Still, while Erycea had performed in exemplary ways so far, as her father, he couldn’t help but be somewhat worried for the girl. It was a worry that would soon compound itself too, as Alycea would be of age as well later in the year and would likely follow her big sister’s footsteps and join the company along with her group of friends. He knew that some of them were already eligible to join but chose to wait until Alycea joined before doing so themselves.

If there was a silver lining to his worries, it was that the two sisters had an excellent relationship, despite how Alycea was adopted. If anything, Erycea could be a little too protective of her little sister at times, the relationship between the two always a harmonious one. Alycea had even expressed her desire to help Erycea out in any way she could when the latter became the captain of the company later on.

The parade continued until the procession reached the city’s main square, at which point they started to disperse and went their separate ways. The councilors and the militia commanders along with Reinhardt and his lieutenants went to the city council to make their report, while the militia left for their barracks, and the mercenaries returned to their own compound outside the town.

During the council meeting where they gave their reports of the battle that took place in Aldenstadt – and its unexpectedly speedy conclusion – Reinhardt mostly spent his time taking note of the few councilors who did not seem too pleased with the news. He mentally noted their faces and names and matched them with the list he was given discreetly by Bernd, and to no surprise, found that they were all part of the list.

Even while the scribes and militia commanders droned on and made a detailed report of the situation, as well as during the debate the council had over their worries about their eastern neighbor, the Podovniy March, Reinhardt mostly thought up ways on how to keep his company’s work in training up the locals going smoothly, while keeping an ear out for any potential angles he could use to take down one of those councilors in the list.