Chapter Text
The wind blew slowly, carrying few dead leaves from the garden’s plantations. At one of the garden’s corners, a woman walked, her braided hair waved slightly as her steps brought her to a white table located at the garden’s centre, where a young adolescent sat, completely engrossed by the papers that he brought along with him.
“Mahmut Pasha, here’s some refreshment.” She said to her guest as she put the said refreshments−a pot of coffee and a plate of rod-shaped pretzel−to the remaining space on the table.”What do you think of the reports? Or should I bring more?”
“Ah, I’m sorry Miss Cassandra, I got completely absorbed in the financial reports that I didn’t notice your presence at all.” The young general smiled apologetically as he raised his eyes from the parchments. “Thank you for the offerings, but I think this would be enough for now. Although it may take some time to adjust, but it’s not a hopeless task to integrate Chielo to the Stratocracy’s system.”
Just as Cassandra sat down, Mahmut bit into the pretzel that he had just took.
“Mahmut Pasha, even if they cut off our supply tracks, we will hold up until you’re back. We will fight, remember that.”
Mahmut’s eyes felt hot.
“The harvest went successfully, yes?”
Cassandra’s thin lips formed a ghost of a smile. Mahmut closed his eyes as he leaned back unto the chair, sipping his already lukewarm coffee.
“Good.”
It’s his time to fulfill his part of the promise.