Their night of passion, unsurprisingly, blossomed into a relationship unlike any other that Theokritos could imagine possible. The Martell dynasty had been a way to escape his failures, yet Euria opened him up to a better world. One full of possibilities that only an adventurer could dream of.

It was no surprise that his first true experience of love dragged him into a lust-filled spiral of romance and pleasure; every night after his shift, he didn't return to the barracks but to Euria's home. After a month or two plenty of the older households spoke about how their "local hero" in the guard had gone tumbling with the lonely girl. It was hard to refute it when the two announced their marriage at the first sign of her stomach growing with a child. The Captain defended Theokritos thanks to his focus on saving civilians, albeit not without some judging elbows and occasional jabs about how he "saddled the horse before the bridle was on".

By the end of the year, however, things had begun to improve despite the judging gazes of village elders. Their first son had been born and kept the young couple on their toes. Euria had chosen Blasius after an uncle who had been slain in a war when she was young, hoping he may inherit his strength. His head of brown hair and green eyes marked him as their lovechild without fail; Euria's intense eyes were a far better trait than his. Neither of his parents would see him grow up but it was perhaps better their children didn't have grandparents like his; neither Aggerosk nor Morialis blood would have a chance to taint his child with their views on genetic superiority. If he had any say in it, none among the Martell would forsake another for merely lacking the talent they had. Beyond their household, only outsiders would judge them.

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"Blasius is two years old or so now, isn't he?"

Diaras sat beside Theokritos stroking his short beard; a proper goatee that was equally thick with slightly grown mustache lengths to distinguish him somewhat. Comparing the two of them after these few years reminded Theokritos that the man was from different stock entirely. The man's wife had pumped out twins boys and a daughter in the span that he and Euria had only had one child. However, there was good reason for that: unlike the rich boy and his damn near trophy woman, Diaras had funds and home to settle into. Both of them were happily nesting while Theokritos worked his ass off to buy supplies and pay some other guards to join in on repairing their home.

"A little short," Theokritos started. "He was born only two months after we finished the final room's repair. We barely had enough time to get a crib."

Diaras chuckles and lets his hand fall into his lap. "Oh yeah, I forgot. That was the one you paid me to help out on, right?"

"Enough chatter. We're on guard duty."

Theokritos squeezed his spear's shaft, looking at the passing crowd. Burolo had been quite the busy location to be for the last few months; not only did the word about the raid get out aid in other nearby locations sending aid, but refugees who had escaped were finally returning. Construction efforts had been steady and the guard's bolstering of young blood opted for many morale-driven hands to back it up. The elder - now the mayor - and the captain's guidance had also seen many of the recruits find new jobs.

Of course, it was no surprise to anyone that he remained with the Guard. Many of the elders were upset that Diaras hadn't retired to a better profession given his background and promise, but none of them realized that the two were partners. However, after equal years of service, he hadn't truly been promoted whilst Diaras was now an Elite Guardsman. Comparing the ranks, the pay was better and the gear, too.

Diaras pushed his tall stool aside and stood up, resting his hand on his sword and tapping his buckler against a simplistic bronze cap-helm. "You know, if it wasn't for the dirty looks the elders gave then you might be a bit better off, too. Maybe that spear of yours isn't too bad, though, since it still has reach?"

"Shut up," Theokritos grumbled. He lifted and shoved Diaras' spear - that he had been holding onto for the lazy lout - back into the man's grip. "Today, our patrols are checking out the square. Maybe the two of us can find a good gift for our kids."

"Ever the heroic father," Diaras laughed, taking his weapon and tapping it against the ground.

But Theokritos knew the appropriate way to dash Diaras' energy; he bumped his spear against the man's heel, then rested it in along the top of his shoulder against his neck. "Ever the only father doing his part. Now stuff it and stow it for winter."

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The pair reached the town square and definitively reminded Theokritos of just how far Burolo had come in the short time since its tragedy. Among the returning refugees, many of the younger ones had brought back wives or husbands with promise looking to bring new wealth into the town. Its position in the world may have been fairly remote but other races and the frontier could handily make Burolo the shining gem of the empire's fringe borders.

Yet centermost in the town square was the recently started tower; a stone fortification that had only so far erected its first floor of stone base. Scaffolding and future expansion had already been started but this would become a stronghold in the future for the town to retreat to. A place that couldn't be burned out or smoked out, forcing attackers to besiege whoever was able to reach it and its stores. An Empire Engineer by the name of Orvas Korinst had come here to construct it, reminding and erecting flags that bore the gold and black of their nation's flag.

Among nations, few could hardly turn a blind eye to the Kalgalar Empire's far-reaching borders. But many ignored the issues of just how unprotected the eastern frontier was; the heartlands and west were in contact with human civilization and required more moderate defenses, yet the frontier's reaches were merely a place to send lesser nobles and heroes to contend with those of the more magical persuasion. Engineers were seldom to ever appear in places such as this but Orvas' reassignment and the influx of wealth from young merchants meant that this place would one day, potentially, rival the might of the west. Blue and gold marked their alignment to the Empire but one day may yet represent a mighty Household at the head of the city. More than likely, it'd be the Mayor or a lucky House that elevated their dynasty who were able to get the prized chance at nobility.

"Theokritos," Diaras interrupted him from his contemplation, elbowing him. The guardsman swayed his gloved hand outward. "Look there."

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Mm?"

The pair took a moment to direct his attention but eventually, Theo saw it; Orvas and Theben standing atop the fortification, the guardsman adorning a set similar to Diaras. The Captain's new armor was far more encompassing; a proper cuirass of iron with matching faulds. He wore the same boots but had chainmail pants.

"I heard Theben was knighted for her service to the Empire," Diaras grumbled. "The old man is handing out bronze while toting metal... that stuff is rare enough, we normally only get weapons forged from it."

"Euria said that iron is going to be more commonplace in the future; something to do with a mine opening over at Lorbus."

Theokritos wondered how much gossip reached his wife's ears given she was normally focused on their child. But Diaras didn't let him dwell.

"Doesn't matter. My mother says that there'd need to be a lot more iron near here to even remotely drive the price down."

"If you say so," Theokritos replied.

"I know so, Theo." Diaras ran his buckler hand through his beard, gesturing the guardsman to follow along. "For now, let's ignore them. Let's go check in on your lady and that little Blasius. My wife should be over there by now."

Theo was into the idea but didn't let him off that easily; he reached up and slapped the back of Diaras' helmet. "We're just about done, so it's fine. But you need to stop stroking that beard or you'll end up like Ronias."

Diaras shot him a glare but merely waved the comment off. Everyone knew how common it was for the mayor to stroke his beard so it was undeniable just how common the pair were when both were focused on self-grooming. It was perhaps thankful that Theokritos hadn't grown a beard. His own facial hair hadn't really ever grown well, so he kept his face shaved most of the way thanks to Euria's careful skills with a knife. The more he thought about it, her aid was quintessential to maintaining everything that had come about. She cared for Blasius during the day or rare night shifts, she cared for the home, and she cared for him.

Of all things, he felt and knew just how astoundingly lucky he was.

So he stopped, slowing down and looking back at the nearby stalls.

"... You go on ahead, Diaras; I need to buy a gift. I just saw something that'd be a perfect way to make your family jealous."

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Their homestead undeniably had grown more than merely repairing the home, of course. The main building comprised of the main room, where both he and Euria slept at night and where they kept guests, and Blasius' room. Of course, he had been sleeping alone until the last few months when Blasius became strong enough to not worry over.

But after they had got the main house repaired, their little stead had changed quite a bit. The fields that her parents had owned were too big to work between them, so they were renting two of the plots to their neighbors. The remaining two plots were flattened and converted for building space. A simple two-board crossing wood fence encircled it and ran out to the road, highlighting the non-farming territory whilst allowing their neighbors to easily see beyond. It was a security measure rather than one of privacy that may alienate neighbors. A much more simple stake fence was put down around the graves of her family, where they had allowed grass to regrow.

The roadside plot had been the site of a new well. Diaras and Theokritos had dug it and asked the elders to help section it off and keep it safe from contamination. Due to their reputation, it was mostly for personal use, but their relationship with Diaras' family ensured that plenty of Artiosi siblings dropped in. A lot of people joked about how in the future their families might end up wed... but few of them realized just how often Diaras' siblings bumped heads with Theokritos for dropping the bucket down the well. Regardless of how close they were, letting the whole Artiosi household show up would drive him up a wall.

But it was the other plot they had flattened that bore the most use for the small family. Their first two winters had kept them on their toes and eventually forced Theo and his wife to ferry their son over to neighbors for a week until he could buy more firewood. This year, they had proper storage space to keep a steady supply for the entire winter. Euria had made a few training dummies to let off stress and guide him on some strike practices, yet they merely lined one of the fences. Near the fenced-off graves and almost central within the small fenced area were two log-raised tables with smoothed stone seats.

And with Diaras' wife and three kids here, it was a fully-occupied seating arrangement for at least one of them. Diaras unhooked his breastplate and set it on the table, sitting beside his wife. Unlike Diaras who had impressive facial hair in his twenties and was the most impressive man you might meet, she was petite. The only two things big about her were her hips and chest, making her shortness seem almost like a dwarf's compared to her husband.

"Iulia," the oaf called. "How are Dobe and Kabe treating you today?"

The small-framed woman approached and grabbed him by the ear, carrying a wide basket with the twins with their daughter hanging on a sling. As tiny as she may be compared to him, the pair were farmers and kept busy well enough that she had impressive strength.

"Better than little Flori."

Euria laughed, reaching over and taking the basket. She set it down beside the table and next to Blasius' more personal basket; the pair could crawl and move around like most two-year-olds, but they were plump fat ones thanks to how decent their parents' income was. Comparing Blasius - who was healthily chubby for his age - highlighted that his genetics were more in-line with Euria's than Theokritos' families. Their son had already found his way to a stick more than once or twice trying to imitate his old man or mother during their training.

"You know," she started, settling onto one of the rocks and turning her attention to the trio of boys. "Give her a few years and I could turn that daughter of yours into an adventurer like I was."

Iulia didn't enjoy the comment but Diaras put on his troublesome smile. "Aren't you the one who got beat and sent packing?"

Theokritos had seen the two spark off drama more than enough; their wives might have got along but the bad blood between their parents had kept Diaras and Euria at odds. The guardsman settled his spear down, reaching behind him into his smaller satchel.

"Ignore him, Euria; I have something I picked up I want to show you."

The ex-adventurer's curiosity snagged the better of her and she ignored him, looking over at her husband with a raised brow.

"Oh? Did you pick something up at the market today?"

"Yes." Theokritos pulled it out of his satchel, bringing the purchase out with a smirk. "Diaras told me I was a fool, but I know better than anyone when folks need a gift."

Many might assume he got a gift for his hardworking wife; a dagger similar to his own to remind her of the old days, a necklace to celebrate their anniversary which would be around now, or maybe a fertility bracelet that might encourage her to think about that next child. But others might think he'd focus on their child; a simple gift or suggestive item to guide Blasius down a proper occupation path. Yet even further, one might suspect him to have purchased something for their standing or to better serve the town. Every little bit might finally earn him that promotion... before he gets too much older. Getting promoted in the guard always came from either commitment in direct service and duty or from purchasing things that might bestow confidence. Diaras' wealth had been a key factor in trusting him with additional training with short swords and armor, yet someone like Theokritos didn't radiate the perfect semblance of financially safe. They had barely made it through their last two winters and had only got on their feet this year. This gift was his first attempt at using their stable footing to get ahead of the curve... in one way or another.