“Urist, the only one here to blame is me. These men and women followed my orders to the letter and only performed worse than I expected. Although I will admit Urist, I held you back for your safety.”

The moment Ubel took a breath, Urist asked, confused.

“My safety? My safety matters not when the people need my help!”

“And can you help when you're dead? No, you can't. How many close encounters with death have you had since I’ve known you? Too many to count. You’re not a champion, a general, or a peerless warrior. You're a king to almost two hundred dwarfs who depend on you to guide them. If you die I don’t have to spell out what would happen. Without a successor to take over, many people would die and even now there is no one to take over your position. The best place for you is to be safe is behind the walls while the army goes and fights the wars.”

Hearing this Urist shook his head, “I understand your reasoning Ubel, but I cannot accept such a thing.”

“Why not when it’s the best thing to do?”

“I am a firm believer in leading by example. I will bleed for my fellow dwarf. I will share the joys and sorrows of those under me. And I will not hide like a coward, like my past life, when I now have the power to make a difference. You will not hold me away from the battlefield and that is final. In fact, I figured out your punishment Ubel."

Seeing his serious face, everyone at the table held their breaths as Ubel readied himself mentally.

“Your punishment is that you will allow me to do battle on the front lines like everyone else and accept it. That is all, now let’s get back to the topic at hand: what you accomplished today.”

Confused, Ubel cut in, “How can that be considered a punishment?”

“I’m the king and since we lack rules my judgment is the law until we get around to setting them up. Now all of you sit down, for we have talks to finish.”

---

Although a tad awkward, the meeting finished with plans being drawn up about training and getting the walls put up by the next event.

Tired, Urist left his people and headed for his room only to see Uria sitting cross-legged on the ground. As he entered, her ear twitched before she turned her face toward his direction. Raising to her feet with confidence, she began walking towards him. 

Surprised, he just stood there as she sidestepped the bed and stood before him. Uria then placed her hands on his face and ran her hands down along his shoulders to his waist before drawing him into a hug.

Urist was choked on words, “H-how? How did you?”

Smirking Uria replied, “Humph, you think a little thing such as losing my sight will hold me back? While you’ve been off doing your thing, I’ve been training hard to learn this ability. I ‘see’ the sounds around me, allowing me to not be a liability anymore.”

“Uria you were never a liability…”

Hearing that, Uria buried her face in his shirt and shook her head furiously.

“Don’t sweet talk me you dummy. You and I both know from our memories that I hated feeling useless, hated relying on others and most of all I hate being cooped up. Now I can be useful once again.”

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Urist felt his heart being stabbed from her words. He lifted his left hand and started combing through her flaming hair, trying to resist the urge to cry, and held onto her tightly, “Uria. I never once thought of you as useless. You are my… my love and I would do anything for you. No matter in health or sickness, life or death, you and I will always be together. Remember this, I will never throw you away.”

“Urist…”

“Uria…”

As the two shared a moment, a figure outside the door clutched their chest as tears stained their cheeks. She tried to reach out with her other hand to touch Urist’s back only for the door to slam in front of her.

Bewildered Urist asked, “Why did you just shut the door Uria?”

“It was getting a bit chilly in here and I wanted to warm the place up. Nothing wrong with that, right?”

Resting his head on hers he mumbled, “Hmm... I do need to eventually install vents and heaters inside the cave. Thanks for reminding me of that, Uria.”

“No problem my love. Thank you for telling me what you truly felt. It has put my heart at ease and I feel like I can sleep at last. Shall we?”

“Lets.”

---

Silently the figure sat in a daze- looking up at the wall, not knowing what to do. They sat there for a while before someone came along. 

“Now, now, didn’t I tell you? Should've made your move faster, but you let them get closer as you stood on the sidelines.”

Huddling into a ball the figure replied, “But, Briana I… I let him get hurt because I wasn’t strong enough. Because of me, everyone hates her. What reason did I have to stand in their way? I thought I could forget about this feeling, but after seeing that... It's just so painful.”

Looking at them Briana sighed, “Man I wish I had a cig or some booze. Listen Uroa, everything is fair in love and war. No one ever got the man if they didn’t fight for it tooth and nail. In fact, as your big sister, I’ll help you out just this once. Luckily since I figured I’d find you here wallowing in despair, I brought a friend. Hey Thar, quit hiding and come on out.”

Out of the shadows, the fidgeting Earth Mage Thar appeared, surprising Uroa. “Eh?”

“Uh, hey there Uroa.”

“Nuff chit chat, I wanna go sleep.” Swaggering over without warning, Briana picked up her friend Uroa and kicked open Urist's door. Placing her shocked friend on the ground, she pointed at the stunned Urist, “Since I don’t wanna pussyfoot around I thought I’d deal with this directly. Boss, I’ll be leaving Uroa in your care till morning. Figure out your feelings by then, Little Sis.”

Without waiting for a reply Briana walked right out and motioned to Thar, “Block the room, we’re done here.”

Thar started sweating under the pressure of Briana, “I know you wanted to help Uroa, but isn’t this… A bit extreme?”

Walking up to Thar, Briana grabbed him by the shirt and raised him into the air, “Listen, you wanted a date with me and I wanted a favor. Now seal the door or your chances with me go up in flames.”

Thar became conflicted. On one hand, he felt like he was betraying his boss, and on the other, this was a chance to score a girlfriend. He immediately made up his mind when Briana kissed him on the cheek. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and the door was sealed with a massive stone.

He silently prayed. 

Boss, I wish for your forgiveness, but I know you would’ve made the same choice if you were in my position!”

…

A brother betrayed me for a girl?! Why... Why does this feel so familiar?

Urist’s thoughts quickly disappeared as he began to sweat. Trapped alone with two girls, one his past lives’ love, and the other a girl who seemed to have feelings for him.

“U-u-um… Urist! I’ve fallen in love with you!”

Scratch that she had fallen for him.

The room temperature instantly raised a few degrees as flames began to flicker along with Uria’s hair.

“Oh? This coward built up a spine after being cornered? Thought you knew your place when you started crying your eyes out in the hallway after we declared our love!”

Trapped in the newly sealed room, Urist mentally shook his fist in rage, If I survive the night, I swear I'll get Thar for this!