33 The Stupid and the Talentless (1/2)
”Solon or Ledega?” Jop suddenly asked
”What?” Elisar turned. What stupid things is he talking about this time?
”Where do you want to live after you retire?” Jop then sighed and looked at the stars with a smile ”Twelve more years and we can already retire”
”Retire?” Elisar scoffed and shook his head ”We are at war and you think about retirement? Think about surviving those twelve years first.”
”It's not like we are going to lose. We have Prince Timothy so we won't lose.”
Elisar also felt safe with the presence of the prince. The Rooster Prince was smart. Even if they were put into a difficult situation, he would think of a way. But winning and surviving were two different things. For lowly soldiers like them, survival in times of war was like distant dream.
”Winning is not the same with survival. We won our last battle but many of our brothers died” Elisar said
”Oh come on!” Jop led his horse closer to Elisar. He then wrapped his one arm around Elisar's neck and grinned ”Can't you be a little optimistic? You'll grow old faster if you think like that”
”First of all, I survived all these years because I think like this. Second” he pushed Jop's arm away from his neck ”Get your hands off me. I almost fell off my horse you bastard”
Jop laughed. ”But you didn't and you won't. I did that to you dozens of times already but you did not fall even once”
”Another way of saying that is you tried to kill me dozens of times already but failed everytime”
”Why would I try to kill you? You are my best friend” he grinned and offered his knuckle to Elisar. ”Come on brother, don't keep me hanging”
In response, Elisar just rolled his eyes. ”No” he said firmly
”Why?”
”Because it's stupid”
”It's not stupid. This is how best friends declare their friendship” Jop defended ”Come on El. My arm is getting tired”
Jop was actually his best friend, if his definition of a best friend was correct. They grew up together in a village near Solon and even became hired blades at one point in their lives. When they decided that they had enough of the underworld, they both joined the army. The two of them practically spent their whole lives together so Jop was the closest person to him. But Elisar can't admit this to Jop.
”Even if your arm falls off your body, I would never” Elisar declared firmly. He finds the gesture awkward. Jop actually copied the gesture from Prince Timothy himself. One day he saw Prince Timothy and Erik hit their knuckles as a sign of friendship. Ever since that day, Jop had always pestered him about bumping their fists together.
Jop retracted his fist and chuckled ”You never change El. By the way, who's the beneficiary for your pension? Being so pessimistic, I believe you already planned whom to give your money in case you die. Your family are all dead so it must be one of the brothers right?”
Elisar turned away from Jop. ”Wh..why should I tell you” he stuttered
”I'm just curious. Come on tell me.” Jop urged
”I told the centurion to divide the money equally among the century. In case I die, buy some drinks”
”Really?” Jop's eyes went wide ”That must be the reason why you always think I'm trying to kill you whenever I grab onto your neck on horseback” he jested
”Many people died by falling from their horse so I'm not actually wrong” Elisar reasoned ”And can you be a little more serious about this? Prince Timothy gave us an important mission so we should not mess around”
”I'm not messing around. I was just trying to calm you. You were so nervous earlier” Jop grinned