“Good day, General Lepidas!”
Lepidas was the Vice General of the Rethavok, one below the High General. But Lepidas’s role was always mostly ceremonial. They only really did the small, traditional or fun things that the High General was too busy to do. While previous Vice Generals had always grumbled about this role, Lepidas never minded. They were a much older Rethan, in their late 150s, and Lepidas was well aware that they only got the position of Vice General because Rethais’s election campaign managers suggested they pick someone old that older Rethans would relate to more. That didn’t bother Lepidas at all, because now they lived a cushy life, mostly relaxing while sending off their also rather old soldiers of the 389th Legion to do whatever Lepidas was too lazy to do in person.
Considering the 389th Legion was a former territorial legion that protected the major city of Vretania, Lepidas considered their new job to be both an upgrade and a worthy retirement.
“Good day, General Rethais!” Lepidas smiled from their comfy chair, in their comfy office. They glanced out of the window, then turned to face the High General. “Do you have another charity event that you do not have time to deal with?”
Rethais shook their head. “I know you enjoy the charity events, but this is a little more important than that. I assume the Below Twenties briefed you on my… argument with Prime Minister Panos?”
“Mhm. I would say that I am surprised you did not attack the Torr Prime Minister right away, but I know you have some incredible restraint.”
“Well, not that much restraint…” Rethais grunted. “After all, I accepted Panos’s challenge to fight him. And I am arranging a trip to Portalia, to the Great Arenas, to get some training in before we do actually fight.”
“Still, that is more restraint than us older Rethans have. I would have grabbed Panos by the throat then and there. I am admittedly past my prime though.”
Rethais shrugged. “You are older now. But honestly, I am glad that you feel the same way I do. I have been wondering how Photis would have reacted had they been the target of Panos’s rambling, but Panos liked Photis because Photis did as they were told.”
“You are very much correct there, High General!” Lepidas smiled some more. They may have been from an older generation, but Lepidas wasn’t stupid, they knew that Photis had been spiralling in their later years and that change was needed. And they were happy that Rethais had been providing said change, and at not too fast a pace either. “Still, you have not explained why you are here.”
Rethais took a deep breath. “I… I want to make sure that you are prepared.”
“Prepared for what? Wait…” Lepidas’s smile faded. “You may require me to take over?”
“I would rather be safe than sorry. I do not think I will have problems with Panos or my trip to Portalia. But I am travelling during the busiest time of the year, I am doing so suddenly AND I am going to be fighting a Torr in an arena in front of many beings and on live television. And I will potentially be doing so with just my own hands, teeth and claws. There is definitely risk here, the biggest being that my fight against Panos goes poorly and I am incapacitated in some way. So, just in case something bad happens, I need you to be up and ready to lead.”
“Hm… I see…”
“Do you have a problem with that?”
“No, no, not at all. I do not think we will have any problems. I just need you to be ready and to pick someone to fill in your own gap should you end up being High General for more than a week.”
Lepidas immediately went back to smiling. “Oh, do not fret, Rethais. I have had someone picked out ever since the first time someone tried to assassinate you. I admittedly have had to change that pick a handful of times, but now I have a nice, young General I think I can rely on to be Vice General, should I ever have to take your place.”
“And who would that be?”
“Your darling little sibling. Relkir convinced me to accept the nomination to be your Vice General candidate before you were elected. They are an insanely smart cookie, I think having them as my emergency pick would be the safest and wisest move…” Lepidas paused briefly, then smiled some more. “Are you going to run for a second term? You only have three years left in power.”
“I am, yes.”
“And will I remain as your Vice General?”
“If you wish to do so, yes. I leave that choice in your hands.”
“And… after your second term?”
Rethais eyed Lepidas. “What do you mean? I will run for a second term. If I win, I will do that second term, if not, I will retire and return to my duties as a territorial protection manager or something. Do you wish to be my successor after my second term, should I win?”
Lepidas shook their head. “No, not at all. In fact, I think you should have Relkir be your successor. They are, after all, one of the smartest Rethans alive. Or, at the very least, they have the broadest amount of knowledge.”
“Hmph…” Rethais grunted. “That is a far too distant scenario for me to consider. And not something I think Relkir would like.”
“A shame. Relkir is a smart cookie. And, finally, a happy cookie too… Either way, General Rethais, I am prepared to do whatever you need me to do. I very much do think you will not have any problems though. And I do hope that you give Panos the beating he deserves.”
Rethais smiled a little. “I appreciate that. And I thank you for your service, Lepidas.”
“Not a problem, I am just doing my duty. Stay safe, High General.”
“You too, Vice General…”