Chapter 343: Harvey and Sophia
A long, long time ago, the Canine Mountains were lush and green.
They were covered with verdant vegetation, home to many animals and magical beasts.
However, as the Death Domain spread outward, the Canine Mountains gradually turned desolate.
Eventually, even Tarafa City was engulfed by the Death Domain.
Only the magical barrier prevented the city from succumbing to the Death Domain's corruption.
"Harvey, when do you think Tarafa City will see the sun again?"
Tarafa City had towering walls nearly fifty meters high.
Yet, such walls still failed to provide full protection for the city.
Under the relentless assaults of the Undead Nation's army,
The walls had been repaired time and time again.
On the side of the wall facing the valley, a graceful figure stood.
She wore heavy armor, carrying a large battle axe on her shoulder.
Her coffee-colored hair was neatly styled in an elegant updo.
"The sun?"
Beside her, Harvey, a man in a mage's robe, replied.
Both of them had reddish-brown hair,
And coffee-colored dragon horns atop their heads.
Harvey looked up at the sky.
The sky over Tarafa City was shrouded in thick, churning clouds.
These rolling clouds stretched endlessly in all directions.
Since the Death Domain invaded Tarafa City, the sky had remained under this oppressive cover.
"Unless the Bone Dragon King is eliminated, Tarafa City will never see the sun," Harvey said.
His reply made the female warrior glare at him.
"Harvey, you're still as boring as ever," Sophia quipped, pouting slightly.
Harvey could only offer a sheepish smile in response to her complaint.
Sophia exhaled lightly and turned her gaze to the depths of the valley.
"War is coming, isn't it?"
Every winter, the Undead Nation's army launched its relentless assaults on Tarafa City.
Even if repelled, they would keep attacking again and again.
Even with no chance of breaking through the city,
The Undead Nation's forces remained tirelessly persistent.
At times, Sophia couldn't understand their reasoning.
Why engage in such futile efforts?
Harvey's expression darkened as he followed her gaze into the valley.
"We can't afford to be careless. This time, the Undead Nation's army means business. According to scout reports, their forces are gathering on the black-soiled plains beyond the Canine Mountains in unprecedented numbers. Seven black fortresses have even appeared out of thin air on those plains."
"Seven black fortresses?" Sophia frowned slightly.
She turned to Harvey, her expression serious.
"Are you certain there are seven?"
Sophia knew all too well what the black fortresses represented.
The black fortresses were the floating strongholds of the Undead Nation's Round Table Knights.
These were massive airborne mobile fortresses.
Each fortress signified the presence of one of the Round Table Knights.
The Round Table Knights of the Undead Nation were all vampire progenitors,
And they formed the ruling class of the Undead Nation.
In total, there were thirteen Round Table Knights in the entire Undead Nation.
And now, seven of them were being deployed for this war.
Harvey nodded.
"The intelligence has been confirmed. I've already sent a request for aid to His Majesty the King."
As the lord of Tarafa City and an earl, Harvey also held the title of a Water God-level Grand Sage.
Sophia grinned, her excitement evident.
"Great. Let them come! This time, I'll make sure to take them down!"
Sophia gripped the massive axe on her shoulder tightly.
Just thinking about those detestable vampires made her blood boil.
Harvey sighed helplessly as he watched the spirited and slightly wild Sophia beside him.
"Sophia, this war won't be like the previous ones. Be cautious," Harvey advised.
Sophia turned to glare at him again.
"Harvey, I'm a warrior. I need to maintain a spirit of unwavering determination. Hesitation will only make me weaker."
Harvey stared at her with a mix of affection and deep emotion.
Sophia felt a bit uneasy under his intense gaze.
She laughed heartily and slapped him on the shoulder.
The tremendous force made Harvey wince and stumble.
"Don't worry. If I die, just find yourself a prettier lover," Sophia joked.
Sophia was Harvey's general,
And besides her War God-like strength, she was also his lover.
This time, Harvey was the one glaring.
Taking a deep breath, he looked at Sophia seriously.
"Sophia, will you marry me?"
"No, I refuse!" Sophia rejected him without hesitation.
It wasn't the first time she'd turned down his proposal.
"Why? Sophia, if you're willing to be my lover, why won't you become my wife?"
Harvey was perplexed as he looked at her.
Their relationship as lovers had lasted for over a hundred years.
They ate, lived, and slept together.
Although they weren't officially married, they were already husband and wife in all but name.
Sophia removed her axe from her shoulder and set it on the parapet.
Her expression darkened slightly.
"Norris is my husband, Harvey. You know that."
Harvey, of course, knew who Norris was.
"But he's been dead for over two hundred years," Harvey said softly.
As dragonkin with long lifespans, they often had more than one partner in their lifetime.
Longevity didn't mean immortality, and death still came for them eventually.
Norris, a War God, had perished over a hundred years ago during a war with the Undead Nation.
After Norris's death, Harvey had pursued Sophia tirelessly.
It wasn't until thirty years later that she agreed to become his lover.
Although he had gained Sophia's affection, Harvey wasn't satisfied with this arrangement.
To him, lovers and spouses were entirely different.
Harvey wanted to truly have Sophia as his wife, not just as a companion for their mutual desires.
"Harvey, if you want marriage and children, find another woman. I won't mind. I'll still be your general and your lover. But the title of Countess isn't for me," Sophia said firmly.
Harvey opened his mouth to speak but hesitated.
He wasn't sure how to convince her, and if he pushed too hard, he might lose her as a lover altogether.
After so many years together, Harvey knew Sophia's personality well.
If he pressured her too much, she might leave him entirely.
"Let's leave it to time to decide for both of us," Harvey said.
Sophia smirked and glanced at him challengingly.
"Harvey, I doubt you'll win."
Harvey smiled confidently.
"I don't think I'll lose either."
"Maybe I just don't fancy your scrawny mage body. After all, you sages can't compare to warriors physically," Sophia teased.
Harvey was momentarily speechless.
Seeing him at a loss for words, Sophia laughed heartily again.
She slapped him on the shoulder once more.
"Don't feel bad. At least you're good at pleasing me in bed."
Harvey glanced around awkwardly, noticing the many soldiers standing on the wall.
Sophia's loud voice had probably carried to all of them.
Her brash personality often left Harvey exasperated,
But perhaps it was also why he was so drawn to her.