[Fic] [Round 23] Indispensable, G
Author/Artist: The JohhnyMcKilt Productions
Characters/Pairings: Dakaskos
Word Count: 612
Rating: G
Theme/Prompt being used: Self-Challenge - Character Study
A/N: The seiyuu of Nanjiroh Echizen is unloved! :D Maa~ A self challenge is a self challenge and I did an epic fail. LOL. Hope you enjoy...somehow.
A quarter to high noon. Time to feed the horses. He sighed and headed for the stables.
If the criteria were years of service alone, Dakaskos would have become a seasoned army general by now. He was perhaps the oldest soldier under Shin Makoku.
King Yuuri's horse was the first to greet him. It fidgeted excitedly, knowing it was time to be fed. Ao woke up Lord von Beilefield's horse beside him as well as Lord Weller's and Lord von Voltaire's across him. The stables came to life. Dakaskos dropped his stash of food by the entrance and proceeded to pet them all.
In his long mazoku life, he had borne witness to numerous wars, participated in none but rebuilding tasks. Perhaps, in that light, it was the reason why he remained cheerful and optimistic. It could not be said that he was untainted by the horrors of the battlefield but when working together with so many people not far from themselves, he couldn't find a reason why fighting should continue. Of course, he never was in the position to voice such opinions those days.
Dakaskos frowned when one of the horses gave his arm a sloppy lick as he handed out food. A thought crossed his head that he shouldn't be feeding horses like he was. It wasn't a part of a soldier's job. He then noted with awe that a number of staff and residents in Blood Pledge Castle doubled odd jobs and that the entire infantry of castle servants was controlled by four enthusiastic maids.
Then again, if he was a soldier, why hasn't he served in any wars? The nobles were better than him in wielding a sword. His maryoku, as little as it was, had no immediate use. He wasn't particularly strong. He'd readily admit, he was squeamish toward a lot of things, easily distracted and nervous, often unnecessarily loud among else.
However, he was fiercely loyal, reliable and extremely efficient in carrying out orders. He was willing to learn and believed in the Maou's and the Great One's genuine concern for the peaceful living and well-being of all. Dakaskos' caring nature and disposition uncorrupted by military training earned him the trust of the Royal Family and the companionship of numerous inhabitants of Blood Pledge Castle from the maids to the nobility. It even earned him a place by Lord von Kleist's side, from whom he learned that soldiers were not only duty-bound men but friends as well.
Shin Makoku was seeing a golden age under King Yuuri's reign. By far too, Dakaskos was never taken along so many adventures.
He smiled as he stepped back to admire his handiwork; a stable-full of horses being satiated by a lunch made with tender loving care.
History would inevitably repeat itself, he mused. It would only be a matter of time before the Maou would have to make a terrible decision. Either that or, ironic as it was, life was too short and Dakaskos wouldn't be able to live long enough to enjoy the peace they had now.
But at that moment, as he watched the horses eat without a care in the world, he vowed to continue with trivial chores and unfailing service in a manner of such devotion that was not a preparation to die, but the will to live. Chores that gave him a reason to rise everyday and the assurance his life and presence was as significant as the king's.
He had friends who cared and a purpose need not defined. Soldier, stable hand, war veteran or not, Dakaskos was the only one the horses trusted enough besides their riders anyway.
END