#utot ruth serbel

[herdecisions]

Im so in love with this man

[ellery-six]

You tried, Riftan 🤷‍♀️ . . I was so excited to hear that Under the Oak Tree will be printed as a proper book in English next year, I had to another #utot picture! I can’t wait!

[snailsgoingdowntown]

Ruth x maid! Fem! Reader

Ruth is 30 and reader is 24, 6 year age gap cuz I'm turning 23 this year but I think Ruth is supposed to be in his early to mid thirties so I'm being kinda Self-indulent (I didn't want to make the gap 7 years so... Yeah, upped the age).

Not the actual fic that will come out, just a drabble that I came up with

Warnings: slight self-conscious on Ruth's side

Nsfw warnings: fingering, oral (f receiving)

Minors, ageless blogs that barely have anything, dni or you get blocked.

This blog contains/interacts/creates dark content, dni if you are uncomfortable with that.

No tag list for this cuz I'm on the road + I wrote it down on a sheet of paper I left at home.

--

I think Ruth would absolutely have a low sex drive. He just doesn't look like someone who thinks about it often, much less have the urge. I am 100% sure he's a virgin cuz like, look at him. He doesn't know how to rizz ppl up nor does he want to unless it benefits him (having maxi help with making the magical devices, but that was more peer pressure than actual rizz).

I'm just saying, Ruth would be kinda hopeless with asking out the reader, not because he's cluelese (probably seen Gable and the others pick up chicks, so has a vague idea of what and what not to do + can see how unbalanced maxi's relationship with Riftan is. He literally told him to calm down with his antics once, but thats about it if I remember correctly) but because he's just so... Blunt that it comes off as rude.

Maxi literally thinks that in the webtoon when her maid slams his drink down on the table instead of placing it down gently like she did with maxi's cup.

But anyway, I just imagine Ruth as the type of guy who at first, tries to ignore the developing feelings he has for you, and it works, but it gets harder and harder when you smile at him like that, when you return his playful banter and don't get offended at his tone and choice of words. When you don't overstep his boundaries, attempt to get to know him, his likes and dislikes, interests, how you want to learn about magic and you listen to his lectures, hell sometimes he even invites you to sit along with maxi as he goes about teaching her (only if the lady of the castle is comfortable, of course, which she will be after a while cuz I said so).

The way your face lights up in awe and wonder whenever he performs a spell or summons fire from the tip of his fingertips. The very eyes that tend to glance at his lips, and he pretends he doesn't notice. Your hands that are a bit rough from washing clothes, helping in the kitchen, cold water stinging and numbing them when you scrub the castle floors, are the very hands he wants to hold, and sometimes late at night, he imagines them pulling and tugging at his hair as you lean against 'his' table or even the library wall, and fuck if he actually had enough room to use in his tower, he would, his mouth latched onto your clit and fingers pumping in and out of your sloppy cunt -

It's not very often he gets thoughts like that, but when he does, he gets harder than riftan gets with the knights and their training.

He doesn't comment on your efforts to keep the library tidy, organizing his books and research papers to where the place looks presentable, at least. But he shows his appreciation through small favors in return - helps you with the cleaning if times allows for it, showing you flashy yet small spells that don't affect the area or people around (riftan would quite literally kill him if they did), gulping down his embarrassment as he massages your shoulders, ignoring the way you were just a bit too squimish, or how flustered you would get but accept his offer regardless.

It's not even a sexual thing, it just makes him want to wrap his arms around you, take in your scent, confess and just enjoy a simple life with you -

It's not really possible. He's just incapable of showing clear romantic intentions and affections. He's not husband material and he doesn't want kids, and he's very iffy about weddings and marriage in general when it concerns him. Besides, he's older than you, and while age gaps are common, he thinks it'd be better if you were to settle down with someone your own age. Because someone your own age would understand you better, give you children, marry you without worry.

You deserve a loving, caring husband, one who would hug and kiss you, make love to you, respects you, who isn't afraid or uncomfortable with physical affection, and doesn't have a rather bad reputation around the castle because of his personality.

So, when your hands clutch at his shirt, tilting your chin up, mouth pressing against his, he should stop you. He should stop instead of loosely wrapping one arm around your waist, bringing you closer, moving his mouth against yours. He should stop instead of clumsily bumping teeth with you, humming in content as you sigh into the kiss.

He should stop instead of going in for another kiss once you part, finally understanding what makes riftan so crazy about physical affection.

He should stop, but he doesn't.

He can't nor does he want to.

[ruthserbel]

Hello all! Another drabble post - because I saw this post, and I couldn't help but think about writing this, so please enjoy! This one is SFW! However, if you want to read the NSFW version (which changes the actual written part, you can find that one here [x]! I placed most of this post under a read more so I'm not clogging up the tags with this~

〚 𝓇𝓊𝓉𝒽 𝓁𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝒾𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓁𝒶𝓅 〛

» we've already established (in this (sfw [x]/nsfw [x]) post) Ruth is super cuddly with you when you two are alone.

» sometimes he will pull you in so you're sitting in his lap while you reading, other times he will wrap his arms around you while sitting behind you (making it impossible for you to continue with what you were doing beforehand - although you don't fully mind this)

» although sometimes - not often though - he will lay his head in your lap while you're seated on the bed, reading a book, or something else

▸ you can't even be mad at him when he does this though - how could you be mad when he does this? ▸ he tends to do this when the two of you haven't seen each other for a bit because he's been busy with other things

» you set aside whatever you were doing before you run your fingers through his hair

▸ he has never said it, although you can tell - he loves it when you play with his hair ▸ he will close his eyes as you continue to brush your fingers through his hair

» after a while of that, you'll lean down to gently kiss his forehead, thinking that he's fallen asleep

▸ you realize that he wasn't asleep when he pulls you lower, kissing you instead

pretext to this (because it matters for me so I could write this and have it make sense): you're sitting cross legged on the bed, leaning your back against a wall/headboard type thing (whatever you want it to be/call it - up to you as it's not specific), reading a book quietly in Ruth's tower

song: dream a little dream of me [this version] if you don't understand why after reading this, maybe i'm just crazy, but i feel as if this kinda fits?

word count: 865 (short and sweet c:)

「 night breezes seem to whisper, "I love you" 」

Flipping the page in your book that you were reading, you hear the door to opening.

"Hello," you say, lifting your head to greet Ruth - who looked very tired. You hadn't seen him all day, although that was becoming the normal right now. Riftan had been keeping him busy throughout the day. So the two of you were not able to see each other until the end of the day - if you hadn't fallen asleep already.

He gave a weak wave as he walked into the room, before dropping himself on the bed. You let out a small giggle has he laid his head down on your lap. It wasn't often that he would do this, but when he did you couldn't help but let out a laugh. You looked down at the silver haired man as he let out a sigh, ignoring your giggles at him.

"I know, I know," you whisper as you close your book, setting it down on the bed. Looking back to the man in front of you, you place your hand gently on his head. You interlaced your fingers within his hair, playing with his hair as you whispered. "I missed you too."

The two of you sat in silence for a while while you continue to run your fingers through his hair. He had closed his eyes as he relaxed, a slight smile growing on his face as you kept playing with his hair. He had never mentioned liking his hair being played with, although you could tell he did like it.

Anytime you had done this for him, he would fall asleep. Giving that, it led you to assume that after a few minutes of playing with his hair that he had fallen asleep. Gently, you push aside the hair that was laying on his forehead before you lifted your hand from his head.

"I love you," you whispered before leaning down to kiss his forehead. As your lips brushed against his forehead, you heard Ruth whispered back. His voice was barely audible, despite how close you were to him.

"I love you too," Ruth whispered, which caused you to jump a little.

You let out a soft giggle as you started to lean back, although you were stopped by Ruth's hand. He held your face a few inches from his face. His eyebrows raised as you looked at him, your face starting to blush.

"I... I thought you were asleep," you whisper, stammering over your words, causing you to blush more.

"I wasn't," Ruth replied in a whispered voice before he moved his hand from the back of your head, allowing you to sit up. Relieved, you sat back again, as he sat up himself. "Just because I wasn't means you're going to stop though?" He questioned, now sitting in front of you on the bed.

"Stop what?" you question.

Ruth let out a slight chuckle at your question before he leaned closer to you, placing his hand behind your head. "You're adorable," he whispered as he brought you forward into a gentle kiss. The kiss started out soft and delicate. You leaned more into the kiss, only parting to catch your breath.

Letting out a giggle, you break the kiss, leaning your head against Ruth's. "Ruth," you mutter breathlessly.

"Mmm," Ruth hums before kissing you again.

"You need sleep," you mumble against his lips after a moment before breaking the kiss again. You statement caused Ruth to let out a sigh. Ignoring his sigh, you rested your forehead against his again. "You know you do, so don't fight me on this," you whisper, trying to get him to listen to you. All of the features of his face were showing his exhaustion.

With a groan, Ruth agreed. "Fine," he said before he moved on the bed so he could lay down, resting his head on a pillow at the top of the bed.

"Thank you," you say with a small smile. Reaching out to grab the book, you moved to get out of the bed. Although you're stopped as you feel Ruth's hands reach around you. Before you could question what Ruth was doing, he pulled you back - pulling you against him.

Falling back on the bed, you let out a light giggle before you look up to him. You didn't need to question him - you knew what he wanted. He didn't want you to leave right now.

"You know," you whisper, before you squirm, trying to get Ruth to release you, which he did. As his arms released his grip on you, you reached to set the book down on the floor. "You could just ask me to stay," you say as you turn back, laying down on the bed beside Ruth, facing him.

"Please sta-" Ruth started, although he was cut off by you. You gently pressed your lips against his, kissing him for a moment. The kiss didn't linger for long, as you broke the kiss moving to cuddle your head against his chest.

"I won't leave," you whisper as you close your eyes. Although you weren't tired, you felt as if you could always fall asleep like this.

taglist: @kunikida-simp, @tylerhasmyheart

[ishaslife]

HEBARON NIRTA MOODBOARD

It is honestly embarrassing how whipped I am for this man.

Still moodboard:

[inky-escapism]

Jealously makes the heart.... beat faster?

“You’re spending too much time in the library, don’t you think?” Riftan looked at Maxi through the mirror as he combs her red hair.

“Well, I like reading books.” Maxi blushed from the attention. “And you know that..” she whispered, giving Riftan a soft smile.

The truth is, Maxi has been mumbling in her sleep, calling out a certain name he couldn’t work out and it’s bothering Riftan so much he couldn’t sleep.

For a few weeks now, Riftan’s insomnia has kept the knights enervated, especially Hebaron. Being the only knight who could kept up with Riftan, Hebaron, the sacrificial lamb, endured through the rough waves of drills till dusk. And it doesn’t help that the weather was getting warmer as summer months creep in. “Sir Nirta, come back here!” Uslin hissed, feeling frazzled with the sun shining harshly on his perfect face. Being the vice commander, Hebaron used to oversee the training of squires with Uslin before Riftan’s unease.

“Save me.” Hebaron mouths to Uslin, as Riftan drags Hebaron further away from Uslin’s group.

“Why, why? Why do I have to do this alone?” whingeing under his breath, Uslin repeats this same question for the umpteenth time. Tired and annoyed, Uslin looks up and shouts to the knight carving his own arrows. “Gabel, you come here then!”

“Noisy. Again.” Ruth comments, rolling his eyes as he hears Uslin calling out to Gabel on his trip to the library.

Back at the castle, Ruth was on his way for another lesson with Maxi. ‘Looks like I’ll have to conjure another shield to keep their nonsense out.’ Ruth sighs as he pushes the door open.  

“My lady, you’re early.” Ruth yawned, cracking his fingers.

Maxi jumped from his sudden comment and hugged the book tightly in her chest.

“Don’t bother, I know what you’re reading. No books of spells are in that colour” Ruth giggled.

 “It’s just too intriguing. Do you think the forgotten princess will eventually find out that her new guard was that hero from her childhood? Will she get together with Sir Herman in the end?’ Maxi squeals.

“Lesson 394, My STUDENT.” Ruth taps the blackboard with his chalk sternly as if to bring Maxi back to Anatol, knowing her soul was transported to the Land of Roses with Ser Herman and the maiden, rumoured to be the forgotten princess.

‘Yes, yes, Mage Ruth..’ opening her books while taking a sip of the tea Rudys left before leaving the library for her other chores.

Ending her lessons with tons of homework, Maxi dragged her spell books out of the library. Her small built made her had no choice but to leave her novels behind and come back to get them again after.

“Back from your book club activities with Ruth?” Riftan questioned in bemusement, not expecting his wife to be back this early.

“Where’s Rudys?” Riftan asked as he took over the pile of books from Maxi.

Panting, Maxi waves the questions away with her lady hands as she sat on the bed, trying to catch her breath. Taking a huge breath in, Maxi proceeds to leave for the library again to get her novels.

“Where are you going? Don’t tell me you’re going to the library again! Just how many books are Ruth trying to bury you under? I’ll have a talk with him.” Riftan said as he pulled Maxi’s arm back.

“No, it’s not that. It’s something else. I’ll be back soon!” Maxi chirps as she pecked Riftan goodbye.

“You’re not having dinner with us tonight?” Riftan questions behind Maxi, as she runs off with her puffy dress that can be seen bouncing in far end of the stairs now.

“I’ll see you at the dining hall!” Her little lady voice trailed off, as she hurried back to the library. “Rudys!” Maxi exclaimed. Glad that she caught Rudys in time, before she tidies up the library.

“My lady, please do not run along the corridors. You might fall and injure yourself.” Rudys warmly greeted Maxi with a worry.

Maxi blushed as she bashfully remembered her blue-blacks from her falling and knocking onto the walls whilst reading. It was good practice for her too, on her healing spells.

“My books, they’re not back on the shelves, are they?” Her wide eyes scanning the table.

“No, My Lady, they’re here. I was about to bring them back to your room after cleaning up Mage Ruth’s mess on the floor.” Rudys smiled tightly, her certain dislike for Ruth can been sensed.

Maxi let out a sigh of relief, “Thank you Rudys! That’s very sweet of you!” Maxi exclaimed as she hugged Rudys tightly.

“Let’s go for dinner now, Riftan is waiting!” Maxi collected her books from Rudys, laughing while chatting as they head to the dining hall.

Even at the door, the scent of hot gravy and roasted meat perfumed the air.

“My lady, would you like to join us?” Elliot asked, as he spot Maxi coming through the door. He was standing at his seat, splitting servings of the roasted boar for the table.

“Yes, Sir Elliot! It smells wonderful!” Maxi grins, happier than ever as she realized her stutter has improved dramatically. ‘Not an extra syllable, today!’ Maxi smirks to herself.

Moving their bottoms along, expecting Maxi to naturally take the seat beside their Lord Commander, Maxi saw the empty seat beside Hebaron and just took it. Unbeknownst to her, Riftan wasn’t too pleased with her decision.

‘She knows which pubs I go to.. I can’t just go to any pubs now. I hate drinking in the castle.’ Hebaron was brooding over his avoidance in the local pubs. ‘It’s so boring here… I want to go out there, and drink with the other lads.’ Tilting his head towards the window, Hebaron stares into the night sky whilst Gabel steals his cuts of meat.

A cold breeze sneaked in as swiftly as it went out, causing Maxi to shudder from its sudden visit. As she was directly in Hebaron’s line of sight, Hebaron thinks nothing of it, and took off his vest, putting it on Maxi. ‘Don’t get a cold, My Lady’. Hebaron adds as he got the squires to close off the windows before going back to his dwelling.

Across the table, a darken Riftan was seen stabbing his meat, giving it a second death. ‘Why is he looking at Maxi like that?.. Is it Hebaron?’ Riftan envisaged in his thoughts.

“Sir Hebaron, why are you not eating?” Maxi questioned as she joins Gabel in shrinking Hebaron’s mountain of meat. Jealous at this slight action, Riftan immediately plates more roasted boar for Maxi. ‘I’ll get more meat for you if you want, all you have to do is ask. Why are you getting it from him?’ Letting his jealously run his thoughts, Riftan narrows his eyes at Maxi and Hebaron, frowning so much that his eyebrows are almost touching.

“Start eating or there’ll be none left.” Uslin warns Hebaron as he hastily swats Gabel’s fork away. Getting the cue, Elliot sighs as he stands up again, cutting more meat to fill up Hebaron’s plate.

“I’m not hungry.” Hebaron states, shocking the whole table. “I’ll go to bed now.” Hebaron put his fork down and pushes his plate towards Maxi. “Here, you can have them, My Lady.” Hebaron smiles as he pats Maxi’s shoulder, gesturing her to eat up, before leaving the table.

“Is he alright?” Maxi asked, her eyes following Hebaron as he walked away.

‘Is he alright?! What about me? I’m not alright. Why do you keep looking at him instead?’ Riftan grumbled in his head.

“He’ll be fine, My Lady.” Uslin assured, waving a kitchen maid over. “Bring this and more ale to Sir Nirta’s room.” Uslin instructs her as he hands her a stacked pile of meat on a clean plate.

“Work wife indeed.” Ruth’s comment boosted a great deal of hilarity along the table. However, Gabel and Elliot shut their laughter immediately upon receiving Uslin’s side eye.

Maxi smiled at their interaction, as she continued to stuff her face with dinner, leaving nothing on her plate before she retreated to her room with Riftan.

“Carry me, I can’t walk. I’m too full..” Maxi whimpered, tugging on Riftan’s sleeves. Sighing in defeat, the jealous husband picked his wife up in his arms.

“Am I heavy?” Maxi asked, her fingers fidgeting with Riftan’s top.

“No.” Riftan replies cooly.

“Then why are you grimacing? Your face’s wrinkly.” Maxi pouts as she cautiously cups his face with her hands. Her touch softened his mood.

“It’s nothing.” Riftan kicks the bedroom door open and lays Maxi gently on the bed. Not letting go of Riftan’s top, Maxi used all of her energy to pull him closer for a kiss.

“Silly girl.” Riftan finally smiles as he ruffles her hair, joining her under the sheets. Maxi quickly fell asleep in his arms, with her tummy full of roasted boar.

Unable to sleep, much like the past few nights, Riftan started analysing his thoughts, running through the information as if to plan a combined attack on the field. Misusing his talents as a warfare strategist, Riftan connected the string of words Hebaron told him the other night, that how it was impossible for Hebaron to be with the innominate lady and how rumours will start flying like flies in the sky, with the name Maxi kept muttering in her sleep. Starting with a H, and seems to end with a N.

Piecing 2 wrong puzzle pieces together, Riftan jolts out of bed angrily, as he stormed towards Hebaron’s room with his tirade of nonsensical thoughts.

‘Hebaron, get up.’ Riftan whispered loudly as he fiddled with the doorknob.

Getting impatient, Riftan crushed the doorknob in anger and the door creaked open. Astounded by his own anger, Riftan strut into Hebaron’s room only to find it empty. Not even a soul behind his cloaks this time around.

‘He’s not here?’ Riftan sat on Hebaron’s bed, feeling bewildered with his paranoiac thoughts at the helm. ‘My wife and my best friend?’ Just then, a small shadow on the walls outside of Hebaron’s room caught his attention. “Maxi?” Riftan calls out.

The small shadow on the walls flickered, as Maxi quivered at the sound of his voice, not expecting to hear it at this corner of the castle. She carefully pushed the half-opened door, where the sound was from and was shocked to see Riftan standing in front of her. His hair was in a mess and his body, radiating an unusual amount of heat.

“Riftan, your heart. I can hear it from here. Are you okay? It sounds really fast. It’s beating much faster than usual... ” Maxi questioned with a concerning look in her eyes, her hand reaching out to his chest.

[author's note: have you guys realized that my stories are linked? ٩(⁎❛ᴗ❛⁎)۶]

[mithology-marveloholick]

I'm making memes with the Utot characters

I'm gonna make a whole series of them

[madammuffins]

I love ONE (1) man.

And it is Ruth.

Ruth, my darling, I know you're one of Riftan's oldest friends, and you're probably the only person who knows Riftan more than anyone, but, DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH?!

[ellery-six]

Why Ruth might not have a girlfriend part 1 🤭 Also, hit him, Maxi 🫲

[ruthserbel]

The Faces of Ruth Serbel - Love Forcast event

[ruthserbel]

Ruth Serbel - Under the Oak Tree (Mini Episode 3)

[inky-escapism]

If he gets married tomorrow. I’ll buy that too.

“Hebaron, please. OPEN UP OR WE’RE BREAKING IN!” Riftan shouts at the other side of Hebaron’s door, with the other knights peeking behind. Uslin passed his sword to Ruth, rounding up his arm and preparing to knock down Hebaron's door with Riftan.

“Come on Hebaron, it’s fine if you’re sick. At least let Ruth check it.” Gabel knocks impatiently on the tough wooden door.

“What’s wrong with him? He’s never been like this.” Ruth sighed and Elliot nodded in agreement.

“Just come out already! I promise I wouldn’t make any jokes about it. JUST COME ON OUT!’ Uslin exclaimed as he runs into the door sideways.

“You know, I can just cast a spell to open it.” Ruth breaks the rowdy silence amongst the knights.

“Couldn’t you have said that, before I threw myself on the door?” Uslin gritted his words through, rubbing his shoulders to reduce the soreness.

Ruth just shrugged and crack his knuckles. “I’m coming in, Sir Nirta! If you’re naked, I take no responsibility for my actions!” Everyone made way for the mage and watched as a vibrant rosey light transferred from Ruth’s palms onto Hebaron’s door.

“GABEL!” the knights shouted in unison, causing Ruth to bump into the now opened door.

“Great, all these commotions and he isn’t even in his room.” Uslin shook his head in disappointment.

“I saw him went in, and never came out!” Gabel signalled his hands as an emphasis, pointing from the corridor walkway to Hebaron’s room.

“You are supposed to have the best eyesight out of all of us! Which is why we got you to follow him around!” Uslin nagged angrily. "FOLLOW HIM. NOT, LOSE HIM!” Uslin landed harsh glares onto Gabel after rolling his head in annoyance. Feeling the holes drilling into his skull, Gabel stepped away from Uslin’s following eyes, to the purportedly safer zone behind Riftan.

“I really saw him come in here.” Gabel avowed to Riftan, who looked equally mad at the seemingly false information.

Amongst the heated setting, Maxi was returning from the library and popped in upon hearing the ruckus.

“My Lady, may we help with your books?” Elliot greets Maxi, his hands reaching out for the pile in her arms.

“O-Oh, it’s-s fi-n-ne Sir Elliot! Yo-u-u’re too kind, they’re not heav-vy!” Maxi blushes as she hugged the books closer to her chest, as if to prevent anyone reading the covers.

‘Those books again. Aren’t they the same books she has been reading over and over for the past few weeks?’ Riftan frowned in his thoughts, inching closer to his wife, trying to get a glimpse of the books.

“Wh-hat are yo-u-u all doing in S-Sir Nirta’s room?” Maxi asked, her round eyes softening the atmosphere.

“We’re looking for Hebaron. He’s…not feeling too well.” Riftan stops in front of his wife, stroking Maxi’s cheeks as he mutters. His eyes wondering to the books.

“He’s been acting weird lately, and we’re worried.” Ruth added.

“He doesn’t even want to drink with us after training.” Gabel whispered seriously, his fingers pointing among Uslin, Elliot and himself.

“I did not-t-ice that Sir Nirta didn’t leav-v-e the castle after dinner the-s-s-se past weeks either. I thought he was-s just too tired from all th-h-e training… I-s-s he going to b-be alright?” Maxi worried. Riftan’s eyebrows took a deeper burrow at Maxi’s acknowledgement of Hebaron’s activities.

“Maybe it’s all your f-fault, Riftan. Yo-u-u and your loco training drove S-sir Hebaron crazy!” Maxi hypothesized, hugging her books tighter with anger.

It was no secret that the knights have been training aggressively, thanks to the overtime in the infirmary, even everyone in town knows. Increasing in both intensity and duration, even the squires were bulking up twice as fast. All thanks to the Lord Commander’s newfound insomnia. Something was on his mind, and he’s been dragging the entire squad along, especially Hebaron.

“What?” Riftan blurted as the others kept quiet, as if to agree in silence, glances darted around but no one dared to meet Riftan in the eyes. However, their stances show that they were very much into the conversation.

Reading the room, Riftan hung his head slightly in shame. “Perhaps” he muttered as he looked to the side and noticed an unusual movement in Hebaron’s cloaks. Throwing that look at the knights, everyone focused on where Riftan was hinting at. Getting the cue, Maxi nodded and offered to play along.

“Herhm, we s-should look for S-Sir Nirta elsewhere since he is-s clearly n-not here. I’ll close his door!” Maxi sniffled a little as she pulled the door towards her, making sure to induce a large clicking sound upon closing the door. After which, the huge man stepped out from his set of cloaks.

“I thought they’ll never leave.” Hebaron breathed in rapidly after holding his breath for the past 9 mins.

“It’s astounding how a huge man like you can hide in such plain sight.” Riftan spoke slowly, his deep voice spooked a worn out Hebaron.

Surrendering to Riftan, Hebaron throws himself onto his bed in defeat and let out a deep sigh. “What do you want?”

At the other corner of Hebaron’s room was Gabel, making himself comfortable, scavenging for Hebaron’s alcohol collection under the table. “Wow, this isn’t empty?” An astounded Gabel pulled out the half empty bottle as well as the crackers behind it.

“Here, fish crackers, your favourite.” Handing Elliot the crackers, Gabel popped the cock off the bottle and gulped down.

“Urgh, your wine taste flat.” Gabel states. Elliot chokes on the stale crackers as the room gasps and Hebaron rolled his eyes to the side.

“WHAT?” Riftan questioned in disbelief, snatching over the bottle of wine for a sip.  

Shocked at this revelation, Uslin got up from the floor and sits by Hebaron on his bed, placing his hand on Hebaron’s forehead, then on his back. His eyes meet Ruth, who gave Uslin a knowing nod.

“You don’t have a fever... So what’s wrong?’ Uslin prods as he slaps Hebaron’s ass hard. The sting sent Hebaron howling into his bed.

"Get out, just get out.." Hebaron drawled, burying himself under the sheets.

"Alright, how about we go down to town for drinks?" Riftan suggested.

Everyone’s attention shifted to the Lord Commander, who never once suggested to drink outside of the castle.

“Come on, I know you like drinking at that bar down the alley that leads to the lake.” Riftan opined. “My treat. Tonight.”

Elliot’s eyes widen as Ruth stared at Riftan, with Uslin and Gabel exchanging weird looks across the room.

“I said, I’m buying. Hebaron?” Riftan kicks Hebaron’s bed. “NIRTA!” His patience was running out as he walked over. Ruth tactfully got out of his way, watching from the sides as Riftan attempted to yank the tall knight out from under his pillow.

Like a rabbit pulling another rabbit out of his rabbit hole, everyone in the room watched the two giants struggled and it started to look comical with both equally matched in strength. Ruth started laughing out loud, followed by Uslin and Elliot, while Gabel was already rolling on the floor.

"Just leave me alone, alright! I don’t want to go to town! I don’t want to drink!" Hebaron pushed Riftan in the chest, causing Riftan to lose his balance. Elliot dropped his crackers and hurried with Gabel to grab Riftan in order to damper the impact while Ruth ran off to a corner to prevent being sandwiched. “Not today!” Ruth declares as stuck his back to the window.

Recovering his stance, Riftan dragged out Hebaron’s box of wine under the table to the bed. “Let’s drink.” Riftan announced.

“Fine.” Hebaron grunted, getting off his bed as the party reacted innately, surrounding the bed like a table. The gang sat at either ends of the bed while Ruth sent a magic note to the kitchen for meat and snacks.  

“You better buy them back.” Hebaron complained, as he reluctantly passed out his stash around the bed. Shooting Hebaron back with a dirty look, Riftan downs the first bottle in record time.

“Will you have dinner here, Sirs?” Rodrigo asked, as he brought up thirds. The knights have drunk passed lunch and was now time for dinner.

“We’ll skip dinner. Just bring up more kegs.” Riftan replies after looking at the drunken states of his knights.  

“You good there? You’re drinking like back then.” Hebaron directed the question at Riftan, who raised his eyebrow as if to question what Hebaron meant. “Open.” Gabel requested as he held a bottle close to Riftan’s face.

“In that cave where we thought we were about to die tomorrow.” Hebaron added on.

“Don’t try to change the topic on me.” Riftan retorted as he passed Gabel the opened bottle, his elbow nearly hitting Elliot’s head.

“It’s just spooky. I never had a woman come up to me. In my face! Telling me that she likes me and wants to get to know me better!” Hebaron whispers loudly.

Uslin cackled as Hebaron continued on.

“She even said that she thinks me and her could get along well for a future together!” Sitting across Hebaron, Gabel was having a hard time holding in his laughter while patting Ruth on the back. The poor mage swallowed an entire fish bone upon hearing that Hebaron has a suitor.

“We’ve talked about this the other night! It’s time for you to get married! Don’t tell me you forgot how much older you are than us!” Uslin smirked at Hebaron, who was narrowing his eyes at him.  

“You said you wouldn’t make jokes about it.” Hebaron warns him sternly, as he confiscates Uslin’s bottle and finished it.

“I’m not making jokes. I’m just reminding you that you’re old.” Uslin gave an innocent smile that makes Hebaron want to punch him right in his perfect face. “Again.” Uslin chuckled, trying to keep a straight face.

“Do we know her?” Riftan asked as Uslin draws another bottle out of the crate. “I want one too.” Ruth signalled to Uslin after recovering from his mishap.

“Sort of.” Hebaron hung his head low, spinning the empty bottles on the floor. “But I can’t be with her… She’s.. Just not her.” Hebaron huffed despondently.

Poking the drunk man’s face across the bed, Ruth started conjuring spells, painting Elliot’s face with an assortment of colours.

“Can you imagine the rumours if I did?” Hebaron sighed as he popped open another bottle. “Me with her?’’ Hebaron points back at himself.

“You.” Elliot burps, pointing his finger at Hebaron before passing out for real.

“Just go to sleep.” Uslin ruffles Elliot’s head, that was resting comfortably on Hebaron’s bed.

“Give her a try, or we’ll get you and put you in her room.”  Gabel hics, having a hard time keeping his head up.

“Well, what do you think will happen? You think I’ll marry her?” Hebaron pushes Gabel’s head up with his finger.

“Either that, or you’ll snore really loudly as usual when you sleep drunk, and. Andddd if she still wants you, you can get married tomorrow.” Uslin giggles to himself. “Riftan will pay for everything, right Commander?”

“If he gets married tomorrow. I’ll buy that too.” Riftan clinks Hebaron’s bottle as he watches Ruth’s ongoing magic show featuring a drunk Elliot.

“Ruth, I think Elliot looks prettier with lilac, not turrrrquoise.” Gabel hics again before head diving onto Hebaron’s bed, fully giving in to his drunk state.

“And you Gabel, looks prettier with my hand across your face!” Ruth shouts with his last burst of soberness left. Now standing up, he faces the wrong direction and proclaims to Gabel, “I know colours better than you!”, before landing on the floor with a thump!

“Did he break his nose?” Uslin asked nonchalantly.

“Even if he did, I’m not a mage.” Hebaron shrugged, turning his head ever so slightly to spot any bleeding on the floor.

“Seems good.” Hebaron concluded before going back to his bottle.

Uslin yawned, clinking bottles with Hebaron while Riftan lies backwards onto the floor, thankful that he decided to after all, drink in the castle instead.

[ruthserbel]

Ruth Serbel - Chapter 64 (end of season 2)

[ellery-six]

Another Under the Oak Tree character sheet - this time a page for the mage 🧙‍♀️ I made about 25 faces for Ruth, but settled on mainly the grumpy and sleepy ones for his sheet 😆

[inky-escapism]

Was peace always this short?

 "How long more do you think we'll have this peace?" Hebaron hics, leaning his forearm on Uslin's head.

"Till the lady gets back, duh" Uslin instinctively replies whilst he held his arm out with his mug, waiting for Riftan to finish filling it.

Pricked by Uslin's swift remark, the refill dried midway as the Lord Commander tilted his head towards the two knights. "So what now? You hate my wife again?"

"No, we hate YOU" pointing his finger at a despondent Riftan, Ruth slurps loudly, "around your wife." Ruth adds on, raising his cup that covered his entire face from Riftan's sight.

"Imagine how much worse it will be when she is back" Gabel snickers, leaning against the fireplace, poking the burning logs.

"What?" Riftan thought inwards, stunned and disenchanted by his closest comrades. He thought after all this time together, they have already accepted his wife into their circle. "Guess I've to work harder." Riftan sighs in his head, nursing his beer.

"Yeah, even before becoming a proper mage... She has already turned him into a blind dog." Hebaron laughs as Uslin giggles.

"He's going to evolve into a blind dragon, when she's back." Gabel's comment sent everyone laughing into the depths.

"You know I'm still in charge of training, right?" Riftan eyed Hebaron on his left and hits the archery knight standing on his right.

"You know that trick's getting old, right." Hebaron huffs, snatching Riftan's cup away and downing it in one gulp.

"Sigh, because we are too." Uslin sighs, sinking his torso onto the chair.

"At least I don't look old" the orange knight shrugs, waving 2 mugs in Elliot’s direction, signalling him to get them more ale.

"Excuse me?" Uslin's sapphire eyes flashed vividly in the room as he harshly flicked nuts on Hebaron.

"Oh, my bad. YOU LOOK OLD, USLIN RIKAIDO." bellows Hebaron picking up the nuts and throwing back at Uslin.

"At least I act my age, Sir Hebaron Nirta" Uslin snarled, shielding his face from peanut shells, while constantly flicking more nuts at Hebaron. 

"If you did, you would have been a father." Hebaron grabs his mug from Eillot as he shoves his hand in Uslin's face. 

That remark turned the room dead quiet as everyone held their breath. Gabel almost dropped the new barrels of ale if not for Ruth's levitation spell. Elliot’s heart skipped 2 beats thinking that he would have to head down to get new kegs. Punishment for being the 1st one out in the prior drinking session. Knowing that only Hebaron could prod Uslin on anything, the crowd switched glances nervously between the two, waiting for Uslin’s reaction.  

"It's called respect. I don't even know her." Finishing his 3rd, Uslin fidgets with his cup, staring into the fireplace.

"Thanks Ruth." Elliot whispers as he took the seat beside the mage, clinking their cups and watching the drama unfold.

"You will if you make the effort. Who abandons their wife for years after getting married?" Hebaron commented, raising his eyebrows on the silent knight.

Upon hearing his comment, Riftan chokes as Ruth and Elliot burst out in tears with Gabel slamming his hands on the fireplace ledge.

"Oops, didn't mean to include you too, my friend." Hebaron pats Riftan on the back.

"Don't come lecture me on treating a lady well. You can't even stick with one." Riftan fights back between coughs.

"I'm too good looking to stick with one. Every lady wants a piece of me." Hebaron shamelessly praised himself, resting his hands on the back of his head.

"You are unbelievable." Uslin shakes his head as he fills his cup.

"See, even you're entrapped." Hebaron clings Uslin's cup and drinks, Uslin pushes him, and he almost spill but doesn’t. Hebaron never wastes alcohol.

"Have you thought of getting married?" Riftan drops a chaotic death bomb on Hebaron with a concerning look.

Gabel spits out his drink directly into the fireplace causing the flames to engorge. Ruth, who was adjusting his folded legs, fell off the chair and unwittingly pulled Elliot down with him. Uslin thew his head backwards whilst laughing so hard, his hair was messy for the first time.

Hebaron annoyed with no one but Uslin, kicked Uslin's chair and broke the leg. But Uslin stabilised the broken chair easily and flashed a cocky look to Hebaron, flaunting his superiority in balance as a knight.

"I don't believe it is a matter of him wanting to get married, but instead, a matter of the availability of ladies who will be deranged enough to want to marry HIM" Uslin pointed his finger in Hebaron’s face.

"Or maybe he can try the men."  Gabel arrowed, as Elliot poured more wine for Ruth and himself.

"Make sense. Where else can you find a lady who likes to drink and get on bed as much?" Uslin teased the “oranger by the minute” vice-commander.  

"I doubt there are many men who can even match him in drinking." Ruth rubs in as he folds his arms holding his cup in thinking mode.

"Isn't that better, the search's been narrowed down." Uslin said with a serious tone.

"Shut up" Hebaron hissed.

"You want to take a second marriage, Riftan?" Uslin asked, trying to control his laughter.

"Go to hell" said them both at the same time.

Unable to stop teasing Hebaron, Gabel managed to stop laughing for a moment. "In all seriousness, my love, (gives smoochy face) ever thought of that?"

"Riftan Calpyse, stop laughing" Hebaron kicks Riftan's shin.

Elliot looks up like a kid, sitting on the floor all along since he fell. "So do you, do you?"

"Say I do, say I do" Uslin teases in a high pitch as Ruth leaks out some wine from his lips, not able to contain his laughter.

Annoyed at all of them now, Hebaron quaffed down another cup and kicked Gabel’s chair away before he could sit down beside him.  

Despite the pain in his ass, Gabel looks up and the assignment to tease Hebaron continues "So what's your type? How hot? Hourglass?"

"Tall girl? Brunette? Blonde? Blue eyes?" Uslin adds on, continuing the momentum.

"Eww, not you. and you say you're not smitten with me?" Hebaron winks at a taken aback Uslin.

"Buzz off..." Uslin hissed, shooting Hebaron with a disgusted look.

Joining in, Riftan threw in more novel details "He likes girls who are crazily independent, strong and tough-willed. You know, some girl who can pick a fight with him and not back down."

"RIFTAN CALPYSE!" Hebaron shouts and stands up from his seat, feeling the waves of betrayal from his closest companion "I'm gonna spill yours too if you keep this up!"

"So Hebaron has the same taste as you?" Gabel hurls at Riftan who stopped laughing at once. Elliot super entertained, Uslin over the moon and Ruth cannot stop coughing while laughing.

"Well, shall I project it?" Ruth waddled towards Hebaron, cracking his fingers, about to conjure something.

“I will give you a free 5-day time off from the infirmary at the infirmary.” Hebaron swats Ruth’s hands away from his head.  

A creak from the door silenced the laughter that was flowing through the room. Maxi was back.

"Was peace always this short?" Uslin hic at a confused Maxi.

The cold glare from his Lord Commander silenced the room further. Feeling his glare, Uslin put his cup down and raises both his hands up, knocking his way out of the room with the rest of the team. Carrying each other’s weight with each other, the quintet looked like 4 kids trying to hold onto their drunk father with the 220cm knight in the middle.