Living Armor Boyfriend: Gus (special preview)

Back when I was young, I showed an aptitude for magic beyond my years. I was trained under some of the masters, my skills grew by leaps and bounds, I was considered a prodigy in the field. Unfortunately, because of the loins I was born with, my potential was severely snuffed. I was expected to give birth to a generation of powerful enchanters, not be one myself. Despite my progress and strength, both my parents agreed it would be best for me to ‘settle down’ and get married to an ‘eligible bachelor’ who could take care of me and our future offspring.

I had nothing but sisters, and all of them had married off, started their own families, and appeared to be nothing but happy with their choices. I thought perhaps, well, maybe if I do get married, I can teach, I can be a mentor, something along those lines. I was brow beaten into believing that this would be best for me, and for a while I fell for it.

I married a fancy little lord who was more pretty than substance. Back during my days of adventuring and using my magic to help the kingdom, I had rescued his family from certain demise. The neighboring kingdom, you see, is full of monsters and other beings, and it is protected by an army of knights unlike anything I have ever seen. My husband’s family had run afoul of these knights, who in their massive armor hid slimy, stretchy tendrils that were both solid and liquid at the same time. They were called Consumers, but I would not call them monsters right away. The way they moved and walked was all too human, but the ghastly form inside was something much more than monstrous, dare I say, it was almost cosmic.

Anyways, saved my husband and his family, they were grateful, I married their son, and like a glove it fit until the seams began to split. Our wedding, honeymoon, and months after were fine, I suppose. I thought it was a good thing, I was married, I had plans on teaching, but because of the newness to the marriage I was expected to entertain. I did, I was a proper hostess and my tall tales of all my quests were quite a hit. My husband, on the other hand, liked to be kept entertained, and apparently, I was not enough.

I was not made aware of Achilles’ dalliances and predilections until months into our marriage. Apparently, it was ‘common knowledge’ that he was a lothario, and that I should have been prepared. Unfortunately, this was all kept from me by his family who had hoped a proper marriage would make him behave. That would be a hard no. In fact, I think marriage made his behaviour worse.

Years have gone by, my best times are behind me, I have not so much as taught magic like I had wanted when I was bright eyed. I feel like I simply exist now as a wife who turns a blind eye, drinks, and partakes in the gossip mill. What little release I get is when he travels and I can pretend he doesn’t exist, or when we travel together to the homes of our friends and I can imagine I live a different life.

Recently, a dear friend of Achilles’ was throwing a ball to celebrate his birthday as well as his anniversary. It was to be quite the event, with everyone asked to wear masks and resplendent costumes. I was excited about it and the chance to hide and truly pretend I was someone else.

“This will be fun,” Achilles assured me. “We haven’t been to such a grand event since our youth.” The fine lines around his eyes reminded me more of my youth than anything else did these days. He shifts his gaze when our eyes meet. Bastard cannot even look me in the eyes when he speaks.

“I don’t want to be one of those couples who dress in the same costume. Please do not make us match, dear husband.” I wanted to be separate from him in every way. I wanted to move in the crowd and not have to belong to someone.

Achilles gave me a look and he smiled. “That is fine with me. Perhaps we could make a game of it come the night.”

I knew immediately where he was going. “What do you mean?”

He thought he was smart, so he looked giddy. “Let’s pretend we are strangers, and we can meet each other in the ball as if we have first met. It will be a riot!” He was going to bang the first woman he met and claim he thought it was me. I don’t give a shit, let him bang the boy who snuffs out the candles again, I care so little. Hell, I might do the very same thing.

“Fine, my love.”

Of course, at the ball, I was alone. I gaze from the window, watching the stars and moon twinkle so heavenly above. The gardens looked so romantic, lit by light that glowed so ethereally. There were couples in the garden, kissing, hugging, and warming themselves together.

Turning back to the ball my eyes focus on the staff that was hired to make this ball all the more exciting. Achilles’ friend went out and hired staff from the neighboring kingdom of Priryn, so there were Orcs, Goblins, hairy beasts, and many more who were serving, playing music, and dressed in fine white attire.

It had been a few years ago a peace treaty was signed with Priryn to assure trade deals, travel routes, and the like were upheld. Yet still, the otherfolk of Priryn weren’t looked upon kindly. This was a novelty and joke to everyone here.

I remember, years ago, I had spent some months in Priryn. I was asked to investigate Priryn armored hoard, which were the most formidable army our land had ever seen. Priryn had once been a human kingdom, but the king was not satisfied with his military and had asked a powerful enchantress to help him create one.

Many legends splinter off after this about what happened. Some say the enchantress began turning people in the dungeons into immortal, all powerful creatures. Others say the enchantress would lay with the king and his own seed was used to create his military. Personally, as an enchantress, I just assumed the enchantress had these creatures at the ready and used the king to make them come to full power.

After that, bit by bit, the kingdom came under the control of the other folk, monsters and magic took over Priryn and when the king died the enchantress took over, becoming queen and ruling the land with her armored hoard. This is where I came in.