As soon as Somer reached outside he was shocked, not by the appearance of these creatures, no he was accustomed to it for a while now, it was the organised manner in which they conducted themselves and the way their tents were put up, this would be the pinnacle of discipline, if a psychologist were here he’d remark it as a plague version of OCD.
The tents were put in a circumferential manner to the center and there was a gap between two tents, roads perhaps and the tents themselves seemed to be made out of mud, almost as if carved into the earth and each was at least as big as a regular sized truck, in front of each tent was at least one spear with the mangled headless body of what once would’ve been a human being or resembled one.
[Jones]”Hmm, Remser I just remembered, the cap wanted a word with you, I wouldn’t keep him waiting....”
[Remser]”Shit Jones, that should’ve been the first thing you told me, I’m late, we’ll talk about this later, I need to go now”
And the creature with the weird yellow shell on his head ran ahead towards what seemed like the center of the camp.
[Jones]”Well, personal introductions have been delayed, I’m Jones, the second chief strategist of our Troops, not much I know but with the Khol on our side now we’ve got a huge fighting chance with the mages of the humans and the knights. And the other one, that was Remser, one of our best scouts and arguable the most promiscuous Drathean alive, hahaha, he shines in the most unexpected places”
[Somer]”Can you please sort of elaborate on everything? I have little to no knowledge about anything here. And I’m Somer by the way, also what was that screaming just now, I didn’t really get it”
’That’s strange, was that English?’
[Jones]”Ah, that’s the human tongue, as they term it, literally. They use their throats like some tube and push air through it to make some weird noises, it isn’t like the magical construct we have you see, they’re weird that way, it does make talking possible when you’re low on mana though so that’s a plus, but very inconvenient when you have your throat crushed *giggle*. It takes a while but you’ll eventually learn it, Cap Altidor made it mandatory for all his soldiers, so you’ve got to learn it too and by the way I should add on the fact that you’ve got quite and aptitude in magic, those who pick up language easily, well let’s say it’s an indicator for talent in magic, crude I know but it’s time tested.
It’s still too early to tell but yeah I gues you get the bit don.... Not there Bill the trench should be a little to the left, yeah thanks.... oh where was I? yeah, these humans captured were the Brigadiers of Jiset and Carth, they’ve been a thorn to us ever since we started our campaign to overthrow Tenese City, them going down is a big boon for us all comrade, and the timing couldn’t have been perfect”
Jones was a very amicable person, he did explain most of what I needed to know. The first being the current situation of the Drathean and Khol trying to take the city of Tenese together, since that would be a strategically one of the most successful mission due to the string of defeats they’ve been having recently. The current war was going on because the new Beasts Of Oblivion Lord Hector wished for total annihilation of all humans and made it a mandate to kill them at sight. Following that, what he expected of me, well, he was being extremely direct here, he wanted me to infiltrate the city and weaken their city wide barriers, of course it was a plan it came up with just now, and it depended heavily on me being a magically endowed being and probably days, weeks, months or years of practice, how ever long it might take. At least I’m one of the alternate plans, so no pressure, I suppose?
[Jones]”This war has been going on for 130 years now and I’m fed up with the stalemate we’ve been stuck with here at Tenese since the last 10 years, we need a bloody breakthrough or the Lord won’t be pleased and trust me, never get on the bad side of your bosses Somer, it’s a death wish...... Somer? Comrade?”
-Somer POV-
What is that thing? It looks like a Panda but it’s atrocious, those read crimson eyes, those fangs and its fur, can it even be termed as fur anymore? It’s more like the scales of an armour. And what’s with his height he’s easily 5 meters and that thing besides him, that failure of a Panda is at least 3 meters, what the hell are they?!! And what is that Panda nibbling on?!! Is that a human leg?!!
Dude, you’re collapsing my universe man, Panda are some of the cutest loving creatures, why would you tarnish that image in my head, you’re hurting my brain, no this cannot be, no no no....
—————————————————
[Jones]”Ah, he got your attention didn’t he? That mighty young thing there is Rafael, he’s impressive even by Khols’ standards. At the young age of 7 he managed to kill his first knight trainee, at the age of 12 he took out a whole platoon of knight trainees and got us the head of a noble, don’t quite remember his name though, Oh and at the age of 16 he took out a group of 3 mage apprentices during the siege of Kilendo, it took us just 3 days to dethrone that stupid city thanks to him. As Tender as he might look he’s a capable beast”
[Somer]’Tender!!! Tender my ass, he looks like the most feral thing nature could’ve conjured up, an utterly huge mistake of genes and divine intervention married and divorced the same day, that’s no ‘Tender’ thing, that’s an abomination!!! Wait... actually you all look like abominations to me, maybe it’s time I get accustomed to this..’
“Hahaha, yeah Jones he’s impressive.....”
[Jones]”Ah, and the blockhead next to him chewing on the human leg is Fistidus, he must’ve won the first round of the Human Games, he always gets something, sly one that, tend to yourself around him comrade. Ah I forget, the Human Games is basically done when we get prisoners, we choose the four most strong looking, leave them half dead in front of their kith and kin and slowly and gradually wear them down, it’s a war of attrition haha. You have to draw lots and place bets, my luck here is abysmal at best *sigh*”
Just then Somer noticed the Human prisoners, there were twelve bloodied and injured humans kept in a cage of sorts which gave out sparks every now and then and in front of the cage a cleared out field on which four humans, two men and two women, were suspended by a bar flying magically mid air, one of them, the male on the extreme left was conspicuously missing a leg and the other three were shivering, their screams stifled by magic and the sparks jumping about their bodies.
As Somer was observing the magic applied on the bar, he noticed something from the corner of his visual field, a beautiful woman at the centre of the prisoner group, almost as if being hidden and protected from the eyes of my beastkin, she looked..... civilised, with her creamy brown skin colour, dull brown hair, her upturned nose, grey iris and her extravagant armour, she was definitely of a dignified status, not a commoner at all and the way these people are protecting her despite being terrified, devotion. Hmm, interesting.
-Melissa’s POV-
Blasted beasts, we let ourselves underestimate them and got caught in this poor excuse for an ambush, Roselton even went and got himself killed, he was supposed to usher us ‘The Maidens Of Jiset’ into the limelight after having caught this Khol responsible for the death of a nobel and now he’s dead, these men can never be accounted for. Our first mission was supposed to be a shining success.
We made ourselves into a joke and I’ve even lost Isabella, Colonel Jesper is going to chew me a new one, that is, if I manage to make it out of this ordeal alive and the most shocking news is going to be the fact that the Drathens and the Khol have joined forces, we are too unprepared to be able to handle such a force, it could be bad, very bad.
But, I’m stuck here and damn it they have Rose hanging on that blasted bar, she was our only capable mage, we could’ve orchestrated a jailbreak somehow......
What the hell, why is that skeleton looking at me like that, is it a mage, why is it’s eyes burning that eerie blue..
[Random Soldier whispers]”Ma’am you need to stop making eye contact with that thing, if he sees through us and you get killed the army will truly abandon us and they’ve never get the intel we have and this might be bad for all the cities in line after Tenese....”
“I get it, I get it calm down. Is it still observing me?”
[Random Soldier] *gulp* “Yes”
“God damn it, what did I do to stand out”
[Random Soldier]”Ma’am your armour, it’s your armour”
“I can’t strip here that’d be even more conspicuous”
-Somer’s PoV-
She’s definitely suspicious, she’s gotten even more constricted in her movements since I started observing her.
Just then a large shadow loomed over Somer and he looked in front to see the most terrifying creature yet, a Drathen like creature but more scythes than it’s fellow brethren at least a little taller than Rafael and what’s more, just one look was enough to make one feel as if their eyes were being sliced into thin pieces.
[Altidor]”Yer the mutt Jones picked up eh? Hmm, looks like you’ve got some magic in ye and yer weaker than ye look”
[Jones]”Exactly sir, with a little bit of tweaking I’d say he’s ready for duty as our mage gu....”
Just then Jones was cut off and a resolute and terrifying whisper was heard.
[Altidor]”He has to earn his place Jones, send him to Aric, but before all that, let him witness the fate of prisoners and failures at our camp!”
[Jones]”Of course sir”
It felt odd, being spoken about without having a say in it. But, they were right, I was at the bottom of the ‘food’ chain, there wasn’t much I could’ve claimed here, not to mention here strength speaks for itself.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Just when I was musing my plight in this new world I noticed that Altidor walked in front of the female prisoner hanging on the bar with a circlet on her head.
[Altidor] In a thick voice “Your captain who?, talk or she die, slowly and screamily”
[Somer]’Scremily?! What the hell is that a new ice cream flavour I’ve never heard of? It is definitely English and he needs to work on it’
Some of the prisoners seems to have found it amusing and were now stifling laughs rather than screams.
Just then without waiting for a reply he bit down on her left year and tore of a chunk of her face including some teeth, that immediately shut everyone up.
[Altidor]”Captain?” In beast tongue “Eren heal this soft skin, I’ve yet to get the information I need”
[Melissa]’Son of A bitch, Rose is our key out of here don’t kill her yet, damn it’
[Arlina]”Ma’am I’ll go, I can’t watch this happen and I did swear to do everything you ordered me to and I know, we ‘The Maidens Of Jiset’ will rise again, but you need to live for that, so please....”
[Somer]”Captain if I may?....”
[Jones *whispers*]”Somer don’t the cap looks considerably upset....”
[Altidor]”Hmmmmm....”
[Somer]”If I’m not mistaken their captain must be that person with that purple armour in the centre of the group, she doesn’t fit in, she looks too refined and her disposition too...”
[Altidor]”Yer basing this on her being pretty!!!”
[Somer]”That and the fact that when you said who among them was the captain all of them subconsciously turned towards her, I know sir I’m weak but my eyes are worth their weight in gold, they see things clearly”
Just then, a woman from the right of the group stood up and claimed that she was the captain.
Altidor just observed everything for a moment, how could the fact that the woman who Somer claimed to be the captain suddenly relax her body excape the eyes of the veteran, Altidor, a ruthless leader who rarely failed in his tasks.
There was a long paused moment of silence after which Altidor pointed at the woman at the center and said, “Take her out”
Just then, Pandemonium broke loose in the cage, the prisoners had realised that their ruse was up, they were caught and they would die protecting their leader in this perilous situation, at least in death there would be some dignity.
-Melissa’s POV-
Arlina, your sacrifice will be remembered by all, I will surely inform everyone at the Citadel including your family and friends about this courageous act. Who would’ve known, a woman of common birth could’ve accomplished as much as you have.
But wait, why is there this silence, why isn’t that big ugly thing doing anything? Wait, why is it’s finger pointed at me?
[Random Soldier]”Ma’am the facade is up, they know, I don’t know how but they know, please stand behind us and under no circumstances come to our aid”
‘Wait, but how, click and bait, they were given everything and then how, this doesn’t make sense. Wait, it’s that blasted skeleton!!!’
[Altidor]”Hahahahaha, wonderful fleshless, just blasted wonderful. Eren if yer done healing that damp petrify these fools and bring that one out”
Somer relished at the sight of his first contribution to the force and while still in high spirits he was congratulating himself endlessly in his head and just then a gaze so fierce, it would’ve given a beast run for its money was directed at the skeleton, it was the woman, the very same woman who had her fate sealed by a mere skeleton, a thing humans use as bloody toys!!
[Somer]’Eh, what’s this icy feeling, oh my God it’s that woman, she scaring the hell out of me. What is she up to?’ Just then a scythe was placed on Somer’s shoulder “Ahhhhh!”
[Jones]”Ah comrade, got the jump on me too, why so twitchy mate? But quite the remark Altidor gave you, he hardly ever graced us with such remarks. So Cheers!”
[Altidor]”Jones, get to interrogate this wench, I need all the information I can get from her, do whatever you have to”
[Jones]”At it sir”
Now in English “Welcome to our humble adobe human, now before you go spitting and retaliating to everything I say please do keep this in mind, this is not a negotiation, THIS IS AN INTERROGATION, and today myself ‘Jones’ will be at your service...”
[Melissa]”Screw your mother, I’ll burn you and your kind and I’ll begin with that damn skeleton!!!!”
Jones simply pointed at the Human on the far left who has only one leg remaining, oops not anymore as Fastidius simply ripped it out and started nibbling on it, all the while Rafael laughing at the entire scene and the human screaming even more with Eren trying to stop the blood loss.
Melissa just looked even more angered by it.
Jones looked even more menacing and serious after this.
[Jones]”That Skeleton, is my dear friend and possibly the lone survivor of the Shrew Caves Disaster you humans orchestrated. He’s angry and he’s got new magic tricks I’m sure he’d be willing to perform on each and every single one of you, now either you talk with the more civilised version of a beast, that is me of course, or be contended with dealing with a more vicious and revenge thirty version of the beast, that is of course my good friend here. I’ll make it worth your while, let’s keep it civil, I won’t touch a hair on your body, not even stand anywhere near you and I can vouch for my brethren doing the same, however the same cannot be said of your soldiers, both of your brigade and what’s left of the other one, my kin are..... not good at holding themselves back you see, they revel themselves in less.. than.. humane.. activities... after all it comes naturally to us.”
[Melissa]”My soldiers are trained to fight until the bitter end, we do not give up, we do not yield and we do not give in to intimidation, you and ‘your friend’ can go f*** yourselves” she spat.
[Somer]’Wow, she’s got a bit of a temper and the way she looks at me is very uncomfortable, damn woman, get your stuff together.’
Just then Remser had come and spoke with Altidor in hushed magic tones and he walked up to Somer almost beaming with a smile, “Haha, mage eh? I’ll be damned, we need mages, you skeletons were the pioneers in beast magic, so all the best fella, make us beasts proud”
[Jones]”Remser, do you still have an appetite?”
[Remser]”Oi Jones, always do, all this running needs recompense eh? Haha”
[Jones in a steely voice]”The lady with the half ripped face is yours, do it here in front of this woman”
[Remser]”You’re scary when you get like this Jones...”
Somer noticed as Remser walked up to the woman with the half bitten face and in front of everyone just tore her away from the bar and.... and.... gave the woman his ‘Tender’ love.
Everyone got silent and only the noise of the woman screaming as Remser torn himself into her with rhythmic movements of his hip and his scythes cutting her everywhere as he forced her into the ground with renewed vigour with every thrust, she got bloodied soon, blood soaking her clothed, blood splashed onto her near vincinity and most of all her screams of agony and suffering echoing throughout the camp, after a while she gave a final loud screech and went limp all the while Remser was doing his thing.
[Melissa]”ROSE NOOO!!!! YOU BASTARDS LEAVE HER ALONE, STOP IT!!!!! ROSE ROSE ROSE!!!! SPEAK TO ME, ROSE!!!”
*sob**sob*
Almost in a whisper, “Leave he be, please......”
Somer was looking at the whole scene in shock, one moment Remser was the most charming beast that he ever spoke with and in another he was the insatiable champion of coitus, this guys, he’s a bloody maniac.
As Somer was deep in though and musing on how life can take a drastic turn in seconds and you’d be none the wiser he saw another shadow looming over him, this one larger than the previous one and almost as if...... outlining a Panda’s figure?
[???]”Hahaha, toying with humans is the best aint it skelly?”
[Somer]”.......” all that was seen was Somer turning around and his jaws open at the sight that visited him... A beast like Rafael but as tall as Altidor and just as imposing, his fur a deep red and almost looked impenetrable and his teeth a gleaming red colour and as sharp as Altidor’s scythes.
[???]”You mute buddy?”
[Altidor]”Haha, Borus congratulations, ye have secured our first major victory in months”
[Borus]”Haha, it’s your strategists meticulous planning that got us here, the ambush went on perfectly, only two casualties whereas the humans were nearly wiped out, hahaha, it’s a been a long time since I’ve had my fill of 80 bodies in me tummy. Also, this is a weird skelly you’ve got here”
[Altidor]”This is Somer, our newest Mage recruit, he’s a promising fleshless. Bill take him to Aric, learn from him Somer, he’s our leading Mage in our troops, he’s one of our best”
[Somer] [Bell] “Yes sir”
[Altidor]”Now then Borus, lets go to Kien, he’s got a new strategy planned out for us, we need to discuss that at length, strike the iron while it’s hot eh?”
[Borus]”Sure, RAFAEL, come along, it’s time you learn a thing or two about planning and strategies, it’ll give you an early promotion”
[Rafael]”Yes sir”
As such Somer was taken away to a tent in a deeper portion of the camp with the air filled with screams of humans being tortured endlessly.
—————————————————
[Jones]”I hate to cut short your mourning but you see, time is of the essence here, to you that is, I’m as free as a bird can be”
[Melissa]”Shut up *sob*”
[Jones]”Remser start eating the corpse after you’re done and do it right here and make sure you’ll crunch it as loud as you possibly can”
‘Haha, you look like a nobel woman, have you ever seen war, have you ever seen torture up close? Being brought up protected from the hardships of life do you think you can overcome it all with just bravado and the false sense of security that nothing can happen to you? I know you humans, the fact that you’ll be unharmed is the key leverage, you need to believe that you’ll be safe and you will give me what I need’
“So then *crunch* Human, what will *crunch* it be? Cooperation and safety *crunch* for all your soldiers *crunch* or a pointless un*crunch*dig*crunch*nified *crunch*death”
[Melissa]’No these monsters, these bastards, these assholes’ “Please make it stop, please....”
[Jones]”Oh but it will dear, as long as you cooperate”
[Melissa]”..........”
[Jones]”I see, Remser that decoy capital is yours...”
[Melissa]”Wait!!!!”
[Jones]”Too late”
*AHHHH*-Woman screaming
[Melissa]”Please No, I’ll tell you what I know just please make it stop!!!”
[Jones]”That was a penalty, I don’t like hesitation captain”
[Melissa]”I’m sorry, I’m sorry please please please.... I’ll tell you”
[Jones]”That’s more like it, oh and one tidbit we already have intel and your statements will be used as confirmation, any gross differences will lead to the leash on my friend there being a bit more loose, now since that’s out of the way, oh wait, where are my manners introductions are delayed, I’m Jones it’s a pleasure....”
As such darkness descended both on the lands and the mind and weak hearts of any human that had heard of what transpired on the land which in the future would be dubbed as ‘Tragic’ and subsequently forgotten.