The Kingdom of Astra is going through a rapid amount of change. In just under a week, the kingdom was now split and in danger of falling apart any second. However, steadfast leadership from the Royal House of Astra has prevented the situation from worsening. This was done through the messengers sent out to the current supporters of the Eastern Region. Messengers targeted crucial strongholds and important allies while one was sent to the Southern House of Kellen. The Southern House of Kellen being the major house joined to the Royal House of Astra through the marriage of Queen Lanna Kesser Kellen.

However, while they have been securing their allies since the initial meeting with the king, prime minister, and US diplomat Jeffery A. Koch, the kingdom itself is preparing for a long confrontation. The kingdom knew that the US was assisting, however they did not believe that it was going to be significant in the upcoming war. Although the prime minister and the king knew the US was nothing to scoff at, they never believed that another country would send troops to aid another country whole heartedly.

However, despite the skepticism of the king and prime minister, there was one person who believed the US's claim.

Princess Dianna and her guard Sean Obert were riding down a dirt ridden path towards Cultivation Town by horse. The dirt path was created through numerous amounts of people who traveled through this path before them. However, since the civil war broke out, not many would dare to travel to the western region.

It was getting late by the time they reached the end of the forest. It has been a few days since she heard the US was sending troops to aid the town. Not many believed the US, but she did.

"Princess, do we really have to do this? I know that you are confident in your abilities, however I alone cannot guarantee your safety." Sean was worried about princess Dianna. Its only been a week since she came back from her voyage to the Tillerian empire. And now she is propelling herself back into danger again. Sean was baffled by her eagerness to throw herself into the fire.

"Sean, aren't you confident in your ability as a Knight?" She found it a bit funny how Sean is worried about her. "Your highness, we need more men. Although I am quite confident in my abilities, I am but one knight.

"Then we will run away. We have the fastest steeds in the castle stable." The princess said while smiling. Sean was baffled at her easiness and joking attitude. He could not figure out why her highness would come all the way out here without telling anyone. Its like she does not care about her safety at all.

"Your highness, why do all of this? As your knight, I cannot understand your goal."

"Do you believe that any person can obtain choice in life Sean?"

"Choice? I believe that with enough money and power, one can make their own choices all the time."

"That is exactly why I am out here Sean." When she finished speaking, she continued trotting towards an open area for setting camp. Sean was still confused. Just what would she find out here that could bring her more power or fortune? Sean thought.

The two made their way to set camp for the night. They found a comfortable area and fell asleep on the green grass. To their luck, it was not wet.

The princess fell asleep quite easily, however Sean was just worried about protecting her highness.

The dawn of a new day came. The princess and knight prepared to leave camp to continue their journey towards cultivation town. As they continued down a dirt path, her highness suddenly stopped in the middle of the path without notice. Sean was caught off guard.

"Your highness?" said Sean. He looked towards the princess. "Do you hear that?" Dianna said.

The sound of distant pattering could be heard. The two looked around but found no traveler around. It was not the sound of footsteps, but the two couldn't make out what that sound was.

"Sean, a village should be nearby correct?"

"Yes" He said with a confused face.

"What direction is that village?"

He pointed to the right from where they were standing. "Your highness, do you want to head over to that village then?"

Dianna was contemplating. Sean could not notice, but her hands were getting clammy and she was sweating a bit from anxiety. "Let's go towards the village. The sound seems to be coming from that direction."

"Understood, I will lead the way for you your highness."

The two started their gallop towards the villages direction. The wind sped past their ears while crops could be seen in the distance. They were getting closer to the village. As they approached, they noticed the sounds of distant pattering were changing into loud cracks of sound.

They sounded like mini explosions going off erratically. However, they were sounding off too quickly. They eventually reach the area where these sounds were coming from.

The two could see a contingent of knights and men who were charging towards the village, however they were being mowed down by some invisible force. Whether they wore leather, metal armor, or rode on horseback, they all fell. Rapid sounds of explosions sounded from the distant battle as men continued to fall. The attacking force appeared to be the western regions forces as cultivation town should be under siege right now.

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The scene before the two was horrific. Men were falling left and right as the scene was falling into chaos. Soon a horn was sounded and the western regions men began to run away. The sound of small explosions started to stop.

The princess and her knight were shocked. They didn't know how the western region fell so quickly when they didn't even see the defending side. All they saw were trenches with some people who did not move the entire battle.

Although Sean was quite shaken by the scene, the princess chose to continue.

"Your highness?"

"I must confirm something Sean. Come, lets head towards the village."

The two approached the village and saw that there was a defense perimeter around the village. It seemed to be quite hasty as there were no wooden fortifications, just holes in the ground.

As they got closer, a voice rang out towards them. "Hold it! State your identity!"

The two stopped in their tracks. The princess yelled out. "I am princess Dianna of the Kingdom of Astra!" Sean looked shocked and prepared to defend the princess with his life. He knew that the moment they realize it is the princess, they may try to capture them. The princess falling into the hands of a group of men was a recipe for disaster.

As he prepared for their assault, he was surprised to find that the predicted assault did not happen. Instead, they were greeted by a couple of men who came out to meet with them.

"You are princess Dianna correct?"

"Yes, and who may your group be?"

"We are Eagle company under the direction of Battalion leader Lieutenant Colonel Dennis P. Callion. I am captain Elias F. Holdfort of Eagle company and we serve the US military."

"The US military!?"

Sean was confused while the princess was shocked. It has not been long since the US said that they would pledge their support, and yet they have already sent troops this deep into the kingdom of Astra? Just how in the world did they get here? The princess wanted to ask for more information. The captain filled her in on the details.

"So you mean to say you flew here on a "Plane" and established a hold on the villages until reinforcements arrived?"

"Yes, according to our intelligence, there were thousands of soldiers that are besieging the town of Cultivation. Our force simply is not enough to completely route the forces. We are holding position in these villages to protect them while also securing a route to the town."

The princess thought that this was well thought out. If they held the villages, it would not only protect the villagers, but also hamper the sieges effort to get food and labor. In addition, since the town of Cultivation lies on the border between the western and eastern region, these villages are crucial to ensure that a force can safely get to the town.

The princess was impressed with their strategy, however she immediately determined that this "plane" artifact was the key to their success. Any animal or creature is unable to support such a large movement of troops in such a short amount of time. Just what kind of artifact has this country dug up? What are its capabilities? How many do they have? The princess was filled with questions, however now was not the time to pester the captain with such questions. She assumed they must be the key to power for the US.

Then, a sound came from the captain. It was garbled and sounded like a voice. "What is it lieutenant?" The captain spoke into a weirdly shaped black grilled box on his uniform.

"Captain, we have spotted some movement due west of our position. I believe the enemy has come back to attack."

"Understood." The captain looks at the princess. "Your highness, we must head into the village. The Western region is launching an offensive. Lets move people!"

Dianna and Sean moved into the village while following the group of men. When they got closer to the main defense line, they saw in closer detail the men who held strange cylinders in their hands. They surprisingly wore similar outfits as the captain of this group. This uniformity left a deep impression on Princess Dianna and Sean.

Dianna also spotted what appears to be their flag on the arms of every person clothed in green patterned armor. Broad stripes of white and red with bright stars over blue, the flag was unfamiliar. The word "Airborne" was also present on every person present. Were these men perhaps born in the air? Dianna thought.

They were eventually led to what looked like the main area for planning. We set our horses to a pole and entered a makeshift shack that was covered in green cloth. Inside was a wooden table with many weird artifacts being manned by men in patterned clothes.

"Captain." The man saluted as we entered.

"First lieutenant at ease. This is princess Dianna of the Astra Kingdom and her knight."

"Ah, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance your highness. I am sorry we can't provide much."

"Its understandable. The battlefield is not kind to those who fight. However, I must ask. How many times has this village been attacked by the western region's forces?"

The first lieutenant looked towards the captain. He nodded in approval.

"We have been attacked nearly eight times since we set up our position nearly two days ago. Each time the forces numbers increased. The recent attack had nearly 200 men trying to attack from due north and east of our position."

200 men? That is probably more than this villages total combined population!

"First lieutenant, we have confirmed the enemy approaching due west of our position. Platoon leaders have begun their attack."

"Do we know how many?"

"We can guess that there are more men this time. More than 300 from estimates."

Now 300? Just how crazy are these western troops!?

"Captain, let me assist. I know how to use magic in the field. I can help thin their numbers."

The captain smiled. "I appreciate the help your highness, however I cannot let you come into harms way while I am in command. If you are worried about my men, there is no need to be. They were trained for this."

In truth, Dianna not only wanted to help, but to see them in battle with her own eyes. This time much closer than before.

"Then captain, is it alright if I see your men fight. You must know that I am curious about how you fight at this point."

The captain contemplated for a moment. "Lieutenant, assign her highness with two men. Escort her to this position."

"Captain?"

"That's an order lieutenant."

"Yes captain."

The lieutenant prepared to escort the princess to the designated spot near the defense line. Dianna was eager to see how these patterned men would defend against such a large attacking force.