Serafin searched her room, but found nothing else that had changed, her door was still locked, the key inside the door. With the chilling look of the dead eyes still in the back of her head she got dressed and headed on deck.

The sight before her was breathtaking. High hills was an understatement, they were approaching a veritable mountain range covered in scores of trees. The ships were halting at the foot of the mountains, all eyes were on her.

She turned to her adjutant, clad in a golden robe in fashion of the capital. "Relay to the other ships, we disembark here."

The skeletal figure nodded it´s head, the melodic voice echoing through the clear morning air towards the other ships. "Ships of the imperial expeditionary fleet, it is time to make landfall. Hasten to your positions, go in the light of Aeterna."

Serafin moved to the front of the ship to watch the proceedings, her right resting on the hilt of her blade.

The ships slowly lowered to the ground, landing in two rows. The frontal, which Serafin´s ship belonged to, held the soldiers of Zana, who now poured out of the opening metal doors on both sides of the ships, spreading out in a half-circle facing the high hills.

Behind them landed the two ships of Mhall, who formed a similar defensive posture behind, while their supply ship landed in the middle of the formation. Engineers and mages oversaw the unloading of their cargo: munitions, weapons, grain, crystals other necessities.

"Apologies for the delay, commander." Tatanya was creeping toward her, a large black hat hiding her features as she clung to her staff. "I needed some, additional time." She kept her head down after reaching Serafin´s side, her voice little more than a whisper. "I apologise for my behavior last night, I acted out of line."

"You did." Serafin did not take her eyes off the horizon. "But I will overlook it this time. I want you to coordinate with our mages about fending off a possible aerial attack."

Tatanya rose an eyebrow. "The hillspeople do have rather profound mastery over beasts, but they never brought ones capable of flight against us, commander. Not even in the histories."

Serafin shook her head. "I am aware, but this terrain is much more dangerous than expected, and our ships are not capable of fending off attacks on their own. We cannot afford to lose one, so I want you to prepare for this eventuality."

"As you wish, commander."

Together they walked to the lower decks, and exited through the large open gates. On the ground level the scenery was all the more intimidating, flowing green grass in every direction except the north. The living Zanaan were idly inspecting the lines of their undead compatriots, always eyeing the heights so close to them.

"Commander" The young Mhall officer approached her, giving a short salute. "Colonel Valeria of the 34th and 49th Brigades of Mhall. Requesting permission to begin the construction of our base of operation."

"Granted." Serafin eyed her over for a moment. The woman was much shorter than her, with both pistol and axe of her rank at her side. Her grey eyes lingered on Serafin for but a moment before she turned around to return to her troops.

For a moment Serafin managed to tear her eyes away from the imposing sight of the mountain, to look back. Behind them was nothing but lush, ever-expanding green and blue skies.

The soldiery of Mhall began their work. Wooden beams were raised, the sound of hammers hitting nails soon filling the air. Serafin toured the outer lines of their undead soldiers, approaching one of the living scions commanding a group of their lesser warriors.

"Take twenty of those under your command and scout ahead. I don't want to approach these mountains without knowing where we're going."

The scion bowed deeply. "It will be done, commander. What shall we do should we encounter the enemy?"

She hesitated. "Kill. Bring their corpses back, they may be useful."

His smile only grew. With twenty of his undead compatriots he made way northward.

"Commander." Valeria returned, once more saluting. "I would request that the Zanaan units help with construction. My soldiers require the help." She eyed over the undead, her lips pressed tightly together. "Ditch digging would be paramount."

"Ditches?" One of the towering suits of armour turned it´s helmet and walked towards them, the ground shaking underneath. "My soldiers have fought for Zana and the empire for a hundred years, and you would have us dig ditches instead of preparing out battle?"

"You're dead, what is it you need to prepare for." Valeria crossed her arms. "Ensuring we have a defensible position to return to is paramount, and your soldiers will not tire out unlike mine."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"What defences would we need against roving bands of savages?" The undead leader took another step forward. "We simply march forward and eradicate what stands in our path."

"And that is why you're stuck in ancient metal and I am still breathing." Valeria straightened her posture. "Leave strategy to the living."

Before their argument could escalate further, Serafin stepped between them. "The dead are no less than the living, colonel. But I accept your proposal. You may command the Zanaan troops in order to fortify our position."

"Commander, you cannot be serious!"

Serafin rested her hand on her blade and looked up at the large metal figure. "Is it Zanaan to question their leader? Is that what the steel legion is based upon?" She shook her head. "No, Thalmeus. I have made my decision. I already sent a first scouting party ahead. Take 200 of your own and follow them, we will likely need much more lumber, and perhaps you will even come across some enemies."

She stared down the undead, until he slowly bowed. "As you command." His grumbling after was barely audible, she decided to ignore it.

"Thank you, commander." Valeria bowed in turn. "I will ensure that our fortifications are presentable before nightfall. No savage will descend these mountains without coming under fire."

Serafin toured the camp, and found Tatanya in a little gathering with the other Zanaan mages. Their ranks parted as Serafin approached.

"We are still working on your request, commander." Tatanya looked up to the sky, grimacing at the dark clouds gathering at the mountain´s peaks. "We should be able to fend off smaller foes, however if we face beasts like those in the plain, then I can guarantee nothing."

"Good." Serafin followed Tatanya´s gaze. "Brilliant. Let us pray that we will be unopposed then. I ordered the scouts to return any corpses they can carry, as you requested."

A wide toothy smile spread across Tatanya´s face. "Very generous, commander. We will make great use of them with what Lady Marion taught us."

Her words caused a light shudder to run down Serafin´s back. "Whatever it is you will do, try to do so out of sight. For the sake of morale."

"Eugh. Very well, very well. We will contain our work to our ship then. Bothersome outsiders and their prudish ways." Tatanya coughed, her entire body convulsing. She had to wipe her mouth with a handkerchief, now smeared with black blood. "I hope they are successful in their finds, this air is torture to breathe."

Serafin rose an eyebrow. Nothing about their surroundings felt any different to her. "Very well. I will be upon my ship, if there are any complications, inform me."

She waited until the gates of the ship closed behind her to let out a long sigh. Mhall and Zana. At least it was not Cirei and Zana, or Atal and Zana. Still. Serafin returned to her chambers, holding her breath as she opened the door.

But all was empty. Everything was exactly as she had left it. From her window she could not watch the growth of their camp, but she instead buried herself in papers. There was so much still to do.

Traversing the passes even with her soldiery would be an issue, to ensure a safe route of supplies a whole other. Until they were completely sure the skies were secure she could not use their ships either, and even in pacified conditions they would burn incredible amounts of crystals.

And then the issue of commanding this army built on such opposing doctrines. She did not notice as day turned to night, heard not the rain hitting glass, or the howling wind surrounding the landed ship. First a firm knock on her door rose her out of her stupor of work.

"Come in." She put the paper on top of her third pile of documents, hands smeared in ink.

"Commander." Valeria entered the room. "Our fortifications are largely finished, and the scouting party has returned." She held a piece of paper in her hand which she handed to Serafin. "I composed a report. The Zanaan soldiers are fullfilling their orders, though I would lie if I said I was satisfied with their performance."

"Our dead are fighters and guardians, they may appear as mindless husks, but they are far from it." Serafin narrowed her eyes, but no matter how closely she looked over the report, her vision remained blurry.

Valeria folded her hands behind her back. "Commander, I know this may be out of line for me to ask, but have you been getting enough sleep?"

She looked up at the Colonel, blinking a few times. "Not as much as I would like, but decently enough, it is no matter." Serafin placed the report on her desk and leaned against it. For a brief moment she tried looking out the window, but saw only her reflection. The deep, dark rings under her eyes. "As commander of such a pivotal mission I must ensure that operations proceed smoothly."

All papers she had written and signed together were a heavy weight on their own, a massive tower that nearly toppled as she walked over to Valeria and handed them to her. "See to it that these are given out to the officers of both our contingents."

Valeria visibly struggled holding the large stack of papers that almost reached from her waist to her chin. Her cheeks turned red from the exertion. "I will commander, however." She pushed head down onto the papers to keep them in place. "I would advise, that you lay down to rest. Our forces already compose many corpses, and all camaraderie of humanity aside, I would wish not to be lead by one."

The Colonel left Serafin´s quarters, unable to close the door behind her. Serafin did so herself, and looked over to her bed with gritted teeth. She had a point, of course. But she truly did not want to.

Despite her desires, she laid down, hiding under her covers like she was a child again, hiding her face under the blanket. Quickly she felt herself slipping away, pleading, begging for another nightmare of El, or the castrum, or another catastrophe.

Anything, if it meant not needing to see those eyes again.