“All males aged 17 to 45 are encouraged to enlist! Together we must fight the menace known as Pasha and reclaim the lands they have stolen! Ad Victoriam!”
Onlookers are flocking infront of the mayor’s house where Magic Knight-General Grandis makes his speech. Knight-General Grandis is the Katillia Kingdom’s strongest general. Some even classify him as a national treasure. Possessing both wisdom and strength, he is loved by Katillia and feared by Pasha.
As this village is near the border between the Katillia and Pasha this is the last recruitment stop of the main army before it goes to war against the neighboring Kingdom of Pasha. War has been a common occurrence for these two countries for more than 50 years however with each countries’ Knight-Generals at the forefront this seems to be decisive battle for the Kingdoms.
Looking at General Grandis I’m overcome with emotion. I burn with passion and eagerness to do battle. I’m inspired by the General’s greatness.
“Will you follow me in the path to victory?” he shouts.
“AD VICTORIAM!” says the people
Cheering erupts and morale is high. We raise our fists in the air as salute. As the cheering goes on I hear someone calling me.
“Louie! You’ll enlist with Leppy and I right?
“Of course!” I shout
This is one of my best friends Dolor. I’ve known him and my other best friend Leppy since we were children. We all want to become a Knight-General one day. Today will be our first step towards our dream.
While in the camp all the soldiers chat with each, sharing stories, introducing themselves. The mood was unusually positive for men about to wage war. We spend the night celebrating and drinking the night away and as I sleep I see crows hanging by a tree.
The next day we prepare for war against Pasha. I along with the other new recruits will be at the forefront of the battle. The orders were simple, break through the enemy line and get to the enemy mage encampment.
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As we march towards the border Leppy, Dolor and I chat.
“We’ll stay alive right?” says Leppy.
“Of course we will” I answer
“I can’t help but worry though, I heard the General Omari will lead the Pashan army…” says Leppy
“Don’t worry too much we’ve got General Grandis on our side!” says Dolor
“Yeah if anything they should be afraid of us. Ad Victoriam!” I shout
“HAHA ADVICTORI—“
“SHUT UP BACK THERE!” suddenly shouted by the senior officer
“hehehe” we all snicker
After marching for two hours straight we pass by Cavina Forest. The clouds are dark and ominous. I see no animal nor monster in around when suddenly the ground start rumbling and flocks of birds flying the armies’ way. Flashes of blinding light cover the sky and the senior officer shouts “ENEMY ATTA—“
I wake up in front of Dolor screaming at me to stand up. I stand up and notice the smell all around me, the smell of death in the air. Lots our forces were caught up in the spell bombardment and perished. Only 2/3 of us remain to fight and as I walk around the stench of blood, burnt skin and sweat filled my nose.
It was a massacre. Dolor, Leppy and I survived somehow and moved as a group. A Pashan solider went running towards me and I froze up. I’ve dealt with animals and monsters before but never a human.
“DIE DIE DIE!” he screamed
“Haaaahaaaah” I whimpher
I punch him in the face and as he staggered I quickly cut his head off. My knees buckle down and I collapse I still don’t know what I’d done my whole body shakes and I puke.
“This… this is war. I want to live. I have to live!” I scream
Dolor and Leppy get me up once again and we start fighting the forces. I was silent, gone was the bright-eyed face in place of it was blood and sweat.
I was baptized. Slowly but surely I was changing. I had to fight more and more.
BOOM!!
The earth shook and ear piercing explosions were raining throughout the forest. It was General Grandis fighting General Omari. Each strike shook the earth and was sending shockwaves throughout the battlefield.
"We’ll settle this here"said Omari
"Settle this? You coward! Launching a surprise attack like this… have you no honor? Grandis shouted
"Fool! History will only remember the victor. I tell you now it will remember me as the man who slew Kattilia’s strongest man RAAAAGHHH!"
Omari starts bombarding Grandis with flame magic dozens upon dozens of explsoion littler the battle. Grandis could only defend and evade him as he had spent most of his mana clearing a path to Omari. Looking at over his shoulder he sees his army, weak and in disarray. He calls for a sudden retreat.
“RETREAT!” I kept hearing, but we didn’t mind it. More and more we thought. We couldn’t allow this army to pass through the border. We kept on fighting and fighting until we lost consciousness.
“Restrain those Katillian savages!”
“Hold them down!”
We got captured.