[Darkness, thou art our home and… well, you know the rest.]

I had sent off Rix and Mikael far to the east.

They were going to sneak into Aurenia before making their way to Medelona where they would somehow gather the entire order of Drákosyngenís and bring them back to Coh.

I say somehow because I really didn’t know how they would make a six thousand kilometer trip without getting caught at least once.

The only order I gave Rix was that if things got really bad, he should run back to Coh.

This was all too much to think about and so, from within the dark realm, I peered into the frontlines.

The line itself was the Kauretia Valley and both armies stood on opposite sides while glaring at each other. Our enemy was a force of one hundred thousand peasants, farmers and lower ranking soldiers and knights who made up the Liland Corps. They were up against ten thousand fully armed and trained Rendaro, a large portion of which were magicians or specially trained.

We were outnumbered, but we most certainly weren’t outgunned when it came go general infantry.

The actual war, however, was being fought all over the Expanse as Caligo sent his knights to various locations within the Expanse or along the border.

He wanted to soften us up before dealing the final blow.

I assumed he was going this in an attempt to keep the loss of Secundair or Primair knights low.

If the Stormhawks and Helma were to suddenly attack Coh, we would lose yes, but not without taking some of them with us.

These thoughts were far too dreadful and so I turned my attention to the far west of the border and saw a certain duo of Sixths making their way west to a region of land called the Maurine Salina. A swampy place that, according to the scouts, sat atop of a ruin of an ancient town which had been flooded by a spring atop which it sat.

I would have sent Farin to investigate the ruin if it wasn’t for this stupid war!

Anyway, I followed Ndlo and Tim as they dragged their legs through cold shin-high muddy waters.

“I swear, if those pups aren’t at least dying, I will personally march up to Colonel Koráki and-“

“And what?” Tim asked teasingly while following closely behind him.

“I will demand that I always be deployed in areas that are dry!” Ndlo yelled as they walked in the dead of night.

“Yeah, right. I know exactly what’s gonna happen. You’re gonna keep quite and do whatever he tells you because you are…. How do I say this? A little bitch, haha!” Tim laughed while smacking Ndlo’s back.

“Cut it out! Also, we both know I’m one of the deadliest Rendaro alive.”

“Eh, really? Also, that doesn’t mean anything to the likes of the colonel, or Gunguo-“

“Ugh, please don’t utter her name in the same air that I breath.” Ndlo groaned.

“Not to mention any of the sevenths.”

“You know what, let’s just stop talking.” Ndlo said prompting Tim to let out a giggle.

The two eventually arrived in a large open, but equally marshy area where a squad of Rendaro could be seen crouching behind a couple of what looked like collapsed pillars.

The gigantic slabs of stone were partly submerged and the etchings on their surface that were probably once intricate and intelligible, were reduced to muddled scribbles.

“Oh! Hello, sir! Are you all they sent?” Nolat asked while standing attentively before a cross armed Ndlo.

“Yes and we will be enough. I have two questions. How many of you are injured and how large is the enemy force?”

“None of us are injured and our opponent is a company of soldiers being led by a single knight. The scouts told us that they would arrive here as night fell, but…” Nolat explained. His face covered in mud and his eyes wide.

“I see. What legion?”

“Wingfell.”

“Oh... Hehe. Then let us greet him and his men appropriately when they arrive.” Ndlo said with a grin before walking up to the rest of the seventy seventh squad.

He eyed them before clicking his tongue.

He then made his way around the gigantic pillar and looked out into the foggy marsh.

Nothing was clearly visible in the darkness of the night and the thin mist of the swamp didn’t help.

“Ugh!” Ndlo groaned before plopping down onto a large broken off chunk of pillars.

Tim playfully walked up to Nolat, who had bags beneath his wide eyes.

“So… you guys are the seventy seventh squad… how long have you been out here?” She asked.

“Four days. We set up five ballistae along the tree line and we have a handful of space magicians ready to hide just in case we need to act… stealthily.” Nolat said but Ndlo shook his head in response.

“There will be no need for underhanded tactics. We will face our enemies head first and crush them. You said that our opponent is a single knight, right?”

“Yes, but he leads an entire company of soldiers. Not to mention the fact that it’s a member of the Wingfell legion we’re talking about. The very legion that was said to be able to bring down the very dragons from high in the sky.” Nolat said with trembling eyes.

“Ah… the myths and legends of an ancient past. I do believe that the were capable of pulling off such feats, but one can’t help but think that those tales may have been exaggerated a little.” Ndlo muttered.

“Bah! Ignore him. He’s just upset that we aren’t at the front. Anyway, enough about him. Tell me more about yourselves.” Tim said as she joined the soldiers in sitting.

She then grabbed a cookie from her bag and she loudly ate it while the soldiers all stared at her.

Nolat sighed before sitting next to Bette, who said nothing even though her eyes quaked.

“What do you want to know?” Nolat asked.

“Umm… who is the strongest among you?”

“That would be me.”

“And your name is?”

“Müel.”

“Ooh… is there a death magician among you?”

“No.” Nolat said.

“Aww… where are you from?” Tim asked while looking straight into Nolat’s eyes.

“Is she going to be like this the entire time?” Müel groaned.

“Get used to it.” Ndlo sighed

“Hey! Why are you guys speaking as though I’m annoying? I’m just curious. It’s up to you whether you answer me or not.” Tim sad while pouting with crossed arms.

“Wow… who knew that an elite soldier could make such a cute face?”

One of the Nolat’s men asked making Tim’s eyes widen with fluster.

“T-that’s no way to speak to your superior!” She cried.

“She’s vulnerable! Keep complimenting her!”

“STOP IT!” Tim yelled as her already black eyes glowed brightly green.

The swamp then fell silent as everyone stared at a flustered Tim.

“I apologize for the rudeness displayed by my men.” Nolat said while lowering his head.

“No, don’t apologize. But stop your men from saying weird things, OK?” Tim said while fiddling with her fingers.

“OK…” Nolat droned as confusion riddled his face.

“How… how are you able to speak so… normally?” Bette asked with a shaking voice.

Nolat gently wrapped his arm around her as she stared at nothing.

“What do you mean?” Tim asked.

“You are a sixth. You have seen so much death and yet… you can still laugh and smile. How do you do it?” Bette asked as she looked up into Tim’s eyes.

“Mmm… let’s just say I try not to think too much about any of it. We have a job to do and that is to protect our people. That’s all.”

Bette nodded before resting her head on Nolat’s shoulder.

“Anyway, tell me more about yourself, Mr. Müel.”

Müel frowned a bit before lowering his eyes.

“It’s pretty simple. I’m a Foph who failed on two occasions to become a Troop member so here I sit with my Ia brethren.”

“Wow! Two attempts? Why did you keep failing?”

“Something about not being able to work well with others-“

“It wasn’t just that, my heart.” Lheel said while sitting behind Müel.

“Hey, stay out of it.” Müel said.

“Ooh, now I’m curious. What was it?” Tim asked.

“I often got into fights with others. There, happy?”

“No, not really Why were you so prone to violence?” Tim asked with a rather saddened expression.

Müel say this and lowered his eyes even further.

“Its… I… I’m not sure. As a Foph, we are taught to excel in all things physical. I wanted to be the strongest, fasted warrior ever and every time I failed, I took out my frustrations on my fellow Troop mates. Ah- why the hell am I telling you this anyway?” Müel asked before standing up and making his way to the other side of the massive pillars.

Everyone exchanged puzzled glances but Tim quickly moved on to her next target.

“What about you, captain? Is there any hardship you had to overcome? Any inner turmoil that haunts your mind daily?”

“Nope. I am an Ia so most of my life has been a slow crawl towards death. Actually, my time out here has been… how do I put this? Rewarding? No… fulfilling! Yes.” Nolat said with a faint smile.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“Holy shit, the captain is smiling!”

Everyone gasped, but Nolat waved his hands dismissively.

“Keep it down, idiots. Our enemy may arrive at any moment.” He said with his usual serious face.

“Anyone else wanna share their stories? What about you, small one?”

Lheel sat up and pointed at himself.

“Me?”

“Yes. I plan on questioning the crestfallen girl next, but take your time.”

“Where do you want me to begin, my hearts?” Lheel asked.

“Why do you do that?” Bette asked without looking at Lheel.

“What?”

“You call everyone “My Heart”. Why?”

Lheel’s eyes widened.

He then glanced at Nolat who also stared at him with curious eyes.

“Mmm… I, like many Ia, was born in the confines of Eimval although my mother, a darkness magician, worked on the third floor on a project she never told us the details about. Our time together was relatively peaceful and I’d dare say we were happy. Sure, we were just about as nihilistic as other Ia, but we had each other and that’s all that mattered. That is until my mother died. I don’t know what happed for sure, but the guards told us she and Matt other workers on the third floor were working on a tunnel which unfortunately collapsed and killed them all. This lose hit me pretty hard but my father was absolutely devastated. The guards helped all mourning families to cremate their dead and my father and I eventually returned home to find that it felt a little emptier. A day passed and I soon grew hungry after my father refused to cook anything. He simply sat on the couch and stared at nothing as the minutes ticked by. Ten year old me then decided to try cooking and I did the best I could with the little knowledge I’d gained from watching my parents. I eventually finished cooking my sloppy mess of a meal and I offered some of it to my father on a plate and, much to my surprise, he loved it. He ate it all up as tears fell from his eyes. Its then that I decided that I would do whatever it took to make my father happy again, to return joy into our home. Days passed and cooking skills slowly improved but as you all know, you relieve a set amount of food depending on your occupation and father needed to feed his growing son and so he became a guard. Even more days passed and although he rarely ever spoke during this time, I tool comfort in knowing that at least found joy in coming home and eating my meals. One day, after eating some Nyxa I’d made him he said “Thank you, my heart”. Something he’d only ever said to my mother after dinner. He’d thank her for all the hard work she did and thanked her for loving him. That gratitude was given to me and I cannot describe the joy I felt one that day.” Lheel said before realizing that everyone, even Müel from behind the pillar, was looking at him.

He sweetly smiled before looking up in thought.

“Unfortunately by looking back to those times I see that gratitude was my father’s way of desperately clinging to mother’s memory. It began with him asking me to call him as I do others now unknowingly. Months passed and he eventually asked that I… dress more appropriately. I didn’t know what he meant at the time and so I wore my best clothes just before he arrived from work but to my surprise, he grabbed me by my hands and dragged me into his bedroom where he forced me to where mother’s clothes… I have always been on the smaller side and so the clothes didn’t fit, but my heart nearly seized upon seeing the joyful look on his face. I wiped the handful of tears I’d shed and returned to the kitchen where I served father dinner and like always, he thanked me using those words. The next day came and, determined to do more for him, I made my way to the tailor who lived a few houses away and I asked that he adjust all my mother’s clothing to fit me and he agreed to I exchanged for a few home cooked meals. The tailor’s name was Uncle Toran and although he called me strange on many occasions, he complied to my request and my heart jumped after seeing my father’s delighted face as he saw me in my new clothes. Days turned into weeks and those weeks into months as we lived happily. The day eventually came when I introduced my father to uncle Toran and although the two spoke pretty casually, father behaved been differently as we returned home. He seemed… upset. I didn’t think much of it as I went about my day but everything changed once more when diner came. Father stared at me during the entire meal and after that he said the words “I want another child, Souair.”... Souair was my mother’s name.”

No one spoke as Lheel tightly wrapped his arms around himself.

“ I froze. I didn’t know what to do or say and so I simply watched as father stood up to enter his room. He held the door open while continuing to stare at me and I waited for the pain in my chest to go away, but it never did. Father quickly grew impatient and so he grabbed me by the arm and dragged me into his room. He then closed the door and began undressing all while saying how the house had felt a lot emptier without Lheel. He wanted another son so that we could return to being the family that we once were. I stood frozen for what felt like an eternity and so, after growing impatient, father walked behind me and slowly undressed me…” Lheel stopped as his eyes violently shook.

Nolat opened his mouth to speak, but no words left his mouth as he watched Lheel tremble.

“He… pushed me onto the bed and had his way with me all while screaming that he loved me. I shed countless tears and called out to him but he didn’t listen. He eventually finished and I was left feeling… broken. Long gone was the boy from all that time before. I tried wearing my old boyish clothes but father mercilessly whipped my legs before telling me to wear my “normal clothes”. I did as he asked but as time passed he must have realized that I could not produce children and so he began beating me whenever his frustrations boiled over. Months passed and no matter how bad my beating for my failures got, father never once struck my face… he’d always say I had a pretty face… just like mother’s.” Lheel said as tears fell from his eyes.

Nolat offered him a clean cloth, prompting him to remove his helmet, revealing his tear covered face.

He messily wiped his tears before giving Nolat back his cloth and wearing his helmet once more.

“Ahem! It was actually uncle Toran who came to my aid after seeing me limp home with the weekly supplies in hand. He actually didn’t say anything and waited for my father to return from work. From the outside, my father was the perfect Ia. He worked hard and never questioned the elders so no one ever bothered us. He came home and I served him diner but, like always, he complained about the food and the state of the house. At this point, he’d completely stopped calling me Lheel. He demanded that I enter his room but just as I did, uncle Toran knocked on the door. Father opened it to find uncle standing in front of a few guards. They asked if I was being beaten and father glared at me and I don’t know why… but I shook my head. The guards looked me over but most of my wounds were hidden by my dress. The guards all scolded Toran for trying to get father in trouble and they all laughed together before leaving… this was the last straw for father. He dragged me into the room and asked if I told uncle about my beatings. I told him I hadn’t but this only made him angrier and so, for the first time, he struck my face, not with an open hand or a belt, but with his fist. He called me a whore, a bitch who wanted to destroy his family. I begged him to stop, but he beat me regardless. But just as my vision darkened from pain, uncle barged into the room with eyes that were as black as night and he beat up my father while plumes of white smoke rose from his fists. I was far too weak to move, but in this moment, I wanted to beg that uncle stop, but none of it mattered in the end as I eventually fell unconscious. I eventually awoke to find that all my wounds had been healed. I asked that the healers take me to my father but they told me he had been beaten to death by uncle after the healers revealed my bruised body. As for uncle, he was imprisoned for murder. I was then taken to the orphanage on the first floor where, since I was a little older than the other children, I helped with chores and such. I had lost so much. My home, my family, uncle Toran… I so no point in even living but the nannies told me that even though I had nothing left to lose, that didn’t mean I had nothing to give and so I worked alongside them in raising the Rendaro children and this passion for helping others led to me to joining the army. I originally wanted to be a medic, but I was happy enough serving next to others who were all willing to give their lives for the Expanse. For future Rendaro children.” Lheel said with a smile.

Tim blinked several times after forgetting to do so for a bit.

She then glanced at Ndlo to find him frantically wiping his tears while no one was looking.

“Uhh.. guys, sorry to interrupt, but we have company.” Müel said.

“Ahem! Everyone, draw your weapons!” Ndlo said as he stood up.

He then made his way to where Müel stood and spotted two hundred soldiers in the distance and even though they were almost five hundred meters away, Müel saw that they all wore light leather armor that allowed them to easily traverse the marsh and some of them held torches that lit the way.

The seventy sevenths all stood up and drew their weapons.

Ndlo then surveyed the marsh.

The far western and eastern parts of the area were far too deep to traverse which left a narrow muddy walkway that connected the north to the south. It was about fifty meters long and five meters wide.

Ndlo and the others couldn’t just run up the walkway because that’d leave them open.

They’d have to wait for the enemy to pass the walkway before attacking them while forcing them back into the deep parts where they would be vulnerable.

Ndlo nodded to himself facing Nolat.

“We push through and send those bastards crawling back to where they came from.”

Heh?

Ndlo pointed at the muddy walkway which was visible even in the night.

“You see that path? We’ll rush up there as quickly as possible and while you guys take care of the weaklings, I’ll take care of the silver knight.” Ndlo said but Nolat winced at this.

“You want to fight a silver knight… alone?” He asked, but Ndlo suddenly grabbed his collar before pointing at a badge on his chest plate. It was of a Red Raven. A medal given to those who have performed outstandingly on the field of battle. There were four tiers: silver, gold, red and black. Apart from excellent service, the Red Raven marked the fact that someone had killed over two thousand people. Although I’m not sure if Ndlo counted since, as a sixth, most of what they did was finish people off by absorbing their life forces.

“I am more than capable of felling even a golden knight, so do as I say or face the consequences.” Ndlo hissed.

Nolat nodded prompting Ndlo to unhand him.

“Good.” Ndlo said before glancing around the pillar to see that the company of soldiers hadn’t moved from the other side of the walkway.

“Follow me.” Ndlo said before running out into the open.

Tim, along with seventy seventh squad followed him and they ran across the marsh towards the walkway, using the cover of night to go unnoticed for as long as possible.

Ndlo finally reached the muddy walkway but instead of charging across it, he stepped to the side before gesturing that the seventy sevenths go ahead.

“Go! Go!” He barked as softly, but just as the first of the seventy sevenths stepped onto the walkway, an arrow stuck the helmets of one of them.

Fortunately, the MSDA was almost impervious to normal arrows. Not only that, all UEF soldiers were armed with a small shield which they could use to protect their eyes.

The squad ran across the walkway while being pelted with arrows.

Ndlo and Tim ran up behind them while Ndlo looked for the silver knight.

They eventually arrived on the other side of the walkway, but instead of charging towards them, the enemy simply parted, revealing a tall man covered in a dark dirty robe.

“Greetings, mud crawlers! I am Nire, justice personified and I’ve come to deal out justice swiftly.” The man said while spreading his arms, revealing that he held in his hands to large silver Sickles that were bound to thin silver chains that were attached to nothing.

The seventy sevenths all stood frozen as the man removed his robe revealing his glorious silver armor.

Although his was far sleeker and jagged.

The seventy sevenths all turned to Ndlo for answers and so he looked at the two hundred men before pointing his sword at Nire.

“Charge-“

Ndlo stopped as something cold touched his neck.

His eyes then widened upon seeing that Nire was gone.

“Oh… how brave of you, ye who leads worms.” Nire said from behind a trembling Ndlo.

“But justice will always prevail.” Nire said before stabbing Ndlo in the back, but just as he did this, an enraged Tim struck his right arm with her sword, breaking it in the process.

“AHH! YOU WRETCHED, FILTHY WHORE!” Nire cried before dropping Ndlo and grabbing Tim by the neck.

He then shoved her to the ground before stomping her shoulder, shattering it.

“AHH!” Tim cried as Nire kicked her sword away.

“MEN, CAPTURE THOSE WORMS! TONIGHT WE AVENGE THOSE WE LOST IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST THESE MAGGOTS! TONIGHT, WE DEAL JUSTICE!” Nire yelled prompting his men to move towards the seventy sevenths.

Nolat let our a strange whimper as the humans soldiers surrounded his squad.

“We may die today, but we’re taking at least half of you assholes with us!” Lheel suddenly yelled and this made his squad mates all raise their weapons as they prepared for what would be their final fight, but the humans didn’t move in for the kill.

The simply taunted the squad, by throwing rocks at them and cursing them loudly.

“Come on, worms! Get your ashy asses over here and die already!”

“Hehe, be patient. Sir Nire said we should capture them.”

“Oh, yeah. I can’t wait to wring the last bits of life from you worms. To flay you open, one of a time in front of each other-“

“AAARRRG!” Müel roared while charging towards the enemy.

Several of his comrades followed as he crashed into an enemy soldier with so much force that it sent the man flying backwards.

He then swung his sword, chopping off the arm of a soldier who wanted to attack him.

The other Rendaro all fought valiantly alongside him.

Each swing Müel made was supported by a block or a deflection from his comrades that allowed him to move onto his next target.

However, as Müel hacked apart soldier after soldier, he accumulated damage.

Spear tips managed to cut the parts of his body that weren’t covered in armor and eventually, a spear was shoved into his eye, killing the Foph warrior.

“Müel!” Lheel cried while defending himself desperately from the wall of Spears that encircled the squad.

“DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT!” Nire yelled while stomping on Tim’s already pulverized shoulder.

He then mounted her while the seventy sevenths were being captured.

“DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THAT ARM WAS WORTH, YOU INSIGNIFICANT BITCH? HUNDREDS OF YEARS I’VE LIVED AND FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS HAS THAT ARM SERVED ME!” He yelled even though Tim was in so much pain, she probably couldn’t hear him.

The reason why she hadn’t died from shock or blood loss was tied to her being a sixth. She was far more resilient that normal people.

Nire took a deep breath before staring into her teary eyes.

“Bitch.” He said before punching her in the face with so much force that half of her head flew off.

“WHORE!” He screamed before punching her yet again, shoving his fist into her skull.

“AARRRG!” He yelled before finally standing up and facing the now captive seventy seventh squad, although only nine of them survived.

Nire walked up to the Rendaro who were all quickly stripped of all of their armor and clothing.

They were then forced to kneel in the cold mud all while Nire eyed them.

Surprisingly, even though his right arm was broken, he still held onto his second sickle.

Nire looked at his men as if counting them and after a moment, he nodded.

“I’ll take… those two. You can have the rest.” He said after pointing at Lheel and Bette.

“No! Where are you taking her?” Nolat asked while trying to break free from the hold of the many soldiers who had pinned down.

“Shut up, worm!” One of the soldiers yelled before kicking him in the face.

Nira ignored all this while walking towards a distant tree with a naked Lheel and Bette being dragged behind him by his soldiers.

Nire sat against the tree and his Sickles disappeared shortly after.

A bag then appeared next to him and he retrieved a long strip of cloth before removing his armor.

“Drop them and help me.” He said prompting the soldiers to let go of Lheel and Bette.

They then helped bind his arm to chest.

“Go on, have your fun. Oh and try not to kill them. Also, start fire and prepare some food or something. We’ll wait for reinforcements before making our way further south.” Nire said while resting his head against the tree.

A moment passed as the night hung and all Lheel and Bette could so was look at Nira while he though deeply about something.

“You know… I could let you go, if you both cooperated.” He said.

“W-what do you want?” Lheel asked, his body trembling from the cold.

Nire’s eyes then began glowing blue and a twisted smile formed on his face.

“Flesh.”