Chapter 110: Gray Roads 5
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Oswin returned with the bear hung on his waist. As he gets seen by the soldiers in the camp their eyes brightened and they raise their thumbs and approved of Oswin’s deeds. The hunter that was sitting on a stump whistled while glancing at the bear.
“What happened to the body?”
“I left it. No need to bother with a human-eaters body.”
“True.”
The hunter crossed his arms while nodding. He believes that eating an animal that has devoured a human will incur the wrath of the God themselves.
“But wouldn’t it best to have the bear burn into a pyre?”
“I would love to take the bear. But the elven forest was getting eerie. So sorry, you have to play with this bear.”
“Bah, I’ll take it. Maybe we could use the head as a ball for us to play.”
The hunter grabs the bear’s head from Oswin’s hands. Oswin gave the bear away and then watch the hunter lift the bear’s head towards the men in the tents. Their mouths roared and they began to chant hatefully as they began passing around the bear that killed some of their brothers. Oswin watched them before striding to a barrel filled with water.
Dipping his hand inside the barrel, he scoops some water with his palms and washes away the blood that stained his garments. He didn’t want to smell like bear blood so he then took oil from his bandolier. The oil was a mixture of different flowers and usually, he uses it to cut off any animal or monster’s sense of smell. Right now he is using it to wash the blood-stained off him.
The oil was great. It removed the pungent stench of blood and even though there is still blood. It didn’t smell any of it anymore. Oswin was satisfied. He removed himself away from the barrel and turned to one of the bonfires in the camp. Sitting near one of the bonfires, he sat idly, pressing his hands near the warmth of the fire.
The bone fire crackled. He could see a wisp of smoke rise and then his eyes drifted up to the sky. Stars brightened up the place, and they sparkled endlessly. Oswin thought. No matter where the place is. Only the sky doesn’t change. The stars are still there, looking out for anyone.
Oswin’s mind drifted back to the fire. He felt the heat warm him up nicely. He took something out from his pocket and then drew his razor-sharp silversword and started sharpening it. It has become natural for him to sharpen his silversword when he can. It was sort of a ritual that he learned from the mutated soldier that taught him. Although he broke many silverswords before, this sword was now his new partner. So he could not let it grow too dull unable to cut even a leaf.
He sharpened it with the whetstone. He trimmed the chipped edges carefully and the sound of his sharpening eventually reaches some of the soldiers around. They looked at the glimmering silversword and thought how dazzling the silver sword is when seen.
Silverswords were uncommon and only used by hunters. And most of the time they are unclean, drenched in blood. But oddly Oswin’s was not the same. He learned the ritual out of respect for the man who taught him. Plus he was rather meticulous in taking care of his belongings.
He continued doing this for a while. Then, he was offered some ration by the soldiers who were eating. Some were eating late, and hearing what Oswin did. They offered some warm wine for his stomach. As a normal commoner brought up into knighthood, he was able to talk with the soldiers without any walls. They laugh merrily while talking about their victory.
Oswin listened to the words of the men that were with him. He could tell that the soldier’s morale was quite high and not to mention he also heard of the ‘plan’ that the army has made. The plan was rather straightforward and even he could tell that army has set aside honor in order to win a complete victory over the elves. To reduce casualties, smoking the whole area with toxin would definitely be effective.
Oswin thinks that the plan will work brilliantly. Yet to use such dreadful move against the enemy, it seems like we are grasping for victory this time. Oswin thought with a sour smile. The talk with the soldiers continued for a while before they disperse back either to their own tents or outside the wooden walls of the camp.
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Oswin didn’t dally and went to the wooden fort located in the camp. Entering the wooden fort, he was met with gazes from the guards but all of them nodded and let him in. He then asked around for his room. Knowing his designated room, he sat inside for a while before pressing his back against the mattress. The bed was made of linen, stuffed with cotton and sewed with strings.
Oswin stared at the wooden ceiling for a while. He blinked and then turned his head to the small square window for a while. The battle against the elven will continue tomorrow. The soldiers were eager and were only waiting for the lady of Saclea, the Astra Vendetta of the army facing the might of the elven forest.
The means to destroy the forest was quite nasty. But Oswin thought. If it will end the battle quickly then it would be fine. It was war and the elves had looked down upon humankind for quite a while already. And with the Orcs being rightfully slaughtered along with the dwarves in their respective territories, how can humanity let go of this favorable position?
Oswin has no personal hatred against the non-humans. But as a human, he will naturally side with his fellow humans. Thus it was logical for him to wish for the death of the non-humans and finally move to the last battlefront that is the gray skins and then finally kill the overlord of the North.
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The next day, Oswin was woken by the drums of wars. The banners loudly flapping and the shouts of the men of the camp roared wildly with vigor. He dressed himself up and immediately went towards the office of the lady he was serving temporarily.
Thankfully he was right in time. Sena appeared outside of her office fully clad in metal. Her gilded armor and her full helmet with the image of the sun appeared before Oswin.
“Milady, I have come to serve.”
“Good job taking care of that roaming dire bear.”
“Oh?”
Oswin raised a brow. It seemed the lady has heard his feats.
“It was nothing.”
Sena nodded. Her face was covered by the full helmet so Oswin wasn’t able to see her expression. He then followed Sena to the camp and there she strides along making everyone in the vicinity poised up and salute Sena with the utmost respect.
Oswin felt awkward walking beside a powerful figure. He was only a levy turned knight that was turned partly mutant and received training from a soldier who was good at hunting beast and heretics. If not for being an anointed knight then would able to walk with this kind of person?
He was normal in all accounts.
The lady arrived in the center along with the other banner lords. They then stab their swords together and then started speaking.
“Men of the south, we have come this far, fought this far and have shed blood this far!”
“We have overcome the limits, turned the earth and heavens upside down!”
“Now the fools that call themselves as ‘mighty’ are not at our mercy!”
Sena and the banner lords continuously said.
“They have mistreated, spat at us for too long. And now stand at the gates of their homeland, ready with blades on hand and grit in our teeth. Men of the south, are you ready to deal with the heathen that calls themselves as elves?”
“WE DO!”
The crowd roared. Sena stepped forward, her arms raised into a ‘Y’ shape as she praises the sun.
“LET THE GOD OF LIGHT BLESS US. LET THE SUN’S WARMTH LIGHT THAT GIVES LIFE EMPOWER US! GOD WILLED IT!”
“GOD WILLS IT!”
The crowd roared with such zealous passion. The banner lord that was with Sena raised their chiseled chins and turned their heads to the sun proudly.
“Men of the south this day we will forego our honor! This day, we will do what is necessary to kill the hateful elves just as our brothers and sisters in other fronts had done so! They already call us evil and thus what need is there to weep over subhuman lives?”
“KILL THEM ALL!”
The crowd of the south roared and waves their weapons up high. Oswin stayed still behind Sena’s back, holding the hilt of his sword, looking at the people with impassive eyes. He thought. It looks like the south is ready to shed blood.
Then, Sena drew her sword, Astra. And with that two rays of light appeared on her sword. The ray of lights beamed up to the sky as a signal and then before long the whole area around the elven forest shook. The magic that was placed around the area activated and everyone then grabbed their masks.
It was time for war.