“Do you know what you are doing?”

“Getting rid of some annoying little pests who are trying to get in my way.”

Laeg said, “We happen to be members of the house of Faoláin so an attack against us won’t be taken lightly!”

In a very dismissive tone, he says, “What does that matter to me? I also happen to be a part of the Laoch family, actually, I am the next head Niall Ó Laoch.”

Ferdiad then mutters, “You mean the strongest warrior of our generation?” As Ferdiad says this I notice he does seem to be around our age, but maybe one or three years older than I am.

Picking his nose, he says, “I guess people started calling me that, but it is not like it means anything when I am surrounded by weaklings.”

I prepare to say something to him, but then Ferdiad says, “Laeg Ní Fergal I need you to calm down and think about all your actions from now on through carefully?”

The boy stops then makes a confused look on his face, and says, “Wait aren’t you Laeg Ní Fergal?”

Ferdiad turns to me, and I say, “Y-yes I am.”

“I knew it, I had heard rumours about you. That there was a little girl who rode the young head of the Faoláin through a mountain filled with wonderbeasts in the dead of the night. I never thought I would have the pleasure to meet someone like you.”

Rubbing the back of my head, I say, “I never thought my reputation would get so far, to think that even another future head of the red branch has heard about me!”

In mere movements he moves right in front of us, which spooks both me and Ferdiad, then he says, “Of course I have, doing something like that takes guts which is sorely lacking in beastkin today. Hey, why don’t you become my wonderbeast rider? If you can tame a horse with such skill I am sure you would be able to do the same.”

I then say, “I am sorry for how rude this my sound but after what you just did right there, no way would I ever work for such an uncivilised and unrespectable person. Despite your rank, I don’t feel a single bit of radiance when looking at you.”

“What a childish way to look at your rank. We, members of the Red branch, aren’t upholders of the rules, we simply make them. If I choose to break anyone of said rules I completely withhold the right to do so.”

I then say, “What an asshole way to look at things. You can’t just go out of your way breaking rules as if they only exist for show, killing humans outside of battle holds no strategic value, and is only done by madmen who thirst for blood. The Red branch families are supposed to be what us other beastkin aspire to, not whatever this is.”

“You Faoláin can spend all the time you want counting ants, but I won’t. If I see one I will use it as target practice to see how sharp my weapon has become. Any other opinion on the matter can go kill itself, I don’t know what you think the Red branch is but this is how most of us operate by doing what we want.

You seem to be under the impression that the Faoláin are different but they are the same, they will violate countless traditions to do what they want, and just because we do the same in a way that doesn’t aline with your values, we are the ones who are wrong? Sounds like you’re a hypocrite.”

“Faoláin move forward keeping everyone in mind as they do. I know for a fact they are strange weirdos who don’t perfectly aline with traditions or the laws, but I can at least say they don’t go out doing anything they believe will bring harm to the empire or its people, unlike a smug cunt like you.”

He laughs a bit, then covers his mouth and glares at Laeg then says, “The first time someone has had the balls to say such a thing to me, I am far more entranced now. I now think what I want to see most in the world is you sitting in my castle pregnant.”

He reaches his hand out towards me, and Ferdiad grabs it and holds him still, then says, “Watch where you put those fingers?”

The man pushes down, but Ferdiad pushes back against his hand which causes him to say, “So young, and so strong. I think I want you as well.”

“Sorry but I already have one lunatic master to serve, I don’t need a second.”

“Your compliance wasn’t even a factor.”

He moves his giant axe towards Ferdiad, and he kicks me away before lunging backwards.

Φ Looking at the ground where his axe landed I see he has completely destroyed the ground beneath. This power isn’t even something I expect from a wonderbeast, I need to be careful and watch out for the axe.

Suddenly the axe is coming towards my eyes, so I duck and dodge out of the way, and then move to thrust my spear into his shoulder; I land a direct hit.

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As I move backwards, he asks, “What age are you boy?”

“I happen to be fourteen years old.”

He laughs again, and says, “Someone three years my younger is this strong, I must definitely have you now. I won’t be holding back anymore so keep up.”

Throughout his body, I notice his muscles flexing from the little sounds they make and see that spirit energy has enveloped him.

I definitely won’t be able to see him if he attacks me, so I must attack first. Red branch battle arts; Star flower.

I move forward at high speed and strike at him, but then he disappears and then punches me in the gut, which causes me to spit up blood. Then he swings his axe, but I manage to block it with my metal spear but it is cut in half.

As I land on the floor I prepare to move, but then I spit up blood and fall to the ground.

That one punch hurt my insides far too much, I feel like my insides were shaken over and over again. It makes everything difficult, breathing, thinking, living.

As I lay on the floor Niall says, “Huh is that all you have got? I got my hopes up a bit too much well regardless I will let you join me, but I am no longer as excited as before.”

He moves over to Laeg and then puts her over his shoulder.

Kicking him, Laeg says, “Let go of me, you bastard!”

He glares at her, and says, “Feisty. Your behaviour really isn’t like the Faoláin who try to mimic human behaviour all the time, you really are going to be an excellent bride.”

Laeg stares at me, and says, “Ferdiad I am sorry for my big mouth, I promise I will be fine so I am going to need you to run back.”

Niall says, “It must be so sad to be such a pathetic worm, there are very few options for people like you but to run when in the face of someone greater than them. In fact, this whole experience has irreparably soured my feelings on you Ferdiad, run back to Lugh and go find some happiness in his womb, like the loser you are.”

I throw the backside of my broken spear at him which he knocks away and then I lunge forward and stab into his arm.

“So you have a little fight left,” Niall says as he drops Laeg.

“No, I won’t deal with this anymore, I WANT TO SEE YOU CALL ME WEAK AGAIN!”

I start to move around as fast as possible pushing myself to my limit and wielding my broken spear like a dagger, I stab into his body innumerable amounts of times.

“THAT’S WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT, KEEP IT COMING!”

He swings his axe letting out a powerful gust that pushes me back, and then he moves towards me, so I say, “ Red branch battle arts; Camellia japonica.”

Which allows me to dodge and stab him again. We then keep up this pattern of me stabbing him and him swinging towards me and missing.

While it may seem I have the advantage I soon come to realize the position I am in. One blow will knock me down, and my stabs are going to take a long time to make him bleed out, especially with how worn my spear is and how thick his muscles are.

But I can do this, I am sure I can. Right now I will use everything I have learned and defeat this monster standing in front of me without fail. That is the promise I make to myself because I know you could do it Setanta, and I refuse to be left behind like dust!

I continue to do this, but then Niall lets out a roar so loud that it completely distorts all of my senses and causes me to freeze. Then he hits me with a full-power punch to the chest sending me flying towards Laeg.

While I lay on the floor, he walks over to me, and says, “I take back what I said you're worth possessing. A bride and a general is what Danu has given to me today and I will offer countless sacrifices up to her as thanks.”

As he walks towards me, Laeg looks at me with panic and I can tell she is currently looking for a way to get me out of this. She whispers, “You have saved me before, so I will do it today just watch me.”

She prepares to walk forward, and she says, “I will come with you willingly, just let him go. If you take us by force you will be forced to deal with the wrath of the Faoláin and in a battle between two Red branch families, the high king will without a doubt side with the one that carries his blood.”

“You make a convincing argument, but there is one mistake in your line of thinking. The fact that I would love nothing more than to go head to head with those foolish Faoláin.”

He then whacks Laeg across the face which makes her hold her face in pain, and he then says, “While I do like your feisty side I don’t need you thinking you have actual power over me, so please remember that pain. Now let’s go.”

As he prepares to grab us he is suddenly hit in the stomach by a silver flashing streak. The person was so fast that I could feel the wind pressure through the area changing by its arrival, and the sound of the attack hadn’t even caught up yet.

The impact sends Niall flying through the trees, and I see it is Setanta whose right arm is completely destroyed.

Did he use Morning Glory with his fist instead of his spear? If so, it explains why his arm is destroyed, but it is utterly foolish to do so.

Setanta's arm regenerates, and he turns to me and he has a look of anger on his face.

I lower my head in embarrassment and grip my fist. Ibar soon comes towards Laeg, and I say, “She took a direct blow to her face, we have to be careful in case she broke something.”

Niall then lunges towards us with his axe, but Setanta jumps into the air and hits him with a decisive strike to the face which knocks him down.

Then Niall whose stomach is completely pruised, and is leaking blood from his mouth like a waterfall says, “WHO ARE YOU!”

In a worse rage than I have ever seen Setanta be in before, I hear him say, “Morrígan.”

“HAHAHAHA!” Niall says, before dashing forward and saying, “SO ME WHAT YOU CAN DO!”

Suddenly a group of beastkin appear and restrain Niall then one of the beastkin who is standing on Niall’s head says, “Bad bear, no more fighting for you.”

“Glic, you bastard.”

Turning to us, Glic says, “Hello my name is Glic Ó Sealbhóir, daughter of Bricriu Ó Sealbhóir, and I deeply apologise for my master's actions!”

“You really think that will be enough!”

“Well considering the fact that your friend's skull is shattered over there, I think you will need our medical abilities right now, hence requiring us alive.”

Setanta calms down and turns to Laeg, then he says, “Come and help her right now!”

“I knew you were a logical man. Boys return Niall to his house and his six wives, I will deal with this.”

“Right.”

“They go and as they walk past, Glic stops and waves at me. Then she continues on to help Laeg.”

Φ Twenty hours after it had started, the thirteenth and final battle of this campaign was the seventh battle of the Faoláins the battle of the Re:Order, came to an end with the overwhelming victory of the beastkin.

And within history, this was the last recorded major victory of a war for their race.