Pandora

Captain Gerard led the light cavalry currently struggling against the enemy caravan. His people were surprised by their luck in running across the princess's caravan, and it was an opportunity he had known they could not pass up. However, after the fierce response and use of magic from his enemy, he just knew that they needed a more definitive action. He couldn't let them get away.

But what?

He had meant to force the caravan toward the army so that the princess could be overwhelmed. That opportunity was gone. Now they had to strike as hard as they could to hopefully stop the girl before she could bring her magic to bear.

The enemy knight had fallen from her mount after that damned magical beast was finally slain. He had been warned about the princess’s fire magic, but she had yet to use it. He hadn't been warned about a knight that could create magical beasts larger than a carriage. Now, his men were in a poor tactical position. Half of the men were now dismounted, a quarter were injured or dead, and the enemy archers were picking his horses off.

He paused, staring at the sky. The morning light… was dimming.

Gerard looked around, confused. His men were speaking nervously.

The sky turned black.

A third magic user?

They needed to act immediately.

They couldn't give the small caravan time to breathe. If his unit didn't overwhelm them now, they risked not only becoming combat ineffective but letting them escape.

Gerard glanced at his men and raised his blade. “Attack!”

The dismounted men started running.

He had his horse move in a circle so he could check on his men, then kicked it into a gallop toward the caravan.

A black mist surged from the knight that stood with the princess until she was quickly lost in the expanding abyss. The mist grew so quickly that he had no time to even yell as it overtook his entire group.

Gerard’s eyes went wide as all of the horses suddenly skidded to a stop and reared up, screeching in fear as they did. His world turned upside down as his horse balked and the saddle failed him. His hand grasped at air as he toppled and lost the sword in his fall. He tried to twist only to have his breath forced from his chest when his side slammed into the ground.

Gerard was groaning even as he quickly rolled to the side so that his horse wouldn’t trample him.

All of the horses made the most terrifying noises as they attempted to do whatever they could to get away from the blackness around them. Gerard watched helplessly from the ground as two of his men were crushed under the stampede of the fleeing mounts.

He stood up warily. Pain shot through his torso and he knew one of his ribs was broken. Staggering a few steps, Gerard reached down and picked up his sword, wincing as he did. His eyes darted around before he saw his shield laying nearby. Quickly grabbing it, he pulled it onto his arm and strapped it tight before taking in the battlefield.

Gerard’s eyes went wide and his hearing seemed to muffle as his ears filled with ringing. He winced and rubbed at his ear with his sword hand. He tried calling out to those around him, but it was as if no one could hear him. Several were also rubbing at their ears, so he assumed whatever was plaguing him, also affected them.

It became obvious what was happening as soon as the demonic whispers and hissing filled the air.

All around his people, forms started appearing in the thick mist. The origin of the hissing and whispers, demons that looked as if they were made of shadows had materialized from thin air, each with their own sword and shield. They looked vaguely like Loreni, but sprouting from their heads was a crown of horns. Their swords were gripped by hands that sported massive claws. Their shimmering black form seemed to constantly shift as if they weren't fully solid. Their weapons look solid enough.

Before his men could freeze in fear, he cried out, "To arms!"

No one seemed to hear him, it was almost as if–

"Attack! Focus on the demons,” he yelled, waving his hands to get the attention of those around him.

Several of his people caught his eye and he motioned with his hand to attack.

With a collective screech of maws that opened unnaturally wide, the demons sprung into motion. They attacked as if each were watching and awaiting his orders. Even before his people could move, they were upon those closest to them.

The men and women under his command around him instantly went on the defensive. Gerard himself had to bring his shield up as a nearby demon brought a mace down on it hard. The muffled sound was unfortunately not indicative of the force behind it, and his legs nearly buckled as he blocked the strong strike.

One of the female high elves from his unit nearby said something, but it came out quietly. It was as if all he could hear were whispers of those around him.

The black-haired woman called out again, but then just shook her head as he looked at her with confusion, and darted forward.

Quickly adjusting his movements to work with the skilled soldier, they launched themselves at the demon with sword and shield. The demon was surprised as both Gerard and the woman worked together to quickly bring it down. It was all he could do to contain his shock when the demon seemed to dissolve into the black mist right in front of them.

He could just make out what the woman had said as he strained to hear her speak again.

"Good job! There are more, I’ll get these."

Gerard shook his head as she committed to an attack on other demons around them. It seemed strange, but it was almost as if the woman’s lips did not fully match up with the words that came from her.

He shook his head. We need to end this quickly before the demons affect us too much.

He looked around, trying to gauge how well the fight was going.

Even as he watched, four of his soldiers were quick in rushing the demon’s exposed backsides. He actually stopped and focused on their fight, such was the efficacy of their assault. A telv woman tore into the demons with reckless abandon while the two high elf men with her spread out and also launched into their own fights. The last of the four, a high elf woman moved slowly and with a methodical precision that he could respect as she proceeded between other groups of the unit attacking the demons already being fought. I need to reward those four after this.

"They have their fight in hand. Focus on those around you!"

The sound of battle crashed into him, the sounds of his people yelling and fighting assaulted his ears. He gasped and looked at the high elf soldier that had spoken before. “Was that you?”

She looked slightly frustrated. “What?”

He shook his head, but then his eyes went wide as he saw a form appear behind her. “Look out!”

The woman turned and parried a strike from one of the demons while a second rushed another of the soldiers near them.

Her movements seemed to almost blur as she attacked with a ferocity that surprised him.

He found a target and swung at it, but a deft dodge allowed the demon to throw a counter at him. Gerard caught its counterattack with the edge of his shield, throwing the monster off balance, and lashed out, catching the demon off guard.

As it turned to mist, he thought he caught sight of the high elf woman taking a hit to her arm, but then she just shrugged it off and struck back, killing the demon. She isn't wearing armor, that should have cleaved her arm off. Maybe she dodged it?

He turned just as the other soldier with them was pushed off balance.

The demon lifted its sword to strike and Gerard moved to shove the telv out of the way.

Pain shot through his ribs at the movement, and he stumbled, forcing him to watch helplessly as the demon’s blade came down on the man's shoulder.

Screaming out in pain, the man fell away. Knowing he had to move quickly to help the man, Gerard knocked the demon’s sword away and stabbed out. The thing tried to parry, but missed and let out a guttural hiss as Gerard pierced its side.

With barely enough time to remove his blade from the one he had just pierced, a large demon snarled as it charged him.

Gerard dodged at the last moment and swung his sword at the abyssal thing as it passed.

It too collapsed back into mist as his sword removed its head from its shoulders. There are so many…

Gerard turned, heavily breathing, and went to find the man, but he wasn’t where Gerard thought he would be. His head jerked left and right as he searched, but all he found was a demon that appeared to be injured. Gerard’s eyes narrowed, it was the one that had attacked his soldier. The abyssal creature was currently on the ground grabbing at its shoulder and hissing.

He shook his head. I thought I stabbed its side.

"Don’t stare at it! Kill it before it kills another one of us!" The high elf soldier shouted. The woman used the free moment to quickly pull her hair into a ponytail, her eyes darting around as she did, searching for another target.

As the captain of the unit, it stung to be called out twice in one fight, but the woman was right. Gerard had to kill it, then he would go assist others. He moved forward and quickly stabbed down at the demon, ending its hissing as it collapsed into the mist.

He glanced behind him and saw one of his telv men desperately fighting a demon and stealing looks his way as if he needed assistance.

It was like every time a demon killed one of his men, another was summoned. Gerard was barely keeping up.

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"Another. To your right."

The high elf woman yelled out again, and Gerard was thankful as he got his shield up just in time to block a strike. A parry and a dodge of a follow-up swing were all he had to do before he managed to thrust his blade through the demon’s stomach. It dissipated just like the others.

He turned to go assist the telv who had been getting pushed back… just in time to see a demon approach the telv from behind.

“Behind you!”

“Captain! There are too–” The man called out before getting stabbed through the back. The high elf woman then grabbed the demon by the chin and exposed its neck before stabbing it hard. He started to turn away, but he narrowed his eyes and quickly glanced back. The woman was already moving to fight another demon, but everything seemed fine. I could have sworn she was wearing something different a second ago.

She turned her head toward him, pointing ahead. "We have to get through the mist."

He looked around at his people, repeating the sound decision. “Form up! We have to get through this mist. Protect each other!” He barked out.

Gerard nearly snarled as he parried another attack just in time. It was all he could do to protect himself, let alone pay attention to his men. The demons, unfortunately, did not let them form together as the attack on his men intensified.

Fortunately, that aggression left the demons overextended, and his men took advantage. With the high elf at his side, they started to push the demons back. At least what few men he had left were, and as they moved forward, he caught sight of a small shape in the distance with a larger one next to it. It’s her!

He pointed the two out to the woman at his side. She nodded, lowering her voice to a snarl. "There she is. Get her."

“We almost have them! Push forward!” He yelled to everyone around them.

He rushed ahead, slicing through another demon as he did, the high elf doing all she could to keep up and cover him. The shapes became more visible the closer they got, and he saw the knight, her black eyes widening in surprise as he approached sword in hand.

She said something with fear in her voice, but he ignored her. They had to get to the girl. Stop her before she could bring her magic to bear. The knight lifted her hands as if she were surrendering, but he knew it was a ruse, her magic still hadn't ended. Gerard quickly thrust his blade through her armorless stomach and moved to the girl as the elf fell.

~Kill her!~

He didn't even hesitate as he swung at the screaming princess.

“I got her. Take the rest, we have won!” Gerard shouted out, his sword lifted to the sky. His comrade saluted him with her sword, before gazing around with a content look. She looked proud and happy. He felt the same. They had done well this day. Lord Angwin would bestow a princely reward upon them for this act.

He turned around and looked down at the knight as she took her last breath. A satisfying expression of both fear and surprise was frozen on her face.

The mist started to disperse, and the demons all dissolved into black clouds that dissipated almost immediately. That woman used demonic magic. This House was filled with pure evil, but they’re dead now.

Their evil had forced his hand. Required him to slay a mere child. A princess of demons. He said a quick prayer to Relena, the Goddess of Death. May you pass final judgment on their evil souls.

As if the goddess had heard him, the morning light returned with a vengeance and cut through the darkness. The field became brighter, and relief filled him. The demon summoner’s dark magic would die with her.

He closed his eyes briefly as he felt the wind rush by him, reveling in the feeling. Similar to the surge of battle fervor that had filled him with every kill. He was satisfied.

They had won.

The House that had killed his liege’s son was gone. The princess that had used magic against loyal nobles of Avira was no more. The knight that killed Lord Nicolas, where is she?

Her head would be mounted on a pike.

Gerard opened his eyes. He froze at what he saw.

What? No…

The men and women of his unit were strewn across the field in front of him.

The caravan was in the distance as if he had turned around completely and run the opposite way.

Confusion sought to overwhelm him as he saw the princess standing there with one of her knights–the one that had fallen from her horse at her side.

The high elf demon summoner was nowhere to be seen.

Quickly jerking around, he looked at the two he had just killed. Instead of seeing a dead child and knight, on the ground were two of his soldiers. The unit’s surgeon was dead with a stab wound in her stomach, and another soldier’s body tumbled over from where the man had been on his knees being tended to.

Swinging back around, he took in the sight of his men and women. They all seemed to be in various positions as if they’d fought each other. His mind went blank.

It wasn’t possible.

~You did this. You killed your own men. Betrayed them.~

A voice taunted him. Mocking him. Even now he heard it like it was speaking directly into his mind. An all encompassing force that sought to suffocate him.

How?

The demons…

The demons, he’d killed them. They’d won. His mind whirled. Gerard’s breathing quickened.

~You were quite skilled as you slaughtered them with such fervor. It's too bad that you follow such an evil man.~

A wave of revulsion hit him as if the emotion itself was a weapon. Fear and nausea roiled through him.

“No no no…”

“Yes,” came a sneer to his left. He snapped his head to the voice. The high elf woman from before was there.

His eyes went wide, and he tried to bring up his sword but the woman stabbed through his chest before he could do anything. Gerard gasped, but he still tried to raise his blade.

The woman's form shifted, and a wave of black mist revealed the demon summoner. Eyes that seemed like two pools of the blackest ink stared into his. His eyes darted to the right, movement catching his attention, the four he had seen before strode between the prone forms of his people like acolytes of death. They looked different, a single pauldron with an engraved wyvner gleaming in the renewed light as the disciples of the summoner stabbed at any of his people that so much as twitched.

His eyes turned back to the woman holding him up by her blade.

"How?" He choked out.

The woman simply looked down in response. He followed her gaze and his eyes widened. Gerard stood over a pit of pure black. Souls of the damned reached up at him.

Terror filled him. "Relena save me!"

The woman yanked her sword back.

Gerard’s arm dropped and his sword slipped from his fingers.

He fell into the abyss.

----------------------------------------

Sabina turned around, letting the cavalry captain fall to the ground, and dispelled her hallucination as she did.

Her wynvers stood and saluted her and she gladly returned it. They had performed admirably, and she was proud of them.

She was proud of herself.

Sabina smiled as she lifted her hand, looking at the ring Gwyn let her borrow. It had helped so much and provided her the strength to use her hallucination magic more widely.

She approached the carriage where Gwyn and Taenya stood and the girl ran up to her, hugging her.

"You're okay! That was scary, Sabina."

Sabina nearly froze.

Gwyn noticed and squeezed her tighter. "I was scared that you would get hurt. There were so many of them and just you five."

Taenya nodded and reached out. "You did well. I am proud of you."

Sabina clasped the woman's arm, feeling her friend's usually locked-up emotions leaking out.

She was tired, happy that Sabina was alright, and worried, but determined.

Sabina smiled, dipping her head. "Thank you."

The telv knight sighed as she looked around at the gathering guards. Sabina pulled back from the two and looked around.

"We still have the approaching army. We need to leave, if we head back toward Strathmore, we should be fine,” Taenya said, uncertainty lacing her tone.

“No,” said a determined but decidedly young voice.

Taenya and Sabina looked down at Gwyn in surprise.

“No? What do you mean, Your Highness?” Taenya asked, formally for the benefit of the guards surrounding them.

Gwyn stood straight and stepped forward, turning as her gaze bored into all of those gathered. She took a deep breath and gestured toward where the army was in the distance.

“No more. Those people have harmed us and attacked us. Twice. They think they can do whatever they want. Back in my world, actions have consequences. Our people… Our family has been killed. They will not stop until we are dead.” She pointed at them and swept her finger across all those there. “...until all of you are dead.”

“Your Highness… Gwyn, we cannot fight that army. There aren’t enough of us.”

Gwyn shook her head sadly. “You two… my wonderful knights. You have both pushed yourself. You have shown them what magic can do. Taenya, you are our sword and shield, our defender.”

Sabina’s back straightened as the young girl looked away from the telv knight and at her. “Sabina, you are the darkest night. The shadows that cover us in the day.” She turned around and looked at the guards. “All of you. You are brave, and you have overcome all odds. Every time you have fought, it has been against more people than we have. You are the best House Guard anyone could ask for, and I am proud that you have chosen to be with me.

“That drake that we found was a mother protecting her baby, her family. And those people attacked her. Killed her and her baby. She fought to her last breath and took Count Telford and all of his men down with her.

"I want to find my mom. I miss her, but I can’t do that if we are constantly having to fight evil men. This is our stand, and like that drake, we are going to kill everyone that tries to hurt our family. I don’t want us to die, but I am sick and tired of this Polite War.

"Those monsters believe they can win. They have sent so many people to fight us. Do you know why? Because they are scared! Taenya, Sabina. We have all used our magic, but we haven’t used our magic together. I know you are both tired. You have pushed so much. There is no time to rest, and there is nowhere to run from this. We end it now.” She punctuated the end with a gesture.

Oren and the other guards looked between each other and then down at the princess. All of the guards lowered themselves to a knee as one. The telv senior guardsman spoke up. “Your Highness… My princess, we are with you. We are at your command.”

Sabina glanced at Taenya and nodded. The woman closed her eyes, a tear falling. She’s scared, but not about herself. She’s scared for Gwyn.

Gwyn looked between Taenya and Sabina.

“Sabina? Bring back the night. Taenya, I need something that will make them pause. Can you bring her back again?”

Taenya nodded. “Not for long, but yes. I think so. Oren?”

“Ser?”

“I will need to be watched. I… I do not know how this will go.”

Sabina looked down at her hand, took a deep breath, and removed the ring. “Gwyn, you will need this.”

The princess smiled as she returned the ring to her finger. “Thank you, Sabina.”

“What would you have of your Guard?” Oren asked.

“First, we need to get the wagons and carriages back. I want our people safe, I am sure Sabina knows how scared they must be. They have been locked in there since all of this started.” Sabina nodded, confirming the emotions she felt emanating from the two carriages. Gwyn continued, “After that? All any of you have to do is cover me.”

Sabina heard Taenya’s breath catch in her throat.

“What are you going to do?” Sabina asked.

The princess’s expression turned almost sad. ”It is time Angwin learns the consequences of attacking House Reinhart. That army?” She said, pointing again.

Gwyn lifted her other hand in front of herself and formed a fist, a deep red flame with golden edges engulfing it. “It will be the first to burn.”