“I have said it once and I shall say it again, the battle against these beings does not lie in the hands of the Vanus and their pompous worship of blood and black magic. Nor does it lie in the hands of the Virtus and their self-righteous search of greater power through the System’s grace that are handed to them by the Gods in a silver-platter. Nay, it lies in the hands of humanity, of good common men, who without the grace of the System or of magicks fight on with the humble musket, the humble pike, the humble artillery, and the humble saber with their basic skills and lowly forms of basic magic that these ‘high races’ laugh upon. It is not of the elaborately styled chants for equally elaborate magical attacks from high-tiered individuals that would find triumph for us, nor would it be the so-called ‘Angels’ who promise upon us the end of this threat any moment now. No, it is of gunpowder, guts, and steel that mankind shall triumph against darkness. Thus I tell you now to simply give us another month and I swear we shall reinforce you brothers over there, and stop that pestilence together in the name of our gods.”
- Letter from the Colonel of the 8th Holy Ygeia Regiment to the Captain in charge of the 4th Holy Ygeia Regiment after the Rousselot fiasco.
+++
+++ Lieutenant Hans Hoffman +++
Rousselot City
JUN 26, 1538 CE
“That indeed is quite the strongly worded letter from your friend, Captain,” Hans said after reading the letter that Captain Strobel showed him.
“Indeed, Lieutenant. That man, Colonel Florian Kohler, is a part of the Reformists in the Imperial Army. They are humans who demand more rights and privileges for human officers. Humans who demand more funding for the continued restructuring of the Army away from the structures of the Virtus and Vanus battlemages, and into the structures proposed by advocates of musketry and artillery. Humans who have long sided with the interests of the Imperial Parliament, instead of the Imperial Court.”
Hans frowned. So it seemed that he was right from his theories on the readings he had. That in this land, the majority of people, humanity, like him…at least, before he got yanked off from Terra, had a lot of grievances to the two ruling races of the land—the Virtus and the Vanus. Accordingly, humans apparently struggled to gain progress in leveling up, and a human being above that of the general tier I had always been exceedingly rare.
The Virtus and the Vanus in comparison, like him and Adelyn, advanced quickly through the ladder. Apparently, most nobles were at least in the General Tier of II, with the best ones at III and IV. And that meant that their repertoire of skills was higher, which meant more powerful magic and abilities. Some would even be blessed with unique ones.
Which was why humanity had always been under their thumb in both the Republic and the Holy Empire. The Virtus and the Vanus were essentially…superhuman.
“Do you believe his words, Captain?”
“Of course I do,” Captain Strobel looked up. “Lieutenant, after seeing the capabilities of your weaponry, I have now realized further the futility of holding onto outdated ideas of the primacy of magic and powerful individuals in warfare. You told me that you do not know how to replicate your weapons, well, that does not matter on the grand scale of things. The fact that it exists…means we can do it, eventually. If it takes two centuries then so be it. We humans are the majority of this world. If we are grinding them down now with our new technologies so much that they rely on us to do war…then tell me, what then in the next few centuries? I believe we have triumphed.”
“...On that note, that’s what I’m wondering about. Where is this…Imperial Mage Corps? I have read that they are individuals with great powers. Supposed to be the best of the best. Some are even capable of destroying entire armies alone.”
And with that, Captain Strobel laughed mockingly. “Have you not read the letter? They’re of course not here, where the fight is in! They’re over there, on the Eastern Walls, slaying monsters that would never threaten us anyway or whatever nonsense to ‘cultivate our General Tier into more heights’ as the people of the continent burn! The Imperial Mage Knights are nothing but a bunch of fools, pups, and arrogant rascals who should be the first in line against the demons but are instead first in line to the feasts of vanity and excess. The fact we call those bastards soldiers is an insult to the Imperial Army. That’s why reformists hate them. If they want to do their ‘search for greater levels’ then they should do it themselves, not while draining the Imperium’s coffers for their self-sighted goals.”
He slammed his fist a bit on the table they had set up a map for the planning. It seemed that Captain Strobel had a special hate for them.
“What are they? Are they purely Virtus? Or Vanus?”
“Most of them are Virtus. There are some Vanus who they probably only keep because of their high General Tier. Then there are a few humans who managed to get over Tier II or III. But mostly Virtus. If only they’d use their powers for the benefit of mankind…”
“Well…” Hans sighed. “Seems to me that they have other goals with their powers.”
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“...I have seen very few Virtus or Vanus who use their powers for anything other than the endless desire to gain more power for the sake of power. Maybe the Empress is like that, as she apparently is one of the few who have not even reached above tier I because she apparently focuses on administration. But it had been a long time since she presented herself to the public. I don’t know much. Maybe your partner. She does have that air of noble arrogance in her, but she still has some humility.”
“The Countess?”
Captain Strobel shook her head. “I don’t like talking about that woman. Sure, she’s not like most Vanus or Virtus, but she had two companies of the 4th dead last month because of her blunders. Bastard.”
“I see now why you have much…hatred of the Vanus…”
“And the Virtus,” Captain Strobel leaned forward. “But at least the Virtus cannot hide their bright haloes. The Vanus, Lieutenant, some of them lack horns. Some lack the sharp canines. Some lack their long-ears. The rare ones even lack all of the physical features that they could blend in with us normal humans except for their abnormal abilities to progress in the System. Especially half-lings. Tell me, Lieutenant…are you one of them?”
Hans felt his throat dry. So this guy wasn’t that blind. “...Yes.”
“So I’ve heard in one of your conversations with your Captain,” Captain Strobel frowned. “I respect you, Lieutenant. In some way. Especially considering how you’re not some mindless buffoon who can only fight with a sword wand. But I ask you, now that you’re on our lands, where would you side? To your race, or to our people?”
“...Captain, do you hate me?” Hans asked. “Or Alizée?”
“I have a right to be suspicious,” Captain Strobel said. “But right now, our interests align, and you seem to be dead set on slaying this demonic beast. Even if you have to risk your life for it. That’s rare for a Vanus. I know that’s not something you can find around the corner. I’ll say, you and your partner…you two strike me more as a human. The way you two move. Act. Think. That’s perhaps why I’ll follow you two in the fight. But that girl? I do not know. She can’t even understand how I speak. How you speak. I’d bet she looks down on us for using this ‘peasant’ language.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t,” Hans argued. “She’s an innocent child.”
“She grew up in a Vanus household,” Captain Strobel scoffed. “She’d have been indoctrinated about her potential for power and she will abuse it one day.”
“I am firmly on the side of the people of this land, Captain,” Hans answered. “As my Captain said, we come in peace, especially for the people of this land. In our lands races are all equal. None of all this nonsense. And I believe Alizée would be the same in belief one day, just as Adelyn, or me. You have no reason to hate us, Captain Strobel.”
“I do not hate races, Lieutenant. I hate those who live in a bubble. If you do not live in one…then I view you as a part of mankind.” Captain Strobel stood up. “The four battalions are ready for the march tomorrow. Lieutenant…I wish you good luck tonight in your lonesome journey. May you return in one piece.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
+++
It was already nightfall.
Hans left the St. Heka Church the moment his watch struck eleven o’clock in the evening. Just as he had expected, Captain Wittenstein was dead asleep in the study room she occupied, buried in endless books and the flashlight she used to read things. He felt sorry about his actions…
But it wasn’t like this timeline would exist soon enough.
Hans walked through the deserted lanes of the city. Certainly, he was very much alone, outside of the few shambling guardsmen who were already instructed to let him be. In a few minutes, he reached the city walls, and the few pikemen guarding it, who were all half-asleep, barely even heeded him when he walked out. Outside, on the outskirts, were the few remaining buildings commandeered by the 4th Holy Ygeia Regiment. Hans made his way quickly to where his Wanderfalke was parked, right beside one of the houses on the side of the road.
Only a singular cuirassier greeted him.
“Lieutenant Hoffman! The route ahead is clear, sir. Captain Strobel sends his highest regards. I must also say that I hope your mission succeeds.”
Hans looked at the cuirassier and nodded. “What’s your name?”
“I am Lieutenant Martin Hecke, good sir!” the cuirassier replied. “Second in command of the 4th, in charge of the cavalry. I’ll be the first to find you in the event of disaster if need be.”
Hans nodded. “You have my thanks then.”
“Have faith, good sir. The Gods are surely with you.” The man gave him one last bow, before running straight inside of the city.
They certainly are very religious.
Hans went straight to his Wanderfalke, checking the exterior for any signs of damage. The inspection lasted for a few minutes before he finally decided to enter his vehicle. He took a deep breath as the Peacemaker powered up and the HUD booted open. Soon, the full view of the outside was back on his display. Taking final diagnostic checks on the engines, propulsion, weapons, cooling, turret, and every module of his vehicle, Hans found it all green.
He placed a copy of the map of the County of Rousselot on the side of his cockpit, as his gloved hands took his control sticks, and his feet pushed on the pedal. Slowly, he drove it straight on the road and oriented the Peacemaker straight into the pitch-black countryside.
…He really would be going on it alone, to his death.
Should I run—
He stomped on that thought quickly. No…the only option left is forward.
Forward into this path.
Alone.
He pushed his feet on the pedals, and off he went, on a reconnaissance, to death.