Originally uploaded Aug 15, 2023

Tessia Pov

A platoon of soldiers marched by. Their footsteps creating a rhythmic tempo. I leaned back as I sat on a box of wooden crates. The morning mist was setting in, giving the forest a foggy mysterious feel. I peered inside at my core, feeling for my mana.

My core glowed a stable light yellow. Giving off a warm and soothing light. The beast will inside was under my control for now. It has taken me close to a full year but it rarely went rampant anymore. The only problem was that using my integrate phase sapped my strength too quickly. But other than that it was good enough.

Despite my grandfather's promise it has taken a fair share of convincing even after I had brought my beast will under control. I originally thought of going through my parents first but I have rarely seen them. They were most likely occupied with council work, they never did say war was easy.

I stretched my back as I stared in the sky. My vision was filled with a dense foliage of trees that bloated out the sky. It was much better than the stuffy air of the underground dungeons my unit was first placed at. Here I could actual breath some fresh air and the abundance of water and wind mana was of great aid in spell casting as well.

Grandpa Virion was enraged at first when my unit was moved to near Etisin. From what I have heard a Alacryan Retainer had broken through the initial camp that was positioned here. And with the lacking number of troops to deal with them they had pooled together all the possible resources they can to this area.

Grandpa wanted my no where close to the Retainer. And from the storied I have heard from survivors I didn't exactly blame him. A ghostly woman who would disappear into trees and dissolve your body with just a touch. It reminded me of old storied of forest fairies that were well known in Elenoir. Of course the generals were insane enough to place me on the front lines.

Not only because I was a princess but I was still inexperienced and young. So my group was placed as far back as we could possible be at the back lines. In fact we hardly saw any action, only seeing the wounded being carried back from the battlefield. I closed my eyes as I recalled them. Several men and women, there skin blackened or entirely gone. Screaming in pain as they pleaded to be put out of their misery.

Seeing reports from grandfather was one thing. But actually seeing them in person and seeing the people cry out in pain and beg for their life was another thing. The sound of somebody sitting down beside me interrupted my thoughts as I opened my eyes to see who it was.

Kathyln Glayder, dressed in a neat black battlesuit sat next to me. In her hands she held two bowls of the daily ration soup. She held out one of them to me.

"Soup?" She asked in a stiff fashion. From what I remember Kathyln was originally training under the tutelage of Lance Varay. Both of them sharing the same deviant as well as Kathyln natural talent meant she was a valuable solider. While her brother was currently acting as an instructor at the Lanceler Academy located near the western coast.

As word got out of the Retainer taking a large territory in Etisin Kathyln was dispatched rather quickly. Along with her guardian Hester Flamesworth. In that short time we have grown fairly close. Despite her icy cold exterior she was a rather nice girl. She just has problems properly showing her emotions.

I couldn't blame her. She was sheltered her whole entire life. As a princess but also as a child prodigy every interaction she must have had would have been in-genuine. The only reason I didn't turn out like her was probably due to Arthur.

There I go thinking about that doofus again. After he appeared out of nowhere at the castle he had dropped off the face of the continent. Even reaching out to his family didn't help locate him. In fact his father seemed apprehensive talking about his own son. I know he is the kind of boy who causes trouble wherever he goes but still...

Realizing I was leaving Kathyln to hang for so long I hastily grabbed the bowl of soup from her hand. Her face never changed as she raised her own bowl to her mouth and took a sip. Each of her movements were elegant and appeared so civilized. Like that of a true princess.

"Something on your mind?" She asked as she neatly placed the bowl down next to her. I forgot that despite her aloof expression she was still very sharp and observant. I tried to get my thoughts in order but it was all in vain. Sometimes I regretted asking to be put on the battlefield. To see the fallout of our decisions firsthand on innocent people who were just following orders.

I took a deep sigh as my shoulders slumped downwards. "I don't know, Kat. There is just so much..."

A small hand gently touched my shoulder. A gesture of comforting. Her hands were cool to the touch, perhaps due to her ice deviant. I had met Kathyln and her family in the past. Being part of the elfen royal family kind of forced us to know of each other. But she always felt like the more mature individual. The person I should try to be. In fact she reminded me a lot of Art when he got serious. The cold and impassive face with no emotions. Just a cold calculating gaze.

"Tessia, it is alright." She said, but from her tone I could tell even she was unsure.

"How is your brother?" I asked suddenly, trying to change the subject. Kathyln taken a bit back by my sudden change in tone took a moment before answering.

"He has been sending me letters frequently after learning about my deployment here. He seems to be doing well as an instructor at the academy." She answered curtly.

"Am I interrupting something?" A new voice asked both of us. Turning around I saw Hester Flamesworth. Wearing loose fitting mage robes with her grey hair tied neatly in a bun. She gave off the air of a friendly old grandmother.

"We were just catching up." Kathyln answered her guardian. Hester only smiled in return as she joined us.

"What kind of subject would warrant two princesses?" Hester asked jokingly as she joined us.

I had seen Hester Flamesworth around the castle. Mostly around the training facilities where I practiced using my beast will. Being a notable of member of the Flamesworth family she was highly proficient in the use of fire type spells. Being the complete opposite of Kathyln's element she made for a great sparring partner for her. Although it always felt like she was holding back.

"Ms. Flameswor-" I began to speak before she interjected.

"Please just call me Hester." She reassured. I couldn't quiet tell if she was nice to me because of my status or whether that was her true nature.

"Well then, Hester. Doesn't this worry you?" I questioned, trying to get my own whirlwind of emotions in order.

"I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific dear."

What was I asking? About this war as a whole? Or this situation we were in? Deep within a foggy forest with an enemy Retainer occupy a territory not far from here? I just felt lost. I was a princess, the next generation of leaders for this continent but I felt so powerless. Our allies and foes were people hailed as deities. Beings so powerful and wise were moving the pieces of each side.

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Hester seeing me having difficultly answering her question moved closer to me and took my hand in hers. Her hands were larger than mine and more wrinkly. The hands of someone who had done many times over decades.

"Dear. I know the feeling that might be going through your mind right now. But-" Before she could finish her words a loud horn blared throughout the entire camp. Instinctively I summoned my rapier from my dimensional ring.

The soldiers all around us hurried to get ready. Grabbing their weapons as the emitters rushed the patients away as fast as they could. Kathyln and Hester both wielded small wands befitting their conjurer status. I could feel the heat coming off of Hester as fire mana coalesced around her.

"What is happening?" Hester asked a passing soldier who was rushing to the frontlines. He was wearing heavy duty armor and carried around a large greatsword that seemed to heavy for his size. He had a panicked look in his eyes as he quickly answered Ms. Flamesworth. But I didn't need to hear his answer to have them confirm my worst expectations.

I could feel the air change as it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end even from all the way back here. A strong presence of malice filled the air. I turned to rush towards my own battle group but a strong mana signature stopped me momentarily in my tracks.

Whipping my neck around to see who it was my mind filled with relief. A tall woman in silver armor. A gold insignia of the Dicathen Council displayed on her shoulder. Her very presence seemed to soothe the soldiers in their hurried frenzy.

"Varay. I knew my father would do something like this." Kathyln spoke. Being one of the Sapin kingdom's Lance and sharing the same deviant Kathyln was familiar with Lance Varay. Having her as her own personal tutor, so she spoke in a much more casual fashion then most would with a general of their standing.

"Actually it was the council's decision. It is only coincidence that I was the one who was available." Varay answered the princess in a monotone voice as she surveyed the soldiers. They all hastened their movements as the Lance's gaze passed over them.

"Apologizes princesses, but I am needed." Varay spoke politely with a small bow and marched to the frontlines. Her posture calm but powerful, it wasn't public knowledge but it didn't take much to tell that Lance Varay was the strongest among the Lances. And having her here to deal with a possible Retainer gave me peace of mind.

"Tess!" One of my squad members, Caria called out to me.

"Sorry. Seems like this talk will have to continue another time." I swiftly waved Kathyln and her guardian Hester goodbye as I joined my group.

Being in the rear didn't mean we just sat around all day and did nothing. While the main brunt of the fighting happened in the far front we were still deep within the forest. And the Alacryans weren't dumb enough to pool all of their eggs in one basket. They would usually send a detachment of rouge mana beasts or soldiers to our flanks or backlines. And with a Lance enforcing us I doubt the usual number of foes today.

"Something secret only princesses are allowed to know?" Darvus joked as he sharpened his twin axes. A heirloom item from his family he was highly proficient with despite their large size.

"Oh shut it loudmouth." Stannard shouted as he finished loading his own weapon. A blaster that would launch mana beast cores which were charged to explode on impact. A useful tool that allowed Stannard to keep up with us even with his stunted core. Quite ingenious actually.

"Let's just get our job done alright?" Caria reprimanded both of them as I joined them. In the few months since I had joined this group we have grown close. Like a tight-knitted friend group. Perhaps that is what active combat does to gatherings of people. The life threatening scenarios we put ourselves in only seemed to strengthen our bond. We now acted completely as a single unit. Watching each other's backs and making up for the others weaknesses.

"What you say I treat all of you guys to a nice meal after this?" I said as we began falling into position.

A couple of cheers could be heard as I fell into line. My silver rapier in hand with my mana teeming to be let out. As we all patiently waited for our orders, staring into the misty forest that stretched on for miles.

Kathyln Pov

"Steady!" One of the captains barked as the first row of augmenters created a defense line. With rows of conjurers behind them, ready to cast their spells. Being a conjurer myself I was placed a bit back. My wand in hand as I readied myself.

Lance Varay floated just above the first row of mages. The mana around her seemed to be naturally drawn towards her as she stood on air. Varay reminded me very much of myself. Sharing the same deviant but also the same unchanging face. Perhaps it was an unconscious decision on my part. Trying to be more like her. I didn't exactly know or really care anymore.

Several entities could be seen moving within the thick mist just ahead of us. I could feel the multiple strong mana signatures in the distance. I steadied myself as a faint blue light illuminated the tip of my wand. The temperature around me dropped as ice mana gathered towards me.

A large reptilian foot of a mana beast stepped out from the mist. It dark green skin and red eyes gave it a sinister look.

"Fire!" Another captain ordered as the large mana beast began to charge. Its maw wide open as it sprinted towards our augmenters. But even before my spell had time to manifest a large cleaver of cool blue ice from above freed to beast's head from its shoulders.

As the first mana beast laid dead several more began to emerge from the forest and into the clearing. And a barrage of colorful spells streaked the sky to meet them. With a single wave of my wand I launched volleys of icicles as large as my entire arm into the crowd of tainted beasts.

They had no self-preservation instincts left. All of that was taken away from them by the Alacryan's magic. They were just mindless drones doing their master's bidding. Their species varied. From large bat-like creatures that swooped down to smaller swifter rats that scurried about and avoided our attacks.

The large talons of an eagle mana beast grabbed a hold of one of the conjurers. Before I could shoot it down the beasts eviscerated the mage right in front of us. Cutting her into bloody ribbons. Before it could begin hunting for a new target I shot large holes in its wings, making it tumble back onto the ground.

Being further back than the augmenters meant I had a better view of the entire battlefield. I had to make sure to provide support and cover for our close combatants. With a wave of my hand two pillar of ice materialized from thin air. Providing a place for cover as I continued my barrage of icy arrows.

I could barely make of Lance Varay. Ice that looked hard as stone covered her body as she wielded a thin blue blade. Each stroke of her sword fell several enemies at once as she launched blasts of concentrated ice. This was my first time seeing her fight in an actual battle and it was unbelievable.

The way water-type mana moved around her. It was automatically drawn to her and reacted to her will. With her aid the army of mana beast were slowly thinning as we advanced forward.

When suddenly we all stopped dead in our tracks. A new aura of death filled our lungs. Many of the more inexperienced mages couldn't move, frozen with fear. I scanned the treeline for the threat and I wish I hadn't.

A sickly thin woman wearing a black dress that seemed to sparkle in the dim sunlight. Her dress' color only seemed to exaggerate her almost completely white skin. Her face was covered up by a doll-like mask. But it didn't help hiding the sickening air that she carried.

"My my, is this my welcoming party?" The ghostly woman said as she made her way towards us. With each step the grassy ground beneath her rotted and died as the air changed. It itched my skin and began to burn my eyes and lungs.

From the reports I have read I could tell that this was the Vritra Retainer. She moved close to a solider. A younger man who was petrified with fear. I could see tears running down his face as she drew next to me.

"What a handsome young man." She said as she ran her fingers down his face. His skin smoked and bubbled as it melted away into a slimy murky green goop. The man screamed in pain as her touch ate away at his flesh before he died from the shock and pain.

"What a shame." She mumbled as she turned to face us again. Lance Varay stood before her. Standing strong against her powerful aura. The Retainer looked confused for a second before addressing the her.

"Ah, you must be a Lance! How exciting, you have prepared so much for me. When I deliver your dead I am sure they will adore me as they do that witch." She said, seemingly amused by what stood before her.

Lance Varay undeterred conjured a full armor of ice as she wielded her sword. The other mages readied themselves as well, recovering from the initial shock. This was a Retainer, one of the strongest soldiers Alacryan had to offer. If we were alone it is possible some might have broken ranks and tried to flee our of fear. But we had a Lance on our side. Our only hope against these mix-blooded Alacryans. White core mages whose sole purpose was to defend Dicathen.

With Varay present it only boosted our morale even in such a situation. The soldiers quickly fell back into formation as we awaited for the Lance's orders.

I mentally prepared myself. This was what I was training myself for. To fight among the people to defend my own continent. To be not only a political leader but also a military one. One who will lead their people forward, and not just ordering them around like pawns.

This was the future I was given, and the fate I will take.