Unknown room, Ura Mansion, Prosarea, Peacius, 6th Day 1st Phase 1457th Set
A day before the battle.
"I did not expect this at all! The annexation and my son being conscripted!" shouted Levi Ura with his face burning red. "I still haven't finished teaching him the Ura blade! Now, my plan has been thwarted!"
The clan head stood in a windowless room that had a cobblestone wall and wooden floor. All around him were towering wooden shelves that held on to the countless number of secret documents and information about the empires. Flickering candles sat on top of the shelves in candle holders that provided the minimum amount of light in the room to read.
"I am terribly sorry, my lord. I couldn't escape from the Verserien spies due to my inabilities. Please, let me atone for my mistakes." said Kieurn who still have scars from the torture conducted by the spies previously.
"Nevermind, I still have plenty of use for you. Even though we cannot benefit as much as us not being annexed, "said Levi as he lowered his volume and started to go deep into thought.
"My lord, are we still allowed to trade information between empires then?"
"The trading will no longer be the same. If we have to trade Verserien information with their enemies. We have to do it with utmost secrecy. It will be risky..." replied Levi with slight annoyance in his tone. "We will continue trading enemy information with the Empire of Verserius and Alantieus. We have to play safe first."
"Yes, my lord. Shall we resume our mission?"
"Yes, with the highest efficiency."
***
Hill of Maricu, border between Empire of Alantieus and Peacius, 7th Day 1st Phase 1457th
Green flags forced alive the steel armours near me. Each rattling with bloodlust and excitement. Every comrade that I have, move steadily and quickly into their respective positions. That is when I got up from my slumber to join the ranks. As I make my way to my position, I see the cavalries riding in behind the Vanguard Companies with their halberds and sheathed gladius by their right side of their hips. The sophisticated magicians, precise archers and brutal artilleries all stood ready to shower the enemies with a barrage of hostility.
Across the field, far away from me. The Battalion of Xenis and Sesar march forward steadily with their cavalries leading the way and the infantries following directly behind. Slowly down the hill that they stood on. When they reach the midpoint of the hill, I notice a small glimmer of light emanating from a soldier in black armour. It is his unsheathed sword. Followed by another soldier in silver armour. It is clear to me that they are the Veteran Generals of the two battalions, for they raised their swords first before their soldiers. All of a sudden, a wave of white sparks sweep across the opposing hill as my enemies raise their swords. My heart starts to beat faster, knowing that it is only a matter of time that I cross swords in a battle to the death with someone that I did not know.
As though by instinct, I immediately check the flags for instructions. They are all red. The sharp sound of five seconds horn blasts across the formation. I could feel my helmet vibrating while my scaly armour shook slightly. I sense that the smell of sweat is getting heavier. Almost as heavy as the shield that I unbuckled and slammed into the ground. From behind, the second row of soldiers took out their spears and thrust them into slits between the shields. I feel a sense of security with the bulky shield in front of me and spears greeting the incoming forces. Yet, I held onto the shield with my life, fearing death. With that fear in mind, I feel that my senses were sharpening themselves. Especially my hearing, for I can only see the back of my shield.
Starting with the unsheathing of swords at the back of the Vanguards. "That must be the javelin signal from the Rear Generals", I thought. From the back where the Rear Generals rode on their horses, to the front just before the spear bearers. I can hear javelins being unbuckled and the shifting of the legs and arms into the posture for javelin throwing. It was a short-lived silence before whistling noises flew overhead with elongated shadows gliding across the fields. I tilt my head up and saw a flurry of javelins slicing through the air like eagles closing in on their prey.
Seeing the sight of flying javelins ignited a burning curiosity of wanting to know what will happen when the javelins come down. I adjust my body to allow my eyes to look above the shield. I can only see the enemy cavalries charging towards me while the javelins strike down whoever was behind them. My heart skips a beat. I realise that I am one of the first to face the cavalries. With that realisation, my feet could feel that the ground was rumbling from the hooves of the charging horses. But the enemy cavalries suddenly split up in the middle and went in opposite directions of each other while dragging their polearms behind to create a thick dust cloud. A wave of temporary relief washed over me, knowing that they changed their objectives to covering their injured infantries. I am able to hear faint screams of pain and desperation from within the dust cloud. It is evident to me that nobody in the enemy infantries was safe from the onslaught of javelins. I shudder from the screams and the thought of me getting struck down by a javelin.
Following a sequence, from the two side ends of the Vanguard companies war cries echo around with hooves striking the ground with force. "It is our turn," I thought to myself as I remembered the briefing by Yiun. I turned my head to the side and witnessed the charging friendly cavalries with soldiers leaning forward on their horses and carrying their halberds parallel to the ground. The sight reminded me of horse races except this was a violent cause. At the tip of the charge were heavily armoured Rear Generals of the Cavalries, ready to smash themselves into enemy lines. Slowly the charge became thicker at the back with the light cavalries. With the front being thin and back being thick, I soon understood that they were attempting to pierce through the enemies' defence. I was gradually becoming anxiously motivated instead of relieved. I wanted to place my hands on the handle of my katana and unsheath it. The urge was nagging at me yet I have to wait patiently behind the shield.
I took a peek at the enemy cavalries and saw that they were circling around to counter our charging cavalries. "It is almost time". As stated by Yiun, the two charging cavalries split further into four charging cavalries. With the two outer most deviating to meet the returning enemies. All in order to buy time for the main force. "FINALLY IT IS TIME," I screamed in my heart. I checked the flags again to find confirmation for me to charge. The red flags were changed to black. Deep ten seconds horn reverberates through the Battalions of Heizen and Vaex. I swiftly retract my shield and buckled it to my back while the soldier behind me retracts his spear and attaches it to his back. My blood rushes to every part of my body as I brace myself for a charge. My muscles are becoming increasingly hot.
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Without any obstruction, I can finally charge forward. Every Verserien soldiers unsheath their swords, the sound of friction between the scabbard and the blade gives me goosebumps underneath the long sleeve tunic and scaly torso armour. My blood rush grows stronger each moment as my comrades all around gave a loud war cry. Then, everyone made a mad dash for the enemies. All around me, the company flags flutter against the winds. My katana trailing behind me like a loyal servant. In front of me, the dust cloud grew closer towards me. By the side, the main cavalries charge into the dust cloud and the secondary cavalries fought intensely with the enemy cavalries. The enemy cavalries are desperate to get back to their infantries but their efforts were to no avail.
As I got closer to the dust cloud, I began to notice faint silhouettes of javelins and enemy soldiers. Some were struggling to move while some stood motionless just like the javelins. Most of them are just lying on the ground. It is then that a strong gust of wind blew away the dust cloud to reveal a gory sight. Javelins skewered some soldiers, pinning them to the ground while they stand motionless. The javelins became their grave markers. Blood spurted out of the entry point of the javelin. There is one distinctive soldier who stood hunched back but with no signs of life. But as I charge closer, I saw something unbelievable. The javelin struck him in the head and went through his body and exited before digging into the dirt. My stomach started to turn about and I forced my eyes away from the scene but I couldn't. Something was forcing me to take in the sight. I wanted to vomit so badly, but I pushed down the contents forcefully. I did not want to drag down people behind me. Thus, I force myself to look forward at oncoming forces to shift my attention.
Enemy flags lie defeated on the ground with pools of blood staining them. As I charge further into enemy lines, I see soldiers stumbling about, some with javelins stuck in them. Some supporting their fellow soldiers. At that moment, we ran even faster. For we know that we need to kill off any enemies to survive. I know that it is the same for the enemies but I couldn't care less. I readied my katana to slice through anyone in my way. My consciousness faded into the deep ends of my mind while my violent side takes over with strength. I feel that I was no longer myself. I raise my sword and swung it into the neck of a hostile soldier. Beheading him in one slice. I did not want to vomit like just now. Without a head, the neck gushed out an endless amount of blood. The blood threw itself onto my face. The strong smell of blood and the way it trickled down my face woke me up again. I realise how quickly I was becoming indifferent to killing people even though it is my first kill.
Now, as I am conscious. I feel like vomiting again. I wasn't able to hold it in and let it all out. The process of beheading the soldier is carving itself into my mind. The way my sword cut through his neck effortlessly and the head being flicked off by my sword. While I reflected on my action, an enemy charged at me with his longsword. His sword is shaking yet it is clearly going for my heart. I look up from the sword to see tears rolling down his cheeks. He seems to be of the same age as me. His face tugged at my heart for some reason I couldn't understand. Right then, Baverus leapt to my side and flung his sword at the oncoming sword. Knocking away the hostile sword. Upon disarming the enemy soldier, he forces his own sword into the poor soldier's heart before removing his sword and slashing his neck. Baverus' sword was already red instead of a dull silver colour. I stand rooted to the ground, aware of how many people Baverus has killed that painted his sword red.
"WAKE THE FUCK UP, TEIGA. THE ENEMIES AREN'T GOING TO WAIT FOR YOU," shouts Baverus in my face as he turns back to fight more soldiers.
The burning urge to fight is suddenly doused by blood spilling across the battleground. What Baverus said hardly made it to my mind. "Why? How can I just kill someone without emotions? I was naive to believe that a battle would be easy..." I drop my katana to the ground and grab my own face. But my hands slid off my face as the beheaded man's blood lubricated my face. Tears of despair created a stream on my bloodied face. But I was knocked back into reality by huge hands wiping my face clean of blood. I turned my head to see a smiling Hanco.
"Don't worry, I believe you will survive this. Because you are strong. You can get used to it," comforts Hanco.
Even though his words sounded so typical, it is really comforting in a desperate situation. Other Verserien soldiers charge on ahead while I try my best to regain composure.
"I'll be here to guard you until you are able to fight again," said Hanco as he raises his longsword to fight off any Sesar or Xenis soldiers. His swings are so powerful that one swing is able to push back numerous charging soldiers. As I stand behind Hanco, his colossal shadow covered me. Providing me with a safe haven, even for a while. I attempt to wipe off any tears that are on my face and pick up my sword. I did not realise that I was shivering with fear. Hanco swung his sword again, creating a strong blast wave that pushes me back a few steps. The wave jolted me back to reality finally but it wasn't enough to make me be able to fight properly.
"I am okay now, Hanco..." I mumbled, trying to regain full composure but the sight of the beheaded man still haunts me.
"Very well. Let us go," replies Hanco as he continues to swing his sword to clear a path.
Even with the consolation of my burly comrade, the image is something that will stay with me for life.
I stumble forward with Hanco guiding me. I notice that he is preventing me from raising my sword by clearing away any incoming soldiers. I immediately feel like a burden to him.
Just as I feel incompetent, the sky turns darker with arrows plummeting towards me.
"Those arrows are not friendly," whispers an unknown voice inside my mind...